Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1275: The Final Visit

The Following Day…

Kahn had a meetup with the new President of the Senate. He explained why it was he who won their support and why he was the best candidate for the position.

And once all the important matters with their future collaboration regarding the Great War were settled, Kahn visited the forbidden temple of the 8th Hero of Darkness with Lucian.

“I hope you have the answers you’re looking for.” said the golden haired Vampire.

Kahn nodded, and after Lucian performed the same ritual with his blood, he entered the sealed realm again.

But this time, there was no need to walk that long path for hours. He directly entered the frozen throne room and stood in front of the man himself.

“I was expecting you.” said Morpheus Constantine, the 8th Hero of Darkness.

Even though he was but a memory manifested of the original Morpheus, the aura and dignity emitted by him was same as the real one.

Soon, Kahn explained everything that had happened since the last time he left and even revealed his future plans on how he was going to approach the Great War that was just weeks away.

“Is there any advice you have to tell me or something important to give me?” asked Kahn as they ended the conversation.

“So you realized that something was left out intentionally?” asked Morpheus, as he lightly chuckled.

“Yes. It felt as if you wanted to say something but were hesitant to.” said Kahn.

Their last conversation, although very long, felt incomplete to Kahn even to this day.

“You’re right. I wanted to see how you unify the Abyss Empire first.

Argos already told me everything last week. I just wanted to hear it from your own mouth,” revealed Morpheus.

“And? Did I meet your expectations?” queried Kahn with a confident countenance.

“Yes. I expected a lot of bloodshed, as it happens every time during a monumental power struggle.” iterated Morpheus.

“In my era, a lot of people weren’t happy with either the Cult or the Imperial Faction due to prolongated Great War that lasted for 30 years already.

After I killed the other Heroes and Heroines, which led to the destruction of the old Abyss Empire… I prepared for contingencies in case I am not able to save enough people to ensure their future,” he stated with a tone full of concern.

“And one of those plans was the survivors creating their own faction, free of the will and control of the cult and the imperials,” he spoke.

“Why?” asked Kahn.

Because that basically meant dividing your power.

“Because both the Cult and Imperial forces had become obsolete,” said Morpheus firmly.

“What? How come?” asked Kahn, slightly befuddled.

“When you do not have any other options than the two you have been offered… It’s not really ‘freedom of choice’.” clarified the 8th Hero.

“The anger among the followers of both the factions was at an all-time high back in the last years of the war.

Too many people had died, and a lot of orphans were left behind. The war had made it hard for people to work, find food, and even feel safe in the most fortified cities.

The tension and daily stress built over the years were eventually going to erupt and cause a civil war within both factions.

And I knew that once I killed myself… it would engulf even the survivors that I left behind in this sealed realm.

Hence, I laid the foundation of an entirely new faction… the one I based on the democratic republic nation I lived in.” revealed Morpheus.

“Because all the people who hated and did not want to follow either the cult or the imperials needed a place to belong to.

A place that neither followed any of the dogma practiced by both, but also won’t have issues integrating into a society that existed with those two norms.” he clarified.

“So you were the one who set up the senate?” asked Kahn, his ears perked up.

Because basically, the Senate of the Republic was Morpheus’ brainchild.

“Partially yes,” replied Morpheus.

“I had the remainder of my followers defect from the cult and form a new faction to quell the anger of those who were dissatisfied and wanted to revolt.

In dark times, when all the known establishments, such as a government, have failed the people, they need hope.

And that new hope must comprise the people from the same societal status, upbringing, and background.

Otherwise, you will have people abandoning their morality and cause a carnage worse than your enemies could.” elaborated Morpheus.

“And to do that, I had one of my party members, who knew about my original reason for killing the other heroes, become the beacon for it.” revealed Morpheus.

“In my Hero’s Party… there was a great marksman, probably the greatest in the history of all the generation of Heroes of Darkness.

His name was… Alpharius.” said Morpheus.

“After I put everything in motion 250 years ago, Lucian was tasked to protect the Cult from the shadows.

Argos was to raise his strength in Vantrea and become at least an 8th-stage saint by the time the new Hero/Heroine of Darkness was summoned.

And Alpharius… was to become a traitor.” reiterated Morpheus.

“What do you mean by traitor?” asked Kahn with a puzzled face.

“He was to publicly ostracize me, hate on my entire being as someone who doomed the fate of the entire Abyss Empire because of his selfish actions, even if it were done to kill the Demon God.

And he had enough people and wealth given by me to start gathering the victims and orphans who had lost families and had their lives destroyed due to the Great War and the fall of the original Abyss Empire.

But first, he needed to become a force that even the Cult or the Imperials couldn’t touch,” said Morpheus as he explained the main reason.

“So he waited till becoming a 7th Stage saint himself. And back then, that was the strongest saint available after all the losses Abyss Empire had incurred.

And Alpharius, who was loyal but acted as a heretic traitor, formed the Senate of the Republic.” said the man on the throne.

“Forget opposing him, people were fearful of him by that time, so it was a sense of relief for them that he did not do a hostile takeover instead.

Thus, the Senate of the Republic became the voice for the people who had genuine hatred left for both the cult and imperial faction.

This way, people didn’t revolt or cause a civil war.

It took some time for this newly emerged faction to self-sustain and then reintegrate with other factions.

And Alpharius, who was called a heretic, hated by everyone who believed that I was a hero… became the name that is still abhorred by the two factions.”

“So thank you… for not destroying the senate or causing another bloodshed just to unify the empire.

My friend’s sacrifice and legacy that was tainted by the corrupt bastards recently, has regained its true purpose,” said Morpheus and lightly bowed.

But Kahn was amazed by Morpheus’ foresight.

“You knew what would happen even after you were gone. How many years did you take to come up with those plans?” asked Kahn out of genuine curiosity.

“7 years. It was seven years after I fought the Demon God for the first time,” revealed Morpheus.

“I knew what had to be done and what contingencies I had to prepare for… it needed to happen in a particular order.

Killing the Heroes, using their divine weapons to kill the Demon God, sealing all the Godbeasts in the old Abyss Empire, finding Argos before the canon timeline, then making Lucian and Alpharius take on such great responsibilities while waiting for you for almost 300 years…

Looking at you now… whether it’s your strength or your character; it feels like all the effort was worth it.

You have made me and the Martial Emperor proud.” said Morpheus with a satisfied smile.

“There is a reason I told you the history of everything.” he said.

“And what would that be?” asked Kahn.

“Because I want to make sure that it must be you who kills the Demon God and succeeds where the original Kahn Salvatore and I failed.”

“And why is that? Isn’t it better that the Demon God dies for once and last?

Even if someone else kills him, that’s still better for the world and the Multiverse.”

“That may be true. But just killing him won’t be enough.

It’s what happens after the Demon God is dead. That would be enough to cause another worldwide war among the empires that serve the Gods and Goddesses.” elaborated Morpheus.

“Why? What kind of catastrophe are we talking about?” asked Kahn.

“Answer me this first… What would you do once the whole Great War is finished and you’ve even become a Demi-God?” asked Morpheus.

“I… I never thought that ahead.” said Kahn, slightly taken aback.

“I’ve focused all my attention on the war, preparing for every scenario that I haven’t really given the aftermath a thought.” explained Kahn.

“Do you have any great ambitions…” asked Morpheus with an earnest tone.

“Such as World Dominance?”