The Magic Empire for 20,000 years

Chapter 36, Section 35: Humanity will surely become gods!

"Have you ever seen a god, Elian? A real god?"

El-Erian remained silent.

"I have seen!"

Before El-Erian could respond, Gutt interrupted.

“When Helen and I were very young, childhood sweethearts—you were still an infant.”

"My father took Helen and me away from the floating city for a while and we traveled in the vast wilderness."

"We have witnessed the battle of the gods!"

"An avatar of an orc god and an elven god fought a great battle atop a cloud-piercing mountain. Their battle leveled the entire mountain range and lit up the sky."

El-Erian remained silent, knowing that the rebellious chief was already absorbed in his own emotions, and waited for him to continue.

Gutt's smile was tinged with madness:
"Ever since then, I've thought—"

"So, gods are just like us, with bodies, facial features and arms, and are not something invisible or intangible."

"They are clearly neither omniscient nor omnipotent."

"They are just like us, with joys and sorrows, and childlike temperaments. They are just a little stronger."

"Is it possible that the gods are just more powerful mages, like us?"

"Legend has it that gods can create their own kingdoms and guide the souls of their dead followers; powerful enough magic can also do that..."

El-Erian showed neither fear nor surprise, nor did he vehemently refute; he simply commented in an incredibly calm and objective tone, like that of a historian:

"Strictly speaking, your understanding is not entirely correct."

"However, given the limitations of the current era, it is relatively advanced."

"So, what does this have to do with my reforms?"

Guter strode forward, his voice tinged with intense passion:
"There's one question I've never understood. Why is it that among all intelligent races, we humans are the only ones without the protection of a racial deity?"

Even the ugly goblins and kobolds have their gods!

"Why would we noble mages suddenly have the idea to ascend to the heavens and isolate ourselves from the earth?"

"Finally, one day, I figured it out."

"We, the celestial sorcerers, are the birth of human gods!"

"Indeed, we are not as powerful as the gods now, but sooner or later we will reach the realm of gods."

"Magic, arcane magic, is magic that is learned and acquired through years of study rather than innate, allowing us humans to distort and reshape nature, and to do things that should have been done by the gods."

El-Erian frowned slightly, remaining silent as Gutt continued his passionate speech:

“Look at other races. Gods look down on the insignificant beings in the mortal world, treating them like pets in a fish tank. They only intervene when the beings are on the verge of extinction.”

"But the mortal beings must worship the gods!"

"Isn't this exactly the state of Eldoron right now?"

“The untouchables on the surface are mortals, while we are gods.”

"As long as we imitate the relationship between gods and humans of other races, one day we, the mages high above the heavens, will be elevated to become complete human gods."

“You have shared God’s authority with mortals, blurring the line between God and man.”

"This is blasphemy, and it will surely prevent us, the high-ranking sorcerers, from ascending to godhood!"

Is that so?
Gutt's understanding of his mission reached an almost fanatical level of faith...

It is believed that these noble mages who were the first to come into contact with magic were destined to become gods of humanity...

Indeed, in this ancient era, human understanding of the world was extremely limited. Early scholars, constantly pondering the laws and philosophies of the world, were prone to developing various extreme beliefs...

This is also the source of many primitive sects and philosophical ideas...

Especially in a world with real supernatural powers, these ideas tend to be more extreme...

Elion seemed to understand and tried to refute it from some logical points: "Then do you think that after the common people on the surface learn magic, they can't become gods like us?"

"What a joke! The number of gods is bound to be very limited. You can look at the pantheons of other races. Even the number of mages in Eldoron right now is too many. I will restrict births in the future to reduce the population of the floating city," Gut immediately retorted.

Sure enough, such an extreme individual had already established his own value system and had his own logic from every angle... Elian shrugged helplessly.

Suddenly, Gutt stepped forward, his burning gaze meeting Elian's, and then he bowed deeply.

“Elian, chief of the Pale Necromancer and current High Mage, I respect your abilities as a great mage.”

"Similarly, I respect your achievements. It was you who led the soldiers of Eldoron to defeat the three great orc clans and drive away those hideous monsters!"

"Therefore, I am willing to give you a chance."

"Stop it. End this absurd reform farce!"

"As long as you are willing to give up this transformation, you can continue to be your High Mage, the Arcane Emperor, and the king of all mages in Eldoron."

"Fate has bestowed upon us the fortune of being born in a floating city, and the wisdom to become magic masters, which is the symbol of our becoming gods."

"Please do not tarnish this mission, my Majesty!"

When Gutt finished speaking, Helen and Card, who were standing next to him, were both stunned for a moment.

Wait a minute, this isn't what we agreed on?

Why is there another chance to choose?
If Elian really agrees, are we really just going to let him leave safely?
However, seeing Gutt's almost frantic expression, he didn't dare to directly refute her.

"Ruined."

The bald-headed chief of the protective school, Card, was in turmoil:
"That guy, Gutt, is completely immersed in his own world and that philosophical theory based on the mission of mages!"

"Because of this theory, he held Elion, a top mage of Eldoron, in excessive respect and harbored some overly complicated feelings. He believed that Elion had simply gone astray."

“Elian isn’t stupid. He could easily agree to abandon the reforms first, then leave here, return to the floating city, find General Thor and the other loyalists, and then settle accounts with us!”

Kade's face turned slightly pale, unsure of what to do.

"A magic worshipper. A human supremacist. A person who believes that noble mages have a natural destiny to become gods..."

"As a mage, although he possesses astonishing intelligence, he also has a naive, bookish side..."

"It has a positive and progressive side, but it also has an overly extreme side..."

Elian murmured in a barely audible whisper.

It seems to be an evaluation of Gu De, as if he were merely a judge who transcends history, impartial, objective, and devoid of emotion, as if he himself were not in danger.

"Therefore, Chief Guterres."

"If I agree now to immediately stop this reform, destroy all magic schools, recall all surface teachers, and even call back all the undead who came to the villages to assist in farming..."

"Will you let me leave and allow me to continue being the Arcane Emperor of Eldoron?"

El-Erian confirmed the general question.

"Yes!"

Guterres promised.

It's over... Bald Card took a deep breath, his eyes glazed over, his face turning pale.

The blonde Helen's lips also twitched.

Gute has gone mad!

They had been planning for so long, and finally found an opportunity to assassinate El-Erian.

In the end, El-Erian managed to escape!
Just as the two were feeling disheartened, they saw Elian facing the three of them, relaxing and opening his arms wide.

That was the first time in the past six months that they had seen the Emperor smile in such a relaxed manner.
"So, I refuse."

"Now, you can come and kill me!"

I feel like I poured a lot of emotions into writing this chapter.

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(End of this chapter)