Hero of Darkness

[[Author: I have returned from the land of the dead.

The truth is... I died. But I lived...

So the novel shall continue again on a regular basis.]]

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An eerie silence ensued after the Martial Emperor enlightened the current Kahn about how the fate of the world was at stake.

"What do you mean by 'everything'?" asked Kahn to his future self.

"That is something someone else will tell you. I am going to refrain from revealing it myself.

You should find out about it when the time is right and from the right person to keep the timeline from deviating furthermore." iterated the future Kahn.

"Fine. Keep your secrets." responded Kahn and asked another question…

"So how does it end for you?" To this query, the Martial Emperor raised an eyebrow…

"So you are aware?

I guess there's no point in hiding. I will simply… leave." responded the future Kahn indifferently.

"We have accomplished what we had to do after returning to the past. We have told you all the important answers to the questions you had.

I have told you whom to save, whom to meet and whom the kill, and when to do it." declared the Martial Emperor.

Soon, he cast another Rune with his Soul Essence mixed with it and the rune merged with Kahn's figure.

"It's called Descent of the Martial God. One of the strongest original powers I created in the original timeline. Novel Fire - novelfire.net

Consider that as a parting gift. Use it whenever you are facing a lot of strong opponents.

Even if it can't help you win... it will at least deter them from making any moves on you." spoke future Kahn with a reassuring tone. "As the successor of my will… I leave everything to you now. We have forged you a path and your only obligation is to walk on it. However, the path will still be filled with blood and bones of both the people you're supposed to protect and the enemies you are supposed to kill.

How you walk it, how you face those odds… it's something only you can decide for yourself.

So farewell, other me. It's time for us to depart." said the Martial Emperor and he looked at Kahn with an expectant gaze as he gave a final nod of affirmation.

Schwoom!

Suddenly, Kahn was expelled from the mental world and now, only the Martial Emperor and the Elder Dragon of Cosmos remained in it.

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After the current Kahn left, the atmosphere of the white mental world turned somber and full of grief.

"It is time for us to go.

Thank you, old friend. Thank you for helping me come back in time even though you knew that you would cease to exist completely from both timelines." spoke Future Kahn as he gazed at Saalazaar with a regretful expression.

"Who do you think you're talking to brat?

I'm the great Elder Dragon Saalazaar. I have already lived far longer than even some Demi-Gods.

Even this small fragment of my soul has existed for more than 50 thousand years." spoke the Dragon with a cheerful smile.

"Maybe it was my destiny.

To meet you in the original timeline and bring you in this one so the new version of you could defeat the Demon God.

I chose to do this not only for you but also for the Dragon Empire that will cease to exist in this world if he becomes a Demi-God.

This is a very small price to pay considering that I contributed in steering the fate of the world." declared the cosmic dragon pridefully.

Next, he asked Kahn… "You know that the God of Darkness will be very angry with your decision, right?

Because you were supposed to take over this new version of yourself and have every information and combat skills that you have seen and experienced through the Transcendant Rune of Reminiscence." he stated firmly.

"You too have lived this new timeline just like him. You can do an even better job as the Hero of Darkness than him who is still oblivious to the great responsibility.

If you absorbed his soul and became one with it, nobody in this entire world would know. Not even his subordinates or Rathnaar. You're basically throwing away the advantage of knowing the future.

So why did you not choose to take over him?" questioned the Elder Dragon.

To his question filled with curiosity and concern, the future Kahn chuckled and replied calmly…

"Doesn't matter. The Hero of Time is a prime example that even the knowledge of the future doesn't mean anything if a major event deviates even slightly.

Look at us… Me coming from the future basically ruined all his plans and preparations.

And given this new timeline and how things have developed at this stage, changed by the new version of me… I don't think it will make a huge difference even if I took over his body." he stated with a content smile as if he had no regrets.

"As for God of Darkness… he can take it up to the new Kahn.

I too had the same plan before but now that I have lived this new life with him and as him…

I changed my mind." he spoke with a hopeful tone.

"Why?" asked the dragon.

"It's because he has lived a different life than mine in the original timeline. He has felt different emotions and made different choices as well as mistakes.

But he has also met different people, formed different relationships, and made better decisions in some aspects than I would have ever made." he spoke with anticipation in his tone.

"Although I may have been the orchestrator of this new life for the new version of me…

He is a different man than I am." declared the Martial Emperor in a stern voice.

"Hopefully, he will be a better man than I ever was in the original timeline.

He does not realize yet but he has a lot to protect, many people he holds dear, and a lot to fight for in the upcoming future than I ever did.

We have created a path for him to defeat the Demon God, the path we did not know existed in the original timeline.

However, this time… he will have to walk it on his own instead me, the one who never had the chance to succeed." he spoke as the surroundings started changing.

"He's not the Hero that this world wants or deserves... but the Hero they will need when the dark times come."

Soon, the plane white world was turned into a vast garden filled with serene and enchanting trees and flowers.

A large wooden log appeared in front of the Martial Emperor and he sat on it while letting out a sigh.

"I don't think it would have been fair to him or even me to rob him of that opportunity that we sacrificed so much for. It is no longer my destiny… but his." he said and looked at the lush greenery and transcendent image of the field full of colorful flowers around him.

"We both knew that we did not have any way to defeat the Demon God, so we orchestrated everything for this new timeline after the opportunity arose when I killed the Hero of Time.

Now let's hope he does not fail like we did. For once…

Let him be truly in control of his fate." declared the Martial Emperor with a countenance full of acceptance. "Besides… I'm tired. I want to finally rest, and watch the sunrise on a grateful universe." he spoke with an exhausted voice.

After hearing the response… Saalazaar's draconic maw let out a grin.

"And this is why I chose to come back in time with you, Kahn Salvatore. You may not be perfect… but you are a warrior of honor just like me. Having seen you making that Final Decision… I have no regrets.

Although I won't be teaching and assisting this new version of you in this timeline… giving him a path to walk on to complete his mission and defeat the Demon God for good… is enough for me." declared the Elder Dragon with a content countenance.

Woosh!

"You're a good man, Kahn Salvatore.

It was an honor knowing you and calling you a friend." spoke the Elder Dragon of Cosmos as his entire being made of black and blue cosmic aether started fading out of existence.

Soon, the Martial Emperor who saw the Elder Dragon disappearing bowed in respect to his closest ally and friend with a sense of appreciation.

Crumble!

Crumble!

Next, his own soul started turning into white ash and started spreading across the field with the passing wind.

In just mere moments… the future Kahn turned into dust and spread across the mental world, leaving no trace behind.

Both the original Kahn and Saalazaar disappeared with content expressions as the Transcendent Rune of Reminiscens vanished from Kahn's back.

The Martial Emperor and the Elder Dragon of Cosmos ceased to exist in the world completely regardless of space and timelines…

In Babylon… Kahn was back in control of his body while remembering everything the original Kahn and the Elder Dragon told him as he opened his eyes.

Sigh!

"Does he think I'm an idiot? It's clear that he could take over me easily.

As the creator of the System, he had the authority and power to become the 'One'." iterated the current Kahn with a thoughtful countenance as he gazed at the melancholic sky.

"You could overpower my consciousness and soul within a second and I wouldn't be able to do a damn thing. But whatever your reason may be to leave the fate of the world to me… Do not worry.

I will make sure that…" said Kahn in a resolute tone as he made an oath to himself.

"Your sacrifice was worth it!"