Chapter 1006: Conversation with the beast
"Hello, do you want to die?"
Robin said his piece with a confident smile, staring at Durger the Devourer- the legendary serpent that seemed like a fragment of darkness itself.
Its massive body, stretching over 200 meters, made the ground beneath its coils appear small and fragile. The air around it was heavy, charged with the weight of its presence, as the breaths of the colossal beast stirred whirlwinds.
"...Were you talking to me, human?!" Durger growled, his voice resembling a volcanic eruption, as his massive, glowing purple eyes narrowed. Deep down, he knew he had heard clearly, but his pride refused to process the audacious words uttered by this tiny creature.
Robin, showing no trace of fear or hesitation, locked eyes with Durger for a few seconds to show his lack of fear. Then, without breaking eye contact, he clasped his hands behind his back and spoke in a calm tone as if discussing mundane matters:
"In truth, I'm in the midst of a planetary war against someone named Pythor. He commands what is called the Great Serpent Empire. I assume they named it after blood stolen from you or something like that? Anyway, the battle has been raging for nearly a year now."
Robin's tone shifted slightly, leaning toward mockery as he tilted his head, as though asking with innocent curiosity, "Can you believe this, mr. beast? I was living peacefully, minding my empire—the True Beginning Planetary Empire. Then suddenly, this Pythor decided to launch an all-out attack on me with everything he had. He pulled armies from every planet under his rule and even came himself to topple me. Yet he failed. And now, here I am, standing on his home planet, speaking to you- the serpent whose name he borrowed to lend his empire some semblance of grandeur! ...Isn't he the same one who humiliated you for centuries, taking your blood whenever he pleased?"
"Hssss!" Durger let out a sound resembling a lethal hiss, exuding his growing rage and embarrassment. His enormous body rose, and clouds of purplish-black venom began to swirl around him, as if his colossal form was emanating hatred itself.
But Robin didn't allow him the chance to respond. He continued his speech, his tone turning cold and filled with disdain: "Do you know what's even stranger? That I'm fighting the very same person who kept you imprisoned in the Poison Sea for ten thousand years. The one who forced you to spend your time fortifying your defenses, fearing the moment he'd return to drain your blood again. The one who made you waste all your time and effort on building an army of mindless beasts to protect yourself. And yet, here you are, fighting me on his behalf? Is this love for slavery? Or are you a masochist who can't live without your favorite tormentor?"
Robin's expression suddenly shifted. The mocking smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, blade-like seriousness: "...Or are you simply looking for death? If that's what you want, let me save you the trouble of searching. I can grant you a swift end right now!"
"It's you... who wants... to die!!" Durger roared, his voice shaking the earth as if an earthquake had struck. A dark aura erupted from his body, brimming with aggressive energy. His entire form trembled with a mix of fury and humiliation, his bloodlust rising like volcanic magma. Yet he remained still.
Robin's voice broke the tense silence again, his arms spreading slightly, as if inviting the colossal beast to challenge him, "So what do you want, exactly? Why are we even in this situation? If you think that by fighting me you'll regain your glory or impress your beasts, you're mistaken. You and I both know I didn't send anyone to provoke you. You attacked without reason. You saw my army and witnessed the power I wield, yet you still chose to engage. What am I supposed to make of this?"
"You... are in my... world!!" Durger bellowed with a tone that blended embarrassment and authority. Each word dripped with rage as if he needed to remind himself and everyone else that he was the ruler here and this land was his.
"Your world?" Robin laughed a laugh so mocking it seemed to pierce Durger's very being. He waved his hand dismissively, as though swatting away a ridiculous notion: "It was never your world. It belonged to Pythor. You were just a source of blood to create more of his soldiers and expand his empire! A living reservoir of blood, nothing more. Pythor has a dark cube that can kill you at any moment, but he kept you alive simply to milk you whenever he wished. And now you want to present yourself as a king before me? With what pride? With what authority? This planet is mine now, just as it was Pythor's before. If you wish to survive, act as a reasonable beast should: stay in your lair and know your limits!"
Tension. Tension.
The atmosphere grew heavier all of a sudden, as though the sky itself was closing in, suffocating the very air. Even during the peak of the True Genesis Empire's military might, the tension had never reached such a suffocating level. The air was saturated with a dark aura so oppressive it seemed to weigh on every creature present, silencing even the fiercest beasts. These creatures were no ordinary beasts. Each one of them was sentient, their intelligence and power transcending the understanding of mortals. Some of them caught snippets of the fiery exchange between Robin and Durger, while others relied on body language alone. Every glance, every tilt of Durger's colossal head, every tremor of his massive tail-each motion conveyed a message. It was unmistakable: this human had uttered something he should never have said.
Under normal circumstances, the beasts would have attacked as one, their blood boiling at the slightest insult to their king. Their loyalty to Durger compelled them to act without thought, proving that their king's throne was inviolable. But this time was different. This was not someone to be provoked lightly. Not Robin, the man whose overwhelming golden army had already subdued the Wyvern King. None among them dared to bear the responsibility of summoning that cursed army once more. So, they remained still, their eyes locked on Durger, waiting for his command.
Rumble Rumble
The ground trembled violently. Durger the Devourer began to move. The roar that had been simmering in his massive chest erupted like the groaning of a fractured earth. His previously relaxed posture shifted gradually. He raised his enormous head, inching forward with a deliberate menace that radiated sheer terror. The movement of his colossal form shook the earth beneath him, as if the planet itself was bowing to his dominance.
"Hsssssss..." The hiss he released was enough to make the surrounding beasts recoil slightly, though their feet remained rooted. Durger seemed calm- too calm. A calmness that foreshadowed a storm. Yet, everyone present, even Robin, could feel the unease in the air. It was clear: Durger had made his decision to attack.
But Robin, unflinching, burst into loud laughter, as if the scene before him were nothing more than a ridiculous play. He spoke in a mocking tone, his voice carrying over the tense silence, "Hahaha! What exactly are you trying to do, you oversized potato?"
He gestured behind him with a derisive smile, "Do you think you're about to try something new that the Wyvern didn't already fail at? I spoke to you like a reasonable being, and I even pulled back my army to give you a chance to have a conversation. But you want to fight? Damn! You really must enjoy being humiliated. A masochist to the core, aren't you?"
Robin's words struck like an arrow, piercing Durger's pride. The once-unquestioned king of the beasts, now openly challenged, felt an acute embarrassment in front of his followers. His roar reverberated across the space, full of fury and wounded pride:
"You... want... killing... Durger!!"
His voice, though booming, betrayed his frustration and anger. He was now forced to put on a show of aggression to save face before his beasts. If he failed to display strength now, his followers might question him—perhaps even lose their faith in him entirely.
Yet, deep inside, Durger hesitated. Did he want to kill Robin? Absolutely. Could he? That was the question that gnawed at him. The image of the subdued Wyvern King still lingered in his mind. Beast Kings were rare entities, each carrying an immense pride within their core. Whatever fate had befallen the Wyvern, Durger had no desire to share it.
Robin, quick to seize upon the serpent's hesitation, responded sharply, driving the knife in further, "I will only kill you if you wrong me! Do you think you can unleash your beasts to conquer my world and slaughter my armies while I stand idly by? But..."
He paused briefly, as though pondering aloud. His tone softened slightly, though it retained its edge, "There are... other ways we can come to an understanding."