The Caravan was back on track, making good time. Vulcanos' performance, though unexpectedly ferocious, had cleared their path at record speed. If nothing unforeseen happened, they would arrive at the border before nightfall.
Meanwhile, Zeke was inside the carriage looking after the unconscious Chimeroi. It had been a couple of hours since the fight, and Akasha's words were already proving true. After the initial weakness from Blood Boil subsided, Vulcanos was healing at a discernible rate. Wounds that would take regular humans weeks to recover were closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Zeke couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "This is just plain scary," he mumbled as the unconscious Chimeroi relaxed his furrowed brows, evidently no longer in pain.
[Notice]
Host has the ability to recover much faster than this.
"It's not the same," Zeke said. "The Blood affinity is among the best when it comes to self-healing. I don't think anything but Life is superior in that regard. But Vulcanos? He has innate Fire Magic alongside a freakishly strong body. He shouldn't be able to heal this fast on top of that."
[Notice]
It's a different power system with different strengths and weaknesses.
Of course, Zeke was aware of that, but after this recent test, he was starting to believe that something didn't add up. "Give me the numbers again."
[Answer]
Subject 'Vulcanos' exhibits a Mana density of 47.4 particles per unit, an increase of 2.1, or 4.6%.
Zeke shook his head in disbelief. "Vulcanos increased the overall Mana density of his body by over 4.5% in just one fight. Don't you see what that implies? He could double his strength in a little over 20 fights. Double. His. Strength! For a human Mage, achieving the same progress would take years, decades even."
[Answer]
Host is correct, though it is too early to say if this is a repeatable accomplishment. It would be prudent to consider the potential for diminishing returns. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that this growth was attained with substantial risk. The prospect of the subject surviving 20 or more battles of comparable magnitude is subject to considerable doubt.
Zeke waved off the objection. "Even if the diminishing returns are substantial, it wouldn't nullify my argument. We're not discussing marginal growth here, but an increase of over a hundredfold. As for the risks? They could be greatly mitigated by ensuring the presence of a proficient healer and establishing a specialized reconnaissance team. Convince me otherwise."
Akasha remained silent for an uncharacteristically long time before responding.
[Answer]
Host is correct. The growth we have observed in subject Vulcanos is abnormal. However, I do not understand why Host is troubled by this. Shouldn't this discovery be a good thing?
Zeke smiled wryly. He was well aware that he should have been elated by this. After all, he commanded the largest force of Chimeroi on the continent and possessed the sole Technique capable of such rapid growth. Yet, instead of joy, he felt a creeping sense of dread, as though he had stumbled upon something he shouldn't have.
"Don't you think it is strange…" he started slowly, giving voice to the pit in his stomach. "that we are not ruled by the Chimeroi if they can achieve such growth?"
[Answer]
According to historical records, the Chimeroi are depicted as a fragmented people, lacking unity, and consequently, incapable of mounting a unified opposition against the humans inhabiting the continent.
Zeke scoffed. "And that doesn't seem odd to you? Tell me, Akasha… Have the humans been united once during the last millennia?" the Spirit remained silent, thereby giving Zeke the answer he expected. "There is something we are missing; I am sure of it. Even if it is not the Chimeroi, shouldn't we be ruled by one of the Ancient races at least? The Titans? Phoenixes? The Dragons? According to Khai'Zhar, they have even better Techniques than this."
Zeke shook his head, letting out a defeated sigh. "I've always assumed that the other races had a slower growth rate and, therefore, couldn't match the humans in numbers. However, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. There must be another reason why we have gone unchallenged for so long."
Akasha remained silent, either processing his statement or simply unable to come up with an answer. However, a new voice interjected, joining the conversation.
"You are mistaken, whelp," Khai'Zar said in his rumbling voice. "Humans are not a race of numbers. Oh no. Yours is very much a race of extremes."
"What do you mean?" Zeke asked, genuinely curious to hear the Dragon's opinion on the topic.
The voice sighed in his mind. "It is not something I particularly like to discuss," Khai'Zar said, the reluctance palpable with every word. "But I guess you'll never know unless I teach you."
Zeke leaned forward in his seat, eagerly anticipating the Dragon's next words.
"You've learned about the Progenitors? The ancestors of the Chimeroi?" The Dragon asked.
Zeke nodded. He had heard about their existence during his stay in Tradespire. Apparently, each of them was comparable in strength to an Exarch Level Mage. Snow's father, who they were on their way to meet, was such a figure.
"What you don't know is that the Ancient Races also have Progenitors," Khai'Zhar explained, the reverence clear in his voice. "The Scaled Devourer, of the Dragons, The Eternal Flame of the Phoenixes, and the Allfather of the Titans."
Zeke listened with wrapped attention as Khai'Zhar spoke for the first time about the inner workings of the Ancient Races.
"You should have seen them..." the Dragon's voice resonated with longing. "The Scaled Devourer could eclipse the sun for miles with a mere flap of his wings. The Eternal Flame could ensnare a thousand creatures with nothing but a smile; as for the Allfather... It would have taken him no more than a single leap to reach Tradespire from here."
Zeke's jaw dropped. A single leap spanning from here to Tradespire? The sheer scale of the Allfather was staggering. He had heard of Titans continuously growing throughout their lifetimes, but this revelation still stretched the bounds of his imagination. However, this was not the part his mind latched onto.
"Seen them?" he asked in disbelief. "Did something happen to them?"
The Dragon sighed. "Yes. They all died."
Zeke's brow furrowed. Who could have killed such formidable creatues? Did the humans, despite their disunity, rally together in the face of such overwhelming force?
A chuckle interrupted his musings. "Rally? Those bunch of worms? Don't be ridiculous."
"What do you mean?" Zeke asked.
"Let me be clear, whelp," the Dragon said in a grave tone. "A single attack from any of the Progenitors would have eradicated any of your countries. Do you really think it would have mattered if they banded together?"
"Then what?"
The Dragon wavered for an instant before revealing the truth. "Isn't it obvious? They were killed by a single, powerful being."
Zeke's mind blanked momentarily, unable to comprehend those words. Killed by a single being? Three on one? "…by a human?" he stammered, remembering the Dragon's earlier words.
Khai'Zar remained silent for a moment but still answered eventually, "I wouldn't call him human, exactly. Not anymore."
"You know him, then?" Zeke asked.
"All Dragons know him. We call him the Warden," the Dragon chuckled, though the humor eluded Zeke's understanding. "However, he once bore a different title." The Dragon paused, then uttered the very word Zeke had already anticipated. "Monarch."
Many thoughts flitted through Zeke's mind as he tried to make sense of what he'd just learned. The title of Monarch was well-known on the continent. It was the next stage of progression after the Exarch level. However, given the story he'd just heard, there had to be more to it than that.
"How did the Warden defeat the Progenitors?" Zeke asked tentatively. He was well aware that the Dragon was likely not keen on discussing this subject.
As expected, the Dragon snorted discontentedly. "It wasn't even a fight. No being, no matter how strong, can stand up against a God."
Zeke's brows shot up. "A God? Like the one the cults worship?"
"Forget it, whelp. You wouldn't understand it."
Zeke really, really wanted to learn more. Yet, he was well aware that the Dragon wouldn't budge once it had made up its mind. Shifting tactics, he opted for a different line of inquiry, veering towards an unrelated topic instead. "So, you've conversed with him?"
"Many times," the Dragon said. "He always seemed to have a particular interest in me. Growing up, I thought it was a sign that I was destined for greatness, given his… nature. How foolish I was..." The Dragon said with a hollow laugh.
Its mood seemed to turn for the worse, causing Zeke to blurt out the first question that came to his mind. "What is his nature?"
"Oh, did I forget to mention it?" the Dragon grumbled. "He's the Monarch of Time — Master of the present, past and future."
Zeke's mind almost short-circuited at the implications of those words. In Tradespire, he had seen an Exarch-level Mage turn back the flow of time by a few seconds. Yet the Dragon had called him a worm just then. What did that say about the capabilities of the Time Monarch, who could single-handedly defeat all three progenitors of the Ancient Races?
"Does he know the future, then?"
"Most certainly," Khai'Zar grumbled.
Zeke frowned. The existance of such a being raised unsettling questions. If everything was already predetermined, didn't that render his actions meaningless? That was… a very unsettling thought. It made him feel as if he was nothing but a puppet in somebody else's play, and he despised that thought.
"Enough about that," the Dragon stated, breaking him out of his thoughts. "The point I was trying to make wasn't about the Warden, but about humans as a race." Zeke refocused on the Dragon's voice.
"I don't know if you are aware, but humans are the only species capable of evolving their Cores during advancement," the Dragon explained. "This surge in capabilities can make your strength explode exponentially. That is an advantage none of the other races have."
Zeke nodded. Any comparison between Chimeroi and Mages was solely based on combat results, not the state of their Cores. "I don't see how that invalidates my point, though. The improvements speed of a Chimeroi will outstrip any Mage by a factor of magnitudes."
"Didn't you listen?" Khai'zar said, exasperated. "Numbers mean nothing! Any Adult Dragon can easily defeat a dozen Arch Mages. Yet, a dozen regular Dragons will likely lose against a single Exarch."
Zeke paused his retort, opting instead to contemplate the implications of the Dragon's words. A vague realization began to dawn on him, and he found himself disliking the direction of his thoughts. "Do you mean to say that it would be impossible for Vulcanos to reach a level where he could stand toe to toe against such foes?"
The Dragon sighed heavily. "It's difficult to say. Vulcanos appears to be of mixed lineage, which complicates matters. However, Chimeroi are inherently bound by the circumstances of their birth, determining their future potential."
Zeke frowned. That didn't seem fair—
His thoughts were interrupted by an amused chuckle. "It is the same for humans, little whelp. Or did you forget that not all of your kind are born with a Perfect Affinity?"
Zeke felt a flush of embarrassment creep into his cheeks, too ashamed to utilize his magic to divert the blood flow. This only seemed to amplify the Dragon's laughter, ringing louder in the air. After a while, though, Khai'Zhar returned to a more sober mood.
"I don't intend to diminish your achievement, whelp," the Dragon's tone turned serious. "The Technique you've devised is undoubtedly a monumental feat. If wielded effectively, it could indeed raise armies. However, remember this: it's not soldiers who win wars, but generals."
Zeke lapsed into silence. He had always known that high-level Mages were the backbones of a country. However, this was the first time he realized that they might be even more important than that. If true, how strong was the Emperor of Arkanheim?
Despite being the only Exarch-level Mage fighting for his country, not a single one of his enemies dared challenge him. There had to be many Exarchs in the alliance, yet they didn't dare face him—even together? Was he that much stronger than the rest of them?
Observing the Dragon's silence on the matter, Zeke discerned that this realization was precisely what the Dragon had intended for him to reach. Yet, he didn't know if he should feel grateful or not. With each step he took, it felt as though his goal retreated by two.
Fortunately, Zeke wasn't left to wallow in his depressing thoughts as somebody called out to him. "Master! You have to see this," a voice sounded from outside.