Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1215: The Great Guardian

The Great Guardian... A moniker earned by Argos Belmont, the Revenant Sovereign over 50 years ago, still held weight to it.

He was not a God or a Deity, but still revered by the people of the Abyss Empire for almost 5 decades. Even most of the current living population had survived because of his interference.

Only recently did Kahn learn that Argos not only stopped the civil war but also became a mediator among the 3 factions after the war ended.

He brought resources from the outside world, aka Vantrea, and helped in setting policies and laws that allowed the normal citizens of the empire to stand up on their feet again.

Back then... he had a choice to kill the previous emperor whose flames of ambition burnt millions of lives just because he wished to be the sole ruler of the Abyss Empire.

Yet the Revenant Sovereign did not kill him or the top figures of the Imperial Faction. He knew that even if he snuffed out the fire, and killed with person who caused it... there would be bad blood remaining within the descendants of the royal lineage.

By showing mercy, he allowed the son of the emperor, who was currently in a coma, to take the reins and right his father’s wrongs over the years. The man who caused such bloodshed died as the emperor only in name until the son took command.

If he had chosen to persecute all the noble clans and those who served them... the cycle of hatred would have never ended, and people would not be living in harmony despite their political beliefs as they do now.

For the next 20 years, he brought knowledge and technology from the outside world, belonging to different civilizations and empires that caused their technological advancements while retaining their culture and tradition.

Argos knew that too much of anything, whether good or bad, would worsen the situation. So he eventually stopped interfering on the premise that what happened 50 years ago should not be repeated.

Meanwhile, Argos had already established the Belmont Kingdom and was housing many immigrant species from different empires and civilizations. The kingdom allowed him to mask the whereabouts of the real Abyss Empire and preserve its anonymity.

As for the next 24 years... Argos completely stopped his involvement in the matters of the sealed realm as he allowed them to flourish on their own, since a cohesive society needs to form on its own.

It was only 6 years ago that he returned to the Abyss Empire again, only because it marked Kahn’s arrival in Vantrea, and his role as the Great Guardian of the Abyss Empire required him to find the Hero of Darkness.

If not for the limitation of only one person being able to leave this sealed realm, Argos would have already set up the Abyss Empire in Vantrea itself.

But to do so... he needed to find Kahn first for reasons known only to him and Lucian Varangis, the golden-haired peak 7th-stage vampire who served as his right-hand man ever since.

What part did Kahn have to play in this dynamic... only time could tell.

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As people watched with vehement eyes and prayed while gazing at Argos; the 9th-stage saint landed on the main spherical platform.

The broadcasting artifacts instantly focused their lenses on the sovereign as he spoke with a content smile.

”It was I who found him during the Conclave of Heroes. He was surrounded by those who had been hunting him for years. But he hid so well that they made him part of another Hero’s party instead.

Despite being the one to find him, I did not come forward first because people of the empire needed to know their leader and his capabilities, instead of judging his capabilities and allegiance based on my support.” spoke Argos with a majestic tone.

”When you go into the war, your willingness to fight for your leader should come from within your heart, not out of obligation or chain of command.

Even if you die fighting... you should believe in the person who led the cause. Otherwise, every life lost on the battlefield would be meaningless.” he stated in a firm tone as he looked at the disciplined Doom Templars.

His eyes then locked directly at the centre of the hovering artifacts as he asked the people witnessing this ceremony.

”Do you believe that Kahn Salvatore, the Hero of Darkness, is the right person to be the Supreme Leader and lead you into the Great War?!” his regal voice echoed across the empire as he questioned the will of the people.

”Yes!!” shouted Tyverax, the strongest Chapter Master.

”Yes, he is more than capable of deserving our respect and our loyalty!” exclaimed Calavanius with no hesitation.

Soon, the loud cheers resounded in the headquarters of the Cult of Darkborne as all the Doom Templars, the priests, the cardinals, and the normal worshippers in the vicinity loudly voiced their support for Kahn.

At the same time, many citizens, regardless of their faction and species, spread across the capital Naraka, who witnessed Kahn’s Cosmic Form firsthand, also raised their fists and whatever body part they had, to shout and display their approval.

Throughout the Abyss Empire, all the citizens chimed their support as loud and zealously as they could.

Because in every sense, Kahn was the right man for the job and after everything they saw so far... they had no reason to complain.

”Good. Now, let us end this ceremony when everyone is excited. There are a few important rituals that the Hero of Darkness must perform. And I shall guide him for the time being.

So celebrate and enjoy to your heart’s content. Because we all have very important things to achieve in the days to come.

Stay strong, people of the Abyss Empire. Your strength is needed for the fate of the world.” said Argos calmly, yet his words invoked a feeling of excitement and joy in everyone’s hearts.

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1 Hour Later...

Kahn performed all the rituals in front of everyone and officially accepted the position as the Cult Leader of the Darkborne.

All his subordinates, Kassandra, Vildred, Jeoseung Saja, and Argos watched him take on the responsibilities that came with his role as the Hero of Darkness, the Cult Leader of the Darkbornes, and now the Supreme Commander of the Abyss Empire.

[So they have not suspected that you have the Space Law?] asked Argos to Kahn telepathically.

[No, as Morrigan stated before, a lot of the knowledge different laws of reality, especially a rare one like the Space Law, was lost during the attack on the original Abyss Empire.

There is no one other than Sir Lucian who knows about the existence of the Space Law in this sealed empire.

They all will think that I’m this much powerful because of my divine abilities.

But eventually, someone will figure it out. So I must use it to our advantage as long as we can.] responded Kahn.

Thus, the ceremony finally ended, and Kahn, with his subordinates, entered the main hall of the headquarters.

”Come with me. There is a place you must visit first before assuming the command.” said the vampire king.

”A place that only you can enter.”