At this moment, Alaric finally understood that the Lion King's act of bestowing dragon blood upon him was far from a simple gift. The Lion King was anticipating something. Would he transform into a red dragon, or remain in human form? Although Alaric couldn't fully grasp the Lion King's intentions, he recognized that a path had been set before him. The choice of his future now lay in his own hands.
Alaric now understood the Lion King's words about embracing either a non-human heart or solidifying one's humanity. Whenever he fully activated his dragon blood, his mental state would change. The emergence of a non-human heart wasn't just a shift in thinking; it allowed him to wield his power with greater ease. Though termed a non-human heart, Alaric didn't feel alienated by it. To him, his normal state before activating the dragon blood and the predominance of the non-human aspect afterward were just different facets of his mind—simply shifts in perspective.
However, the non-human heart seemed to hint at a potential permanent transformation. Not the minor changes he had experienced so far, but a complete alteration at the level of his very species. It was an ascension from a mortal form to the pinnacle of a mythical being—even among dragons, into a powerful red dragon.
If that day came, Alaric's strength would surpass anything he could currently imagine. His base power would eclipse his current full output. It would be like reaching the heavens in a single bound. Not only would his strength increase dramatically, but once he fully transformed into a dragon, his lifespan would stretch into the unimaginable—a span long enough to outlast human history itself.
'So, it's truly my own choice, is it—'
After a brief moment of reflection, Alaric felt no fear about the future the Lion King had spoken of. Under normal circumstances, he no longer had much of a future to look forward to, after all. Even so, he looked resolutely at the Lion King and declared, "My King, I have no intention of abandoning my human form. The Last Dragon is not the right path. A dragon's breath that burns the world brings only destruction."
"This goes against my pursuit of saving humanity."
For the second time, Alaric brought up his goal of saving humanity, just as he had during their first encounter. Upon hearing Alaric's response, the Lion King showed little reaction, merely looking at him calmly.
"I understand your resolve, Sir Alaric. If, on the day of your ascension, you can hold firm to your humanity, then none of this will be an issue."
The Lion King's seemingly casual words filled Alaric with unease. 'Ascension?'
Alaric quickly understood the meaning behind the Lion King's words. Was it like the metamorphosis of an insect, where a pupa transforms into its final form? He found this metaphor fitting for his current state. It seemed that the assimilation of dragon blood also carried the implication of a kind of hatching. Using his soul, body, and will as a vessel, with dragon blood as the core, what kind of being would ultimately emerge from the one once known as Alaric?
Alaric couldn't comprehend it. From his perspective, since his dragon blood came from the Lion King, its potential shouldn't exceed that of its source. Just as a fountain cannot rise higher than its source, so too should bloodlines follow this rule. It wasn't a matter of atavism or mutation—the blood the Lion King had granted him was pure, first-generation blood. Its immense power was pushing Alaric's body to change as the fusion deepened.
Through these changes, Alaric began to truly sense the terrifying nature of dragon blood. Just as his mind drifted to the thought of ascension, the Lion King's next words took him by surprise.
"Not only do you carry the destiny of the mountain, Sir Alaric, but you also bear the destiny of Britain."
'What?'
The destiny of the mountain. This wasn't the first time Alaric had heard this term; Hassan-i-Sabbah, the Old Man of the Mountain, had mentioned it before. Back then, Alaric hadn't thought much of it, but now the Lion King had raised it once more. And this time, he had mentioned a destiny tied to Britain, one comparable to that of the mountain.
Destiny, fate, karma.
Alaric could understand the destiny tied to Britain—he had received dragon blood from the Lion King, had been granted a seat at the Round Table, and was even called the future Red Dragon, the Last Dragon, by the Lion King. His connection to Britain was deeper and more significant than he had once realized.
But the so-called mountain destiny left Alaricr instinctively puzzled. He didn't understand its origins, yet both Hassan-i-Sabbah and the Lion King suggested that this destiny was far older and more significant than he had ever imagined.
"My King, what do you mean by the destiny of the mountain?"
Following the principle of seeking answers, and sensing that the Lion King seemed approachable at the moment, Alaric immediately inquired.
"A trivial destiny from a distant magical realm. You need not concern yourself with it, Sir Alaric. Do you have any other questions?"
The Lion King seemed unwilling to elaborate, dismissing the topic without hesitation.
Seeing that the Lion King wasn't inclined to explain further, Alaric asked another question: "My King, does this destiny tied to Britain refer to the dragon blood within me?"
While he had his suspicions, Alaric sought confirmation from the Lion King to ease his mind.
"That's correct. The dragon blood within you is what links you so deeply to Britain. Should you transform into a dragon, even Vortigern, the False King who embodies Britain, would pale in comparison to you."
"What?!"
The Lion King's words sent shockwaves not only through Alaric but also through the other Knights of the Round Table. As natives of Britain, they knew all too well the name of Vortigern, the False King. Even if they hadn't encountered him directly, his reputation was known throughout the land.
Mordred, who had previously taken the situation lightly, was now fully alert, while Gawain and Agravain both wore expressions of shock.
"My King, perhaps this question is ill-timed, but why do you want Sir Alaric to transform into a dragon?"
Agravain could no longer hold back his concern.
The situation was already beyond his ability to grasp, and the actions of the Lion King, who had ascended to godhood, were shrouded in mysteries far beyond his comprehension.
Hearing this, the Lion King glanced at Agravain.
"This is indeed not a question you should be asking, Agravain. Or would you prefer to witness the brilliance of the Holy Spear?"
"Even you, Iron Agravain, would not survive a single blow from me."
"Y-Yes… I mean, no! I was merely concerned that turning Sir Alaric into a red dragon might be unwise, as we'd lose a powerful ally…"
Agravain's expression remained serious, though tinged with a hint of panic.
"There's no need for concern. The choice lies entirely with Sir Alaric. The so-called Red Dragon is merely a hypothetical future. He can decide before the day of his ascension."
Observing the exchange between the Lion King and Agravain, Alaric nodded thoughtfully.
'So, this is what the Lion King wants—a transformation into the Red Dragon.' But the reason behind it was something Alaric couldn't even begin to guess.
Taking a deep breath, Alaric spoke:
"My King, may I ask why you want me to transform into the Red Dragon?"