"Why should I be eliminated by the real world?" the dwarf asked in confusion.
"You are also a transcendent now."
"I have no talent." The dwarf's heart stirred, and he said in delighted surprise, "Could it be a god descending to the mortal world? You said that the imperial edition treatment plan could grant me the skill of divine descent, immense strength, and immunity to magic."
"That's right. The modification should have succeeded."
"Should?" the dwarf asked in puzzlement. "Shouldn't the Holy Mother's divine arts guarantee one hundred percent success?"
"The divine arts of the Seven only include the 'Art of Rebirth.' Divine descent is a transformation created through my blood magic."
"What?" The dwarf's face twisted, his large nose swelling until it turned red like a ball.
"You turned me into the Mountain?" he practically roared.
The Mountain was known for immense strength and fearlessness of injury, wasn't he?The dwarf immediately thought of the Mountain whose head had been replaced. It now seemed that his own head had been changed as well.Tyrion felt like crying but had no tears.
Dany's face hardened as she scolded him. "What are you wailing about? The Mountain is an undead abomination. You are a dragon-blooded holy warrior, a paladin blessed by the Seven. How could you be compared to that vile thing?"
The dwarf touched his chest and felt his heart still beating powerfully. He immediately relaxed and complained, "I only wanted to be an ordinary person. Why did you have to put me through all this? Besides, there doesn't seem to be much effect."
"You have a mission to carry out. If divine power were infused now, Jenny would notice something amiss."
In truth, Dany also wanted to test how effective the dwarf's modification was.
She chose the dwarf as her test subject not only to punish his betrayal, but also because his bloodline was special. His adaptability to fire surpassed that of other fire warlocks.
It was like Xiao Wu, who could be burned until her soul scattered dozens of times in a single day and then transform into a fire spirit in one go. As for Afu, being burned once or twice a day was already unbearable for him. Even after finally burning his life imprint into a blank slate, he still failed multiple times when trying to transform into a fire-elemental lifeform.
Dany suspected that Afu would never be able to become a fire spirit.
The dwarf was like a "Xiao Wu" among humans.
After all, aside from Simba, he was the person whose bloodline was closest to hers.
Sure enough, the dwarf proved to be excellent experimental material. After countless refinements of his heart and organs over the course of a week, Dany truly gained new insights, and her divine aspect of fire creation advanced another step.
Although she still could not create bodily organs out of nothing with fire, she gradually learned how to draw the power of life from flames.
That meant that even without Type-B active spiritual matter, Dany could still perform "fire healing" using flames.
By reforging the dwarf's internal organs and spine with the life force of fire, she also imprinted the runes of the Song of Adamantine Strength during the process. Once Dany's divine power was infused, she could attempt to activate them.
"Are you sure I can use divine descent?" the dwarf asked, still doubtful.
"Not entirely sure," Dany answered honestly. Seeing his expression change drastically, she hurried to reassure him. "In any case, you've already gained an aptitude for fire sorcery from the blood magic modification. No matter how you look at it, it's worth it."
"I have an aptitude for fire sorcery?" the dwarf exclaimed in astonishment.
"Whether you can use divine descent is uncertain, but your talent for fire sorcery is guaranteed. The pro imperial edition treatment plan lives up to its name, and it's absolutely worth your five hundred lives."
The Dragon Queen spoke with complete confidence, her expression solemn.
She was not lying either. The dwarf's talent for fire sorcery truly did come from her.
The dwarf's expression gradually softened, and he asked expectantly, "Is my fire sorcery talent strong?"
"Very strong."
"Stronger than Master Pogba, one of the Valantis Triarchs?" The dwarf's smile widened, and the anticipation in his eyes grew even stronger.
"Not just Pogba. Your current talent is several times stronger than Laresa's. In the future, you might become the number one of the younger generation in Slaver's Bay."
"Hehehe." The dwarf's eyes grew unfocused as he sank into beautiful fantasies of the future.
After giggling foolishly for a while, he wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and asked shyly with a flushed face, "Could I become the number one of the younger generation on the western continent?"
"Not bad, you've got ambition!" Dany encouraged him seriously, then shook her head. "The number one of the younger generation on the western continent is Jon Stark. You can only take second place."
"Second place is good enough!" the dwarf said excitedly.
"Do you still yearn for the real world now, or complain that the world is unfair?" Dany asked.
The dwarf straightened his face and said solemnly, "Existence is justified. Without transcendent individuals, who would deal with the Others?
The Citadel refuses to work to adapt to this world and instead vainly tries to change it through destruction. Driven by jealousy, it has already gone astray, and its crimes are truly heinous.As for fairness,even among newborn infants, some are born into noble families while others are born poor. From the moment of birth, the gap that will be almost impossible to cross in their future lives is already determined.
Compared to the status one is born with, things like magical talent are already quite fair. After all, even with talent, one still has to rely on hard work and study later on."
"Not bad. This time your backside isn't sitting crooked," Dany nodded.
"Your Majesty, my backside has always been sitting straight," the dwarf said sternly. "If I were born a noble, I would insist that nobles are divinely sacred by nature and commoners are base by birth. If I were born a slave, I swear I would be even more radical than the Count of Broken Chains."
Two days later, in the early morning, at the North Gate of Meereen, the drawbridge creaked as it was lowered.
The warhorse of Count Cleon, the Great General of the Western Expedition, clopped crisply across the wooden planks. Two riders holding high colorful banners of peace guarded his flanks, with more than thirty knights following closely behind.
Thin morning mist slowly dispersed under the rising sun, revealing a flat stretch of farmland that had been trampled countless times by armies of thousands upon thousands. Aside from churned black mud and hoofprints, not a single green vegetable or stalk of golden wheat remained.
The ten-kilometer-wide battlefield was vast and desolate. On one side were Count Cleon's thirty-five knights, and opposite them, a dozen or so knights slowly approaching.
They came from the allied camp, likewise holding high multicolored banners symbolizing peace.
The one leading them was still Daenerys's old acquaintance, the Yunkai God of War, Grazdan.
"Help, Uncle, save me!" Before the two sides even drew close, a one-eyed dwarf behind Count Cleon began wailing miserably.
"It's Prince Leo!" someone beside the God of War exclaimed in shock.
"Shut up!" Count Shattered Chains turned back and barked angrily. "This is a sacred prisoner exchange. Do you want your uncle to rush in and seize people by force?"
Startled by the butcher's rebuke, the one-eyed dwarf shrank his neck, then burst into tears and cried, "Exchange me first. I'm the Fourth Prince of Elephant Isle. My uncle is the Long-Nosed King. You must exchange me back first!"
Not only the household knights of Count Shattered Chains, but also the allied prisoners beside the one-eyed dwarf, as well as the God of War and his party opposite them, all showed looks of disdain.
"Trading such trash for a valuable dragonrider is far too much of a loss," the God of War's aide muttered.
"Sigh, his uncle is the Long-Nosed King after all," the Yunkai God of War said helplessly. He spurred his horse and rode forward to meet the other side.
The two groups of knights halted beside a channel ditch four feet wide.
The former rice fields were already desolate and cracked. All that remained on the ground were stubbly yellow rice roots and bowl-sized pits trampled out by horses' hooves.
In the ditch, only a finger-deep trickle of clear water flowed quietly. Four or five small crucian carp swam among the weeds in search of food.
The Yunkai God of War took a deep look at the slave lord opposite him and said loudly, "On my side, three wyvern riders and two centaur light cavalry."
Count Shattered Chains also looked deeply at the slave master and said, "On my side, two wyvern riders; seven noble commanders from various city-states, all holding the rank of count or higher; plus three smugglers, two light cavalry, and one prince."
"Redeem me first. I'm a prince, a prince of Elephant Isle. My uncle is the Long-Nosed King and commands five thousand elephant soldiers," the one-eyed dwarf hurriedly said.
The Yunkai God of War cast him a cold glance and asked, "Dragonriders one for one, light cavalry one for one. I'll still have one dragonrider left. How many noble commanders can that exchange for?"
"Five."
"And the remaining two counts and the merchants?" the God of War asked again.
"One count for 1,500 Goldglow coins. Merchants, 500 each," Count Shattered Chains quoted smoothly.
"Very reasonable. Deal," the God of War nodded.
"What about me?" the one-eyed man asked anxiously.
The Yunkai God of War sighed inwardly and said in a low voice, "What is Prince Leo worth?"
Cleon raised three fingers. "Three thousand Goldglow coins!"
"Acceptable." The Yunkai God of War let out a breath of relief. At least the other side was not extorting him.
"What? I'm only worth three thousand Goldglow coins?" The one-eyed dwarf refused to accept it.
"If you wanted money, you should have sent word to my uncle earlier. It's just three thousand Goldglow coins, yet you locked me up for over a month!"
"Shut up!" The God of War finally lost his patience.
"Who do you think you are? Do you know who my uncle is? The Long-Nosed King! I'm a prince of Elephant Isle. How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me!" The one-eyed man glared, his single eye wide open, and shouted back even louder.
The God of War took a sack of gold coins from his aide and hurled it forcefully to the opposite side.
"Go!"
Without sparing the one-eyed man another glance, he turned his horse and rode back.
Cleon reached out, caught the money bag, weighed it in his hand, then waved and said, "The transaction is complete. You may leave."
The one-eyed man seemed unable to wait a moment longer. He immediately shouted "Hyah!" and kicked his spurs hard, sending his horse into a wild gallop.
Who would have thought that as they crossed the channel ditch, the horse charged too fiercely and jumped too early, its hind hooves sinking straight into the ditch.
Splash. The one-eyed man slid from the saddle, howling as he fell into the shallow water.
The news that the Fourth Prince of Elephant Isle had fallen into the ditch and then caught a cold and fever quickly spread through the allied camp.
"I want to see my uncle. My uncle is the Long-Nosed King. I want to see my uncle. My uncle is the Long-Nosed King."
Like chanting a spell, he kept shouting nonstop until his voice turned hoarse and his mind seemed to grow muddled.
The commander of the Western Army, Sibelio, even went to see him personally and proposed arranging for him to recuperate in Torlos, but the one-eyed man refused without hesitation.
"I traveled thousands of miles to Slaver's Bay to make a name for myself. I was even blinded in one eye by lowly slaves. I absolutely cannot leave having accomplished nothing."
"I want to see my uncle. I want to join the elephant corps. I want to break Meereen. I want to cut off Daenerys's dog head!"
The one-eyed man swore through clenched teeth, his expression ferocious and twisted, his whole body radiating an unstoppable determination and will.
Leaving Prince Leo's abilities aside, his hatred for Slaver's Bay and for the Dragon Queen was so naked and so sincere that the triangular-faced commander was moved.
He had traveled thousands of miles to enlist, was captured without losing his spirit, and upon regaining his freedom immediately vowed to return to the battlefield. If properly trained, he could indeed become a pillar of the allied forces.
Well, calling him a pillar might be too fanciful, but Prince Leo's request was not unreasonable. The triangular-faced commander decided to help pass along the message.
Two days later, the one-eyed man met his uncle.
There was no possibility of mistaking him for anyone else. The two were strikingly similar, as if stamped from the same mold, especially that large red nose.
"Uncle!" The one-eyed man burst into tears.
"Leo!" The Long-Nosed King walked over with concern and supported his nephew, though he scolded him as he did so. "Nonsense. What are you doing here? Look at you. You've even ruined one eye."
"Uncle, I want to follow you and achieve great deeds," the one-eyed dwarf said through clenched teeth. "I want those bastards in Tusk Palace who fawn on the powerful and trample the weak to understand that fortunes change with time. Do not bully the young for being poor!"
"Sigh." The Long-Nosed King let out a long sigh and nodded gently. "Very well. We are certain to win this time. With the unparalleled merit of capturing Daenerys, you really might have a chance to ascend the throne."
Then the one-eyed man saw a white-robed priestess of peerless beauty and icy temperament.
(P.S. Tusk Palace is the royal palace of Elephant Isle, similar to the Red Keep of King's Landing.)
(End of chapter)
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