After seven additional years—

In the year 410 after the coronation—

The day unfolded much like every other morning on the world of Nihari. In a remote region devoid of human presence, the landscape stretched wide with towering highlands, deep ridges, and countless pools gathered from centuries of rainfall.

The air carried the scent of damp earth and wild greenery. The area was alive with a scattering of small animals, skittering lizards, buzzing insects, and clusters of trees of many species, some with twisted trunks, others blooming with rare flowers.

Yet Nihari was not always this tranquil. After the catastrophic War of Nihari over four hundred years ago, a conflict so devastating that it consumed more than ninety percent of the planet's population, the world had become largely empty. Even when it was later seized and declared a stronghold of the Third Army, eventually becoming an active cornerstone of the empire, Nihari's sheer immensity made it impossible to fully inhabit. To this day, no more than a single percent of the planet was actually lived in, leaving the rest barren, wild, and haunted by history.

But this particular region was unusual, carrying an eerie uniqueness. At this very moment, not a single sound could be heard. It was as if the concept of sound itself had been erased from existence—no rustling of leaves, no buzzing of insects, not even the faint whistle of the wind. Everything was muted. The silence was so profound that it felt unnatural, oppressive, as though the entire world was holding its breath.

Then, suddenly, that silence was broken—

"Buk… buk buk buk…"

A bizarre rooster, its form strangely feline with a body that seemed to carry traces of catlike lineage, scuttled up one of the tallest trees in the region. Its talons scraped the bark as it climbed, and once at the top, it puffed its chest, inhaled deeply, and prepared to crow.

"Coo coo cooooooooooo—u mmm!!!"

But it never finished. A golden-white soul-creature manifested out of nowhere before it, clasping its beak with one glowing hand. With a casual motion, it shoved a whole apple into the rooster's open mouth and then kicked it forcefully away, sending it tumbling helplessly through the air. The soul-creature paused, turning its radiant gaze toward a certain mountain in the distance. Without hesitation, it leapt down from the tree, landing soundlessly, and resumed its silent patrol of the area.

"......."

Far in that direction, Robin was seated cross-legged at the entrance of a cavernous hollow. His posture was calm, his eyes sealed shut, his breathing so shallow it was nearly imperceptible—like a statue lost in timeless meditation. For a long while, he remained motionless, his aura restrained, blending seamlessly with the silence of the world around him.

Only after an entire hour had passed since the rooster incident did Robin's lips part into a wide smile as he slowly opened his eyes. "Hoo~ Finally… I've reached Level Thirty-One again."

(Congratulations, Owner!) Niri's voice reverberated in his mind like a playful chime. (Doesn't it feel wonderful to use the planet Nihari for cultivation? You should always do this—it suits you perfectly!)

"Haha, thanks, thanks," Robin replied in a buoyant tone, spirits high. Rising to his feet, he strolled deeper into the cavern, where the tunnel walls gleamed faintly, as if woven from threads of silk. Clearly, the soul-creatures had spared no effort in shaping this place into a sanctuary.

At the end of the hollow, a stone bed rested against the far wall. Upon it lay an old, bearded man.

His frame was still powerful and broad, yet his face bore the weight of exhaustion, and his once-dark hair had turned stark white. Both hands were folded neatly over his chest, and his expression carried an almost holy serenity, as if he were a figure from an ancient legend.

"Hehe…" Robin chuckled lightly at the sight, amused at how the man resembled one of those sleeping princes or enchanted elders from children's tales. He moved closer, sitting beside his pupil, and placed his hand near the man's chest to inspect him. "…The consumption of his life-force through the life vein is severe. The damage runs deep. That day, I managed to seal the largest rupture, but I never truly healed him completely."

(This is to be expected, owner,) Niri answered seriously, her voice echoing through his soul domain. (He forced his soul force far beyond its natural limits until it imploded from within, and—) She suddenly halted, her voice catching in shock. (Wait—what are you doing?!)

At that exact moment, Robin pressed his palm firmly against Jabba's chest. A radiant golden glow erupted across his own body, shimmering with strange, incomprehensible runes that burned across his skin like living inscriptions.

Minutes ticked by.

After five long minutes, the golden inscriptions faded away, vanishing like embers extinguished in the wind, and the glow around Robin's body dimmed until there was nothing left. Another thing had vanished as well—his aura as a Sage of Level Thirty-One.

"Perfect," Robin whispered with a satisfied smile, wiping sweat from his brow. "His life vein has been renewed. Every rupture, every tear, every weak spot has been replaced with a new foundation—completely whole."

(Again? Again?!) Neri screamed inside his soul domain. (You willingly reset yourself all the way back to level zero once more?! Wasn't there any other way to heal him?!)

(Boss…) Evergreen's voice joined in, heavy with exasperation. (Do you… perhaps have masochistic tendencies?)

"Haha, maybe I do." Robin chuckled carelessly, patting the old man's chest a few times before turning to head out of the hollow again. "Only two or three more sessions like this and I'll have fully restored his life-force to what it was before he regains consciousness. Just imagine the looks on people's faces when they see that old man calling me 'Master'— tsk~ I can't tolerate that."

(Only two or three more?!) Neri screamed, her voice cracking as though her sanity itself were fraying. She could hardly believe what she was hearing, her agitation teetering on the edge of madness.

"Hm, you know full well how difficult it is to generate life force," Robin replied with calm gravity. "Even a seasoned wielder of the Fundamental Law of Life, someone as gifted as Zara, would have to labor relentlessly for an entire month just to extend a person's lifespan by the meager value of a single week or so." He gave a slow, regretful shake of his head. "Sadly, Jabba has never refined the spirit of a planet before. Had he done so, this entire dilemma would already have been resolved without such sacrifices."

(Can't you just wait until he wakes up, and then have him refine a planet right away?) Neri fired back quickly, her tone sharp and desperate. "If the planet's soul were to flood into his life vein, filling it completely, then you could simply hand him a method to reshape himself and restore his body to its original state. That alone would spare you enormous amounts of time and energy!"

"Hm, clever thinking, but no, thank you." Robin lifted his hand and waved it gently a few times, dismissing the suggestion with deliberate calm. "I would rather continue orchestrating these sacrifices until I can heal him in absolute perfection. Perhaps I'll even employ one or two more offerings to fully restore his soul domain. The Reality Seal spell has performed admirably, yes—but it cannot be trusted to sustain his life indefinitely."

With a long, measured exhale, Robin lowered himself to sit in front of the hollow cavity, his body relaxing into the stone as if momentarily unburdened. "Hm, now what should I begin with?" he murmured aloud, his voice heavy with contemplation. "Should I focus my efforts on finding a cure for Morgana's damaged soul?" He tapped his chin several times, eyes narrowing in thought. "Or maybe I should attempt to repair Jabba's obliterated energy gathering center? Yet even the mighty Master Law of Creation would never restore the intricate patterns that were destroyed beyond recognition..."

(Then how about this—why don't you turn your focus inward and keep expanding your soul domain? Since you don't care about training along the path of energy cultivation, at the very least rise higher and claim the level of a Royal Soul Master!) Neri shouted insistently, her voice ringing inside his mind like a chime refusing to be silenced.

"Hm, that's actually not a bad suggestion," Robin admitted, rubbing the back of his head while his brow furrowed with genuine thought. "Still... I cannot ignore the question of how much longer Morgana can endure in her current state..." His voice trailed off, solemn and uncertain.

Then—

Rumble Rumble

The entire chamber shuddered violently, stone groaning as if the mountain itself were alive. "What in the world is happening here?!" Robin sprang to his feet, his voice sharp and commanding. "Neri!!"

The earth convulsed, trembling as if some titanic heart were beating beneath its surface. An overwhelming surge of energy exploded outward, rippling through the skies like a monstrous tsunami. Even the pressure in the air shifted abruptly—so violently that it felt as though the very atmosphere had been dragged to the crushing depths at the bottom of the ocean!

(...It seems it has begun.) Neri's voice finally reached him, heavy and delayed, resonating with eerie weight.

"What has begun?!" Robin's eyes narrowed sharply, his brows knitting together with force. "Neri, what in the heavens are you talking abou—?!"

And then he saw it.

A vast shadow loomed overhead, blotting out the heavens. His gaze was pulled upward instinctively, and the sight that greeted him stole the breath from his chest. At first glance, it resembled a moon. But no—it was far too enormous, far too alien. Its surface shimmered with hues of violet and deep cerulean, while rivers of white clouds drifted across its colossal body, flowing like slow-moving oceans. Every detail screamed a single undeniable truth—

That was no moon. That was a planet.

"The Galaxy Formation process... has finally begun?!" Robin's voice cracked with awe, his eyes blazing with light. Ten long years had passed since his encounter with the Prime Minister and the others—ten years of waiting, scheming, and sacrifice—and at last, the great process was in motion!

And then Neri's voice returned, trembling faintly: (I feel like I...)

"Hm? Neri?" Robin's attention faltered, his heart skipping a beat. "Neri, what are you feeling? Speak to me! ...Neri?!"

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