Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1161: The Founding Father

Out of nowhere, in the middle of his speech, Kahn suddenly introduced an ancient entity that was no different than a legend, a myth from a bygone era, to everyone.

All the people in the colosseum and those watching across the empire were shocked to see Rathnaar’s visage on the screen.

”What?! What’s happening?!” shouted someone among the crowd.

”Is that truly the First Emperor?” questioned a female orc with a bewildered voice.

Everyone was stupefied, including the Peak 7th-stage saints like Allister Mor Vandereich, Jeremiah Themis, and Joseif Stalin.

Because even people as old as them had never actually seen how the First Emperor looked like, let alone the rest of the population.

While the First Emperor’s achievement and fame were known even to this day... people had no idea of his real appearance, given the fact that the Whitlock imperial family’s legacy was destroyed over 100 years ago after the previous emperor was killed during the rebellion.

But out of nowhere, unexpectedly, Kahn had summoned the very man himself on his coronation day as the new emperor.

Now, why did Kahn do so?

Because this was also ’part of the plan’.

Kahn was a thorough and meticulous man when it came to orchestrating plans to achieve his goals.

He thought of every possible implication and prepared the means to remove them even before they happened.

That was why, when he spread the rumors about his supposed death over 5 years ago and tied it to him being the rightful emperor of the Rakos Empire... he specifically had mentioned both The First Sage and the First Emperor in those rumors.

Kahn was aware that even if he provided the right reasoning, once things settle and people get comfortable... out of boredom, many would suddenly start questioning the authenticity of his claims.

And even if he had basically enslaved the majority of the key players of the empire using the Stigmata of Bloodlines... there would be new groups arising, unbound by the oath, and they would try to shake his authority using any excuse they could.

Any population, once they don’t have enough hardships to go around... they focus on matters and cause chaos just to taste the spice in their lives.

And given how the Great War was about to start in just a few months... There would be a possible uprising under Kahn’s reign right after he assumed the position of the emperor.

So, how could he circumvent those possible rebellions?

Can he do it just by being a leader of the masses?

No! Leaders can be replaced, they can be overthrown, and their reign, no matter how perfect, could be dismantled by the new regime.

So, what reason could he provide for people to give him their blind loyalty and faith?

The answer was simple...

To appear as ’The Chosen’.

That’s right... Kahn was basically using the notion that their new leader wasn’t just a qualified person but also the chosen savior of the masses.

But would just the rumors be enough to ingrain that impact on people’s minds?

No, he needed something more. Something credible... something Godlike.

And who better to play the role of the god, in the empire which never served any god or a religion... other than the man who founded it in the first place?

Rathnaar Whitlock, the very founding emperor, was the best and the only suitable option to do so.

Because after setting that image for Kahn... even daring to question his authority or judgement in the future would be considered blasphemy by the people themselves.

No amount of opposition could change their mind since people already would see Kahn as not only their Hero but the Chosen successor by a being that was akin to a deity in their empire.

”Kneel!” he commanded the whole empire with an authoritative tone.

In mere moments, the bewildered populace gathered their thoughts and collectively started kneeling to pay respect to their founding father, who created the empire where all of them were born and lived till this day.

And while the whole Rakos Empire was shocked to their core and paid respect... Kahn was grinning while bowing his head, relishing in his ’Kira’ moment.

******************

Rustle!

A couple of minutes had passed. Now, the whole empire was kneeling from their respective locations.

Whether it was the normal citizens, soldiers, knights, nobles, or the ministers... There were no exceptions.

Unexpectedly, both Argos and Vildred also knelt in order to uphold Rathnaar’s majestic image as per their prior agreement.

It added even more respect and devotion to the grand name of the First Emperor.

The quiet was finally broken by the figure of Rathnaar himself.

”People of my Rakos Empire. My name is Rathnnar Whitlock, the man who founded this empire over a thousand years ago.

What you witness in front of you... is the last remnants of my soul.” declared the Peak Saint.

Since Rathnaar couldn’t leave Kahn’s body... the latter had entered the Tablet of Arcana, where the former could physically manifest himself without a problem.

They recorded footage that Kahn would use for this very moment during the coronation ceremony.

Thus, Rathnaar now had the only part to play... the role of the ’God’.

”With the final remaining bits of my soul, I would like to declare something very important to all those who have descended from the people of my era.” said Rathnaar with a commanding yet majestic voice.

”Many of you may not even know how the Rakos Empire itself came to be. So let me reprise your memories.” he said with a dignified countenance.

”I was born as the 3rd son in a knight household, having no talent or strength, unlike my brothers.

After coming of age, I was kicked out of the house, shunned because I could not serve the lord that my family did with the nonexistent strength.

I had no choice but to wander around the world on my own while learning everything I could just in order to survive.

Whether it was fighting, learning to read and write... working as a farmer’s hand or even as a mercenary... I did everything I could just to live.

My life was no different than any of you, who toil every day just to put the food on the table while hoping that tomorrow we are able to eat again by working hard.” iterated the first emperor.

Whoosh!

A somber atmosphere spread across the nation as Rathnaar recounted his history.

People across the nation found his words relevant as if he were describing their own lives.

And the fact that the First Emperor of the nation hailed from a background similar to theirs resonated with their hearts.

”It was around those days that I witnessed the cruelty of the world. That those without power do not have the right to live.

Because we are no longer in control of our fates if we do not have the wealth, the strength, or the will to take from others.

The world is unforgivable and unkind to all of us.” he stated with a somber tone as if recalling his struggles and hardships.

”The era we lived in... was an era of War and Bloodshed.

Many empires had gone to war with each other because of the different Gods and Doctrines they believed in.

During those times, many innocent people like you suffered regardless of which empire they belonged to.

War not only takes lives on the battlefield, but it also destroys those beyond the frontlines.

A child will lose his or her father. Parents lose their sons, and wives lose their husbands.

It takes away all the hope that lives in one’s mind and heart, making them devoid of dreams for a better future.

I, too, was one of those people.” spoke Rathnaar with a solemn tone.

”It was during those times I met a man named Lezron Mikealson, a young aspiring mage who wished to bring peace and joy across the lands we lived in.

I laughed at his foolish notions at first, but I knew that deep inside, I too shared the same dream.”

Rathnnar’s eyes then turned sharp as his face directly appeared on the screen, his resolution becoming clear to all the people watching.

”In the beginning, we founded a small haven... a village hidden by leaves.

It was a gathering of immigrants affected by war from the neighboring lands, such as counties and baronies.

We provided for people who had lost everything to war. People who had nowhere left to go or a family to return to.

To me and Lezron, it didn’t matter which race, species or place of origin one came from. As long as they helped in maintaining our little haven, we took them in.

I, too, trained hard to strengthen myself, learning swordsmanship as if my life depended on it.

Not because I suddenly wanted to become some great warrior or some leader...

But because I now had responsibility and people to protect.” his revelation left people shocked.

To think the man who created this empire wasn’t someone inherently strong or ambitious... but a leader born amidst the time of chaos, whose only option was to become strong in order to protect the people around him.

It instantly gained respect in people’s hearts.

”Years passed, and the wars had stopped. But our village grew to the size of a barony, and exactly when we thought that we could live peaceful lives...” spoke Rathnnar, his expression suddenly turning grim.

”The predators set their eyes on our home.”