Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1276: The Final Farewell

Out of nowhere, Morpheus asked Kahn if he wanted to achieve World Dominance.

Shocked!

Kahn was stupefied after hearing those words because he clearly never imagined a life after the Great War.

“Nah, it’s just not like me to do any of that,” he said and shook his head multiple times.

“I would rule and live for thousands of years by then.

After maybe a millennium, I would retire once everything is taken care of and there is no longer any great threat to the world.

Then I’d leave behind everything to either my children or worthy successors and vanish into obscurity.

I think I’ll build a house among the mountains, maybe become a farmer, and enjoy a quiet and leisurely life till the last of my days.

I really don’t want a stressful life when I’m old and feeble. Even a quiet death, surrounded by the people who love me, and would mourn me for a while… would be an ideal way to go,” said Kahn.

Morpheus widened his eyes, his countenance filled with shock.

“Why? Was my ambition too small for your liking?” asked Kahn jokingly.

“You haven’t really changed,” said Morpheus.

“What do you mean?” asked Kahn, his face revealing puzzlement.

“The last time I met the Martial Emperor before he went back in time… I asked him the same question.

And both of your answers are the same, word to word.” revealed Morpheus.

Gobsmacked!

Kahn was completely baffled, bewilderment visible on his face.

“Didn’t we both experience different lives and struggles? How come our last wish is exactly the same?” wondered Kahn.

“It’s quite simple. You both were the same person before you were summoned by the God of Darkness, and then the shift in the timeline happened.

At core, you both are still the same man who yearned for a peaceful and fulfilling life.” iterated Morpheus.

“I, too, wished for a quiet life. Dying with no regrets… that’s all I ever wanted.

Yet when I had to take my own life… I was full of regrets.” spoke Morpheus with a sad tone.

“So it must be you who kills the Demon God. Not just because of your last wish… but to prevent the disaster after you’re done killing him.” said Morpheus.

“What is going to happen afterwards?” asked Kahn, his tone serious.

Because everything went roundabout but came back to the same necessity of Kahn being the one to kill the Demon God.

“Hear me carefully… after what I tell you, you would want the same thing no matter how much you will end up suffering because of it.

You will be regretting it in the future, but it must be done.” said Morpheus.

Soon, for the next half an hour, Morpheus explained a foreseeable future that would shake Kahn’s belief system.

A secret so important that even Morpheus didn’t share it the last time they met, despite knowing that Kahn might end up causing a bloodbath in the Abyss Empire just to unify it.

But it was only because of the way he did it… Morpheus found him worthy to tell this secret.

Half an hour later…

“You… You’re asking for too much!” said Kahn as his spirit had been broken.

“Did you think it was just some novel where everything would be rainbows and sunshines with a satisfying good ending?

No… this is reality. There is no ‘Perfect Ending’.” said Morpheus.

It was more akin to an Ultimatum than advice.

“So make up your mind if you’re to fight this war with the intention to bear the responsibilities of the aftermath.

Otherwise… don’t fight the Great War at all. Because that way, hundreds of millions of people would at least get to live for longer than dying in vain on the battlefield.” reprimanded Morpheus.

Kahn’s expression turned stiff while his entire body froze in fear.

He was not new to facing the consequences of his actions, but after hearing the secret hidden by Morpheus until this point… Kahn almost saw nothing but a dark future for himself.

It took him some time to absorb this fact, and he finally asked Morpheus…

“When you killed the Heroes and Heroines… did you know what would happen after killing the Demon God?”

To this question, Morpheus slowly turned his head down and shook it in denial.

“Then how can you ask this of me?! I’m not you!” shouted Kahn, his tone filled with anger.

“Do you think I haven’t paid the price for just trying?” said Morpheus as he slowly got up from his throne and walked towards one of the twelve thrones in front.

He knelt in front of one throne where a skeleton of a woman, adorning pristine white and blue attire similar to that of a queen, and took the hand in his own.

“This is Irina Alistair, the Heroine of Water from my generation.

She had two little sisters whom she died protecting, and then was summoned by the God of the Sea, Itasaso.” he spoke with regret in his voice.

“She was my lover, the woman I planned to marry and start a family with one day.” revealed Morpheus as he gazed intently at Kahn.

“When I told her the way of killing the Demon God… She willingly gave up her own life because she wanted to save her family back in her own world.

And for the sake of saving this so-called Multiverse… I had to watch the only woman I ever loved take her own life.” he revealed with weeping eyes.

“Do you know what her last words to me were?” said Morpheus as a melancholic wave of emotions washed over him and his eyes teared up again.

“Do not suffer alone. Try to live without regrets, no matter how great a burden you have to carry.

It will bring great pain and misery, but do not forget why you had to do everything in the first place.” said Morpheus as he cited Irina’s last words to him.

“Did you think I’ve been waiting here for almost 250 years just because I was bored or something?

If I could go back in time and do things differently, while knowing the consequences that I told you… I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Just to bring my Irina, my mythical beasts that were like my own children, and all my old friends back.” he stated firmly.

Morpheus Constatine… had lived with his regrets even till this day.

Kahn was stunned and almost overwhelmed after listening to Morpheus’ pitiful fate.

To have been forced to watch the woman he loved die, the beasts he raised over centuries till they reached mythical rank and lose his friends as well as kill the heroes he admired… it must have destroyed him as a man.

But he still endured it and waited for the new Kahn in this cold, desolate realm.

[He did not get a second chance like me. So how can I even undermine his sacrifice?] thought Kahn to himself.

“I am… sorry. I did not mean it that way.” he spoke and bowed.

“You are in a position where I should’ve been. The consequences of it all… I would gladly take them just to save and bring back everyone I cherished.

The price you will be paying for this second chance was never meant to be so short-lived or futile.” he stated firmly as he stood face to face against Kahn.

Morpheus’ aura turned both domineering and that of a great warrior.

“We are men, Kahn.

From the moment we’re born till the day we die, we are meant to fight.

For our cause, for our dreams, for our rights, for our family.

This is our duty. And our curse.” said Morpheus Constantine, the 8th-Hero of Darkness.

Kahn stood rooted in his place for a while and finally resolved himself again.

“Then I will live with that curse till my last breath.” he declared in a stoic voice.

“Good. Now go and do what must be done. For there will be no second chances anymore.” said Morpheus as he tightly shook Kahn’s hand.

This was their final farewell. Because after this, neither Kahn would be coming here again, nor Morpheus would continue to exist after Kahn took out the Abyss Empire to the real world.

“Go and make sure that everyone who has sacrificed themselves for your sake feels proud.

For in the future of the 9th Hero of Darkness…” said Morpheus as he gave his last advice to Kahn.

“THERE IS ONLY WAR.”

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————END OF ARC/VOLUME 9————–

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