Hero of Darkness

Kahn, also known as Atreus, devised a battle strategy as soon as he discovered the location of Hōō Basan. With a determined focus, he set his sights on the illusory body created through a curse, a deceptive technique that tricks people into believing their enemy is present while the true caster remains hidden.

Without hesitation, Kahn soared through the sky, his movements swift and precise, reminiscent of a relentless predator on the hunt. Rather than succumbing to mindless aggression, he honed his approach, seeking to dismantle the illusion with calculated precision.

Summoning his Khakkara, Hōō unleashed a tempestuous windstorm, unleashing spiral tornadoes of devastating power capable of leveling entire mountain ranges. The sheer force of nature was unleashed upon the battlefield, leaving no doubt as to the magnitude of Hōō's mastery over the elements.

The Shaman adversary on the opposing side retaliated, conjuring a ferocious storm of yellow lightning that crackled and seared through the air, aimed directly at Atreus.

Bang!

Rumble!

Rendered defenseless by his weakened state, the blue wolfkin warrior found himself unable to evade even a single blow from the relentless barrage of elemental attacks. The full force of the onslaught left his body charred and his flesh seared, a testament to the unrelenting devastation he had endured.

With each agonizing step he took toward the enemy, his blood dripped down, painting a chilling tableau of unwavering determination and unyielding resolve. Despite the excruciating pain that wracked his body, he pushed forward, undeterred by the overwhelming odds stacked against him.

"Why won't you fall?!" the shadow disciple of the Kun Peng Tribe exclaimed, his voice dripping with rage and frustration.

The ferocity of his attack was enough to obliterate any ordinary being at the fifth stage of a saint's power, yet Atreus defied all expectations, rising to his feet time and time again, undeterred in his relentless advance.

Crack!

With a resounding crack, another colossal lightning bolt crashed down upon the fenrirborne warrior. The sheer force of the impact wrought havoc within a two-kilometer radius, reducing everything in its path to ruins. The ground quivered beneath the assault, leaving behind a gaping chasm that plunged an astonishing 300 meters into the earth's depths.

Sizzle!

Sizzle!

Atreus' figure became fully exposed, but this time, a startling revelation awaited those who beheld him. His left arm was completely severed, torn away by the relentless onslaught of the battle.

Finally, Atreus found the severed arm across the charred soil and picked it up.

Rustle!

Rustle!

As the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, a rustling sound akin to vines swaying in the wind filled the air. All eyes in the Nadur empire were fixed upon Atreus, witnesses to an astonishing sight unfolding before them. The cells of his severed arm began to realign and reconnect, like a meticulously choreographed dance of regeneration.

With bated breath, the onlookers marveled as the detached arm seamlessly rejoined itself, each component finding its rightful place. A sense of awe washed over the spectators, for they bore witness to a remarkable display of vitality and restoration. The restored arm, once broken and lifeless, now appeared as if it had never been separated.

BOOM!

A dark blue aura erupted as Atreus' haggard figure stood proudly and in front of everyone, he completely healed, without a scratch!

Back in the arena, Romulus smirked.

The Heavenly Kings and the Empress stood in utter shock, their expressions mirroring disbelief and awe.

Though they too possessed exceptional regenerative abilities bestowed by their elevated ranks and bloodlines, the revelation of Atreus' seemingly effortless healing left them astounded. They grappled with the realization that, if faced with the same cursed circumstances where their minds and bodies ceased to respond to their will, they would struggle to heal, let alone survive, in such dire circumstances.

Unbeknownst to them, Atreus, known as Kahn, possessed abilities far beyond their comprehension.

His bloodline intertwined with those of the mighty Godbeasts and Primordial Titans, particularly drawing power from the Basilisk, Fenrir, and Cthulhu. These bloodlines he absorbed long ago granted him regenerative capabilities that far surpassed anything they could fathom. Even their individual bloodlines paled in comparison to the combined potency of Atreus' own.

The irony of the situation was not lost on them—a warrior of such immense regenerative capabilities was, astonishingly, not relying on the defensive attributes accompanying his bloodlines.

The weakness of the Shaman Class became evident in this encounter. Their curses could manipulate and afflict the mind and bodies of their targets, utilizing the world around them as a conduit for their malevolent magic. However, even their potent spells fell short when it came to completely severing or subduing the innate and passive skills and abilities tied to an individual's bloodline.

In the case of Kahn, he had yet to tap into the immense power of his Dragon Bloodline.

If unleashed, not a single scratch would mar his body, despite the curses that had befallen him. Furthermore, the potential for devastating strength lay dormant within him. Through activating Asura Mode, Shura Mode, or the Berserk God Mode, Kahn possessed the capability to overpower and vanquish his opponents with his bare fists alone.

After getting out of the crater, Atreus kept pursuing the fake body.

Attacking it every chance he got while still suffering through great damage.

"What a shame. Although he is incredibly strong… he isn't much perceptive.

If I was in his shoes, I would've realized that I'm fighting a fake by now." said the Heavenly King of Light, Haldor.

"At this rate, the shadow disciple of the Kung Peng Tribe will tire him out and then win without even suffering a single injury on his body." spoke the Heavenly King of Metal, Jaro.

"This is why talent is hardly useful against experience." remarked Heavenly King of Water, Kaida.

Romulus kept his cool and replied calmly.

"Is that why this foolish and musclehead of a shadow disciple of mine beat your disciples to death?

The last I recall… both of them admitted their defeat after getting brutally thrashed and humiliated by Atreus." asked Romulus, with a devilish grin on his face.

"This!..." the two of the Heavenly Kings flared up in rage but couldn't retort because that was indeed the truth.

Even the Heavenly King of Metal was silent because he too could've been the same as them if his shadow disciple was defeated by Atreus.

Right then… the Empress thought somberly.

[There is something different about this child. Why do I feel a form of kinship from him and at the same time… I feel like he is my natural enemy?]

Back in the pocket dimension…

"Graagh!!"

After getting the left side of his chest almost blasted by a fire and wind tornado attack that could destroy a small village in a single shot… Atreus got up again and kept walking like a madman.

The real Hōō inside the illusion barrier was sweating profusely despite not being the one directly getting pursued by this undying maniac called Atreus Bellator.

[What would've happened if this battle wasn't part of a competition and a real-life deathmatch?

Even with my domain and my curses… I'm still unable to get rid of him.

At this rate, I will run out of my world energy within 10 minutes, and once my curses are gone… He will be even more terrifying to face.] thought the descendant of the Godbeast Roc.

Another weakness of the Shaman Class became apparent in contrast to mages who could wield elemental spells and powerful magical attacks.

The Shaman class heavily relied on the support of the external world, but it begged the question: Why would the world be so benevolent as to assist them without reason?

The Law of Equivalent Exchange made no exceptions, and the shamans had to rely solely on their own world energy stored within their bodies to command and manipulate their surroundings.

No external artifact, mana source, or otherworldly energy could aid them, as these elements were not harmoniously attuned to their own world energy. It was akin to trying to mix oil and water—a futile combination. Furthermore, the extensive consumption of world energy during their rituals and spellcasting meant that the domain and curses of the Shaman class had a limited duration, lasting no longer than an hour.

In addition to these limitations, Hōō had strategically concealed himself within an illusion barrier, intentionally minimizing defensive capabilities to avoid alerting his opponent.

This vulnerability highlighted the susceptibility of the Shaman class to be attacked and defeated easily, particularly when their defenses were compromised.

It was through these weaknesses that the true nature of the Shaman class was laid bare—a delicate balance between their reliance on the world and their own inherent limitations.

What Hōō didn't know that Kahn was exactly aiming for this weakness.

Finally, the hour-long window passed and the fog-like domain along with the curses placed on Atreus' body shattered and vanish with glowing lights.

"You leave me no choice but to use my strongest attack.

Do not blame me if you lost your ability to use World Energy as a saint!"

This time, the real Hōō Basan emerged from the barrier and summoned a terrifying storm along with Sutra symbols.

"Om Muni Muni Mahamuni Shakyamuniye Svaha Om!" his voice echoed in the entire battlefield.

Every symbol grew larger and larger and covered 5 kilometers radius sky and earth.

"Om Mani Padme Hum, Namo Amitabha!"

A ginormous palm made of sacred golden and divine energy appeared in the sky.

"Buddha's Dharma Seal!"

Tremble!

Rumble!

BOOM!!

The entire pocket dimension that spanned for 100 kilometers shook like a boat in a raging sea storm. The ground trembled and sky rumbled as a massive cloud of energy akin to a nuclear bomb attack rose and devastated the nearby 5 kilometers of space, incinerating everything within.

And after the cloud of dust faded, Atreus' devastated and unconscious figure was revealed to the public.

"Yes! He won!"

"YEAAAHH!!! That bastard wolfkin has lost!" people across the empire cheered as if it was their own victory.

The victory was not only celebrated by the common masses but also the ardent devotees of the God of Nature, those who held a deep reverence for the Temple of Termeszet. Hōō Basan's resemblance to the monks and people of the temple was uncanny, leading many to perceive the defeat of Atreus Bellator as a manifestation of divine retribution enacted by their revered deity.

In their eyes, it appeared as if the god himself had descended to deliver a potent and fitting punishment upon the audacious warrior who previously badmouthed many species during his previous 2 matches.

The sight of this seemingly divine intervention filled them with a profound sense of awe and vindication, reinforcing their unwavering faith in the power and justice of their god.

Hōō Basan heaved a sigh of relief and approached the unconscious body of his opponent.

"I feel sorry for doing this to you. I have sealed your ability to use world energy as a Saint.

I hope you can forgive me one day." spoke the shadow disciple and shook his Khakkara, acting polite even in his victory, unlike Atreus who trampled on the pride of his opponents even after their defeat.

People across the arena and the Nadur empire were swayed by this virtuous and polite Shaman.

But right then…

"I forgive you."

A dreary and murderous voice resounded in the arena out of nowhere.

The Atreus on the ground turned into nothing but a blob of water and seeped into the battlefield.

Grasp!

A firm hand suddenly grabbed Hōō from behind, clenching his claw over his neck.

"I hope that you also forgive me…"

Rumble!

Right then, the sky turned dark and a massive lightning bolt launched and attacked the Shaman.

BOOM!!

The terrifying 100 meter wide lightning bolt attacked instantly.

After the dust settled and inside that same crater… lay Hōō Basan, his feathers all burnt and his skin charred as the Shaman was completely knocked out while looking like a roasted chicken.

Atreus joined his palms and bowed as he spoke in a kind and tender tone…

"Namo Amitabha."