Lord of the Truth

Chapter 2006 Competency test

Whoooosh-

Creeeeak-

The rain of fire finally touched the ground, and in a single, merciless instant, everything was consumed by flames.

The meadows, once alive with delicate grasses and tiny crawling insects, now writhed in the inferno. Small animals and lurking beasts shrieked in panic, their cries echoing and distorting through the roaring fire, merging with the crackling of burning foliage to create a symphony of terror.

Everything transformed into molten, searing masses of flame, leaving behind nothing but ash and smoke. The horrific sounds of plants and animals screaming for survival filled the air, painting a grotesque and horrifying image of utter destruction. ”This...” Richardʼs eyes, which moments ago had been captivated by the awe-inspiring spectacle of fire descending like a divine display, now reflected absolute, unmitigated horror.

Especially when-Kaaash-the gigantic tree behind him, a colossal sentinel of the meadow, ignited completely. Within mere seconds, its massive trunk and sprawling branches collapsed into a smoldering heap. The flames that engulfed it did not resemble any ordinary inferno; it was not merely a galaxy of fire-it felt as if a direct torrent of hell itself had descended, burning with a heat that defied comprehension. (What are you doing? Raise your defenses and resist the trial of the Major Law of Fire!!) ”On it!” Richard shouted, his voice steady despite the intensity, as he erected a powerful energy barrier around himself. Sparks of energy crackled along its edges, illuminating the surrounding inferno with a pale white glow.

Creee-

But even this barrier began to show stress, fine cracks spreading across its surface. ”This?! How is this possible?!”

The white hell surrounding him burned relentlessly, slower than a normal flame but with a terrifying intensity. There was nothing beautiful or eye-catching about it yet the heat it radiated was beyond comprehension. It reached a level so extreme that even Richard could not match it, not even if he unleashed 100% pure flame from his very core. (You must endure!!) ”Ghh...!!” Richard gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain composed. He intensified the flow of life energy to reinforce his barrier, and added an additional layer of 100% pure flame, incinerating any approaching fire before it could even touch him. The effort was excruciating, but he had no choice.

If this trial had been for someone from the Mid sector, it would have been far less brutal-manageable even. But Richard was facing a force beyond ordinary limits.

Shoooom-

After nearly ten minutes within that silent, unyielding hell, gentle winds began to stir. They moved across the scorched landscape, sweeping together the flames that had spread across millions of acres. The winds twisted them into a massive, spiraling tornado of white fire, centering around Richard like a living, burning entity. ”Aaaaah!!!!” Richard screamed with raw force, feeling the intense heat searing his skin, his blood boiling within his veins. ”Daaamn it!!”

At that moment, Richard no longer hesitated. He unleashed the life energy he had stored for years, pouring it into a formidable protective shell around himself a shield akin to an indestructible vault. Yet, even this layer of protection began to melt and crack under the sheer power of the white inferno, pulling more and more of his life energy into the struggle. (Already consuming life energy? What will you do when the next stage begins? And this is still only the first part of the trial!) ”Silence!!” Richard roared, his voice cutting through the roar of the burning winds, his gaze lifted skyward with a mixture of fear, determination, and defiance. He knew what was coming, yet he had no choice but to endure.

The tornado of flames persisted for nearly thirty minutes. Slowly, it began to dissipate, rising upward into the sky. The white fire returned to the clouds above, leaving Richard alone to survey the aftermath with a careful, searching gaze.

Gulp

Richard swallowed hard, his throat dry. The sight before him was horrifying yet awe-inspiring.

The area directly beside him-the place that had sunk downward in a terrifying collapse-the soil, its hidden minerals, ancient roots, and every secret within it -had all been obliterated. Every trace of life, every trace of matter, had burned and vaporized completely, leaving nothing but scorched earth and lingering smoke.

The yellow meadows that once stretched across the vast majority of the planet, they had entirely vanished. In their place lay a flat, blackened expanse stretching endlessly to the horizon.

Everything on the ground had been leveled into a uniform, lifeless surface, and everything that had once soared in the sky had burned and vaporized before it even had a chance to fall...

This was the unimaginable intensity of those flames.

And yet, that was not even the worst of it- ”Ooooh-”

A deafening, resonant roar shook the very sky above, forcing Richard to jerk his gaze upward. Or rather... it was not a scream, but the earth-shattering roar of a colossal beast that had slept for millions of years, now awakened with hunger and fury, towering above everything.

Clack

Whoosh Whoosh ”....?!” Richardʼs eyes trembled violently, wide with terror, as he stared upward in disbelief.

The vortex split apart violently. Thick, howling winds and sheets of raging fire coalesced into a single, terrifying form-a massive, grotesque, green face. It bore the resemblance of a plague, but it was no ordinary plague. Its head alone was colossal, crowned with three piercing eyes and two titanic horns that curved menacingly.

It opened its mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs, including two enormous lower fangs that stretched all the way up toward its three eyes. Its visage was horrifying, and its aura exuded pure terror. The head alone covered a quarter of the planet, and everything within its vicinity radiated overwhelming menace. (This is the trial of the Merged Law of Fire and Life. Merged laws always produce exaggerated trials-you must prepare yourself thoroughly, or you will be dead without realizing.) ”How am I supposed to prepare for this?!” Richard yelled, his voice barely audible over the roaring winds, his gaze fixed upward in a mixture of disbelief, fear, and defiance.

It was as if the giant had been waiting for that scream as a signal to begin. With a thunderous roar-”Ooooh-”-the colossal creature released something from its gaping maw.

From its mouth poured green flames, infused with an immense, almost unthinkable quantity of energy. These flames twisted and took shape almost instantly, forming countless mythical creatures: dragons with scales that shimmered like molten metal, phoenixes ablaze with eternal fire, qilins whose hooves cracked the ground, Ra with a divine presence, and a multitude of other legendary beasts, each distinct, unique, and terrifyingly alive.

They were not illusions-they breathed, they moved, and their power radiated like a storm. Each of these legendary beings had surpassed the level that could be considered a Martial Emperor. Each was a living weapon capable of inflicting harm upon a World Cataclysm!! ”Ooooh-”

The creatures unleashed a deafening, unified roar, the sound reverberating through Richardʼs very bones. Then, as if in perfect unison, they began plummeting toward him in a free-fall, their sheer size and speed enough to obliterate entire landscapes. ”Oh no...” Richard muttered under his breath, his heart hammering violently in his chest as he witnessed the overwhelming spectacle. Without hesitation, he unleashed a massive surge of green energy, like detonating a bomb of concentrated life force.

The energy erupted outward, enveloping his surroundings and forming a protective wall of earth, burning with the life energy of millions of creatures contained within.

With such a wall, Richard had previously halted entire armies in the Mid sector, holding entire battlefields in check.

But this time-

Bam

The first mythical creature collided with the wall, triggering an explosion that shattered a massive section of it, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

Bam

The second collision destroyed a quarter of the remaining wall, exposing Richard underneath, his chest rising and falling as he fought to maintain his barrier.

Bam

The third impact obliterated the protective wall entirely. It vanished like sand slipping through fingers, leaving nothing but Richard standing exposed, staring upward with pure terror.

Above him, more than ten remaining mythical creatures accelerated relentlessly, each one hurtling forward like living comets, all aiming to strike him first, their power radiating a threat that could end worlds.