The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 469: Volume 10: Thunderous Movements and Winds Rising, - 4: Dark Lord

Chapter 469: Volume 10: Thunderous Movements and Winds Rising, Chapter 4: Dark Lord

The room was void of any light, and the purplish-black velvet curtains tightly covered the window lattices, concealing the room completely. The smooth fallen angel statue hung suspended in the center of the room, with threads passing through the feathers beneath its ribs, giving it the appearance of being real. The face of the angel was filled with expressions of struggle, pain, and bewilderment as if being burned in purgatory. Yet, the faint golden hue in those eyes seemed to speak of pursuit and longing. What was the meaning behind it, and who could truly understand?

Sitting silently behind the large desk, Komer’s legs crossed and rested on the cabinet beneath the table. The room was completely silent, devoid of any sound as if everything was in a deep slumber. Only Komer’s dark, lustrous eyes flickered in the room, casting unpredictable glimpses of strange light.

With a gentle release, the jade bead in his hand described a parabola as it glided through the air, lightly flying around the room. After several spins, it finally struck the upright toe of the fallen angel statue hanging in the center of the room. The crisp impact produced an echo that resonated faintly around the room, as if waiting for something. Komer caught the jade bead that returned to flight, his gaze thoughtful as he turned his attention back to his hand.

"Impressive skill. The Dark Lord’s mastery of the Sky Soaring Control Technique has reached perfection. I didn’t expect that aside from his surprising and delightful magic ability, even his martial skills have reached the martial arts stage and are probing the gates of Martial Dao. Perhaps the barrier between magic and martial arts might indeed see a groundbreaking breakthrough at the Dark Lord’s hands."

The initially vague voice gradually became clear, its complimentary words delivered in a remarkably flat tone, revealing no sure indication of whether the sentiments expressed were sincere.

"Enough, Xerob, the Great Dark Envoy. I’d advise you to use the title ’Dark Lord’ sparingly, or better yet, not at all in reference to me. I have already declared that I have absolutely no connection with your so-called Dark Lord." Komer knew that every conversation inevitably circled back to this issue, which would be entangled for quite some time before it would rest.

"Dark Lord, are you truly not reconsidering our proposal?" The low voice seemed to emanate from deep underground. It was at this moment you would realize a man cloaked entirely in black monk’s attire standing in the corner’s shadow—if not for his eyes, his figure would be difficult to discern.

"Great Dark Envoy Xerob, haven’t I told you before? I may not be a devout follower of the Church of Light, but I am likewise not a devotee of your Great Mysterium Sect, nor am I this so-called Dark Lord. Please refrain from addressing me with that inexplicable title, it brings me many unanticipated troubles."

Komer slightly furrowed his brow, his tone flat. While it seemed he was stating his stance to the other party, his manner was surprisingly gentle, akin to patient guidance.

"Dark Lord, I really cannot comprehend what you are hesitating for or waiting on. Do you truly find these superficial and laughable earthly things worth your attachment? Wealth? Women? Or is it power?"

The man hidden in darkness spoke as if his words rose from the depths of the earth, always with a hint of chill and elusiveness.

"There’s no need for you to deny anything—my spiritual perception has already revealed everything to me. Some things cannot be faked or concealed. Perhaps others cannot be sure, but Xerob is not like others. The spiritual sense emanating from the Dark Sacred Source cannot err. Sir, you are the Dark Lord we have long awaited, beyond any doubt. Please don’t insult my perceptive abilities and don’t shirk the responsibilities and duties you ought to shoulder. Our church members of the Great Mysterium Sect have waited for this day for hundreds of years."

Seeing the other’s resolute and persistent gaze, Komer let out a silent sigh in his heart. Ever since the Great Mysterium Devotees set foot in Caucasus, there had been no peace in his mind. Merely upon their first meeting, they had determined his identity, and Komer couldn’t fathom how they possessed such keen intuition. Could the traces and aura left by Kennifer III on him truly be so profound?

"Great Dark Envoy Xerob, first of all, I must remind you that whether or not I am attached to anything is my own business. It’s true I know Dark Magic, nothing more. However, that doesn’t mean I must walk the same path as your Great Mysterium Sect. Mages who practice the Dark Heavenly Path are dime a dozen; does that mean they all share a connection with your so-called Dark Inheritance? That is somewhat absurd. I don’t understand these ethereal matters you mention, nor do I wish to. They are your own concerns. The Great Mysterium Sect has its path, which doesn’t need my instruction, and I prefer my current life. Be it power, women, or wealth, desiring these is human nature, and renouncing emotions and nature may not be necessary for cultivating the Dark Heavenly Path. As long as one tiny flame of clarity remains unfazed in the soul, that is sufficient."

"It’s most regrettable that the Dark Lord speaks so. Our pursuit as members of the Great Mysterium Sect is not as simple as the Dark Lord imagines. I believe if you truly integrate yourself into our Sect, you will discover that everything you’ve experienced thus far is but a drop in the ocean—a mere trifle, utterly insignificant. Of this, I am certain."

Xerob was not surprised by the man’s resolute attitude, knowing that someone who could inherit the Dark Holy Church’s glorious mission was no ordinary person. If one could so easily change their convictions, it would only suggest a problem with their spiritual sense.

Initially, his visit had been a casual one, prompted by the need to probe into the newly developed land of Caucasus but it turned into a revelation that sent shockwaves through the entire church hierarchy. The hereditary successor of the Holy Teaching, who had been awaited for centuries, turned out to be the lord of this remote and barren land. The surprise nearly overwhelmed Xerob with excitement, to the point of wanting to let out a triumphant howl to the heavens.

However, to confirm the accuracy of his perception and judgment, he used the dark spirit transmission to summon the Great Mage King from the church to verify the man’s identity. A joint appraisal by the two finally confirmed it.

But it was clear that this inheritor of the Dark Holy Church was unaware of his identity, thinking himself to be merely a Dark Mage. Xerob did not know how the previous Dark Lord of the Holy Teaching had passed on his memory and the essence of the sacred source to the man, but there was absolutely no mistake about the sacred essence that the man possessed.

Such a dark origin stemming from Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, was fundamentally impossible to falsify or replicate. Anyone from the Dark Lineage could sense it if they paid attention, but this man seemed entirely ignorant of the Dark Holy Church’s inheritance and history. His interest lay only in magic skills, a superficial matter, and he showed no sensitivity to the deeper essence of the origin. Even discussing such issues, he would adopt an expression as if they were nothing but nonsensical chit-chat, which deeply frustrated Xerob.

However, these trivial matters did not affect Xerob’s mood; that he had finally found the elusive Dark Lord in the vast world was satisfaction enough. This lord’s continued objections and behaviors only intensified Xerob’s conviction that after centuries of decline, the enterprise of the Dark Holy Church was witnessing the dawn of a new beginning.

From a prodigal son to a territory lord, from a frail youth to a mage who wielded his power with ease—all within a single year, transforming Caucasus from an infertile land into a thriving and vibrant territory. This ample proof of the young man’s extraordinariness was undeniable.

Xerob employed various methods to gather all the information about the Caucasus Lord, now confirmed to be the Dark Lord candidate. From what he learned, the man indeed had remarkable abilities beyond the magic power inherited from the Dark Lineage. What moved Xerob even more was his exceptional adaptability and leadership skills, precisely what the Great Mysterium Sect needed at the moment.

The Church of Light had not become the most influential and powerful sect on the Continent because of the deep devotion the masses had to their god, nor because their mana was superior to others. It was because they had been led by several astute and visionary popes who, over successive tenures, had transformed the Church of Light from an ordinary sect into a formidable and untouchable major sect. They gradually monopolized the Continent’s populace’s religious beliefs, which was largely due to the stewardship of these successive popes.

For the Great Mysterium Sect to achieve revival, a pioneering leader was needed to inherit and carry forward the legacy. Besides the necessary Dark Sacred Source and magic ability, it was imperative that the leading Dark Lord possess a high level of leadership artistry. And this Lord seemed to meet almost all the criteria. Was this not a gift from Hades, the god of darkness, bestowing upon the Great Mysterium Sect the task of reviving and bearing the inheritance of the Dark Heavenly Path?

Although the Dark Lord was currently unwilling to accept this reality, or rather did not believe in it at all, Xerob was not worried. The Dark Origin within him made any change inevitable; he would eventually come to understand this. Centuries had already passed; patience he had in abundance, and he would eventually make the man come to terms with this inescapable truth.

"Is that so? Maybe my experience isn’t extensive enough to grasp such profound concepts. You have your persistence, and I have my pursuits. Shall we agree to disagree?" Komer suggested with a toothy grin, seemingly very reasonable.

"Dark Lord, our Great Mysterium Sect never forces anyone to accept anything. However, we have a responsibility to enlighten people about the many unknowns of this world. The right to interpret the world’s mysteries and the evolution of the Magic Heaven isn’t monopolized by any one religion or sect. No one can do that, and perspectives on the world can differ immensely based on one’s environment and angle. Our Great Mysterium Sect only aims to make the understanding of these matters richer and more complete. Well, if the Dark Lord has not yet grasped this, Xerob will not insist unduly. I am confident that one day, the Dark Lord will appreciate all that we have done."

Xerob was aware that haste makes waste; sometimes, yielding is actually advancing, and he was well aware of this. "Let’s change the subject then. Since the Church of Light can preach and spread their teaching in Caucasus, I trust you as a Lord wouldn’t reject the Great Mysterium Sect from a thousand miles away. So why can’t you tolerate the Great Mysterium Sect opening its pulpit and preaching here?"