Hero of Darkness

The emperor Havi Hos Sigfreed of the Vulcan empire created a perfect escape plan for Kahn to escape while he himself promised to cover his tracks and made necessary arrangements that'd also help him keep hidden unless Kahn himself exposed his identity. 

In his plans, Kahn as Kahn Salvatore, the mega-talented Saint Blacksmith who became famous just this day and almost won the Blacksmithing Duel would be declared as collateral damage during the battle between Hero of Fire and Hero of Darkness. 

After that, Havi planned to use this incident as a pretense to temporarily assume command of the church in the name of protecting it as their empire's vital institution. 

Later, he'd subjugate the Church of Hetrax and pull it under the direct control of the Imperial Clan. And then, he'd root out all the traitors and conspirators, reforming the church and deterring all the possibilities of any other coup or treason. 

And once he achieved that, no one would dig into the matters of this battle between Kahn and Axel and the former would be safe as his identity would be hidden even from the mysterious group that would soon show up to hunt the Hero of Darkness. 

This was the only thing Havi could do to repay Kahn for saving Venessa in the time of peril and overturning the situation in their favor while maintaining the peace in the empire at the same time. 

As for the truth behind the whole situation with Hero of Fire, the Hero's Party and the Pope... They were going to get something they didn't deserve. Because for this plan to work, Havi had no other choice but to turn all the culprits into... 

Martyrs.

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Kahn accepted his proposal because if Havi was right, then nobody in the entire world could protect him if he stayed. 

"Before I go… I have a request." spoke Kahn as he firmly gazed at the emperor. 

"My master… Throk Oakenshield, is not to be touched or brought into the crosshairs. 

He had no idea about my true identity and still thinks of me as his normal human pupil.

I hope you can keep him safe even if someone from that group investigates me and my background." he requested humbly. 

Although he wanted to bid farewell to his master… it would put his life in jeopardy if someone tried to look into his background after this incident became clear to the public. 

Havi nodded in affirmation. 

"As for them… can I take their corpses with me?" asked Kahn as he pointed towards the deceased members of the Hero's Party that his subordinates killed by themselves. 

"They're the traitors of my empire. I was going to incinerate them anyway to clear your tracks. 

Just leave their weapons and armors around. I can use those to stage the site of the battlefield." responded the emperor. 

Soon, Ronin collected all 7 members of the Hero's Party including their cores that were still intact since a saint's core wasn't that easy to destroy. 

Kahn on the other hand had a discouraged and helpless expression. Because so far… he had created a perfect background for himself in this empire and was basically set up for life as he rose in ranks and hid perfectly. 

But now… by choosing to fight and protect Venessa, his only friend in this empire… he had forfeited all that effort. 

Because in this arrangement… Bad guys like Axel, Hero's Party, and the Pope were going to become glorified heroes of the Vulcan empire while the good guy who slayed the dragon and saved the princess was going to be turned into a vile and evil villain who ambushed and killed the virtuous and honorable Hero of Fire.

Sometimes, the truth did more harm than the lie. Thus, Kahn had no other choice but to get labeled as the Murderer who will be on the wanted list in all the empires that served the gods. 

And all Kahn had as reward for the past 1 and half year was that he was now a Saint Rank Blacksmith. 

Other than that, everything else he achieved was in vain. 

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The moment of departure finally came and Kahn faced Venessa who was still unable to accept the fact that the only friend in her life so far… The one who chose to protect her at the cost of revealing his identity as Hero of Darkness and ended up putting the entire world's ire on his back… was now going to leave. 

"I… I… am sorry." she spoke with an expression filled with guilt. 

Although it wasn't her fault in any way, Venessa couldn't help but blame herself. 

"It's neither yours nor my fault. Things just didn't go well for either of us." spoke Kahn as he tried to comfort her. 

But before he could react… 

Swoosh! 

Venessa suddenly appeared in front of him and hugged him tightly, her eyes still carrying small droplets of tears. 

The brave and fierce warrior princess of the Vulcan empire seemed so… vulnerable. 

Pat! 

Kahn patted Venessa's head and hugged back. 

"If you ever need my help in the future… all you have to do is ask." she said in a gentle tone. 

"You are my only friend. Someone I can trust with my life. 

Yet I can't even protect you…" murmured Venessa in an apologetic tone. 

"My my… don't carry any guilt over your mind. You have to face many problems of your own. 

So help your father in dealing with the church and managing the empire. You have to become a strong individual and a capable ruler for all our sakes. 

I believe in your capabilities and conviction." responded Kahn and he gave a gentle and genuinely thankful smile at Venessa. 

Shing!! 

However, the next moment… Kahn felt an immense killing intent targeting him. 

Havi… was giving him a death stare! 

Kahn stopped hugging Venessa and averted his gaze somewhere else to not irk this overprotective father in front of him. 

"Alright then… I guess it's time I leave." he spoke and in the following moments, all the subordinates entered his shadow. 

A void crack opened and Kahn disappeared inside it, his entire existence was erased from the spot. 

Kahn chose to leave using Dimensional Void with the little bit of Space Force he had accumulated in this short time to remove his trace completely so no one could track his direction of retreat from here. 

Winds howled strongly as Venessa bid farewell to Kahn with a stern expression, promising to herself that one day… she'd repay him for what he did for her today. 

To her… this incident was something that had changed her entire life and shifted the direction of her fate. 

This day also marked the end… 

Of Kahn's journey in the Fire Empire.

[[THE END OF THE NOVEL. I'M DROPPING IT.]]