Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1193: Coming Home

3 Days Later...

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

At Mach 2 speed, the flying ancient rank ship flew past the clouds while avoiding any further confrontation along the way after their encounter with the Godbeast Fenrir.

And the reason for doing so was that the Godbeast Basilisk was chasing after them. Though Fenrir must have stalled it and must have had a ferocious battle with the latter, everyone knew that, given how fast Godbeasts were despite their size, they needed to leave the Abyss Forest’s borders before the titanic serpent caught their trail.

Basilisk and Fenrir... both Godbeasts made into Earth’s mythology.

Their battle in Vantrea... neither Kahn nor anyone else traveling with him was even worthy to witness it. Because forget looking, they would die even if they stayed a few hundred kilometers away from their battle due to the unknown powers they had unleashed.

And if Kahn and the company hadn’t found Jeoseung Saja, the Envoy of Death... they might probably have been dead a long time ago too.

The power that Godbeasts, Elder Dragons, Archangels, Demi-Gods, and Deities used must have been a well-kept secret since even Rathnaar hadn’t mentioned it.

Or maybe it could be that the half-soul Kahn had with him simply didn’t possess those memories, just like it didn’t know about Rathnaar’s skills and his means to become a Demi-God.

Their secret power couldn’t instantly shatter domains even if it came from someone like Vildred and Argos.

[Now that I think about it... Something feels oddly suspicious.] thought Kahn.

The secret power was beyond anything that World Energy could do because even the Rainbow Serpent could oppose Kahn’s Space Law as if the rules of reality did not apply to him.

[It was only a Mythical Rank monster despite its strength. How did it nullify my Space Law in the first place?] he questioned himself.

The Rainbow Serpent wasn’t even a Godbeast but just an underling of one. What kind of enlightenment or knowledge did it possess to even break Kahn’s Space Law?

The powerful affinity to natural elements shouldn’t have allowed it to oppose the space law.

And Godbeast Baihu as well as Godbeast Fenrir... the aura surrounding them didn’t even feel like it belonged to this world or even the multidimensional essence like Kahn’s Cosmic Aether.

So finding the truth about that secret power was also a paramount priority for the future’s sake. Because if he were ever facing any of these beings with access to those secret powers, he would at least have some intel on how to avoid or escape from them.

[There are so many secrets that I need to uncover. Or else, I won’t survive next time.] concluded Kahn.

As for the deal he made with Fenrir...

It was a necessity. Because if Kahn couldn’t find a way... imagine what would happen if the Godbeasts joined the Demon God in the upcoming Great War.

[Martial Emperor didn’t tell me about this either. Was it not that they joined the Demon God in the original timeline or just that he simply chose not to reveal it to me?] he wondered.

Preserving the flow of the timeline could be considered as the major factor here since the original Kahn chose to tell him the most important ones that wouldn’t change the timeline too far.

Shock!

It was right then that it struck Kahn...

[He knew it! He knew that just like in the original timeline, I would meet the Envoy of Death and Fenrir!

The last time, he must have either run away with Jeoseung Saja’s help, but now that I have different divine abilities and even subordinates... he was hoping that I would make some kind of deal with the Godbeast.

He even precisely kept the Hero of Time’s Apple of Eden for that exact moment so I could make a valid proposal and have something to back my claim.] thought Kahn to himself after further analyzing the past events.

[Does he want me to kill them and stop their involvement in the future, something he couldn’t do in the original timeline?

Or does he want me to become allies with them and turn the tide of the battle?] questioned Kahn to himself.

There were multiple possibilities, and the right way couldn’t be decided on either.

[The Godbeasts do not want to destroy the world, but they all wish to die for real.

And currently, I’m not even strong enough to survive their auras, let alone fight them.] thought Kahn with a solemn countenance as the ship reached the horizon.

[Even if I somehow use my subordinates to kill them and merge with the bloodlines of the Godbeasts...

Wouldn’t I be basically condemning my trusted allies to a life full of torments?] he asked himself.

[Omega, Oliver, Rudra... the 3 of them have the bloodlines of the Godbeasts and may become powerful in the future to fight the Godbeasts and take their place.

But others like Blackwall, Ronin, Ceril, Tobias, Armin... they simply have very distinguished and incompatible bloodlines to merge with them at this point.

Besides, the bloodlines of Primordial Titans and True Demons are simply opposing in nature towards the godbeast bloodlines.

Even with the system’s assistance, it just won’t be possible to kill them and merge with my subordinates.] he iterated why it seemed simply impossible.

Sigh!

[Creating new subordinates with appropriate bloodline and even then, waiting for them to become a being comparable to Godbeasts... it will take decades even if I provide them with the best resources.

Also, not all of them will even have the possible chance since none of them will be an Apostle of a Deity or have reached enlightenment and unlocked these different laws of nature and reality.

Even I can’t touch these beings, let alone my subordinates. Hoping for assured victory is simply pointless.] concluded Kahn as he sighed.

[Besides... they are placeholders in Vantrea. Beings that must exist for some reason unknown. Even if the Godbeasts are killed... would I be able to control my subordinates after they take the former’s place?

There are simply too many questions and dangerous risks that I can’t even foresee at the moment.

10 years... I don’t think that’s enough.] he thought with visible helplessness on his face.

[As per Martial Emperor... the great war had been going on for somewhere between 12 to 16 years before he killed the Hero of Time and had to return to the past.

And even then, he had only faced the Demon Emperor, and their fight ended in a draw.

In contrast, when the Heroes faced the Demon God... they barely survived, including the original Kahn.

So the extent of their powers, and secrets surrounding Godbeasts and Demi-Gods... I need to find it.

I simply don’t have enough information regarding these matters at all. And I hate leading blind into a war when I have no information about my enemies, their strengths, and weaknesses.

I hope once I return to the Rakos Empire, I can find some answers.

The next time I meet God of Darkness... I will have to make plans for every possibility.] spoke Kahn to himself as he settled new goals that he must accomplish later when the time was right.

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

The following day...

The sunlight in the morning felt different as soon as Kahn and the others crossed the borders of the Abyss Forest and safely returned to the Rakos Empire.

A month’s journey might feel short, but it was mentally draining on all of them and felt like years.

Despite being some of the strongest people in the world, all they could do was just run and hide in the Abyss Forest.

At every step, they were forced to face the jaws of death, and only through fortuitous encounters and coincidences did they manage to come back alive.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The invisible Bran Castle came forth above the skies of Flavot City.

”I have a few things to discuss with my vassals. You can go ahead. I will join you in Rathna soon.” said Argos as he was welcomed by his knights and saints.

Blip!

The Vampire King took the flying ship artifact back into his space ring and flew at the entrance of the flying castle.

”I shall join the Great Guardian for the time being, cult leader. I’m sure you have important matters to deal with going forward.

I hope that you could finish them soon before we depart for the Abyss Empire.” spoke Morrigan as she bowed before Kahn respectfully.

Kahn nodded silently, and then the High Priestess of the Cult of Darkborne followed behind Argos.

Woosh!

Woosh!

Kahn and Vildred then flew down and visited a guesthouse owned by Nikola and Elanev.

For the time being, Albestros had been waiting for their return for a reason.

In the same building owned by the merchants, where Kahn slept on a bed for the first time in his new life... he met the 3 people who were there during his beginning in Vantrea.

”So, have you succeeded in achieving everything I told you?” asked Kahn to the old man Albestros.

”There was some resistance at first. But you, being the new emperor, helped convince everyone by a lot,” replied the old blacksmith.

”Good. When we begin the plans, I want both of you to work with Albestros.

Your merchant company will basically handle all the material transportation, merchandise, and supplies.

Don’t worry about the manpower or authority. You are my people... people that I can trust.” said Kahn with a content expression.

”This... your majesty, is too big for people like us. We are but a small merchant company.

This operation is thousands of times bigger than anything we’ve ever worked with.

I don’t think we have enough qualifications to do it.” spoke Elanec, his eyes hesitant.

”What do you think?” asked Kahn to Nikola.

”Can be done. I didn’t have my hair turn white for nothing. But I worry that your majesty might get accused of favoritism.” replied the old man.

”It’s not favoritism. Though it could be considered as repayment of the help you both offered me back in the day... I want your company to do it because you guys are the natives of this city.

Unlike some officials or big corporations from the capital... You know this region and its people.

It’s better to have you both act as the spearhead in this operation instead of trusting some acclaimed figure.” spoke Kahn.

Thud!

Thud!

Both Nikola and Elanev knelt in front of Kahn.

”We shall not disappoint you, your majesty.” spoke both in unison.

Kahn, in return, let out a contented smile. As for his plans for the Flavot City...

He was going to turn it into a stronghold. And for what reason...

That remained to be seen.