Hero of Darkness

Havi still had a perplexed expression as he gazed at the three saints who revealed their malevolent aura directed at him. All three of them… were the supposedly deceased Holy Champions of the church of Hetrax. 

The first one died 30 years ago, Havi himself attended the grand funeral. The second was supposed to have died during a fight at the southern border against the army of the Rakos Empire close to 50 years ago. And the last one died during the previous Empress and his grandmother's reign more than 90 years ago. 

But not only all of them turned out to be alive, but they were also 7th stage saints, surpassing their previous rank before their supposed deaths. 

Previously, Havi thought that this treason was planned when he became the Emperor… but now, it looked like all of this was planned way long ago even before his father was the emperor. 

At this moment, Demiurge revealed a coy smile, feeling proud of himself. 

This was exactly the hidden method the church had which Demiurge mentioned when all the top ranking members had gathered for the annual congregation last year.

The pope had declared his intentions to plot and kill the emperor after the incident with Rogis and the imperial decree where thousands of powerful figures from the Church were involved in the crimes against the human race. 

As a result, many important figures of the church were hunted down and killed by the imperial clan. On the surface, it looked like the Emperor was punishing evil to the masses. 

But in reality, it was the political move to tip the balance in his favor in the name of enforcing justice. 

During the congregation, it looked like it was the main reason why the Pope had finally lost and decided to commit treason to the majority of the members of the church. 

But the whole treason itself was something planned way ahead in reality. 

Havi looked at the three seventh stage saints in three different directions who surrounded him from 20 kilometers afar. 

"Donatello Strvenee." he spoke as he looked at the fireborne with the purple glowing double-bladed spear. 

"Leonardo Wright." he said as he glanced at the Knight class fireborne with a shield and a sword. 

"Raphael Broxter." he mumbled as he looked at the brawler glass saint. 

Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael… all three of them were the Holy Champions of their times. The strongest warriors of the church that even the imperial clan had to acknowledge. 

"Tell me something… Since when did you plan this?" asked Havi as his body finally managed to adapt to this thousand-kilometer-wide suppression formation. 

"Do not think so highly of me. I only followed the instructions of my predecessors after I became the Pope a century ago. 

After the Great War in the Rakos Empire where the three 7th stage saints killed the Emperor 100 years ago and overtook the empire, the Church also decided to groom their champions in case we needed to do the same in the future." revealed the pope in a carefree tone. 

"All these people who had the potential to become 7th stage saints and had absolute loyalty only to the church had their deaths disguised in the eyes of the public. And the church had been secretly nurturing them with all of the resources and means we had. 

Feel proud of yourself, Havi. You were the only Emperor who forced our hand to make them all reveal themselves." he said and then looked at the old advisor. He quickly handed him the mysterious artifact he was holding. 

"You may leave." spoke Pope to Aikbach. 

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Havi. Because having another fighter on their side was helpful in times of emergency. Yet Demiurges told Aikbach to leave. 

"Someone has to lead the imperial clan and the fireborne clans in different directions. 

Nobody knows you're here and I'll make sure that no one is prepared to defend against the church's forces when they attack the imperial clan. 

We carefully planned everything, your majesty." said Aikbach with a mocking tone and disappeared from the Flame Killer formation using the artifact given by Demiurge. 

At this moment, Havi was indeed trapped from all sides and he understood that soon, a fight was inevitable as he was slowly recovering his strength. 

"Then tell me one thing… Why go this far? 

The deal I proposed with the Hero of Fire and Venessa's marriage would've greatly helped you without shedding a single drop of blood or risking the lives of your people." he asked with a somber expression. 

"That was indeed a good deal you offered me all those years ago. But the reason why we chose to go this route wasn't because of you. 

But because of the Hero of Fire himself. Your arrangement wouldn't have worked because of his nature." spoke Demiurge with a stern gaze. 

"What do you mean?" asked Havi with a curious countenance. 

"Ha ha! You don't even know his real personality or his origins. Yet you were ready to sacrifice your daughter in order to protect her from the six fireborne clans. 

But instead, you ended up condemning her to even a worse fate." laughed the Pope loudly as if he was looking at a fool. 

In the following seconds, he took out a recording artifact and activated it… 

3 Minutes later… 

Havi was flabbergasted and also terrified after Demiurge revealed Axel's deeds that they had filmed without the latter having no knowledge of it. 

The emperor had an ashen expression after watching what kind of person Hero of Fire truly was.

Previously, he hadn't inquired or put a tail on Axel to show his good faith regarding the deal he made long time ago. But because of it… he had no idea what kind of monster Axel was in reality. 

"He… he isn't a human, is he?" asked Havi with a gloomy face. 

"He is… Well, not entirely. 

The world he came from is a very unique one. And because of his lineage, god Hetrax chose him. 

Let me tell you something.

Among the new generation of summoned heroes, Axel is the only one…" said the Pope as his loud voice reverberated in the open desolate lands of the northern plain… 

"Who can kill the Demon God."