2297 - The Bull's Wrath
Somewhere in Mid Sector 98—
*Crackle*
*Crackle*
*Krakoooom*
"…."
Beneath the thunderstorm, in a place where it literally rained tiny lightning bolts like raindrops… Aru was relaxing.
The young man with bull horns was lying on an extended lounger, the kind placed along beaches.
He wore loose, comfortable trousers below, but above, he was bare-chested, facing the thunderstorms around him with a smile and closed eyes, as if he were in the most beautiful place in the universe.
There was no beautiful beach or anything like that around him—just a dense forest. Above him, there was no warm sun, but rather a storm blocking it, while fierce winds lashed the clouds, the forest, and everything they touched… Everything in this place was a nightmare, yet it was the definition of comfort for him, for someone with a great affinity for lightning, and then wind after it.
But his satisfied, content expression did not reflect his true state…
His nearly naked body was weak, covered in injuries and bandages, and his neck, once thick as a tree trunk, had become as thin as the rest of his body… It was clear that something unusual was going on with him.
"My husband, the report on the battle in the Expected Galaxy has arrived." At that moment, Flora approached, her usual beauty and radiance showing no sign of having been affected by whatever had befallen her husband. She calmly handed a small metal chip to Aru.
"Hmm?" Aru was surprised. "It's already over?" He slowly reached out and took the chip, then passed his spiritual sense over it. "…."
Aru's expression shifted from surprise to stillness. He stared at the chip for nearly a full minute without moving, then
*Whoosh*
A burst of lightning shot out, struck the chip, and melted it into liquid, which he then tossed aside in annoyance.
"Is the situation that bad?" Flora asked with a heavy heart.
"Has His Highness Theo returned with what I requested?" Aru changed the subject with a direct question. "It's been weeks!"
Some time ago, Theo came personally and told him that His Majesty had ordered unconditional support for what was happening in Mid Sector 98, and that anything Aru wanted that they could provide, they would do.
Aru took advantage of the situation and requested an additional sixty Royal Soul Masters from the Burton Family, and demanded an amount of fifty billion Pearl to operate the Note-4 squadron's cannons with the madness he needed. He also asked for one Guardian or one Seven-star Royal Soul Master… just one request!
Aru even dared to tell Theo that he would obliterate the Sorcerer's Curse Galaxy if he possessed those items.
As for the fifty billion Pearl, it was confirmed, but Theo could not send it directly to Aru, because he would not be able to withdraw it inside Mid Sector 98. Therefore, he sent several Shadow Swords to retrieve it from Mid Sector 99, and they indeed succeeded in delivering it to the army.
As for the other two requests, Theo's response was: "I'll see what I can do."
"Not yet." Flora shook her head. "His Highness says that most of the Royal Spirit Masters are busy on Planet Donara, and he cannot pull that many away, but he will provide you with a similar number of Nexus States from the Cradle and Grave Wings. He is currently negotiating rental prices with them."
"Donara again?" Aru frowned deeply. "What exactly is happening there?"
"…." Flora shrugged.
Anyone not involved on that planet receives no information about it, while news of Nihari reaches them easily… It is as if Donara is a secret greater than the galaxy itself and what happens within it!
"…Did he at least say anything about the Guardian?" Aru gritted his teeth.
"He said he's negotiating with Lord Omis and Lord Omira," Flora replied with a faint smile. "But the negotiations might drag on, because neither of them wants to come face a full Behemoth Galaxy alone."
"And who told him that the Guardian I want would be sent to face the galaxy alone? Does he take me for a Novice?!" Aru shouted in frustration, but felt a pain in his chest and quickly calmed down. "...At least did he try with the Six Greats in Mid Sector 101?"
"The Six Greats aren't official subordinates of the Empire. His Highness Theo sometimes mobilizes them within Mid Sector 101 using large sums of money, but they refuse to leave the sector. Don't forget that the sons of the Cursed Behemoth are still there, still hunting and attacking all forces whenever they find an opportunity, so none of them wants to abandon what they've built their entire lives to fight another Behemoth in a different sector."
"..." Aru looked down in defeat. "We have vast wealth and resources, overwhelming technological advancement, expert leaders, and an unparalleled ruler, but we don't have a single person with the power of a Law Dominator whom we can order to move!" Then he gradually raised his voice before shouting toward the sky: "When in the hell will these imposed boundaries disappear?!"
"Calm down," Flora stepped forward and patted his shoulder slowly. "You're supposed to still be on leave for your health, so don't burden yourself with all this."
"Leave? Nonsense." Aru gritted his teeth hard. "The very day I regained consciousness, I returned to remote administration and direction. I'm only on leave in name because I'm not fighting, but Mid Sector 98 is still run under my direct command... what kind of leave is that?"
Then he looked in a certain direction with indignation. "But if I don't do it... then who? Who else but me can command all those forces with that efficiency? Hmph, even the lucky Caesar can't survive here!" Then he laughed. "Maybe only if His Majesty comes himself could he replace me!"
Hmm
At that moment, a golden door opened, and Robin stepped out with an annoyed expression, muttering, "Every Tom, Dick, and Harry..."
"......?!"
Behind him appeared Glacion and Richard.
"Wait, my lord, calm down!" Glacion said quickly.
"............?!!??"