Chapter 377: Ascension to Godhood (The End of the Lord of the Rings World)
[As Sauron's lair, Mordor was the very embodiment of an impregnable fortress. Three sides were surrounded by mountains, its back pressed against the Shadow Mountains and the Ash Mountains, with only a narrow pass in the middle—where a mighty stronghold had been built: the City of Sorcery. Another mountain cleft leading into Mordor was even more perilous, known as the Spider Pass, where the last offspring of the ancient evil spirit Ungoliant, the monstrous spider Shelob, lurked—ever ravenous to devour all living beings.]
[But beneath your two colossal Titan Arks, the City of Sorcery was no longer an unassailable bastion. Even though Sauron sent all nine of the Nazgûl to command Mordor's armies in its defense, you broke through their lines with ease. The Witch-king of Angmar, leader of the Nazgûl, wielded a longsword wreathed in flame and a spiked mace, astride a dragon-like beast corrupted by evil, his magic capable of unleashing devastating destruction. Yet before you, he was nothing. With only a slight gesture, the dense darkness you had analyzed from the Dark Puppet Osiris bound all the Nazgûl where they stood—utterly powerless.]
[The subsequent campaign was remarkably easy. In just six days, Sauron, who had been hiding in Dol Guldur, was left with nowhere to run and was forced to surrender.]
[Though Sauron's very name in Middle-earth was synonymous with treachery, you still accepted his allegiance. You could tell that, after losing his physical form, Sauron had taken great interest in mechanized bodies. From him, you also obtained all Nine Rings of Men and six of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves—but instead of claiming them, you used them as research materials for experimentation.]
[It must be said, Sauron was a perceptive and pragmatic being. After returning with you to Iron Mountain City, he was the quickest among the captives to learn Chinese characters, even voluntarily assisting in the analysis of the Nazgûl and the crafting techniques of the Rings of Power. Having lived for over six millennia, his vast knowledge rivaled even your own.]
[In April of the year 2798, with Sauron's help, you established a Council of Knowledge, inviting the most learned minds across Middle-earth to join. Current members include you, Saruman, Sauron, and Thranduil. Saruman even extended an invitation to Gandalf, but he refused, believing that a righteous man should not consort with Sauron.]
[Meanwhile, in the world of Azeroth, your expansion brought you further satisfaction. Through both wealth and diplomacy, you recruited the human sorceress Aegwynn—said to be the most powerful human mage in Azeroth's history. Even she could not resist the allure of science and knowledge, and joined the Council of Knowledge.]
[With the aid of these five individuals, your understanding of wisdom deepened, and your insight into the nature of life grew clearer. You also grasped advanced methods for creating extraordinary equipment, realizing there was still much left to learn ahead—you acquired a new life skill: Ceremonial Attire Crafting (Beginner).]
[After conquering Mordor, your gaze turned to other realms. Your territory expanded rapidly as you unified Middle-earth. During this period, you no longer led armies personally; instead, the great dragon Smaug led the charge, with Sauron, Saruman, and the Nazgûl as his claws and fangs.]
[By the end of 2799, your eyes finally settled on Gondor and Rohan. This time, you personally led the Titan Arks into battle, assembling your elite forces to launch a full-scale war against both kingdoms. You were certain that the Elves, the steadfast allies of mankind, would not stand idly by—perhaps this would be the decisive war to end all resistance.]
[Gondor and Rohan, though once mighty, were shadows of their former selves. Centuries had passed since the disappearance of Gondor's last king, Eärnur, and the Stewards had long ruled in his stead, leaving the nation mired in turmoil. Yet faced with your advance, the Gondorians cast aside all division, even reforging Narsil, the sword broken in the war against Sauron, vowing to fight to the bitter end—thus was born the saying: "When the sword is reforged, the King shall return."]
[Once the war began, resistance was fiercer than ever before. The valor of Gondor's warriors and the cavalry of Rohan were truly impressive. As you expected, Elrond, lord of Rivendell, and Galadriel, lady of Lothlórien, also arrived at the battlefield.]
[Elrond and Galadriel each wielded one of the three Elven Rings—Vilya, the Ring of Air, and Nenya, the Ring of Water. Their power was formidable. Galadriel, in particular, was the mightiest Elf of the Third Age, once a leader among the rebellious Noldor. Yet before you, all resistance was meaningless. A mere thought from you shattered their lines.]
[And so you did. You effortlessly crushed Gondor's defenses, seizing Steward Denethor in your grasp. Before your eyes, the so-called Sword of Narsil was worthless—you snapped it in half with ease.]
[Your subordinates—Smaug, Sauron, and Saruman—stood at the pinnacle of Middle-earth, not to mention the many professionals from Azeroth. Aegwynn alone was an insurmountable wall to your enemies… The battle raged for over ten hours—bows twanged, blades clashed, cannons roared—it was the bloodiest conflict Middle-earth had ever known.]
[At last, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, perished in battle. Elrond fled grievously wounded, and Galadriel was captured. Fewer than one in ten of your enemies survived. But it was worth it—after this campaign, you had unquestionably unified all of Middle-earth!]
[On January 1, 2800, you ascended the throne in human form, becoming King of Kings over Middle-earth. From that day forth, the Mechanist Church you founded became the continent's sole religion. Day and night, you received the worship of your subjects. As you claimed the title of King of Kings, you also coined a new foreign term—"Emperor." From then on, this word became the highest aspiration of all kings across Middle-earth. (Milestone achieved: First Emperor.)]
[From 2800 to 2840, following the example of the legendary Emperor, you unified the written script, measurements, and currency, and burned all useless books. You suppressed all remaining dissent, ruling Middle-earth with an iron hand. By deciphering Titan relics from Ulduar and Uldaman, you finally unraveled the mysteries of life itself, perfecting the union of science and faith. You had evolved to the very limit of technology—becoming the ultimate lifeform.]
[You also granted the wishes of your loyal followers, mechanizing their bodies. Except for Thranduil, Sauron, Saruman, Briviv Stonefist, and Bix were all successfully transformed. Even Smaug became a mechanical dragon of immense power.]
[From 2840 to 2900, at Sauron's suggestion, your gaze turned to the Blessed Lands—Valinor, said to be the dwelling place of the Valar, divine beings whom Sauron claimed were invincible within the material realm.]
[Truly invincible? The war between men and gods lasted sixty years—but in the end, it was you who laughed last. Though the Valar were immortal, before one who had mastered the essence of life itself, such immortality meant nothing. You imprisoned their souls within cages—perhaps only at the world's end would they return to the Creator, Ilúvatar.]
[Before and after this war, Ilúvatar never appeared. Perhaps He had, unseen. Or perhaps He had already fallen. Either way, it no longer concerned you.]
[After conquering Valinor, you gathered the full strength of your empire to build a colossal fortress of steel in the heavens, transforming it into your divine kingdom. Through it, you could hear the voices of all your people and defend against foreign invaders from other realms.]
[In the years that followed, you remained seated within your divine kingdom, listening to the prayers of all beings. Your thoughts, like a vast web, spanned every corner of your empire, unceasing, day and night. Now, like the legendary First Emperor, you possessed a godlike mind capable of predicting every citizen's life and judging their fate. In a sense—you had become a god walking among men.]
[On September, 2920, in the blink of an eye, you and your divine kingdom vanished from Middle-earth. Before you stretched a brilliant, dazzling new world—your journey had only just begun.]