"What terrifying willpower, to have made it this far." The previously cold and emotionless teal-haired youth now stood by Ann's side, his expression a mix of complex emotions—envy, jealousy, disbelief, all swirling together. His earlier indifference was completely gone.
"Enough talk. Since he's made it this far, he's earned the right to receive the blood of that esteemed lord. From now on, he'll be someone we look up to. Take good care of him; don't let anything go wrong," another voice advised.
"I know. Out of ten thousand people, it's rare to find one like him. From now on, whenever we see him, we'll have to address him as 'lord.'" The draconic youth's eyes briefly flashed with a hint of green as he looked at the boy who had surpassed all odds.
...
"Ugh!" Ann slowly opened his eyes, still groggy, and found himself being gently cleaned by a beautiful youth who didn't seem quite human. As his gaze lowered, he noticed the youth's pure white wings fluttering slightly behind him.
"An angel!" Ann, stark naked, froze in place, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Am I dead? Is this the legendary Kingdom of God?"
"You're not dead, young one. You've passed the trial and reached the end of the path. Congratulations, you've earned the right to become a Dragonborn warrior under His Highness Muria," the angelic youth replied with a gentle smile.
"His Highness Muria?" Ann's face showed confusion; this was the first time he had heard the name that would shape his destiny.
"Get some rest. Once you've recovered, it'll be time for the Dragonblood Bath," the angelic youth reminded the bewildered boy with a smile. "Oh, and by the way, the dragon blood you'll be bathing in comes directly from His Highness. You're very fortunate; many powerful beings can only dream of such an opportunity, yet it's fallen to you."
...
"Your Highness, why do you wish to recruit warriors from among the humans, and even go so far as to create a Dragonblood Pool? You don't need to go to such lengths," Terence, who had recently advanced to a legendary rank, spoke softly, his tone tinged with fear and confusion.
"Don't overthink it, Terence. I've recently come to a realization," Muria replied, smiling as he stood on a high platform, still clad in his armor. He had just personally captured a young Chromatic Dragon, and his mood was excellent.
"In this world, the dominant species is humanity. Since they've managed to secure their position, I shouldn't overlook their combat potential. So, I'm planning to tap into the potential of the humans under my command."
"But, Your Highness, the only advantage humans have is their sheer numbers. You don't need to rely on them for anything. Who can they beat at the same level? Goblins? Kobolds?" Terence couldn't help but show a hint of disdain on his face. Most species with any trace of noble blood could look down on humanity, whose starting point was so low.
"Humans may have many flaws, but their vast numbers, rapid reproduction, and the swift advancement of their gifted individuals are undeniable strengths. We can't ignore these advantages. As for their individual weakness, transforming them into Dragonborn is an excellent solution. Even if they're weak, their speed of advancement and sheer numbers can compensate for that flaw. If I use them like gold to exchange for strength, with legends opposing draconic souls, do you still think they won't suffice?" Muria asked with a smile. Even if a human's strength was mediocre, a legendary human could still hold their own against a dragon with a draconic soul—though there were some exceptionally powerful dragon species that were an exception.
"Terence, look—despite the rigorous trials I've set, humans still managed to push through to the end," Muria pointed at the screen before them, which showed Ann collapsing at the finish line, his body battered and bloodied under immense pressure. "You can't deny that humans have great potential, and their bodies and bloodlines are very easy to modify."
"But how can these people be worthy of receiving your blood?" Terence asked, deeply resentful. He had served Muria for years and had only received a single drop of Muria's essence blood, yet these humans were about to undergo a full Dragonblood baptism just by passing a willpower test.
"Terence, the so-called Dragonblood Pool is just a drop of my regular blood. It's nothing compared to the essence blood I gave you. My plan is to use this pool to baptize at least a hundred of the most outstanding human children, altering their very nature and elevating their bloodline."
"In no more than ten years, I'll ascend to the fourth tier of legend. At that point, the clan will allocate me a world," Muria continued, his gaze fixed on Terence. "Do you know how many giants there are in Synapse's standing army? Not even 300,000. We already rely heavily on local natives to maintain control over the eight worlds we govern. If I gain another world, there won't be enough giants to garrison it. That's why I need to form a powerful army in a short time. Who else could I choose besides humans?"
"I understand," Terence muttered, though he was still somewhat bitter. It would be impossible to form an army of over a million giants in just a few years, but humans, with their rapid reproduction and growth, could achieve that.
"And to ensure Synapse continues to thrive, it's not enough to just favor the giants and dragons. They are the most important parts, but not the entirety. There are also the nagas, elves, dwarves, halflings, and humans, among others. If I want them to contribute fully to Synapse, I need to provide them with clear paths for advancement. That will give them the motivation to work wholeheartedly," Muria explained.
...
"Congratulations on your advancement, Your Highness."
"Enough with the formalities, Cassio. You know what I'm really looking forward to," Muria said impatiently, his body crackling with thunder and flames, giving him a godlike appearance. After six years of relentless battle, he had finally broken through once again.
"Are you planning to return to the Titan Isles immediately?"
"Of course," Muria replied, his eyes showing eagerness.
"As you wish." Cassio's voice echoed in Muria's mind. "Please stand still. I will now lock onto your position and bring you back to the Titan territory."
"Didn't you say you couldn't teleport me back?" Muria raised an eyebrow. He had been planning to have Cassio provide him with spatial coordinates so he could return to the Titan Isles through a spatial rift, even if it meant some extra effort.
"That was before. Now, with your growing strength, my permissions have increased. I can bring you back directly."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Boom! Three breaths later, a massive black hole appeared before Muria, and a beam of seven-colored light shot out, enveloping him. A powerful force pulled him into the light.
...
"It's been too long!"
Muria took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar air of his homeland. The enormous mountains, trees, and the wild, pristine landscape were all just as he remembered. Exhaling, the air around him crackled with lightning, and a gust of wind whipped through the "small" courtyard.
"So, Cassio, where do I go to claim the world allocated to me?" Muria asked, turning to the nearly solidified elemental form of Cassio that had just materialized beside him, a smile on his face.
"I will now transport you to the World Dominion Hall," Cassio replied, ever so considerate.
"Young Titan! Welcome to the World Dominion Hall. Now, do you want a large world or a small one?" As soon as Muria stepped into the grand hall, he was greeted by a playful-looking Titan girl who appeared out of nowhere, smiling as she asked him.
"Of course, I want a large world," Muria answered without hesitation. Bigger was always better, after all.
"Sorry, we don't have any large worlds here. If you want one, you'll have to conquer it yourself after you become an Epic," the girl teased.
"Then why even ask?" Muria grumbled, his mouth twitching in frustration. "What do you have?"
"I have 1,762 small worlds and 117 medium worlds available. Young Titan, you can choose one," the Dominion Spirit's clear voice echoed through the vast hall.
"Then I'll take a medium world."
"Young Titan, if you choose a small world, I can provide you with all the details so you can pick exactly what you want. But if you choose a medium world, I'll have to assign one to you randomly."
"Random it is. I'll take a medium world," Muria said decisively. No matter how good a small world might be, it could never match the potential of even the weakest medium world.
"Alright!" The Dominion Spirit nodded, and a massive, rough stone axe flew from the depths of the hall into her hand. She handed it to Muria.
"What's this?" Muria asked, bewildered as he took the heavy stone axe.
"This is your token for the medium world you've been assigned. When you enter the world with this in hand, all the creatures there will obey your command."
"Wait a minute," Muria stared at the spirit girl. "Didn't you say it was random? You just handed this to me. Aren't there supposed to be some
kind of procedures, like a lottery or a spinning wheel?"
"What are you thinking? All the worlds conquered by the Titans but not yet utilized are under my management. Random assignment just means I pick one based on my mood. I randomly chose one for you. What's the problem?" the Dominion Spirit explained with a mischievous grin.
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