Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1289: Secretly Taking Over

The moment came to a standstill as the respective forces, with their own entourage of powerful saints, now faced each other.

Even a bead of sweat would instantly evaporate, given the tension in the atmosphere as people who held the power to massacre millions were simply standing across from each other.

At the same moment, a set of eyes was intently locked onto Kahn. And it was no one else than the Hero of Life, Erlaven Baaslark.

Ervalen knew that the Hero of Darkness had nothing to do with the death of his party members… but he still believed that Eleanor was killed by Kahn as per the official statement used by the Elven Empire.

Their logic was that the Hero of Darkness did not like them using his name as a scapegoat for their mess and deliberately targeted and killed Eleanor out of rage.

But at this point, no one cared to ask for clarification or investigate the truth.

Everyone believed in the truth they wished to see in front of them.

And as soon as their respective forces faced each other after reaching the centre, Kahn sent a telepathic message to his dear old friend.

[Been a while, Prince Aragorn.]

Kahn relayed his message to the crown prince of the Zivot Empire. But this time, he revealed his true self.

Back then, they had only joined hands out of necessity and thus were not actually on good terms with each other.

[Just stick to our deal. I will find a way to make the Elven Empire your allies as I promised.

So stop that duplicate of yours from blackmailing me. I will resort to mutual destruction if you push further.] responded the elven prince with a curt tone.

[As cranky as ever, I see.] said Kahn in response.

He only smirked a bit out of habit. But his act was seen as a mockery by the envoy from the Zivot, aka the Elven Empire.

And besides these familiar faces, there was another key figurehead of the empire following right behind the imperial troops.

Legolas Ragnarsson, the Mercenary King.

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

Since Kahn couldn’t absorb the cosmic replica left active in the Zivot Empire since his coronation, he could only transmit key information.

[I have raised our influence in both armed forces and the High Elves. I also made a few friends among the royalists and many business corporations.

After returning from our coronation, we placed some of our people in both the Adventurer’s as well as the Mercenary Association.

Our friend, Logan Vargr, is now the Vice-President of the association.] relayed the elven duplicate who was once Kahn’s identity during his time in the Zivot Empire.

[What about Sparta?] asked Kahn.

This was their settlement that now basically ruled over Alfheim. The number of their members must have risen a lot.

[No need to worry. I have officially and unofficially sponsored many merchant enterprises, got rights to farm dungeons for resources, and even made friends in the military garrisons.

Just the forces of the Misthios Mercenary Guild are enough to wipe out any noble faction of the Rakos Empire, if we exclude their leaders.

We now control 1/3rd of their forces, and even the Emperor is discussing granting me a title of Count in their empire.

That is as far as I could go for now, given how our identity is that of an Elf and not a High Elf.] elaborated Legolas.

[And why is this prince so agitated?] queried Kahn.

[He was trying to forgo our past relationship and act as if nothing had happened.] explained Legolas.

But when his return was also met with backlash by other High Elves, who wanted to make the Hero of Life their Commander of the Military, he had no choice but to make another deal with me.

After I officially backed him up, saying that the Misthios Mercenary Guild is now the Crown Prince’s private army… they had to shut down their plans.] revealed Legolas.

[In return, I asked for him to turn the Elven Empire into our secret ally. We actually don’t even need the Hero of Life on our side.

And due to my intervention, even the Abbot of the Temple of Life, his uncle, now thinks of me fondly.] elaborated Legolas.

[Huh, how come?] asked Kahn with perked ears.

[I learned very recently that the Emperor and the Abbot previously wanted to marry Ervalen to the princess and make him their next emperor since Aragorn was missing and no one even remembered him.

But now, her death and his return changed their attitude 2 years ago.

These guys are hellbent on keeping the throne to themselves within the direct descendants and won’t even offer a chance to branch families among the High Elves nobility.] stated Legolas.

[I guess the Abbot hated Eleanor, and since her death, he opposes the idea of Ervalen being put in any position of authority except for the role he is supposed to play.

With Aragorn back in the picture and one of the biggest fighting forces in the empire directly backing him… we are now in the good graces of the rulers of the Zivot Empire.

I still need some time before I make Aragorn our loyal ally… or a pawn, if needed.] stated the elven replica.

Kahn was Kahn, no matter which form or identity he took.

Aragorn was never his friend nor his ally. Their mutual relationship existed only for that night when he had to kill Princess Eleanor.

And afterwards, Legolas wanted to cement his influence in the empire, so now here he was, backing the crown prince and becoming an important figurehead to the point he was part of the Zivot Empire’s official envoy, even if he was just an outsider.

[By the way, give me more duplicates who can pretend to be the saints of the guild. I need to show them the strength of at least Peak 6th-stage saint, so they take me seriously and grant me more benefits.

I will try to take over as many places in the Elven Empire, especially as our influence rises during the Great War.] stated Legolas, revealing his intentions to expand.

[Ah, I forgot that all of my subordinates are here with me. The ones I left with you were just dopplegangers who are playing their characters.

Fine, I will leave 10 Cosmic Replicas with you. Not like I need to use them most of the time.] responded Kahn.

Kahn then continued passing the information with another version of him while the discussion took merely 10 seconds in real time.

Meanwhile, on the Vulkan Empire’s side… There was a different atmosphere.

“You look weak, Fireborne.” said Nievan, the old elven emperor.

While he was not frail like Jeremiah, despite being older than the latter due to his High Elf origins… anyone could tell that the Emperor barely had a decade left to live due to his dwindling life force.

The emperor himself was exuding his aura against Havi. But the latter had an unyielding look in his eyes.

“And you look overcompensated. Is it because your lifespan is coming to its end?

Don’t worry about me, elf. I will die much later than you.” said the Emperor of the Vulkan Empire.

“What’s the point of living longer than me when you couldn’t even protect your summoned hero?

The fact that you lot showed up during the Conclave of Heroes itself was hubris.” said Nievan in mockery.

It was the truth. They had shown up at the Conclave of Heroes without a chosen hero or his party.

Many thought it was just to take a look at the other empires’ heroes and gauge their strength back then.

But the original plan was to have Havi and the Vulkan Empire become his backer there.

They were going to use the excuse of Kahn having absorbed Axel Lobthrox, the Hero of Fire’s divine key, and thus, making a deal about giving them an Apple of Eden.

But after Argos Belmont, the Revenant Sovereign showed up and took upon that responsibility… they had remained as a hidden ally in this Council of Great War.

“Hey, at least I didn’t lose my precious daughter to one.” said Havi with a fiery grin.

BOOM!

The elven emperor’s aura erupted, while it was controlled and directed only at Havi; the pressure was still felt by everyone else.

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

From Kahn’s side, Lucian, Allister, Jeremiah, and Stalin also released their auras.

While they all were a Peak 7th-stage saints, weaker than one 8th-stage saint… their numbers were more than enough to throw off the elven emperor’s pressure.

One 8th-stage saint was enough to fight on equal terms with 3 of the Peak 7th-stage saints.

But having just one more was substantial enough to become a threat.

“Behave, children.” said Kahn, the youngest of them all.

“And why are you all still acting like I killed his daughter? I have never even been to the Zivot Empire.

Didn’t I make myself clear at the Conclave of Heroes?” he said with a stern tone.

“Besides… aren’t we all good neighbors? Let’s not ruin our shared garden.” said Kahn with a bored voice.

“And let me be very clear about something…”

BOOM!!

This time, it was Kahn’s own aura, matching that of a Peak 8th-stage Saint as he used the Descent of the Martial God gifted to him by the Martial Emperor.

“You act as if I am an invisible participant even though it was your pesky alliance that begged me to come here.” his tone turned heavy.

“Whether it is I, the Rakos Empire, or the Abyss Empire…” said Kahn as his words echoed in the surroundings.

“We deserve to be treated with respect.”