Hero of Darkness

The very next day, Ronin and Kahn disguised themselves as the spies of the Rakos empire after the former stole their identities, gathered personal information as well as their squadron IDs, secret passwords among the group and copied their appearances using the Metamorphosis ability. 

This was a group that excelled in invading the territory of the enemy empires, the elites of the elites when it came to spying. And Ronin had already captured them to take their place so they could use their identities to reach closer to the No Man's Land. 

Kahn then used dimension void skill to create a void crack and traveled to the very center of the No Man's Land without getting detected by any of the sides. 

All he saw was dense and forested regions, mountainous valleys with remains of some ancient civilization that might have lived in this region thousands of years ago. 

Him and the subordinates quickly got rid of regional monsters and created a safe zone of 50 kilometers for themselves. 

Since a breakthrough into a new realm was going to cause a very big commotion, Kahn needed a safe place where he would not be disturbed in any way. 

Then they found a desolate cave big enough to live comfortably for a few days. 

But right when Kahn was about to start his ascension to the new realm of power… 

[Hey kid… you're crippling your future.] spoke Rathnaar in Kahn's mind. 

"What do you mean?" asked Kahn. 

[A normal breakthrough like this is easy. But it will hinder your body's potential while rising to higher ranks. 

Why do you think the highest stage people can achieve these days is a Seventh or Eighth stage saint? 

It's because they're making a fundamental mistake during each rank-up.] elaborated the first emperor. 

"And what mistake is that?" asked Kahn with a puzzled expression. 

[Not compressing and condensing their mana and world energy till they have twice the amount to make a second breakthrough.] he said. 

"But doesn't that take decades? I don't have that much time. And I don't have any means to help me compress that much mana and world energy inside my body without getting killed in process." spoke Kahn in a refusal. 

"You do. Why do you think everyone is after the Tablet of Arcana?

The Chamber of Exaltation can do exactly that." revealed the first emperor. 

"If you follow my technique for every single rank up, the quality of your strength, physical and magical abilities & skills, mana as well as world energy reserves will be doubled than everyone else. 

Perhaps that Mikealson clan girl will have a way to bypass that because she now has a soul with the same properties as that of a chosen Hero. But you… 

Your playing field is different from hers. The people you will be facing are the chosen Heroes themselves.] iterated Rathnaar. 

"What the hell are you trying to suggest, old man? 

If this is one of your tricks to get control over my body, then forget about it. You will never be able to do it." replied Kahn in a serious tone. 

[What I mean is… why do you want to play the game on even terms? Why not have double the strength of your enemies while they think that you're weak?] asked Rathnaar in a coy tone. 

"Stop spouting nonsense and get to the point!" reprimanded Kahn. 

[I know a way to help you compress and multiply your mana and world energy reserves as well as improve your physiology so that even reaching a Demi-God rank wouldn't be impossible.] revealed the emperor. 

"And why would you do that for me?" asked Kahn in a suspicious tone. 

[Isn't it obvious? You're too weak even if you become a saint. The other heroes also have more divine abilities than you as you told me before. 

On top of it… you don't even have your divine weapon in hands. 

It doesn't matter how many lifesaving skills you have or abilities that give you an advantage over an enemy. Remember this one thing if you want to survive in a battle…] said Rathnaar and continued in a tyrannical voice. 

[No matter how strong a defense, a stronger offense will always shatter it.]

Declared the Emperor as he brought Kahn to realize something important. That he was acting complacent because he wasn't currently in danger. 

"So what do you propose?" asked Kahn. 

[I will give you access to the Chamber of Exaltation. And I will teach you how to improve the quality of your physique, bloodline and innate talent.] spoke Rathnaar in a kingly voice. 

"And what do you want in return?" 

[Nothing. You surviving longer is beneficial to me as well. 

What's the point of making a soul-pact if you die before even becoming a peak saint?

Consider this me protecting my vessel and ensuring my future.] said Rathnaar. 

"And why are you under the impression that I'll trust your word?" asked Kahn. 

[Because you know that it must be done if you want to survive. 

You cannot afford the luxury to be ignorant or look down upon others with backing and resources. 

As for me taking over your body… I will do that when I get a proper opportunity. 

So what do you say, kid?] spoke Rathnaar without hiding his intentions. 

After an hour of discussion and weighing pros and cons… Kahn decided to go with Rathnaar's suggestion. 

He took out the Tablet of Arcana and put all the subordinates on a guard duty to protect the 50 kilometers radius in all directions. 

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ONE MONTH LATER. 

In the world of Vantrea which was inhabited by empires and regions as big as a continent on their own, over a dozen enormous and highly populated sanctuaries, churches and monasteries suddenly rumbled. 

Clang! 

Clatter! 

The statues of the gods and goddesses that were worshiped by billions of people of different species and races suddenly shook and the Popes as well as other official spokespersons of these gods were shocked! 

Soon, a meeting to exchange the most important issue in the world was held between these representatives and the respective emperors of their empires. 

And all of them had only one topic to discuss. 

"The new Hero of Darkness has already arrived in the world!" exclaimed an Elven pope. 

"We must find him or her! The new chosen one of God of Darkness is the final key! 

If we don't act now, the other empires will find that person first and we will be at a great disadvantage." spoke the Elven Emperor. 

Theirs was an empire that served God of Nature. 

Similar scenes happened in the other empires of the world that received the divine message from their respective Gods. 

As for the two empires closest to Rakos Empire… their rulers had a complicated expression because the signal they received was from No Man's Land. A place where their forces couldn't enter just because they willed it. 

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At this very moment, a few hundred thousand kilometers away from Rakos Empire… was a kingdom run by a particular species. 

In the main castle of their King… a silver-haired man with stark-white skin was seated on a black throne with his eyes closed. 

Suddenly, he felt a sense of foreboding and quickly opened his eyes that glowed red. 

His body suddenly turned into a blood-red mist and in just a few seconds, he appeared on the tallest tower of this pitch-black castle. 

A chilling breeze under the bright moonlight fluttered the regal robes of this vampire clad in black and green attire made for a sovereign. 

His waist-length hair danced along with the cold breeze of this tranquil night and he spoke with a grim tone. 

"So they sent another one. With this… all the chosen Heroes have arrived in this world. 

I need to find the new Hero of Darkness before anyone else gets him. 

Let's see if he is worthy to follow the footsteps of his predecessor." spoke this vampire who seemed to be a 9th stage saint himself. 

"If he is a fool just like the other summoned heroes…" he said and continued in a grim tone. 

"Then I will have no choice but to kill him." 

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At this exact moment… A 10 kilometers area in a particular region was suddenly encapsulated by a pitch-black and red aura that suddenly spread across this entire mountainous region out of nowhere. 

BOOOOOM!!! 

The mountain from where this chaotic and destructive aura spread from, exploded and its rubble spread across the nearly 2 kilometers radius. 

A massive burst of mana and world energy akin to a nuclear bomb explosion appeared and the whole 5 kilometer of radius was destroyed and turned into smithereens. 

Nearby 10 kilometers of ground shattered, mountain peaks were pulverized, and thousands of crevices formed as shockwaves after shockwaves of this insurmountable aura caused utter destruction. 

At the center of this pure destructive force and explosion was a figure of a man in a black and gray regal attire of a sovereign. 

This man finally opened his eyes as nothing but only a look of absolute power and dominance appeared on his face. 

Just then, the system notified him in his mind… 

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------------END OF ARC/VOLUME 3--------------

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