Chapter 286 136. Traveling through the River of Time
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In the illusion, people from the kingdoms of Yris, Cosqui, Saffre, and Charis etc. The elven princes and princesses have camped on the grass surrounding the Asuryan Temple. The bright red, blue and white tents seem to have formed a patchwork of blocks. The different flags of the princes and princesses are also on their respective The tent was swaying in the wind, surrounded by family guards who were on guard and on guard.
Malekith, who was outside the illusion, could never see the emblems on those flags, but he had vaguely guessed that these were the Assur dignitaries who supported his rule in Ulthuan.
The Phoenix Guards all remained silent. This was because they had sworn never to speak again when they became Phoenix Guards. They had all entered the temple during the day, where they had seen everything about Asuryan, no matter what. Whether it was the past, the present or the future, it was as if they had crossed the river of time. All the oracles they saw in this secret room were things Asuryan prohibited them from mentioning to the outside world.
When Darkus approached the front door of the temple, the two Phoenix guards did not stop him. Instead, they held their halberds and bowed to him, which made him a little confused. After he entered the temple, he came to the front hall, which was a room without any decoration, except for a huge phoenix carved on the door leading to the central hall. He saw very clear pools on both sides of the corridor. He picked up the water and rubbed his face.
After rubbing his face, Darkus continued to walk forward under the guidance of Kazuoin, and soon came to the main hall of the temple. The long corridor leading here was lined with phoenix guards, and Asuryan's sacred The altar still burns the holy fire of the King of Gods in the middle of the main hall of the temple.
It was a holy fire that had no fuel but was burning in the air out of thin air. It kept changing colors, blue, green, red and gold, changing into different colors every few minutes. The holy fire was not as exciting as ordinary flames. People feel a burning sensation, and when Darkus approaches the holy fire, he only feels a sense of calm. Even the crackling sound of ordinary flames is not emitted by the holy fire. The holy fire is as silent as the Phoenix Guard here.
Darkos's eyes broke away from the burning holy fire, and he noticed that the central hall was very lively. Many Asuryan priests and servants were moving out tables and chairs, and spreading carpets with holy fire patterns on the floor. Preparing for the next ceremony, after seeing that everything was ready, he nodded with satisfaction and left.
In the illusion, Malekith, wearing midnight armor, slowly walked down the gangway and the slope of the dock, followed by several fear lords, Dax's followers, sorceresses, Coran Blackhand and the heavily armed Black Guard. them.
Outside the illusion, Malekith looked at this familiar but unfamiliar scene. He was not wearing midnight armor when he came last time. He was followed by knights from Nagaryth, and the ship he was traveling on was not a Druchi. Instead of the plunder ship, it was his flagship dragon ship Indragnir, which could not help but make him travel across the river of time and fall into his most painful memories.
Malekith in his memory waved his hand and asked the princes to enter the halls of the temple with him, and they all did so. The remaining Phoenix guards, followers and knights stayed outside the hall.
In the temple hall, the princes and princesses sat around the conference table, with the sacred fire burning behind them. Mianderin, the high priest of Asuryan, sat in the center of the altar, while other priests and servants walked back and forth, serving fruits, sweets, and wine to the princes and princesses.
The Phoenix King's position was at the gate, but it was empty. Malekith stood there with a half-smile expression on his face, which confused the high priest and princes. Behind him stood two Knights of Nagaryth, one of whom was holding a bundle, while he was leaning on the table, looking at the princes and princesses sitting there.
"Weak and selfish! Ulthuan is rife with weakness, like an immoderate child squeezing the juice from any fruit. At the same time, your selfishness has left you with nothing to do but be proud and complacent! You have allowed the cult to "Growth, you only care about your own country. You search for gold in the land beyond the sea, but you allow thieves to break into your city and steal the most precious things." Malekith raised his head and said arrogantly and contemptuously.
"Are you satisfied with a traitor serving as the Phoenix King?" Malekith finally asked loudly.
This sentence made everyone present exclaim. The Nagaryth knight holding the bag threw the contents on the table. It was the second Phoenix King after Aenarion, Balshana. Crown and cloak.
"What has happened to my father? Where is he?" cried Barshana's son, standing up.
"What happened to the Phoenix King?" a prince asked.
"He is dead! Because of his weakness and incompetence," Malekith roared.
"This is impossible!" Barshana's son roared, his voice full of anger and choked with sobs.
"It's absolutely true! I once swore to eradicate the cult in Ulthuan, but in the end I didn't expect that my own mother would be the leader of the cult. Since then, I have firmly believed that no one is trustworthy. If Naga The Kingdom of Rath has been completely corrupted, so how can the Kingdom of Tyranrok guarantee that it is completely innocent? I spent some time investigating because I noticed that those close to the Phoenix King may have been affected by the remnants of the cultists. Impact. My investigation was careful and thorough, and you can imagine how disappointed and shocked I was when I found evidence pointing to the Phoenix King himself." Malekith said slowly.
"What evidence?"
"I found some cultist supplies and talismans in the Phoenix King's room. Please believe me! I was in the same mood as you, and couldn't imagine someone like Balshana, the wisest of us A member of the Communist Party of China, and a Phoenix King, actually did such a thing. I did not act recklessly, but planned to confront him with those things, hoping that I had made some mistakes." "
Then does he deny it? Did you?"
"He admitted it with actual actions, probably because there were still some spies around me. They told Balshana about my discovery in advance. When I went to question him, I found that there was only his body there, and He died by taking poison! He chose to commit suicide out of fear of crime! He would rather accept this coward's path than accept the interrogation, because then he could take the secrets of the cult to his grave." Malekith continued.
But the actual situation is different from what Malekith said. Balshana did die from taking poison, but he did not take the poison himself, but was forced into it by Malekith.
"You're talking nonsense! My father would never do such a thing. He was loyal to Ulthuan and his people!" Barshanar's son yelled.
"I'm sorry. I sympathize with you very much, but I was also deceived by my own mother. At that time, I felt as heartbroken as you do now." "
This is so disturbing. The Phoenix King is actually a cultist. It's unbelievable. ." said a prince.
"It was Balshana's intention to continue to create suspicion among us after death. When we doubt and dispute about this matter, anarchism takes over. When we quarrel over these things , the cultists will take advantage of it, and we will lose everything. We have no time to think about what to do next, we must make a decision immediately!" Malekith said decisively.
"We need to elect a new Phoenix King right away, right?"
"Is this your intention?"
"If all the members present agree." Malekith said.
There were more than twenty princes and princesses gathered in the hall. They were either princes of a country or powerful men with powerful armies and proud wealth. They dominated Ulthuan.
"Now is not a suitable time for an election, and the problem cannot be solved by electing a new king, and the members of the parliament are not here yet." A prince objected.
"The Kingdom of Nagaryth can't wait any longer! The cultists have one winter to completely control the army there, and then they will invade the Kingdom of Tyranloch! By then the war will burn throughout Ulthuan." Mare Keith punched the table and growled.
"You want us to choose you to be the Phoenix King?"
"That's right! Because I am the son of the first Phoenix King and his successor. If Balshana's betrayal is not enough reason to support me, then you can take a look Other achievements of mine. I am a friend of the High King of the Dwarves and our ambassador to the Dwarves. Across the sea, I have won countless victories and founded vast colonies and countless new cities. The people there from various kingdoms, and I have been protecting them. Now, a whole new people have formed there, and they think that I am the king there instead of their original ruler. Barshana is a wise and peace-loving Man, but the wisdom of peace is no match for the threat of darkness," Malekith said triumphantly.
"What about Imric? He also fought in the colonies and was an excellent general."
"The son of Imrik the Dragon Tamer? Where does he hide when we need a hero? He and his Cousins hunt wild beasts together in the mountains of Charis! Do you want a dude who just hides and plays in the mountains to be the co-lord of Ulthuan? Don’t forget, when he declared war on the cult, he only took his kingdom with him The army fought alone, but I carried the banner of the coalition. Weren't you willing to accept me as your commander?" Malekith said contemptuously.
"You'd better be careful what you say, arrogance will not have a beneficial effect on you!"
"I don't intend to hurt your self-esteem. I just want you to recall some of the things you did before, because deep down in your hearts you are very happy. Follow me." Malekith said with a smile.
"We can't decide who the next Phoenix King will be so hastily! My father's body is still cold, and the real situation requires detailed investigation. At this time, you force us to hand over the position of the Phoenix King to you?" Balshana's son said.
"He has a point, Malekith," one of the princes agreed.
"What nonsense! More than a thousand years ago, the Parliament made a ridiculous decision, and I watched Balshana take away the power I should have had. I never paid much attention to the quarrels within the Parliament. Because I was focused on witnessing the growing prosperity of our family and country. I led my men and soldiers in a strange land and made great sacrifices. I thought you would at least remember the kindness my father brought to you, but You seem to have ignored my inner dissatisfaction and cry."
"I tell you, now is the time for you to follow me! Although I may appear ruthless when necessary, I will never treat those who serve me sincerely. Please You understand my position and support my decision!" Malekith shouted angrily. He smashed the table in front of him with one punch, and the crown and cloak also fell to the ground. At the same time, with his With the movement, his cloak was also thrown aside, and his sword flashed out from the cloak.
"Malekis! You cannot enter this sanctuary with a sword! This is the oldest taboo. Throw the weapon out!" High Priest Mianderin exclaimed.
Malekith was slightly stunned. He looked at the sword hanging on his waist, his face suddenly darkened, he grabbed the hilt with one hand and pulled out the sword.
"I've said enough! Being the Phoenix King is my birthright! This is not something that requires your permission!" Malekith raised his sword and pointed it at the princes. He stared at them and roared. road.
"You thief!"
The words of Balshana's son were like a starting gun. The scene in the hall instantly became uncontrollable. Some princes tried to pounce on Malekith, and the princes who supported Malekith and those who opposed it suddenly became uncontrollable. The princes struggled with each other. Soon, more and more black figures appeared behind Malekith. After seeing that they were the knights of Nagaryth, the princes, princesses, priests and servants fled one after another, accompanied by falling figures. Falling and trampling, followed by death, the knights of Nagaryth have drawn their weapons and walked towards the waiting prey.
Malekith stared coldly at the holy fire in the center of the temple. He began to walk towards the holy fire. Screams echoed in the room and blood kept splattering out, but none of this seemed to attract his attention. .
"What are you going to do? Asuryan will not accept you! You killed people in his temple! And without the protection of our fire protection spell, this is absolutely impossible!" Mianderin pointed at Maleki Si asked.
"So what? I am the heir of Aenarion! I am qualified to be the Phoenix King! Who needs the protection of your magic?" Malekith shouted angrily while pushing away Mianderin who was pulling him.
"Go away! I don't need to listen to the nonsense of you priests." After Malekith kicked Mianderin away who was lying on the ground, he raised his hands, prayed to Asuryan for a while, and walked straight in into the holy fire.
In an instant, the entire island shook. The earthquake caused the Asuryan Temple to begin to collapse. The ground shook violently. The surrounding pillars also collapsed one after another. The island trembled and heaved violently.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, covering the whole place, and lightning was rumbling continuously.
A terrible scream penetrated the roar and spread throughout the island. It was a long howl of pain, so shrill that it seemed to pierce the soul.
Asuryan's sacred fire grew paler and paler, turning from dark blue to bright white. The outline of Malekith can be seen in the center of the flame, his arms motionless and stretched out to both sides.
With a loud noise, the sacred flame burned violently, and the blazing light illuminated the entire temple.
Malekith suddenly covered his face in the fire and knelt down. He was ignited by the holy fire. He raised his head and screamed, and the holy fire devoured his body. His howls of agony echoed around him, growing louder as time passed. His withered figure slowly stood up in the holy fire, and then rushed out from the depths of the holy fire.
Malekith's charred body knelt on the ground, thick smoke billowing from his body, and his charred flesh peeled off in large chunks in the molten armor. His clothes were burned away, and in several places only bones were left. His face has turned into a black and red mask, and his eyeballs are exposed outside the eyelidless sockets. He trembled, then fell motionless to the ground.
"No! No! It shouldn't be like this!" Malekith, who broke free from his memories, vaguely saw him standing on the edge of the holy fire again in the illusion, roaring hysterically. Then he gradually calmed down, as if he was out of control, and fell into the memories of Balshana's coronation.
That was a thousand years before Malekith was burned by the Holy Fire. As the coronation ceremony of Barshana ended, only Malekith remained. He stared at the Holy Fire for a long time, thinking about his fate.
The sacred fire resumed its changing colors, appearing to darken after its dazzling eruption. It seemed to Malekith that the Holy Fire had become weakened, somewhat tainted by Barshanar's presence.
Malekith walked forward slowly without noticing, his thoughts chaotic and full of conflicting emotions. If he dared risk the fire and survived, without the protection of the priests' spells, it would undoubtedly be Asuryan's will for him to succeed his father as the Phoenix King. However, what if he is not strong enough? Will the fire consume him? So what was left of his hopes and dreams?
Malekith stood in front of the holy fire without realizing it, fascinated by the changing patterns of the holy fire. He had a strong desire to reach out and touch the holy fire. Just as he was about to put his hand into the fire, he heard the footsteps of the priests re-entering the temple. He quickly withdrew his hand, turned away from the sacred flame, and quickly left the temple, ignoring the curious looks of the priests.
This is the place where Malekith's father Aenarion first prayed for mercy to the greatest god and was reborn as a savior!
Malekith, who once again broke free from his memories, looked at him in the illusion and at Darkus standing next to him in the illusion. He had already reacted. He was on the bank of a river of uncertain time, recalling the top of the river and looking at the bottom of the river.
The upstream facts are established and have already happened. The downstream was unknown. Thinking of this, he had completely calmed down. Malekith wanted to see what surprises the downstream in front of him would bring him.
"Is there anything you want to ask me now? I can tell you." When Darkus said, he did not look at Malekith, but stretched out his arm and moved his fingers along with the swaying holy fire.
"What evidence do you have?" Malekith asked.
"Asuryan never rejected you from the beginning to the end. It was you who rejected Asuryan at the last moment! Your heart was not strong enough at the time. Asuryan had always planned for you to succeed your father. Think about it carefully. , why do the subsequent Phoenix Kings who entered the Holy Fire through the fire-avoidance spell usually become unknown in their later years? They all fell into some kind of madness? Only a few got a good death?" After Darkus finished speaking, he saw Malekith hesitated. There was no movement, so he continued.
"Because they fooled Asuryan, they were cursed by Asuryan. Evidence? Do I need evidence for what I said? I have many identities besides the hand of the Witch King. I need to call someone out and let him tell me personally. You? Look back at the eager eyes around you. Although they can't tell, their eyes have said everything." "
I know what you want to say, but I have never manipulated you from beginning to end. I once told you As I said, our destiny is in our own hands! It is your right to become the real Phoenix King, not something I can give you! I am just telling you the truth at the critical moment. If you don’t have the courage to face all this, we will You can turn around and pretend you have never been here today. Of course, you can also kill everyone present so that no one sees your weakness."
"Weak!?" When Malekith said this word, his blood flowed Well up in his throat, he began to cough violently. He seemed to be angered by Darkus's words. He took three steps towards the holy fire, and then stopped.
"If I pass the flame, then all my efforts will be lies! These five thousand years will become a complete joke!" Malekith said slowly.
"Will this make you regret your actions?"
"But I don't regret what I did. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose to do it!" Malekith's tone changed. Sonorous and powerful, it seems to cover up the deepest vulnerability in the heart.
Malekith, who was watching all this from outside the illusion, suddenly realized. He once said this to Darkus in the throne room of his black tower. There was no third person present at the time. He seemed to Realized something.
"Aenarion's blood does not need any fire-avoidance spells to survive in the holy fire. You must be prepared. Asuryan requires sacrifice, and your rebirth is not without pain." Darkus said as he put his hand on Malekith's Midnight Armor began to make a sizzling sound in the air, and his hands were burned by the heat emitted by the Midnight Armor.
But Malekith, who was watching from outside the illusion, did not feel the pain on the face of Darkus in the illusion, but instead showed concern and sympathy.
"Pain?" Malekith mocked, seeming to feel Darkus' touch as the flames died in the gaps between his armor.
"You have to endure, you will be destroyed and reborn. When you last stepped into the holy fire, you were almost destroyed. If you endure for a few more breaths, rebirth will begin, so don't come out so early this time My Majesty the Phoenix King."
"Even though I desecrated Asuryan's temple with my blood, even though I killed Barshana with my own hands, if I can endure for a few more heartbeats? This...this Pain...war...six thousand years of sorrow because..." Malekith spoke the words slowly and incoherently.
"Because you are weak, Malekith! Defeat your weakness."
Malekith couldn't help but feel shocked when he saw the illusion. At this moment, he really believed it. Instead of anger and pain, he had a kind of A feeling he hadn't felt in six thousand years: shame.
"Let's get started!" After a long time, Malekith in the illusion calmed down and said slowly, and then he stepped into the holy fire of Asuryan.
Looking at the illusion, Malekith's perspective was fixed outside the illusion. He watched him burning in the illusion, and screams burst out of his throat. Although this is just an illusion, his inner emotions can resonate with his in the illusion. He experienced every moment of six thousand years, and the pain of six thousand years surged into his body in an instant.
Malekith had an almost irresistible urge to flee, it didn't matter if his people were destroyed, he would still survive, he was the greatest of them all, they existed only to be sacrificed to keep him alive.
But Malekith resisted the urge, listening to the beating of his heart rather than the fear inside him. He remembered that he was the son of Aenarion, he remembered what Darkus had said to him, and he firmly felt that as long as he could endure a few heartbeats, he could be reborn.
Even if Darkus was deceiving Malekith, it didn't matter if the centuries-old plan only happened at this moment.
It would be better for Malekith to know the truth than to continue in the years of painful entanglement. These years were full of what he desired most, but he refused. If Darkus wants it, then give it to him.
It is not the physical pain that causes such torture, the physical pain is just a memory of the mental pain. The blood on his hands, whether figurative or real, is his sin that he carries with him.
Asuryan passed no judgment on Malekith; the only punishment he suffered was self-punishment.
Malekith acknowledged this and accepted his fate, remembering that his father had been willing to die to protect Ulthuan. To become the Phoenix King, you must rise from the ashes of death, there is no other way!
Malekith laughed outside the vision as the sacred fire within the vision consumed him, the flames passing through him and touching every part of his body and mind. No pain, no feeling. He felt like a ghost, cut off from the world, and he swore a thousand voices were shouting now.
Malekith outside the illusion could no longer see the scene in the illusion, and there were only colorful flames around him. He was made of fire, and nothing could be seen but the dancing flames. Although he could not move, he felt as if his body had wings, lifting him up and rising like a phoenix with wings of fire. He tried closing his eyes, but nothing changed, the flames still filled his vision.
Soon, a gentle breeze blew over Malekith, touching him, smoothing away the metal skin, charred flesh, and broken bones, turning him into exquisite ashes without any discomfort at all. He felt it come back, the fire coalescing into his form again, creating body, limbs, head and fingers, every part of him.
"No! This is impossible! This is not an established fact!"
Before Malekith could open his eyes outside the illusion, a voice appeared, and the flames around him disappeared, as if everything just now was an illusion. When he opened his eyes, all he saw was the scene in the illusion. He had been burned to ashes in the holy fire, and there was no so-called rebirth. He could clearly see the shock and disbelief on Darkos's face.
The next second, Darkus rushed into the holy fire like crazy, seeming to be looking for something, but soon, a soul-piercing scream reached his ears.
Darkus was also swallowed up by the holy fire, and was burned to ashes before he could step out.
In the illusion, the expressions of Kadron, the Asuryan priests, the Phoenix Guards, the Asur princes and princesses who supported Malekith, and the Drukki were all confused and shocked. They were disturbed by the sudden fact that they all came together. I don't know what to do.
In just a short moment, Druchi's Witch King, Druchi's Hand of the Witch King, Ulthuan's Phoenix King, and Ulthuan's Phoenix King all perished in Asuryan's holy fire. .
Um, let me tell you, there will be no disgusting situations in the follow-up. This chapter is a foreshadowing at the end, maybe I will go to the world of chaos.
It is written like this here because this is the river of time, so the lower reaches of the river are half-truth and half-false. As mentioned before, there is the Kingdom of God, a magical existence. . .
(End of chapter)