Hero of Darkness

Romulus suddenly gave Kahn a hint of something he was about to teach Kahn as the first step of their training. But the latter couldn't make any sense of it since it was a very often used term in the world of Vantrea. 

The red wolfkin with a torso full of glowing scarlet runes spoke solemnly. 

"We store the world energy in our body to increase our strength. The more reserves stored, the higher rank you will attain over the years as your body becomes strong enough to reach a new rank. 

But this is where majority of the people including many powerful saints in the world make a mistake." he iterated. 

"What they don't realize is that although our body is a vessel… it's also a medium to convert the world energy. 

Converting it willingly to use as an attack spell or skill consciously is just providing an outlet to the energy that's already stored in our bodies. 

The stronger skill or attack is… The more world energy is consumed. 

This is also why many powerful saints above 6th stage saints don't usually fight others of the same rank." the peak 7th stage saint revealed. 

"Because when they release their full strength, the world energy in that surrounding 100 kilometers is also being controlled WITHOUT their will. 

That's why even a simple attack can obliterate everything in dozens of kilometers." he explained why the damage range was always so vast when Saints fought. 

"But like I said… It will also depend on your own world energy reserves because you're the one making that attack in the end. 

The natural world energy that is outside of your body is only responding to the one stored inside you whether you want to or not." said the heavenly king in a stern voice. 

"Wait a minute… 

Doesn't that mean world energy itself is a double-edged sword for Saints?" he asked with a wide-open gaze in surprise. 

"Correct. The stronger you are, the harder it becomes to control the world energy present in the world. 

But you can't notice it until you become at least a 5th stage saint first by creating your own domain." he revealed another vital information. 

"You can't hope to command the world energy in nature at will without it hijacking your own control. 

That's why many saints use their reserves to make small attacks and only go all out when they're far away from normal people who could die because of their battle or come in their way. 

Because it's extremely hard to control it while exuding your peak strength when you're a 7th stage saint or above. 

Not only our strength is enough to destroy dozens of cities and sometimes even 8th stage saints and above can destroy over 100 kilometers at their peak." his loud voice filled the hall as Kahn was taken aback again. 

Although he knew that range always rose with ranks, but to hear that it was not only because of your strength but also because of the interference from the world itself.

Romulus spoke again solemnly. 

"When I fought you… I used that artifact to not only trap you but also cut the flow of world energy beyond 50 kilometers. 

And only inside my Domain was I able to use just 10% of my strength. 

Had I not done it… I would have ended up forcefully using at least 50% of my strength even with great control and you would've died before you could even think." he revealed a fact about their first meeting. 

That terrifying might displayed by Romulus a few days ago was actually him trying his best not to kill Kahn while also hammering down the true difference between the strength of the powerhouses of the world and him. 

"You can ask Rathnaar Whitlock if I'm right or not." he said nonchalantly. 

Inside Kahn's mind, the peak saint also spoke in a carefree tone. 

[He's right about it, boy. Although my method was slightly different, he covered the fundamentals.] 

"And when were you going to tell me about these things, you old bastard?" asked Kahn with an indignant countenance. 

[Are you a 7th stage saint yet? 

No, right? Then what's the point in telling or teaching you anyway?

It's not like our soul pact mentioned me imparting my knowledge and techniques to you as if you were my successor or something. 

I'm merely enjoying a free ride.] said Rathnaar shamelessly. 

Unlike Romulus, Rathnaar never had any obligation to teach Kahn as some sort of mentor about anything other than how to use the Table of Arcana and Chamber of Exaltation. 

So all this information was indeed new to Kahn. 

[Oh, if I'm not wrong and based on how he mentioned 'Harnessing'... He is planning to teach you that dangerous technique.

But I think it's too early even for a chosen Hero like you. 

This Apostle of Slaughter is even a bigger madman than the one I fought.] he spoke with a grim voice that gave even Kahn goosebumps. 

"Then what's this 'Harnessing' you're talking about?" asked Kahn aka Atreus to the wolfkin. 

To this query, Romulus responded somberly… 

"The only way to escape the matrix is to unlearn everything you've been taught and rebuild your entire belief system based on critical thought and analysis. Discovering your true self is a process of removal rather than addition." 

As if imparting some sort of wisdom of the world, the Fenrirborne Tribe Leader spoke with his arms folded. 

Next, he covered his right fist with a glowing red aura. 

"What do you see?" he asked the blue wolfkin in front of him. 

"There's a layer of world energy." 

"Good. Can you tell me how much world energy this layer has?" 

"Not much." replied Kahn without a second thought. 

But instead of agreeing, Romulus shook his head. 

"That's just natural world energy. 

If I harness it and simply attack with a skill using the standard method, I will cause great damage. 

Now look carefully." said the mentor. 

Bang! 

The entire hall was suddenly filled with bursts and tides of visible green world energy. 

Suddenly this permeating and visible world energy turned red and fire appeared in the entire hall like flowing red water tides. 

"Although I'm not a mage… my control is so much that I changed it into the Fire element because of my personal affinity." he stated in a smug tone. 

"What's the difference between this and the spells used by a mage? 

Because it shouldn't be possible because you're not a legit mage at all. In the end, this is just an external source and not your own reserves." wondered Kahn. 

"That's where people get it wrong. 

How does one become a saint?

By accessing, storing and then using the world energy to make a breakthrough, right?" he asked with a curious gaze at Kahn. 

Kahn nodded in response. 

"They treat their bodies as a Container. But my methods will teach you how to use world energy in many different ways. 

The first lesson is that not only your body is a container. 

But also the Refiner." he declared with a smile. 

"What I'm going to teach you…" said Romulus with an ominous tone as a chill ran down Kahn's spine. 

"Will make you want to kill yourself."