Hero of Darkness

As the days progressed, Kahn and his assassins kept bringing inside info, recordings and hard evidence against the people who were conspiring and trying to hide the proof of their wrongdoings as well as stolen money they got by embezzling funds from various sources.

At the time of midnight, under two bright moons shining in the tranquil sky, Kahn stood on the balcony of his new grand bedroom which was no less than an articulate and well decorated resting place of a king.

He was now at the peak of his tall and enormous castle as he watched the grand and bustling perimeter of Aesir, his new home. Yet the expression on his face looked that of loneliness.

"Master, it should be enough for us to act against them, right?" asked Ronin who suddenly appeared behind Kahn.

"It is enough. But you're forgetting a key factor." spoke Kahn.

"What is that?" asked the rogue subordinate.

"What we're fighting against isn't a group of selective individuals or a clan. But the entire system itself." replied Kahn with a serious expression.

"The system is powerless in the face of power.

A system is corruptible by the rich and powerful and can be manipulated as they please.

The only ones it can control are the poor and weak who can't fight against it."

Iterated Kahn as he turned his head back and looked at Ronin.

"We're fighting against the system that was created before us and possibly will remain even after all of us are gone.

And to fight against those who control it… it's not as easy as it seems.

Even if we were to use all the evidence against them… our means of gathering it are still unlawful. And if we don't go by the book.. I will be declared as nothing but a quack of a tyrant by the people of the fiefdom itself.

And if we want to do a complete takeover where no one can question my authority.. We need all people on our side. Let it be a normal beggar on the street to a top government official. And we have to do it in a single swoop." spoke Kahn with a stern expression.

Instead of acting one by one… Kahn waited for something big to happen. What he wanted wasn't to catch the small bees one by one.. But burn the entire hive in one go.

Winds howled and a cold breeze passed by Kahn as his hair fluttered.

"Then what should we do, master?" asked Ronin in a curious tone. They were now dealing with hundreds of millions of people and getting all of them on their side was easier said than done.

Kahn let out a small chuckle and responded.

"If you want people to think that you're the only one who stands with them… then you must give them something that no one has ever offered before.

Only that way, will the people think that you're on their side and speak for them. Only then will you have their complete faith and unquestionable support." he said.

"And how do we do that? How can we connect to millions of people all at once?" asked Ronin.

Kahn took a deep breath and folded his arms behind his back as he replied in a calm demeanor.

"By giving them a voice."

He spoke in a solemn tone.

"And how do we give them a voice? This place isn't a democracy where votes and opinions of the common citizens are counted." interjected the subordinate as Kahn's words started confusing him.

"It's simple.. We touch the topic all of them share without a doubt. And those are…" revealed Kahn with a heavy tone.

"Pain and Suffering."

For the next half an hour, Kahn revealed an elaborated plan and Ronin, his left-hand man, was left speechless and looked at him in awe.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"This.. This is ingenious, my lord!!

It's like killing three birds with a single stone!" clapped Ronin with eyes full of respect towards the back of his master.

"Tell them to be ready. The time limit I gave those bastards is about to end soon. And looks like none of them are taking me seriously.

If they think that my words were just bluffing or an empty threat… it's about time we show them who they're looking down on." spoke Kahn.

Ronin nodded in response. He bowed and disappeared in the dark shadows as if he was never here.

Kahn gazed at the bright moons and bathed in the moonlight.

At this moment, Kahn found the surrounding atmosphere extremely familiar as if he lived it before.

"There was a time when I stood at the top of a building that was the same height as this castle… I was lost and helpless.

And like a coward.. I committed suicide without thinking about how there was still hope for me." spoke Kahn to himself.

"Who would've thought that there'd be a day when someone like me who wanted to die would bear the responsibility of looking after millions of lives.

Although I did it for my personal gains and in pursuit of power… it's a responsibility I can't neglect even if I want to."

The tall buildings, multicolored lights spread across Aesir and the bustling crowd reminded him of the very night when Kahn in his previous life as Elric lost his will to live and gave in against the loneliness and suffering he had been going through since childhood.

On that night… he decided to give up instead of fighting his fate. He just wanted to end the misery and the only way he found at that time to get out of it was ending his own life.

After spending a life where no one was truly there for him.. He reached out to the only hand that showed him love and affection. But being swayed by his yearning and emotions… he failed to see through the deception behind it.

And now, the same person who jumped from the top of the building stood at the same height… but with power and authority in his hands while carrying the weight of millions of innocent lives.

"Going from Elric of the past to the Kahn of the present.." he reminisced and spoke with calm and lifeless eyes…

"Seems pretty ironic to me."