Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights Chapter 367 An Absolute

Godfrey's eyes narrowed, asking, "An Absolute?" He recognized the term 'Monarchs', creatures with dominion over their environments, revered by other beings, but 'Absolutes' was an unfamiliar word, suggesting something ancient and fundamental.

Did these beings, existing from the very beginning of life, imply they were present when life first sparked into existence?

"The advent of mana accelerated its development, and it departed from the Origin Sun. Though it may have resided as an embryo for countless ages, its physical form and consciousness were mere years old when it arrived," Solstice elaborated. He tilted his head upwards, gazing at the colossal beast depicted in the enormous, giant-worthy mural.

Even with his present stature, he remained diminutive in comparison to the imagery etched into the wall.

"When mana first emerged, profound transformations occurred. Initially, our beasts acquired peculiar runes bestowing various powers. However, the day a fiery beam lanced down from the sun, I was nearly blinded. It was the Origin Sun reacting to the mana, transforming a vast expanse of our continent into what we termed the Scorched Lands."

Solstice crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful.

"It descended several years later, diminished without the sun's warmth but arrogant enough to believe it could assert dominance. We, conversely, were prepared, honing our blades and refining our skills alongside other dungeon dwellers." He let out a soft grunt.

"Ultimately, we vanquished it. The creature that had caused the demise of hundreds of millions even before setting foot on our world. A significant number of my brethren perished, yet our swords struck true, felling it at last."

As Solstice spoke, Godfrey perused the accompanying text, which recounted a similar narrative, albeit with less clarity.

"I've always possessed unwavering self-assurance, having subdued numerous beasts in their own territories even before mana's arrival, and we boast powerful creatures. Yet, witnessing my comrades reduced to nothingness blurred my vision. Pain was an alien sensation to me; I never formed close bonds with other noble knights. I eschewed a personal contingent, preferring self-reliance. I was provided with standard troops for dungeon clearing, which I managed minimally. Still, every time I close my eyes, I see one of them pushing me aside, only to be consumed by flames in my place."

A brief silence followed Solstice's recollection.

"And for the first time in my existence, my eyes welled up, not for myself, but for another. A profound hatred and anger born from concern for someone else."

Solstice gestured towards a smaller depiction where a single knight stood amidst a sea of fallen foes; some areas were merely scorched earth, the knights within reduced to ash.

"My troops, annihilated for a commander who never once showed them regard," Solstice declared, his voice hushed. He stood there, radiating an imposing majesty, yet his words revealed a depth of character beneath the formidable armor.

"What is honor? You are not selfish; you simply haven't encountered someone who could break down your defenses. Truly, I ponder what a soul like yours could achieve once he finds honor in knighthood itself, rather than merely pursuing its accolades," Solstice recited, quoting another.

"He imparted those words to me."

"Who?" Godfrey inquired.

"The one whose name cannot be uttered. Even before the era of the false hearts, he was hailed as the perfect knight. He was enigmatic, yet the finest among us. Despite that, I resented him for his superiority," Solstice responded with composure.

"Then why is he consistently labeled a Taboo by the alchemists?"

Solstice regarded his king, considered for a moment, and then chose to disclose the truth. "Because one day, the mana tree decreed that Pathan required another Chosen. It desired a being who was both knight and alchemist. That decree transformed the perfect knight into the mad one."

Turning back to the mural, Solstice continued, "He became more monstrous than any denizen of a dungeon. The Apostles serve as a shield, protecting the Alchemists, whose extraordinary abilities allow them to access knowledge across myriad worlds and perceive the secrets of fate, life, death, mana, and concepts far beyond our comprehension. They perpetually teeter on the precipice of insanity."

"I comprehend now," Godfrey nodded slowly, realization dawning. "But why is he a Taboo?"

"Because with every utterance of his name, his seal weakens," Solstice replied.

'The mana tree did not permit such an entity to fade into peace, instead opting to house it within my fortress. It certainly possesses the aura of a formidable knight, yet even the alchemists maintain their distance. They are as enigmatic as they come; who can truly fathom the capabilities of this knight?'

Godfrey moved towards another wall. His knights had shown improvement, but Paragon cores and two Progenitor cores remained available.

Upon his return to the throne room, he summoned Dirge and Lysander. Dirge utilized a Progenitor core, advancing to level 28.9, while Lysander absorbed the Paragon cores and the remaining Progenitor core, ultimately reaching level 29.2.

Both had now attained Progenitor status!

Consequently, his third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth knights were now all summons of at least Progenitor Tier.If Isolde were to be included, considering her dragons would have started hatching, his forces would be quite formidable. Beyond that, his troop count neared one hundred thousand, not counting the units under his summons. While seated quietly upon his throne, Godfrey suddenly had a thought. 'It just struck me. The Alchemists referred to both Isolde and myself as Earth's Chosen Ones. Are we the only ones? What about Percival? Is he considered a Chosen, a Favoured, or perhaps a Fortunate One? It's quite perplexing; I can't even ascertain his specific designation.' Godfrey rested his chin on his hand. 'I'm certain he's not an ordinary individual. Now that I consider it, it almost seems as though the mana tree specifically chose all my companions, or… was it our predetermined status that brought us all together in this very spot from the outset?' Godfrey pondered the Alchemists, the distinguished knights, the regular knights of the Golden Order, and even the dragons they had confronted. In some manner, their destinies were intertwined, drawing them together, whether as comrades or adversaries. 'Percival could possibly be a Favoured One. Or perhaps he carries a unique mission, much like Isolde and I. It's difficult to say for sure. It would certainly be convenient if he were present in Paradise by the time I arrive.'