Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 354: Tarnished Prince

"We had presumed you would gradually grasp our world, but since you have inquired, we shall enlighten you about the goliaths." The Chief Alchemist commenced, his voice resonating deeply as he prepared to unveil an ancient tale of Pathan.

"The goliaths constituted less than two percent of our entire race's population, reaching a staggering peak of over 5.7 billion individuals. Yet, predating us were these goliaths, among the very first beings to tread this world. They were a race of colossal stature, veritable giants, standing fifteen to twenty feet tall, and occasionally even more." the Chief Alchemist elaborated.

"They were unparalleled masters of the bow, the very progenitors of archery, their skill unmatched even as other Pathan races began to adopt the bow. Then, on one momentous day, something descended from their queen. She may have deemed it insignificant, perhaps akin to waste, but it turned out to be a child—a minuscule, unrecognizable form."

Godfrey's brow furrowed.

The Chief Alchemist continued, "It appeared to be a fetus, incompletely formed. However, this was no mere fetus; it was a genuine infant. Not even severe malnourishment could account for this child's state. To compound matters, his vision was severely impaired."

Godfrey closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping him.

"That was the genesis of Ballista's saga, the prince marred from birth, disfavored from his very inception. Small and frail, he endured and grew in a harsh environment. He was a goliath born stunted, an adverse anomaly. While the arrows of his kin soared towards the heavens, he could not even draw a bowstring. He was even unable to witness the awe-inspiring sight of his father felling a dragon with a single arrow, due to his deficient eyesight. Ultimately, he was cast aside, the prince born without hope, branded as tarnished."

The instant the Chief Alchemist concluded his pause, they all spoke in unison, picking up where he left off. "We perceived no potential within him, yet his sheer tenacity proved us mistaken. Thus, when the selection process for the Royal Apostles commenced, he was chosen. However, instead of receiving aid, the mana tree's sap bestowed upon him the gift of invisibility, simultaneously obliterating the remnants of his sight, rendering him entirely blind. While others expanded in size, becoming prodigious reservoirs of mana connected to us, he diminished in mass until his bones protruded."

"We concluded that the goliaths' assessment was accurate, and thus assigned him the role of training our archers." They paused, then resumed their narrative.

"You may judge us, but while compassion is valuable, the destiny of Pathani rested upon the shoulders of ten individuals, the future of billions, not merely one. We were compelled to employ what proved effective, and since his archery skills were commendable, entrusting him with the training of the land's finest was the highest honor a tarnished soul could receive."

"Yet, Ballista refused to yield. His desire to stand before the unknown king surpassed that of any knight at the time. He yearned to demonstrate that even a tarnished individual could triumph against overwhelming odds, and so he trained with the ferocity of a relentless beast. His unwavering dedication captured our attention once more, and subsequently, so did his burgeoning strength. We permitted him to participate in the selection process for the noble knights, and he emerged victorious. However, the entity we integrated with him was not a chimera, but a primal. We harbored fears of failure, but the Orc Esper possessed one of the finest innate abilities for a primal, one that would prove exceedingly advantageous for an army."

The Chief Alchemist interlaced his fingers. "He is the most fiercely competitive among them all. His driven spirit has ignited a desire for growth within the others."

Godfrey recollected how Mountain had suddenly felt the urge to prove himself against Ballista shortly after summoning the second knight.

A flicker crossed his eyes.

"The bladed crown must have symbolized Ballista's tarnished nature. However, a transformation has occurred; his helmet is now distinct, and he possesses an incarnation of himself as a goliath," Godfrey stated.

The Chief Alchemist remained silent for a moment. "Based on what we have shared, you already understand that this alteration was not our doing. This development is astonishing, yet we have observed changes that were not initiated by us. The established order has shifted. To better illustrate, the Golden Order has been reshaped into a perfectly hierarchical system. This transformation is the work of the mana tree. It has optimized the potential of the noble knights in an ascending sequence, structured in a manner that benefits you, the summoner, while consolidating us into a system. The mana tree operates by utilizing the principles of mana, life, and fate. The presence of the unknown king serves as proof of this, and it has actualized the future trajectory of the noble knights we selected."

"There are, however, consequences. Firstly, the knights are now inextricably fused with their armor. Secondly, due to this reorganized order, knights like Mountain are restricted to tiers significantly weaker than their ultimate potential."

The Chief Alchemist leaned back. "Nevertheless, with the mana tree's work on the order, once fully restored, it will achieve a glory a hundredfold greater than our previous zenith. This is undeniably beneficial for us, provided you endure long enough to assemble all the noble knights."

"The perk of being a Chosen One, isn't it?" Godfrey muttered to himself. It seemed the mana tree had bestowed Ballista with an incarnation, a true form of what he was meant to be. With that astonishing 3.0 boost, Ballista was now surpassing anything within his tier.

Come to think of it, hadn't the alchemist mentioned that the goliaths were capable of shooting down dragons? In that light, a 3.0 multiplier didn't seem so unbelievable anymore.

Setting that aside for a moment, they had also spoken of two processes: the Royal Apostles and the Noble Knights. The Royal Apostles were clearly the alchemists' aides and protectors, yet the king himself lacked any bodyguards.

"King's Guards" didn't sound too bad. However, that was a matter to be considered another day, merely a fleeting thought that crossed his mind.

Godfrey returned to his throne room, settling himself upon the throne. The Symbiosis skill conferred a significant surge in power, thanks to Ballista's contribution. He had ascended to 40.0, reaching the zenith of the Titled God Tier. This meant his probability of surviving the impending Ruination had climbed to a substantial 75%.

Furthermore, Isolde had informed him that once her dragons hatched and commenced their hunts, her tier points would skyrocket. Her domain had transformed into a living world, from which she would reap all the rewards. Indeed, this newfound strength would undoubtedly keep him a step ahead of her.

It was the perfect moment to test his strength, and Ballista's, within a dungeon. He felt a sense of security wash over him, akin to a person who had just received a life-changing fortune and felt utterly carefree.

***

An imposing, elegant woman entered a small, dimly lit chamber and took a seat at a circular table. A man sat across from her.

"I understand this is an assembly for Titled Gods who prefer independence from guilds and authorities. Why not align with me? Your freedom will be absolutely guaranteed," the woman proposed.

"Bold words. And who might you be? Another Titled God who believes herself to be a ruler-class deity, seeking subordinate gods to command?" the man retorted with a scowl.

The woman arched an eyebrow. "I am Ania Bane, the matriarch of the most formidable family in Manhattan and across this entire region. I arrive bearing personal vendettas, which will prove mutually beneficial."

She slid two photographs across the table.

One depicted Isaac, marked with a target symbol. The other showed Godfrey, with a staggering sum of one billion inscribed above his likeness.

"You cannot be serious," the man exclaimed upon seeing Godfrey's image.

"You fear a man whose greatest accomplishment is defeating a paragon? Based on current assessments, the gate in Beijing is not even among the fifty most perilous dungeons. And you are a collective of Titled Gods who have just vanquished a formidable Titled God within a green gate dungeon. Who, then, is truly stronger?"