Hero of Darkness

Kahn was too stunned to speak after Rathnaar, the first and founding emperor of the Rakos Empire suddenly offered him to become the owner of the Tablet of Arcana.

His mission so far was only to retrieve this tablet that was so precious to all the three noble factions that they went as far as to start a coup against the Imperial family under the disguise of usurping the cruel and tyrant emperor.

Even the previous Hero of Lightning died trying to get it while the 6th Emperor sacrificed his life to create this barrier and placed so many monsters in the Verlassen mountain range to protect it.

But now… Rathnaar was offering him to become its owner out of nowhere.

This went against his deal and many of his plans.

"Why? Me being your successor is a different thing and the Tablet of Arcana is another matter.

So why are you offering it to me?" asked Kahn with a suspicious gaze.

"I guide others to a treasure I cannot possess."

Replied Rathnaar as his somber voice resounded in the hall.

"I'm not giving it to you for free. In return, I want to make a deal with you." he said.

"What kind of deal?" asked Kahn.

"Now that I no longer have any descendants left and you're my successor at the same time…

I have no choice but to rely on your help." he spoke in a serious tone.

"Just tell me what the hell is this tablet first. I'll listen to your preposition after that." said Kahn.

To his unruly words… Rathnaar replied in a calm tone.

"Tablet of Arcana is actually a key… or more likely a door to the Chamber of Exaltation."

"What is that?"

"Chamber of Exaltation is a pocket dimension where I and all the other emperors and empresses of Rakos Empire raised their levels and ranks after crossing the 5th stage.

You see… Most of the species in the world, regardless of their talent and resources, cannot exceed past 9th stage saint rank or a Godbeast rank in some cases.

There are too many reasons such as one's species, quality of bloodline, and even method of cultivating their bodies to be capable of reaching that rank.

And that is why… there hasn't been a single being other than myself who reached peak saint rank in the past 5 thousand years.

And also… it contains another secret to it." revealed Rathnaar.

"What secret?" asked Kahn as a visible curiosity appeared on his face.

"The secret to becoming a… Demi-God."

Revealed the former peak saint rank emperor.

"What?! Really?!" asked Kahn with a dumbfounded expression.

"Don't get worked up, kid. I've hidden the secret with the other half of my soul and sealed it in a place no one other than myself or my successor can reach." revealed Rathnaar.

"You see… Many cannot succeed in becoming a Demi-God because they are limited by the restrictions of species and bloodlines.

As for us humans… we are one of the weakest species but also with the highest versatility in Vantrea.

No matter how stronger you get… there are limits you can't cross." he spoke.

"And the Tablet of Arcana is something that was left behind a Demi-God from ancient times which I found in a ruin 1200 years ago.

Chamber of Exaltation is a separate dimension that was created by that very being. It's a secret that cannot be shared with the world.

The reason I told Lezron to hide my core and choose a successor was because my children back then were more worried about my throne instead of trying to strengthen our empire.

The politics was simply too bloody back then and as my final days came close… Even with the Tablet of Arcana, I found that I couldn't become a Demi-God because of one of the required conditions.

So I had no choice but to have my core hidden in a remote place and split my soul into two parts. And the Chamber of Exaltation only became a training ground for my descendants.

And only when one of them became a worthy candidate, I would tell them the location of my other part. Besides, anyone who can't even become a 9th stage saint doesn't even qualify to know the secret." revealed Rathnaar in one go.

"You even hid it from your kin? Why is that?" asked Kahn as this fact bugged him the most.

"You do not understand the gravity of the situation, Kahn Salvatore.

Anyone who got their hands on it would simply spell the doom of the empire and attract too much attention from the other empires around the world.

They'd go as far as wiping out the entire Rakos empire to get the tablet and my core is the best source for even a chosen Hero to become a Demi-God.

"But why are you offering it to me then? Just because I found your core?" asked Kahn.

"Yes. You're a chosen Hero with divine abilities. And with my core and the knowledge of how to use the Chamber of Exaltation… you can become not only the strongest among other heroes… but also a Demi-God when you meet the requirements and retrieve the other half of my soul." he revealed his reasons.

"And I guess you want something in return?" asked Kahn.

"Correct. I will impart my knowledge and help you meet one of the conditions as your mentor. You can know about the other two conditions when you become a 9th stage saint and retrieve my soul.

But in return… I want you to make a soul-pact with me." replied Rathnaar.

"Ummm… why do you want me to do that?" asked Kahn again.

"It should be obvious to you already.

I have lived and bled for this empire in my entire lifetime. I founded and protected it till the end of my days.

And now that you're the only one whom I can rely on and has the potential to even surpass me… you're the only person in the whole world I can ask to complete this mission." spoke Kahn.

Kahn rolled his eyes in annoyance.

[Great! Another mission.] he thought.

"And what might that be?" asked Kahn in a serious tone.

To his query… Rathnaar replied in a tyrannical voice as if he was delivering his imperial decree…

"Become the new Emperor!"