Hero of Darkness

At this point, Kahn's mind was in disarray as this another outrageous proposal by the fourth stage saint swordsman exceeded the previous one. The number one swordsman of the whole Rakos empire wanted Kahn to become his son-in-law? 

And that too after Kahn beat the shit out of his 'to be wife' already in front of the entire empire and put her in a near-death situation at that. 

[What kind of bullshit is this?! Has this old man gone crazy?!] asked Kahn to himself as he was still processing the happenings of the past 10 minutes. 

Because things took a 180-degree turn too quickly… twice! 

"Don't be surprised when I tell you this. But you have the potential to surpass me. 

Not just me but any other swordsman that ever came before me. 

I don't know how you reached this level even without proper backing or training from seasoned warriors of the empire… But I guess once in a millennium geniuses are made different." explained Stronoff and let out a content sigh. 

Albestros, who stood behind Stronoff was also taken aback by this proclamation. He knew that Kahn was indeed a genius but since he wasn't a swordsman himself; he truly hadn't recognized Kahn's potential until this very moment. 

[Hmph! You're looking down on me, you dumbass. Not just swordsmanship but I have the potential to surpass others in every weapon and combat technique. 

Because I have the blessings from Kratos… Kravel, the War Deity himself.

All I need is time and more practice in all of them.] scorned Kahn in his mind. 

One of the reasons why he felt thankful to Kravel even now was because although Kahn had divine abilities.. They had limited use and didn't actually help him as a fighter in order to survive. 

He could get abilities and create allies with them. But they never helped in actually increasing his fighting styles, effectiveness or his skill ranks. 

The lion's share in his current level as a warrior, his combat techniques mastery, weapon mastery as well as his survival was mostly because of the blessings given by Kravel. 

If not for them, Kahn knew he'd still be struggling to become a proper warrior compared to the professionally trained people in this new world and he'd not even be comparable to the top prodigies of the empire. 

"So what do you say? You're a diamond in the rough and I can provide you basically everything you need to become one of the best and most powerful swordsmen in the empire. 

Letting your talent go to waste by leaving you here to live like this would be unfair to every swordsman in our empire." he said. 

"I apologize.. I don't plan to join your clan or become your disciple." said Kahn with resolute eyes. His body stood tall like a true warrior who'd not even cower in the face of death. 

BOOM!! 

However, the very next second, Stronoff released his aura of a saint and the space domain instantly froze as if time itself stopped moving. Both Kahn and Albestros couldn't even move their eyelids under this insurmountable and dense aura. 

"What I'm offering you is what others won't even consider rather than directly oppressing you to the point you'll have to become their puppet." he said and walked close to Kahn. 

Stronoff stood in front of the young man and put his hand on Kahn's left shoulder and spoke. 

"You will understand once I take you to our clan's headquarters. So don't try to resist. 

Because I won't be polite from here on." he said in a tyrannical voice that made goosebumps rise on Kahn's entire body. 

[Fuck!! Why is this happening?! I was so close to achieving my goals!] cursed Kahn again. 

Stronoff finding out about his rank was something he hadn't foreseen despite him taking all the necessary precautions. This thwarted his plans completely. 

At this moment.. Kahn was again at the mercy of a superior being. He had already activated War Dominance but against the fourth stage saint.. It didn't even make a difference at all. 

[Motherfucker! I swear I'll kill this bastard!] cursed Kahn in his head. This was the second time he was being oppressed by a saint. 

BOOM!! 

However… before Stronoff could take any other action and abduct Kahn. A burst of blue fire emitted out of Kahn's body and the next second.. A bone-chilling aura was released in the surroundings. 

And the target of this horrifying aura was other than Stronoff and what happened next shook Kahn. 

The almighty fourth stage saint who was feared by many was the one kneeling on the ground now. 

"Who dares to touch my chosen candidate?!" a grim and hoarse voice resounded in the domain as the aura of the saint completely disappeared. 

In the following moment.. Something appeared out of Kahn's space ring and shone brightly as the domineering voice of an elderly person even made the number one swordsman of the empire feel afraid. 

A golden slate-like token hovered in the air in between them and released an oppressive aura that was a hundred times stronger and denser compared to the pressure released by Stronoff. 

It was the Recommendation Token! 

The recommendation token given to Kahn by the Pureblood faction somehow activated itself when Kahn felt the danger to his life and appeared suddenly in between them. 

[What.. What the hell happening now?!] Kahn thought. 

"That token.. And that voice.. How?" asked Stronoff with a pained expression on his face. 

"You.. You know who it is?" asked Kahn with a confused face after he was finally able to calm himself quickly. 

This voice didn't belong to Ismaetrazel as far as he remembered. 

"Of course, I know who it is." said Stronoff with a hateful expression on his countenance. 

"You.. Since when have you sided with the Pureblood faction? And why is their faction leader's personal token with you?" asked Stronoff again as the veins on his face popped out under this pressure. 

The once almighty and dangerous saint was now struggling to breathe properly. At this moment, neither Kahn nor Albestros were affected by this blue fire and aura but Stronoff looked like he was carrying a boulder on his back. 

After a minute of realization.. He spoke again with a solemn tone. 

"So that's how it was… 

No wonder those bastards sent only one semi-saint in the competition." he said while adjusting his breathing and wiped out all the sweat on his face. 

He gazed at Kahn with a bewildered expression and spoke… 

"You were their biggest hidden card since the beginning!"