Lord of the Truth

Chapter 1991 Tightening the noose

Mid Sector 98-

A palace above the clouds.

That was the only phrase that could truly do justice to what unfolded within that breathtaking scene.

Though there was no conventional palace-no towering walls, no grand halls or spires-there, amid the layered clouds of that planet, existed a single colossal cloud that appeared endless, as though it had neither a beginning nor an end. Resting upon it was a lone, towering throne formed entirely of condensed clouds, elevated and austere, and seated upon it was but one solitary figure. The Sorcerer Behemoth, Zargul.

Yet the sorcerer showed no sign of peace or satisfaction as he watched the countless planets drifting around him like obedient moons bound by invisible chains. Positioned at the very heart of the Spell Galaxy-a massive congregation of twenty-five thousand planets-it would not be an exaggeration to say that there was no true void left in the heavens. Wherever oneʼs gaze turned upward, it inevitably landed upon a planet, each with its own defining traits, its own wealth and resources-a vast, heavy world worthy of carving a place within the galaxy.

No... Zargul the Sorcerer had not seated himself upon that lofty throne merely to admire the view or lose himself in idle contemplation.

He was observing.

His narrow, sharp eyes pierced effortlessly through layers upon layers of planetary bodies. By linking directly through the souls of the planets themselves, he examined everything within his domain with chilling ease.

He reviewed planetary yields, weapons-manufacturing facilities, military shipyards, ports for warships and support vessels, and the barracks housing his innumerable armies. His inspection continued methodically, relentlessly, until at last he raised his head ever so slightly.

Even after issuing commands to deploy his vast forces in two separate directions, his galaxy remained overwhelmingly powerful. He still possessed more than enough strength to stand tall among the majority of Behemoths... such was the undeniable advantage of wealth.

There were Behemoths stronger than him in raw might, that much was true. But in the event of a full-scale war, the number of Behemoths truly capable of overpowering him could be counted on one hand. And all of it came down to money to the scale of his armies, the destructive force of his weapons, the sheer size of his arrays, and the staggering number of talismans and spells under his control. ”Hm~”

Zargul the Sorcerer slowly closed his eyes, lifting his chin toward the vast heavens above. ”At last... I will become the third Behemoth in history to control more than a single sector.”

A barely noticeable smile curved his lips-small, restrained, yet brimming with ambition. ”Many are attempting it even now, but I will be the first to succeed. Mid Sector 97 and Mid Sector 99 will belong to me... and very soon.”

Several millennial empires occupied Mid Sector 97, while Lord Human, who had emerged like a festering tumor, plagued Mid Sector 99. Each sector carried its own unique troubles, yet none were severe enough to truly obstruct his advance.

No matter how wealthy Lord Human might be, he would not be able to convert that wealth into a force powerful enough to repel him in the near future. Without competent subordinates to execute his will, money alone was nothing more than idle numbers.

Over the past ten years, ever since Lord Human announced those four projects, the fleets of the Spell Galaxy had been steadily mobilized. Armies had been amassed along the borders of Mid Sector 97 and Mid Sector 99, tightening like a noose. By the end of this week at the latest, both sectors would be invaded under the pretext of enforcing peace, after internal wars within the regions had escalated to unbearable levels.

The inhabitants of the sectors would undoubtedly welcome him once the propaganda campaigns began, proclaiming that he had come as a savior. They had grown utterly exhausted from the wars that flared up day after day without end.

Meanwhile, the traitors he had carefully planted within the sectors would clear the path for his forces, providing secure footholds-safe zones from which his armies could stabilize, regroup, and then surge forward to fully subjugate both regions.

And once he imposed peace... he would not leave.

It was a tired, overused narrative-but one that was reliable, effective, and unfailingly successful.

Poof.

At that very moment, a figure clad in a pale-colored robe tore through the massive cloud, abruptly shattering the serene and immaculate panorama.

He descended swiftly, landing on one knee, pressing both hands forward in formal submission. ”O Exalted One, there is urgent news.” ”...?”

Zargul the Sorcererʼs brows snapped together sharply, irritation flashing through his expression at having this moment interrupted. ”What happened?” ”The Silent Farewell Phenomenon has been detected throughout Mid Sector 99,” the man reported rapidly, his voice tense and controlled. ”And we have confirmed that Guardian Silas has been killed.” ”What did you just say?!” Zargulʼs voice rose, sharp and dangerous. ”How is that even possible? The Doubled Centennial Empire of the Grave does not possess a single individual powerful enough to kill Silas...”

His gaze narrowed. ”Are you absolutely certain of this report?” ”One hundred percent certain,” the kneeling man replied without hesitation. ”It was Lord Hedrick of Mid Sector 101 who struck the killing blow-confirmed unanimously by all witnesses present.” ”Hedrick!?”

Zargul slammed his fist into the arm of his throne, the clouds beneath it rippling violently. He could no longer maintain his composure, and the calm authority on his face shattered into raw fury. ”Robin... Burton...”

So he was not the only one who had decided to play openly. Robin Burton had begun moving his pieces across the entire board without restraint-and what a terrifying piece it was.

With a single decisive move, Robin had erased Zargulʼs entire presence in Mid Sector 99, sending a brutal message to every power watching from the shadows. Any newcomers were warned clearly and mercilessly: Lord Hedrick, the Son of Destruction, could return for them as well... and next time, there would be no mercy. ”You made the mistake of your entire existence when you challenged me, you insignificant Truth Chosen,” Sorcerer Behemoth Zargul raised one hand with crushing force. The sun hanging in the sky trembled and shifted slightly under the pressure of his will alone. ”Recall half of the armada assigned to the invasion of Mid Sector 97 and immediately reinforce the armada designated for Mid Sector 99...”

Then he brought his hand down hard against the armrest of the throne, the impact sending shockwaves through the surrounding clouds. ”I will turn Robin Burton and every last one of his followers in that sector into a public example. After that, I will drive him out of Mid Sector 100 and lay siege to his rabid dog Hedrick in Mid Sector 101...”

His lips curled into a cold, vicious smile. ”Let me see what he dares to do then.” ”All wisdom is yours, O Exalted One,” the kneeling man bowed deeply, pressing his head forward in submission.

Each of the two armadas consisted of 3,000 fleets. With a single sentence, Sorcerer Behemoth Zargul had redirected 4,500 fleets toward Mid Sector 99 alone. This overwhelming force was more than capable of erasing all opposition there and bringing the entire sector under his control in the shortest possible time-without room for doubt.

As for the remaining 1,500 fleets heading toward Mid Sector 97, they were still vastly sufficient to stabilize and dominate the situation there. After all, no power within that sector was strong enough to truly oppose them, and several subordinate forces were still firmly under Zargulʼs influence.

Poof.

Another figure pierced through the massive cloud and dropped to one knee. ”O Exalted One, we have confirmed information that the First Sword of the Shadow Swords, Theo Burton, has departed for Mid Sector 97 via a major space portal. He should have arrived by now.” ”..?!”

Sorcerer Behemoth Zargul slowly rose to his feet, his presence alone causing the surrounding clouds to churn violently.

Poof.

A third figure burst through the cloud and fell to both knees, his voice breaking with panic. ”O Exalted One! O Exalted One!!”

He locked eyes with Zargul and shouted even louder, barely able to contain his fear. ”A massive armada has been detected emerging from the Galaxy of the Sands of Time in Mid Sector 96. The formation consists of no fewer than 3,000 fleets, and its numbers are increasing with every passing minute. Their destination is unmistakable-Mid Sector 97” ”.........?!”