Hero of Darkness

Meanwhile, as night fell, an enigmatic scene unraveled in a war-trodden battlefield.

A magnificent black palace, its architecture spanning multiple floors, dominated the landscape.

At its epicenter, a towering structure rose above all else, adorned with ancient spherical formations that spanned an astonishing 2 kilometers in width alone.

This awe-inspiring edifice stood majestically on the other side of a grand canyon, an unexpected presence that seemed almost haphazardly placed beyond the border.

What distinguished this palace from any other was its extraordinary suspension, defying the laws of gravity as it hovered a staggering 100 meters above the ground.

At the very top of the tallest tower, was an ominous chamber brimmed with dark magic, its ambiance filled with an air of foreboding.

Within the depths of this otherworldly hall, an enchanting spectacle unfolded.

Thousands of fragmented mirror shards floated in perfect harmony, gradually coalescing into an orderly formation to unveil a screen that spanned an impressive 5 meters in width.

And then, as if guided by an unseen force, the surface of the mirror shifted, revealing the fiery countenance of a figure unlike any other.

An imposing figure of a Crimson Wolfkin stood tall, towering at a height of 3 meters. His intense gaze was accentuated by fiery eyebrows, while his flowing mane resembled a cascading stream.

The saint's fiery gaze penetrated through the screen, seemingly reaching out to each observer in the hall of this black palace. His presence emanated a palpable energy, a raw power that crackled in the air.

"Why did you suddenly contact me out of nowhere, Romulus?" asked a tall and handsome figure with silver-colored waist-length hair as his eyes glowed red.

This figure in black and green ancient rank armor was a being that even the Emperors and Empresses of various empires admired and feared at the same time.

As the figure spoke, his voice resonated with a deep, resonant timbre, echoing within the confines of the hall.

From the other side of the screen, Romulus Lykaios, renowned as the Heavenly King of Fire, reached out to Argos Belmont, the formidable Vampire King also known as the Revenant Sovereign.

Being one of the mightiest individuals in the world of Vantrea, Argos stood tall, his dark presence casting an imposing shadow across the hall.

Their connection was no ordinary communication, for it was facilitated by an ancient artifact known as the Mirror of Fate.

This mystic tool granted access to unprecedented meetings, allowing the Fenrirbrone Tribe Leader to beseech an audience with Argos from more than three hundred thousand kilometers away.

The urgency in his gaze spoke volumes, as if a dire shift in events had transpired, pushing him to act hastily.

"Things went south here. When are you coming?" asked Romulus with an incredulous countenance.

"How amusing. Things aren't good on my end either. The Demon Emperor almost killed one of the Soveirgns yesterday." replied Argos, the 9th-stage saint with an exasperated tone as if he was having a headache.

"And now I'm stationed at the front using my castle as a frontline warning to deter them from attacking again until the situation becomes stable.

We're lucky that the Demon God has entered seclusion. Otherwise, at least 2 of the Sovereigns would have died yesterday's battle if he were present." he revealed the direness of the situation that seemed as important as the one Romulus was to talk of.

"Well, you didn't contact me because you like me… So what happened?" he asked while taking a seat on his black and golden throne.

Romulus then told Argos everything about what happened during the tribal tourney about how Kahn as Atreus Bellator won and became the champion; but the Empress Kaali rewarded Kahn by making him a member of Hero of Nature's party.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" yelled Argos, thoroughly outraged.

"I told you to train the boy, not send him to partake in a tournament that is simply but a suicidal deathmatch!" he bellowed in visible fury.

However, Romulus simply yawned, disregarding Argos' infuriated expression and replied carefreely.

"No great warrior was ever forged under the illusion of having time, safety and leisure.

If he didn't feel a sense of threat to his life and a metaphorical clock ticking in his mind during every waking moment… He wouldn't have been able to even learn half of what I taught him within a year." proclaimed the Heavenly King in an unapologetic tone as he folded his broad and muscular arms.

"You sent him to me and I have done what was necessary as his master. I would not accept any complaints about it.

And now… All that remains is his strength and rank rising. He will need time to consolidate and evolve his skills as years go by.

As for his potential… I'm afraid 'we' have created a monster who might as well topple empires in the near future after he becomes an 8th-stage saint." stated Romulus without a shred of hesitation despite making such a grand and controversial claim.

The 'we' he referred to was himself and Rathnaar as per Argos' assumption. Yet, Romulus did not inform him about the other mentor called Vildred Mortelix.

"On top of that, he has 2 divine keys. You know what will happen when he enters that place during the Conclave." he spoke and gazed back at Argos through the mirror.

The Revenant Soverirgn on the other hand revealed a gloomy face as he spoke…

"Dammit! Only if I could take him to those ancient ruins and awaken his divine key.

But that would take weeks even for me to reach there. And without an awakened Divine Key, he can't use it even if he enters the sacred site."

A grim atmosphere ensued on both ends.

"Looks like fate is mocking us.

The Empress pulled her moves that were out of my predictions and now Kahn has to go where you were planning to take him anyway, just under the disguise as a member of the Hero of Nature's party.

But at the same time… His divine key is practically useless to him despite going to the place he was destined to. Meanwhile, you can't leave your position because of the war with the Demon Empire.

The things we need the most are completely out of our control." said Romulus in a somber voice.

"And I have no other choice but to send him as a member of Hero's Party.

Either that… Or we risk his identity being revealed to the Empress." his voice turned heavy.

And in that fleeting moment, as the weight of their respective responsibilities settled upon their shoulders, both formidable saints found solace in accepting the grim reality before them.

Like most men who had witnessed their world crumble in an instant, yet had found the strength to confront it, they stood as one, their voices melding into a harmonious chorus as they spoke in unison...

"It is what it is."