Hero of Darkness

The scene shifted dramatically to the serene mountainside, where Ryuken had once found his greatest happiness, long before his life descended into turmoil.

Now, standing before him was a figure clad in a black hakama, a headband covering his left eye.

"Huh?... What's this?" Ryuken muttered, his voice tinged with confusion.

He was utterly baffled by the sudden change in surroundings, a stark contrast to the chaos he had just endured.
Read exclusive chapters at empire

As clarity returned to his mind, he recognized the figure standing before him. His heart froze as he realized the enormity of what he had just relived.

"How am I here again? No… how are you here?!" he demanded, his voice rising with the weight of his bewilderment.

Kahn in his Byakua persona stood silently, his expression somber yet overwhelmed by the torrent of emotions he just experienced.

He reached up, slowly pulling back his headband to reveal a glowing blue eye, its light pulsating with otherworldly energy.

It was an eye Ryuken had seen before, after his defeat at Kahn's hands.

"This is one of my special powers," Kahn began, his tone calm but filled with a quiet intensity.

"It's called World Creation."

Ryuken's eyes widened, his mind reeling from the revelation.

"World Creation…?" he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It allows me to create a world from my imagination," Kahn explained.

"Although it's not perfect yet, it enabled me to shape everything you saw and experienced.

But the key difference was that you, Ryuken, were the subject whose imagination molded this world." replied Kahn.

He adjusted his headband, covering the glowing eye once more.

Ryuken's thoughts raced.

"What kind of godly power is that? It wasn't an illusion either! One of my divine spirits can distinguish between reality and mirage, yet I felt nothing amiss.

Every breath, every wound... they were real." he asserted, his gaze locked on Kahn, his mind still absorbing the information with the absurdness of what he had just endured.

Kahn's expression remained cold and stoic.

"You can't possibly tell me it's because you've reached the 3rd Enlightenment in the Space Law.

That would be too absurd, too unheard of.

Even the Emperor's brother, with his own 3rd Enlightenment, can't wield such power." said the Hero of Space.

Ryuken's voice trembled slightly, reflecting the weight of the revelation and the awe he felt in the presence of Kahn's unfathomable power.

"Enough about me. Let's talk about you," Kahn spoke, his voice steady, betraying no emotion.

Ryuken's eyes narrowed, suspicion brewing within him.

"Do you wish to know why I used this ace of mine on you instead of keeping it a secret?" Kahn asked, his expression unreadable.

"Why?" Ryuken's voice was curt, and his patience was wearing thin.

"Because I wanted to understand what kind of man you were."

That answer ignited Ryuken's simmering anger.

His hand quickly grabbing the hilt of his katana, fury igniting in his eyes.

"You bastard! You made me relive all those traumatizing moments of my life… The loss of my family, the death of my wife and unborn child…

You made me go through all that pain and torment again just because you were curious?!" he bellowed, his voice quivering with rage.

Kahn stood unfazed, understanding the depth of Ryuken's reaction.

If someone had made Kahn relive his past as Elric, to experience the misery again for amusement or curiosity, he would be furious as well.

"I understand your anger," Kahn said firmly.

"However, it wasn't done because I find any joy in it."

Ryuken's grip on his katana tightened, but something in Kahn's tone gave him pause.

"Someone once told me..." Kahn continued…

"The true measure of a man isn't what he reveals to the world but what he hides from it."

He cited the wisdom imparted to him by the Martial Emperor during the Conclave of Heroes.

"And now that I know what kind of man you are… I have nothing but respect for you."

Kahn declared, his voice humble and sincere, a rare glimpse of genuine admiration breaking through his usual stoicism.

"W-what?!" Ryuken stammered, slightly taken aback.

His surprise wasn't rooted in Kahn's respect but in the unexpected lack of pity or regret in Kahn's words.

Throughout his life, Ryuken carried a heavy regret... the failure to protect his loved ones in his original world.

This regret haunted him, driving his every action and choice even after arriving in Vantrea.

Even when Raum, the God of Space, appeared, offering him a chance to become the Hero of Space, Ryuken accepted, not for honor or glory, but to prevent the same failure from happening again in Vantrea.

Though others would praise him for his honor and courage, Ryuken always inwardly cursed his inability to save those dearest to him.

He bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, a burden he accepted but never fully forgave himself for.

Yet here stood Kahn, a man who had defeated him, expressing genuine respect without judgment or condescension.

Ryuken was baffled again. It was the first time someone far more powerful than him showed such genuine respect.

"To be honest… I'm a broken man myself." Kahn began, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"Driven by my hopelessness and negative outlook on the world, I was a very selfish and lonely man."

He paused, his gaze steady but somber.

"Compared to the heart-wrenching and soul-tearing events you endured, my pain and circumstances aren't even 10% of your suffering."

Kahn's tone grew more reflective.

"But the difference between you and me is that… I had ways to turn my life around, and still, I chose to dwell in the deepest pits of self-loathing."

He exhaled deeply, the weight of his own choices evident in his voice.

"But unlike me, you… despite your pain and misery being many times greater, did not give in to the cruel fate."

Kahn's voice grew steadier, filled with admiration.

"You didn't go around blaming the world for your torment. Instead, you tried to make the best out of whatever life threw at you.

No matter how big the loss, grief, and helplessness... you never gave up."

"For that… you have my utmost respect." Kahn concluded, bowing deeply, a gesture of sincere reverence.

Ryuken was baffled again. It was the first time someone far more powerful than him showed such genuine respect.

"Now that I know everything about you and what kind of man you are…" Kahn said, his voice steady and understanding.

"I know what shackles you."

******************

A heavy silence filled the air, thick with the weight of Kahn's words. Ryuken stood motionless, processing the profound insight offered to him.

[What shackles did he imply?] Ryuken wondered, his gaze shifting to Kahn as his heart thudded with an unspoken question.

"There's a reason why you haven't been able to advance despite having the talent and character for it." Kahn said, his hand sweeping in a wide arc.

Suddenly, scenes from Ryuken's life appeared on colossal screens, each displaying moments that had shaped his destiny... moments of joy, loss, and torment.

"The entirety of your life… you were never in control." Kahn began, his tone gentle yet penetrating.

"You didn't choose to be born as the heir of the Shogun. You couldn't control the death of your family or your wife.

The betrayal of the daimyos, the tragic mistake of the foreigners who killed your wife instead of you... none of these events were within your grasp." spoke Kahn in an empathetic voice.

Kahn's voice softened, resonating with empathy.

"It was always the world around you that shaped your life, and you were never truly in control of your fate."

Ryuken's eyes widened slightly, the realization sinking in as Kahn continued...

"For once in your life, don't be the hero the world needs or act because the situation demands it." advised Kahn, his expression turning resolute.

"Do not live with the intention to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the world.

Dying is easy… but what's hard is to keep on living and manage the aftermath of the great cataclysm." his words echoed along with the chilling breeze of the mountain.

The words struck deep, shaking the very foundation of Ryuken's convictions.

"What?! What are you saying?!

Are you telling me to abandon my role as the Hero of Space? Do you want me to give up on this fight against the Demon God?" asked Ryuken, his personage bewildered.

"No, I'm not telling you to give up on your responsibilities.

What I'm telling you… that you need to change your perspective on life entirely." stated Kahn.

"Have you ever wondered what happened to the world after you died?

Did it occur to you that despite your sacrifice… there may not be a better tomorrow for your people?

Did you ever wonder if you made the right choice by sacrificing your life instead of running away and living to fight another day?" he questioned sternly.

"Have you ever wondered whether you made the right decision?" Kahn questioned again.

"For once… be selfish. Don't let the outside world dictate your life anymore." he shared his final conclusion about the shackles that bound Sasakibe Ryuken.

"For once… find your own happiness."