Hero of Darkness

In the following week, a silent chaos was created throughout the capital Rathna. The majority of the important districts and highly populated cities inhabited by tens of millions of people had been swarmed by a viral video shared by thousands of people in public places.

Let it be restaurants or some gathering, in a bazaar or playground. Many crowded and occupied places throughout the capital had been watching this video on a projection artifact that displayed the match between two opponents during the seventh round of the Emperor's Chosen competition.

The fight between a muscular as well as a ripped swordsman and a tall and massive knight warrior was displayed on these screens. And the narrative spread among the common folks who made 97% of the entire population of the capital was how a commoner like them fought his way through with pure skill and hard work.

And how he did not even faze or get scared while facing an heir of a powerful clan or their forces. In his wake, he fearlessly fought against his opponent to prove himself and progressed to the quarterfinals.

In the past millennium of history of this empire and this competition.. Kahn became the first-ever commoner who reached this far in the competition. And that alone was more than enough for people to relate to him.

Besides, a swordsman facing a knight was always considered as an already decided match because the latter had too many skills that could let the sustain a lot of damage while the swordsman would naturally get tired in time and then be taken out by the knight.

But in this match, it was completely opposite as Kahn broke through all the defenses of the opponent with sheer force and skills alone.

The best part of these recordings was when Kahn plunged his sword into the ground and started beating the opponent with bare fists.

Every male regardless of their species or age felt a rush of power while watching this recorded match because the way this young man handled the opponent who was bigger in size than him and the types of finishing moves he performed were simply too astounding to watch.

According to rumors, many people who had professions such as brawlers praised this man's fighting techniques. Some even questioned if he was a swordsman or actually a hand-to-hand combatant instead.

And like a wildfire, the name of Kahn of Rukon District spread among the masses and anyone who was interested in the ongoing competition.

The general populace was intrigued and then came to like it because a normal person like them beating the crap out of a presumptuous clan heir who never had to struggle for anything in his life.

The story of an underdog who had no one to rely on but him still fighting his way up with his own strength touched their hearts.

And within a week alone, many had started rooting for Kahn.

And also, the name of peak grandmaster blacksmith, Albestros Winston rose to a different level of popularity amongst top powers and high ranked saints because Kahn thoroughly destroyed the weapons and armors made by Mephisto, another peak grandmaster blacksmith by just using normal strikes and swings using a sword made by the former.

The old blacksmith's already renowned name became even more famous among the citizens because of the recording. Raising his popularity on a different level than all the saints from different clans and factions had no choice but to notice Kahn as a participant.

Because as per the rumors, Kahn had been given an armor as well that was said to be the old blacksmith's best work yet.

Although recording fights during the competition wasn't illegal.. No one had done it and then spread it among the populace at this scale before. And given how people were interested in buying these artifacts that had this match recorded'¦ many clever minds also had a business idea.

Soon, the video was copied by many people, pirated illegally by scums of the society and watched by trashes for free who didn't even bother trying to get it from the original source or support the makers who put their blood and sweat into creating it.

And yet many of them had a sense of entitlement to criticize it without even spending a dime as if the makers owed them something.

Little did they know that the creators only cared about the opinions of those who saw this work from official channels than caring about the whiney freeloaders.

[[Author : *cough* Just like this novel. *cough*]]

----------------

Another rumor spread that Albestros Winston found this young swordsman who didn't even have a relative left alive and took him under his wing after Kahn saved his life during the journey to the capital.

And after many powerful people, forces and organizations inquired, all they found that most of the rumors were actually true and Kahn also worked for Albestros as his main assistant in the company named The Bloodborne which was owned by this peak grandmaster.

And given Kahn's talent and the relationship the old blacksmith had with him.. He made the armor and sword that was even better than many epic rank weapons and armors owned by the majority of the saints.

So as the time for the quarterfinals came close.. The once nameless nobody without any prior background or support from a powerful faction or a clan became the talk of the entire capital.

His name reached a different level of fame that not even the most famous and genius clan heirs of any of the factions ever did.

In just a week.. Kahn had become the biggest Dark Horse in the history of this competition.

But in reality'¦ all of this was orchestrated by Kahn on that day after he won the seventh round.

Spreading rumors, using a sentimental narrative, making himself look like the underdog and a dark horse was all part of the plan.

"Master.. Everything is going according to your plans. What should we do next?" asked Ronin when they were sitting in their usual meeting room.

Kahn replied with a grin as he spoke in a sinister tone..

"We provide them some fanservice."