Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1186: Ruler of the Eternal Abyss

God of Darkness had finally come to terms with Kahn’s misdemeanor, while the latter had toned down his voice, speaking formally and keeping his wits and jests to himself.

After telling his encounters with every significant person so far, he shifted the topic to his allies. Vildred was a new addition in this timeline, while Miyamoto Musashi had turned into another one of Kahn’s masters.

However, the name Argos Belmont was completely unfamiliar to the God of Darkness. Finally, Kahn landed another shocking bomb about his origins and why he was serving the God of Darkness’ cause despite not being a devotee himself.

And the revelation left the God of Darkness shocked.

That Argos Belmont was the adoptive son of none other than the infamous 8th Hero of Darkness.

”What?! How? How come there’s someone related to him directly involved in our affairs?

I never even heard about this person, and what mission does he have?” asked God of Darkness, even his skull for a face had creased due to curiosity.

”He was given the task to find me and lead me to the hidden Abyss Empire while also ensuring that I can become strong under his protection.

He is safeguarding me and also risked his life bringing me to this den of Godbeasts. If not for him, I would’ve died along the way.

All that effort just so I could awaken my divine key.” iterated Kahn, giving an honest answer.

”As for his intentions afterwards... I do not know. But one thing I’m certain of...

Is that he is an indispensable ally that should be kept close no matter what.

Just his existence is more than enough to deter plenty of our enemies, and even the hidden Abyss Empire thinks of him as their Great Guardian,” revealed Kahn.

”Maybe, just maybe... the 8th Hero of Darkness still had some consciousness left behind and created a hidden powerhouse so that I, his successor, will at least have the chance to properly fight once the Great War starts for this generation of heroes.” said Kahn, presenting his assumption.

”No, I do not trust this person. There is no way a 9th-stage saint will have a strong reason to back you up in my stead or the Abyss Empire’s, despite having such unfathomable strength, just because he had a promise to keep to someone who died 250 years ago.

I clearly remember him, my previous chosen one. He used his own divine weapon to kill himself.

He shattered his soul and erased it from complete existence. He knew very well what I would do to him after the things he had done.

He just wanted to completely vanish from all of existence instead of facing me and paying for his crimes.

And ever since then... I haven’t been able to track down your divine weapon either. It’s as if... it no longer exists in this world.” responded the God of Darkness sternly.

It was right then...

”Lord Argos has my divine weapon. He’s been safekeeping it for decades.” revealed Kahn.

”What do you mean?! Shouldn’t the Cult of Darkborne have it within the hidden Abyss Empire?

How come this adopted son of my previous chosen one has it?” asked the God of Darkness.

”No... he indeed has it in his kingdom. But I have no idea exactly where. That’s why he brought me to awaken the divine key so I could finally use it.” iterated Kahn.

”Hmm... that makes more sense. However, the kingdom of his... is in the real world, yet I still cant’ sense the divine weapon. What secret is he hiding?” said the god with a contemplatie tone.

”As for this Argos... I’m conflicted about his generosity for a valid reason.” he iterated.

”What reason could that be?” asked Kahn.

”The fact that I can remember the events of the original timeline. But I still can’t remember who this vampire is.” explained the god.

”What?! How is that possible?

Even the Martial Emperor said that Argos existed in the original timeline too. Just that they would meet 3 years later in that timeline.

I chose to reveal myself to the world believing his words that Argos can be trusted.

That’s why I presumed that even you were aware of his existence.” said Kahn, completely flabbergasted.

”That is why it is important to know who he really is. Now... I can’t even put another soul inside you because there is this unknown variable.

What if instead of turning into an ally... he is some sort of spy working for a third party?

What if he is actually an agent of any one of those empires instead?” said God of Darkness, raising valid questions.

”I don’t think so though. Because so far, he is the reason why the Vulkan Empire and the Erdve Empire have turned into our hidden allies.

If he was maintaining a facade to help me with malicious intent... why would he help me, and inadvertently help your cause in the Great War?

As far as I know... he was not allied to any God or the empires serving them, but instead, he declared himself as your representative during the Conclave of Heroes.

If he was a double-agent... then he absolutely had no reason to go that far because in the long run, even if he betrayed us... It would hinder his influence and burn all the bridges with other Sovereigns and the empires following the gods.

I would suggest that for now... let’s keep an eye on him.” stated Kahn, giving his own insight into this present scenario.

”While I have misgivings about the situation, I think there is a reason why I can’t remember him.” said the god.

”Huh? What reason could that be?” asked Kahn skeptically.

”You said it yourself... that the original Kahn Salvatore met him three years in the future, but he has now appeared far earlier.

Maybe he isn’t supposed to get involved in the matters of the Demon God, even in the original timeline. He must have acted only as the original Kahn’s guardian but did not fight in the Great War. Yet, something or someone forced him to.

For example... the Royal Dragon you have accepted as your master. He was supposed to be the slave of the Hero of Life in the original timeline, a fearsome enemy. And now, he is an ally.

There is also the Hero of Fire that you killed and the Hero of Space, whom you should have met 7 years later.

The Hero of Nature was supposed to die in the future but now, he too will live on.

Not to mention, you have acquired Sleipnir more than a decade earlier from the original Kahn.

All of these are irreversible major changes from the events of the original timeline.” revealed the God of Darkness in a serious voice.

”The Law of Causality, which occurs only when the timeline has been changed, leaves few variables that the timeline itself failed to rectify.

It will cause ripples in the timeline, and if there are two or more variables like this... then an anomaly comes to exist.

Someone who existed in the original timeline, but now, his or her role has completely changed and would impact the future drastically.

The timeline erases the tracks of such individuals. And if my guess is correct...” revealed the God of Darkness and gave a hypothesis.

”Argos Belmont might become a key character in defeating the Demon God.”

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

A couple of minutes later... Kahn was still bewildered, rooted to the spot as he still couldn’t accept the revelation by the God of Darkness.

That his benefactor, who even the Martial Emperor completely trusted in the original timeline, could be a major influence during the great war.

”Does that mean what I think it means?” asked Kahn, still shocked.

”Yes, there is a possibility. There is no other explanation why even a god like me couldn’t remember him.

I’m certain other Gods who must have regained a few memories about their part in the original timeline... even they can’t remember him.

Looks like the fate has finally turned.” iterated the God sternly.

”Because the timeline itself is hiding this Argos Belmont.” declared the God of Darkness delightfully.

”Even the original you had come to realize that there was no way left to defeat the Demon God. And since the Hero of Time offered us an opportunity... we managed to bring him into the past.

The fixed fate of the world has been finally changed. It may be for the better or may be for the worse, but it is definitely different from the original timeline now.

This Argos Belmont is one of those figures that will impact the ending of this Great War.

There could be more people like him. Just that neither you nor I know of them or had contact with them in this timeline.” explained the God of Darkness.

”So we must use this to our advantage. This Argos Belmont... bring him to our side completely, no matter what.” said God of Darkness.

He wasn’t requesting. No, this was an order.

”Looks like you still have your uses. The next time we meet... will be when you enter the Hesperides for the limit breaking.

You must at least become an 8th-stage saint before it. Only then will you have the benefit of those two Apples of Eden preserved for you there.

If things go right... You might be able to become a Demi-God in this timeline.” declared the ruler of the eternal abyss.

And finally...

Rumble!

Tremble!

Kahn’s body trembled from just the noise as the God of Darkness finally stood up from his throne for the first time.

Crack!

Crack!

Four extra arms came out of the side of his back, made out of completely pitch black bones.

Shing!

Shing!

A circular halo of dark purple light, comprising innumerable ancient runes of immemorial eras, shone behind his head.

The God of Darkness was twice in height compared to Kahn’s cosmic form.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

And finally, the God of Darkness summoned his weapon.

A massive black scythe with crawling flesh and bones encapsulating the blade and the long snath.

”This is my weapon... LibraExterminatus, the bringer of death and balance.” declared the God of Darkness firmly and his red eyes shone even brighter.

”Do not disappoint me, new Kahn Salvatore. The next time we meet, you’d better have achieved everything you promised me first.

Only then can I fully trust your capability to carry on my will as the Hero of Darkness.” declared the God of Death and raised his weapon high.

”Wait! Wait! Wait!” exclaimed Kahn.

But before he could even react to what was happening...

Slash!

God of Darkness chopped Kahn in half.

BOOM!!

Kahn’s cosmic form was split into two and disappeared from the eternal abyss.

A few minutes later...

The Eye of the Eternal Death in the real world let out a flying soul from its iris.

The soul began to form a mortal body that quickly regenerated flesh.

Kahn’s real body was reconstructed from scratch.

And as soon as Kahn opened his eyes, the slumbering system gave him a notification...

[Divine Key, Deathslayer has been Awakened!]