Hero of Darkness



Kahn's ability to easily pass through Rolakan's legendary rank barrier without apparent effort left everyone bewildered. 

However, what went unnoticed by those present was that it all happened in a mere second.

Contrary to what one would assume, Kahn did not employ brute force, nor did he shatter the legendary rank barrier.

Unbeknownst to his new companions, Kahn had unlocked a unique class known as the Scholar Saint Magician, one of the two magic classes he had recently invoked. This class, achieved through the entire past year of training, held special benefits that he had yet to reveal to others.

The key aspect of this class lay in the term 'Scholar' but in what area did Kahn possess scholarly expertise?

The answer resided within Magic Formations and Barriers.

With his newfound abilities as a Scholar Saint Magician, Kahn possessed a deep understanding of magic formations and barriers. He possessed the knowledge and skill to manipulate them with precision and finesse. It was through his mastery of these intricate magical structures that he found a flaw or weakness in the legendary rank barrier.

What Vildred imparted to Kahn went beyond the mere casting of spells or the manipulation of elemental forces while training him to become a bonafide Mage.

It encompassed a profound understanding of the intricacies of magic as a whole, allowing Atreus to not only wield its power to cast elemental spells and barriers but also discern, harness, and neutralize them effectively.

Under Vildred's guidance, Kahn learned to identify the vulnerable points and gaps in the flow of mana and world energy within a magic formation or barrier crafted by other mages or even derived from enchanted artifacts.

This knowledge was a revelation, as most magicians, including those of the esteemed Saint Rank, remained oblivious to the fact that the magic formations and barriers they had spent years honing were not invincible.

These formations and barriers were simply channels, mechanisms through which mana and world energy were directed in specific patterns to achieve desired effects. However, the truth remained that the manipulation of mana and world energy was not without consequences or limitations.

The reality was that there were vulnerabilities, flaws, and exploitable weaknesses within the very foundations of these magic formations and barriers. 

These malleable entities could be altered at your will without any repercussions even if an enemy caster used them against you.

When an individual cast a protection barrier, their focus was solely on fortifying their defense. In order to achieve this heightened level of defense, sacrifices had to be made in other areas, such as mobility and attack power.

This strategic trade-off was necessary to create a specific circulation pattern of mana and world energy within the barrier, which effectively condensed these forces and bolstered its defensive capabilities.

However, it's important to note that the very nature of this circulating pattern set the barrier apart from a stationary solid wall. Unlike a motionless structure that remained unchanged, the circulation of mana and world energy within the barrier was a dynamic process.

This constant influx of energy rendered the barrier inherently volatile.

The volatile nature of the barrier arose from the continuous interplay of mana and world energy, constantly shifting and adapting to maintain its defensive integrity.

It was akin to a delicate balance, where the influx and utilization of energy were in a constant state of rebuilding and maintaining itself. Any disruption or interference in this intricate equilibrium could potentially destabilize the barrier, exposing its vulnerabilities.

Thus, understanding of these dynamics allowed one to exploit the volatility inherent in the barrier's structure by pinpointing and capitalizing on the momentary instabilities within the circulation pattern.

And if someone with keen eyes and experience could track the small gaps in these circuits and pathways of mana and world energy, they could easily disrupt the flow and get rid of the said formation and barrier.

However, the stronger and higher ranked barrier or formation it was, the lesser of such flaws on loopholes would exist.

Right when Kahn targeted Rolakan, he traced one of these breaking points that appeared only for 2 seconds before returning to its impervious state.

And that 2-second window represented his sole opportunity, a fleeting moment in which he had to act swiftly.

However, merely identifying the weakness did not guarantee the destruction of the barrier. It required an immense amount of raw attack power and the ability to strike the pinpointed region with unparalleled precision.

Without these essential elements, the knowledge of the weakness would be rendered utterly futile.

In this critical moment, Kahn used his second specialty as an Arcane Enchanter.

This remarkable title belonged to a unique class within the realm of magic, which Kahn had unlocked and developed during his intensive training.

The path to invoking this class was paved by his mentor, Throk Oakenshield, a master in the Vulcan Empire who had imparted the wisdom of Artificing upon him.

Through diligent study and practice, Kahn had become proficient in harnessing the powers of both Dwarven and Elven runes in order to become a Saint Rank Blacksmith.

Furthermore, under the tutelage of Vildred, he delved deep into the skills of the Enchanter class, bolstered by the gifts bestowed upon him by Brokkr and Eitri, the Deities of Blacksmithing. This amalgamation of knowledge and blessings culminated in an unexpected outcome—his ability to invoke the Arcane Enchanter class.

What ensued were transformative effects.

If the Scholar Saint Magician class had empowered him to comprehend, master, and dismantle even the most formidable Legendary Rank magic formations or barriers, then the Arcane Enchanter class bestowed upon him the means to break, neutralize and even alleviate them.

And how did he accomplish this extraordinary feat?

The Runes.

Harnessing the powers bestowed by the Arcane Enchanter class, Kahn wielded plethora of perfect runes capable of obliterating or mitigating the weakness of different barriers or formations.

However, it would be remiss to underestimate the sheer potency of this rune.

When Kahn forcefully collided with the barrier, unbeknownst to anyone, a diminutive fist-sized octagonal rune materialized just inches above his clenched fist.

Adorned with archaic symbols, this seemingly innocuous rune concealed within it a cataclysmic force capable of reducing a small village to ruins. Astonishingly, this destructive power had been condensed into a thin film, no thicker than a sheet of paper.

In a display that went unnoticed by onlookers, at the precise moment when Atreus/Kahn struck the barrier at its weak point, the rune pierced through the density of the barrier, momentarily nullifying its formidable effects.

However, breaching the Legendary Rank barrier proved to be no easy feat. This temporary weakness, albeit fleeting, would last no longer than a mere moment. As soon as the flow of world energy changed, the weak spot would vanish, leaving no trace of its existence.

Therefore, Kahn only had a minuscule 0.1-second window to enter through the weakened barrier.

It was during this infinitesimal timeframe that he employed one of his exceptional skills, Phase Shift.

This extraordinary ability allowed him to temporarily transform his entire body into an ethereal form, granting him the power to pass through any material obstacle, including formidable magic barriers.

Thus, the unfolding events were far from a display of flashy techniques or earth-shattering explosions that could decimate the surrounding area with their shockwaves. There was no overwhelming skill that would render onlookers speechless and awestruck.

Thanks to the harmonious amalgamation of his two Unique Classes invoked and his remarkable Phase Shift skill that he improved through intense and relentless training recently...

What would take other 5th-stage saints 1 day to achieve, Kahn accomplished within just 1 second.

To the casual observer, it appeared as though he effortlessly passed through the legendary barrier. However, in truth, it was the culmination of his grueling and torturous training, a journey that would have driven lesser individuals to madness.

And the result was in front of everyone to see.

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

In the present moment, the entire hero's party stood in stunned silence, their minds reeling from the astonishing revelation before them. Each member was left speechless, their thoughts tangled and disoriented by the magnitude of what they had just witnessed.

They had all witnessed Rolakan employ this formidable barrier on numerous occasions, fully aware of its impenetrable nature. Even for the members of the party, breaking through it seemed like an insurmountable challenge.

Yet, here stood Atreus, effortlessly passing through the barrier as if it were nothing more than a figment of their imagination. It was an awe-inspiring sight that left the party in a state of bewilderment and disbelief.

"You bastard!" screamed Rolakan in pain as his arms were bleeding profusely.

But in response, Atreus responded with an insidious grin.

"Although we don't have a healer in our group, I heard the Basilisk tribe members have great regenerative ability. I can't kill you since you part of the group, but it doesn't mean I can't rip apart your arms and legs.

You will keep regenerating over time, and I will keep torturing you until you beg me for forgiveness." declared Kahn.

Everyone was shocked again.

Why?

Because these were the same words Rolakan spoke before the showdown between Atreus and the Hero's Party members began.

"No… please!" said the mage in a terrified and trembling voice.

However, his plea fell on deaf ears.

The Legendary Rank magic barrier was still active and only Rolakan and Atreus were present inside while others couldn't come.

And at this moment, the snakekin couldn't deactivate it because he lost both of his arms.

"You know… I'm kind of a Sadist myself."

Kahn declared as he sharpened his claw.

"I call this routine…"

With Rolakan caged with him inside this barrier… Kahn decided to display one of his favorite talents to the rest of the members of the Hero's Party.

"Asian Parenting."