CHAPTER 334: CHAPTER 165: ASCENDING THE THRONE AS AUGUSTUS (UNIFICATION)

Monotheism is so, and so is Polytheism.

Duncan looked down at the Crow Queen—Triss, who was kneeling on one knee before him, and slowly reached out to take the crown symbolizing the emperor of the empire, placing it directly on his own head.

At this moment.

He was the emperor of the empire.

He was Duncan Caesar Augustus.

Above the clouds.

Without knowing when, a phantom invisible to mortal eyes gradually emerged. First to appear were the Guardian Fairies of Avalon; Tethys’s appearance changed once more, transforming from the original youthful and enchanting Lake Fairy into the image of a dignified and loving matron in her thirties. Behind her, the Guardian Fairies shed a bit of their allure, becoming more dignified and filled with a maternal aura.

Next, the Divine Spirit of Minerva-Athena appeared.

Her phantom gazed at Duncan in front of the Pantheon, her expression complex, seemingly not expecting a mortal to reach such heights, helping a fallen pantheon to be revived. Finally, she removed the crown of victory, offering it as if in reverence to Duncan. The crown transformed into a stream of light, merging into the world’s burgeoning fate of this newborn empire.

Creak.

The heavy doors opened.

After being sealed for decades, the doors of the Pantheon slowly opened, and the figures of the Polytheistic Priests entered in a steady stream. They were excited and swiftly cleaned the dust before the Crow Queen—Triss handed a torch to Duncan.

With a crown upon his head, Duncan placed his right hand on the Oathkeeper Longsword and took the torch with his left hand, throwing it into the altar ahead.

Boom!

A roaring sacred fire ignited.

The Olympian fire, extinguished for decades, rekindled. Statues long sealed in dust seemed to regain a faint glow, most notably the statue of Diana-Artemis, which for a moment seemed to have a beautiful divine phantom gazing at Duncan, who rekindled the sacred fire.

Duncan spoke slowly, issuing his first edict as emperor of the empire: "Restore the Olympic Games!"

"The Olympic torch will begin in Athens, Greece, spreading throughout the entire empire’s territory."

Boom!

Duncan’s voice seemed to intervene with some law, for in the distant Balkan Peninsula, in the city-states of Greece, Athens, a flame ignited out of nowhere.

Golden Words, spoken becomes law.

With the authority of the emperor of the empire, Duncan made the long-extinguished Olympic flame suddenly blaze intensely. In the temple of Athens, the aura of the Holy Sanctuary gradually spread.

The Olympic Games restarted!

Although the Greek Polytheism could no longer return to its past glory, as the Olympic Games proceeded, the factions within the pantheon’s camp would reshuffle.

But Duncan did not stop.

When the emperor of the empire arrived at the Pantheon, those citizens of the empire who believed in Monotheism felt a slight unease since Monotheism had been disseminated for so long and Polytheism simply could not compete. They were unwilling to convert back to Polytheism.

If the emperor favored Polytheism, they feared future religious persecution.

The Roman Papal Court.

The figure of the Crow Queen—Triss had retreated at some unknown time, and many bishops greeted the arrival of the emperor of the empire. Of course, surrounding them were countless generals and personal guards, their cold gazes scrutinizing everyone present.

Pope Leo I rose without expression, then gazed at Saint Patrick ahead, slowly picking up the papal crown beside him.

Duncan, holding the Oathkeeper, walked up the steps one step at a time.

Under the gaze of countless church priests and believers, he took the papal crown from Pope Leo I’s hands and slowly placed it on Saint Patrick’s head.

"In the name of Augustus!"

"I appoint Saint Patrick as the next pope!"

On this day, Leo I abdicated, and Saint Patrick I became the new pope.

Under the watchful eyes of all.

Clang.

Duncan slowly drew the Oathkeeper Longsword. This seemingly ordinary steel longsword suddenly shone with brilliance visible to the naked eye. For a moment, it was as if surrounded by Holy Song, and above the Roman Papal Court, phantoms of angels appeared, causing numerous believers, hermits, and priests to tremble in excitement and kneel devoutly.

But it all felt like an illusion. When others raised their heads, everything seemed to have vanished.

The foundation of Monotheism’s faith was still too strong.

Even as the mythical tide ebbed, Monotheism still displayed instantaneous miracles, completely overshadowing the Pantheon kindled anew by Duncan.

In the direction of the Pantheon.

The Crow Queen—Triss gazed at the fleeting Gate of Heaven and angelic phantoms, sighing softly, fearing that in hundreds of years, Monotheism would still overshadow Polytheism completely. Although there would be no bloody religious conflicts, Polytheism simply could not compete.

Duncan’s figure emerged from the Roman Papal Court, and when he looked northward, he saw Valkyries circling in mid-air.

The Valkyries appeared for the first time outside a battlefield.

They appeared not to take away the souls of fallen warriors, but rather to offer a gift to Duncan—a dragon-shaped horn transformed into light and vanished. Subsequently, at the end of sight, phantoms of the Nordic gods appeared, with one-eyed Odin gazing at Duncan. Behind Him were phantoms of Thor, Freya, and other Nordic deities.

Great Germania could not resist the rise of the new-born empire.

The Nordic gods must also seek change, finding their path for continuation between Monotheism and the Greek pantheon.