Chapter 41: My Son Tank Has the Potential of a Hero

Clap, clap, clap.

Dense applause echoed from the woods. Cloaked in a black robe,拉克 (Lak) emerged from the shadows, his face filled with genuine approval, much to Shana’s "suspicious and bewildered" gaze.

Upon hearing Shana’s soft exclamation, Lak had immediately made a decision: since he had already been discovered, he might as well form an alliance with her. As long as they achieved their shared strategic goals, his own plan would be half-complete.

"It is you, the Apostle of Darkness."

Shana blinked, speaking out instinctively; from the very beginning, she had never known Lak’s name.

Lak shuddered. He hadn't expected... that even this final disguise had been seen through by her.

"You are sharper than I imagined," Lak said with a touch of emotion.

Sharper... was he referring to the fact that she had found his location? She never expected the scenario she had rehearsed in her head would actually come in handy!

Shana felt a surge of excitement and wanted to cheer, but she quickly suppressed the triumphant smile tugging at her lips. She lifted her chin and said airily, "Nothing can remain hidden before the Crimson Eye of Destruction."

"So, this is your power..." Lak nodded with delight.

This was good news. The stronger his ally, the more advantageous it was for him!

"Heh, heh, heh." Shana seemed to let down her guard. She held one hand across her eye patch and crossed the other, revealing half of her cold, sharp profile. "You need only know that my demonic eye houses the deepest darkness. Any power of light shall be utterly annihilated—dragon blood, the swords of heroes, and countless divine artifacts of the past and future have all fallen beneath it!"

"Driven by the most profound and evil chaotic bloodline, this world, too, can be burned to ash and shattered!!!"

"So powerful!!!" Both Lak and the "darkness" within him were stunned.

"Can you let me witness it? Now, use it right now and let me see!" Rushing to Shana’s side, Lak said with excitement.

It felt as if he had struck it rich overnight. Lak now thought that all the schemes and tricks he had played before were garbage; he wanted to fast-forward straight to the stage of power inflation and ruthlessly destroy the world!

Destruction—how satisfying!

"Ah? Now? This..." Shana was caught off guard. Her face flushed a deep red, and she explained in a flustered manner, "I... err, no, my power is currently still in its growth phase, so I cannot unleash it yet. Yes, that is it!" Shana’s eyes darted away, her voice betraying her guilt.

"Is that so..." Lak straightened up, feeling a wave of regret. He chided himself for being too wishful.

If her power were truly that formidable, she wouldn't need his assistance; she would have already begun destroying the world. Thinking about it, such terrifying power must surely have many limitations and require step-by-step growth and careful planning.

"In any case, let me confirm: if you were to become the Hero... what would you do?"

Taking a deep breath, Lak looked at Shana and asked cautiously. He clutched his heart tightly, fearing he might hear another answer that defied all reason.

"Is that even a question?" Shana raised her bandaged right hand high, speaking with profound gravity:

"I shall plunge the entire continent into darkness. In the name of Shana, Child of Darkness, I proclaim the end of the world!!!"

That’s the spirit! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!!!

Watching Shana’s stance, Lak clenched his fists in excitement.

"I understand. Then, I look forward to your performance..."

Suppressing the surge of emotion in his heart, Lak slowly turned and walked toward the entrance of the training camp, his once-hunched frame standing incredibly tall at this moment!

He was back in the game!

"Chief Lak, Commander Erwin is looking for you." A golden-haired man named Dane approached, looking with slight confusion at Shana, who was still immersed in her chuunibyou pose in the distance behind Lak. "You are..."

"Your name is Dane, correct?" Lak interrupted, looking at the gentle-natured, radiant-looking Dane.

"Ye-yes, that’s right."

"Very good." Lak nodded and looked him up and down. "I have noted you."

This is... Dane felt a surge of joy. He knew it! Lak actually thought highly of him; he just couldn't show favoritism in front of so many other Hero candidates.

Now that the man had specifically indicated he had noted him, wasn't that a hint that he was the greatest hope for becoming the Hero?

"Thank you for your regard!" Dane bowed.

Lak’s smile was full of hidden meaning. He gently stroked the magic stone ring on his middle finger, quietly binding his own magical essence to the boy’s aura.

"Let’s go."

He looked toward the clearing at the training camp entrance, where a massive magic circle had been slowly taking shape not long ago.

The Hero Awakening Ceremony was about to begin.

...

Deep, resonant bell tolls rang out from the highest tower in the Royal Capital.

The sound spread throughout the entire city. Countless citizens stepped out of their homes, gazing piously and hopefully toward the Royal Palace and the direction of the Hero Candidate Training Camp.

On the palace terrace erected near the camp, nobles gradually filled the seats, looking toward the awakening circle with anticipation and hopeful smiles.

"It’s finally starting! Who do you think will awaken as the Hero this time?"

In the center of the terrace sat a small, luxurious gambling table. Clearly, these nobles were not just here to observe the ceremony; they had brought along some entertainment.

—Gambling!

Duke Clyde, who spoke first, said: "The lowest odds are on the candidate Dane. Though still young, he truly has the best prospects of becoming the real Hero. One to one point five. Heh, I’m sure you Dukes have no interest in such small stakes, so why don't I put down... one hundred Gold Kur coins?"

"Duke Clyde, that’s a bit ungentlemanly of you. Who wouldn't want to bet on Dane? Everyone knows he has a seventy or eighty percent chance of becoming the Hero!!!"

A Marquess complained, and other nobles nodded in agreement, clearly also wanting to bet on Dane.

"Do not worry, everyone. Today’s betting pool is being managed by the Rot Chamber of Commerce, the largest in the Kingdom. Even if everyone bets on Dane, the Chamber will have no objections..."

Clyde was clearly an old hand at gambling. He smiled and explained, then looked to the other side of the terrace: "Besides, it is not just us nobles here. I imagine the gentlemen from the Holy Cathedral have different views."

A priest in white sacred robes smiled and nodded. After a moment of thought, he spoke: "The Holy Cathedral believes the Goddess does not merely cast her gaze upon the excellent; the purity of the heart is the true core element... I am willing to place a small blessing on this child."

Following the priest’s finger, the nobles saw Jenny, who was huddled in a corner eating.

"Although Jenny is not good at expressing herself, I can see that her heart is very brave and kind, and she herself is very hardworking... Three hundred Gold Kur coins. It is a fitting affirmation."

Jenny’s odds were one to three, which indeed showed great potential.

The priest took out a bag of gold coins, finally enlivening the atmosphere.

Other nobles and factions no longer hesitated and began to discuss among themselves. Finally, they unanimously agreed that aside from Dane, only Jenny and a few other older candidates had any real chance.

Despite the priest’s evaluation, most people’s views remained unchanged, convinced that Dane Blane would be the one to awaken as the Hero.

"Dane has it in the bag? Not necessarily."

Just then, a discordant voice emerged from the crowd.

The muffled, gruff voice was filled with thick disdain as it reached everyone’s ears.

The expressions of the crowd turned strange at once. They looked in unison at the last Duke to arrive, Duke Moss.

It was he who had just uttered those words.

Sensing what Moss was about to say, everyone looked at each other. Finally, Duke Clyde curiously opened the floor:

"Duke Moss, could it be that you have a different opinion?"

"Needless to say," Duke Moss patted his massive belly, pointing at Tank, his own son among the candidates, with an expression of utter certainty.

"Can’t you all see it?" Moss lifted his head, filled with pride.

"My son, Tank, has the makings of a Hero."