Robin managed to detect a soul domain inside Leosar's head.
Yet what lay within was not forests, tranquil pools of soul units, or peaceful soul creatures roaming freely-it was hell itself.
"Good heavens..." Robin muttered involuntarily.
So much was happening inside that the word hell alone was insufficient to describe it.
Robin counted more than ten thousand demon cores within that domain. All of them were screaming, their forms breaking down into heaps of blood from the overwhelming heat, only to rise again from those pools monts later-just to resu screaming, writhing, and desperately attempting to escape.
He also caught sight of an even larger number of human and demi-human souls. Clearly, the inner hell did not affect them directly they were not lted or actively tortured- but the grotesque scenery surrounding them was more than enough. Terrified, they had all cramd themselves into a narrow corner, trembling uncontrollably at what they were witnessing.
It was true that the rampaging demon souls attacked them from ti to ti, tearing so of them apart, but that was rely sothing they were forced to endure. The domain itself did not target them.
And that was not all.
The environnt itself resembled a burning ember, one specifically designed to tornt demon souls. The soul units within flowed like molten lava, searing and corrosive, turning the very fabric of the domain into an engine of endless suffering.
"What did those poor wretches ever do in their lives to deserve an end like this...?" Robin murmured, trace of sorrow slipping into his voice.
Then he grabbed Leosar by the back of the neck and pulled him slightly closer. "Hey," he said calmly, "can you summon one of those soul creatures?"
Robin was deeply puzzled by what he was seeing. He had tried countless tis to use demons as soul creatures by harvesting their primal souls the instant they died, yet those souls always faded with ti, eventually being erased completely from his soul domain.
The sa applied to oaths and soul-bound contracts he imposed on them- everything vanished alongside their unique initial souls.
But for so reason... Leosar's soul domain did not allow that to happen.
"W-what do you an by soul creatures?" Leosar replied hesitantly. "When I devour a new soul, my body fills with power. That's all I know-I swear!"
"..." Robin frowned slightly.
Was it possible that Leosar still couldn't properly interact with his own soul domain?
Robin lowered his gaze further.
Leosar's body was largely similar to that of a human. He possessed bones, flesh, and skin ford from various components-not entirely blood-based like the Crimson Plague. He even had what appeared to be an energy gathering center. His energy pathways were currently sealed by seven advanced pins, preventing any power from flowing out of the energy core to the rest of his body, allowing the imperial guards to escort him safely.
But that raised an important question.
What use was an energy core in a creature that devoured souls?
"...Hmm?" Robin muttered in surprise.
His gaze settled on the energy core itself.
Lyosar's core was filled with liquid soul force of extre purity, a purity no less remarkable than that of Soul Erald.
So then when devouring souls... no, when devouring entire soul entities of his enemies-did the soul units flow into the energy core in his lower abdon, while the initial souls themselves were dragged away to be imprisoned and tortured inside his soul domain?
...What kind of existence is Leosar?
What kind of uniquely aberrant monster is this?
Even setting aside his unprecedented structure within the entire universe...
The sheer number of souls contained within his soul domain, the shocking density of soul force concentrated beneath his abdon, and the presence of those seven advanced sealing nails restraining him-all of it pointed to a single, unmistakable conclusion...
Leosar possessed low-level Nexus State power.
For most of the past years, all he had done was cat and hide within the underground city. How old was he exactly? A century? A century and a half at most? And yet, sohow, he had reached this level of power. That realization alone was terrifying.
"...Tell ," Robin said as he withdrew his hand and rested it against his chin thoughtfully, "between demons and humans, which do you like more?"
"As food? Demons, of course!" Leosar replied hurriedly. "I would never eat the Savior Lord-never! I love being around humans. The problem with King Sakaar happened only because I was staying close to the Planetary Emperor
Kaylforn!!"
Leosar almost dropped to his knees, but the guards beside him stopped him. He sent a frightened glance to his right and left at the imperial guards, then turned back to Robin, panic clear in his voice. "Please! That bastard Kaylforn filled my head with nothing but nonsense. But I love humans, and I love King Sakaar! You can even ask Kaylforn-I didn't kill a single soldier from his army!" "How considerate of you," Robin said dryly. He gestured toward the guards. "Release him."
Then he clasped his hands behind his back and took a step forward.
"And now... what do you think I should do with you?"
"Anything except killing or sending back to the demons!" Leosar dropped to his knees at once. "Great Savior Lord, you freed my ancestors from
the tyranny of the Nihari Giants, and now I beg you-save from the demons' oppression and their bullying! Put anywhere, and I will obey every single
order you give!"
If Leosar were capable of crying, he would have been sobbing uncontrollably
by now.
What he had done to the King of Demon Kings, Sakaar, deserved death a million tis over. Even the other kings did not dare violate a single word of Sakaar's authority-yet Leosar had attacked and humiliated him openly, before the eyes and ears of thousands of demons. Returning there was impossible.
And it was equally impossible for the Loyal Lord to take his side after learning what he had done.
His only chance was to prove-today-that he truly was useful, just as King Sakaar's ssage had claid, and sohow survive this judgnt.
Just today.
If he could live until the end of the day, then even if he were sent to lick boots afterward, tomorrow would still give him ti to think about a different future. "...Hmm," Robin tapped his chin several tis, clearly pondering. "Perhaps if you had co to yesterday, I would have refused to keep you-a dangerously ungrateful, volatile existence like you. But as it happens, today a new line of work has opened... one that suits you perfectly."
"I-I'll do anything, no matter how humiliating!" Leosar blurted out, trembling with fervor. "I'll be grateful forever! I won't listen to anyone ever again. I was
wrong-I truly was!"
"Humiliating?" Robin smiled faintly. "There's no need to humiliate a special creature like you."
He leaned slightly closer, his tone calm yet heavy with intent.
"Tell , Leosar... what would you say to being placed at the head of a force
specialized in exterminating the Plague?"
"...?!"
The shock was so great that Leosar's single eye widened slowly, his mind struggling to process the words. He pointed shakily at himself, Y-y-you an... you're rewarding ... for attacking the Marshal?"
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