"Hmph!"
"King of Britain?"
"Godslayer?"
The golden figure sat near the top of the Endless Celestial Ladder, just below the clouds, further up were the gods above the clouds. He gazed at Duncan with a faint smile: "A living legend, are you?"
"In my era, I too was a living legend!"
Who wasn’t a legendary hero oppressing an era?
The figure was so arrogant that Duncan’s achievents were yet insufficient to gain his attention; his appearance was more due to Duncan’s identity as a ’Godslayer’ and the sole living legend.
Duncan didn’t need to guess his identity; it was Gilgash, the legendary Heroic King.
One of the oldest demigods.
A figure two-thirds god and one-third human.
Unlike his previous humility and respect before the creator of characters, Duncan was now expressionless, staring straight ahead, displaying the unique arrogance of a king to the fullest. Even as their gazes collided, a fleeting spark flashed through the air of the Endless Celestial Ladder.
The clash of kings!
A confrontation of divinity against divinity!
Who do you think you are?
Before Cangjie and successive wise n of the East, Duncan respectfully bowed his head, but facing the arrogant figure before him, Duncan wouldn’t mind having a go at him first. His right hand slowly pressed down on the hilt of the Sword of Oath and Victory.
The man montarily laughed in anger.
Just for a mont, both were poised for battle, like two immortal kings about to duel, but then the man withdrew his hostility, his figure gradually fading, his tone still playful: "Interesting!"
"I will rember you."
"King of Britain - Duncan, I look forward to our next eting."
Upon the Endless Celestial Ladder,
Duncan withdrew his right hand from the hilt of the Sword of Oath and Victory, his expression calm and steady: "When you see next, I may not be just the King of Britain."
The golden, arrogant figure suddenly flinched, showing an expression of slight surprise.
The only living legendary hero!
And possessing the authority of kings!
Everyone knew the significance; the entire real world was his stage, his era!
Even the oldest Heroic King might face him with reverence next ti.
To fight now,
Gilgash still stood a good chance, but the future confrontation might yield uncertain results.
Yet this proudly arrogant Heroic King loved the thrill!
The golden figure looked back casually: "Then I will wait for you."
"Godslayer!"
Without a doubt, this proud demigod already considered Duncan a true rival.
This fellow had sothing.
He could move up and down the Endless Celestial Ladder freely, like visiting, watching Duncan ascend to the immortal throne.
Duncan smiled lightly, fearless, filled only with the spirit of battle.
He was also soone who oppressed an era!
King faces king.
What is there to fear?
Duncan ascended the steps again, witnessing the magnificent Divine Hall of ancient Greece, seeing countless philosophers and poets. He saw the blood and fire of Spartans, the founding of Athens, and riders galloping across the Balkan Peninsula. Surrounded by countless comrades-in-arms, he witnessed a grand king, curious, gazing at Duncan, feasting and drinking amidst the Corpse Mountain and Blood Sea of the battlefield, gloriously appointing his generals, founding kingdoms on the earth.
One kingly figure stood behind that majestic figure, Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucus, Macedonia. He seed to hold no enmity toward Duncan but instead raised a distant toast as if inviting him to join the kings’ feast.
Duncan politely declined; he was quite straight.
Though a true king conquers even n, not in such a way.
The grand figure laughed heartily, soon returning to his comrades.
He cherished his companions because they would follow him to the ends of the earth to fight.
Knock, knock, knock!
With Duncan’s next step on the stairs, a dull war drum sounded. He had reached the western section of the Endless Celestial Ladder, but could only gaze from afar at the magnificent figures of the East. One figure’s back transford into a massive dragon shadow. Subsequent kings gathered dragonlike vigor, striking prominence, gazing at Duncan, murmuring: "The path of the emperor."
"When the six directions are swept across, the world is united."
Duncan halted,
Silently nodding to the teachings of the Ancestral Dragon, like an obedient student.
Behind the Ancestral Dragon, one person stood mighty as a mountain, lifting imnse strength, gazing complexly at Duncan, as if seeing another self, silent for long.
Beside was a sowhat lazy individual, distinct prominence, lying sideways on the throne, exuding a carefree air like a rogue.
He raised a glass to Duncan, saying with a mischievous grin: "Qin laws are Han laws."
"Youngster, don’t be too rigid."
"If useful, just take it, understood?"
Duncan laughed.
He looked at the lazy figure, glancing at the mighty figure pulling mountains nearby, mouthing a sentence: Is this even a human?
The man instantly got flustered.
Mumbling curses,
stood up to Duncan: "Young man, no respect for age, not knowing propriety."
"Actually making fun of ancestors!"
Duncan, solemn again, bowed respectfully, and the man finally relented, grumbling: "That’s more like it."
If useful, just take it from the empire’s legacy.
Duncan stepped onto the stairs again, with the majestic Triumphal Arch appearing beside him. Golden Eagle Banners fluttered, imperial legions waging wars on all sides. Figures appeared on both sides, gazing at Duncan with complex expressions. The leading person, however, was carefree, joking: "Young man, you may have to use my surna in the future."
Duncan chuckled: "Duncan-Caesar-Augustus?"
That person laughed loudly too.
Beside him was a person gazing at Duncan intently, finally nodding in satisfaction.
Among the crowd,
a king sat in a corner, watching the new king’s boisterous banquet, with a complex expression, a bit drunk in his indulgent state, wearing clothes akin to a dress reminiscent of a stage costu, mumbling sothing.
Duncan glanced at that person calmly: "Nero, is it?"
"Go sit at the kids’ table."
Boom!
The surrounding kings erupted in laughter at his words.
Among the crowd,
soone approached Duncan’s side, appearing as a refined gentleman, more like a Greek philosopher than a king, whispering: "Beware of Monotheism!..."
Heretic Julian.
Duncan nodded slightly, looking up at the clouds, where a heavenly light shone from a certain cloud.
He raised his glass, facing northwest, saluting Odin’s apparition!
In the clouds above,
Odin also raised his glass, his gaze deep, watching the many halls of the Roman Empire, the grand palace complex once belonging to Caesar and Augustus, now with a Gothic-style palace rising from a certain spot in a British sense.
It was steadily growing taller, as if to overshadow all the palaces.
Duncan ascended the immortal throne.
A phantom reflection was forever seated upon the throne.
The morning light was faint.
After a long dream, Duncan finally woke, silent for long.
.........
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