The next day—
"Hmm~" Robin slowly sat up from the bed, stretching his limbs with a long, exaggerated yawn. Then he extended his arms forcefully to both sides. Paa!
The mont he felt his hand collide with sothing solid, he blinked in confusion and turned his head to the left. To his amusent, he found his clenched fist pressing awkwardly against Pitso's nose. "Hmm? Oh, I nearly forgot you were still here, hehe." With a calm chuckle, Robin gently pulled his fist back and patted the young man's neck a few tis, almost affectionately. "Did you have a pleasant night too? Slept well, I hope?"
"...?!"
"Oh, what's the matter? Why the silence? Are you feeling sad, perhaps?" Robin tilted his head in mock curiosity, studying the unresponsive face beside him. Then he gave a light shrug and stood up with relaxed indifference. "Well, I suppose I can't force you to speak. Everyone needs their space sotis. I'll leave you alone for now. Take all the ti you need to process... whatever this is."
"...!!!!"
Still humming a cheerful tune, Robin began changing out of his clothes. His movents were unhurried, almost leisurely. He selected another set of garnts—this ti, a sleek robe dominated by shades of black. The fabric shimred subtly in the light, its material unlike anything commonly seen on this planet. But fashion norms didn't matter here. The streets were full of people from different realms and cultures, each dressed according to their own traditions. Uniformity was long gone; eccentricity had beco the norm.
Once dressed, Robin retrieved his shoes—currently resting on Pitso's head, much to the young man's silent dismay. In their place, he tossed the pair of pants he had worn earlier, which were slightly torn and scuffed. They now draped loosely over Pitso's head, obscuring most of his face. Robin sat beside him again and calmly began fastening his shoes.
"Don't worry, I won't be gone long. I'll make it back in ti, just like always. Try to find a way to entertain yourself while I'm out, alright?"
".....?!"
After tightening the last strap and spritzing himself with a light, fragrant mist of cologne, Robin leaned forward and looked down at Pitso with a familiar grin. "Do you want to bring you anything from outside? Maybe a hot al? So kind of treat?"
There was no answer, of course.
Robin chuckled softly, giving Pitso a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Alright, I get it. I'll take that as a no. You keep enjoying your silence, and we'll resu our little conversation once I'm back. Until then, stay safe and don't miss too much."
If Pitso had even the slightest control over his body, he would have scread until his throat tore. He would've thrown sothing—anything—just to express his frustration. That damn bastard was doing it on purpose! Mocking him. Taunting him. Challenging him again and again to say just a single word.
What kind of twisted humiliation was this?!
But he couldn't do anything. Not a word. Not even a twitch of the eyelid. Total paralysis. All he could do was lie there in helpless silence, listening to the sound of the door closing behind Robin... and the fading footsteps as the man walked away.
In the streets—
Robin continued walking through the sprawling cityscape, humming a casual lody as if he hadn't a care in the world. Hours passed—more than two, in fact—and still he moved forward without any destination in mind. Behind him, shimring space portals closed silently, one after the other, vanishing like ripples in a pond.
He didn't look back.
(Hey...) ca a voice from deep within his spiritual domain. It was Neri, her tone curious, as always. (What exactly do you plan to do on this planet? You've been wandering around aimlessly for a while now.)
With a smile lingering on his lips, Robin paused in front of a grand store. Its window was lined with glowing pills of various colors, each with a floating, glowing description in midair beside it. He scanned them slowly, admiring their radiance.
"Absorb everything I possibly can about the current state of the Mid-Belt," he replied cheerfully, his gaze stopping on a particularly eye-catching red pill. "Ah, look at this one—it enhances fire-law affinity for three full months. That's incredible. The best I've ever managed was just a few days under intense combat pressure. This is a real ga changer."
He leaned closer to read the price, his smile faltering slightly. "330 gems, huh? That's... steep. Very steep, actually. No wonder everyone says that the third path is financially draining. If this is considered normal pricing, then yes, only the wealthy could ever hope to walk it comfortably."
(And after you absorb everything you're here to absorb?) Neri asked again, her tone soft but serious. (Do you have a real plan? So goal you're working toward? Or are you just... drifting?)
Robin's eyes stayed on the display, unmoving, as his smile returned slowly—wider this ti, yet more thoughtful. His answer, however, did not co right away.
"We'll find out as we move forward~" Robin said with a casual grin, stepping away from the shop and continuing his walk through the chaotic and colorful streets of the city.
(Robin Burton...) Neri's voice echoed in his mind, full of disbelief and frustration. She stomped her spectral foot within his soul domain. (You seriously ca to the Mid-Belt without a single concrete plan? Are you out of your mind?!)
Robin chuckled lightly, not the least bit fazed. "Hehe, now, now, it's not like my head's completely empty, Neri. I do have a goal in mind, you know. I'm not just here for a vacation." He stretched his arms behind his back as he walked. "My objective is simple: either I forge alliances with one or more great powers in this belt... or I recruit a solid force of elite cultivators before the deadline cos. When that day cos, only one of these two options will give the strength to protect you—and to safeguard the true Beginning Empire."
He paused, then let out a deeper laugh, almost mocking his own situation. "But even so... I can't kick off any grand plan just yet."
(Why not?!) Neri's voice dropped just a little in intensity, especially after hearing him ntion her safety.
Robin's tone grew more serious, though still light. "Because I haven't made up my mind on which Mid-Belt sector I want to ascend in." He waved a hand casually. "Right now, we're in Sector 100 of the Mid-Belt. But Planet Nihari lies in Sector 99 of the Young belt. That ans, naturally, it's destined to rise into Sector 99 of the Mid-Belt eventually."
He raised two fingers in front of him like he was giving a lecture. "So I have two main options. One: I establish a foothold here in Sector 100, then transfer you into the Youth Ring's Sector 100 before I begin gathering the nearby planets to form your destined galaxy. Or two: I completely abandon this sector and set up my foundation directly in Sector 99 of the Mid-Belt, where Nihari is going to ascend naturally."
He sighed and lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Honestly, I ca here mostly because I don't have the coordinates of any suitable planets in Sector 99 yet. That's the first reason. The second... at least I know soone in this place. Renara. She might be useful—maybe even a powerful ally—if I offer her the right incentives. She owes a bit, and she knows I'm not soone to underestimate."
Robin's expression darkened a little as he added, "But then there's Helen... She's also here. That complicates everything. Her presence makes the potential benefits and the possible disasters... pretty much equal in weight. No—if I take her background into account seriously, then I'd honestly prefer to flee this sector entirely. The sooner the better."
(Then what are you waiting for?) Neri said sharply, her spiritual form crossing its arms in frustration. (Let's leave this place already and head straight for Sector 99! You'll definitely find coordinates for a viable planet if you just look hard enough!)
Robin shook his head slightly, still walking. "Not yet. There's still more to learn here. I need to gather more information—understand the full picture. It's not like this vast slice of the universe contains only Helen and Renara, right?" He snapped his fingers thoughtfully. "Also, I don't want to rush into Sector 99 only to find it ruled by so overwhelming tyrant—soone who's already monopolized all the resources and power. I need to know who's there... what forces are at play... and what opportunities or threats I'm walking into."
(And where exactly are you going to start?) Neri asked skeptically. (You can't just wander aimlessly across the whole sector forever. That's not a strategy, Robin. That's just stalling!)
Robin laughed softly, his eyes beginning to gleam. "Actually… I think we're a lot closer than you think." He suddenly stopped and pointed ahead, excitent flickering in his gaze. "There!"
(Huh?) Neri blinked, opening a small viewing window into the outside world. As she glanced in the direction Robin was pointing, her breath caught in her throat. (Is that what I think it is…?)
In front of them stood a towering silver structure—easily one of the tallest towers on the entire planet. Its surface shimred with a soft tallic glow under the light of Zaron's twin suns. The base of the tower was a massive circular foundation that seed to take up an entire city block, but as it climbed into the sky, the structure narrowed, eventually ending in a sharp, elegant spire that pierced through the clouds.
Robin folded his arms, his voice low and confident. "I wasn't just wandering, Neri. My ears were tuned to every whisper, and my senses have been sweeping the city nonstop." His eyes glinted as he looked up toward the tower's peak. "If I'm not mistaken... that building right there is the headquarters of the Soul Society on Planet Zaron."
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