Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1150: The Bet

Kahn, Kassandra, Vildred, and even all the members of the Pureblood Faction locked their eyes on Argos Belmont, the Revenant Sovereign. Most of their expressions were filled with disbelief.

Because there was a secret art that could turn Humans into Pureblood Vampires.

And why was this news so shocking to everyone?

Because if this method were known, then it would have broken all the power balance in the empire, and had Allister and the Vandereich clan decided to use it in the past couple of centuries, they would have been the rulers of the nation.

Although humans had many disadvantages compared to other native species and races, their significant numbers in the overall population were higher than all the other species individually.

Vampires themselves were hardly 5% of the entire empire’s census, and if they had chosen to turn the humans as their kin... the paradigm in strength, capable fighters, and people who could use magic and invoke a fighting class would throw the entire Rakos Empire into chaos.

It was no different than having a nuke in your arsenal while all the enemies and rivals were ignorant about your hidden weapon of mass destruction.

"Looking at everyone’s expressions... You did right by not using it." spoke Argos as he glanced at Allister.

"It was as per your directives, master. It was too great a weapon to ever use it.

I would have too much blood on my hands if others of my kin tried to use it en masse." responded the faction leader.

[Why is this lore deepening right when I was about to get my revenge?] thought Kahn.

"Pardon my indifference to your past with him, lord Argos.

But I previously made a promise to myself that there won’t be any exceptions.

I can let go of the notion of enslaving his entire bloodline. But some debts must be paid off regardless of what unexpected developments might come our way." he stated with a firm tone.

"So you are unable to let go of your grudge even after my request?" asked Argos coldly.

Kahn’s role as the Hero of Darkness and Argos’ pledge was a different matter compared to the business related to his disciple, Allister.

"I mean no disrespect. So, how about we make a bet?" proposed Kahn.

"Hmm.. what kind of bet are we talking about?" asked Argos as he folded his arms.

"Since it’s related to my future rule as the Emperor of the Rakos Empire...

How about me and him fighting until one side is completely subjugated?" he revealed.

"If I win... I get to decide whether I can use the Stigmata of Bloodlines on the Pureblood faction and the Vandereich clan.

But if he wins... their clan in particular, not the faction... will be exempted from the ritual.

This is far more of a mercy I’m willing to show compared to what we did with the Neutral and Demi-Human faction." declared Kahn with a firm and stoic voice.

His expression was resolute, and his stance was uncompromising.

Even Argos could feel the sincerity as well as consideration in his proposal.

This way... Kahn was not outright being disrespectful or dismissive of Argos’ authority as his benefactor.

But he was also not backing down and fairly settling the score.

After some thought... Argos spoke to Allister...

"This is between you two. I can’t intervene more than this.

The future of your clan and your bloodline... is entirely in your hands." he declared.

"What are they even talking about? What about us?" asked one of the clan leaders.

"You lot... have only yourself to blame. To not be strong enough to resist or have ties with lord Argos here." said Kahn in a grim tone.

One after another, Kahn used the Stigmata of Bloodlines and turned all the attendees into his slaves, just like he did with others.

Those who resisted were killed directly under his saint pressure, plastered on the floor like flattened bread.

After seeing that Kahn was a 7th-stage saint himself... many gave up hope and accepted their fates.

Because in the end, no one wanted to die for a useless pride or prestige.

******************

1 Hour Later...

Allister Mor Vandereich, one of the Peak 7th-stage saints of the Rakos Empire, now floated in the skies of a different world.

This was a new realm created by an artifact they brought from the Nadur Empire.

This artifact created pocket dimensions. The same type of artifacts that Romulus used to train Kahn during his stay in the Beast Empire.

For this particular faceoff, it was a 300-kilometer-wide battlefield of barren mountains and raging skies filled with lightning bolts falling incessantly.

There were no forests or any other living creatures while the rest of the people watched in the hallway through screens, just like how they watched the Emperor’s Chosen tournament.

In the Rakos Empire, this was a foreign technology and was never used because they simply lacked the knowledge and resources.

As per their preconceived notions, it should be possible only in the Empire of Space.

But now... here it was. Their almighty faction leader was now forced to face a boy not even 1/10th of his age.

And miraculously... this young man was also a 7th-stage saint just like him, even though he was merely a Semi-Saint just 5 years ago.

"You... what kind of anomaly are you?

Why do you have my master helping you in this conquest of uniting the empire?" asked Allister as the thunderous skies shook the realm they were flying in.

Argos had already told him about how the former was acting as Kahn’s guardian and helping him in uniting the empire because of his personal reasons.

But he told him nothing about Kahn’s true identity.

Because even if somehow Kahn managed to become strong with Rathnaar and Tablet of Arcana’s help... it didn’t explain his ties with Argos, whom even Allister could not track from all these years after returning to the Rakos Empire.

Shing!

Allister summoned his weapon... a vermilion spear with the aura of blood and killing intent leaking out like a raging beast.

This was a Legendary rank weapon, which made him a nightmare on the battlefield as it enhanced his skills and abilities as a pureblood vampire.

"Since I promised to have a fair fight with you... I shall use a weapon of the same type and rank as you.

I will also not use any Laws of Reality or Nature to defeat you.

Know that I’m doing it purely out of respect for Lord Argos, who has been helping me so far for reasons only he knows.

So show me your best." declared Kahn.

BOOM!

A malevolent and sinister aura of pitch black darkness arose as Kahn also summoned his own weapon.

Although it was also a Legendary rank weapon... the pressure it gave out was far superior compared to Allister’s weapon.

To settle his old grudge with the vampire faction leader. Kahn had chosen to take out his weapon.

The spear called Gungnir.