Chapter 2335

2335 – Two Allies

“…What about this one?” Glacion sighed and approached Kiryān for the seventh time with a new formulation.

“….” Kiryān took the small tablet and began reading, then started to furrow his brows.

As for the Allegiance section, the formulation before him was too lenient, and after the revisions, it became even more lenient.

For example, Glacion had initially written in one of the clauses: Absolute loyalty to Lord Robin, but after the revision, it became: Absolute loyalty to Lord Robin's goals.

Kiryān justified this by saying that he currently agreed with Lord Robin's goals and would follow his orders based on that, but if something arose that required otherwise, he would have the right to decide his own fate at that time.

Similar revisions applied to the rest of the clauses as well, such as the Improvisation clause. Glacion had started the first document with the requirement that Kiryān must return to Lord Robin or the Shadow Swords before taking any action, but that was revised several times until it allowed him a certain scope for improvisation based on the information he possessed, without affecting the big picture.

“Hmm…” Kiryān began reading again with furrowed brows, then waited a full minute reviewing the clauses one by one.

Then he raised his finger and pointed to the first clause. “As for this—”

"No, no, no." Glacion quickly pulled the tablet back. "There's no room for any manipulation; we've reached the limit that Lord Robin will undoubtedly refuse to cross. If we try to ease up any further, you'll find him shouting in your face, demanding complete and absolute loyalty. I've seen with my own eyes how tyrannical he can become when he's upset, so let's not press that nerve."

Glacion appeared tense at that moment, even fearful, but in truth, he was prepared to negotiate the terms for at least three more rounds. However, he needed to make Kiryān feel that he was nearing the limit; otherwise, he would keep requesting amendments endlessly.

He had started with a deliberately harsh set of terms so that he could gradually bring them down, relying on Lord Robin's words that granted Kiryān the right to bargain.

He was not upset with Lord Robin for granting Kiryān and Zavarus this right; on the contrary, he applauded him in his mind with admiration—it was an excellent move!

People like Kiryān and Zavarus would never accept an Oath of Allegiance. They have lived for millions of years in a position of supremacy and chose to oppose The Syndicate when it tried to force them to do what they did not want. In the end, by some miracle, they found themselves facing external forces and decided to stand with the team chosen by the Cosmic Elder. But that does not mean they can be pressured further by imposing an oath on them.

Therefore, Lord Robin gave them this opportunity as a way to loosen the reins a little, granting them the illusion of choice and negotiation. Then he left them with a phrase: "As long as you do not cross the line," to give Glacion a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

And now, Kiryān, the Oppression Behemoth, famous for his strength in battle, is personally adjusting the Oath of Loyalty he will take upon himself!

"…." Kiryān cast a long glance at the tablet in Glacion's hand, who was gripping it nervously, then sighed. "Alright, I agree to that wording."

"…Hoo~ Excellent." Glacion sighed in relief.

Then he turned toward Robin. "A tablet here, please."

"….." Without moving his head or even a finger, Robin gently waved, and a metal tablet roughly the size of an adult man's torso emerged, floating slowly until it reached Glacion.

“…” Glacion sighed when he saw it. It resembled the tablet on which he had sworn an oath some time ago, the only difference being the faint golden engravings along its edges. He then passed it to Kiryān. “Go ahead. After I swore on this tablet, my eyes were opened, and my status grew—at least in my own eyes. I am confident the same will happen to you.”

“…” Kiryān furrowed his brow for a moment, deeply suspicious of those words. Had he not been under attack, with his galaxy on the verge of annihilation and about to lose everything he had ever built, he would never have chosen to do this.

After a brief hesitation, he received the massive tablet, infused it with his spirit power for a few moments, and then began reciting the oath through his spiritual imprint.

“Alright, I’m done.” Kiryān tossed the tablet back to Glacion with suppressed anger.

He felt somewhat humiliated—a Ten-Star Royal Soul Master like himself, taking someone else’s spirit oath.

Although he could break it later, in this situation, the oath was merely meant to insult and bow his head, and besides—

Clack

“Gah?!” Kiryān clutched his chest as he felt shackles coil around his heart. “What the…?”

Shackles made of spirit power, but engraved with golden patterns he had never seen before!

"It's a tablet I leave for my loved ones. You didn't expect me to give a Ten-Star Soul Master an ordinary spirit oath, did you?" Robin chuckled as he stared at Zavarus. "Don't worry about it. In a few minutes, you'll forget it exists."

Then he furrowed his brows slightly. "Though it doesn't measure up to that Eternal Covenant on Zavarus... it will grant me some peace of mind."

"...?" Kiryān's anxiety rose sharply, but soon subsided. He had decided to walk this path to the end, and the matter was settled.

"Hoo~" Robin dispelled the glow and rubbed his eyes calmly. "Pass the same tablet to Zavarus, and give him the first copy of the oath."

"Understood." Glacion quickly passed the metal oath tablet, along with the list of requirements, the first item of which was: Absolute Loyalty.

"This is something no mind can accept!!" Zavarus roared. "We're helping each other in a time of war—I am not a slave!!"

"I copied the formula of the Eternal Covenant from your Code of Creation." Robin smiled gently. "I am the only one in the Universe who can decode it and free you from the mess you've gotten yourself into, and the mess that made you betray the Universe for tens of millions of years."

"...I have also assigned my ninth and tenth consciousness to study the method of injecting the blood of young space beasts and absorbing the crystal. And guess what? I am the only one in the universe who can save you and your lineage from all turning into beasts."

"He can say that he aligns with my ideas, and we will help each other in the war." Robin pointed toward Kiryān, then toward Zavarus. "As for you, take the oath in silence."

"...Damn it!" Zavarus infused his spiritual imprint and began reciting the oath.

*Clack*

Robin's smile widened until he noticed that Zavarus had finished and the shackles appeared. "Excellent." Then he pulled the tablet toward him and gently placed it inside the spacetime safe next to the sword and the rest of the valuable possessions.

Then he stood up and pointed at Kiryān. "Return to your galaxy and join the defense; support will reach you very soon."

Then he pointed at Zavarus. "Get some rest and think about what happened today until reinforcements arrive. After that, I want to see the greatest comet in the universe become its greatest benefactor, for I expect much from you."

Then he pointed toward Glacion with a smile. "Let's go to the next destination!"