Hero of Darkness

While the subordinates were already adamant about retreating, Kahn was approaching their side and had traveled around 400 kilometers in just two hours using quicksilver skill which now reached its peak mastery. 

He told Ezekiel that he noticed something peculiar in the eastern end of this region and they needed to check it out. 

The reason he had the semi-saint mage to tag along with him was because even if he used a doppelganger… someone talented like Ezekiel would eventually figure out that it wasn't the real Kahn. So he had to bring his allotted ally with him. 

At this exact moment, Omega and the three generals tried best to hide their auras. 

"Why do I feel like we're back in the Bromnir dungeon?" said Omega as he saw the final guardian. 

"Yeah… I was having those flashbacks of our deaths as well when I saw it." spoke Ronin. 

"And it's even superior and higher ranked. We're certainly not its match." said Ceril. 

2 more hours passed and the duo of the mage and the swordsman finally arrived close to a mountain range filled with a purple storm.

Kahn and Ezekiel, both of them were rooted on the spot when they saw a ginormous being flying in the sky. 

"Alright! I'm outta here." said Kahn. 

"What kind of nonsense is this?! Why is something like that in the Rakos Empire?!" exclaimed Ezekiel in surprise. 

At this moment, they stood 15 kilometers away from the final door and used their skills to focus at the sky that was lit purple and a ginormous flying figure roamed the region around. It was so big that they could even see it from this long distance. 

Kahn didn't think twice and decided to give up instantly after looking at this guardian. 

"Fuck the tablet, fuck these factions and fuck this mission. 

I'm not gonna die for this stupid-ass quest." he spoke in an exasperated voice. 

Because the ginormous creature with two massive wings and a body full of black and purple scales that they would have to face to progress to the gate was a… 

DRAGON! 

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Omega and the rest of the generals surrounded Kahn and Ezekiel from a few kilometers away as they kept a watch without revealing their aura. 

Kahn was in a dilemma given the current scenario because no way was he overconfident to think that he could defeat a dragon even if it was a low leveled one. 

Just the Magma Drake inside the Bromnir dungeon had nearly killed him and all his subordinates back in Flavot city. 

"Wait… how about we try to distract it with something noticeable and then pass through the door while hiding using an invisibility artifact?" said Ezekiel. 

Kahn rolled his eyes at this suggestion. 

"That only works on small fries. Can't you see, given its size and aura… it's at least a mythical rank dragon. 

Do you really think it won't be able to detect weaklings like us? 

Even if we were to lure it away, we still don't have anything worthy to garner its attention." spoke Kahn as looked around the frosted terrain. 

Even a mana bomb explosion wouldn't suffice as it will be buried under the snow and get subdued by the blizzards very quickly. 

But right when Kahn looked away… his Survival instinct suddenly alarmed and he quickly made a slashing attack on his right. 

Clang! 

Lucifer's blade suddenly struck and cut through a dagger but before he could react… a restriction barrier suddenly caged Kahn. 

SHRILL!! 

Kahn's whole body was out under immense oppressive pressure and he caved in. A massive explosion of mana dispersed in the surroundings as multiple layers of these magic formations and layers caused an immense surge of energy within the 2 kilometer radius. 

"What's the meaning of this?! 

Ezekiel…" said Kahn in a furious tone. 

His supposed ally suddenly used this restriction barrier and trapped him inside. 

"Sorry, Salvatore. There's no other way around it. 

If we want to get its attention… someone needs to make a sacrifice." spoke Ezekiel in a grim tone as he suddenly turned from a friend to foe. 

"Why?! Aren't we supposed to be allies in this mission?" asked Kahn as he dropped on the ground while his mouth and eyes started bleeding under this formation. Do you want to read more chapters? Come to p a n d a - n ovel,c.o.m

[This bastard! He's using several epic rank artifacts and formations to trap me! 

This… did he plan it all along?] thought Kahn as his strength was reduced to only 30% of his original stats. 

"Why you ask… isn't it obvious? The one to retrieve the Tablet of Arcana… 

Shall be me!" declared Ezekiel. 

"You… did you plan this since the beginning?" asked Kahn as he gave a deathly glare to the young mage. 

"Not exactly. I am just always prepared to make sudden changes in plan. 

Besides… you're not from our faction so you don't know the importance of this mission. 

To you… it's just a deal you made with the faction leader. But for people like me from the pureblood faction itself… 

It means our clan's future." he revealed. 

"The fuck do you mean?! Aren't you all on the same side?" queried Kahn while maintaining his raged expression. 

"Hah! You don't even know what's happening in all the factions, yet you came to find the tablet? 

My my… you really are nothing but just a puppet of the Vandereich clan." spoke Ezekiel in a condescending voice as he looked down on kneeling Kahn. 

"Enlighten me, dipshit!" responded Kahn with a constricted face as he dropped on the ground because the pressure kept increasing. 

"It's nothing personal, Salvatore. Just that if it's you who retrieves the tablet… I will be called a failure by my clan and the faction. 

But if it's me who gets it and delivers it to the main faction council… 

My future in the faction is secured and my grandfather will automatically become the next faction leader as a reward for me accomplishing the task. 

So naturally, I can't let you have the credit. I'll get the tablet and tell everyone about your great sacrifice." revealed Ezekiel as he tipped his glasses with an insidious smile on his face. 

"Then sacrifice yourself, you asshole!" retorted Kahn as blood dripped from his mouth. 

"Like everyone else says… you sure make a good bait. Well, be a good guy and keep the dragon busy." 

Said the semi-saint mage who suddenly turned on Kahn without a second thought. 

The next moment, he used an artifact and disappeared from the spot. 

[Omega!] 

Slash!! 

A swinging attack suddenly slashed open the suppression barrier and formations as Omega freed Kahn. 

"That fucker! I really shouldn't have trusted him. In the end, he's just like the rest of them. 

Trading lives for power." spoke Kahn in a furious voice. 

But before he could let out his anger… Ceril's voice reached Kahn's mind. 

[Master… it's coming here!]