Published at 24th of February 2026 6:47 am

Chapter 2023: Weak

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"...Most likely at myself," Robin replied with a calm seriousness that carried the weight of centuries of guilt.

This was the deepest stain of shame in his long and storied life—

that something so vile and cruel could have happened to his family while he himself still breathed.

Even if he one day possessed all the power that lay between heaven and earth, not even that would erase this memory. It lingered, etched into reality, impossible to undo.

Robin tilted his head slightly and cracked his neck with a deliberate, precise motion. He forced a faint, measured smile onto his face and slowly lowered his hand to rest once again on the polished armrest of his chair, the weight of his presence filling the room.

"A moment ago... you said you are not a disease, and not some intruder. I know that well enough," he said quietly but firmly. "That’s why I told you to bring your brother out when I first got here. That’s why, despite everything, I haven’t erased you. Not yet."

"Treating me as if I’m someone else is the greatest insult imaginable!" the spikyhaired young man shouted, his voice trembling with restrained fury. "I am Richard just like him! You can’t pretend otherwise!"

"Hm... I suppose you could say that," Robin replied with a few deliberate nods, his gaze steady, unflinching. "According to your own account, the second soul was not there since birth—it was produced miraculously on that fateful day. That fact alone forces me to consider several possibilities... The most probable scenario, in my eyes, is that your soul domain was already teetering on the brink of collapse. They pushed too far. You were, quite literally, half dead."

He continued, his voice calm, almost analytical. "But the words that giant muttered caused a disruption in that collapse. Your clinging to life, your desire for revenge, your unbearable sense of weakness as a child... it all collided in a perfect storm, triggering your soul to split in two." Robin paused and let out a slow, measured sigh. "I can’t lie—it sounds like something from a fantasy novel, something impossible. Yet, I can think of no other explanation that fits what I know of you."

"Doesn’t that mean the split made us... identical?" the white, spikyhaired youth’s voice cracked as his eyes widened with shock and disbelief. "That I really am your son? That I truly am Richard?!"

"Almost," Robin confirmed with a calm nod. "From the perspective of your soul domain, and the initial soul itself, you are indeed similar. It even appears that you can even access his memories when you want. Yet... there remains a distinction. There is always a difference."

He continued, his voice lower now, almost thoughtful. "The real Richard—the consciousness he was born with—was the frightened child who endured torture daily. You, however... replaced him that day. Your initial soul inherited every trait Richard secretly wished for, every quality he longed to possess."

"Strength. Decisiveness. Fearlessness. The capacity to kill. Ambition sharp enough to carve a path of escape and revenge... all of that manifested in you instantly. You emerged fully formed with that personality, forged from necessity and survival," Robin explained, tilting his head slightly. "I have long been unsure how to classify you, how to define you in my mind... In the end, I decided to see you as Richard’s brother. You are not him, yet you are inseparable from him. You ARE my son, in every way that matters."

"..."

Richard’s eyes fell to the floor, his mind a whirlwind of disbelief. He could neither process nor comprehend this revelation, nor could he find words to respond.

"Listen..." Robin sighed deeply, exhaling slowly. "There is a way I can completely separate the two of you, finally and utterly."

"Huh?" Richard’s head snapped up, his expression a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.

"I will create a new body for you," Robin continued, his voice measured, almost clinical. "I will seal the gap between your soul domains entirely. Then, I will transfer your soul domain—your initial soul and the consciousness tethered to it—into that new body. You will emerge as a complete human being, with nothing missing, nothing lacking."

He allowed a faint, teasing smile to form at the corner of his lips. "I suppose in the end, I will have twin sons. What shall I call you? Bitchard? Dick, Perhaps?"

"I am not leaving my body for another! I am who I am!" Richard shouted, his voice firm, full of raw conviction.

Robin raised a single eyebrow, his expression momentarily amused. "Hm. That is unexpected. You do not wish to be free? You would not have your brother taking your place every now and then. You would be free to act without restriction, to live unbound. To do whatever you wished, whenever you wished."

"I do not want that. I can deal with him myself. You stay out of it," Richard said sharply, waving his hand dismissively.

"Heh~" Robin let out a short, soft sigh, gesturing lightly with his hand. "Bring your brother out. He is the one who has been attempting to erase you for centuries—he deserves to have his say in this matter."

"..."

Richard thought for a long, tense moment. He bit down on his lip until it hurt, then closed his eyes, preparing himself.

After he opened his eyes, the entire atmosphere around him shifted dramatically... a subtle tension seemed to radiate from him, as if the air itself had thickened.

His spiky hair fell, transforming into delicate strands of white silk that shimmered faintly in the light. His sharp, defiant eyes softened and relaxed, settling into a half-lidded state, losing some of their usual glare. The change was almost hypnotic.

"I don’t want the separation either," he murmured, his voice low but resolute, carrying a quiet weight that seemed to ripple through the room.

"So... you were listening all along, then?" Robin raised an eyebrow, his tone edged with curiosity and a faint reprimand. "Why did you let Bitchard take your place in my presence? That isn’t like you. It’s... unusual."

Richard’s gaze fell. "...He saved me from certain death during my attempt to breakthrough into World Cataclysm. I believe he deserves to lead the body for a while," he said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that hinted at the countless lives and dangers he had faced. "...He’s annoying, aggressive, bloodthirsty, unpredictable—but he saved my life more times than I can count."

He lowered his head further, shoulders tense, and spoke with quiet resolve. "I thought deeply about it and abandoned the idea of eliminating him. I want him to remain, as long as he agrees to a few strict conditions... I believe we can help each other survive, perhaps even grow stronger together."

Robin’s expression hardened, his lips pressing into a thin line. There was a flicker of displeasure, impatience, and subtle frustration on his face—an unmistakable aura of authority that reminded Richard just how immense his father’s presence was.

"Weak," Robin said bluntly.

"...Even if you are my father, you don’t get to throw words like that," Richard repied, forcing a faint smile. Though his words were calm, the anger beneath them was unmistakable, radiating in his tone and posture. "If you see me as weak, then who is strong in your eyes?"

"You are weak, without doubt," Robin said, his gaze unwavering, "but I’m talking about your character, not your combat strength. Don’t mistake raw power for wisdom or resolve." He leaned back slightly, lifting his head. "Do you think I haven’t followed every action you’ve taken? Let’s not dwell on the distant past. Focus with me on the last era alone. Since you abandoned your responsibilities and left, taking a Flood Note-4 vessel with you, after learning of the failure of the negotiations on Serene."

He pointed at Richard, his tone measured, deliberate.

"You initially took the ship to attempt a rescue in the Radiance Galaxy, to save your beloved, but you failed to breach their defenses due to the imposed siege. You accepted reality and returned, dedicating decades to strengthening yourself. You chose Anti-Life as your path."

"...The Anti-Life ability, which you clearly derived inspiration from the Black Plague, is immensely powerful. You could have expanded it further, pushed it beyond its limits, but when you realized it might destroy you, you accepted reality and halted its development. You reduced it to a rigid, static martial art, never fully exploring its potential."

"...Then came the moment of the failed breakthrough. Your brother Dick appeared unexpectedly, moved your body, and saved you from death, according to your own account. That means your body had both the time and the power to escape. He did not create time, nor did he generate energy from nothing—everything was within your capability. Yet you accepted reality -again- accepted death, you did not attempt to alter the outcome."

"...And now, I give you an opportunity to rid yourself of the burden, the headache that has haunted you for centuries, and you refuse. You claim that you suddenly recognize his usefulness, that you can communicate with him, and therefore allow him to remain. After many tried to kill him and failing you AGAIN accepted reality, haven’t you?"

Robin rested his hands firmly on the armrests of his chair, his posture radiating authority and inevitability.

"You are weak, without a doubt. Weak in personality, weak in spirit. You accept reality too easily. You allow yourself to be led, like a goat being herded to the slaughter. Perhaps leaving Bitchard with you isn’t such a terrible idea after all."

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