Hero of Darkness

Finally after more than a year, Kahn became a 4th stage saint after stagnating for a long time. And this time as well, his rank-up came with a surprise because of the Contract of Familiarity. 

Due to Sedaris's core being used as a medium to officiate the contract between Kahn and Vildred, his body absorbed the excessive world energy and instantly raised Kahn's level to the point he achieved another breakthrough. 

Kahn on the other side felt his body becoming 5 times stronger than before and even the range of his skills such as Survival Instinct and Hunter's Domain to expand as far as 40 kilometers radius. 

And naturally, he could estimate that all of his skills received a boost by multiple times as well. 

This pleasant surprise also gave Kahn some confidence to a degree. 

And now, Kahn could feel that if he went all out, he could at least face at least an intermediate 5th stage saint as equals in his peak strength.

As for Aragorn, Kahn could at least survive in a long-drawn battle even if he couldn't kill the Elven Prince with strength alone.

With Blackwall's upgrade, Vildred becoming their ally and now his own rise in ranks, the once unfavorable and ghastly situation was completely overturned in their favor. 

On the other end, Vildred was also completely freed as soon as his soul connection with Kahn was established and the Maskaanxavir formation could no longer control him because the royal Dragon's soul itself was changed by a considerable margin than the original one. Hence, changing the fundamental foundation of this ancient formation and its effect on Vildred. 

[Child… Since I, the captured entity itself is gone, the Maskaanxavir formation detects us as outsiders. 

I no longer have any control over this floor. At the present moment, I can only get us all out of this dungeon.] spoke Vildred in Kahn's mind. 

[I see. But the main problem is what do we do about him?

The current situation doesn't mean I have to let this bastard go for backstabbing and trying to kill me.] responded Kahn and gazed at Aragorn with vengeful eyes. 

All of this happened only because Edmund Thandruil aka Aragorn lured them inside the supreme dungeon under the pretense of future profits, just to use Kahn and his mercenary guild as his personal pawns to progress the floors of this dungeon smoothly without having to fight and risk his life. 

[It's not a good idea to fight inside this place anymore. Otherwise, the formation will treat us as hostile entities and we will be attacked with all of its might. 

And I definitely do not want to be caged inside again. I assume you share the same notion?] said the Dragon Emperor. 

[But he doesn't know that, right?] Kahn spoke while revealing his angered countenance at the high elf. 

"You bastards! You ruined everything! 

Why couldn't you just play your part and leave the dungeon after some time? 

Why did you have to come to the final floor, you mongers!" cursed Aragorn while floating 3 kilometers away from their group. 

For the next couple of minutes, he kept cursing incessantly because all of his plans had failed and he was frustrated to his core.

Swoosh! 

Swoosh! 

Suddenly, everyone including Vildred surrounded Aragorn in a group of 2 in. five directions. 

With his Imperial Bloodline Token gone… Aragorn also didn't have any way to leave on his own unless he had some sort of spare dungeon token. 

"Give us one reason why we shouldn't kill you?" asked Kahn with a devilish smirk as he summoned Lucifer in his hands and equipped Drakos Armor again. 

His hands were itching to beat the elf in human appearance because one thing Kahn didn't like at this point in his new life was being betrayed or used as a pawn by someone else. 

He had suffered a great at the hands of powerful people such as the Vandereich clan and the Pureblood faction in Rakos Empire, making him fake his death and flee the empire despite working so hard to set up his own rule as the Sovereign of Verlassen fiefdom. 

And now, Aragorn had rubbed on that very old wound. 

"I have none." spoke Aragorn with a carefree voice. 

"But you should rethink. Because I'm more useful alive than I'm dead." he said, revealing a completely unafraid demeanor despite being surrounded by enemies from all sides at the moment. 

"Besides… You really don't want to kill me for your own good." he revealed a haughty grin. 

"And why would that be so?" scoffed Kahn. 

But in the following seconds, Aragorn took out a red glowing amulet with ancient runes on it. 

[Dammit! Is that what I think it is?!] exclaimed Rathnaar in surprise. 

[Well, this elf brat is their prince so it's not surprising that he has it.] said Vildred in a grim tone, barely containing his exasperation. 

[What is that amulet? I sense a very strong and mysterious energy from it.] queried Kahn with a somber expression. 

[That's the elven imperial clan's Amulet of Annihilation. 

It's an ancient artifact used by their imperial clan throughout history ever since their empire was established 8 thousand years ago. 

It's passed from one generation of the future ruler to another.] revealed Rathnaar as if he had a bad memory of this amulet. 

[If you kill the user, it will activate on the spot and the nearby 50 kilometers of space will be pulverized instantly. Even a peak 7th stage saint can't react or run away from it when it activates.] explained Vildred. 

[As for you kid… it also seals all the space in nearby 50 kilometers and no spirit or phase shifting skills would work either.

You'll be dead even before you used that Dimensional Void or Phase Shift skill of yours.

And that's the worst-case scenario. If you even attack him or injure him in any way… the attacks and damage will be amplified by 10 times while the skill or damage itself will be inflicted on you, the source of it. 

This is one of the most prized possessions of the high elves who want to protect their heirs and future rulers of the empire.] explained Rathnaar. 

[In simple words… there's no escape for anyone. 

Plus Vildred will also die.

But because you're bound to him because of Contract of Familiarity… You will also die as a result.] he iterated in a ghastly tone. 

[What the fuck?! There was this type of condition?] asked Kahn, completely bamboozled. 

[Of course! You can't purposefully leave him to die either just as he can't do that to you.

Why do you think Vildred even agreed to use the Contract of Familiarity? 

If you decided to kill this elf brat… you're both as good as dead.] the peak saint revealed the whole truth. 

[So this bastard came prepared for every possible scenario, huh…] said Kahn with a dejected expression. 

[Now what?

He already knows our identities and also the fact that Vildred is freed from the formation. 

And once we are outside this dungeon… he will have absolute freedom and a chance to reveal the truth to the outside world. 

No matter which way… we still won't get scot-free.] responded Kahn after analyzing their current situation. 

Presently, they were all out of options.

Aragorn on the other side was still furious but he too is helpless because Vildred was no longer bound to the formation and couldn't be controlled in any way. 

But just then, the Elven prince spoke in a stern voice. 

"Ragnarsson… Let's talk." 

Now that their situation was at a standstill… Aragorn decided to make an unexpected move. 

"How about we make an agreement?" 

Shock! 

Everyone who heard those words was shocked. 

"The reason why I came here in this dungeon to win the trial set by my ancestors was not because I wanted to control the lightning dragon emperor. 

It's because he is the only being in this entire Zivot Empire who can help me achieve an impossible task that I can't do on my own." he spoke in a somber tone. 

"So if you make a deal with me… I will go as far as make a soul-oath with you that I will keep everything that transpired here as a secret." he proposed in an amicable tone. 

"Oh, how generous.

I have already seen how skilled Enchanter you are. Runes and Formations are your expertise. You could even solve those archaic formations very easily. 

So how do I not know you will keep your word and then use some way to nullify your soul-oath?" he questioned in a domineering voice. 

"Killing you is more favorable to me than even making a deal with you.

So why would I take unnecessary risks?" spoke Kahn as he declined right off the bat. 

Aragorn on the other end had a constricted and irritated expression. But all he could do was simply stand still. 

Although he had the Amulet of Annihilation, a prized heirloom of his family… it didn't mean that he could kill anyone here or act like he was an invincible being. 

The only use this ancient Ancient Rank artifact had was to protect the user from sudden dangers or attempts on their life. 

It couldn't help him if he attacked the other side first. 

Thus, even Aragorn was forced to make a proposition to persuade Kahn now that his efforts were already turned useless. 

Kahn on the other side did not want to make any arrangements. 

But right at this moment, both Rathnaar and Vildred spoke in his mind. 

[Let's hear him out first.]