Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1969 New orders

Raiden struck upward with his spear, and a terrifying surge of electricity erupted-bzzzt-like a scream torn from the sky itself.

In an instant, a massive sphere of condensed lightning appeared out of nowhere, swelling violently as it began to rise dozens of meters into the air, its surface crackling with wild arcs of light that scorched the clouds around it. ”What is that thing?” ”Can you feel... that aura?” ”Is this the power of a Martial Emperor?!”

Everyone looked up-generals and soldiers alike-necks craned, breaths held. Even the envoys of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire felt their expressions darken as the oppressive power behind that sphere washed over them like a crushing tide. One of them shouted at Raiden, his voice strained, ”You human child, what do you think youʼre doing?!”

Then, at that moment-

BOOOOOOM

The gigantic lightning sphere exploded with a deafening roar, but to everyoneʼs shock, it harmed no one. Instead, it shattered into hundreds of small lightning orbs that scattered outward, spreading across the sky like a vast, luminous net woven from pure thunder. ”This...?!”

Then something happened that made everyone gasp in fear and awe at the same time... those orbs began to grow. Slowly at first, then more clearly, they could feel the surrounding energy being drawn in and feeding each lightning orb individually-no, they could actually see the streams of energy flowing into them, like invisible rivers bending toward a single destination.

How could attacks be nourished after being released?!

Such a phenomenon directly defied everything they knew about combat and techniques.

Aside from General Raidenʼs army, who watched the scene with confident smiles and had already lowered their weapons as if the outcome was decided, everyone on the opposing side stood frozen-either stunned into silence or trembling with raw terror. ”Raiden!!” the envoy of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire raised his voice again, unable to hide the panic creeping in. ”What exactly are you planning to do?!”

His eyes shook as he stared upward at the sky, then darted back down as he struggled desperately to maintain his composure. ”Are you planning to attack us? Do you know what this will bring upon your entire empire?!” ”I know.” Raiden lifted his head slightly, his expression calm to the point of cruelty. ”Peace of mind.”

Then-whoosh-he waved his hand with casual ease, as though dismissing an insignificant matter.

ZZRRRRR

Hundreds of lightning orbs descended from above like falling meteors, creating a horrifying spectacle that turned the sky itself into a weapon. ”Damn it, take cover!!”

Everyone raised their shields and weapons, pressing shoulder to shoulder in instinctive solidarity, preparing themselves to withstand what they believed would be a catastrophic bombardment.

But-

Wiii- the lightning orbs did not strike them.

Instead, they slowed down unnaturally and seeped through their ranks, slipping between armor plates and shield gaps like drops of water finding their way through cracks in solid stone. ”Huh-?”

The soldiers had no time to process what was happening-bzzzt bzzzzzt- ”Gyaaaaa-!”

The orbs completely stunned the front lines, freezing muscles and scrambling senses, then continued onward, moving freely toward the next ranks without losing momentum. Each lightning orb linked with the nearest one, forming what looked like a gigantic, living web that crawled across the battlefield.

At the same time-whooosh-natural energy continued to pour in relentlessly, injecting more and more power into the orbs. Their numbers did not decrease, nor did they lose strength after incapacitating each group; instead, they grew increasingly stable and oppressive.

Naturally, the already-fractured army collapsed into devastating panic. Orders were lost, formations shattered, and fear spread faster than any command ever could. ”Whatʼs happening? Whatʼs happening?!” ”Thatʼs Lightning Child Raiden, the First General of Marshal Caesarʼs army!!” ”Kill him or this attack will never stop!!”

RAAAWR

Raidenʼs storm-like aura surged violently, moving through the Divine Decree Manifestation technique. It took the form of a colossal lightning dragon over ten meters long, with four massive wings formed entirely of crackling electricity. The dragon coiled rapidly around Raiden and his spear, roaring silently as arcs of thunder lashed outward. ”You want to kill me?” Raiden said coldly. ”That wonʼt be easy!” ”He... heʼs a Martial Emperor like us?!”

As was always the case for those fighting Raiden for the first time, all the generals and the envoys of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire instinctively took several steps backward, their confidence collapsing under the crushing pressure.

The dragonʼs form and its aura were astonishingly real. The purity of the lightning dazzled both eyes and hearts-simply looking at Raiden felt like staring directly into the core of lightning itself, and yearning, against all reason, to be consumed by it. ...These were the effects of the tattoo bestowed upon him by His Majesty Robin Burton more than 500 years ago.

At that time, His Majesty did not yet know how to properly reward Raiden or further elevate his strength. Raidenʼs affinity was so exceptionally pure, so refined to its very core, that granting him a composite Law would have been nothing but waste of unparalleled talent. Any forced fusion would only dull a brilliance that was meant to remain singular. And so, instead of bestowing a grand Law, His Majesty devised something subtle... something deceptively small.

He gave him a tattoo-one derived from the ancient offensive tattoos once used by the Nihari Giants.

Offensive tattoos directly convert natural energy into raw power-into attacks and techniques-without forcing that energy to pass through the userʼs body. They bypass the flesh entirely, allowing techniques to manifest freely while drawing upon the environment itself. Such tattoos were terrifyingly efficient, but in those days, they carried a fatal flaw: they damaged their users as much as they empowered them.

But Raiden loves lightning... and lightning loves Raiden.

Because of this unique harmony, Robin personally designed for him a lightning-based offensive tattoo of overwhelming potency. Every limiter was removed. Every restraint was stripped away. And with a calm certainty, Robin told him to bathe in lightning as he wished, without fear or hesitation. Thus, Raiden does not rely on his internal energy to perform his techniques-he relies solely on the tattoo. The tattoo alone. And with sufficient training, that tattoo can draw upon seas of surrounding natural energy, shaping it into colossal attacks like the one he had just unleashed moments ago.

As for his internal energy-and even his powerful soul, which he had refined and tempered only recently-Raiden uses them not for offense, but to reinforce himself both physically and mentally. They exist to endure the immense pressure generated by the gigantic techniques the tattoo produces, allowing his body and mind to remain unbroken beneath their weight.

In terms of brilliance or uniqueness, Raiden is, in truth, quite ordinary. Within the empire, there are millions of users of the Lightning Law, countless figures who wield thunder and electricity in one form or another.

But in terms of raw battlefield dominance...

Thanks to the tattoo personally designed by His Majesty, Raiden surpasses the other generals who possess integrated Laws, standing above them through sheer overwhelming presence! ”Raiden!!” the envoy of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire shouted, instinctively taking yet another step backward. ”If even a single hair on our heads is touched, the Cradle Empire will be erased by the end of this very day!!” ”A hair?” Raiden displayed a rare smile on his usually stern and unyielding face, then calmly raised his hand and pointed upward. ”...?!” The envoy of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire turned his gaze skyward, and his eyes widened instantly. ”Oh...”

There was no sound.

No explosion, no roar of engines.

But the sight itself was undeniable.

A massacre was unfolding above-a merciless, one-sided massacre.

An armada of Note-4 vessels had abandoned the planetary encirclement and, at that very moment, began surrounding the fleet of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire instead. With every second that passed, warships fell like autumn leaves stripped from dying branches, scattering through the void. ”Ahh... ah...” A general of the Twilight Spectrum Army began retreating unconsciously, his legs giving out before he collapsed onto his backside in sheer terror.

The scene overhead was nothing short of horrifying.

Even the World Cataclysms of the Twilight Spectrum Army-beings who once inspired dread on entire battlefields-began attempting the impossible. They tried to flee through the planetʼs atmosphere after witnessing that sight, despite knowing with absolute certainty that they would not survive more than an hour in open space! ”Do you realize...” the envoy of the Millennial Seven Thrones Empire lowered his head in shock, staring directly into Raidenʼs crackling eyes, ”what you have just done?” Then he suddenly raised his voice, nearly screaming. ”Do you realize what you have brought upon yourselves?!” ”There is no need for us to realize anything,” Raiden replied coldly. ”No need to calculate consequences, no need to fear outcomes-as long as the Marshal has given his orders...” Lightning erupted violently from Raidenʼs eyes as he casually waved his spear several times. ”Even if the sky itself were to fall,” he continued, his voice unwavering, ”His Majesty would lift it.”

Then he thrust- Raaaaaaa-