Hero of Darkness

While Kahn’s exhausting and relentless training regime in all important fields carried on every day with no rest or breaks, breaking the bounds of human capabilities even as a saint… Some important matters regarding the fate of the Beast Empire were being discussed in the capital of the Nadur Empire. 

Tenochtitlan, the ancient and cultural center and the heart of the Nadur empire was a bustling city that spanned 160,000 kilometers square area by itself and was the epitome of the beastkin cultural heritage and architecture. 

This city had more than 60 million residents of varying species. Some seemed descendants of lizardkin, some had bodies made of stone. There were many pandakins while some species were literally ghosts. Yet all of them coexisted without trouble. 

And at the very center, was a humongous palace and its total span along with wide grounds surrounding it in a fortress-like setting in itself was 10 kilometers in radius. 

On earth, this area was enough to form a town but here, it was only the residence of the Empress. 

“Your highness… We have bad news.” spoke a being with the eyes of a reptile and a mouth full of sharp and long teeth. His green skin, elongated maw and glowing green eyes made him look like an alligator. 

This saint covered in golden armor and robes was currently in the imperial hall while facing the Empress on a heightened throne below a wide window as the bright sunlight covered the entire throne from behind, making one unable to see the appearance of the being seated on the throne as she was covered in shadows. 

“What is it, Zyatzin?” a domineering and authoritative voice resounded in the 1-kilometer long empty hall, big enough to hold the council of 10 thousand people at once which now had just two of them. 

“The Demon Emperor… a few months ago, he became an 8th stage saint.” spoke this imperial advisor. 

“What?! How is that possible?! 

He was a 7th stage saint just 2 years ago!” exclaimed the empress in disbelief. 

Soon, the countenance of the Empress veiled under the shadow of the throne became that of exasperation. 

“Yes, your highness. It has been confirmed by the 4 sovereigns. We are the last one to receive this information because of our geographic location. 

And I believe that now… We can’t stay away from the war.” spoke the imperial adviser in a shaking voice. 

BOOM!! 

A burst of green aura suddenly spread in the hall as the Empress released a killing intent while trying to control her anger. 

“And the 4 Sovereigns are also pressuring us to take a stand like all the empires.” said the crocodile-kin. 

“Damn it! Why is it happening so suddenly? We were supposed to have at least 80 more years.” she spoke with a contorted face. 

“This isn’t going to be simple. 

Although the 4 sovereigns are acting as a team, they are divided due to their origins and the empires they back up. 

Except for the Revenant Sovereign, Argos Belmont… everyone else has pledged allegiance to someone or some empire.” she revealed in a grim tone. 

“I tried to get him to our side by proposing a marriage but he wouldn’t budge or get swayed in any way despite the benefits our marriage can bring him and his kingdom.” responded the Empress with a visible dejection. 

“If we look at it… 

He gains nothing from it. Even if we offered our whole empire’s army… he alone is more than enough to massacre even greater numbers by himself. 

What prize could get in his eyes?” questioned the advisor who was a 6th stage saint himself. 

“What prize, you say? 

I’m the prize!” shouted the Empress as she clenched her fists in annoyance. 

“He gets to marry an Empress! And he knows that I’m also a True Descendants with the bloodline of the strongest Godbeast of them all. 

Yet he didn’t even spare a moment to think before he rejected me!” she exclaimed while remembering a hateful memory of the past. 

The imperial advisor then tried to calm her down and spoke in a polite tone. 

“Maybe it’s because of our custom. It’s not your fault, your highness. 

He knows that he won’t become the Emperor or even King Consort by marrying you. 

And the offspring you two would have won’t inherit the throne and even your position can be challenged in the future if one of the Heavenly Kings becomes an 8th stage saint as well. 

Argos Belmont is a very smart and experienced vampire. So he didn’t find the proposition ensuring his future prospects.” said the advisor, blaming their customs to appease the anger of the empress. 

“Hah, why is everything going so bad for me recently?” asked the Empress to herself as her figure slumped. 

“Others… I have no worries. The only one who bothers me… Is the Fenrirborne Tribe Leader. 

Although others are strong as well… Only Romulus Lykaios is someone who gives me a sense of threat. 

Must be because he’s a True Descendant of Godbeast Fenrir.” she spoke, revealing an expression full of concern. 

“Even in the past, only Fenrir was on par with your bloodline’s ancestors. 

There’s no point in dwelling.” spoke the advisor. 

“That’s not all, Zyatzin. We have other problems too.” spoke the Empress. 

“Our great God, Termeszet hasn’t sent a decree through the Priestess’ divination recently. 

The Temple of Termeszet previously stated that our God ordered us to solely focus on making the Hero of Nature strong and hunt the Hero of Darkness. 

Yet even now, we have no clue despite him being rumored to have recently ambushed the Hero of Life and killing his party members in the Zivot Empire. 

On top of it, their Princess getting assassinated and the blame falling on us has already stressed the enmity between the two empires a lot on our borders.” she said. 

“Do you know how hard it is to rule the empire when all the borders are on the verge of imminent war? 

We’re lucky that we have 4 seventh-stage saints unlike many where even 2 or 3 of them are extremely hard to come by. Otherwise, it would’ve been impossible for me to manage everything despite my strength.” she admitted an undeniable fact. 

“Still… Hero of Nature became a 5th stage saint just half a year ago. He needs time to perfect his Domain furthermore. 

Even if we are to partake early in the war against the Demon Empire… I would like to postpone as much as possible.” she declared her intentions. 

“And not only ours but all the other empires except Rakos and Vulcan will make their final decisive choice…” stated the Empress solemnly. 

𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔲𝔭𝔩𝔬𝔞𝔡 𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 𝔞𝔱 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩-𝔟𝔦𝔫.𝔠𝔬𝔪

“After the Conclave of Heroes.”

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