King of Worlds'

A crescent moon hung high in the night sky, its silvery glow filtering through the gaps in the leaves, casting specks of light onto the ground below. 

The crackling of dry wood burning in the small campfire broke the serene silence of the night. 

Qin Yi and Gandalf sat around the modest fire, both lost in their own thoughts. 

Two hours earlier, they had been in the Royal City. The moment they stepped through the ''Realm Gate'', the world flipped upside down. 

When they regained consciousness, they found themselves under an entirely different sky. Their first experience in this strange world was a brutal battle between Shinobi, bearing headbands from different factions, locked in a vicious fight to the death. 

Gandalf had immediately shielded Qin Yi and led him away from the chaos. 

After two hours of fleeing, they had finally found a quiet clearing to rest. 

"Your Majesty, you can rest now. If anyone comes, I will wake you." 

Gandalf, aware of Qin Yi's feelings, spoke with understanding. At just seventeen, Qin Yi should have been enjoying a life of luxury in the Royal City. Instead, for the sake of survival, he had to risk his life in a dangerous new world. 

"Gandalf, what do you suggest for our next move?" 

Startled by Qin Yi's question, Gandalf hesitated for a moment but did not insist on him resting. 

Qin Yi understood one thing clearly: while everyone in the Kingdom could afford rest, he, the King, could not. On Earth, Kings mainly governed and managed their kingdoms. But as the King of this new world, Qin Yi deeply understood the unique nature of his role. 

A King's actions determined the rise or fall of the entire Kingdom! 

At the beginning of every King's journey, their domain was but a tiny piece of land— a minuscule space floating in the cosmos, forming a unique ecological bubble for the King and their subjects to survive. Only by entering the first ''Otherworld'' and succeeding in establishing the ''King's Way'' could their land, civilization, and resources evolve and expand rapidly. 

In this world, a King's progress wasn't reliant on self-improvement but rather on the conquest of the Otherworlds! 

Fascinating, wasn't it? During this process, the King held absolute power. To their Kingdom, they were the sole ''Spiritual God''. Whether in terms of authority or strength, the King was unmatched. 

This was true divine kingship— an innate supremacy granted by the universe's laws. 

"Perhaps, Your Majesty, it is time you understand your own strength," Gandalf spoke softly. 

"My strength?" Qin Yi was taken aback. He had only a vague understanding of what being a King entailed. 

"Yes, Your strength— an unparalleled power unique to a King!" 

Gandalf nodded, gently tapping his staff on the ground. The silvery moonlight above seemed to ripple, bending toward Qin Yi. Within three breaths, the light converged on the center of his forehead, filling him with a cool, calming sensation. 

"Only by understanding your power can you achieve what you desire," Gandalf said. 

Closing his eyes, Qin Yi felt the moonlight heighten his awareness, clearing the fog that obscured his understanding. In the depths of his being, he sensed a unique, unparalleled force— one that belonged solely to him. 

After a while, he opened his eyes, a faint smile curling his lips. His gaze sparkled with newfound clarity and joy. 

"How do you feel, Your Majesty? Do you understand now?" Gandalf smiled warmly. 

"Those Ministers truly are fools! I must thank you, Gandalf, for guiding me on this journey." 

Qin Yi sighed. Those Ministers, knowing nothing, had blindly pushed his predecessor into conquering the Otherworlds, only to delay their inevitable demise. They didn't even comprehend what it meant to be a King. His predecessor had naively allowed them to dictate his actions, leading to his downfall. 

As Gandalf added more wood to the fire, he chuckled softly. 

"You still have time, Your Majesty. Continue to explore and comprehend your strengths. For this mission to succeed, your power will be crucial." 

Qin Yi nodded, his respect for Gandalf increasing. 

This elder, hailing from 'The Lord of the Rings', was a being of extraordinary identity— a ''Demi-God''. Though his powers appeared subtle on the surface, his true strength lay in his unparalleled ability to guide others. 

As a ''Path Protector'', Gandalf was nearly invincible! 

Closing his eyes, Qin Yi focused intently on the unique ''King's Strength'' within his body. 

As he immersed himself in this sensation, he quickly noticed a cluster of purple energy at the center of his brow. 

"So this is King's Strength." Qin Yi marveled. 

What is ''King's Strength''? In this world, its definition was crystal clear: 'Under heaven, every piece of land belongs to the King; beneath the sky, every soul is a Royal Subject!' 

A King who wields ''King's Strength'' could harness the abilities of any ''Court Officer'' under their domain. 

What did that mean? 

For example, if Gandalf were standing opposite him, Qin Yi could use this power to wield any of Gandalf's abilities! 

As Qin Yi activated the purple energy for the first time, it swirled and danced rapidly, emitting powerful waves of energy. Eventually, it surged outward from his brow, forming a delicate ''six-pointed star'' that fused into his forehead. 

"It's a pity my Kingdom is on the verge of collapse. This King's Strength is pitifully weak. To freely use Gandalf's powers would be near impossible!" 

He sighed. A King's ''Strength'' was intrinsically tied to the vitality of their Kingdom. Since his Kingdom was frail, the strength he could wield was limited. 

Additionally, a King possessed another gift: ''Traversal''. This allowed them to journey between ''Dimensions'', though a safeguard existed for weaker Kings— once they entered one ''Otherworld'', they could not venture into another. 

"King's Strength, Traversal, and... " 

Qin Yi's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, a flicker of ruthlessness in his gaze. 

"King's Plundering!" 

Born as a King, one was destined for ferocity. This ability allowed a King to use ''King's Strength'' to plunder the abilities of others— specifically those on the brink of death or with weakened consciousness. There was a chance to claim their powers as his own. 

Such was the nature of ''Plundering'': a brutal ability that would enable Qin Yi to rapidly grow stronger and survive in the perilous Otherworlds. 

Currently, Qin Yi has only comprehended three abilities from the depths of his ''King's Treasure'': ''King's Strength'', ''Traversal'', and ''King's Plundering''. Delving further, he could see treasures glowing within the King's Treasure, indicating that other abilities awaited discovery. However, his current strength was insufficient to unlock them. 

Even so, these three abilities alone were enough to make Qin Yi feel elated. 

He also realized how fitting the King's abilities were to their role. ''King's Strength'' symbolized the King's authority, while ''King's Plundering'' embodied their inherent brutality. 

"The path of a King is destined to be ruthless from the very start." 

Sighing, Qin Yi's gaze grew steely and determined. 

"It seems His Majesty has grasped the essence of his power." Gandalf smiled. 

"Yes, I have a basic understanding now." Qin Yi nodded. 

"I once saw your father wield King's Strength. He was unstoppable, even surpassing the might of Spiritual Gods." 

Gandalf's voice carried both awe and respect. 

"With your newfound clarity, Your Majesty, this journey will surely go much more smoothly." 

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'(Chapter End)'