Mythology: Ragnarok

Chapter 318 Farewell

The two exchanged a smile. Indeed, their friendship over the years needed no further explanation. Xuan Yuan Muze, watching them, was deeply moved by their bond. At that moment, Xuan Yuan Muze took out the "Human Faces" book and offered it to Stokkov, asking, "Could you sign this for me?"

Stukov readily agreed, "Of course, my friend." With that, Stukov took the book and took out a carbon pen he always carried with him. As he wrote, he seemed to become young again, his pen moving with powerful strokes, creating his own unique artistic signature. But when he finished writing, the pen fell limply from Stukov's hand. In a daze, he seemed to experience the process of growing old again, and Xuan Yuan Muze knew that this was a soul unwilling to grow old, struggling desperately.

Xuanyuan Muze took the book from Stokkov's hands, and then suddenly asked out of the blue, "What do you think of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races? Or do you still think... it's worth your love?"

Stokkov slowly maneuvered the medical bed to lay him down. He stared at the ceiling as if pondering the question that Xuan Yuan Muze had suddenly raised. After a while, Stokkov answered in a somewhat weak voice.

"No matter how many times you ask me this question, I will still tell you with absolute certainty that I still love this country until the day I die."

I cannot describe to you the place he holds in my heart. It is strange, for I am a literary writer, and I should use all my knowledge and vocabulary to describe to you the most magnificent words and phrases to express his greatness and immortality in my heart.

But... I can't say it. I find that all my learning in my life is insufficient to describe it to you, because no words are worthy of it. I can only tell you.

I would gladly be born in this country, and I would gladly die in this country. I am overjoyed because I was born here, and I am filled with regret because I cannot give anything to it until I die. I am deeply saddened because I know I will soon leave it, but I am helpless because such is the way of the world. If there is an afterlife, I would like to become a gentle breeze and blow over every blade of grass and tree in my hometown again, to relive this world that is as brilliant as the stars.

I have no regrets about being born into this world; I will return in the next life to ask about this place again…

As he spoke, Stukov's voice grew weaker and weaker until it disappeared completely. Seeing this, Agreed walked over, grabbed his hand, and said, "Old barbarian? Don't scare me, you're not ready yet."

As if jolted awake by this, Stukov, who had already closed his eyes, suddenly woke up. He then coughed violently, waved his hand helplessly, and said, "I can't take it anymore. It seems I really can't hold on. But... cough cough cough, I have one last question in my mind. Ethan, cough cough... can you give me the truth?"

Agreed held his hand and said, "Tell me, I will definitely tell you everything I know."

Stokoff asked slowly, "Who...who are you? You've never aged. I know you...are not human, much less one of us ordinary people. Who...are you?"

Agreed didn't speak. He reached out with his right hand and a black vortex appeared. From the vortex, he pulled out a sword, the 'Supreme Sword' that Milton had given him years ago. In the Kingdom of All Races, this sword was the only proof of the emperor's status. As long as the common people saw this sword, they would know that the person in front of them was the elusive Dragon God of Destruction, 'Nidhogg'.

Upon seeing the sword, Stukov laughed and then shouted excitedly, "I knew it! I knew it! Thank you for coming to see me off on my final journey. It is my greatest honor!"

Agreed sheathed the sword and said with some guilt, "I'm sorry, I can't... grant you people immortality, but... you could actually live much longer."

Stukov shook his head and comforted him, "I understand. Didn't you make it very clear when we chose to have the anti-aging injection? You don't need to feel guilty. You did nothing wrong. Thank you for coming here, my... Dragon God!" As he spoke, Stukov laboriously raised his hands and slowly grasped Agreed's arms. Then, the strength in his hands began to weaken and eventually fell limply to his sides.

Stokkov left. He came into this world without regrets, and he left without regrets either. He left quietly, just as he came quietly, waving his sleeves without taking away a single cloud.

Agreed silently finished preparing Stokkov's body. At this moment, Xuan Yuan Muze, who was standing to the side, asked, "What will happen to his body?"

Argreed replied calmly, “Like all the old people in the Kingdom of All Races, they will be taken away by necromancers and turned into undead to work in the fields or mines until their bones are worn down to the point of being unable to move.”

At this moment, Xuanyuan Muze could no longer hold back and stood up angrily, shouting, "Why did you persecute them like this?! You tyrant, he could have lived much longer! You stole his future, and even after death you will enslave him? Do you have any conscience at all?! How could the people of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races allow you to wantonly desecrate the bones of their fathers?!"

Argreed turned to face Xuan Yuan Muze and said with a clear conscience, "I did not force them to take the Longevity Needles. Although I personally formulated and developed the Longevity Elixir, I never forced them to use it. It was their own choice."

On the fiftieth birthday of every citizen of the Kingdom of Myriad Races who is over fifty, a salesman will come to their door with this magic potion. The salesman will not persuade them to use it, but will explain its advantages and disadvantages to let the elders of the Kingdom of Myriad Races know that such a thing exists, and then will leave politely.

Almost all the elderly won't accept it on the first try, but they quickly come to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races, begging us to inject them with the anti-aging needle. They know it's harmful, so why do they still get it? And this 'poison' that will hasten their death isn't cheap; one injection costs two thousand gold coins. Frankly, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Races makes a considerable amount of money a year just from selling this stuff. Why can't they refuse a chance to be young again?

Xuan Yuan Muze shouted resolutely, "Because you're misleading them, you're selling them drugs! Why? These elderly people haven't done anything wrong, why are you depriving them of their right to live?! When you hold the gold coins they earned with their lives in your hands, don't you feel even a shred of shame?!"