Chapter 509: Hardcore Heist Plan
Egyptian mythology, a mythological system not widely known in modern times, although its specific details are rarely mentioned, features several well-known figures, such as Anubis.
Many Egyptian gods frequently appear in games, yet many people are unaware that they originate from the Egyptian pantheon. A good way to identify such characters is to check if they have animal heads or represent natural phenomena.
Egyptian gods can be divided into two main categories: those born from natural phenomena, such as Sun god, Wind god, Fire god, Moon god, etc., and animal gods, like Beetle, Panther, Lion, Vulture, and so on.
Additionally, the well-known concept of mummies is closely tied to Egyptian mythology, and Schiller drew inspiration from the intriguing background of mummies to develop his audacious Death plan.
Many people may have heard of mummies or even seen them in museums, but this fascinating culture originates from Egyptian mythology's understanding of Death.
Ancient Egyptians believed that the body merely served as a vessel for the soul. After death, the soul was influenced by divine power and journeyed to the Underworld. Still, they had a chance of resurrection. To ensure a successful resurrection, the body needed preservation, leading to the creation of various forms of mummies.
In terms of understanding Death, the ancient Egyptian civilization, thousands of miles away from China, shares remarkable similarities. Both cultures believed that the deceased entered a magical world after death, where they continued to receive offerings. Therefore, the living had to construct luxurious tombs and offer burial goods to ensure a better afterlife.
This belief led to the construction of the pyramids of ancient Egypt and the Emperor Qin Shi's Terracotta Army in China.
However, within the Marvel universe, Schiller is well aware that myths here are not mere stories but concrete realities with actual gods, suggesting the presence of an Underworld.
Yet he also knows that this world encompasses five major Creation Gods, including Death, and all beings eventually journey to Death's realm. To resurrect, they require specific powers.
One widely known example is Asgard's Hall of Heroes, where the gods of Asgard go after death, and they might have a chance at resurrection within the Hall.
After inquiring with Loki, Schiller learns that Odin can resurrect warriors through the Hall of Heroes because he struck a deal with Death.
Odin's countless acts of warfare and death incurred an unimaginable toll, but Death didn't mind if he resurrected a fraction of warriors to slay more people. Nonetheless, resurrecting a god required an immense amount of energy.
In this context, why can the lesser-known Egyptian gods easily resurrect their followers? Schiller once asked Khonshu this question, but he received no answer. Schiller understands that Khonshu isn't obligated to answer every question for his followers. Therefore, he decides to seek the answer himself...
However, the location of the Underworld remains elusive. To enter, a special method is necessary.
Schiller happens to know a method that can allow him to enter the Underworld: replicating the experiences of Moon Knight from the Moon Knight TV series.
In the TV series, Moon Knight's body is killed by Arthur, a follower of Ammit. Consequently, Moon Knight's two personalities enter the Underworld and manage to leave it, thereby resurrecting in the real world.
After the battle in the small town, during a moment when Marc switches personalities, Schiller takes the Sacred Beetle from him. While driving the car from the small town to the border of Deo, Schiller notices that Arthur has awakened. Instead of exposing Arthur, Schiller intentionally leaves the Sacred Beetle he acquired from Marc on the seat.
As expected, Arthur takes the Sacred Beetle and uses the power left to him by Ammit to travel to the seal and release Ammit, thus freeing her from her imprisonment.
Ammit granted Arthur power, urging him to seek revenge on Schiller and Marc. As the purple Thunderbolt formed from Ammit's divine power descended, Schiller lowered all defenses, allowing Ammit's power to kill his physical body.
In reality, with Grey Mist present, Ammit's divine power wouldn't have been enough to destroy Schiller's body. Yet, Schiller made Grey Mist simulate a state of feigned death, where heartbeat and breathing ceased, allowing the soul to be drawn to the ship where Moon Knight had arrived in the TV show.
"The Flying Godship, how does that sound?"
"Not very appealing. It's better to simply call it the Flying Ship. Why insist on adding 'God'?"
"I... oh, we've arrived." Schiller was about to answer Jack's question, but he spotted the shadows of buildings in the thick fog. He ordered the ship's crew to lower the sails, causing the massive vessel to descend slowly.
As the ship descended, the outlines of the buildings became clearer. The first to come into view was a Gothic spire, followed by what appeared to be an English-style school.
Charles, standing at the entrance of the dream school, gaped as he watched the enormous ship's shadow slowly descend.
Just a few minutes ago, he had been puzzled in his real-world office, wondering why Schiller had called him on the phone, asking him to enter the dream. Now, Charles understood because he had seen Schiller standing at the bow of the ship.
After the ship landed, it appeared even larger than what Charles had seen from the air. It surpassed any ship he had encountered, no longer just a sailboat but a flying aircraft carrier draped in sail-like attire.
"My goodness, what is this?! Did I see wrong? Is that the Sun emblem from the Egyptian tomb?"
"Professor, truly you're exceptional. You're the most discerning person I've encountered." Schiller descended from the ship and shook hands with Charles, genuinely praising him.
"After the Tower of Babel, you've constructed another Egyptian ship in the dream? But why? Have your personalities finally run out of space?"
"You've misunderstood," Schiller turned his head to glance at the ship, then back at Charles. He explained, "I didn't create this. I don't have that ability. The story is quite complicated, but to put it simply..."
Schiller turned back, pointed at the ship, and confidently stated, "This is the 'Gifts of Nature'."
"Alright, I understand. You don't need to explain," Charles immediately responded. Evidently, in the process of working with the Radiance Alliance, he had learned the style of these individuals. There was a risk of compromising his ethical standards by asking too many questions.
"So, what do you want to talk to me about?" Charles asked.
"Professor, many young mutants have gone to the Great Nebula of the Fairy System for space colonization and development. Due to the vast distance, it's challenging to bring them back for classes, right?"
Upon hearing Schiller raise this issue, Charles nodded with some helplessness and said, "While I can connect with them here, I can't bring their consciousness back here for classes."
"As I mentioned earlier, so-called psychic connections are related to brainwaves, which are affected by physical distance. If I'm too far from them physically, the signal quality deteriorates."
"Correct. I've always believed that mutant education is of utmost importance. If internships interfere with teaching, the priorities are mixed up."
"The saying goes that one cannot be too poor for education. For the sake of the shared future of humanity and mutants, I hope this small ship that can navigate within dreams becomes a school bus for mutants. I hope it becomes their Noah's Ark, allowing them to navigate through the ocean of knowledge with the wind at their backs..."
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