Requiem Of A Failed Hero



[A NEW TRIAL HAS APPEARED]

- Defeat the eight archons

- Defeat Hallan Lamar

- Discover the hidden truth within the history of Therut.

TRIAL REWARD: TETHA SHARD ×2

"Wow, I've never seen you give me an item as a reward. Well, I guess that is reasonable considering what you are asking of me."

Raith chuckled unbelievably. The abyss was telling him to kill an archon, that too eight of them.

Archons in Therut were painted as these overpowering beings even though Therut has been lying all these while so it was hard to believe anything from them. Raith was well familiar with asuras and asuras were below archons– they are referred to as messengers of celestials such as archons and angels. So! Defeat an archon?! No, eight archons! When he wasn't even sure of his skill in defeating a strong and healthy asura, not weakened or imprisoned.

Raith was filled with nothing but laughter. He didn't know what to make of this situation, is it that the abyss just trusted him too much or it just wanted to frustrate him?

"Anyways, anyhow it will be. I should leave for Therut. Any suggestions?"

He asked looking down where the tab will usually appear.

[USE THE HUBRIS FRAGMENT]

Raith brought out the fragment.

"How is this thing supposed to take me to Therut? I thought it was a skill stone."

[IT IS]

"Then?"

[IT KNOWS THE WAY TO ITS RULER BECAUSE IT IS A SKILL STONE. IT IS ALSO THROUGH IT THAT THE RULER OF PRIDE CAN LOCATE YOU]

"I see..."

Raith folded his hands on the stone and inquired from the abyss, "This ruler of pride, it is safe to say he is Hallan Lamar right?"

[...]

The abyss's silence was enough words. It was restricting itself from saying a lot to Raith, a lot more than necessary. But Raith was determined to find out regardless,

He couldn't bring himself to settle with a half-truth.

'You just wait.' 

"So how do I leave."

[Darker Than Black]

"Uh?"

[When you are about to die, break the hubris fragment]

[After you enter Darker Than Black, delay your timing and clench tightly to the hubris fragment which will now be a rune word on your arms]

[The darkness will create a path]

"Hmmm...."

Raith looked at the black stone in his hands and brought out the golden sword.

'I should make Bal eat this sword sometimes when I'm done with it'

The tip of the golden sword swiveled in the air as Raith spun and plunged it into himself without hesitation, simultaneously crushing the stone as he endured the sharp pain that shot through his body.

[You have died]

[You have gained +1 endurance stat]

'Is it because I have done it before? I'm not receiving a lot of rewards. Damn abyss'

His thoughts caved in as he lost his strength and succumbed to the floor. The feeling was already so familiar that it was like he was going to bed. But that did not mean the pain was in any erased, manageable. Yes. Thanks to his endurance stat.

His eyes immediately opened to the palpable darkness. He walked forward a bit stretched forth his hand.

Woooinnn

The rune word on his palm began to make a glowing sound. He turned his palm to look at it, admiring the solemn glow that the intertwined strokes gave out.

"Alright... now let's go."

He dissipated into the darkness and as he materialized... his view changed.

The thick and ominous cave he was in was now an open-air area with lots of destruction crying in the air, two dragons dancing together, swirling around each other, a flaming arrow slowly descending upon the land, just about to kiss the floor goodbye, a blond girl swiftly swing across to save a red-haired man in a tattered and battered state.

Everything was like confusion and chaos, instability in every corner.

'What the hell happening here?'

Raithnhad expected to meet a serene, happy Therut. But instead, he met a disparate and despaired Therut.

'No big deal, I feel good knowing that they are suffering so much. But I can't have this.'

The heat of the flames did not affect him but his clothes were burning. There was no way he would allow the shame of getting naked before all these people. Not that man.

He sighted him the moment he came.

'Lambert Dellagado'

He looked up at the spear.

"Domain of darkness"

[You have activated the skill 'Domain Of Darkness']

[All Laws will be subjected to your will for 5.2 minutes]

[Your Will stat has increased by +1]

'Will you look at that, it's been a long time since I've seen an increase in my will stat'

Raith looked up and snapped his finger. Immediately the massive arrow disappeared like it was never there.

'How in the world is this possible?' Amber's brow furrowed as she dropped the Emperor and stood up at the sight of the dark sky, peaceful atmosphere, so cool that anyone would miss being with their significant other, a weather that demanded several cuddling sessions.

"Raven?"

Lambert shook as the words came out. He had spoken out of uncontrolled surprise from seeing the strange man, but after speaking he wasn't sure this man standing was his son. The timid man he used to know, did not look like this, did not give off an energy as detrimental as this. It felt like if he took another step closer he would get swallowed in the darkness. Like hundreds of creatures were glaring at him from the dark smoke that Raith was unintentionally exuding.

Hallan Lamar frowned at the new entrance.

'What is this man? Why the hell is he so strong? His power is not from this world. Moreso, I can feel a fragment of my power from him'

It was impossible for a ruler to identify another ruler except they used their power. The only reason why Raith was sure that the man he was standing in front of, is the ruler of pride is because of the hubris fragment. But Hallan Lamar was thrown into deep confusion.

"Who are you?" He finally asked after looking at Raith for a few more seconds.

'Ah, where did I put...' Raith rummaged through his body as if he was looking for something. He finally put his hand into the space and brought out a paper.

He came forward with both hands respectfully holding the paper and the pain.

"I'd like your autograph, sir. I am a big fan of your books." Ignoring Hallan Lamar's hideous look, he asked.

Hallan Lamar grinned, "A big fan of my books? Then you must be from Therut."

Raith hesitated to speak but answered, "Yes, I used to be a resident of Therut but I moved. I have been to the hell you describe in your books and I have seen other humans. You truly are a great man."

Hallan Lamar's eyes widened, he got teary and looked like he would start any minute.

"Oh my God, Alexander. Can you see this? Finally, finally, someone sees the truth. You see the truth."

"Which is what brings me to ask..." Raith continued even as Hallan Lamar was being emotional.

Hallan Lamar looked at him, the atmosphere somehow became tense as Raith continued.

"How did you leave Therut? The archons were very careful in whatever they were doing. There is no way you would have been able to leave Therut without help from the outside. You were in contact with a fiend weren't you? Perhaps a demon."

Hallan Lamar's relaxed gaze immediately became stiff. He began to look at Raith carefully.

Raith stood with his arms folded, he didn't look like he was waiting for an answer even though he asked a question. Instead, he looked like he was asserting Hallan Lamar with his eyes.

"That man is strong." Long Huo said to Draear who was silently watching Raith.

He didn't respond, he had made a habit out of not responding to people that even his high-grade spirit summons was tired of complaining. He was a very proud elf that rarely paid attention to anyone, yet that kind of person was glaring at Raith with such passionate eyes. Never in his life had he met someone so strong and...

'...he is so cool.' His cheeks blushed.

Long Shui cocked her head, "What is going on here?"

While Amber was with the Emperor and trying to find a way to save him, she had stopped the bleeding and performed all kinds of first aid, and all through she couldn't stop glancing at the new entrant.

'How can a man control the entire weather on a large scale.'

It was amazing to her, even though she didn't know that the domain of darkness did more than change the skies black.

Finally being freed of her assignment after trying her best at first aid she turned to Raith's direction and walked closer.

She had taken five steps when a sonic boom explosion escaped from the area where Raith and Hallan Lamar was standing. The ground shook so hard that even she could not maintain her balance.

Raith and Hallan Lamar was suddenly clashing sword, they had clashed sword just once however the sound of their attack was so tremendous that it tore through the air.

Their showdown was about to begin.