Published at 24th of February 2026 6:47 am

Chapter 2024 Althera's dog

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"..." Richard fixed his cold, unwavering gaze on Robin's eyes, the intensity in his stare calm yet piercing. "If that's truly what you believe about me, then I won't argue. That's fine."

"Heh~" Robin exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his eyes in mild irritation. He then turned to Richard with a mix of impatience and seriousness. "Listen carefully, my son. I'll be completely honest with you. When it comes to you, I have a weakness-a soft spot. Ask for anything, and it will be yours. Truly, anything. If you wished for a fantasy paradise on this material world, I would make one for you. But, I cannot-no, I will not-allow you to go out there, ruining your reputation, or worse, throwing your life away recklessly. That is why I am hard on you, why I push you even when it seems unfair. Do you understand?"

"Ruining my reputation... or yours?" Richard's expression softened just slightly, and a faint, almost defiant smile appeared on his face.

"What's the problem if it's both?" Robin raised his voice, firm and unwavering. "If you're really willing to risk your life to this degree, then leave yourself in my hands. I will prepare a fortified, isolated planet for you. There, you can live safely, devote yourself fully to creating a family, raising my grandchildren, live in peace as you love..." He waved his hand almost dismissively, but his voice remained commanding. "Do you want Serene? Fine-I'll bring her to you on that planet. But I want a promise from you. You will not risk your life, you will not leave that planet without my knowledge. Do we have an agreement?"

"Serene isn't your servant for you to move around as you please!" Richard finally snapped, raising his voice sharply, his pride flaring.

BAM!

"She, her mother, and their entire sector are all under my command!" Robin slammed his hand down on the armrest with force, making the chair shudder. He leaned forward, pointing at Richard, his voice booming with authority. "Stop this foolishness and know your standing! Understand the magnitude of the power standing behind you! Everything you want, I will give you. Everything! Just stay alive! What could possibly be difficult about that?!"

"..." Richard held his father's gaze for several long seconds, as though trying to measure the weight behind those words. Then he exhaled deeply, closing his eyes. "We're done here."

Hooo-

The atmosphere around Richard shifted dramatically. His spiky hair seemed to rise again, electrified, a silent storm of energy surrounding him. He opened his eyes with renewed intensity.

"That wasn't kind at all, buddy-you made him sad!" he muttered almost to himself, the sharpness in his gaze betraying a trace of humor despite the tension.

"...buddy?" Robin leaned back slowly in his chair, letting out a long sigh. "One is broken, the other savage-truly, is this my fate with my sons?" He nodded slightly toward Richard. "Stay together as long as that is what you both want. I'll put the Bitchard project on hold for now. When one of you can no longer bear the other, come to me. Ask for a separation, and I will handle it."

"..." Richard nodded, his jaw tightening as he accepted the decision.

"So?" Robin changed the subject smoothly, leaning back slightly. "Why did you come here, Richard? What brought you to me?"

"...I came to ask for a method, a means to surpass the Competence Trial, to break the limits of the Young Belt. Or at the very least, I wanted your advice on whether using a weaker stabilizer would make it easier." Richard's voice was steady, though a faint sigh escaped him. "...I never imagined this meeting would take such a serious, intense turn."

"So all you want is to become stronger, isn't that right?" Robin's smile widened, tinged with amusement and curiosity. "Your other half came to me centuries ago asking for the same thing-but at that time, his goal was to become stronger in order to protect Planet Jura, and the remnants of the Burton family. In the end, he went to live alone in Jura's graveyard, in a simple wooden hut, isolated from the world."

Robin raised a single eyebrow, his tone calm but probing. "And now, why do you wish to become stronger?"

"What kind of question is that?" Richard responded immediately, his tone firm and natural, as though the answer was obvious. "I want to become stronger because I can"

"...." Robin raised a single eyebrow, his face a mixture of calm, curiosity, and barely concealed authority. "No wonder you rarely clash with your other half. You have no personal agenda, and your desire for strength aligns perfectly with what your other half wishes to achieve. Perhaps keeping both of you in the same body really does serve a purpose."

He leaned back slightly, the weight of his presence pressing the room into a tense silence, then continued, "But I will not talk to you about breaking through to World Cataclysm yet. It's clear you're not ready for the Competence Trial of breaking the young belt restrictions. And I will not offer you a weaker stabilizer, for my son should never be weak. That would be a direct contradiction to the path you have been carving for yourself."

He nodded thoughtfully, the faintest shadow of a smile crossing his face. "In truth, I am preparing a stabilizer far stronger than that rudimentary piece you call a stabilizer-but it is not yet ready. I am still devising a method to harness and control it fully, without losing balance."

"Rudimentary? What kind of stabilizer do you possess that allows you to call mine a mere piece of junk?!" Richard's brows knitted tightly in irritation and a surge of curiosity, his voice cutting sharply through the air.

Robin's lips curved into a knowing, confident grin. "In reality-it's not what you think-it's-"

Knock... knock...

The door to the residence shook as a voice called sharply from outside: "Sir, I

wish to meet you, immediately."

"Hm?" Robin turned slowly toward the door with measured surprise. The moment he recognized the visitor, his entire expression shifted to disdainful calculation. Raising his voice slightly, he said, "Leave. I have an important meeting here, and I do not wish to be disturbed."

"That voice..." The figure outside muttered, then pushed the door open, stepping inside. Instantly, his expression hardened into outright hostility, his aura radiating aggression like jagged steel. "Is that you? Pampered Althera's

dog!"

"..." Richard's eyes widened to their maximum, disbelief etched on his face. He turned toward his father. "Did he just call you a dog?"

"...No, no. Ignore it. Hallucinations. Don't concern yourself with him." Robin waved at Richard a few times, still holding his gaze firmly on the intruder. "Barok, what exactly brings you here? There's no one present but my followers and my son? Do you want to sell you items here too?" "Who cares about you, pampered Althera's dog? Did you think you could reach the Master before me and tarnish the encounter for your own amusement?" Barok unleashed his spiritual presence, a storm of raw hostility filling every coner of the room. "Where is he, the one who showed his presence moment ago?! Show yourself please!"

"This time, he definitely called you a dog" Richard said firmly, nodding in

confirmation.

"Yeah... I heard it clearly!" Robin's eyes narrowed, sharp and unyielding. "I have forgotten the poor manners he displayed when I first arrived at the academy, but he has returned with more. Truly, negative karma does sometimes lead its owner to their death."

"Hm?" Barok swung his gaze to Robin, lips twisting in a snarl, "What are you tal

DOOOOM

Suddenly, Barok felt an overwhelming torrent of spiritual energy pour down

upon him, the sheer weight threatening to crush the very foundations of the academy. Yet he did not fall. He planted his feet, his body trembling as the pressure struck, because at the exact moment, a countercurrent of energy surged from below, colliding violently with the descending torrent.

His internal organs twisted painfully, tearing under the immense pressure, his bones cracking with sickening sounds. His skull began to fracture under the strain, and streams of blood leaked from his eyes and ears.

This was no refined or trained soul technique-it was raw, unadulterated soul force, pure and crushing in its magnitude.

At that moment, Barok felt like a mere ant trapped between the palms of an

ancient, colossal entity, powerless before the hands that sought to crush him

with absolute, merciless force.

Woosh

"All right, Lord Robin. That's enough."

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