novelhk Chapter 576 Pilgrimage
Chapter 576 Pilgrimage
"What do you mean?" Katniss asked, somewhat displeased.
Xia chuckled at that moment.
"However, in doing so, the Senate's authority has become a blood-stained papyrus, easily torn, and it has also lost a precious spark... no, it should be two."
"You... wait? Two sparks?" Katniss's anger dissipated instantly.
"After all... at the next citizens' assembly, that girl, who is always accompanied by death, will also stand on our side."
Xia said confidently at that moment.
"Oh? How can you make such a statement?" Katniss asked with interest, completely forgetting her earlier offense.
Besides Aglaia, this deadly girl is also a huge threat.
If we could really get her to side with the Senate, then the threat from the Golden Clan would be negligible.
"Does this matter? I have plenty of ways to deal with it. In my opinion, you should focus more on the imminent threat."
“Aglaia, today she can take me away in front of everyone, and tomorrow she can abolish the Senate with a wave of her hand, making all our discussions a joke—”
"Is this what you wanted to see, Lady Katniss?"
At that moment, Xia kept provoking Katniss, while Lai Gushi remained silent, a smile seemingly appearing on his normally expressionless face.
But Katniss didn't seem to notice; she clenched her fists.
"Hehe... I understand. I will handle this matter properly."
"However, Your Excellency, remember this: those who deceive the people will be punished. I will turn a blind eye this time, but there will never be a next time."
"Unless you enjoy torture and are good at contemplating the true meaning of the soul in pain."
“You know what? This is precisely one of my most valuable talents.”
"Let's wait and see."
"snort....."
Katniss left, but Ragus remained standing on the steps, hesitant to move.
"Ah, you have truly impressed me once again... However, isn't what you ask for a little too little?"
"Are you that curious about what I want to do?"
"After all, I am a rational Titan, born to seek."
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon."
"I didn't mention it in front of her just now, simply because she can't give me what I truly want. After all, 'the onlooker sees most of the game.'"
"The true master of Dawn Cloud Cliff has always been that 'Divine Audience' who has a panoramic view."
"Look, he's here."
As soon as Nashi finished speaking, Laigushi walked up to him.
"As I expected. Welcome again, Your Excellency."
Lai Gushi extended his hand and bowed slightly.
"Did you know that you could actually skip those trivial debates and directly ask me for the right to have an audience with Cephalos?"
"I have no reason to refuse you, do I?"
“Of course you have no reason, but Katniss does. Whoever controls the fire of Cephall will control Ohma…” Naksha said bluntly.
“She is wary of me, and I need to gain her trust. That debate just now was absolutely necessary.”
After thinking for a while, Lycurgus said, "An irrefutable truth."
"In my opinion, this boy's elaborate scheme to get close to Cephall is probably a ploy to do something untoward to the Titans."
Even so, are you still willing to let this child go?
Serhith asked Lycus.
"Of course, even so. The Olympian of Cephalosporin always welcomes all life, which is the destiny of the bearers of the world."
"Heh, it's really convenient to be able to hear this guy talking..." Xia couldn't help but sigh.
Finally, he doesn't have to bear this guy's constant nagging all by himself anymore.
"It is my greatest honor to speak directly with the esteemed Titan."
"Come, sir, let me accompany you for a while."
"Through this 'Janus Path,' you can ascend the long steps of pilgrimage."
"To be honest, I didn't expect you wouldn't even ask for a reason." Xia couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
"Because I know perfectly well what you seek. Similarly, as the saying goes, 'A gentleman helps others achieve their goals,' I have a premonition that your theories will be proven true at the end of this journey."
“I believe that Cephall will not refuse your right to question the Titans. After all, as a dying man, you are now probably the closest thing to Cephall, aren’t you?”
"Heh... well, I'll take your kind words then."
"The sons of justice, facing a world that defies reason, will turn the world upside down..."
"May you bring about real change to this destroyed world."
Xia pressed the light sphere at that moment.
Janus's secret technique was activated. As the points of light connected to form a pattern, Xia felt her body transform into points of light, traversing the mountains and arriving on the other side.
The moment Xia successfully reached the other side, she looked at the magnificent scene around her and couldn't help but admire it from the bottom of her heart.
"To be honest, this is my first time climbing to the summit of Dawn Cloud Cliff..."
“What a magnificent sight… Now you must admit that Titan is truly spectacular, right?”
"Hmph, I think it's no different from the temple in the city, all show and no substance..."
Even now, I still doubt whether it can provide me with any valuable clues.
Serhith chuckled, "Ha... I was being presumptuous to expect you to say something agreeable."
"You've been in my mind for quite a while now. What, haven't you gotten used to the attitude of the body's owner yet?"
"I do want to get used to it, but the memory of not being able to fall asleep every night because I couldn't hug my Earth Beast plushie is truly..."
"Alright, we're only a few steps away from Kefal, let's not waste time..."
Xia's face darkened at that moment, and she interrupted Serhis.
Serhith grinned triumphantly.
"cough…!"
At that moment, Xia suddenly clutched her chest, and veins bulged on her forehead.
The sudden pain made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Serhis sighed, "It seems that the debate just now was really a waste of brainpower and anxiety... If Onpharos has an afterlife, remember to strengthen your body and don't avoid social obligations anymore."
"No need for you to worry," Xia said reluctantly.
"We're only a few steps away from Titan. Can you hold on?"
"Hmph... Even if I can't hold on, can you carry me up there?" Na Ke Xia retorted.
"Tsk tsk tsk... It seems I can only wave the flag and shout again, hoping that a kind person will come to my rescue." Cecily sighed.
"I'm confident in my abilities. Just shut up and follow along." Xia's face turned ashen at that moment.
"Alright, alright. Then I won't waste any more words. I'll just wait for your soul to completely dissipate before taking control of your body."
At that moment, Xia raised her head, wanting to continue forward.
But then he suddenly saw a shadowy figure standing next to a group of children.
That phantom was none other than Serhis.
"Who is that... Sersis?"
“Hey, look at that…” Xia said immediately.
"Hmm? What do you want me to see?"
Cecilia's gaze was drawn over, but she saw nothing.
Xia looked surprised at that moment, and he was thinking to himself.
A hallucination...?
Or is it that when a person is on the verge of death, even their soul can be seen?
"If you want me to experience the joy of children playing, then forget it now."
"I can't reason with you."
At that moment, Xia replied to Cecily and continued on her way.
As he climbed the steps, he saw the same illusory figure again.
This time there are two, except that there are two.
Besides Cesis, there was another warrior clad in armor.
【Eh? Lord Gnaeus, where is your beloved lance that you always carry with you on this trip?】
"Gnaeus? A familiar name?"
Ah, it's a pity... my "Kalis" was completely destroyed by the Black Tide not long ago.
How could this be...? Even the creations of the Georia Minerals and the molten lava... cannot escape the fate of destruction?
At that moment, Xia turned her head and found that Cecis was still standing beside her.
"Hey, Sersis... I'm asking you, do you know someone named Gnaeus?"
Serhith pondered, "Gnaeus?"
"Never heard of it before. Why did such a strange name suddenly come to mind?"
"I just saw it: Gnaeus, who appears to be a warrior, was talking to you here..."
“Oh dear… I don’t recall having such a memory. Perhaps it’s just my imagination?” Cecis shook his head.
"Is it... a spirit of the dead?"
Xia turned her head to look, but the two illusory figures had disappeared again.
He could only keep going, but after a few steps, he saw it again.
"It's you two again."
"What?" Serhith asked in confusion.
The two phantoms began to speak again.
[Let's not talk about me anymore. Has Caius responded to you before?]
Oh dear, what a pity...
The price of becoming a demigod is far heavier than we imagine.
"Chaos? A demigod?"
“I’ve never heard of this person before… Which Titan’s authority did he inherit?” Xia asked, puzzled.
"Be optimistic, Gnaeus. Now that we've come to him, surely he won't let his old friend lose face?"
Ah... I hope we hold a place in his heart equal to the entire world.
"Son of man, have you seen that illusion again?"
When Serhith saw that Xia was stunned again, he asked.
Xia also suddenly woke up at that moment.
"Yes... it was you and Gnaeus who were discussing another person named Caius, probably one of your companions."
"Caus? That name is completely unfamiliar..."
"Well, I think I have a clue. If I'm not mistaken, they're not hallucinations, but... the appearance of someone's soul."
"Alas... if that is truly a dead soul, then what am I?"
Xia was speechless at that moment. "Hmph, I don't know...maybe you are the illusion I imagined before I died."
"Then does that mean I'll be clinging to you for the rest of my life...?"
Xia sighed; he really couldn't do anything about this Titan.
"Let's go first, so we can see and hear more stories..."
"Let me give you a piece of advice: act according to your ability—if you go too far among the dead, even I will be helpless."
“I know, they’ve shown up again.”
Before they had taken two steps, the phantom reappeared.
【hehe.......】
Can we hold on?
Of course, I'm just...
Oh dear... if I had known we'd be climbing this mountain, I would have refused your invitation...
This is also a glimpse into the heavy burden of "bearing the weight of the world." If Onphalus truly has an afterlife, remember to train hard!
Stop making sarcastic remarks...
Even if I jump from here and fall to the bottom of the valley... I will never give up on love in the slightest...
Otherwise… what difference is there between me, Calypso, one of the Seven Sages… and those barbarians of the “Stone-Dragging School”…?
"Calypso? She's one of the Seven Sages...from the Tree Court?"
"Impossible. If he were truly one of the Seven Sages, I should remember him..."
Xia was filled with doubt at that moment.
He immediately called out to Cecilia, who was standing beside him.
"Hey, Sersis! Do you recognize the name Calypso?"
"Hmm? Sersis?"
"Gone?" Xia looked around, but couldn't find Cesis anywhere.
"Never mind, I'm enough on my own."
"It seems we are very close to the territory of the dead."
Xia then passed the phantom and continued forward.
Finally, he came to the body of Kephall.
"It's finally over. Unable to question the Titan, I've gotten this unexpected treat..."
"Very well, let me find out..."
He gasped for breath, looking at Kefaller; his increasingly heavy body indicated that he was on his deathbed.
At that moment, echoes reached his ears, like final reverberations.
【Hey……】
Since we've come this far, let's remain calm and patient.
Lord Gnaeus, and my teacher, are you also here to greet Chaos?
Indeed, we have been waiting here for some time...
Unfortunately, he still didn't respond.
[Worst-case scenario: The weight of "being burdened by the world"... may have already crushed him.]
"Lord Gnaeus, you worry too much. I can sense that his spirit still lingers here."
Besides, you and I both understand Chaos's character: as a savior, he would never fall so easily, much less abandon everything he cherishes, would he?
Sigh... I believe him.
[By the way, little Polycia, why did you come alone on this trip?]
Ah, my sister said she needs more time to look after the flowers...
【Oh……】
【How pitiful...you two were born to inherit the power of Cenatos, yet you possess more compassion than anyone else.】
.......
As the echo ended, Xia finally understood.
This time, everything he heard and saw deeply shocked him.
This seemingly ordinary, yet unprecedented, conversation was enough to reveal to him the ultimate answer to the question of what "we" truly are.
"The conjecture has been formed and urgently needs to be put into practice as a theorem. All that's left is to verify it with Cephalo. In that case, I will be able to answer Cephalo's questions and reclaim my body."
“But I won’t do that. It doesn’t matter.”
"Because, another conjecture I have longed for has also been proven at this moment: the fusion of the souls of mortals and Titans to replace them... is not a pipe dream."
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