Hero of Darkness

As their Party walked towards the assigned tower's gate that led to their next destination, a man in another Hero's Party looked towards their direction.

As the man with the wicked glimmer in his eyes gazed upon Hero of Nature's Party, a sense of foreboding filled the air.

The group, concealed within their golden hoods, exuded an aura of mystery and danger. The chilling words spoken by the man held an unsettling promise.

"I'll see you inside… Kahn Salvatore."

The utterance of Kahn's true name instead of his Atreus persona was signaling that it was clear that this enigmatic figure knew more than what was readily apparent.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the cloak of secrecy that surrounded Kahn's identity as the Hero of Darkness.

They entered the 2nd dimension aka the Domain of the Gods called Babylon.

And finally, as soon as they appeared on the other side, a notification rang in Kahn's head.

[The host has entered one of the God's Domain.

The host's Divine Key has started absorbing the Divine Essence of the God of Nature.

The host will require 3 days until his core is stabilized and his life is no longer in imminent danger.] informed the system.

[It's just like my master said… Any God's divine essence is enough for me to survive.

This will do for now. But I still need to find my way there.] thought Kahn to himself.

This time, it was solely Kahn who entered in this realm called Babylon.

Vildred and Romulus had no choice but to wait outside. Only Rathnaar, who was embedded in his soul was able pass through with him.

This so-called Divine Essence of a God was exactly what Kahn needed to keep living on and hence he was forced to come to the Conclave of Heroes.

Babylon was actually a vast expanse of 2000 kilometers divided into 13 Peninsulas. Each of these regions were created by a God or Goddess while possessing their Divine Essence that a Hero's Divine Key needed after all the Heroes had become a Saint.

And the time limit for it was 5 years. And those who did not attend the Conclave of Heroes and did not get their Divine Keys aka their cores to absorb enough of this Divine Essence before that 5 years window ended, they would simply die as their core would crumble from inside like a shattered marble.

Unlike Hesperides which was called as Land of the Gods, Babylon was where the Gods had left an Altar for a ritual-like process that also allowed the Gods to directly speak with their chosen Heroes and Heroines.

However, no saint above 6th-stage was allowed to enter due to restrictions placed by Babylon. Thus, the strongest members of a Hero's party were never at 7th-stage saint or above.

Kahn by himself was fully capable of even fighting a single beginner 7th-stage saint so he had full confidence in his survival.

Thus, Romulus allowed him to go even if Argos didn't show up on time.

There were 2 main objectives at hand given by the Empires to the Hero's parties.

One was to protect and assist the Heroes to reach and safely enter the Alters left by the Gods where they would be able to talk with them.

But the biggest task was not only that but also to break the Limit.

Before coming here, all the Hero's Party members were informed of the main reason why they had to assist Maximus in the first place.

Because after entering the Alter of the God of Nature, a ritual will be performed by the mechanism left by the Gods that would break the limit of the Heroes to raise their ranks in succession without any consequences by 3 Ranks altogether.

Means Maximus would be confirmed to become at least an 8th-stage saint just like the Empress. All he needed was enough resources such as Saint Cores and methods to absorb the world energy within in short time.

He would not need to wait for years before his body adjusted to his current strength and became stable enough for next breakthrough.

If another Hero killed and absorbed the core aka Divine Key of another Hero/Heroine… they will be able to enter the tower and finally to that Altar made for that hero as well.

And with that, they could Limit Break themselves up to 5 Ranks instead.

But there was a twist.

The realm of Babylon held a wondrous opportunity for the Heroes and Heroines who ventured into its sacred confines.

With the Divine Essence of the Gods infused within the Divine Keys, it served as a limitless source of power and potential for these chosen individuals.

For Kahn, as the 9th Hero of Darkness, this realm called Babylon offered a chance to expedite his growth as a Saint.

Typically, it would take him around 15 to 18 years to ascend to the 8th stage, even with his extraordinary Divine Abilities.

From that point on, each rank-up would demand minimum 20 years of his time. However, by harnessing the power of the Divine Key, he could become an 8th-stage saint within just 5 years.

This remarkable boon meant that if a 5th-stage saint Hero absorbed the Divine Key of another, they could easily break through to become a Peak Saint within a mere decade.

The potential for rapid growth and immense power was evident, and it piqued the interest of the empires present at the Conclave of Heroes.

For the other empires, acquiring the Divine Key and unleashing the potential of their chosen Hero would grant them a formidable advantage.

With a Hero wielding Divine Abilities and possessing the strength of a Peak Saint at their side, these empires would have an unrivaled powerhouse under their command. Even the mighty Emperors and Empresses would find it challenging to match the strength of such a Hero.

Moreover, by securing the Divine Key, they would secure a confirmed Sovereign in their empire, even if the Hero did not reach the Peak Saint stage. This assurance of power and authority would further cement their dominion and influence within the world of Vantrea.

In the vast landscape of power struggles and territorial conquests, the significance of the Divine Keys and the realm of Babylon could not be overstated.

The potential to shape the course of history and secure unparalleled strength drew the empires into a covert and intricate dance, each seeking to obtain this coveted source of power while concealing their true intentions from their rivals.

That being said, the empires wouldn't allow hunting their heroes… not on the surface at least because it would mean a certain war with the other party having a righteous cause in the name of justice.

Through Romulus, Kahn learned the truth behind the reason why the world was hunting him.

Amidst the surface appearance of feigned justice and revenge, the true intentions of the empires and the group created to hunt the 9th Hero of Darkness were shrouded in secrecy and hidden agendas.

While the empires could not openly hunt their heroes, the opportunity presented by the 9th Hero's lack of support and criminal status was too tempting for them to resist.

The Divine Key he possessed, infused with the precious Divine Essence of the Gods, held immense power and potential.

Added to the fact that he killed the Hero of Fire, the Hero of Darkness was currently the only one with a sure-shot way to become a Peak Saint.

Under the guise of seeking revenge for their previous Heroes slain by the 8th Hero of Darkness, each empire had its sights set on acquiring the 9th Hero of Darkness' Divine Keys for themselves. The prospect of claiming such a potent divine key and the power it would bestow upon the possessor was too alluring to ignore.

Despite putting up a facade of righteous vengeance, deep down, everyone present at the Conclave of Heroes knew the true motivations behind their actions. Each party had its hidden motives and ambitions, veiled beneath a thin veneer of camaraderie and justice.

In the shadowy realm of politics and power struggles, none were without their own ulterior motives, and the pursuit of the Divine Key of the 9th Hero of Darkness became a focal point of ambition and intrigue even more than it already was.

But outwardly, they remained silent, each playing their part in this elaborate dance of deception, waiting for the right moment to make their move and seize the coveted prize.

In the end… It wasn't about seeking Justice or Revenge for what happened 300 years ago.

It was all about Greed, Power and Authority.