Hero of Darkness

The Vampire clan leader was rooted on the spot as soon as Kahn grabbed the sword made with World Energy. 

[Impossible! How can he sense world energy? He's not even a bonafide saint rank fighter yet.] he thought. 

On the other end.. Kahn felt a form of connection towards the suppressive force that was coming out of the sword he just grabbed with his bare hands. But before he could think how the vampire swordsman merged the world energy in his aura swords.. The system that had been dormant for weeks finally gave a notification. 

Ding! 

[The system detects that the host has made contact with an aura merged with the world energy. 

World Energy absorption procedure initiated. 

The host is advised to absorb more world energy by making a physical or using the host's aura to establish a connection with world energy. 

Current progress : 0.01%] notified the system. 

Kahn felt surprised by this sudden revelation but quickly decided to adapt to the situation than wasting time trying to comprehend what just happened. He only had 5 minutes left otherwise the business deal they made wouldn't go the way he wanted and maybe the clan leader would even rethink their previous arrangement. 

"More!" spoke Kahn and created new aura swords and attacked the flock of the world energy swords created by the opponent. 

He dashed and swung his swords at Ismatrazel, launching his long-range attacks one by one while closing off the distance between them. This was another fortunate encounter.. And he was going to milk it for the best. 

The vampire clan leader on the other hand was completely flabbergasted. Because from his personal experience.. Sensing the world energy before breaking through to Saint Rank was nigh impossible. Even the most talented mages or the renowned geniuses that he heard of failed to do so. Yet the no-name swordsman he hadn't ever heard of could sense it and that too in an ongoing fight. 

He quickly calmed himself and focused on the ongoing battle. This was the matter of his reputation in the end. 

"Fine! Let's see how much you can handle." spoke the vampire and appeared right next to Kahn in a second and for the first time, he used his own hands to attack Kahn. 

A white sword with a golden hue made from the combination of both world energy and his own aura formed in the right hand. He aimed at Kahn's right shoulder as he made a piercing attack. 

Kahn who was in his peak alertness sensed this threat from Survival Instinct and sidestepped just in time that only his after afterimage was left before the white sword appeared where he was standing half a second ago. 

His figure appeared 20 meters away and he quickly took another defensive stance. Meanwhile, in the air, their aura swords were colliding against each other one by one. But unlike before.. It were his swords breaking through the opponent's weapons. 

[What! How is he doing that?! It shouldn't be possible!] thought Ismatrazel with a baffled expression on his face. No longer having the calm and collected mind of a seasoned warrior. It was one thing if another Saint Rank fighter did that.. But the one who was doing it right in front of him was just a semi-saint swordsman. 

Although he was using strength at the same level.. His aura swords were by no means anything that someone like Kahn should be able to break in half. 

[What kind of freak is this human? Not only can he use a Saint Rank Swordsmanship skill just like me.. But he can also sense world energy. Even I wasn't able to do any of these things when I was at his level..] 

Kahn on the other end asked the system about his current predicament while keeping a guard against the opponent. 

[System.. How is this possible? I don't have any skills that should allow me to absorb world energy. Even the Dark Engulfment skill under the Hero of Darkness title can only absorb Dark Magic & Darkness element.] queried Kahn as this sudden reveal was completely unexpected. 

[The Ability Absorption Divine Ability allows the host to absorb the saturated forms of world energy. A direct source or an infused form of world energy can be absorbed by the host ever since the host broke through to the Semi-Saint Rank.] explained the system. 

[So that's how it was.. Why didn't you tell me before?] he replied. 

[The host didn't ask.] 

Kahn quickly shifted his gaze towards the opponent and commanded his swords to attack the aura swords from the vampire. 

One by one, the hundred swords from the opposite side that were infused with world energy started breaking and turned into intangible form... But rather than disappearing, Kahn's aura swords started absorbing them as the amount of world energy he was absorbing started increasing in small numbers. 

The five hundred soldiers that were previously training in this arena gasped in surprise. It was their first time watching their leader being oppressed in a fight. By another swordsman at that. 

Two more minutes passed and Kahn who was previously outmatched started treading blows at the vampire lord on an equal footing. Each time their swords clashed.. Kahn felt like Lucifer was sucking the world energy from the opponent's aura sword. 

Just when the sword that Ismatrazel held started cracking as Kahn's attacks were sucking the energy within it, the vampire lord took a step back and spoke. 

"Stop! I concede.." declared the vampire lord. 

Gasp! 

Dozens of gasps filled the underground arena and even Szayel looked at the battleground in disbelief. 

"I only won because you were holding back. If you used more strength or speed, I wouldn't even be able to see your attacks." spoke Kahn. 

He wasn't the kind to gloat over small victories so he directly addressed the key factor about his triumph. 

"Yes. But it doesn't matter. You have won against me in a fair and square duel." replied the vampire lord in his regal and domineering tone. 

"So does that mean our deal is in effect?" asked Kahn. 

"Yes. But I have another proposition to add. It's not related to the business deal but between me and you." spoke Ismatrazel with a stern expression on his face. 

"Huh?.. What is it?" asked Kahn with a curious expression. 

The Vampire Lord replied in a calm yet authoritative tone and relayed his proposition to the young swordsman clad in black.. 

"Become my disciple!"