Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1296: Access to the Top

Kahn gave his own ultimatum to the representative of the Council of Great War. There, he specifically mentioned a timeframe where he wanted an audience with the rest of the rulers of the nations within the coalition.

Now, what was the point of making all these demands again and again instead of joining the council first and then working up to gain his spot among their ranks?

The answer was simple… Self-worth.

Having his own pride and self-respect, while fully being aware of the need to join the council and avoid unnecessary persecution… Kahn was also preparing for the future.

There was absolutely no way that, whether it was Kahn as the Hero of Darkness, the Abyss Empire, or the Rakos Empire, would ever be treated as equals within the council.

What he wanted was not acknowledgement but access to the territory they already had control over and had official routes for traversal.

His priority was to fight the Khorne Empire, not dwindle his forces fighting everyone that came across the way. Not only would it be an idiotic thing to do, but also waste his time instead of doing what was actually important.

Hence, he kept on demanding until he was taken seriously by everyone else instead of being treated as a dispensible lackey.

3 Days Later…

Within the confines of the Imperial Palace, there was one grand room filled with military communication devices that usually connected to the outposts and were used as a means to send quick orders within the Rakos Empire.

However, today, it was arranged differently, and the target of the communication was beyond their reach.

An illuminating plaque, brought by the same representative of the council who met Kahn three days ago, was placed at the centre of a latch in a grand holographic projection round artifact that was 3 meters in radius.

Soon, the representative inserted his own code and started chanting, activating the artifact and connecting it to the right coordinates.

“Greetings, respectable members of the Council of Great War. I hereby welcome you all to an emergency meeting that needs everyone’s attention.

Today, with me, is the newly appointed member, Emperor Kahn Salvatore of the Rakos Empire.

As you may have already heard through your intelligence agencies, he also commands the entire army of the presumably fallen Abyss Empire.” revealed the jaguar-headed saint as his tone was as lifeless as it could be.

“We had to ask for your invaluable time during the ongoing efforts to arrange your respective armies for the Great War.

The council kindly thanks you for your understanding. From here on, the Cult Leader of the Darkbornes, shall take over my place.” said the representative and backed out.

At this exact moment, all the other rulers of the empires who had been members of the council had similar devices arranged just for this meeting.

Their own empires also had similar mechanisms, but the only difference was that theirs were created thousands of years ago, while the one Kahn used was a makeshift installation, calibrated just for this meeting, since the Rakos Empire was never a member.

And as they watched the representative’s holographic projection disappear like a glitching fog… another figure quickly appeared, sitting on his throne-like luxurious chair as he looked around the fellow rulers.

“We meet again, my lovely Emperors and Empresses. I started to miss you all since our merry acquaintance during the Conclave of Heroes.” said Kahn with both a majestic and sardonic tone.

“Save us the banter, Hero of Darkness. We are all busy as it is. State your propositions so we can do something that’s actually important.” said Kaali Adisesha, the Empress of the Beast Empire.

Kahn had already met and spent enough time to know that Kaali was not the one for chatter, and she heavily looked down upon others, whether it was a friend or a foe.

“Ah, you don’t appreciate the foreplay, I see, Empress of the Nadur Empire.

Well, I would not be holding your time hostage had the council shown proper respect to me or my forces.” said Kahn as he warmed up the others for the upcoming discussion.

“Haven’t you heard that respect is earned, oblivious emperor?” asked Sakamoto Hideyoshi, the emperor of the Erdve Empire.

“We are well past the interrogation phase, Emperor of the Space Empire. I neither have the will nor the time to waste on proving my own or my empire’s eligibility to gain the council’s recognition.

It works on paltry empires and kingdoms that have something to gain from entering the council. I for one do not,” replied Kahn with a rebuttal.

The Empire of Space was another hidden ally in the council who had also helped Kahn’s cause in the past.

On top of it, both Kahn and Hideyoshi were on good terms with each other ever since his visit to the Erdve Empire and his time training under the Sword Saint, Miyamoto Musashi.

Not only did Kahn end up helping the Hero of Space, but he also left a deep impression on the emperor as one of the descendants of Miyamoto Musashi.

“Again, wasting time on useless mockeries. Can we already move forward?” asked Havi Hos Siegfreed, the Emperor of the Vulkan Empire.

All of them were playing their part to appear as hostile nations in front of the unfamiliar members of the council.

“Alright. Let us focus on the important matters. Then we shall decide what to do with you.” spoke a veiled figure in the yellow lightweight armor.

This was the Emperor of the Amser Empire, generally known as the Empire of Time.

“And what’s there to be done with me? Are you still holding the grudge over the Hero of Time?

Don’t tell me I’m supposed to allow others to kill me over things from the past timeline.” responded Kahn curtly.

“Haven’t you and your empire already faced enough consequences for his actions? Or wasn’t being attacked by your neighboring empires for the last year enough?

If you are that eager, I can join their ranks as well.” said Kahn, openly mocking and threatening the ruler of the Empire of Time.

“Watch your mouth, brat! You think we are easy to disrespect?” asked the emperor with a vengeful tone.

“Your anger is directed in the wrong direction. Your empire never went to war with others in its entire history.

After the Dragon Empire, yours is the oldest one among the empires where the rulers change every few centuries.

Yet, because of the actions of one ill-fated summoned hero… your empire was attacked by many as he disrupted the flow of time.

Even when we fought in the Hesperides, he was bragging about how, with his knowledge, he ought to destroy your imperial family and basically take over your empire.

So if you are willing to form a blood feud with me… be very careful.” said Kahn as he elaborated.

“Your people are barely holding off after the whole year spent defending their borders. And I control not one but two empires.

One of which, will like to repay your nation for destroying it over three hundred years ago.

Do you want to place a bet on whether you will survive the war with us?” asked Kahn, his tone cajoling but also sinister.

“You! Do you want to repeat history? We had the least involvement in the past massacre of the Abyss Empire.

But do not take us for weaklings just because we have been cornered. I would not even be in this damn council had it not been for the tradition.” said the Emperor, his eyes glowing yellow as he glared at Kahn’s visage.

“That tradition itself saved your empire. Otherwise, the attacks from your gentle and kind friends in this council wouldn’t have stopped.

So stop picking a fight with someone who currently has no enmity with you. Or the next time we see each other, there will be an irreversible set of consequences,” said Kahn as he warned the Emperor of the Amser Empire.

However, this time, the emperor did not rebuke his claims.

A total of 6 empires, whose rulers were now sitting in this very meeting, keeping their mouths shut at the moment, had also attacked the Empire of Time.

There were multiple pretexts, but in reality, all of them tried to get hold of the Hero of Time after what happened at the Conclave of Heroes.

“Ah, old coot. Just give up that damn hero already. We have a score to settle with that bastard ourselves.” said Kaali.

“Not only did he try to kill the Hero of Darkness, but he also attacked and killed our Hero of Nature.

Only he and one other member of his party survived. That act alone is a declaration of war.” she stated with an irritated tone.

“Had our empires not been so far away… I alone am enough to breach your capital and confiscate him.” she said and displayed hostility.

In a sense, at least Kaali Adisesha and the Beast Empire had a justification to attack them.

It was right then… Kahn also joined in with a proposition.

“Want me to join your noble cause?”