"I gained the ability to control fire, and the ministers knelt on the ground, saying that I was the messenger of Ahura Mazda and possessed powerful divine power. Then, I used fire to burn to death all those who disobeyed me. Then, I led the army to burn to death the rebellious Azerbaijanis, the Egyptians, and the entire city of Babylon. I would burn to death all those who dared to rebel."
Xerxes said this and sighed.
Hilde also nodded.
"Is this how you stabilized the Persian Empire?"
"correct."
"Oh……"
Hilde was speechless.
However, the situation of the Persian Empire was not very good at that time. Without such thunderous means, there was really no way to fix the Persian Empire with internal and external troubles. So, Hilde could only nod thoughtfully and continued: "Then, the little flame in your heart slowly grew bigger. Now, is it starting to erode your body?"
"Correct."
Xerxes smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"My power has grown stronger with time, but I can also gradually hear a strange voice in my heart. I can tell that the voice comes from Lord Ahura Mazda. He told me his intentions and gave me the power to rule the Persian Empire. However, one day, I will become the medium to welcome him back to this world. I will sacrifice myself in exchange for Lord Ahura Mazda to come to this world."
"why?"
Hilde was a little puzzled.
And Xerxes replied helplessly.
“He wants to purify the world.”
Chapter 3, Section 8: Saving the Persian Empire
Purify the world?
These childish words came out of Xerxes' mouth.
But it doesn't sound good at all.
Ahura Mazda is the highest god in the entire Zoroastrianism, and he can even be said to be the only god in the Persian Empire. His status is even higher than that of Zeus in Greek mythology. In this case, Ahura Mazda actually wants to devour his oracle, and then use the oracle's body as a medium to return to the human world. Then, he actually wants to purify the world. Doesn't this mean destroying the world?
Hild didn't know much about Zoroastrianism, but at least he knew that the description of Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrianism introduced this god, who was not only the god of fire, but also the god of kindness and truth. In Persian Zoroastrianism, gods were not human, but purely divine beings. Therefore, Ahura Mazda's purification of the world was something he could do.
"Why, why?"
Hilde was quite surprised.
“Why do we need to purify this world?”
"In the eyes of Lord Ahura Mazda, the human world is full of all kinds of sins. This world has fallen into the abyss of sin, everyone lives in sin, everyone is cruel, and kindness has disappeared from this earth. Therefore, Ahura Mazda will judge this world. When he comes, he will lead the Persian army to sweep across the world, leaving no grass wherever he goes."
Xerxes couldn't help but sigh.
"I am really helpless."
"That……"
Hilde knew it all too well.
Xerxes wasn't kidding at all.
This must be true.
If the true god Ahura Mazda were to come down to earth, there would probably be no one in this world who could rival Ahura Mazda.
It was hard to say whether the Greek gods would resist Ahura Mazda, but Hilde was still their enemy. As a result, her most solid ally Xerxes told her about this, which was really unexpected for Hilde. However, Hilde did not panic, but took a deep breath and asked:
"And at this time, how long will it take?"
"I don't know, but it should be a few years."
"Not a few years, but a few years?"
"It's possible that I will be gone in a few days, or maybe in a few months or years. I can't tell. Lord Ahura Mazda didn't give me any exact time, so I can't give you an accurate answer. That's it..." Xerxes gently stroked Hilde's face and said with a wry smile, "Although this doesn't seem fair to you, Sissi, I want you to know that although I used you, I love you, deeply, but...you are the only one who can save the whole of Persia from Lord Ahura Mazda."
"..."
Hilde looked into Xerxes' eyes.
The queen on high.
Now he is begging for Hilde's help.
What a sad thing this is.
Hilde smiled bitterly and asked, "Help? Save? I am already overwhelmed by the siege of the Greek gods. How can I help against Ahura Mazda... the supreme god of the Persian state religion?"
"Actually, I can be sure of one thing."
Xerxes said with a wry smile.
"Because Ahura Mazda needs my body to come into this world. He also needs my identity as the emperor to control the Persian Empire. Moreover, I am still fighting against Ahura Mazda. He wants to take my body, but I don't want to. But if I fail, I will really become Ahura Mazda... At that time, I hope you can defeat him with your own hands."
"How do I defeat it?"
"Quick victory."
Xerxes said very seriously:
"When Ahura Mazda first arrived in this world, his overall strength certainly could not reach a high level. Therefore, at that time, Ahura Mazda was not invincible. What you have to do is to defeat him and completely destroy his foundation in this world, which is me... As long as you defeat him, he will not return to this world within hundreds of years."
"…You mean, let me kill you?"
Hilde lowered her head.
Her voice was trembling as she spoke now.
"You want me to kill you?"
"No, you didn't kill me."
Xerxes immediately shook his head.
"If Ahura Mazda really took over my body, then I would no longer be Xerxes. I would be dead. And the one you want to kill is Ahura Mazda who took my body."
"you……"
Hilde snapped.
He pushed Xerxes directly onto the bed.
"Why are you telling me this now!!!"
"sorry."
"Is saying sorry any use? Now! Now! We finally got through Apollo's threat together, and now we have to fight against the entire Olympian Protoss. As long as we succeed, we will have a bright future! And you tell me now! You don't have many days left to live... I, I, I, you want me to kill Ahura Mazda who took your body with my own hands? But don't you know... Even if I know it was Ahura Mazda, it still requires me to kill the person I love the most!!!"
"sorry."
Xerxes turned his head.
I didn't dare to look Hilde in the eye.
When she said this, she had actually prepared herself mentally.
Hilde will definitely not accept it and will definitely feel very uncomfortable, which is understandable.
But, these words are not spoken.
When can I say it?
Xerxes sighed, then turned around and looked at Hilde who was pressing him down, and opened his arms.
"In fact, I don't know why, but when I'm with you, I always feel like I'm in love with a man. You are so beautiful in front of me, but your embrace is like that of a strong warrior, making me feel safe. Because I know that when I finally reach that stage, there will be someone who can help me, and help my Persian Empire, get out of the disaster."
She held out her hand.
Gently wiped away Hilde's tears.
"I am the emperor of the Persian Empire."
"I am responsible for my people."
"So, Hilde, I hope you can promise me that when I really become the enemy of the Persians and want to enslave all Persians, please stand up and save me and the Persian Empire."
Chapter 3, Section 9: The Unfairness of the Savior
Now, Xerxes said this, leaving Hilde with almost no way out.
Save the Persian Empire...
Another salvation.
Is this word really something that can be used casually?
Hilde didn't understand.
She was not a particularly powerful character, even though she had Athena's body, Athena's shield, and the spear made for her by Hephaestus, and now her power was doubled. However, when facing the gods of Olympus, Hilde was still distressed and at a loss. This showed that Hilde's current level was not that strong, and she was not strong enough to handle such a thing.
Not to mention.
It's time to face the Persian Empire.
So Hilde took a deep breath.
Trying to calm down.
"...So, the situation now is that you want me to kill you after you are devoured by Ahura Mazda, and then save the Persian Empire?"
"Yes."
"You know what you're talking about?"
"Of course I know."
"Xerxes, you take me too seriously as a powerful figure."
Hilde felt that all this was too unreasonable.
Have I become such a savior without even realizing it?
The Savior of Persia?
No, it is the savior of the world!
Everyone knows that once Ahura Mazda rules the whole of Persia, according to the population and national strength of the Persian Empire, coupled with the powerful Ahura Mazda, the whole world will face pressure and threats from the East. Therefore, if Hilde intends to get rid of Ahura Mazda, it is equivalent to saving the whole world from Ahura Mazda.
"Hahaha……"
Hilde couldn't help laughing when he thought of this.
"I, what sin have I committed..."
"Sissi...?"
"I, I actually need to save so many things, save Greece from Zeus, save the whole of Persia from Ahura Mazda? Am I a god? I was just an ordinary person. I worked hard step by step to get to where I am now. But now, I am suddenly told that the woman I like will soon be devoured by her god, and my kingdom is being watched by terrible gods! Why do I, Hilde, have to go through such a thing!"
"..."
Xerxes lowered his head slightly.
She was thinking.
When Hilde was angry.
She was thinking about how to respond to the other party.
So, after a while, Xerxes raised her head and looked at the emotional Hilde, she stood up and hugged Hilde tightly in her arms.
"I know... I know I am sorry for doing this! But, but... I have no other choice! I can't just sit back and watch this happen. Ahura Mazda will destroy the Persian Empire. It will make tens of millions of people in the Persian Empire live in a sea of fire. Sissi... You are the only one I can rely on. I believe and am sure that you can do it."
"..."
Hield didn't struggle.
She just hugged Xerxes tightly.
"But, wouldn't you..."
"It's alright."
Xerxes stroked Hilde's hair tenderly.
"In fact, I know that I will leave you one day, and I will leave you very soon. I know that if you fall in love with me, you will be very painful... So, I hope to vent your anger and unwillingness on me through violence. Only those pains can make me feel less uneasy. But... I found that I still love you, more than anyone else. I want to give you all of me, but unfortunately, I can't do it..."
"you……"
