The old voice of Maltheus stopped the knights' riot, and the withered staff tapped softly on the ground: "There is still a knight who has not yet experienced the trial of the Radiant Cross, the Radiant Cross, and has not abandoned the humans of the north, and we still have hope, gentlemen!"

"With all due respect, Lord Malcius. Terenus walked out slowly, his face solemn: "Whether it is Her Royal Highness Helena, or the Duke of Bran, the princes of the Kwyn River, and all the excellent knights, all without exception...... Failed! All failed!"

When he said of failure, the corners of Terenus's mouth couldn't help but twitch: "And the remaining adults have also given up the right to draw their swords, and there is no one left...... I can still go to this holy test!"

"Hope is not lost, Honorable Knight of the Dawn. Maltheus bowed respectfully: "Among the adults present, there is still one who has not given up this right. ”

"The commander of the north, whose territory has a blue sea that never freezes, and whose army is as tenacious as an iron wall, who revives ruined cities, defends the hope of Zuihou, and fights in all directions, but not once for the sake of greedy desire, glory and mercy accompany him, generosity and blood are swayed at his feet. A wonderful smile appeared on Malcius's old face: "Weishenme, what about not exercising your power? Theodore Julian, Caesar of Rome?"

In the quiet square, the knights involuntarily parted from the middle, and Theodore Julian, who had been standing in the crowd, suddenly became the center of attention, only Elendil and Valence stood behind him, motionless to defend their lord.

"Valens. Theodore's call caused the captain of the guard to bow his head immediately: "Command, my Caesar, the knight of the guard obey your will and all orders!"

"Will you be willing to protect me forever, no matter what happens?" Theodore's voice was soft: "Always offer me your loyalty, never betray and never abandon me." ”

"Forever, as long as my heart is still beating!" the corners of Valens' mouth twitched slightly: "Your order." It is my actions, my sword forever wielded only for you, my Caesar. ”

"Although it is a bit cheeky to say this. Elendil smiled, "But if it were for you, and for Her Highness Helena, I would do anything, my Caesar." ”

“xiexie。 Theodore stepped forward calmly, confused, puzzled, complicated, and tangled...... All kinds of eyes were on him, and people wanted him to succeed because he was a man who had the right to draw a sword, and people didn't want to see him succeed because Theodore Julian was a Roman.

The breeze is blowing. The afterglow of the evening sunset shone on the sword of the glorious cross, the black scabbard reflected the brilliance of the sunset, Theodore gently stretched out his right hand, tightly grasped the simple hilt of the sword, and the melodious singing voice came from his ears, so that Theodore couldn't help but close his eyes, there was no darkness, and the light of the morning sun shot into the eye sockets.

I closed my eyes? No, I just opened my eyes again. Which side of himself is in the dream? Theodore couldn't tell the difference. Life is a wonderful dream, maybe the shijie in the sleep is real? maybe not, maybe, it's all a dream.

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"Welcome back. Youngster. Welcome to your second visit. The old man's hearty voice made Theodore couldn't help but turn his head, and the familiar face made him dumbfounded: "How could it be you?!"

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Jupiter, who was worshipped as the god-king, said very easily and intimately: "On the sword you touched. It seems that there is a very powerful liliang that can connect a person's consciousness with his heart, and you have had such an experience. Naturally, it came to me. ”

"You mean that the Radiant Cross has a liliang that allows people to touch their hearts?" Diodore frowned and sat lightly on the side of the god-king.

"It's not all. He shook his head with a smile: "The traces left by the gods always have all kinds of unimaginable liliang, because it represents the collective consciousness of Shijie, the sustenance of countless living beings, but it can indeed make people touch their own hearts and reflect on themselves." If it is some of the more stubborn people, they will even lose themselves because of it -- the advice that people do not want to hear is the advice of their own hearts, and the reason for this, as a human being, you know better than me, do you still need me to explain?"

"Because the heart of a child is the purest and most immaculate thing on this shijie. Theodore smiled a little sarcastically: "We always live in hypocrisy, and no one dares to let himself be naked. ”

"Looks like you've got it. He nodded knowingly: "Well, I think the reason why you are here must be very clear, right, young man." ”

"I need it, and without becoming the emperor of men, it is impossible for Rome to have the qualifications to lead the north. Theodore said in a deep voice, his eyes staring at the old man in front of him: "The orcs are already very powerful, if they can't join forces, the humans don't have the strength to fight against them at all." ”

"Oh, you're right, from a Roman point of view, maybe I should help you. The old man nodded thoughtfully, but soon a very mysterious smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he squinted at Theodore: "But, weishenme, I don't think that's what you think?"

"Uhh zuihou could only turn back helplessly, and the smile on the old man's face became thicker and thicker.

"This ...... It's not fair!" After thinking for a long time, Theodore could only say this, pushed away the chair and stood up by himself, staring straight into the old man's eyes: "Yes, you can see what you want to see, but it doesn't mean that you can do it at will...... Casual ......"

"I don't mean to laugh, it's nothing, huh?" the old man waved his hand amusedly: "I think you just think that these two things can be done together, so you dress yourself up more righteously." ”

"I like her!"

The old man, who was startled by this sudden sound, was stunned for a moment, and looked at Theodore slowly and leisurely, with a smile in his eyes, as if he was locked in a steamer, and said a little self-defeatingly: "I just like her, I love her! I'd like to be if I could... Give what I can!"

"I've done too much...... I was forced to do something helpless. Theodore sat back in his chair: "Now think about it. The most terrifying day was when he first became Theodore Julian. Fear, fear, and then slowly becoming natural, zuihou...... Thoroughly and the past Yi Cangqiong said baibai. ”

"So, at least this time, let me choose. Theodore laughed a little self-deprecatingly: "I don't want to see her sad, I want to give her a stable and comfortable life." If I could, I would also like her to live happily and proudly with glory. ”

"I can help you. But the price is heavy!" Jupiter stood up with a serious expression: "If you want to pull out this sword called 'Radiant Cross', or let the consciousness within this sword surrender to you, there are only two choices. ”

"There is no doubt that the reason why those gods left it in the first place was to leave this shijie with hope of zuihou. Shijie with broken rules will become vulnerable to the invasion of foreign lives and races, so a strong Liliang checks and balances are necessary. The old man said, "So there are three kinds of liliang attached to this sword—courage, sacrifice, and fearlessness." From the beginning, this sword was not something that one person could own. ”

"But this is obviously not suitable for your situation right now, so we will use another - borrow my liliang to give you the possibility of holding the Radiant Cross in your hand. The old man raised his head a little arrogantly: "I am the source of light, the lord of heaven and earth! It will allow you to draw this Excalibur with ease. ”

"But. The old man's words changed: "If you want to borrow my liliang, you must also make sacrifices...... It's a swap. In ancient times, many heroes prayed to the gods to save their homes and received powerful liliang. Drove away the evil shili. ”

"But none of them will live long. Theodore said in silence: "They have exchanged their lives for divine power that is strong enough to be able to defeat a hundred. ”

This is not the stinginess of the gods, but the necessity of answering the call. The old man nodded: "You can think clearly before making a decision, in fact, there is no need to be in such a hurry." Perhaps Rome of this generation was no match for the Orcs. But we can recuperate for a few hundred years, and then it will all be none of your business. ”

"Go to the north, go to the north and rebuild your homeland. The old man whispered, "The people there are very kind to Rome. And simple and hospitable. The barbarians huddled in the Misty Mountains may also be a threat, but they are much safer than the orcs. ”

"If that's the case, I'd rather die. Theodore replied calmly, "You already know my choice, don't you?"

"I will help you. The old man smiled: "Do what I can." ”

“xiexie。 Theodore nodded, smiled, turned around, and walked towards the morning light, only to feel that everything around him began to blur, like a dream, and memories began to appear illusory.

Suddenly, Theodore stopped and turned away, and the old man sat there with a kind face. He opened his mouth and asked with an inexplicable feeling, "Are you Jupiter, or my heart?"

"Every human being will worship a god in their hearts. The old man smiled: "But not every god will respond to the prayers and wishes of the believers. ”

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With a white starlight, and a sonorous grinding sound. Little by little, the radiant cross was pulled out of its sheath by Theodore, and the bright blade of the sword was pulled out of the sparkle of the stars, and the afterglow of the evening was completely obscured by it at once.

Beside Theodore, a strong wind swept up on the flat ground, and purple dazes swung in the wind. The right hand, which grasped the hilt of the sword, was slowly raised above his head, and the light of the stars shone on the faces of all the knights.

"In the name of Theodore Julian......" he said calmly, his eyes slightly widened, "I am the Emperor of Men!" (to be continued......