Hero of Darkness

Kahn and Ryuken stood facing each other, their gazes locked in an unyielding staredown. They had cast aside their weapons, opting for the pure, unembellished brutality of a hand-to-hand brawl—two warriors settling matters like primal forces of nature.

The tension in the air was palpable, the kind that demanded silence from anyone daring to watch.

"What kind of nonsense are you spewing?" Ryuken asked, his voice sharp with confusion, his brow furrowed as he struggled to make sense of Kahn's cryptic demeanor.

Kahn's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smirk.

"Well, I won't bore you with a long explanation. Just think of it this way: two opposing forces of nature, destined to collide, even though their paths lead to the same inevitable end."

Ryuken's crimson eyes narrowed, his tone dark and commanding as he demanded, "Elaborate."

Kahn tilted his head slightly, his expression turning contemplative.

"Let me ask you something, then. Why did you choose to become a Hero, one of the chosen?"

The Hero of Space answered immediately, his tone resolute…

"Because it was a necessity for the greater good."

Kahn let out a soft chuckle, his smirk widening.

"If it had been my choice… I would've declined right away."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Ryuken's expression shifted, a shadow of intrigue crossing his face.

"Why?"

"God forbid a man has a preference," said Kahn shamelessly.

Such was the truth. When it was his turn, he rejected the God of Darkness right away.

The tension between them thickened, but Kahn wasn't finished.

"Let's say you're faced with this dilemma: a group of soldiers and a group of innocent civilians are both on the brink of death. Who would you save?" asked Kahn with a hint of skepticism.

Ryuken didn't hesitate.

"The innocent civilians."

"Why?" Kahn pressed, his tone devoid of judgment, merely seeking the reasoning.

"Because the soldiers chose their lives," Ryuken replied, his voice unwavering.

"They embraced the risks and dangers to protect others. Innocent civilians, however, did not. They cannot defend themselves. Protecting them is our duty, our moral responsibility." Ryuken's gaze hardened as he turned the question back on Kahn.

"And you, Byakuya-dono? Who would you save?"

Kahn's expression darkened his tone cold and cutting.

"The soldiers."

The air seemed to freeze.

Ryuken's eyes widened in shock, his face a mixture of disbelief and outrage.

"What kind of heartless bastard would make that choice?!"

Kahn's response came without hesitation, his voice calm yet resolute.

"Because by saving the soldiers, I'm securing a future. Soldiers are trained, disciplined, and prepared to face challenges. If I save them, I increase my chances of surviving what comes next.

With their help, I might even save the civilians later. It's not about being heartless—it's about being pragmatic."

The biggest irony of this exchange of opinions was that in his previous world, Ryuken himself sacrificed his life for the sake of saving the lives of thousands of his soldiers during the final war.

Kahn, as Elric, on the other hand, was a loner and a cynical man who would never have fit the role of leadership. However, due to his sense of morality from his first life, he would have chosen to save the innocent civilians.

Yet in this life, he chose to save the soldiers instead. The roles had switched and both men had become the antithesis of not only each other but also themselves compared to their previous lives.

The hero's party members and Omega, watching their exchange fell silent, their expressions a mix of awe and discomfort.

Neither answer could be easily dismissed. Kahn's logic was chillingly practical, while Ryuken's reflected unwavering moral conviction.

In the end, the conversation revealed an uncomfortable truth: morality was not a matter of black and white.

The world existed in shades of gray, where every choice carried its own weight of consequences and rewards. Both men had spoken their truth, and neither could be deemed entirely right—or entirely wrong.

"Then let me ask you one last thing," Kahn said, his voice steady and piercing as his gaze bore into Ryuken's.

"Would you sacrifice someone you love to save the world?" His expression was unwavering, a mix of challenge and expectation.

Yes… I would." answered Ryuken without hesitation, his face stern and resolute.

A brief silence followed, heavy with unspoken thoughts, before Ryuken added...

"Now tell me, Byakuya-dono, from which cloth are you cut?"

Kahn's expression shifted slightly, a shadow of defiance creeping into his features.

"Any honorable hero," he began, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "would sacrifice their love for the world. But a villain…" He paused, his eyes gleaming with intensity…

"A villain would reduce this wretched world to ash for the one they love."

The words hung in the air like a sharp blade. Kahn delivered them without the slightest trace of shame or regret.

"I'm that kind of person. And that is why we are the antithesis of each other."

The stark contrast between the two warriors became glaringly obvious, their opposing ideals now laid bare for all to see. One stood as a pillar of selflessness and duty; the other, as an embodiment of unrelenting devotion, no matter the cost.

Ryuken narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in his expression.

"Is there a reason you're asking me such questions… during the heat of battle?"

"Yes," Kahn replied, his tone calm and unbothered, as if the fight itself was secondary.

"I wanted to know what kind of man I'm facing. To understand you—so I could make you see the real truth."

Ryuken's voice deepened, his tone deadly serious.

"Truth about what?"

Kahn tilted his head slightly, a hint of mischief playing on his lips.

"That… I'll tell you if you can defeat me."

With that, Kahn assumed a ready stance, his presence radiating unshakable confidence. The gravity of his words only added to the tension in the air.

It was clear to everyone watching: this wasn't just a clash of strength but a battle of philosophies, of two opposing worldviews that could never coexist.

Kahn then smirked and flexed his arms and legs.

Swoosh!

He suddenly appeared above Ryuken head and without any warning…

Kick!

He made a downward whirling kick.

Bang!

Ryuken raised his head and quickly defended using his arms.

Crack!

But unlike before… both his arms failed to block and instead, they broke and got cut off with a single kick.

"Arghhh!" wailed Ryuken and created a distance between him and Kahn.

Thud!

His severed arms fell on the ground, carrying dragonfire.

But this time, his arms were quickly burnt off and turned into ash in just a couple of seconds.

[What the hell is happening? Was he holding back?] asked Ryuken to himself.

Because the kick he fended off against just now was at least 100 times powerful, to the point his body could not even block it.

"Let me tell you something… This form of mine could not be affected by any kind of fire.

As for the kick you just received… That was only 10% of my real strength.

So if you try to hold back and think it'd be unfair of you to face me using a divine ability… You'd die." proclaimed Kahn in a sardonic tone, his eyes revealing pure bloodlust.

Squirm!

Squirm!

On the other side, Ryuken's arms burned bright red, and soon, new arms grew from the scalding fire that appeared where his original arms were.

Squelch!

After the bones, flesh, and skin fully regenerated, Ryuken stared at Kahn resolutely.

"Looks like you keep making me apologize to undermine you again and again.

You're right. I should show you the true extent of my divine ability as well." responded the Hero of Space.

This time, he was just as serious as Kahn. No longer willing to hold back due to concern for his opponent's life.

"Do not blame me if you end up dying. I cannot hold back just because you're related to his majesty, the Emperor." said Ryuken.

BOOM!!

The entire battlefield was obliterated in an instant. A violent wave of destruction surged outward, reducing a 30-kilometer radius to nothing more than scorched earth and voided space.

Even Kahn, despite his unparalleled strength, was forced to teleport away, reappearing near Omega, where the latter fought Ryuken's companions.

But at the heart of the devastation stood Ryuken, unmoved and silent. His palms were pressed together in a meditative pose, his eyes closed in eerie tranquility.

The raw energy surrounding him was palpable, a force so profound it seemed to bend reality itself.

As the storm of obliteration settled, Ryuken's form began to change.

His previously transformed state reverted, revealing his original body, but now the intricate black, blue and red tattoos covering him—once dormant—began to glow with a radiant golden light. Each line pulsated with divine energy, their brilliance illuminating the desolation around him.

The shattered battlefield was no longer recognizable. In its place, a new realm began to take shape, materializing as though summoned by an ancient force.

Within moments, a 50-kilometer radius of the decimated expanse was absorbed and seamlessly integrated into this burgeoning world. The air itself changed, carrying an otherworldly aura, as if the very laws of reality had been rewritten.

Monumental statues emerged from the ground, towering over the landscape.

Gods, goddesses, and deities from Shintoism took form in intricate detail, their celestial visages imposing and eternal. Alongside them appeared mythological sites and sacred locations, their essence materialized from the fabric of Ryuken's power.

The realm exuded a sense of divine authority, a sanctuary yet a battlefield, both beautiful and terrifying. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

Ryuken's transformation reached its zenith. The Hero of Space no longer resembled a man. His physicality had been replaced by something far beyond mortal comprehension.

He now stood as a transcendent, ethereal being, a vessel of cosmic and divine energy. His form shimmered with the golden radiance of his 7 Divine Spirits, which had merged with him completely.

Soon, Ryuken's voice echoed, calm and regal, but its resonance sent chills through every listener, mortal or otherwise. It carried the weight of celestial judgment and boundless power.

With an air of absolute authority, Sasakibe Ryuken proudly declared his ascension and unleashed his true might…

"Domain of Sacred Divinity!"