Hero of Darkness

?990 Cause of Return

The turmoil had finally subsided as the battle concluded on the peninsula shaped by the God of Life. The triumphant party emerged as the Hero of Life's group, consisting largely of Kahn's own subordinates.

When Kahn initially entered Hesperides in the guise of Atreus, a member of the Hero of Nature's party, he was taken aback by an unexpected revelation. His innate connection with his subordinates allowed him to sense their presence. Ronin, in particular, reached out to him through their mental link, explaining the circumstances that led them to become part of the Hero of Life's party.

The main reason why they were here in the first place was because Kahn himself sent them here.

Technically, not the real Kahn but the doppelganger he left in the Zivot Empire aka the Elven Empire as Legolas Ragnarsson.

And the reason behind his action was due to the Hero of Life's party being allegedly annihilated by the infamous Hero of Darkness.

After they died in the Immortal Dungeon when Ervalen Baaslark, the 9th current Hero of Life, tried to enter the final floor and control Lightning Dragon Emperor, Vildred… the conclave of heroes became a crucial point to the Elven Empire.

Although the Emperor or the Abbot of the Elven Empire were prepared for things going south and blamed the reason for their deaths on Hero of Darkness just to avoid the responsibility and discontentment of the High Kings Elven Class…

Their cunningness also became their biggest mistake.

The demise of the Hero of Life's party in the Immortal Dungeon, coupled with the subsequent death of Princess Eleanor under mysterious circumstances, became a critical juncture for all the ruling figures such as the imperial family and even the Monastery of God of Life.

Suddenly, the entire Hero's party was massacred and then the death of Princess Eleanor two weeks later under suspicious circumstances caused mayhem among the High Elves and Nobles classes of the empire.

On the surface, the Nadur Empire aka the Beast Empire was the alleged murderer of the princess but many speculated that it was the Hero of Darkness who killed her because he wanted to send a message to the Imperial Family.

This development significantly influenced the High Kings class's stance on the reserved members of the Hero's Party.

The customary selection process for members of the Hero's Party involved choosing individuals from the cream of the crop within the High Kings classes. Despite not being the designated heirs or successors to their respective families and clans, these individuals were among the elite of the younger generation.

In the context of the long-lived High Elves, who enjoyed lifespans extending for hundreds of years, members of the Hero's Party were regarded as prized assets. The High Elves, facing challenges related to low birth rates, cherished these individuals who represented the pinnacle of their society.

Additionally, all members of the Hero's Party held the esteemed status of Saints, reflecting their exceptional capabilities and contributions.

Every single one of them was a warrior who could impact the fate of millions of people in the empire during the war with their enemies.

And no matter what empire it was… a Saint was akin to a national treasure and also considered as one of the main pillars of the clans and houses they belonged to.

Whether it was to prove their loyalty or to gain favors of the imperial family… all these families and clans from the High Kings Elven Class had sent one of their prized members to become a member of the Hero's Party.

And on top of it, all the deceased members were 2nd-stage saints to 4th-stage saints when they became party members.

But because of the recent events, now even the almighty High Kings class was afraid to send another member of their families and clans due to the risk of them being hunted down by the Hero of Darkness during the Conclave of Heroes.

They had already lost one pillar of their families who would make an impact on their future but sacrificing another one for the sake of a pledge that no longer served them?...

It made all of them withdraw from the previous arrangement with the imperial family for the first time in the history of the Elven Empire which stood tall for the past 8 thousand years.

The situation was so dire that even the Emperor and the Abbot could no longer force or exert the old laws to send their saints as members of the Hero's Party to the Conclave of Heroes where danger was ever so high.

Because if they forced the entire High Kings Elven Class, there was a huge risk of causing an uprising and then inciting a Civil War as the latter would use that as justification to throw down the current reign.

The Monarchy was heavily dependent on the classes, families, and nobles who served them because in the end, they were but very few individuals even if they were the strongest beings of the empire.

The Elven Emperor class needed the High Kings and the High Nobles class which was made of Humans, to maintain their rule as the undisputed rulers of the empire.

The delicate balance of power within the empire hinged on cooperation rather than coercion.

Also, they could not send the direct blood descendants of the Eleven Emperor Class aka the Imperial Family for this endeavor either since princess Eleanor was dead, the crown prince Aragorn was still missing and Iskamir was part of the group that was hunting the Hero of Darkness.

Thus, with all the heirs being out of the equation… the only option they had was to hire an external force that could do the job and wouldn't cause an uprising among the top authorities of the Elven empire.

The intricate web of circumstances had led to a profound shift in the traditional dynamics and decision-making processes within the empire.

And finally, the Emperor and the Abbot found the answer to all of their problems.

After doing their research, the only group that stood out the most was none other than the no.1 mercenary guild of Alfheim, also known as…

The Misthios Mercenary Guild.