Hero of Darkness

Kahn was again rooted on the spot after Armin suddenly revealed this unexpected method that came out of nowhere. Not in a million years had he predicted this bizarre remedy of healing someone. Yet the Alchemist general spoke as if it was just a walk in the park.

"Your soul is many times stronger and denser compared to anyone I've seen so far. Even those saints don't have a soul as bright and radiating as yours, master." said Armin.

"I need a substitute soul energy to add in her damaged soul that will eventually transform it and take over her soul with time.

And because of it… she will lose all of her strength, her powers and her ability to use magic.

I don't know if she'll ever be able to regain her former strength and abilities. But that is the only way for her to survive." explained the healer general.

"First… tell me the consequences." spoke Kahn as he regained his composure.

"Only 10% of your soul. It's more than enough. Which is why I'm confident that it might work. Otherwise, I would not have suggested it at all.

My loyalty is only to you and not this woman. But seeing how you looked sad… I felt like I should tell you lest you end up blaming yourself for a long time.

That'd be a waste of time in my opinion." elaborated Armin.

"Sad.. Who's sad? I was only worried about the consequences of her death.

I'm not affected at all." spoke Kahn as he quickly shifted the topic in a different direction.

"Ah, I see. As for the aftereffects…

Since it's only 10%... Your levels will drop by at least 18 levels. And so will all of your physical stats. Even leveling will become hard for quite some time unless you have a very high-quality source of mana and world energy." revealed the expert in the room… the cave.

"With my Soul Reformation skill, I can heal it with time and even strengthen your soul. But the current drawbacks aren't something to neglect. Because we still have 2 more places to go if we survive this situation." he said.

Kahn, who was still digesting this method, had a serious expression on his face. As he was calculating his best odds and choices on how to deal with this situation at hand.

Although Kahn knew that he was a greedy, cunning, deceiving, ruthless and selfish bastard who wouldn't mind causing a bloodbath for his personal gains as long as the means met the end.

The leftover humanity in his consciousness had always stopped him from dragging innocent people and causing their deaths because of his mistakes like he did in the past.

And looking at Kassandra's sleeping face… he was reminded of the familiar situation where he once stood in front of the cold corpse of Jessica Artwinger.

The female archer back from his days in the Flavot city. The one who he had saved twice but in the end… the young redhead woman died as collateral damage because of his foolish choices and carelessness when he stole a space ring full of resources from a corpse of the members of a powerful guild back then.

Although the choices and circumstances were different this time… the results were similar and this time too… there was a body of a young woman in front of him; just barely alive.

"I will make my decision with a cool head. Till then, keep looking after her and heal her in the best way you can." spoke Kahn as he felt that there was no need to rush things.

Something like sacrificing a portion of his soul would definitely have adverse effects on him in the long run.

And if not for Kassandra willingly sacrificing herself and saving Kahn's life at the last moment… he wouldn't have even bothered thinking about making that decision.

The next moment… two tall figures jumped out of his shadow as Blackwall and Oliver, who were also knocked out from the soul attack, were woken up by the system.

"How are you two?" asked Kahn.

"It's just a blank memory… I felt like I died there." spoke Blackwall in a groggy voice.

"Same for me. I only remember that bright light, master." replied Oliver.

"System." spoke Kahn.

[The subordinates have not formed a soul of their own. That is why only their consciousness was attacked.] explain the system.

"I see. Well… are you guys ready?" asked Kahn to the Abyss Knight and Emerald Archer generals.

"Wait.. Where are you going, master?" asked Armin.

Instead of replying, Kahn closed his eyes and using the shared vision through the Hive Mind skill, saw the situation outside from some assassin subordinates who still survived against their enemy and now hid in the trees and kept a watch.

"Even if I make a choice and save her… it won't help us salvage the situation.

There are simply too many dead people and the whole environment at the border must be in shambles.

Even Omega, Jugram and Ronin won't be able to salvage the situation on their own.

And if we want to give the soldiers some hope and quell their anger after losing their comrades…

We need a perfect offering." he said.

"Besides... Two semi-saints working together and still being unable to protect the border, having more than a hundred thousand soldiers die on their watch and still not being able to kill the root cause of the attack…

I would be a laughingstock for the entire empire." said Kahn in a somber tone.

"Now that I think about it… I have plans for tonight's dinner."

"Let's go!" he ordered and their trip soon exited out of the cave in a couple of minutes.

Kahn used the terrain manipulation skill and covered up the exit as a precaution.

Soon, he received a message from one of the hidden assassins and figured out the location of the enemy that put them in this sorry state.

Kahn finally spoke in a grim and infuriated tone as his eyes were filled with nothing but wrath…

"Let's have some thanksgiving turkey."