The poor of Duc
The Uruk Corps had quietly retreated last night. The battlefield had been cleaned up, and not a single trace was left behind. When Agang woke up, he did not know the specifics of the situation. When he heard the news, he sat there in a daze for a long time. He had witnessed the death of Enkidu and Gilgamesh's desperate attempt to save him. He could empathize with Gilgamesh's feelings.
Gilgamesh's lofty ambitions had dissipated. Disheartened, he left with serious injuries.
The generals thought that the commander-in-chief had not recovered from his injuries and was still feeling dizzy. They did not speak for a while. Several supreme mages performed a blessing on him at the same time. In fact, the four supreme mages in the army had already taken turns to treat Agang last night. The commander-in-chief's injuries were no longer treatable. He only needed to rest and recover.
Agang waved his hand. "Thank you for your hard work, Sirs. I'm fine. There's no need to waste any more magic power." He then inquired about the situation of the Uruk Legion's retreat, including what was left in the camp, the formation of the retreat, and how was the army organized. Finally, several orders were issued.
The five legions of Horus, Isis, An-Ra, Seth, and Geb, which had been reorganized during the war, were restored to their original formations. The commanders of the five legions were ordered to reorganize their formations. At this point, it was clear that the army was in disarray. Other than the weakest Geb legion, which had only suffered minor losses in the final battle, the rest of the legions had lost more than half of their troops after a long battle.
While Hardedef was still the Head of the An-Ra Legion, he stayed in Khenmet to recuperate from his injuries. The frontline commander, Hardedef, was seriously injured and had yet to return to the frontline. Gabriel was temporarily appointed to lead the An-Ra Legion to follow the Uruk legion's retreat route and 'send' them out of the country. Isis and the Horus Legion flanked the Uruk Legion on the left and right flanks. If a battle broke out, they would converge for a pincer attack.
Rod-dick led the remnants of the Legion of Sète and organized the people who had retreated to the rear to return to their homes. The Geb legion was responsible for providing support to the rest of the army and organizing logistics. Agang's orders were clear. If the Uruk Legion retreated from Eygut, there was no need to fight. The An-Ra Legion followed them out of the country and watched them leave from the desert.
Ah didn't want to fight anymore, and neither did Gilgamesh. In any case, the Uruk Legion would retreat regardless of whether they fought or not. What was the point of adding more casualties? If he was too ruthless, and Gilgamesh regained his composure and launched an enraged counterattack, Eygut's losses would outweigh the gains. The Uruk army was only retreating, not fleeing.
Ah dispatched an army to escort the Uruk Legion out of the country, while Rod-dick sent his men to clean up the lost territory. There was still a lot of work to be done. Ah then ordered two documents to be sent. One was to report the "victory" to Pharaoh, and the other was to be sent to the Uruk Legion to mourn the death of Enkidu, the number one warrior of the continent, and also to comfort Gilgamesh.
When the clerk heard the commander-in-chief's order, he was shocked. Although he was good at writing, he didn't know how to write this document, so he specifically asked for the commander-in-chief's opinion. "No matter who the opponent is, Enkidu sacrificed himself on the battlefield. He is a respectable warrior. If we have such a warrior in our legion, how are you going to write a eulogy? Apart from those praises for the gods, write it however you want. "
The clerk had a bitter expression, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. Rod-dick happened to take over and said, "Commander-in-chief, leave this matter to me. It won't damage the dignity of you and the Empire of Eygut, and it will also show the proper magnanimity."
Rod-dick personally wrote a eulogy, praising Enkidu's strength and bravery. He even mentioned the most important achievements in his life. He ordered his men to engrave it on a golden tablet and sent it to the Uruk Legion. Using pure gold to engrave the eulogy was the grandest form of condolence between nobles.
When some nobles died, their descendants might be poor, so this kind of condolence was also a form of support. The golden tablet symbolized the ancestor's achievements. Even if they committed a crime and lost their family property, these things would not be confiscated. Some descendants might be too embarrassed to melt the golden tablet and use it, so when they sent the tablet, they would use a golden plate. Even if they kept the golden tablet, the plate would still be worth a lot of gold.
Over time, this became the grandest form of condolence between nobles. Some people might use it as a bribe, while others might not want anything from the deceased family and just wanted to express their sincere condolences. Now, Rod-dick was doing this for Ah. Although Enkidu didn't need the gold, he deserved this kind of respect.
Ah fought three times against Enkidu, but he never won. Each time, he was surrounded by danger. Even though Enkidu was dead, he was still the strongest and most respectable opponent that Ah had ever met.
As for the report that the clerk wrote to Pharaoh, it was naturally voluminous. He even wrote two copies in Hieroglyphs and secular languages, the content and format slightly different. Under the protection of the great God Horus, the Eygut Army fought bravely and defeated the powerful Uruk Legion. They killed countless enemies and forced the Gilgamesh Army to flee.
The tyrannical warrior Enkidu died in the wrath of God. The commander-in-chief, Ah, personally went to the frontlines and was the first to charge in the decisive battle. His fighting spirit and bravery summoned the gods, who cursed and punished him, killing Enkidu in the battle. Ah was seriously injured, but he persisted in commanding the frontlines. He only vomited blood and fainted after victory.
In fact, there was no need for the clerk to deliberately announce it. Tens of thousands of soldiers had seen what happened on the battlefield with their own eyes, and all kinds of speculations had already spread in the army. Horus did appear during the battle between Ah and Enkidu. As for the black vortex and the thunderbolt, it should also be a miracle. Ah had used his burning fighting spirit to summon the gods. That was the only explanation!
After the two battles against the Hittite Army and the Uruk Legion, Ah's prestige in the Eygut Army was unparalleled. His name even spread far and wide across the continent. After the three battles against the Uruk Legion, the commander-in-chief could actually summon the gods and become a military god in the eyes of the Eygut Army! Especially in a direct force like the An-Ra Legion, Ah's prestige had even surpassed that of the gods.
The Uruk Legion retreated quickly, leaving the border and crossing the desert back to Uruk City. On the other hand, the An-Ra Legion not only pushed past the border, but also into the middle of the desert before returning. This result was naturally seen by Pharaoh and Lasith Ii as a great victory!
Pharaoh even sent a special envoy to ask if they could take advantage of the Uruk Legion's retreat to cross the desert and punish the Uruk Legion for their invasion. Fortunately, Pharaoh had only asked and not given a direct order. At least he was not completely out of his mind. The frontline generals unanimously sent a letter to advise Pharaoh to stop while they were ahead.
After a long battle, the soldiers were exhausted and in urgent need of recuperation. They could still fight back when the Uruk Legion was at their borders, but now that the enemy had been heavily injured and had retreated, they could not launch another expedition in the short term. Not only the frontline generals, but even the ministers around Pharaoh did not agree to continue the expedition. This battle had already saved the face of the Empire of Eygut. If the expedition failed, it would truly be a huge blow to the national strength.
Seeing that there was no support, Pharaoh could not personally go into battle. He could only give up on this idea and order a grand celebration ceremony to be held in Cape States.
With the war over, the soldiers were eager to return home. In the month before the Uruk Legion retreated to the Kingdom of Bablon, Ah was still acting as the commander-in-chief of the battlefield. However, he could not be bothered to manage the affairs anymore. He stayed in Khenmet under the pretext of recuperating from his injuries and did not follow the army to the border.
There were plenty of mages in the army, and with Ah's current reputation and status, he could even ask supreme mages to take turns to treat his injuries. However, there was nothing that could be treated for his injuries. He was not sick, nor was he in pain. His body and blood vessels were undamaged. Even the most brilliant of blessings could only make him more awake and healthy. As a supreme warrior, he was already strong enough.
However, Ah had lost his strength. It was not the feeling of exhaustion or exhaustion, nor was it the feeling of exhaustion and weakness that came from overexertion of physical strength and spirit. As a supreme warrior, he still maintained a strong physique and agility. His physical strength and endurance were also far beyond that of an ordinary person. As a supreme sorcerer, his senses were much sharper than before, and he could still train as usual. Not only did he not lose the achievements he had made, but he had also become even more profound.
The so-called profoundness referred to the fact that Amon, in his daily life, was able to experience the feeling that he had only experienced when meditating. This was the realm that only an eighth-level mage could achieve. Only in this way could he unleash supreme magic instantaneously at will.
However, on the other hand, other than sensing abilities like detection magic, Ah could not circulate any magical power. Apart from the power that he possessed, Ah could not communicate with and manipulate the energy between heaven and earth like he usually did. He had lost the magical power that he had always relied on. This feeling was like a baby bird that was used to flying, but had inexplicably lost its wings and could only walk on its own feet.
Ah was very sleepy. All of this happened after Enkidu's death. When the black vortex tore open the sky, his strange sensing ability had been in a state of uncontrollable disorder. He was also too focused on studying everything that was happening on the battlefield, so he had exhausted his magical power and was injured. Now, his injury had healed, but his power had not recovered. Could it be that he had suffered some kind of strange, unknown injury?
People said that Enkidu died from the divine punishment of Horus, but Ah saw more, and of course had more questions. If Horus could kill Enkidu in this way, then when the huge eagle first appeared, it would not have been scattered by Enkidu's sword, and the morale of Eygut's army was greatly reduced.
Enkidu's last words were to Gilgamesh, "This is not the curse of the gods, but the judgment of fate!" Ah had been thinking about the meaning of these words.
Unfortunately, he could not get an answer, and he did not know when his power would recover. Every day, he persisted in practicing magic meditation as usual. He felt that he had broken through a realm, but he could not use his abilities. This situation reminded Ah of his own background, like that of a poor person in Duc.
Now, Ah had seen a lot. He was no longer the ignorant boy from the countryside. Recalling the past, he sighed with emotion. The town of Duc used to be the richest place on the continent. Any ragged miner could compare with the rich merchants of the various cities. But even though they had money, they couldn't buy the things they wanted.
Sealed in the wilderness, Duc was extremely short of resources. The land was very barren. The merchants could only bring some daily necessities, not luxury. A bottle of wine was dozens of times more expensive than outside. Apart from wine and clothes, there were no other goods. The miners only had a lot of parangons, and they were not allowed to leave without permission.
Ah walked out of Duc, but today, he seemed to have entered a strange cycle, and was faced with the same situation. As the Supreme General of the Empire, he had received the most generous rewards. He had a large territory, a prestige that could shake the continent, fame and fortune, and wealth. But under this incomparable splendor of glory, he was in the greatest predicament.
The strength that supported him until now was not the status and wealth. He had been exploring the path to become a god and unraveling the secrets of the gods. Not long ago, he had confirmed that his attempt was correct. The path was right under his feet. But now, he was faced with a test of the unknown. Once again, Ah felt that he was far from unraveling the secrets of the gods. Enkidu's words to Gilgamesh were also a hint to him.
Perhaps it was too early for Ah to think about this problem. At least, he had to get out of the current predicament. The biggest problem he faced was the danger to himself. Although he was high and mighty, he had lost the power to protect himself. Danger lurked everywhere. In the past, Ah was fearless no matter what difficulties he faced. But now? Could he still guide his people back to their homeland after losing his power? He could not even protect himself. Did he still have the ability?
No matter who it was, it was inevitable that he would overthink in such a situation, and Ah was no exception. Body and mind as one, Ah had experienced the feeling of fusion. It could change a person. Then, at this moment, would he lose his former self? On the night before he was to meet with Pharaoh, Ah was still quietly meditating under the starlight. He looked calm and serene, but his mind was somewhat restless.
Ah felt restless. Even with his eyes closed, he could still feel the flickering stars in the sky. Finally, he sighed and slowly opened his eyes. Then, he saw Schrödinger crouching in front of him.
Ah didn't reach out to hug it. Thinking of this cat's identity as a god, he felt a little awkward. In any case, she was a goddess. He had hugged her in his arms for several years. Schrödinger spoke: "Ah, your soul is full of trouble. Did Enkidu's death make you feel frustrated?"
Ah sighed: "Goliath once said that as a warrior, Enkidu was the most promising existence to surpass mortals. He was so powerful, but he was still destroyed. How could people not be discouraged? After witnessing Enkidu's death, the proud Gilgamesh no longer had the heart to fight. I can understand him very well. "
Schrödinger said unhurriedly: "No one knows what you are thinking and doing better than me. I know all your secrets. You are searching for the path to become a god. Nietzsche and Bell gave you the first guidance, and you finally saw hope in your lonely search. But Enkidu's death was a blow to you. Are you thinking about whether you want to bear the same fate? "
Ah silently nodded: "Yes, I won't hide it from you! Now that I can directly communicate with you through my soul, I'm afraid this is the only ability I have left. I have lost my extraordinary power. "
The cat tilted its head and looked at him. In a suggestive tone, it said: "Ah, do you have any questions to ask me? Don't think about it, just say the biggest question in your heart. "
Ah, I'm thinking about Enkidu's last words. What is the judgment of fate? "
Schrödinger's fur stood up slightly, and his body seemed to tremble. Then he replied: "It is the true self you have to face. It can't deceive anyone. It is the choice of fate, the judgment of the end of days. Ah, you don't have to think about it. You just need to find your own path. Even if you know it, it will be meaningless. If you understand it too clearly, you will not be able to reach that step. "
Ah asked suspiciously: "I don't quite understand what you mean."
Schrödinger: "People are prisoners of life. This is the prisoner's dilemma. If someone told you that not eating is the path to immortality, what would you do? "
Ah smiled bitterly: "I can't starve to death first. It's meaningless to say that."
The cat smiled bitterly like a human. "So you don't have to ask. I once hinted to Bell. I believe that Bell hinted to Nietzsche, and Nietzsche should have also hinted to you. You just need to remember what Nietzsche said. … The power you practice will have to face today's choice. This is also one of the tests of fate. If you want to become a god, you must first answer a question. Who are you? Is it just the power? "
Hearing Schrödinger's words, Ah suddenly remembered Crazy 'Ole's last message in the Terroculus: "When you become a supreme sorcerer, you will have unprecedented power. This power is integrated into your body and mind as if you were born with it. But one day, you may face a dilemma: Is everything you have you? If so, who is the person who also has everything? Why are you you? If you lose everything, will you also lose yourself? This is my last hint to you. I'm sorry that I can't teach you more. Good luck, child! "
This was clearly a description of his current situation, and also a hint to him how to face it. Nietzsche's highest achievement in his life was to become an eighth-level sorcerer. Obviously, he had experienced this test. This was also the last hint he could leave to Ah. But strangely, in the Temple of Isis's ancient books, there was no such clear record.
Ah closed his eyes and silently pondered for a long time, reflecting on the meaning of Nietzsche's words. Meanwhile, Schrödinger was squatting in front of him, looking at him. When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Ah finally opened his eyes. As usual, he reached out and hugged Schrödinger, stroking his furry back. "Thank you. Although I don't know how to restore my power, at least I can calm my soul."
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