Lord of the Truth-Chapter 1172: The pathway of fate

Planet Jura – 10 Kilometers from the Imperial Capital

BZZZZT—

The spatial portal activated with a deep hum, its shimmering energy forming a swirling vortex before several individuals stepped through. Step… step… Their boots pressed against solid ground as they emerged cautiously, their eyes scanning their surroundings with growing astonishment.

"Oh…?"

For many of them, this was the first time stepping onto this planet. While they had heard extensive descriptions from the Shadow Swords, detailing what to expect, nothing could have truly prepared them for what their eyes now beheld.

By all accounts, this portal—positioned near the Imperial Capital— was supposed to be built in the heart of an arid desert, surrounded by towering, desolate mountain ranges. It was meant to stand atop the ruins of the older one, the one that had been obliterated years ago during the Great Serpent Empire's invasion.

They had crossed the portal, bracing themselves for the sight of a war-torn, dust-covered wasteland—a battlefield where the winds howled mournfully across the ruins of the past.

But instead…

They were greeted by a scene so breathtakingly surreal that it defied all expectations.

The ground beneath their feet was covered in a vast, verdant carpet of lush, perfectly uniform grass, stretching infinitely in every direction. Intricately engraved stone pathways cut through this sea of green, leading toward the distant capital in a flawless, unbroken line.

Lining these pathways were towering fruit-bearing trees, their branches heavy with a mesmerizing array of exotic produce. Each tree was unique—no two bore the same fruit, and no two flowers shared the same hue. The air was filled with a delicate, almost intoxicating fragrance, carried by a soft, temperate breeze that brushed against their skin.

At the very edge of these breathtaking gardens stood an endless formation of soldiers.

Their gleaming golden armor caught the light, casting dazzling reflections as they stood in perfectly disciplined rows, stretching as far as the eye could see. Among them loomed Warlords, towering figures who seemed to block out the horizon itself, their presence exuding a quiet, commanding power.

Under normal circumstances, the mere sight of such an army would have instilled fear into the hearts of those who beheld it.

But today…

There was no killing intent in the air.

No oppressive aura of war or hostility.

Instead, the army's presence radiated something entirely different—a profound sense of safety and warmth.

Overhead, vibrantly colored birds flitted effortlessly between the trees, their delicate, musical chirping blending into the ambient hum of the world itself. Some even playfully wove through the massive Warlords standing at attention, unbothered by the presence of these titanic figures.

It was… serene.

Almost unreal.

This was supposed to be a mere road leading to the Imperial Capital.

And yet, it alone spoke volumes about the kind of world they had just stepped into.

"Y-Your Majesty Aiko… L-Look… LOOK UP!!"

One of the attendants suddenly let out a strangled gasp, his trembling hand pointing toward the sky.

"Hmm?"

The man at the forefront of the group—King Aiko—furrowed his brows, his body still tense as he cautiously lifted his gaze.

And the moment his eyes locked onto the sky—

His breath caught in his throat.

His pupils dilated in sheer disbelief.

His entire body stiffened, and before he even realized it, he had stumbled a step backward in shock.

Because above them—

A dragon —a massive, ancient looking dragon—was soaring freely through an endless expanse of shimmering aurora lakes!

Its scales glowed like molten sapphire, reflecting the hues of the celestial rivers that swirled in the sky above.

And beside it—

The legendary bird, Ra, sliced through the heavens with its radiant, golden wings, its cry echoing like a divine hymn across the landscape.

And there—THERE—

A mythical Qilin was effortlessly tearing down colossal fortress walls.

No, no, no—forget all of that!

Farther east in the sky, an entire battle was raging—

A mythological war unfolding in real-time!

Heavenly armored warriors clashed against monstrous serpents, their bodies twisting through the skies in a violent dance of combat. Cries of war, the clash of steel, and the roars of abyssal beasts reverberated through the very atmosphere.

"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!"

King Aiko's voice thundered with shock. His hands balled into fists as he squinted at the swirling, living heavens.

"...Are those… clouds?"

The sky itself was a masterpiece—a canvas of divine artistry.

A living mural of swirling different type of clouds, moving and reshaping themselves as though guided by an unseen, celestial hand.

The sheer beauty—

The sheer scale—

The sheer impossibility of it all—

It was overwhelming.

Anyone who looked up—

Would not be able to look away.

"...How? How could something like this even be created?"

The king muttered, barely able to contain the tremor in his voice.

He had come to this world by official invitation, intending only to witness the coronation of the one who had conquered his people.

He had come expecting to meet the man who had subjugated him—a ruler who had bent entire nations to his will without ever showing his face.

But now—

Now, for the first time—

A deep, primal fear crawled into his heart.

He no longer felt like a guest.

He felt like a mere insect standing before an entity far beyond human comprehension.

...One of his attendants suddenly swallowed hard before speaking in a hushed, reverent tone, "Your Majesty… Have you not heard? The Crown Prince of the Empire, Richard Burton, successfully refined the Spirit of the Planet just months ago. This… this must be his doing."

"Richard Burton? ...Richard Burton…" King Aiko muttered the name under his breath, his voice barely audible. With great difficulty, he forced himself to tear his gaze away from the breathtaking sights around him. Whether it was the wondrous spectacle in the sky above or the majestic pathway below—which looked as though it had been plucked straight from paradise—everything radiated an overwhelming sense of awe and sublimity.

It was not just the scenery; it was the atmosphere itself. The very air seemed charged with something ethereal, something that made his instincts scream that he had stepped into a world beyond mortal comprehension. He was a king, a warrior who had survived countless battles, but at this moment, he felt as insignificant as a grain of sand in the vast cosmos.

BZZZT BZZZT

A strange buzzing sound pulled him from his trance.

"Hmm?" Only now did he realize—they were not the only ones witnessing this immortal scene.

Standing beside their own spatial portal were at least seventeen other portals!

Twelve of them were massive planetary portals, identical to the one they had stepped through, designed for interplanetary travel. The remaining five were smaller, clearly intended for movement within the planet itself.

In the mere seconds that King Aiko took to glance around, he witnessed dozens of individuals emerging from these portals. Each of them displayed the same shocked, awestruck expressions before hesitantly stepping onto the grand pathway, moving toward the capital.

And this was no empty road.

From the very first portal to the capital itself, thousands upon thousands were already making their way forward, their steps filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming coronation.

There was an undeniable gravitational pull in the air, as if something—or someone—at the heart of this planet was drawing all of them in.

King Aiko let out a deep breath, his eyes narrowing, "We should have brought more of our people…"

He muttered, his gaze drifting toward the other colossal portals.

At that very moment, King Volpe stepped forward, flanked by an immense entourage.

Beside him, King Shamshun arrived, leading his red-skinned warriors with a powerful presence.

From another portal, an entire regiment of dwarves emerged, their armored boots thudding against the stone pathway.

But the most crowded portal of all was Nihari's Gate—where an large number of beings of entirely different races flooded out in droves!

Some of them had multiple arms, others had wings of crystal, and some towered over everyone like little walking hills.

It was a gathering of species so diverse that even a seasoned ruler like Aiko found himself momentarily stunned.

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"...."

Even he himself had arrived wearing the traditional garments of his people—making a silent statement to Emperor Robin Burton that their culture would not be erased.

His attire was primitive, consisting of simple coverings for the vital areas, along with scattered cloth straps wrapped around his powerful legs and mighty wings.

But despite his tribe's unusual appearance—their pointed ears, rough skin, sharp claws, fangs, and menacing leathery wings—King Aiko did not feel out of place.

Not even in the slightest.

This was a gathering of monsters and legends.

And for once, he did not stand out.

"Hahaha! We appreciate Your Majesty's presence at this grand occasion."

A hearty, cheerful voice broke through the air as a plump, round-faced human strode toward him with an easy-going smile.

His steps were light, but his presence was not.

Something about him felt... dangerous, in an odd, unexplainable way.

"I am Joseph Burton, and I shall be your guide for this momentous event! Please, follow me!"

King Aiko, who had originally arrived with the intent to maintain his dignity, had planned to demand an immediate audience with Aro upon stepping through the portal.

But now—

Now, for some reason—

This fat man from the Burton family suddenly felt like an incredibly important figure!

King Aiko's lips curled into a forced smile, "Please, lead the way. We shall follow."

"Hahaha! I assure you, Your Majesty, you will have a spectacular time!"

Joseph Burton let out a loud, jovial laugh, before suddenly glancing behind Aiko with a raised eyebrow.

"But… why did you bring so few people with you?"

His voice lowered slightly, carrying an almost teasing edge.

"With such a small group, the other planets might assume your race is weak!"

A moment of silence followed.

And then—

"Hah?!"

SMACK! SMACK!

Before Joseph could even blink, King Aiko had already grabbed the collars of the two attendants nearest to him!

"Did I not tell you to bring everyone?!"

His deep, guttural voice rumbled with suppressed fury.

"Where are they?! Go back and hurry them up—NOW!"

"B-But Your Majesty, it was you wh—"

One of them stammered in confusion, his words cut short by the fierce glare in the king's eyes.

"HMPH!" With a single, powerful swing, King Aiko hurled both attendants back into the still-active portal!

"DO NOT BE LATE!!"

The truth was…

King Aiko himself had made the decision to bring only seven individuals.

His reason?

He feared being humiliated.

If anyone tried to provoke him, he knew he wouldn't hesitate to attack Robin Burton and his sons, as his honor was above everything else —so he had no intention of dragging his people into an unnecessary death.

More than that—

He worried that this coronation might have been nothing more than a trap, a staged event designed specifically to break them into submission.

He had thought that keeping his numbers small would protect his people from an unwinnable battle.

But now, seeing this…

Seeing this overwhelming sight…

The living legends surrounding him.

The armies stretching beyond the horizon.

The titanic figures standing side by side with men and monsters alike.

He suddenly wondered—

Would anyone have even noticed if he never showed up at all?!