Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1119  Return of the Hero

Albestros Winston, one of the two people who had shared any meaningful connection with Kahn during his time in the Rakos Empire, was lost in thought.

It was the fifth anniversary of Kahnʼs departure, and memories of their time together flooded his mind. He couldnʼt help but feel a pang of longing for the man who had once been a significant part of his life.

In the midst of this quiet reminiscence, a calm, pleased voice suddenly echoed from behind, shattering the tranquil moment.

”Looks like Iʼve been missed.”

Startled, Albestros and Sirius turned toward the source of the voice. Standing before them was a man clad in a dark gray longcoat.

His tall and firm physique radiated an imposing aura, but it was the voice that struck a deep chord within Albestros, sending him spiraling down memory lane.

”Who... who are you?” Albestros stammered, his voice shaky with disbelief. But before the man could respond, Albestrosʼ gaze locked onto the dark gray longcoat.

Recognition dawned upon him like a bolt of lightning, it was made from the hide of the legendary rank Invimarak monster, an attire he had crafted with his own hands.

His body trembled, his eyes wide with shock as he whispered, ”K-K-... Kahn?”

The man on the other end, a light smile gracing his lips, gave a small nod.

His calm and familiar voice broke through the veil of disbelief.

”How have you been, old man?”

Albestros stumbled to his feet, his steps unsteady, as he turned to Sirius, desperate for confirmation.

”Youʼre seeing the same thing, right? Itʼs not just my imagination, right?”

Sirius, equally unsure, studied the figure before them.

His voice was uncertain as he replied...

”This man looks older... but the voice and face are very similar to Sir Salvatore.”

Woosh!

Before they could process what was happening, a swoosh announced the arrival of another figure.

Tobias appeared beside the man, his expression calm yet filled with reverence. He turned toward Albestros and Sirius and spoke with quiet conviction as if declaring an undeniable truth.

”Our master has finally returned home.”

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

It took Albestros and Sirius a few minutes to fully process the reality of the situation. If not for Tobiasʼs unwavering presence and confirmation, they wouldʼve struggled to believe that it truly was Kahn standing before them, alive and well.

But once the truth sank in, the shock gave way to overwhelming joy, and the atmosphere shifted naturally.

Soon, the three men greeted one another warmly, the air filled with genuine affection. Hugs were exchanged, and their fondness for one another became unmistakable.

”Brat, what are you doing here? I thought youʼd be hiding off somewhere, laying low,” Albestros said, his voice laced with concern.

Kahn responded with calm confidence. ”Well, Iʼve been to many places since we last met, and Iʼve grown stronger... strong enough that I no longer need to hide from those noble factions or anyone else.”

Kahnʼs tone turned serious as he continued...

”Thereʼs something I need to tell both of you. Something Iʼve kept hidden, not because I didnʼt trust you, but because knowing it wouldʼve put your lives at risk.”

Intrigued, Albestros and Sirius listened closely as Kahn prepared to reveal the truth he had concealed for years.

”Iʼm the Hero of Darkness.” Kahn finally declared, his voice steady.

”A what?!” Albestros blurted out, utterly baffled.

”Is that the name of some play or a fairytale?” Sirius asked, his confusion evident.

Albestros, the oldest and most experienced of the group, took a moment to recall something from his youth.

”Wait… Iʼve heard stories about so-called heroes when I was a child.

But isnʼt that just folklore? Tales spun by those empires that serve gods?”

Kahn nodded slightly, fully expecting this reaction.

After all, the Rakos Empire had deliberately downplayed the truth about gods and heroes for centuries. In a land where religious institutions were forbidden and society shunned divine influence, stories of gods and the war against the Demon God were dismissed as mere rumors or propaganda.

Rathnaarʼs descendants, in particular, had long shaped the narrative to frame these tales as tools of manipulation used by enemy empires.

They claimed these empires spread such stories to introduce religion into Rakosʼs culture, a means to infiltrate and ultimately dominate their society.

These empires were portrayed as exploiters who divided their people by species, bloodlines, religious faith, and wealth, demanding ʼdonationsʼ as a prerequisite for divine blessings.

It was a narrative that resonated deeply with Rakosʼs citizens, reinforcing their disdain for religious influence and allowing the empire to maintain its unique cultural independence.

Kahnʼs revelation, however, now challenged everything Albestros and Sirius thought they knew about the world they lived in.

The chosen heroes had long faded into myth and legend within the Rakos Empire.

To the common people, they were nothing more than old tales whispered by the wind.

Even now, the government deliberately withheld any information about the ongoing war with the Demon Empire, keeping the populace in the dark.

Their goal was simple: to avoid involvement in a conflict they wanted no part of.

One key reason for this stance lay in the Rakos Empireʼs unique structure. Unlike the monarchies of other nations, Rakos was closer to a republic, with noble clans being the only remnant of a bygone aristocratic era.

However, even the nobles lacked actual governing authority unless they were democratically elected, such as mayors or heads of government institutions.

This system fostered a culture of equality...or at least the illusion of it; where imperial rule or theocracy was viewed as oppressive relics of the past.

To the citizens of Rakos, imperial rule symbolized tyranny, and theocracy represented a system of control that segregated people by species, status, or wealth.

The idea of being enslaved or oppressed based on such factors was anathema to their worldview.

Amidst this societal context, Kahn made his bold move.

”It is true,” he said, responding to their skepticism.

”Let me prove it to you.”

Without warning, Kahn activated his World Creation ability, pulling Tobias, Albestros and Sirius into his realm.

Inside this domain, Kahn unleashed a spectacle of his powers.

First, he revealed his rank as a 6th-stage Saint, a level of strength that left them awestruck. Then, one by one, he showcased his abilities.

Crimson Asura Mode blazed around him, a form so menacing it seemed to ignite the very air.

His Dragonoid Form erupted into existence, radiating draconic majesty.

Next came the Space Overlord form, made entirely of shimmering Cosmic Aether, its sheer presence bending the laws of reality within his domain.

Finally, he revealed his form as the Apostle of War, embodying raw, unbridled power as a 1-kilometer tall titanic being.

Each revelation was more mind-boggling than the last.

Albestros and Sirius could hardly believe their eyes as Kahn displayed abilities that transcended mortal comprehension.

But Kahn wasnʼt finished. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he decided to kick things up a notch.

With a snap, his figure disappeared.

Moments later, his astral form filled the sky, his face appearing as a celestial visage that dominated the heavens. His eyes, now colossal and glowing like suns, gazed down upon them, each iris as vast as a mountain.

In this divine form, Kahn resembled a god in every sense of the word.

”And Iʼm just one of the thirteen summoned heroes,” Kahn boomed, his voice reverberating through the entire realm.

”The others have their powers and abilities.”

Stunned into silence, Albestros and Sirius struggled to process what they had just witnessed.

Finally, Albestros managed to speak, his voice trembling with confusion.

”Wait… you said ʼsummoned.ʼ What do you mean by that?”

Kahnʼs celestial form dissolved, and he returned to his original appearance.

His tone softened, but the weight of his words carried a gravity that could not be ignored. ”It means...” he began.

”Iʼm not from this world.”

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

Both Albestros and Sirius were utterly dumbfounded, their minds reeling from the torrent of revelations.

Accepting Kahn as a chosen hero was already a leap into the incomprehensible, but hearing that he wasnʼt even from their world?

That was beyond anything they could fathom.

”What?! Thatʼs impossible!” Albestros exclaimed, his voice shaking with disbelief, his usually composed demeanor shattered.

”I donʼt believe this! This has to be some kind of illusion or a trick!” Sirius protested, gripping his arm and pinching himself hard, wincing at the sharp sting.

Yet, no matter how real the pain felt, his mind refused to fully accept what he was seeing and hearing.

Kahn, standing firm in his calm but commanding presence, spoke once more, his voice steady as a rock.

”It is true. I come from a planet called Earth. Well… one of the millions of versions of Earth, to be exact.

And this isnʼt unique to me. The same is true for all the other summoned heroes throughout history.

Every single one of them came from different worlds and periods.”

The weight of his words settled over the room like a suffocating fog as Kahn delved deeper into the truth.

He explained the machinations of the Gods, the Empiresʼ role, and the Demon Godʼs looming threat... a being powerful enough to threaten the entire planet.

And most importantly... Why did Kahn hide his identity even to his closest allies.