Hero of Darkness

As Jeremiah Themis, the faction leader of the Demi-Human faction spoke in his kingly tone.. The three demonkins shuddered in fear. Their bodies barely able to handle the godly pressure from this seventh stage saint and both of the third stage saints caved in.

[You two bastards came to do the damage control and save your factions from the public wrath?] asked Allister as he telepathically talked with the two seventh-stage saints in front of him.

[Aren't you doing the same, you damn bloodsucker?] asked Stalin with a benign smile on his face.

[These little impatient runts.. They really put me in a pinch.] said Jeremiah as he gave a look full of disdain to the three demonkins.

The next moment, he cast a cage made of saint aura and captured the two demonkin saints who were actually Victor's uncles in reality.

"You have greatly shamed your clan and our faction's name by committing such an atrocity.

Just because you have some strength and a background'¦ Did you think you could go around oppressing and killing people of our empire?

Did you really think that I and our faction will stay silent and do nothing?

From this moment forth.. I, Jeremiah Themis, publicly banish the Apopis clan from our Demi-Human faction!" he declared in front of the entire empire.

"But.. But lord faction leader. Please, let us.."

"Silence!! I have made my decision. And you three shall be taken into custody and a trial would be held so you can reflect on your actions." he spoke like a true judge since it was part of his job in the government of the empire.

"Lord faction leader.. It's him who provoked.." spoke Victor but before he could complete his sentence, Jeremiah released some of his pressure again and froze his body on the spot.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, the seventh stage elven saint spoke in Victor's mind..

[Don't embarrass us more than you already have, boy!

You fell for his small trick and implicated all of us, you imbecile!] he commanded.

At the other end, Kahn who had no choice but to watch this charade had thoughts of his own.

[Mother'¦ fuckers! These old bastards..] cursed Kahn in his mind.

To normal folks, Jeremiah appeared like a righteous person who was punishing the guilty. But the powerful knew that he was basically throwing Victor and the entire Apopis clan under the bus to not affect their faction's name or reputation when the whole empire was watching.

One thing Kahn realized was that all three of the faction leaders were doing damage control and lying on the spot to recover their images in front of the citizens after the stunt he pulled off.

Realizing the fact that if he was a professor who taught the course of lying and deception'¦

Every single one of these three people was the one who wrote these books!

[As if! He will only declare that in public but actually, it won't change a damn thing behind the curtain. There will be no trial either.] thought Kahn.

[Am I going to be their puppet again?

First, God of Darkness.. Then Arkham and Solomon. Later, it was Ismaetrazel, the Vandereich clan and now these three faction leaders.

Why the fuck am I never truly in control?!] cursed Kahn in his mind.

Because no matter how smartly he played his cards.. He was still being used by the truly powerful in the end.

He knew that after this.. The whole image correction campaign of the noble clans, the three factions and the government would start throughout the empire and before the finale, today's incident would be buried as if nothing ever happened.

So in the end.. All his efforts were going in vain.

And all of it kept happening because Kahn was playing along with the big guns with his meager strength.

If he was a powerful saint like the three faction leaders.. Things would go in a completely different route than his current predicament.

[Never again! After this.. I'd rather die than do their bidding!] thought Kahn as he made a firm resolution in his mind.

----------------

In front of billions of audience, Kahn was officially declared as the winner of this semifinals match and the whole incident regarding him risking his life to shed light on the truth regarding this competition was etched into the minds of the normal citizens.

More than a billion people discussed Kahn's sudden revelation as a semi-saint despite coming from no noble background or any powerful force. The way he fought like a seasoned warrior and how he completely decimated his opponent with pure skills alone became the talk of the empire.

And after this match, Kahn was recognized by all the factions as a potential top figure in the upcoming future because even one of the strongest people in the entire empire had given his support to him.

But the saints of these powers and factions also recognized his true potential as someone who had already surpassed the majority of the semi-saints, let it be the younger generation or the old ones based on his unparalleled skill called the Dragon Strike.

Up until now, he was a nobody in their eyes. And no one had thought much about his journey till this point because all of them expected only the top clans to make it to the finale anyway.

Meanwhile, all the high lord subordinates who were safeguarding the broadcasting stations already returned and mixed among the crowd. All that left for them was to collect the money they bet on Kahn.. And given the odds and the amount they spent.. It would be a miracle if they managed to collect it all before the finale.

When the night came and all the people returned to their homes.. A different atmosphere filled the main headquarters of the top three factions.

Their respective faction leaders along with the top figures of the council held a secret meeting.

In case of the Demi-Human faction.. Even Victor's father, Darius Apopis was present in there.

All these top saints of the Rakos Empire had only one topic in their mind as they discussed amongst themselves as if the matter was of the utmost importance.

"No matter the cost.. We have to make him willingly join us. No matter the price'¦" spoke the faction leaders in their respective headquarters. And gave a final command'¦

"We must get Kahn on our side!"