Hero of Darkness

Kahn and all members of his group stood with perplexed expressions and were shocked for the first time during their battle with the hero's party. The Hero of Fire just used a massive eyeball to reveal Kahn's real identity as Hero of Darkness. And that too in front of Venessa, the 3rd princess of the Vulcan empire. 

[Boy… be careful. The Sage's Eye can give many details about you than just names. He probably knows about your strength, ranks of armors, weapons, and all the bloodlines along with their effects. 

The only things he can't know automatically about are your skills and fighting techniques unless you use them at least once. So all the skills you've used till now against him… he has seen through the flaws in all of them. 

However, the Sage's Eye can't reveal the identity of other Divine Abilities since they're also on par with it in terms of rank.] spoke Rathnaar as he warned Kahn to tread carefully from now.

[Good thing that I didn't go all out since the beginning. Otherwise, I would've revealed a lot of my skills and a few trump cards. 

This is also good. Means he might mistake some of my legendary rank skills for my divine abilities. 

I can still have a chance if it comes to a fight.] said Kahn. 

"To see that you were hiding so well under our nose all this time… 

I lost your trail after you came to Arkensan. But never in my wildest imagination did I think that you'd quickly create an already established background as Throk Oakenshield's disciple. 

And even when our party created a scene in front of the company building, you never revealed your rank despite us provoking you… rather, you let your goons take the lead. 

That was indeed clever." said Axel, explaining his side of the story. 

And it was indeed true in many ways. Kahn established his background in just 4 days after coming to the Vulcan empire. 

One, he met Venessa in the auction house. 

Two, he was dragging into the matters of Blacksmithing Duel. 

Three, he made a deal with Throk and turned him into an ally because of his situation with the 2nd prince.

That was indeed many times faster than anyone without any prior knowledge of a new place could do. And this ended up helping him hide perfectly… till this point. 

"Hero… Hero of Darkness? What the hell is he talking about, Kahn?!" asked Venessa from 5 kilometers away.

She just recovered from all of her injuries and started to amass some world energy in her body after being aided by Armin. 

"I guess there's no reason to hide it any longer." replied Kahn and glanced towards Venessa's direction. 

"I'm indeed the Hero of Darkness of this generation of summoned heroes." he declared without a second thought. 

And there was a good reason for not hiding or denying it. 

"Tell me, Venessa. Does my origin as the new Hero of Darkness affect our relationship? 

What is your stand on this matter?" he asked. 

First, he at least needed to know what she had to say. If she suddenly turned into an enemy… then he'd leave without a second thought. 

Even now, Kahn was engaging in this battle only because of two reasons. To keep his identity secret and to protect Venessa. But now that the truth about the former was already out in the open… he needed to reconsider things. 

Venessa on the other end had a baffled and anxious expression. Her mind seemed to be experiencing many turbulent thoughts as her entire body almost froze. 

Venessa kept thinking for ten seconds, but inside her mind, she had thought for a couple of minutes given how fast the thought process of a saint was. And finally, she spoke with a resolute voice. 

"You never wished to associate with me since the beginning. It was me taking the initiative to establish any form of partnership with you and it was also me who voluntarily decided to be your friend." spoke Venessa with a thoughtful countenance. 

"The matter of heroes, churches and gods do not affect me or my life in any way. 

So be assured… if we manage to get out of here alive, your secret will stay safe with me." she affirmed. 

Kahn was already accustomed to Venessa because of their often meetings with each other. So it didn't take him a second to know that Venessa meant every word of what she said. 

Kahn only nodded in acknowledgement and then turned back to Axel. 

"Tell me something… why did you bring me here along with Hector and Venessa? 

If your plan was to capture her alive and kill Hector… I don't see a reason why I should be brought into this matter." queried Kahn. 

"Oh that… well, I simply wanted to kill you in front of her. To break her mind." he replied while folding his hands. 

For some reason, Axel still acted like he didn't worry a bit if Kahn was also a chosen Hero. As if he was certain that no matter what happened… he would be able to kill the latter. 

"Why? What made you think so?" asked Kahn. 

"Because you two are lovers." 

Shock! 

Other than the Hero of Fire… every single individual present inside this 50 kilometers radius battlefield was rooted on the spot and had their mouths wide open. 

After a few seconds, Kahn looked at Venessa while pointing out his left forefinger at Axel. 

"What the hell is he talking about?!" he shouted. 

"How would I know?

People are just making assumptions themselves! Even my father thought the same." said Venessa as she shrugged her arms. 

"What the fuck?! Even the emperor thought the same?!" he bellowed in disbelief. 

Kahn then remembered how once Venessa called him as her 'man' in front of the Hero's Party. Meanwhile, their friendship was already known to many at this point. So he linked that incident to the current predicament. 

[So this misunderstanding actually stemmed because of her impulsive and wrongly chosen words?]

He was brought here because of a big confusion by coincidence despite his best efforts to hide because of not something he did but because Venessa ran her mouth off in the wrong situations. 

Kahn took a few moments as he absorbed this revelation. But suddenly, his expression turned serious. 

"But even so… you said something about breaking her mind. What's that was about?" asked Kahn as gave a skeptical gaze to Axel. 

"Well… now that no one is watching and I'm going to kill you and your allies anyway… I might as well tell you the truth." Axel said with an insidious grin and explained his reason. 

"Only after watching her lover die, she'd lose her will to fight after we seal her rank and her bloodline. 

After the church takes over this empire, she is to be wed to me and then I will become the new Emperor. 

A chosen Hero of God Hetrax… My reign would be unopposed. With her as my wife… My claim to the throne would also be legit. 

People don't want war, they just want to live their pathetic lives while feeling safe. 

They don't care who is the emperor and what's their background as long as their lives are better than the previous reign. 

The church had thought of everything after they were done killing Emperor Havi. 

If I'm not wrong… he should be already dead now." explained Axel. 

Kahn and Venessa finally understood why they were separated here. 

Killing Hector was the best choice since the emperor would also be dead. Rogis was shunned and had no claim to the throne because of the imperial decree by Havi himself. 

Thus, it left only Venessa as part of the imperial family who qualified to be the next ruler. 

And by marrying her, Axel would indeed have the claim if she was sealed and could not protect the empire. 

All of this was indeed a meticulous plan. 

"But… there was another reason why I wanted Venessa." suddenly, Axel spoke with a lecherous gaze, even from 7 kilometers afar, his malevolent gaze was easily noticed by Venessa. 

Kahn stepped in midway, having a grim expression. 

"What other reason?" he asked, tightening his grip on the hilt of Lucifer. 

"What other use can a woman provide in life other than cooking food and taking care of a man's sexual urges? That's all they're born to do anyway." said Axel unapologetically. 

Venessa clenched her fists, her eyes turning bloodshot red. 

"I have long admired her beauty since I was brought here. I used to be a crown prince in my previous world as well. So it's only right that a princess becomes my sex slave. Ha ha ha!" declared Axel, his lecherous gaze and eerie laugh resounding in the surrounding region. 

After hearing this reason given by Axel… Kahn only looked back at Venessa and asked. 

"Tell me… What do you want me to do with him? 

I will not back down from whatever decision you make." 

Venessa was thoroughly infuriated after hearing Axel's true intentions. She was a woman of pride and honor. Everything she achieved in her life was through her own hard work. 

If not for her condition and inability to fight anymore due to the weakened state after using her bloodline transformation… Venessa would've lunged and attacked Axel without waiting for another moment. 

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Kahn awaited her reply and was ready to act instantly. He too was angered to his core but in the end… it was Venessa's right to make the final decision. 

The next moment, Venessa opened her eyes and declared in a tyrannical voice filled with rage and hatred… 

"Kill him!"