Hero of Darkness

Sasakibe Ryuken, stood rooted on the spot, unable to even move a muscle while his entire countenance failed to hide his disbelief.

Kahn/Byakuya had stopped one of his strongest attacks, not by deflecting, defending, or even evading; but rather, by his mere forefinger.

[Was that just a single slashing attack? No, it wasn't!

That attack skill condenses all my space force that is already out of my body and stacks it at least 100 times.

It's more than enough to shred reality itself into thousands of pieces. One can't even use a legendary rank spell or a protective barrier let alone face it headfront.

But how did he not only remain unhurt but stop it at point-blank range with just a finger?] wondered Ryuken as his mind jumbled.

But right then… an aghast and soulless voice reached his ears.

"Do not be mistaken, Ryuken-dono. Your blade touched me because I allowed it to reach me."

Gulp!

Ryuken gulped as his body trembled in terror, his senses telling him to run away as far as he could.

"Let me tell you about the difference between you and me. It's like the story of the monkey trying to capture the moon.

However close he thinks he is to the moon, it's still just the reflection of the moon in the middle of the lake." stated Byakuya with an abominating voice.

Soon, Ryuken's trembling body calmed as the Hero of Space regained his composure.

Despite his instincts telling him to run for his life… the Hero who faced Kahn wasn't a coward by any means who would run with his tail between his legs.

This wasn't his first time and neither would it be his last.

"You talk too much for a guy who just has an upper hand. Do I need to remind you that our battle has just begun?" asked Ryuken sardonically.

"Is that so? Then let me show you why I'm so confident of my strength." spoke Byakuya in a cold tone.

Grab!

He grabbed Kogarasumaru's bare blade and before Ryuken could even react…

Stab!!

Right in front of everyone's spectating eyes… Kahn stabbed his own heart with Ryuken's katana.

Stunned!

Ryuken was completely shocked as he felt the tip of his blade pierce right through Byakuya's heart.

Thump!

Thump!

Ryuken could even feel the pulsating heart of the one-eyed dragon who seemed unbothered despite the drastic threat to his life.

A dozen seconds passed as everyone remained shaken, unable to grasp the situation.

"Didn't I say that my Mugen no Ken no Ryōiki will stay active as long as I'm alive?" asked Kahn with disdain visible in his right eye.

"Now, now… how are you going to win against me if you can't even kill me?" he questioned sarcastically.

Soon, he casually moved the blade from the side of his chest and left hand, the blade passing through them seamlessly.

Gasp!

This time, it was Ryuken who gasped loudly, unable to hide his bewilderment.

[What's the meaning of this? Even though I have achieved 2nd Enlightenment in the Space Law myself… I didn't think it was possible for mortals.

Is that a special power that comes with the 3rd enlightenment?] wondered the Hero of Space.

Although Kahn/Byakuya could be considered a genius in his own league, Ryuken didn't put too much stress upon that information till now because he assumed that at most, his present powers would either elevate or expand at most. He didn't foresee that one could unlock extra powers and new unseen abilities with the 3rd enlightenment.

It was akin to Kahn being a living and breathing ghost. A ghost whose flesh could be touched and felt.

On top of it, he was a pure human and not one of those species in the Erdve Empire who could temporarily turn into a specter or a fog-like form.

Swoosh!

Ryuken took a defensive stance as he retreated a few kilometers away in the sky.

"Looks like apologies are imminent, Byakuya-dono.

I humbly apologize for not taking you seriously till now. Thinking that I could defeat you with normal means just because I'm a chosen hero." spoke the Hero of Space with an earnest tone.

There was no shame or ill-will in his tone, rather genuine respect for Kahn who had shown him the errors of his ways.

"One should be confident of their skills and strength but never become clouded with their judgment because of them.

I had forgotten that for a while just because I've remained triumphant through all my battles in recent memory." revealed Ryuken with a respectful tone.

"It is understandable. You must have never fought someone among your peers who could overwhelm you in any aspect till now.

So I will let your ignorance pass this time." responded Kahn, acting like an old master giving pointers to his ignorant junior.

"But let me ask you… Are you just a one-trick guy?" asked Kahn, taunting Ryuken.

"Hah!"

Ryuken lightly chuckled as if he expected no less from his haughty opponent.

"I do have plenty of attack skills. But they won't work on someone as strong as you." said Ryuken as he admitted the difference between his previous evaluation of Kahn.

"Then allow me to fight this battle seriously. I hope you don't consider it unfair to use the powers that make me unique." he declared with a quaint smile.

Kahn/Byakuya on the other end, nodded with an expectant and excited countenance.

What did it mean?

Simply put… The Hero of Space had acknowledged Kahn as a proper opponent who deserved to be fought with everything he had. And what made the chosen heroes unique than the rest?...

Their Divine Abilities.

In the following moments, Ryuken sheathed his legendary rank katana, Kogarasumaru.

Soon, the entire katana itself disappeared, entering the True Dimension like a permeating smoke.

"Come out… Toranaga!" shouted Ryuken, his eyes lit with battle intent.

Swoosh!

GRRR!!

Suddenly, a brightly shining figure jumped out of black tattoos around both of Ryuken's arms.

A two-meter-tall fiery red tiger adorned with golden ornaments around its neck and legs, and a floating golden tenne (ethereal shawl) draped over its back. Its presence commanded attention while making its formidable appearance known to all.

This ethereal tiger had two bright red glowing horns coming out of its forehead. Its fiery fur seemed to flicker like flames, and its golden ornaments shimmered in the light, adding to its majestic aura.

The Divine Spirit that both Kahn and Omega saw before had reappeared as Ryuken decided to use one of his trump cards.

"Divine Ability… Spirit Possession!" declared Ryuken.

Jump!

This time, the divine tiger jumped back at Ryuken, who himself had turned into a bright violet spirit being.

[Ah, he chose this as one of his divine abilities… smart move.] thought Kahn to himself with a visible smile.

Even he failed to hide the excitement on his face at this point.

BOOM!!!

A massive surge of fiery aura erupted as Kahn was flung 10 kilometers away by the explosion of scarlet red and yellow aura.

This aura was neither the Space Force nor it was the World Energy.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

It had a unique essence to itself, something Kahn had never felt before.

And as the 500-meter tall pillar of fire disappeared, an amalgamation of two powerful beings came out.

Before Kahn… stood an imposing figure.

A 3-meter-tall man with blood-red and white skin formed in the shape of long straps, covering his entire body from head to toe appeared. His waist-length black hair and extremely muscled visage, akin to a demon, sent a heavy pressure in the battlefield.

The figure with bulging muscles across the entire body had blood-red glowing eyes and also retained the two horns from the Divine Spirit, Toranaga. His teeth had turned into tiger fangs and fingers akin to tiger claws.

"What is the name of this form, Ryuken-dono?" asked Kahn out of curiosity.

In a sense, Ryuken and Toranga's currently merged appearance was similar to Kahn's Asura Mode.

To his question, Ryuken with the ripped body with pulsating veins, responded with a domineering voice…

"Shuten Dōji… the Blood Demon."