Hero of Darkness

As Kahn pieced together the truth behind the incident, a clear realization dawned upon him. The empires' motives were never about righteousness or the display of divine wrath; it all revolved around his Divine Key.

This coveted core of his held the power to grant their chosen Heroes a surefire chance at reaching the elusive realm of Peak Saint rank, a domain of power that had remained unattainable since the time of Rathnaar Whitlock, the first emperor of the Rakos Empire.

Even Kahn knew that when Rathnaar was still alive during the battle against the Demon God, he was probably the only one capable of slaying such a formidable foe that all the other Heroes in the past 3 thousand years had failed to kill.

But their paths had never intersected, mainly because Rathnaar chose not to serve or worship the Gods when he founded the Rakos Empire.

He had witnessed firsthand the bloodshed and conflicts caused by religious beliefs among different species, races, and cultures.

As a result, he made a momentous decision to prohibit the formation of religious organizations within the Rakos Empire, a practice that persisted to this day.

In those times, the existence of the Rakos Empire, led by Rathnaar Whitlock, posed a significant threat to the neighboring empires that were steeped in religious worship and allegiance to various Gods and Goddesses.

Rathnaar's refusal to follow suit and his decision to build his empire based on customs and principles that did not involve the divine doctrine of any God or Goddess made him a target for those who believed in the superiority of their own religious beliefs.

As a result, these neighboring empires sent their summoned Heroes and Heroines to eliminate Rathnaar and his empire, viewing him as a dangerous renegade who posed a challenge to their own existence.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Rathnaar managed to fend off these attacks and personally took down nine Heroes from that generation, gaining a fearsome reputation as one of the most formidable Hero Killers, second only to the infamous 8th Hero of Darkness.

If Rathnaar had indeed been involved in that War, the course of events might have been vastly different, and Kahn might never have been summoned to Vantrea as the Hero of Darkness.

Even now... The Rakos Empire stood apart from the rest, being the only domain where individuals were not ostracized or condemned based on their race, species, skin color, or societal background.

The empire fostered an environment of inclusivity, where loving and marrying someone from a different species was not prohibited. Hybrids born from such unions were treated no differently from any other citizens, enjoying the same rights and respect as everyone else.

Amidst the power struggles and hidden agendas of the other empires, the Rakos Empire stood as a beacon of unity and acceptance, free from the shackles of religious conflict that had plagued so many others.

Though not without its imperfections, the reformed Rakos Empire now offered a far more equitable and just situation compared to its neighboring counterparts.

The Vulcan Empire, for instance, had long been plagued by deep-seated prejudices, where Firebornes, Dwarves, and Demi-Human races treated Humans with disdain and scorn, relegating them to an inferior status.

Similarly, the Zivot Empire was characterized by the domination of High Elves, Elves and Humans, who held absolute power and treated other species as mere labor and expendable resources.

In contrast, the Nadur Empire epitomized a culture centered on strength, where might made right, and weakness was a fault to be punished. The people of Nadur engaged in lethal conflicts over matters of tradition and honor, even resolving ordinary disputes through Trial by Combat, where killing was permitted, and the victor's perspective was deemed righteous while the defeated was branded as wrong and evil.

While the Rakos Empire still had room for improvement, it had taken significant steps forward in creating a society based on inclusivity, equality, and fairness. The journey toward a more perfect system was ongoing, but the empire's commitment to progress and unity set it apart from the more oppressive and discriminatory regimes of the surrounding empires.

Despite its progressiveness and inclusivity, the Rakos Empire still grappled with the challenge of the Noble Clans and Factions holding significant sway over the government's decision-making process.

These influential groups had integrated themselves into the very fabric of governance, effectively dictating the empire's structure.

However, this state of affairs underwent a drastic transformation when Kahn assumed the mantle of Sovereign of Verlassen and orchestrated his faked death.

This daring move triggered a revolution that resulted in the forced abdication of the Noble Clans and Factions, paving the way for real democracy to take root and reshape the empire's governance.

At the present moment...

Maximus, as the leader of the party and the Hero of Nature, offered an explanation to his allies.

"As you all know, the landscape of God's Domain keeps changing during each Conclave.

Thus, any form of map is useless. After completing both objectives, we have to return through this entrance.

And the Altar of the Gods is on the other end of this peninsula." his stern voice resounded.

He continued, revealing the location of the Altar of the Gods and the time it would take him to break the Limit on his body.

"It will take me 10 days of time. And during the procedure, I will be completely vulnerable." he spoke and sighed.

"We will act as your guards, as previously agreed, for those ten days." Kahn reaffirmed their commitment to act as guards for the Hero of Nature during those times.

However, Kahn raised a valid concern that weighed heavily on their minds.

"The problem is... What do we do about the Realm Tears?"

Now what was a Realm Tear?

A realm tear, as the name suggests, is a tear or rift in the fabric of reality.

It created a passage between different peninsulas within Babylon, each of which is created by a different god or goddess.

When someone passes through a realm tear, they may find themselves in a completely different landscape, facing new challenges and potentially encountering other Hero or Heroine's parties.

The existence of realm tears posed a unique set of dangers and uncertainties for the Hero's Party.

Because not only do they have to navigate the obstacles and threats within their own peninsula, but they also have to be on guard against potential encounters with other Hero parties from different peninsulas.

This introduced the risk of confrontations and battles with other powerful individuals vying for the Divine Keys, the coveted keys that can lead to the coveted realm of Peak Saint.

With the Hero of Darkness absent, other Hero parties may see this as an opportunity to seize the advantage and claim the Divine Keys for themselves.

If such an encounter were to take place and lead to casualties, it could easily be attributed to the absent Hero of Darkness, as Empress Kaali had previously warned.

The lack of supervision in God's Domains allows for a degree of anonymity, making it challenging to identify the culprits behind any potential clashes.

In the midst of this uncertainty and potential danger, the Hero's Party must remain vigilant and united, facing both the known challenges of their own peninsula and the unknown threats that may emerge from the realm tears.

As Maximus took charge and led the party forward, a solemn determination settled upon each member's face. The challenges they would face in God's Domain were going to be more demanding than ever.

On top of it, the temporary suppression of their Semi-Saint levels and the inability to use their saint-rank skills and magic spells left them only with their raw skills, knowledge, and weapons to rely on.

"Let's go. Our challenges in this realm are going to be tougher since all of us are not brought on the level of Semi-Saints and none of us can no longer use our saint rank skills and magic spells.

All we have at our hands is our skills, knowledge, and weapons." declared Maximus with a countenance filled with determination and vigor.

The gravity of their situation hung in the air as they ventured further into the mystical realm.

Each step they took was now dependent on their expertise, experience, and unity as a team.

Their individual and collective strengths would be put to the test as they faced the unpredictable trials of God's Domain.

Kahn, now stripped of power and the familiarity of his saint-rank abilities, felt a mix of excitement and resolve. Because it was his opportunity to know how truly strong he became compared to the previous times when he was a Semi-Saint in Rakos empire.

Step!

Step!

Right then... an unknown existence revealed itself.

The figure in the dark green cloak was a scout sent by an unknown force belonging to this realm, tasked with keeping an eye on the Hero's Party as they entered the realm of Babylon.

His appearance was inconspicuous, and he had been observing them from a distance, hidden on the cliff overlooking the landscape.

Upon seeing the Hero's Party set forth on their journey, the scout wasted no time and quickly activated an artifact, a communication device of sorts.

Speaking into it, he relayed the crucial information to his lord, the person who had sent him on this surveillance mission.

"They are here, my lord." he reported, his voice hushed and discreet. This simple message conveyed the presence of the Hero's Party in the God's Domain, confirming their arrival in Babylon.

The figure on the other end of the artifact, likely a powerful individual with authority, was now aware of the Hero's Party's location and actions.

With this information transmitted, the scout returned the artifact to its hiding place and continued his observation.

He knew that his lord would have plans in motion, and it was now a waiting game to see how events would unfold.

But most importantly, he was thrilled with anticipation. As their main mission was...

To kill the Hero's Party.