Hero of Darkness

Under the dim moonlight, Sobek found himself standing before the formidable figure of Empress Kaali Adisesha, the epitome of power and authority in the Nadur Empire. Her presence commanded respect, and her piercing gaze seemed to penetrate deep into Sobek's very soul.

The meeting took place in her temporary living accommodations, a place where the weight of her responsibilities and the aura of her rulership were palpable. Sobek, still reeling from his defeat at the hands of Atreus, couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as he awaited the Empress's words.

"You asked for me, your majesty?" he queried in a subservient tone as he knelt in front of the empress.

Swoom!

The entire hall was instantly covered by a purple aura and isolated itself from the outside world.

As the purple aura enveloped the hall, it served as a testament to the Empress's immense strength and authority. The isolation from the outside world intensified the gravity of the situation, creating an atmosphere of absolute dominance.

BOOM!!

In that moment, Empress Kaali Adisesha's killing intent permeated the air, suffocating Sobek and causing him to instinctively bow before her overwhelming power. The sheer force of her presence rendered him powerless and filled him with a deep sense of fear.

"Give me a reason why I should keep you alive?" the intensely terrifying pressure cracked all bones in Sorbek's body as if he was put in a grinder.

Sobek, trembling on the ground, could feel the weight of the Empress's gaze bearing down on him. He understood that he stood before a force capable of ending his life with a mere thought. The intensity of her killing intent pressed upon him, leaving him feeling vulnerable and insignificant in comparison.

"You have brought immense disgrace upon our tribe, consisting of 35 million individuals spanning the vast empire, with your defeat at the hands of a Fenrirborne.

Not a single tear shall be shed if I were to end your life this very moment.

Instead, our people would express their gratitude towards me for eliminating the stain of shame that you have become." her chilling voice reverberated through the hall, leaving Sobek feeling as though the weight of a mountain was crushing him against the floor.

As he lay prostrate on the ground, Sobek could only hope for mercy from the Empress, knowing that his fate rested solely in her hands. The experience left an indelible mark on his psyche, serving as a constant reminder of the consequences of failure and the unforgiving nature of those who held absolute power.

Step!

Step!

Right then, a familiar figure entered the room, swiftly dropping to both knees and bowing his head to the ground, his voice filled with urgency.

"Your Majesty... I have been by your side for over half of my life, even during the days when you were merely an official disciple of your clan and I was but a humble figure in my own.

Throughout these two centuries of unwavering loyalty, I have never dared to ask anything of you." expressed the Imperial advisor.

"But now, for the first time, I implore you... Please, I beg for your mercy upon my nephew."

Such was the bond between Zyatzin Slytherin and Sobek Slytherin—a connection forged through blood and family.

On the opposing side, Kaali's face displayed an expression of exasperation as Zyatzin interfered, with her struggle to contain the anger that was aimed towards Sobek.

In addition to her role as Empress, Kaali held the unofficial position of Tribe Leader.

The Adisesha Clan held the distinction of being the most formidable clan within the tribe, and Sobek happened to be the nephew of her trusted advisor, Zyatzin. Both individuals belonged to the prestigious Slytherin clan, the second most influential lineage within the Basilisk tribe.

"Advisor Zyatzin, please understand that this matter is far from being as straightforward as it may appear." the Empress responded, her voice tinged with a sense of gravity.

"The last instance of a shadow disciple from the Basilisk Tribe losing to a shadow disciple from the Fenrirbone Tribe in the history of the Tribal Tourney took place exactly 80 years ago.

It coincided precisely with the year when Romulus Lykaios, the current leader of the Fenrirborne Tribe, made his inaugural public appearance within our Empire. It was during that very tournament that he emerged as the Shadow Disciple representing his tribe." she disclosed, shedding light on a significant incident from the past.

"And now, history has repeated itself with his very own shadow disciple." Kaali remarked, her tone laced with coldness.

"Can you not comprehend the dire political implications of this outcome?" she inquired sharply, her fury barely contained.

Despite the Empress's anger, the Imperial Advisor persisted in pleading for mercy, fully aware of Kaali's reputation for ruthlessness and unforgiving nature towards those who failed in their missions or brought shame upon the tribe.

After allowing a dozen minutes to pass, during which the Empress composed herself, she let out a deep sigh and addressed Sobek in a commanding tone.

"What transpired? How could you possibly lose to an opponent of his caliber?" she demanded, her voice carrying authority.

In response to her straightforward question, Sobek summoned the courage to rise from his prostrate position, as the Empress lessened the weight of her presence. Fear evident in his voice, he replied without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, he is far from ordinary.

In fact, I dare say he might not even be a true Fenrirborne." he uttered, his words tinged with a mix of trepidation and conviction.

The Empress raised her left eyebrow, seemingly surprised.

"Why do you say so?" she queried.

"Because I could feel that he was using the abilities of our bloodline, including that illusion that's only natural for our tribe's powerful people with higher bloodline purity.

And he wasn't even affected by my poison, which is capable of killing even a 5th-stage saint within an hour." Sobek explained his reasoning.

Empress was slightly taken aback and then revealed a curious expression.

"So my hunch was right when I felt a sense of kinship with him back when I went to help Maximus and when I saw him fight in the tourney arena." he proclaimed, revealing her preexisting suspicion about Atreus.

"He is hiding his origin very well. Let's wait… Until the finale." she spoke in a jarring and malicious tone, revealing her future plans for Atreus.

"After that… I will personally act and interrogate him myself."

Simultaneously, in a secluded villa elsewhere, a private conversation unfolded. It served as the present dwelling for Jaro, the Heavenly King of Metal.

Standing before him was a towering figure, reaching a height of three meters. This individual bore a striking resemblance in physical attributes, appearance, and bloodline to Jaro himself.

"The last match will end with either your or his death." he declared, stressing the gravity of the situation.

"Do not underestimate him. We believed Sobek would be your biggest adversary in this tourney but even he was defeated.

And the terrifying fact is that despite being a Fenrirborne, he too can use illusion techniques and doppelgangers." spoke the Heavenly King with a grim countenance.

"And even now… I feel as if this Atreus Bellator hasn't revealed his full strength and abilities.

You cannot make the same mistakes as others and undermine him. Who knows what kind of unique abilities and powers he is hiding." he spoke in a stern voice.

"You were famous even before I declared you as the Shadow Disciple.

But we knew nothing about Atreus Bellator as if he was born yesterday.

So I hope you be cautious to win without letting him control the flow of battle and bring great glory to our Tribe." spoke Jaro.

The other being in front of him was none other than the finalist who would face Atreus in a deathmatch tomorrow.

"My Shadow Disciple... that Fenrirborne has now become despised by all the descendants of the Godbeast Baihu." Jaro articulated, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"If you eliminate him and emerge victorious in the tournament, not only will everyone extol your immense strength, but they will also acclaim you as the warrior who avenged the pride and heritage of over a billion people.

Furthermore, this triumph will clear the path for you to assume the mantle of the next tribe leader, facing no opposition whatsoever. And who knows, one day you may even ascend to the rank of Heavenly King after I step down." he concluded, his gaze expectant.

"The result of this match is greatly crucial to the future of our tribe, and your reputation in the long run."

To those words, the other finalist replied in a confident yet prideful tone.

"His death by my hands has already been decided by our God."

In the Aurelius city's main fortress, Romulus also summoned Atreus to the council hall and spoke in private with a grave expression.

"The last battle won't be easy. And even if you win, the victory won't be without consequences." said the Heavenly King of Fire.

"Why?" asked Atreus.

"Because your next opponent is not only a shadow disciple…" said Romulus as if having a headache because of the upcoming match. And with a sigh, revealed the reason for his worries…

"He is also the youngest son of the Heavenly King of Metal."