LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 434: A Gift Box
Knight Profile: Sir Boundless Horizon
Physical Constitution: Immeasurable (System upgrade required)
Strength: Immeasurable (System upgrade required)
Agility: Immeasurable (System upgrade required)
Combat Power Evaluation: Immeasurable (System upgrade required)
Leo gazed in astonishment at the imposing knight before him. Clad entirely in dark, enigmatic armor, this knight radiated a presence that was both unfamiliar and overwhelming. According to everything Leo had learned from his studies on realms and summonings, there was no known rank called an "Infinite Knight." Leo squinted in disbelief, his mind racing to make sense of this unexpected anomaly.
The knight’s face was strikingly ordinary, framed by short, sandy blonde hair and piercing gray eyes. As the two locked eyes, the knight returned Leo’s bewildered look, seeming equally confused. This silence was finally broken as the knight spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"Are you my lord?" he asked, his voice edged with a hint of hesitation.
Leo’s shock deepened; he struggled to respond, stammering as he searched for words. Never in his years of practice had a knight questioned his role upon being summoned. Until now, every knight had recognized Leo as their lord without question, inherently bound by his will. Sensing something profoundly unusual about this situation, Leo instinctively called upon Sir Cedric, his most trusted Heavenly Knight, to be nearby for protection.
"Yes, I am your lord!" Leo affirmed, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his voice. He wasn’t sure if his statement was convincing, even to himself. Something about this new "Infinite Knight" was decidedly… different.
The black-armored knight studied Leo carefully, his gray eyes flickering with some inner turmoil. Finally, he shook his head in seeming disbelief. "Something must be wrong. How could you be my lord?"
This unexpected defiance jolted Leo, his surprise quickly giving way to frustration. "I summoned you! I am your lord!" he shouted, the strength in his voice both defiant and demanding. At that moment, Sir Cedric appeared, entering the room with caution and his usual alertness. His eyes darted toward Boundless Horizon, their wary glint hinting at the seasoned knight’s readiness for combat.
"My lord, what has happened?" Cedric asked in a low, guarded tone, his gaze never leaving the black-armored knight. Knowing that Leo had planned another summoning, Cedric wasn’t startled by the appearance of a new knight, but he was troubled by the tension radiating from his lord.
In that tense silence, Boundless Horizon appeared lost in thought. "I must find my lord!" he finally exclaimed, his tone now distant, as if speaking to himself. Then, without warning, he vanished into thin air, leaving Leo and Cedric in stunned silence.
"What just happened?" Cedric muttered, his usual composure cracking. He, a Heavenly Knight, seasoned and always prepared, was caught off guard. The defiance, the questions—none of it made sense.
...
Boundless Horizon floated high in the sky, far above the earthly plains, his piercing gaze sweeping across the vast land below. A feeling of wrongness settled within him, growing with each passing moment.
"Something is wrong," he muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper against the silent void around him. It felt as though he had forgotten something important, something deeply significant. The memory teased him, resting just outside his reach. Seeking clarity, he took a single, powerful step forward, and with it, he teleported millions of miles across the realm in an instant.
There, in a far-off land, he found himself hovering over a valley where an immense dragon lay, its enormous form stretched across the land like a sleeping mountain. The creature was awe-inspiring—tens of kilometers tall, its scales glittering like polished obsidian under the sun. It was easily the most powerful creature Boundless Horizon had ever encountered in this Rank 10 world. Yet, strangely, even in the presence of this majestic beast, Boundless Horizon felt no fear, no sense of danger. Something within him whispered that this dragon, terrifying as it appeared, posed no threat.
The dragon stirred, sensing the presence of another being. Its ancient, wise eyes focused on the man who floated before it. This being was a mystery, an enigma wrapped in human form. The dragon, a Rank 9 peak creature, held dominion over this world, towering above its inhabitants. Yet now, in the face of this silent, floating figure, it hesitated.
"Who might you be, stranger?" the dragon rumbled, its voice resonant and edged with caution. "And what brings you to my domain?"
Boundless Horizon met the dragon’s gaze with cool detachment. "Are you the strongest creature in this world?" he asked, his voice unperturbed.
The dragon’s eyes narrowed slightly, pride flaring within its chest. "Indeed," it replied, its voice tinged with restrained arrogance. "I am the mightiest in this realm."
Boundless Horizon’s mind was racing. His memories, though vague and fragmented, told him that his true lord was powerful—far beyond the likes of this dragon or any creature in this realm. Could it be that his lord no longer resided in this world?
At that very moment, as if in answer to his unspoken question, a figure materialized beside him. Clad in a simple blue robe, the man had an unassuming appearance: black hair, dark eyes, and an aura as quiet as the depths of the sea. Yet Boundless Horizon felt a wave of recognition wash over him.
"My Lord Luther!" he cried, falling to his knees in reverence. A swell of emotion filled his voice. "I succeeded, my lord! I achieved the flawless infinite body!"
Luther regarded the loyal knight with a soft smile. "Unexpected, indeed," he mused. "To think you would end up summoned in a Rank 10 world by a Rank 1 system.” He paused, a touch of amusement in his tone. "But you are the first, Boundless Horizon. Others will follow, and you will have many brothers and sisters soon enough." His eyes softened. "Come now, I would like you to meet Rachel."
Boundless Horizon’s eyes shone with gratitude, and he nodded, humbled and awestruck. In a flash, the two vanished, leaving the dragon to tremble in realization. It understood that its life might have been forfeited by one wrong word or misstep.
...
Meanwhile, Leo was still trying to comprehend what had transpired. A message from the system interrupted his thoughts.
"Ding! Infinite Knight Sir Boundless Horizon has been reclaimed by the Source. As compensation, you have received a gift box."
Staring blankly, Leo struggled to process the words. "What…? Reclaimed? The Source?" he muttered in disbelief. It felt as though he had lost something invaluable. Boundless Horizon, with his immense power, had only been with him a few moments, yet Leo felt a strange, hollow sense of loss.
Determined not to let the opportunity pass, he straightened and ordered, "Open the gift box!"
The system complied, displaying an extensive list of rewards:
Attribute Points: +10,000
Skill Points: +10,000
Heavenly Knight Cards: +10,000
Legendary Knight Cards: +1,000
Mythic Knight Cards: +100
Ultra Knight Cards: +10
Super Knight Card: +1
Mythic Full-Body Armor "Voidcaller Plate": +1
Super Weapon "Soul Breaker Sword": +1
Absolute Recovery Cards: +10
Ultra Beast Taming Card: +1
Ultimate Temporary Mind Control Spell Card: +1
Ultimate Temporary Summon Card: +1
Ultimate Magic Treasure "The Mirror of Eternal Reflections": +1
Leo’s eyes widened as he scanned the rewards, his mind struggling to comprehend their sheer value. "This… This is unbelievable! Ten thousand Heavenly Knights? A thousand Legendary Knights?" He could scarcely believe it.
"Summon a Legendary Knight!" he commanded eagerly.
Instantly, one of the Legendary Knight cards transformed into a brilliant, red light, and a towering figure clad in orange armor materialized before him.
Name: Sir Faelan the Timeless
Physical Constitution: 48,000
Strength: 45,000
Agility: 49,000
Combat Power Evaluation: Legendary Knight
Sir Faelan knelt before him, bowing his head respectfully. "My lord," he declared solemnly.
Leo felt a surge of relief, realizing that this knight, unlike Boundless Horizon, fully recognized him as his master. Summoning Sir Cedric, Leo decided to test his new knight’s strength. "Sir Faelan, duel Sir Cedric. Defeat him without causing harm or destroying this room," he ordered.
With a swift nod, Sir Faelan vanished and reappeared behind Sir Cedric, his burning red sword hovering mere inches from Cedric’s neck. The demonstration was swift and decisive—Sir Faelan could have defeated Cedric with ease.
Leo’s heart raced with excitement. The Legendary Knight Card was real, and if it held true, so would the rest of the rewards. He now possessed unprecedented power, enough to conquer nations.
Determined to test his newfound strength, Leo summoned knights from the Mythic, Ultra, and Super ranks, each materializing with a distinct aura:
Knight of the Sacred Cosmos
Physical Constitution: 850,000
Strength: 800,000
Agility: 820,000
Combat Power Evaluation: Mythic Knight.
Sir Ralorn the Skywarden
Physical Constitution: 12,500,000
Strength: 13,000,000
Agility: 12,800,000
Combat Power Evaluation: Ultra Knight.
Sir Garren the Shield
Physical Constitution: 240,000,000
Strength: 230,000,000
Agility: 225,000,000
Combat Power Evaluation: Super Knight.
The knights bowed, each pledging their loyalty with the simple words, "My lord." Leo marveled at the sheer magnitude of his power. Yet, despite his triumph, a lingering thought tugged at his mind: Just how powerful had Sir Boundless Horizon been, for the system to reclaim him?
Though he had gained immense power, Leo found himself haunted by a sense of bittersweet longing, wondering just how powerful his Infinite Knight might have become by his side.