Lord of the Truth

"...Would you like to join my Third Army?"

"....???" Holak's eyes snapped open abruptly at those words. He turned toward Aro, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. His lips twitched slightly, and for a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, gradually, it shifted—first into a faint smirk, then into an unmistakable grin. The grin turned into suppressed chuckles, which quickly escalated into a full-blown fit of laughter, "Pfff—HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

His deep, thunderous laughter echoed through the rocky terrain, shaking his broad shoulders as he clutched his stomach.

"....." Sandria furrowed her brows tightly at this dramatic reaction. Even the three sorceresses who stood nearby exchanged glances. They had anticipated a refusal, perhaps even an insult—but not this. Even if he wasn't interested, wasn't this response a little excessive?

"Hmph..." Crixus the Purifier, the enormous wyvern-like beast resting nearby, let out a loud, huffing snort. His large nostrils flared as he exhaled, releasing a gust of hot air. Then, without another word, he curled his tail around himself and resumed his nap, having just finished filling a large jar. As far as he was concerned, Holak's reaction was entirely predictable.

"....Hahaha... Hehehe... Heheheheh!!" Holak finally started to calm down, slapping his thick thigh a few times in an attempt to steady himself. After another lingering chuckle, he forced his amusement to subside, took a deep breath, and leaned back against the boulder behind him.

Then he shut his eyes once more, looking as if he intended to ignore the entire conversation.

Yet, throughout the entire ordeal, one person remained completely unfazed—Aro. He had neither flinched nor reacted to Holak's laughter. His calm, steady smile never wavered, as if he had anticipated this response all along.

He patiently waited for Holak to settle down before speaking again.

"I'm glad my offer amused you, Mr. Holak, but you still haven't given me your answer."

Holak cracked one eye open, this time scrutinizing Aro with a sharper gaze. However, the amusement in his expression had vanished, "Hey, tell me something—did you take some drugs before coming here, Horned One?"

Aro remained unbothered by the insult. His tone remained composed as he replied, "I assure you, I am in complete control of my faculties. I simply see a warrior of immense strength, and I wish to recruit him. Someone of your caliber belongs on the battlefield, leading conquests into new worlds. What's so strange about that? My army is still in its early stages, and it requires individuals of power—individuals like you."

Holak scoffed, his irritation creeping into his voice. "Then stop wasting your breath. I don't take orders from anyone whose face I could flatten and whose horns I could snap in half. Take your precious jar, tuck it under your arm, and go look for your recruits elsewhere. I'm just a citizen now."

Aro's expression remained unchanged, his smile unwavering, "No problem. I want you in the Third Army, but it's not as if I need you to build it." He tilted his head slightly. "But let me ask you this—what will you do without the Third Army? Someone like you won't remain a citizen forever. So, what are your options?"

Holak said nothing, but his expression subtly shifted, a flicker of annoyance visible beneath his rugged features.

Aro continued, his tone steady and measured, "The Second Army consists entirely of demons. You have no place among them. The First Army is composed of humans—they won't accept you, and you wouldn't feel at home with them either. So tell me, where else will you go? Do you have another refuge outside of the Third Army?"

Holak remained silent.

Aro smiled knowingly. "That said, I'll take my leave now. Enjoy your rest."

He gave a slight, almost imperceptible bow, then turned on his heel and walked away with the same measured pace.

"..." Holak watched him for several steps, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sharp exhale, he shut his eyes again, though this time, the irritation on his face was far more pronounced.

Meanwhile, Aro did not look like someone who had just lost a negotiation. Quite the opposite—when his gaze landed on the jar brimming with thick, blue blood, he chuckled. Then, without hesitation, he turned toward Tetha.

"Bring in the first test subject."

"Are we conducting the experiment here, Supreme General?" one of the three sorceresses inquired, her voice devoid of emotion.

Aro spread his arms wide as if to embrace the moment, "Of course. The Great Wyvern has every right to witness the first transformation of a lineage that descends from him!"

"....."

Crixus opened his eyes slightly, his reptilian pupils narrowing with intrigue. The words piqued his interest.

Tetha gave a brief nod and began preparing the massive test subject for the procedure.

Elsewhere…

While the others busied themselves with preparations, Sandria sent a telepathic message to Aro, her tone carrying a hint of doubt: (Are you really going to leave him just like that? You won't try to convince him further? If we manage to recruit him, we'll gain a force on par with Sakaar and Caesar. Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but you aren't at their level yet.)

For the first time since their conversation began, Aro's confident smile faltered—just slightly. A shadow of something resembling pain flickered across his expression.

(People like Holak have their own way of thinking, Sandria. Even if he agreed with my logic, he wouldn't accept my offer right now because he'd see it as a sign of weakness. That's simply how his mind works… The best I can do is plant the idea in his head and let it take root. If it grows in the right way, he'll eventually come to me on his own, presenting his willingness to join as if it were his decision. That's the only way someone like him would ever accept.)

Sandria's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected such an approach. Slowly, she began to nod in understanding.

BAAM!

A massive thud echoed across the rocky terrain as one of the three Nihari Giants was shoved forward, forced to his knees beside Aro. His heavy breathing and furrowed brows betrayed the pain and confusion he felt. But Aro paid no heed to the giant's struggle. His focus remained solely on the object he retrieved from within his spatial ring—an ominous device made of three thick iron shackles, each embedded with hundreds of thin, glistening needles. The shackles were connected by delicate yet deceptively strong silver chains that pulsed faintly with energy. This was no ordinary restraint.

This was the Race Upgrade Device.

With a controlled motion, Aro raised his hand toward the enormous jar of blue blood that rested nearby. His fingers twitched, manipulating his energy with precise intent. A single droplet of the thick, shimmering liquid rose into the air, floating as if guided by invisible strings. With extreme caution, he maneuvered the droplet toward a small, rune-inscribed slot on the device and let it fall inside.

TSSSSSSS—!

A horrifying, skin-crawling hiss erupted from the device the moment the blood made contact. The engraved sigils on its surface pulsed with an eerie, flickering light—ancient runes, long forgotten, now brought back to life. A wave of sinister energy radiated outward, making the very air feel heavier

"...That thing… is supposed to turn them into my kin?" A deep, rumbling voice broke the silence. Crixus, the Great Wyvern, lay nearby, his massive wings partially extended as he observed the scene before him with intrigue. His piercing golden eyes flickered with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Whatever that shackle device was, it reeked of something unnatural.

"That's what it's supposed to do, at least," Aro replied, his tone measured. "We've used this device before—to enhance over 2,000 members of the Duergar race, turning them into what we now call the Durgarians. The process was… flawless."

He paused, exhaling softly.

"But this is different. This isn't just an enhancement. This is the first time we're attempting to completely rewrite the essence of a being—to change a race from the ground up. If this works…"

His gaze sharpened.

"Then today, we will witness the birth of the first Crixisian."

Crixus The Purifier fell silent.

For a creature that had lived through countless battles, had soared across war-torn skies, and had seen empires crumble, this—what was happening now—felt entirely beyond his comprehension. He wasn't sure how he should feel about it.

"...Hooh~ Well then," Aro finally exhaled, his lips curving into a determined smirk. "Let's begin."

With no further hesitation, he snapped the first set of shackles around the Nihari Giant's thick neck.

"AAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!!"

The reaction was instantaneous. The moment the metal locked in place, the countless needles embedded within the shackles sank into the giant's flesh, piercing his skin like ravenous fangs.

But Aro wasn't done.

Without mercy, he grasped the second and third shackles, forcing them around the giant's massive wrists. The instant they closed, the needles burrowed deep, puncturing veins, tendons, and muscle fibers.

Blood spilled freely. Thick, dark streams ran down the captive's body, pooling beneath him. His breath hitched. His vision blurred. His entire form trembled violently.

Then, Aro moved behind him.

Lifting his right hand, he extended his fingers toward the base of the giant's skull. A moment later—

BZZZZT!

Three glowing strands of energy erupted from Aro's palm, latching onto the shackles.

"HAA!!"

With a forceful shout, Aro poured his power into the device.

SWOOOOOOO!

The runes on the shackles flared to life. The needles, already buried deep, suddenly elongated, twisting their way through bone and marrow. The ones in his neck drilled straight through, piercing his vertebrae and burrowing into his spinal cord.

"KKKK— KKKKKK—!!"

A strangled, guttural cry ripped from the giant's throat as a sensation unlike anything he had ever felt before overtook him. It wasn't just pain. It was as if something far greater was being ripped from his being—something foundational.

His soul.

A hush fell over the onlookers.

Then—changes began.

The Nihari Giant's thick, rugged skin started to shift, turning into dark, hardened scales. His large, round eyes narrowed, slitting into something more reptilian. His broad nose began retracting inward, reshaping itself entirely. His body trembled, pulsed—his very essence was being rewritten.

"Ha… Haha… IT'S WORKING!" Aro clenched his fists, his voice filled with exhilaration.

Even Crixus lifted his head slightly, his narrowed gaze filled with intense focus.

Even Holak, who had pretended to be disinterested, cracked one eye open to observe.

But then—

"KKK— KKKKKKK—-----------"

Suddenly—

The giant's transformation stopped.

His movements froze.

And then—without warning—his entire body collapsed.

A deafening thud shook the ground as he fell face-first.

Silence.

For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

Then—

Tetha rushed forward, her face unreadable as she crouched beside the fallen giant. Carefully, she pressed her fingertips against his neck, checking for any signs of life. A tense pause followed.

Then, after a few seconds, she slowly lifted her head.

Her gaze locked onto Aro's.

"...No vital signs," she said flatly. "He's dead."

"....?!"