Published at 30th of December 2025 8:39 am

Chapter 1877 Denial

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The tent fell into a suffocating, almost tangible silence-so heavy it pressed on every chest, making breaths shallow, uneasy. The air itself seemed to freeze, as if time had paused for a moment of grim reckoning. Every person inside recoiled into the corners of their own private calamity, trapped in the gravity of the revelation.

For Hedrick, the news was nothing short of catastrophic. It wasn't merely that the Verillion seed was under threat -this had always been a known danger- but now... now, the scenario had shifted entirely, and the implications were almost unbearable.

In the first scenario, he had fought tooth and nail to achieve his dream, standing against individuals who bore personal grudges, those who might have acted out of envy, malice, or fear. Perhaps if he had endured long enough-he might have survived their scrutiny, their attacks, even their subtle betrayals. Perhaps, one day, they would have retreated, leaving him to breathe freely again.

But now... it turned out he had been nothing more than a pawn, a piece in a much larger game, a silent witness to a deal struck between two mighty Behemoths?

And Verillion... the precious seed, the hope of a new beginning-it wasn't protected by luck. No, it was considered a claimed property, almost as though the Savage Behemoth already treated it as his own personal possession! The weight of such realization pressed down on him like a physical force.

Poff.

Hedrick, who had stood with unwavering posture all this time, suddenly felt his legs betray him. Weakness coursed through his limbs, and he slumped into a sitting position where he had been standing just moments before, a figure of exhaustion and disbelief.

Orion, by contrast, shot upright with a force that nearly jolted him into the air.

"LIES!!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the canvas walls, sharp and accusatory. He pointed a trembling finger at Theo, his eyes wild with outrage. "Do you even realize the magnitude of what you just claimed? How could you possibly know the inner workings of a Behemoth meeting? How could you claim to know the secret dealings of the most powerful beings in this sector? THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE-THIS IS A LIE!!"

"I connected the dots," Theo said, his tone icy, almost mechanical, stripped of all emotion. "If you choose to ignore what I say, that is your prerogative. But the information is accurate. You are free to disbelieve, yet the truth remains unchanged."

Theo had indeed been unable to penetrate either the Cursed Galaxy or the Savage Galaxy with the Shadow Swords, nor could he rely on the Imperial Guard as he had with the Bright Galaxy. Yet intelligence gathering had many

avenues.

He had used one of the oldest, simplest, yet most effective tricks in existence: buying information.

He had paid the Syndicate of the Hidden Hand staggering sums, not for full reports, not for clear directions, but for fragments-scraps of knowledge, pieces of the puzzle scattered across spies embedded everywhere. Some were even within galaxy seeds, working in government positions, occasionally glimpsing the inner sanctums of the Behemoths' palaces.

Even with only fragments, half-glimpsed reactions, suspicious movements, or enigmatic decisions, Theo had pieced together the entire tapestry.

Thinking about it now, a flicker of frustration passed over Theo's features. The sheer gap in intelligence-gathering capability between himself and the Syndicate remained vast.

"Of course, I won't believe you!" Orion's voice rose again, sharp and frantic, his eyes blazing, shaking the very tent with his fury. "How could I possibly trust you, claiming that he- he will take the seed from my mother's hands?! Do you even understand what that could mean?! That could kill her! Do you realize the sacrifices we've made, the blood and effort we've poured into this just to protect her, to protect the sector?!"

"..." Theo said nothing. Not a single flinch, not a hint of remorse or defense.

"Lord Hedrick... you don't really believe him, do you?" Orion's voice dropped into a desperate whisper, almost pleading. He spun to Hedrick, pointing wildly at Theo as if he were dangling a lifeline. His grin was manic, frenzied, a tether to hope in a storm of despair. "It's obvious! He's playing a game, trying to manipulate us! Don't fall for it!"

But Hedrick did not respond. His expression remained taut, almost suffocating in its intensity. Only after several long, heavy seconds did he turn to Theo.

"And now, at this moment, you choose to tell me all of this? After everything?" His voice was quiet, heavy, restrained, but it carried the weight of disbelief and the burden of command.

"What's with this question?!" Orion pointed at Theo several times, "Do you really believe him? Do you think we're both so small that the Cursed Behemoth and the Savage Behemoth would treat us this way? Like we're nothing?!"

Theo replied, calm, unfazed by the turmoil around him. "Is there a better moment than now, Lord Hedrick? You are still at the height of your strength, fully capable of responding to the realities before you!"

A faint, almost serene smile spread across his face. "The difference is that some pieces of the puzzle only became visible recently. Before now, they were mere conjectures... and I do not share conjecture."

"I wish you had." Hedrick's broken smile betrayed exhaustion, sorrow, and resignation all at once. "I came into this standing tall, a man seated on the throne of this sector, wielding authority and power beyond measure. Over 4,400 fleets answer my command, and I can summon more at will. I have fought relentlessly, every battle, every strategy, every maneuver, to repel invaders and reclaim this sector -my home- again."

"...But then first, you tell me that the Bright Galaxy is nothing more than a puppet, and now, you tell me that I have been fighting against two Behemoths- both determined, both focused, both intent on destroying me as nothing more than collateral damage?" His voice broke for the first time since the war began. Hedrick shook his head slowly. "Then... tell me, Theo... why am I really fighting?

For what purpose?"

Orion, unable to contain himself, waved his hands aggressively, his face twisted with disbelief and anger.

"Clearly, your mind has been shaken by too many wounds, too many battles, if you can actually believe this madness!" he shouted, stepping forward. "But as for me, I refuse to remain trapped in this asylum of insanity any longer! I will return to the galaxy, and I will do everything I possibly can-to help, to intervene, to prevent the Bright fleets from moving out unchecked, to hold them back at any cost. And I will personally convey to the Cursed Behemoth that you rejected his offer! Good luck managing this chaos without me!" With those words, Orion stormed toward the tent's exit, his fury propelling him like a comet across the floor. His siblings followed closely, their faces a chaotic tapestry of panic, disbelief, and confusion. The sheer intensity of fear, anger, and disorientation made Orion forget, even for a fleeting moment, that he was the master of this place, the one who held command of all within these walls. "Lord Orion!" Theo's calm, deliberate voice cut through the chaos, sharper than any sword. "I have one final thing to say, if you allow me."

"What?" rion spun around abruptly, eyes wide, burning with intensity. "You'd better say something truly significant this time!"

"Sword-Theo2," Theo said, his voice serene and clear, carrying a weight of authority that made every word feel like a decree. His smile radiated calm assurance, pure and unwavering. "If you ever change your mind, and wish to resume our conversation from where we left off, that is the name I hold within

the Soul Society. I will await your message, Lord Orion" Orion's expression contorted further, a mixture of disbelief, shock, and astonishment crossing his features, before he finally resumed his furious dash

outside. "Let's go!"

Frrrrrrr-

Moments later, the roar of engines filled the tent, the vibrations rattling the walls. The vessel of the Ishraq galaxy had launched at maximum speed, streaking across the void like a bolt of lightning, disappearing from sight almost

instantly.

Royal Soul Lord Drais, standing nearby, furrowed his brow deeply, a shadow of concern crossing his face. "Was it truly wise to hand him all that information without securing any guarantee in return?" His voice, measured but tense, carried the weight of centuries of strategic thought. "You yourself admitted that the entire Pureheart family is under the control of the Cursed Behemoth. And now you've armed him with knowledge. What if he chooses to reveal what happened today? The consequences could be catastrophic."

"Oh," Theo replied, hands casually clasped behind his back, his calm demeanor unshaken, "he left quickly to inform someone, yes-but not the Cursed Behemoth. No, he went straight to the Pure One Kaylis, his mother." His voice was soft, yet carried absolute certainty. "He knows the matter is far too significant for him alone. So he feigned disbelief, escaping before we could ask him to act. Perhaps we will hear from them soon. Perhaps they will choose to remain underfoot forever. Even if the truth --that we know everything- becomes known, it will not significantly alter their overarching plan. Their intent to destroy Lord Hedrick and anyone allied with him remains unchanged."

Hedrick pressed his temples with increasing force, feeling the weight of these revelations pressing down on him like a physical burden. "...Do you have a plan, Theo?" His voice was low, tense, but edged with urgency. "You remain far too calm. It unnerves me... Do you have a plan that can allow me to control, to contain the ambitions of the Cursed Behemoth and the Savage Behemoth?" "Me?" Theo shook his head slowly, his dark eyes thoughtful. "My role is to provide information, to supply the means for Lord Hedrick to execute his strategies-not to devise strategies for him. How could a martial emperor, such as myself, possibly conceive a counter-plan against Behemoths of such scale and cunning? The only advice I can offer is that-"

At that precise moment, the faint, confident smile that had lingered on Theo's face vanished completely. The voice ring, connected to the interstellar information network, suddenly activated, transmitting a message directly to him. In the next instant, Theo's normally composed face drained of all color, his

features pale, eyes widening slightly in shock.

Even as he had spoken calmly of the three Behemoths and the Cosmic Elder, maintaining a steady demeanor, the contents of this new message struck him with a force that left him momentarily breathless. He opened his mouth, trembling, whispering in disbelief, "...Oh no..."

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