Chapter 1005: Order from the Planetary Emperor
Crack! The fabric of space split open, and Robin emerged before everyone.
The moment he saw his father, Caesar bowed, placing his right fist over his heart. His voice carried a blend of awe, respect, and reverence. Even though he treated him as a father in private, in front of the soldiers-and especially in front of enemies- he had to address him in a way befitting a planetary emperor: "Your Excellency."
The word was like a spark that triggered a chain reaction. Behind him, the four generals exchanged tense glances for a moment before bowing with the same imposing military discipline, echoing the word in unison:
"Your Excellency!"
Then, as if born to be the echo of that word, hundreds of thousands of soldiers lined up behind them shouted it with a roar that exploded into the horizon like a deafening storm:
"Your Excellency~~"
"....." Durger could do nothing but lean his head back slightly, trying to reassess the situation. The cry carried something beyond mere words. It conveyed blind loyalty, unwavering and absolute. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air around them quivered as if the world itself was bracing for something. These men would undoubtedly leap into hell itself if this puny human ordered them to.
Yet, Robin stood calmly, contrasted by the chaos around him. His expression didn't match the overwhelming authority he commanded, but at least his eyes gleamed with enough confidence, and the smile on his face seemed to dictate the ultimate verdict in this place.
While the generals and soldiers bowed, another entity hesitated. Crixus, the colossal beast that seemed like the embodiment of nature's wrath, clenched his massive jaws, revealing an inner struggle. He was trying to maintain his independent stance, battling within himself not to bow like the rest of that human army- not under the watchful eyes of the beasts who regarded him as A king!...But in the end, he made his choice.
Slowly, his enormous head lowered, and his glowing blue eyes dimmed slightly. When his voice finally emerged, it was deep, as if coming from the bowels of the earth itself: "...Your Excellency."
But Crixus's submission wasn't the end of the story. It was the beginning of a grave transformation. Durger the Devourer, the beast standing among the Nine Tyrant Beasts, slowly turned his head toward Robin. His eyes, filled with merciless intent, focused on Robin with even greater intensity.
The Beast King coming from another world was undoubtedly a threat, but the man commanding him was the greater danger. A low growl rumbled from him, almost like a suppressed roar:
"Hsss..."
As soon as this hiss escaped, the Nine Tyrant Beasts tensed up. Their fangs, claws, and taut muscles revealed a readiness to pounce at any moment. It was evident that any wrong move from Robin could unleash an unstoppable chaos.
But Robin, despite all the tension, showed no sign of concern. His eyes were coldly evaluating Durger, analyzing every detail of his massive form. He raised an eyebrow as if impressed by what he saw, and his smile deepened slightly, "Impressive..."
Then, almost simultaneously, he waved his hand backward as if discarding something insignificant: "Catch."
Thud! The man Robin had been holding under his arm was thrown violently, landing hard at Caesar's feet with a pained groan. A male, looking as though he was on the verge of death, tried to rise while muttering weakly, "Urgh... You... argghh!!" But he couldn't manage.
Caesar's eyes widened briefly before he raised his eyebrows in clear surprise. He recognized him immediately, "That's the troublesome marshal!"
But the bigger shock was the Seal Nail embedded in the man's chest. Caesar lifted his gaze, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity:
"Why the Sealing Nail, Your Excellency? Do you plan to torture him first?"
Robin, maintaining his calm demeanor and keeping his eyes fixed on Durger, gave a slight head shake: "Neither. Put him in a prison cell. Ensure adequate security around him. Don't overdo the harm, but don't pamper him either. Treat him as a regular prisoner, nothing more."
He spoke as if brushing off dust from his hands, then lazily gestured toward Caesar, "Alright, you may leave now."
Caesar froze for a moment, as if unable to believe what he was hearing. He looked at Robin and asked: "...? Are you speaking to us, Your Excellency? Who exactly is supposed to withdraw?"
Robin, with a serene yet mountainous weight in his voice, replied without altering his tone, "Everyone... The battle is over."
"Huh?"
Caesar raised his eyebrows in shock, his eyes darting between the four generals behind him. Everyone started looking at each other in confusion as if doubting whether they had heard his orders correctly.
"Hss?" Even Durger the Devourer, the beast that knew only the language of carnage, narrowed his massive eyes. His colossal head, which had been slightly bowed forward, suddenly reared back more, as though trying to comprehend what he had just heard. Robin's actions didn't fit into any scenario Durger could imagine.
"Haha! You don't have to say it twice, mate!" Hulak, with his ever-present laughter, was the first to break the strange tension. He leaped nimbly onto the back of the massive Crixus and clapped the giant beast on the shoulder, saying, "Let's go, partner! Time to get the hell of this mess!"
Whoooosh!
Krixus didn't need further encouragement. His massive wings struck the air forcefully, lifting his enormous body off the ground. He was the first to want to flee from this place, filled with the disappointed gazes of the other beasts. He'd endured enough humiliation today to last a thousand years to come.
"Take me with you!" shouted Richard, who seemed to have just awakened from the shock of the situation. He leaped with impressive force, landing next to Hulak on Crixus's back.
Hulak glanced at him up and down, then shrugged indifferently and laughed, "Well, you're strong enough to sit here. Make yourself at home, haha!"
He then slapped Richard's back with his large hand so hard that the latter almost choked for a
moment.
Quickly, the three disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind a wave of confusion and disarray among both the soldiers and the beasts alike.
After a few moments of confusion, General Cassia Levan stepped forward, trying to maintain her composure despite the charged atmosphere. She stood before Caesar, straightened herself with full military discipline, and said in an official tone, reminding him to act: "Supreme General, orders are orders."
Caesar, who was still feeling a bit incredulous, gazed deeply into his father's eyes. He wanted to ensure that Robin fully understood what he was saying. But when he saw that confident smile he knew so well, he had no room left to question him.
Finally, Caesar sighed, returned his black halberd to his spatial ring, and shouted loudly behind him, "Activate the instant space portals! We're returning to the military square!"
Chaos! Chaos!
The massive imperial army began moving in an organized wave. Some hesitated- they wanted to stay and claim more points and victories. Others were grateful their supreme commander had ended the battle; they had families waiting for them.
But in the end, Caesar's word was absolute. Everyone followed the orders without question or change in their expressions. They began crossing the instant space portals in disciplined ranks, their synchronized footsteps sounding like a perfectly orchestrated military symphony.
One hour later---
The place had completely transformed.
Durger the Devourer, who couldn't fathom why this army was leaving so easily, remained
standing in place. His sharp eyes darted between the departing soldiers and the human named Robin Burton. His unease didn't stem from their withdrawal but from the fact that something illogical was happening. His primal mind couldn't stop itself from wondering, Is there a bigger
plot unfolding around me?
But despite his doubts, Durger kept silent. He knew one simple rule: if a powerful enemy wants to leave, don't stop them.
As for Robin, he stood at a distance, his hands clasped behind his back, humming softly with his eyes closed. His tone was calm and certainly didn't match the charged atmosphere.
Bzzzzttt---
The last instant space portal closed with a faint hum. The area was now empty except for the beasts, and Robin. Even Theo and the Shadow Swords, who were always on high alert, had received mental orders to withdraw and obeyed without hesitation.
Clap!
Robin suddenly clapped his hands, as if announcing the end of a theatrical performance. He
looked at Durger, the five-horned serpent, who had been silently observing everything with
wary anticipation.
Robin, his steady smile in place, spoke in a lightly mocking tone as he locked eyes with Durger, "Well, hello there... Do you want to die?"