Others Summon Dragons, I Summon Legendary Knights

Chapter 454: Grave Of The Apostles

"Welcome back. You survived." The Chief Alchemist said, and Godfrey could feel the subtle relief and gladness in his tone.

A little smile graced his lips as he sat down. Godfrey leaned forward, interlocking his fingers. "I am back. You knew the dungeon wasn’t going to be easy."

"None of them are." All the Alchemists responded with a single accord. Then the Chief Alchemist continued, "We’ve done a brief count, and at least eight hundred thousand people in your world are already dead in less than two weeks since the Ruination began."

Godfrey squinted. "A painful number indeed. The unfortunate thing is I can’t save everyone, and even if I do, not everyone will appreciate it." He paused, then sighed.

"... Even if they don’t, at least Earth will live on with its civilization."

"Will you face the next?" The Chief Alchemist probed.

Godfrey responded with a nod. "Definitely. I just don’t know when the gate will open, I only know of the plague that will come."

He lowered his head, staring at the hardwood. "I don’t think people infected with the plague can be healed. There were things like centipedes moving underneath their skins." His eyes narrowed in sheer horror of what he witnessed in that vision.

"I just know the boss of that dungeon has to be killed before then, or whatever will happen after that will be catastrophic. Hopefully, the Japanese government sees a reason to call us. If they don’t, we’ll still make sure the dungeon is closed. Unfortunately, we might have to curtail damages that have sprung up in our absence."

"My King..." The Chief Alchemist lifted his head slightly, revealing his beard. "... You do know this dungeon must be taken with care, or you might not return in one piece."

"A piece will always be taken, I only have to ensure it’s the lowest possible. Trust me, I hate weakness, but it gives me something to pursue, it keeps me at the edge. I speak boldly, I know that."

Godfrey lowered his head until his hands almost covered his eyes. "I’m afraid, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do it regardless. While looking bold, of course."

The Chief Alchemist chuckled at that last line. "Then I guess we should continue from where we stopped."

"Gladly."

"Well then... What do you want to know?"

"I have the Black Order Knights now, and I also have this..." Godfrey revealed five diamond cores and sent them telekinetically to the Alchemists that had not received theirs. "All I need is one more, and Abaddon’s door will be unsealed. How will the others see him?"

"They will follow their King’s decision without a shred of doubt."

"But I can make mistakes." Godfrey frowned.

"That will be your burden to bear, not theirs. If you wish to restore the order to the height of its power, then you have to restore the old knights. We can also take the power of which we gave to them and give it to another. That is the most dishonourable and the worst end for a knight, but at your command, it shall be done."

"It sounds like my word is no different from that of a god."

"You are one to this order, the Unknown King is a being of unfathomable strength, skill, and power. He stands at the apex of all beings, and his word is beyond law. It is the way of life. These people either abandoned their old life or were given hope, thus leaving their wounded state to serve. They swore a binding oath, some kept it, some broke it, but those who have kept or returned to it, see the Unknown King, see you, as a god." The Chief Alchemist entwined his fingers like Godfrey, then leaned forward.

"You seem to not have understood the full weight of this. When they met you weak, all they saw was an opportunity to restore you to their final throne. Their memories have also been altered, such that no knight knows his or her name. All they know is that which you have given them. It fills the holes, making it seem that has always been their name. It’s part of the system created by the mana tree."

After a slow exhale, the Chief Alchemist continued. "You don’t have to feel bad, My King. You bear the burden, you bear centuries-old men and women with failures on your back. No side got away free. Power comes with a price, sometimes it’s hard to see until the day comes."

"I’ve made peace with all that comes with all I have. But what was the cost for you? Why did you let Apollyon continuously drift? Why not send the Apostles? You hail them as the best of the best, even better than the generals." Godfrey’s eyes almost bore holes through the Chief Alchemist’s hood.

"It meant a lot when the mana tree decided to make us the mana system of the world. It usually uses concepts, like the summoning system of Earth that can’t be seen, or giving spirit to a world. Those were the main two, but when it came to our world, it made men something that weren’t gods. We’re almost concepts, pillars of a world moving in flesh and bones."

"Then—"

"My King..." The Chief Alchemist lifted up one hand, his tone soft, forcing Godfrey to stop talking.

The Alchemist brought down his hood, revealing the face of an old, handsome man. His beard was an anchor beard that fell from his chin down, while the sides of his cheeks were clean.

His hair was gray and white, and his irises had a bright golden shade. He snapped his fingers, and Godfrey found himself and the Chief Alchemist standing in a dark hall with rough rocky walls.

There was a short, wide staircase that descended into the main hall, which was covered with water. What caught Godfrey’s attention more than the background were the golden trees glowing with bright golden light.

There were four of them. Four massive golden trees with massive branches. It almost seemed as if these trees were made of golden strands of light.

"Where am I?"

The Chief Alchemist turned his head to Godfrey. "The grave of the Apostles. Each tree was once an Apostle like me."

Godfrey’s eyes went wide.