Treatise Of A Failed Knight

Ahh...

I understand it better now—why Zarius was so desperate for a Grade 6 Potion.

Why did he go through so much effort, even going as far as orchestrating a Civil War as well as a war between two kingdoms? If he could get that power that significantly improved his physique, it would certainly be worth it.

’But what did he also say? It can be removed through consuming a Potion that overwrites the prior special effects, or when you increase in Rank...’

That is surely a sad thing.

So if I were to consume a Grade 6 Potion at Rank 1, it would disappear when I enter Rank 2?

What a waste!

"I know the thoughts that are going through your mind, Javier Aditi, but that is not necessarily the case. Actually, it is better that the Mystical Characteristics get erased upon ascension to a new Rank." Alistair interrupts my thoughts with his calm words once more.

"What do you mean?"

"You are clearly thinking it would be a waste to consume a Potion and have its permanent effects overwritten, right? But think about it this way... Are they worth keeping?"

"Hmm?"

Alistair smiles knowingly while staring straight at me.

"Potions contain Mystical Characteristics. These Mystical Characteristics can bond with the body of a Leviathan to generate a permanent effect. However, when you undergo Apotheosis, you become refreshed, and your vessel expands. Your ability to hold Mystical Characteristics increases, as does your growth potential. In essence, your limits become elevated."

He pauses, observing my expression.

I do my best to remain as stoic as possible, making my face hard to read.

Then, he proceeds.

"When you are at Rank 1, your limits are only higher than those of other humans and slightly higher than those of certain Magivores. While you can consume Potions higher than Grade 6, it would be a waste since your body can’t handle so much power, and the effects will simply dissipate. There are also cases of the body breaking down or being destroyed due to the Mystical Characteristics being too much for the Leviathan, especially if the Impurities are far too powerful to be curbed by their weak body. As a result, Rank 1 to 3 Leviathans should be restricted to Grade 6 Potions, though the number of Potions they can each consume largely depends on Rank."

"Oh...?"

Alistair grins. "That’s right. At Rank 1, your body has very limited room, and as such, you can only have one permanently active Mystical Characteristic on you at a time. The number doubles at Rank 2, making that two. At Rank three, the number at Rank 2 doubles, making it four. And so on..."

"I see."

"When you undergo Apotheosis and increase in Rank, your body is cleansed of all these Mystical Characteristics, which allows you to choose the Mystical Characteristics you would like to embed into your body. Thus, if you made a mistake by choosing a weak or undesirable effect at a lower Rank, you can correct this error at a higher Rank. That’s why it’s beneficial."

"But you said you can also overwrite the effects with another Potion." I quickly retort. "That means, even without Apotheosis, there are ways to correct mistakes.

"Correct... but it isn’t so easy."

"What?" I mumble.

"To overwrite an existing Mystical Characteristic, you would have to find a Potion capable of properly synergizing with it and replacing it. If you choose a Potion with an opposite nature, it would only cause incompatibility within the body and cause damage. Likewise, if you choose a Potion with a complementary nature, the effects will function alongside the prior one. Thus, only specific kinds of Potion can replace others."

"I don’t fully understand."

"Say you consume a Potion that grants you bronze skin, and you want to overwrite that effect with another Potion... you can’t replace it with a Potion that allows you to breathe fire or one that turns you invisible. Instead, it must be one that lets you turn your skin into, say, iron or some other kind of metal. Do you understand?"

"Ah... I get it now."

Essentially, the Potion used to replace the earlier effects must be compatible, but also different.

It cannot strengthen the other Potion’s effect, hence it will only reinforce or create a stronger effect, which could be detrimental to a Leviathan that has a limited capacity.

It cannot also be completely different, else it would exist alongside the prior effects.

Finally, it cannot be too incompatible, else it would be dangerous.

Such a complex process... I can see why it would be rather difficult to employ.

"That’s not even accounting for the cost of these Potions and how difficult they are to brew. Thus, for most Leviathans, we would carefully choose our Masterwork Potions and be prepared to use them until we are ready to undergo Apotheosis."

"I see... I get it now." Smiling at Alistair, I nod with gratitude. "Thank you."

He shrugs at my words, almost casually.

"It’s fine. We’re in the same boat right now, so doing this much is fine. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. As long as it isn’t confidential, and I am in a position to tell you, I will answer to the best of my capacity."

Although his smile is warm and friendly, I can’t help but show a little hesitance at his words.

It’s rather tricky.

He’s encouraging me to ask more questions.

Why?

’Is he trying to feel me out? The more questions I ask, the more he’ll know of my gap in knowledge, allowing him to sufficiently estimate my level. I can’t have them underestimate me too much, but since this is an opportunity to learn, I also cannot let this opportunity pass.’

There’s also the danger of asking questions that could lead them to my secrets.

I have to avoid that at all costs!

’Haaa...’

What a dilemma.

In the end, although I am bursting with curiosity, I have to control myself.

"So, that means you have four different Mystical Characteristics, or should I say... special abilities?" I respond with an amiable, innocent smile.

Alistair shakes his head and chuckles.

On his face is a bitter smile.

"Unlike Lucien, who indeed has four, I only recently became an Adept. In fact, just a few months ago, I was still a Disciple Leaper. As such, I haven’t accrued enough merit and resources to possess four Mystical Characteristics. Right now, I only have two."

"Oh...!" My eyes still brighten at this information.

"If the Captain is successful with this task, he’ll obtain his third," Elma adds to his words.

Alistair’s smile only broadens, which tells me she is spot on.

"I guess that’s one more reason we have to succeed," I tell him with encouragement, although he once again shakes his head in disagreement.

"Haha! Well, you’re right... But that is only secondary—even to me."

"What do you mean?"

"The truth is, I took on the hurdles of Apotheosis specifically for this assignment. The group assigned to this task before us failed, and I offered to lead the next pursuit. However, to be able to lead your own team in the Ouroboros Sect, you must at least be a Rank 3 Leviathan. Thus, I decided to challenge Apotheosis, and thankfully... I succeeded."

"Whoa!" I am deeply amazed. "Apotheosis is very dangerous. This mission must mean a lot to you, considering the lengths you went through in order to secure it."

I watch as Alistair’s bitter smile widens with his soft nod.

"You are correct. I wanted to be the one to take Lucien down, and it is due to my own personal history with that man."

"Oh...?" My eyes flicker with surprise.

Just what kind of relationship did the two have?

The answer arrives rather quickly—in the most unexpected way, too.

"Captain Wormwood used to be close friends with Lucien Zevalis." Amnesis, the Seeker of the group, tells me with a subtle grin.

"T-that is..." I stumble on my words for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Alistair smiles and completes my sentence for me. "Surprising?"

I nod and make an awkward smile.

"Well, you’re right... It is surprising that the one I considered such a dear friend would be capable of such betrayal. Honestly, I found it difficult at first. It’s almost like he became a completely different person." He chuckles for a moment, then his eyes turn icy cold. "But I have long strengthened my conviction. You can rest assured, Javier Aditi... that man will be captured and will pay for what he has done."

"... You can just call me Javier."

"Haha! My apologies, Javier."

"No, it’s fine... Captain Wormwood?"

"Alistair is fine, too."

I nod.

Although I know there is some sophistry in his words, I can’t help but find this man rather likable. Not only does he strike me as competent, but there isn’t an overt arrogance from him, not like the kind you would expect from someone of such high rank.

Perhaps it’s because he only recently became an Adept.

"In any case, my two Mystical Characteristics are simply elevated versions of the ones I had when I was Rank 2. One quickens my senses, which drastically improves my cognition. It’s why I was able to absorb so much information within such a short period."

"I see. But... wouldn’t your brain hurt if you took in so much at once? Would you be able to remember a lot?"

Alistair laughs softly at my words, though he clearly didn’t mean for it to be deprecating.

At least, that’s what I think.

"I mentioned that your limits increase with each Rank, right? Well, you can increase your base physical abilities with sufficient training or through the aid of Potions."

"Oh?" My eyes glisten with interest. "Like how we increase our Interference Power, right?"

"Yes... Like that! Of course, every Leviathan has a limit, depending on their Rank. So, let’s say a peak human can lift a certain object, a Rank Leviathan can train sufficiently to surpass that limit and lift up to twice, or even thrice, that same weight. They could also consume Potions that specifically target the growth of their muscles, which would allow them to skip training and grow stronger much faster. The same applies to things like intelligence, memory, and all other natural or physiological abilities. As Leviathans, our potential is simply much higher than that of humans. Naturally, the higher your Rank, the greater the limits of your potential."

This is very exciting to hear!

It means, even without Conceptions or even an Armament, a Leviathan could overpower a Magivore if they have accrued sufficient might! If you add the Mystical Characteristics that a Leviathan can embody, this becomes even more amazing!

Fascinating...

’The Vey’lithar Sanctuary didn’t have records of this. It’s possible that they were passed orally and Ciel could have this information, but since Vey’lithars already have a special physique and largely rely on Magivores to fight, I can’t imagine they would have much use for such information.’ I think deeply.

Besides, the Special Resources in the Sanctuary are limited, and they are largely given to the Magivores who inhabit the land.

As such, Potions would only have been produced in very small quantities.

That’s also why they could only afford one Leviathan per generation—until now, that is.

They also have short lifespans, so I can’t imagine they would have learned of this ’upper limit’ that Leviathans possess through training—especially since they are a non-combative race, to begin with.

In conclusion, I sincerely doubt Ciel knew about this.

The Founding Leviathan also never mentioned anything about this potential for qualitative growth. Such a revelation holds immense significance for me.

’I’ve just figured out more ways I can get stronger....’ My lips curl up to form a smile. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Honestly, this entire experience has been frightening.

It is certainly an overwhelming scenario, one that doesn’t guarantee my survival.

But I can see it clearly—opportunity!

If I grasp this chance, there is a high chance I can ascend beyond the current limits of my understanding and strength.

’As dangerous as these people are, I can’t help but be grateful for their arrival.’

Thanks to them, a new world has been opened to me.

One I intend to grasp fully.