Hero of Darkness

The lightning Dragon emperor aka Vildred revealed why he was sealed by his brothers instead of getting killed to get his position. And the root cause being something called the 'Mark of Sin' that Kahn heard for the first time.

Vildred then decided to explain exactly what it was to Kahn.

"Like I said, child… Dragons are the favored species by mother nature. And Royal Dragons are like its favorite children.

Each of whom is an embodiment of a particular element of reality since the moment they are born to the day they die.

If someone else kills a Royal Dragon, they will not be branded by the mark.

But if a Royal Dragon kills another Royal Dragon… they are cursed with the Mark of Sin by mother nature itself.

And the Mark of Sin would act like a beacon, telling the whole world about what that Royal Dragon did." he explained in a tranquil voice.

"This case is important especially if you're in the line of succession.

If you kill the reigning dragon emperor… that branded mark will be telling everyone that you betrayed the old laws.

That's the biggest shame for anyone who wants to become the Emperor in our culture." he iterated.

"I see. So it's like branding and banishing a traitor." said Kahn.

"Ha ha!" suddenly, Rathnaar laughed and asked.

"You think it's gonna be that easy? You think all the Royal Dragons care about their laws?

Those who do not follow the ancient rules wouldn't be afraid of the Mark of Sin just because it acted like a street lamp.

The real reason why even Royal Dragons are afraid of it is because of the 'Consequences' of the curse that comes with the mark."

Vildred also chuckled lightly and explained.

"And the one who is marked… will lose their ability to access world energy and mana as well as the ability to control the element they're born with.

On top of it, that Royal Dragon will lose all their strength, their bones will erode slowly, their blood will burn every single day for the next 200 years while they couldn't even kill themselves or have anyone else kill them.

Finally, that Royal Dragon would die an agonizing death while being all alone, tormented and afraid.

Even to a being as strong as a Royal Dragon… no other form of death could be more terrifying." revealed the lightning dragon.

Even Kahn was terrified after hearing that sort of painful curse. Constantly suffering for every waking moment for the next 2 centuries as a form of punishment for killing your own kin… even the strongest of minds would cower in front of a such horrifying death.

"Hence, my brothers had no choice but to use this way to take what was mine." spoke the dragon emperor.

Finally, Rathnaar interjected now that they were done explaining the so-called 'plothole'.

"Well, what do you say then, Vildred?

Want to tell us how we all can leave? My proposition still stands." he insisted again.

To his pestering, Vildred shook his head.

"You know what kind of formation this is, don't you?" he questioned the peak saint with a light smirk.

"Maskaanxavir Formation… the Commandment of Fellowship." he spoke and grumbled.

"What's a Maskaanxavir Formation, old man?" queried Kahn.

"It's an ancient formation created by the Deity of Subjugation over 50 thousand years ago.

In simple words, it's a magic formation for taming someone and forcing them to become your servant." revealed the first emperor.

"You see all these humongous formations?

They're actually not only sealing Vildred here but also act like runes which would be imprinted on his soul." he iterated.

Just then… Rathnaar had a shocked expression and looked at Vildred.

"So that's why the High Elves joined hands with both your brothers.

By using this formation… they wanted an opportunity to control you after one of the summoned heroes managed to pass the predetermined trial that comes with the formation itself!" he exclaimed in a baffled tone.

"Correct. I have tried everything I could in the past thousand years. You know what my Class was right?

Unfortunately… There's no other way for me to leave this cage unless one of the people who comes here passes the trial." stated Vildred but the very next moment, he revealed an evil grin with his draconic maw.

"Doesn't mean I have to let them pass it.

I'd rather die than be chained to a High Elf, a chosen Hero of a God or anyone else!

I, Vildred Xyvsor Gown Ivrar Mortelix, would rather die than become a slave to anyone in my life." he declared in a thunderous voice.

"Yeah yeah, I know how you royal dragons are. You'd rather break than bow before anyone even if it means certain death." spoke Rathnaar with a conflicted expression.

Because this also meant that the Negotiations with Vildred wouldn't result in their favor.

"So You can't kill us without following the rules, can you?" he questioned in a sly tone.

However, Vildred gave an evil laugh at that statement.

"Ha ha ha!

Do you think I'm stupid?" he asked with an insidious grin.

"You're but a remnant half-soul now, Rathnaar.

Although that dome is very strong and can withstand even against me. But if I decide to keep attacking without any rest…

How long can you maintain that last layer of protection before your soul essence runs out and you get wiped out of existence?" he asked mockingly.

Vildred's gaze then turned to Kahn inside the body and then to his subordinates.

"All of them are easy to kill like dropping an egg from a tree." he stated in a menacing tone.

And finally, he locked his eyes on Rudra.

"You there… anomaly.

Do not be under the impression that I can't sense your bloodlines.

You're on top of my list to kill." he said and laughed loudly again.

Everyone's expression turned gloomy because their current situation was as bad as it could be.

The negotiations wouldn't work because Vildred would rather die than watch them live because of his past with Rathnaar as well as Kahn being a chosen Hero.

And the issue was that Rathnaar's protection barrier wouldn't protect them for long.

As for destroying the archaic formation made by a Demi-God of the past?

Even a Royal Dragon like Vildred who was once a being comparable to an 8th stage couldn't break it so how would they?

2 Hours Later.

Finally, the dome started flickering on its own and Rathnaar had expended a lot of his soul essence.

Normally, it would've lasted for decades but to protect Kahn and the group against a mighty enemy like Vildred, he had no choice but to use the most potent portion of his soul essence.

Now, their lives were hanging by a thread.

"Alright then…

We will take the trial!" suddenly, Kahn shouted and took control of his body again.

BOOM!!

But right at this moment… the entry door of this floor became visible and a being walked in.

"Then let me compete as well." spoke a person under white and green robes, his face covered under a hood.

Kahn and everyone else were stupefied by this new arrival, none able to grasp this sudden turn of events.

[Boy, this person is a peak 5th stage saint!] warned Rathnaar.

And in the following moments, the man in the robe who had been following them till this point finally removed the hood, revealing his appearance to everyone.

Gasp!

Everyone gasped in bewilderment as soon as they saw this peak 5th stage saint's real face.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" asked Kahn with his mind full of trepidation and eyes full of disbelief.

"Edmund."