Hero of Darkness

The entire area of the northern plains that spanned a thousand kilometers in total perimeter was now completely isolated from the outside world while only three saints remained inside. 

"What are you trying to do, Arhlem?! Where are my children?!" asked Havi in a thunderous voice. 

"Hah! How uncommon to see you care about the lives of your children. 

Don't worry… they're being guarded by the Hero's Party in the middle of the eastern grasslands. But even I can't tell for how long they'll stay safe." he replied in an insidious tone. 

Havi was thoroughly infuriated at this point. He came here quickly without a second thought without informing his forces because he feared for his children's lives. But he didn't expect that one of his most trusted aides had already joined hands with the Pope. 

"You… Advisor Aikbach… Why? Were you also part of this too from 50 years?" asked Havi with a rage-filled expression. Aikbach was the Imperial advisor since the time his father reigned as the Emperor. 

"You… why did you side with the church? You were my father's most trusted aide. Why did you betray me?" he asked Aikbach. 

Although it looked like Havi was greatly disheartened by this betrayal… in actuality, he was just stalling for time while barely containing the backlash on his body and trying to adapt to this suppression. 

"A loyalty bound by soul-oath is no loyalty, Havi. 

It was your father who took advantage of my fealty to the throne and made me accept soul-oath. But afterward… He basically turned me into a slave of the imperial family, making me cover up his failures and the wanton massacres he caused in the name of eradicating rioters. 

That is why I chose to betray the imperial clan." revealed Aikbach. His tone filled with disgust as he recalled the previous Emperor, Havi's father.

Havi did not show any expression of disbelief as if he too was aware of this fact since long. 

There were no righteous rulers. Even the kindest monarch would have to bloody his hands in order to maintain peace in the empire. 

He was no exception because he too ruined the fate of the human race for the sake of maintaining his reign intact during the turbulent times. 

"Then why aren't you dead yet?" asked Havi, completely unshaken by this information. 

"Because the soul-oath ritual was performed by me. I obviously know the way to undo it." replied Demiurge instead. 

"It was when you became the emperor, I granted him freedom in exchange for spying on you. 

And given his hatred towards the imperial family… he gladly joined our ranks." said Demiurge. 

Pthew!! 

Havi spat out another mouthful of blood. He could feel the flow of blood in his body slowing down, greatly diminishing his strength to a degree that he now possessed power comparable only to a 6th stage saint.

He tried to reveal his strength but his body greatly received backlash instead. For someone of his rank… Losing two ranks in strength meant losing around 28% of your total combat power. And this was when he wasn't even engaged in a battle. As for how much he'd be suppressed when the fight broke out… even he couldn't predict at the moment. 

"So are you ready to die?" asked the Pope as he folded both arms behind his back. 

"Kill me? Heh!!" said Havi in a mocking tone. 

"Ha ha! Ha ha ha!" he laughed hysterically. 

"Just with you two? Although I'm suppressed… I can easily kill a 5th stage saint and a 6th stage saint. And both of you are very weak because of your class." said Havi in a tone filled with disdain. His title as the strongest person in the empire wasn't just for show. 

But he wasn't an idiot to blindly charge and try to kill them. He wanted to gauge the opponent's tricks first because a moment of negligence would cost your life in a battle. 

"Oh… that would indeed be the case." replied Demiurge. 

"But you're not fighting us… you're fighting them." he said with a carefree expression. 

BOOM!! 

BOOM!! 

BOOM!! 

Three massive bursts of energy exploded in 3 different directions. Each one was at least 20 kilometers away from Havi. Yet because of their power levels and ranks, this gap was no different than a few footsteps for them. 

Havi could clearly see these three hooded figures in white and red even from this far distance. For someone from the earth, Havi was already in the realm of gods and he had yet to reveal his real strength. 

Without standing at a ceremony, these three figures who had perfectly hidden themselves using the same artifact as Demiurge, took their hoods off and finally revealed their real identities. 

"Long time no see, your majesty." spoke one of these firebornes who seemed to be a pugilist/brawler class individual. 

But the next moment, Havi was completely shocked as soon as he recognized him. 

"The last time I appeared to the outside world… your father had just become the emperor." said the second figure who held a double-bladed spear in his left hand. 

"You… how are you still alive?" asked Havi as he recalled the real identity of this second fireborne. 

"The 'Hos Sigfreed' bloodline is indeed worthy to lead our empire. 

In just 4 decades, he already became an 8th stage saint. Even the six fireborne clans can't compete against the imperial family's bloodline." Finally, the third figure spoke who had a shield and a sword, revealing his Knight class. 

Havi was flabbergasted again. Because this person was already a great figure in the history of the Vulcan empire. 

"How? You were supposed to be dead over a century ago!" Havi kept questioning as he could not believe what he was seeing. 

Given his bloodline effects, he could easily take down the two traitors in front of him. 

But now… these 3 people who were hidden all this time… they were someone even he had to be worried about because of their identities and skills. 

Because every single one of these three individuals who was supposed to be dead a long time ago… Was once the Holy Champion of the Church of Hetrax in their respective eras. 

But the most threatening part wasn't their titles but their ranks. 

Because every single one of these new enemies was a… 

7th Stage Saint!