Hero of Darkness



As the sun rose over Aurelius City, casting its golden hues across the landscape, the city began to awaken to the new day.

Meanwhile, Kahn's request for money as a reward from the council the previous day had not been made without reason. 

In his current circumstances, he possessed everything including resources. But despite his arrival in the Beast Empire eleven months ago, he found himself without a penny to his name.

Though his stay in the empire would not be lengthy, Kahn knew that he needed money to avoid a life of begging and to maintain the appearance befitting a saint. 

This money would serve various purposes, including acquiring items or doing certain things in the eyes of others that would solidify his identity as a member of the Fenrirborne Tribe. 

While acquiring money may not have held great importance in the grand scheme of things, Kahn had reached a point where he required nothing else; so he asked it out of pure habit.

Given he possessed a soul of an accountant, the sum he had asked for caused many council members to recoil in surprise, their eyes widening in disbelief. 

Yet, considering the circumstances, it was the only request that seemed appropriate for Kahn aka Atreus, serving as a means to secure his place and provide him with the necessary resources to navigate his new life as a brawler saint.

As he basked in the morning sun, a message was relayed in his mind.

[I have an important task for you.]

An alarmed voice resounded, instantly recognizable as Romulus. 

As Kahn listened to the urgent mission being relayed to him, a sigh escaped his lips, his frustration evident.

"Are there no other saints in this empire?

I feel less of a shadow disciple and more of a minimum-wage construction worker." he exclaimed in exasperation. 

"And why are these mythical rank monsters, who have slept for centuries, suddenly awakening and launching attacks on cities?" he continued to complain.

However, before he could delve further into his questioning, Romulus's voice cut through his thoughts with a commanding tone. 

[Just shut the hell up and help Juno!] Romulus ordered, leaving no room for further debate. 

And then, he provided his reasoning. 

[Because you're probably the only one who can stop this monster.]

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

In one of the rugged regions of the Nadur Empire, where the land met the sea in a stunning display of nature's power, a fierce battle raged. 

A tumultuous storm crackled overhead as dozens of colossal creatures, conjured from pure lightning, clashed with a towering being that stood a staggering kilometer in height.

Along the shores and the surrounding land, the aftermath of the battle was evident. The fallen bodies of hundreds of thousands of soldiers lay strewn across the landscape, while the remnants of destroyed warships dotted the sea. The scale of devastation was immense, a testament to the ferocity of the conflict.

Amidst the chaos, the defender and leader of the forces was a Fenrirborne Spirit Enchanter saintess. 

With all her strength, she fought valiantly to hold the monstrous entity at bay, buying precious time for the civilians to evacuate to safety. 

However, the strain was taking its toll. She had depleted her reserves of World Energy, and now, critically injured, she found herself hurtling through the air, crashing onto a nearby seashore.

Rumble!

Bang!

The towering lightning monsters, each reaching heights of several hundred meters, relentlessly assailed the mythical beast with their electrifying attacks.

However, to their dismay, their efforts seemed futile against the colossal creature's colossal frame, encased in a shimmering crystalline exterior. Despite the immense power behind their strikes, the lightning monsters could not breach the barrier provided by the monster's resilient form.

What instilled fear and horror in the hearts of those witnessing the battle was the monster's ability to transform into a spectral form whenever an opportunity arose. 

Just as the conjured spirits managed to create a fleeting opening in its defenses, the creature would seamlessly shift its physical composition, rendering the attacks ineffective against its ethereal manifestation. This unsettling ability added an extra layer of challenge and unpredictability to the already daunting task of defeating the monstrous foe.

The battlefield crackled with frenetic energy as the clash between the lightning monsters and the mythical creature intensified. Sparks illuminated the sky, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding landscape.

It was a desperate struggle, as the lightning monsters fought against an adversary whose resilience seemed almost insurmountable. 

Each strike, each attempt to weaken the creature, was met with its relentless countermeasures and spectral transformations, prolonging the confrontation and heightening the tension.

Time was running out. 

Juno knew that with her incapacitated, there was little standing between the colossal monster and the vulnerable citizens who were still seeking refuge.

The creature's mere aura alone had the potential to claim millions of lives. Urgency gripped her as she mustered what strength remained, knowing that she had to find a way to stall the impending disaster and protect those who were fleeing for their lives.

Thud! 

Thud!

With each advancing step of the monstrous creature, fear continued to grip Juno's mind, tightening its hold on her. 

ROAARRRR!!!

However, in a sudden turn of events, the colossal beast unleashed a furious roar, a display of anger that seemed to indicate it was being threatened. 

The sound of its deafening roar sent shivers down her spine, as if foretelling imminent doom.

BOOM!!

And in that moment, a dazzling golden beam of light pierced through the air, striking the mythical creature from behind Juno with a resounding impact.

Rumble!!

Astonished, Juno turned her gaze to witness the unexpected arrival of a mysterious figure.

A tall and robust man stood before her, his back turned towards her. Though Juno herself was taller than him, at that moment, his presence seemed to dwarf her, his broad back and stature resembling an immovable mountain.

The field was hushed as the figure's heroic voice resonated through the battlefield, instilling awe and hope in the hearts of all who heard it. 

"Do not fear." he proclaimed with valor, his arrival giving everyone hope and confidence. 

"Because I am here."