A wide array of glowing, dynamic options materialized before Robinâs eyes, cascading down like a waterfall of information drawn from the deepest vaults of Soul Societyâs archives. After a few seconds of thoughtful consideration, he reached out and selected one:
Comprehensive Analysis â Soul Society Expertsâ Report.
Immediately, the space before him shimmered and coalesced into a structured reportâa vast, scrolling document that seemed to float in midair like a sacred scripture unfolding in real time.
<The Empire of the Nine Paths is, without a shred of doubt, one of the cornerstone civilizations of the Centenary in Mid-Sector 100. It stands as a bastion of legacy and continuity, tracing its existence back across a staggering seven million years.>
<Yet, in recent centuries, this once-stable titan has found itself cast into the spotlightânot for triumphs or advancements, but as a centerpiece in one of the most bewildering and hotly debated mysteries the sector has seen in the last two hundred years. The sheer number of anomalies and drastic shifts the empire has undergone during this time has not only puzzled political analysts but ignited the imagination of theorists and speculators across the cosmos.>
<Two centuries ago, the Nine Paths Empire came under intense, coordinated assault by the formidable Centennial Twilight Spectrum Empireâa rising star among the centenary powers. In just one century, six planets were torn from their control. Furthermore, they were harried and flanked on no less than six different military fronts against six different Empires, leaving them fractured, destabilized, and seemingly incapable of mounting a cohesive defense.>
<At that time, projections from leading military think tanks within the Soul Society grimly concluded that the empire might lose nearly half of its territory before it could recover. Butâagainst all oddsâthe empire defied these predictions in dramatic fashion.>
<Amidst the chaos of the secondary fronts, a mysterious new force suddenly appeared on the battlefield. These were not ordinary soldiers, but highly disciplined elite troops clad in radiant, full-body armorâgolden with accents of deep blackâcolors never before associated with the Nine Paths military tradition. Their arrival changed everything. Not only did they halt enemy advances on three out of six flanks, but they went on the offensive and conquered four planets belonging to the Iron Boar Empire, the latest of which was claimed just two years ago.>
<To this day, the origins of this army remain a complete enigma. What is certain, however, is that they are
not
a native force bred from within the Nine Paths Empire. Their armor is unlike anything documented in the empireâs extensive armory records. Their combat styles are highly unorthodox, and their commanding officers wield laws and techniques that have never been observed among traditional Nine Paths cultivators or soldiers. They are all Rune Knight using Epic Gear. And perhaps most notablyâthey are all human.>
<This fact alone has fueled rampant speculation. The dominant theory? That the Nine Paths Empire has gained a powerful external benefactorâan unknown entity that has chosen to support it from the shadows. But as of yet, no one knows who this mysterious ally could be.>
Robin raised his eyebrows and gave a small nod of approval. "Four planets secured already, huh? Last I checked, we only had two... thatâs some impressive progress. Not bad at all."
The report continued, now shifting toward the conflict that had gripped the attention of every strategist and war enthusiast across the star systems.
<Turning now to the ongoing war against the Centennial Twilight Spectrum Empire âa conflict that has become a centerpiece of galactic military discourseâan even more baffling development has occurred. Following the Centennial Twilight Spectrum Empireâs successful annexation of thirteen planets from the Nine Paths Empire, one of the Nine Great Hallsâthe Hall of Heatâunexpectedly erupted in defiant rebellion.>
<This hall, historically regarded as one of the weakest among the nine due to its limited scope and military responsibility, was suddenly making headlines. Typically charged with guarding only a handful of relatively unimportant planets, the Hall of Heat shocked the sector by fielding a new breed of cultivatorsâthose attuned to a peculiar and highly dangerous form of frost-based heavenly law.>
<The law is said to render its victims incurable through normal means. And given the primitive healing options available on most battlefronts, the Centennial Twilight Spectrum Empire soldiers began suffering devastating losses when encountering these new frost-wielding defenders.>
<Within only thirty years of this sudden resurgence, the Empire of the Nine Paths succeeded in reclaiming six of the thirteen lost planets. The war, far from nearing its end, is still burning fiercely across multiple fronts. Many experts now believe it is only a matter of time before the Nine Paths Empire transitions from defense to a full-blown counteroffensive.>
Robin leaned back slightly, his eyes glittering with a blend of pride and amusement. "So, the Frost Permanence Law still hasnât been officially recognized as a merged law? Nice."
A low chuckle escaped him as he clapped his hands lightly, clearly entertained.
"Ahh, that little demoness got me good... I let her take Frost Permanence off my hands for an absolute bargain!" Then, as if second-guessing himself, he tilted his head and raised a single brow, mumbling to no one in particular,
"Hmm... I wonder if calling her a âlittleâ fits though.â"
Robin simply gave a casual shrug, showing no real interest, and was just about to press the exit button on the interface. But something held him back.
His eyes lingered on the search bar, hovering above it for a few seconds longer, as if some internal hesitation was keeping his finger from moving. Finally, with a resigned sigh and a faint smirk, he made his decision.
"Ah, why not," he muttered, half to himself, and began to type.
<The Pit of Destruction Empire has recently emerged as one of the more aggressively rising powers in the mid-belt, suddenly thrust under the magnifying lens attention due to its ongoing conflict with the Ghasan Empire. Despite the general mystery surrounding the Empress herself and her elusive origins, her use of Scorchingâa fierce and rare derivative of the Path of Destructionâwas more than enough to command the attention of countless political analysts, cultivators, and power brokers alike. But for those who chose to follow her tale with admiration or curiosity, disappointment has become a recurring theme.>
<Two and half centuries ago, the Desolation Pit Empire suffered a serious setbackâthree planets were lost in quick succession. The reason? A severe deficiency in funding and war resources. This abrupt collapse caused their holdings to drop to a mere twenty-two planets. Emboldened by this obvious weakness, the Ghasan Empire escalated their aggression, pressing the advantage. Curiouslyâand alarminglyâthe Empress failed to make any appearances during this dire period. Over the course of nearly a century and a half, seven additional planets were taken from them with little resistance.>
<Only fifty years ago did the tides begin to turn. When the Ghasan Empire made their boldest move yetâadvancing toward the heart of the empire, the Pit of Destruction itselfâthe Empress finally surfaced. With a sudden display of overwhelming power and leadership, she repelled the invaders and gradually eased the mounting pressure on the remaining territories. The empire eventually stabilized at fifteen planets. However, the war still rages on, and the horizon remains bleak. No signs of recovery or resurgence are currently in sight for the young sovereign.>
<Almost every military analyst agrees: if the Empress wishes to protect what remains of her dominion, she must forge a strategic alliance soon. Whether through vassalage, marriage, or financial partnership, support is crucial. And while she has indeed received multiple offersâranging from political unions to full subjugationâinsider reports state that she has stubbornly refused them all.>
"Tsk~ as if that impatient brat would ever understand that she
has to
find allies in a hellhole like this!" Robin chuckled in disbelief, shaking his head with a wry grin.
But then his expression shifted. His laughter faded halfway, his smile faltering...
Wasnât that the same path
he
had chosen once?
"Hmm... three minutes left, huh? Is there anyone else left who might be worth wasting those on?" Robin murmured, rubbing the back of his neck absentmindedly. Then suddenly, as a thought sparked in his mind, he snapped his fingers and began typing again:
âThe Maizer Human Family.â
"Hm?" Robin raised a brow in slight surprise. Unlike the previous searches, there werenât many entries or detailed updates this time. The results were sparse. He found only a few outdated pieces of information, and a single formal intelligence report dated a full decade ago.
<The Maizer Family: a small group of humans, several of whom exhibit high-level affinityâclassified as Rank Eâtowards the Minor Law of Sound. In more specific terms, this means that only about thirteen members of the family have the potential to reach the tier of a Mid-World Cataclysm at maximum, but nothing beyond that threshold.>
"Even affinity now has rankings from E to S?" Robin muttered, raising a curious eyebrow. Still, he recalled that anything above 90% was considered âexcellent affinity.â Of course, someone with exactly 90% affinity was still leagues apart from one with a perfect 100%.
He resumed reading.
<The Maizer Family maintains autonomous governance over a portion of Planet Ceramon, although the entire planet still falls under the formal jurisdiction and vassal status of the Iron Boar Empire. In the event of war with an external power, the Maizer Family is obligated to fight under the Iron Boarâs banner. However, this arrangement may soon be tested. At the time of this report, the war between the Iron Boar Empire and the Nine Paths Empire was escalating toward the vicinity of planet Ceramon.>