Hero of Darkness

Any hopes of excelling against this new Shadow Disciple faded into nothingness as Dorian, Juno, Ivaar and Mephisto realized that their efforts to make Atreus submit to themselves had gone in vain as the latter not only beat all of them together as one but also trumped them in regards of battle strategy. 

Kahn on the other end decided to use this approach of bullying them using his superior cheat skills because he wanted to break their will to fight and any ideas to cross him in the future. So they don't stand in his way now or ever. 

He used the exact strategy he just cited. 

First, he intentionally provoked them and goaded them into fighting all at once, making them reveal their hand while they were under the impression that Atreus was at their mercy during the battle. 

Then he made them expend all of their world energy through attacks and skills while constantly evading and sometimes getting hit by their attacks. 

Meanwhile, he also toyed with their minds, irritated them, saw through all of their abilities, skills and weaknesses and finally used the flaws in their team fighting strategy to easily take them down at once. 

Now… he knew about everything there was to know about them including their aces under the sleeve and most powerful skills as saints. 

Not only did Atreus have overbearing strength despite being the same rank as them, but he also was a better strategist, allowing him to face 4 enemies by himself.

This made them all feel ashamed and indignant as their halo of being the best of their generation in the entire Fenrirborne Tribe was shattered to bits. 

A visible expression of distraught was revealed on all of their expressions as their master, his wife and the new shadow disciple left the training grounds. 

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"Did I overdo it?" asked Atreus after they reached a new place which was Romulus' personal training facility. 

"What are you talking about?" said the red wolfkin with an elated countenance. 

"That was exactly what I wanted." he iterated with a content smile. 

"Why?" questioned Atreus with a puzzled face. 

"Because they all have grown conceited in the past few years and think they're the best because they stand at the pinnacle among their peers. 

No matter how much I tried to get this fact in their head… They would always return to the same mindset as spearheads of the young generation who are supposed to become great leaders of the tribe." he explained the inside matter. 

"And that's why… I needed someone of the same generation to break their delusions and presumptuous notions. 

Now… They will never think too highly of themselves and will remember that there's always someone stronger than them regardless of how talented or genius they are." he said openly. 

[In the Nadur empire, we only respect the strong. No devious planning or plotting which helps you win will ever be accepted.

You must settle with your own two fists. 

Now, you have also earned their respect.] he spoke secretly to Atreus. 

[But isn't that like putting an infant against a full-grown adult? 

I'm after all, a chosen Hero of a God.] responded Kahn. 

[But they don't need to know that, do they?] asked Romulus with a devilish smirk. 

Priscilla understood what was about to happen now that they were in this private training facility filled with dozens of magic formations, each having a different purpose. 

She glanced at Atreus and gave a nod of approval, thinking that this shadow discipline indeed had what it took to be worth training and investing in for the sake of their tribe. 

Romulus took a deep breath and spoke in a somber tone. 

"All right then. Let's start your real training."

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Inside the private training facility, two wolfkins stood tall as the important lesson finally started. 

"Kahn… You're officially the Apostle of War Deity and Apostle of Blacksmithing at this point. So never undermine them any longer and utilize them in order to become overwhelmingly strong. 

I know that you never had a proper teacher so far and you are still many times stronger than your peers. Maybe even stronger than many of the other summoned heroes. However…" he said in a serious tone. 

"It does not mean you're any special or the first to do it." his voice reverberated in this massive hall. 

"There were many natives and heroes who have done it before. But not all of them even became 7th stage saints. 

This is why you need to restructure your entire foundation again and discard what you knew before." spoke the heavenly king with a stern gaze. 

Kahn nodded in response. He'd let the expert do the talking and follow his instructions. Because whatever Romulus knew wouldn't be available inside many books he read till now. 

The truly powerful always held outstanding methods and techniques for themselves while the oblivious masses cherished the average ones as if they were unrivaled. 

"Tell me… What do you know about World Energy?" he questioned. 

"A higher form of mana which let's one become a saint and achieve godly strength and expands the range and power of one's skills and abilities." stated Kahn. 

"That's just general knowledge. But know this one fact. 

Although absorbing the world energy to breakthrough to ranks is a common factor… 

Different species have different speeds, affinity and ways to utilize it. Some use their environment, some people like Saints use their physique while few use their bloodlines to harness it to consume and turn it into their own strength." he stated in an intelligible tone. 

"Monster species imbued world energy in their bodies and skills like Legendary Rank ones. That's solely circumstantial because their elemental affinity, species and age are deciding factors. 

While the Fighter classes from different species consciously use them in the desired forms which they train their bodies for. 

But many don't pay attention to world energy itself. 

I will let that dragon teach you about it. 

For now… I'm going to teach you how to incorporate the basics as well as the best way given how we're going to lay a new foundation for you." he stated and soon, they entered inside a formation, reappearing in a different pocket dimension. 

"This technique is what you must master to perfection if you want to face others without fear. It's called…" said the wolfkin and showed Kahn a demonstration as he revealed the name. 

"The Harnessing."