Chapter 1018: Last clash of smperors
The atmosphere froze for a moment...
Sparks of hatred and contempt flickered between Hulak and Sakaar. A long history of disdain from the Nihari Giants toward the Demons and resentment from the Demons toward the Nihari Giants wasn't something that could be erased so easily.
If this verbal exchange had taken place between anyone else, a major fight would have already broken out. However, neither of them even unleashed their auras. They simply stared at each other in silence. Sakaar gazed at Hulak with calm, steady breathing, sitting upright, while Hulak lounged against a cushion, chuckling mockingly.
Neither needed to release their aura or show any killing intent to convey the message: I am strong, and I can f*ck you up. Each had their unshakable confidence, no matter who the opponent was.
"Alright, that's enough," Robin raised his voice at the two of them. "Soon, we'll be fighting side by side. If you can't cooperate, then I don't want any friction between you, just ignore each other." He then turned to Sakaar. "You may speak. Ignore Hulak― he'll probably forget our conversation the moment we're done."
"...As you wish, my lord." Sakaar shifted his gaze back to Robin. "It's about what happened in the southern region. I assume the lord has received reports of... strange events. Aren't you curious, my lord?"
Robin nodded slightly and scrutinized Sakaar again from head to toe before smiling.
In truth, the moment Robin arrived and saw the crimson figure, he had wanted to ask immediately about the report he'd received: that Sakaar had been defeated, the southern space portal destroyed, and the area overrun. However, noticing Sakar's unscathed state, not even a scratch on him, and his confident demeanor, Robin had quickly confirmed his initial theory-that it had all been a strategy. He decided to let the matter drop.
They were now on their way to a life-or-death battle. What was the point of discussing the southern region now? Unless: "... Is it something that can't wait?"
"You could say that." Sakaar tightened the blue leather pouch tied to his waist, drawing Hulak's attention. Hulak spat on the ground again and turned away in disgust upon recognizing what it was made of.
Sakaar then pulled out a spatial ring and channeled his energy into it. The ring trembled slightly in his hand until crack!—the fractures already present within it widened before it shattered with a bam! releasing a single object...
Ooooomnnnnnnnnn-
"!!"
Around the space portal, there were only five individuals, each capable of taking on an army alone. Yet when the object emerged from the ring, their eyes widened in shock, especially Hulak, who immediately stood and stepped back, exclaiming, "Where did you get that cursed thing?!"
It was the same dark cube that had attacked him atop the Northern Limit Mountain, the last thing he had seen before being powerless against death. How could he not be terrified to find it now in the hands of the one he had just argued with?
"Remarkable..." Robin immediately stepped forward, taking several strides closer, and held the cube with both hands, lifting it as if cradling a two-year-old child.
"...The Seventh Prince came to threaten me with this object," Sakaar began explaining while Robin examined the cube closely. "But I trapped him at the gate and struck a deal. He would hand over the cube, and in return, I would kill his men, allow him to destroy the portal, pretend to be injured, and even let him claim a quarter of the southern region."
"I agreed immediately," Sakaar concluded.
"Well done!" Robin laughed loudly. If Sakaar had insisted on opposing the prince, trying to kill him or take the cube by force, the prince would have simply activated it. In that case, the space portal would have been destroyed, Sakaar might have been injured again, and, of course, they would have lost the cube!
"He gave you such a valuable item just like that?" Caesar got up and took a few steps toward the cube. It was his first time seeing it, and curiosity had been eating at him ever since he heard all the rumors about the Niyari incident.
"He hesitated a lot, afraid of what his father would do to him if he found out he had taken it. But in the end, he sighed with relief. He said that Jaba and his father were at odds and that Jaba hadn't activated the direct surveillance arrays for some time. So, he likely wasn't watching us talk. Finally, after much negotiation, he handed it over and started the act." Sakar shrugged.
Then he added, "Now, he's pretending that he defeated me without using the cube, pretending that the dark cube is still in his possession. He doesn't want to return to the City of Hope to face his father. That's why he asked me to allow him to advance in the central region and achieve a few victories as an excuse to avoid going back."
"Won't his deception be exposed eventually?" Richard furrowed his brows slightly. When he returns to meet his father, the first thing he'll be asked for is the cube. After all, that thing can destroy worlds!
"Better to die tomorrow than to die today," Sakaar turned toward Richard with good intentions. "He's likely praying that we win today so he can take his ship and escape."
Hearing these words, Robin cast a sideways glance at Sakar, who nodded with a terrifying smile. "Don't worry. Everything has been accounted for."
Robin returned to examining the cube, turning it over in his hands. His eyes glowed like golden lanterns after fully activating the Eyes of Truth.
"...I don't understand anything. The runes on the cube and the patterns on the aura it emits are at least of the fifth grade."
Then he shot a quick look at Sakaar and the others. "What do you think? Should we take it with us and activate it against Pythor?"
"NO!!" Sakaar, Caesar, Richard, and even Hulak shouted in unison.
"Haha, alright, alright, I'm just kidding," Robin waved dismissively, laughing sarcastically. Activate it? Perhaps, if he wanted to die!
The dark cube wasn't like a bomb he could activate, throw, and then run away. Both Sakar and Hulak had spoken clearly that the shadow had some level of awareness. If Robin activated it, the shadow would most likely attack him!
Whoosh Beside Robin, Theo appeared, casting a quick glance at the other four before clasping his hands helplessly and looking down as he whispered, "Father, we've received a report from planet R-3. General Elizabeth and her army are safe, but the battles are still raging." "Oh? Haha, that's fantastic news!" Robin tossed the cube to one hand and patted Theo's back with the other. "You've lifted our spirits even more, my boy. Thank you!" "Phew~" Caesar sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. That was a significant portion of his army, and as the supreme general, he was, of course, worried.
"Apologies for interrupting; you may proceed." With a step back, Theo vanished again. Richard stared at the spot where Theo had disappeared for a few seconds before turning to his father. "Second Brother Theo is feeling down, maybe a little envious."
"...I'll figure something out for him- if we survive," Robin shrugged. How could he not notice? Theo was his adopted son, just like Caesar, and had spent more time with him than Richard. Yet, Theo's strength didn't compare to either of them-not because he lacked talent, but because Robin had given the other two unique powers while Theo had none. Immediately afterward, Robin took out an empty spatial ring from his void ring and struggled to place the cube inside. Then he snapped his fingers and gestured for the others to rise. "...It's
time."
Caesar took two steps toward Richard and pulled him to his feet, and the two nodded at each
other.
Sakar let out a long exhale and then slowly stood. His massive body and intimidating horns made him hard to ignore.
On the side, Hulak cracked his neck to the left and right with his hands and began jumping in
place several times.
Bzzzzzt-
After stabilizing the space portal, Robin turned back and looked at the four for a prolonged
moment. Then, placing his hands behind his back, he spoke with a smile, "This war has dragged on for too long. Billions have been killed, and tens of billions have been displaced. Hold nothing back. Whether we win or lose, this war ends today--by our hands." After receiving determined nods from all of them, he turned and entered the portal.
End of the "Clash of Emperors" volume.
Now begins the "Foothold" volume.