Hero of Darkness

After a million swords filled one side of the battlefield and almost created a ginormous cloud with their sheer numbers alone.. Half of the arena was now in the dark from the shadows of this tornado made from the hovering swords. 

Kahn was using the Sword Battlemaster skill again that originally allowed him to control every sword in a 1 kilometer radius. But after Kahn became a semi-saint, the range was doubled and his current maximum range became 2 kilometers radius. 

This was a SS Rank skill just like his Sword King, which was already said to be comparable to a Saint Rank skill. 

And it wasn't even a SSS Rank as the system had informed, yet the potential was already leagues above compared to other saints. There was a time when Kahn wondered what would happen if he raised these skills levels to Saint Rank in the future. Just how OP would these skills get.. 

Now, with the Hero of Darkness title activated.. The area expanded by three times and Kahn could summon and control all the swords in a 6 kilometer radius. Which was nearly 90% circumference of this battle arena.

And hence, when he finally used this ability for the first time since he revealed his rank as a semi-saint in the Emperor's Chosen competition… he received the maximum output. 

Blood trickled down from Kahn's eyes and nose. But his already bloodied face helped him completely mask their origin. 

Because given the sheer numbers.. He was barely holding onto and maintaining them in the air. At this moment, his head felt like it was hit by a truck but Kahn was still pushing himself with focus, commitment and sheer fucking will. 

Everyone, including the three faction leaders, were gobsmacked and completely out of their wits. 

It wasn't like they hadn't seen such scale for a battle skill. They themselves could do the same but even so.. This wasn't possible for them back in the day no matter how talented and hardworking they were. 

This was the first time in the thousand years of history of their empire did someone show this grand of a skill while only being a semi-saint. 

"This kid.. If he were to become a saint.. He'd become unstoppable on a battlefield. 

He.. He has even surpassed Rathnaar, the one who was close to becoming a Sword Deity if he had succeeded in becoming a Demi-God. 

No matter what.. If we can't have him on our side… We shouldn't at least make an enemy out of him." spoke Jeremiah Themis, the faction leader of the Demi-Human faction. 

He already realized that the Neutral faction had Kassandra Mikealson and they'd nurture her to become a powerful figure in the empire. And from the intel he received.. 

Kahn had already joined hands with the Pureblood faction after his sudden visit to their headquarters. 

Now, he instantly regretted not approaching this young swordsman soon because he wanted to wait and see how things would play out. 

Also, because of the situation with the two demonkin saints from the Apopis clan who tried to publicly kill Kahn.. His relationship with their faction was already sore. 

At this exact moment, Allister Mor Vandereich, the faction leader of the Pureblood faction also spoke in their VIP room. 

"We.. Need to find a different method to complete that ritual. He's too precious to let go." he said with a serious tone. 

"But lord father… There is no other way. And we don't even know if he'll really succeed." spoke Ismaetrazel, the clan leader of the Vandereich clan. 

"We still have time. We should wait till he succeeds and then we will take our final decision. 

Maybe not now… but in the future, we have to make him join our faction at all cost." spoke Allister in a stern tone. 

—————-

At this moment inside the broken battle ring, Kahn had his gaze locked onto Kassandra who was rooted on the spot, completely bewildered. 

[This… this shouldn't even be possible.] thought Kassandra with an aghast countenance. 

The numbers of swords that were ready to attack her at any given moment were simply too many to even count. If Kahn decided to attack her now.. She'd be shredded into small pieces. 

And even if she decided to fight with her last one-shot skill called the Spear of Dominion, she wouldn't even be able to destroy half of these swords. 

And after this attack.. She will not possess any strength to stand on her feet. Obviously.. She'd be a helpless target for Kahn to kill. 

In her mind.. Kassandra felt like she would die for real if she exchanged the final move. 

Thud! 

The next second… Kassandra dropped on her knees as an overwhelming realization hit her. She looked at Kahn and asked in a serious tone. 

"You.. You were holding back from the very beginning, weren't you?" she asked her opponent who she had just come to acknowledge as her equal. 

To her question, Kahn only nodded in response. 

All the citizens of Rakos empire had a moment of silence at this second. 

In front of the whole empire.. Kassandra finally spoke. 

"I… I admit defeat." 

Declared Kassandra and her voice echoed in the entire arena. 

STUNNED!! GOBSMACKED!! 

Every single person watching the match, including Kassandra's father, her uncle and their faction leader, Stalin Joseif were stunned on the spot again after her declaration. 

Not a single person among the top brasses of the empire had expected Kassandra, the number one prodigy of their empire to be the one to admit her defeat. And that too when more than four billion citizens of the empire were watching. 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

Two sets of footsteps resounded from behind the Raven Sorceress as Veronica and Isaac ran haphazardly towards Kassandra. 

"Big sister Kassandra!" exclaimed Isaac as he and Veronica supported Kassandra's hunched and wounded body. 

"He.. He's dead! He's so dead!" spoke Veronica after looking at the bleeding figure of Kassandra and gave Kahn an intensely hateful look. She put her hand on the sword and tried to pull it out as she was fuming with rage. 

However, before she could react or release her killing intent, the young sorceress grabbed her hand. 

"Don't mind him.. He won this match fair and square with his strength." spoke Kassandra as she panted heavily and leaned on Veronica's shoulder with blood still leaking from her mouth. 

"Big sister Kassandra, how can you accept this defeat?" asked Issac as he too was angered to his core. 

"What's there to be ashamed about losing? 

After all.." spoke Kassandra as she lightly smiled and gazed at Kahn with eyes full of compassion and respect. 

"An honorable defeat… Is its own reward."