King of Worlds'

"Uchiha?" 

The name spoken by the dying warrior etched itself deeply into the minds of those present, their expressions becoming unusually solemn. 

"Quick, write down this name! It's the first piece of information we've gotten about the Otherworld!" 

They had no idea what the name meant, but instinctively understood its significance. 

"When His Majesty wakes up, he'll surely be pleased." 

As they quietly collected the bodies scattered on the ground, the soldiers worked with heavy hearts. 

"Captain Yue Wu, do you think we still have a chance?" 

Breaking the silence, a soldier asked timidly. 

Yue Wu remained silent, only pointing at the lifeless bodies beside him, urging the soldier to concentrate on his task. 

"But His Majesty is still unconscious... What if he never wakes up? If that happens, won't our entire kingdom disappear?" 

The soldier hesitated before continuing, voicing his fears. 

"Mind your own business! This is nothing for you to worry about!" Yue Wu snapped coldly. 

Frightened by the captain's sharp tone, the soldier dared not speak again and silently returned to handling the corpses. 

Out of sight of his subordinates, Yue Wu sighed softly and shook his head. 

The death of the previous King had been disastrous for the kingdom. The vast lands he ruled were almost completely lost, with 99% of the territory torn away. Only a meager 1% remained, and even that was shrinking by the day. 

Within a month, 20% of what little was left had disappeared, leaving the kingdom the size of a small county. At the edges of the kingdom's land, one could directly see the void of space below and the endless cosmos beyond. 

Civilization, resources, population, and territory had all receded overnight, bringing the nation to the brink of collapse. 

A month ago, the 17-year-old King had made a desperate decision. Gritting his teeth, he led his warriors through the Realm Gate into the Otherworld. 

But on the very first day, he returned badly injured and fell into a coma, shocking and terrifying the entire kingdom. From then on, severely wounded or lifeless soldiers emerged from the gate almost every day. 

This period was the most harrowing in the history of the kingdom. For everyone, the line between life and death grew thinner by the moment. 

Conquering the Otherworld through the ''King's Way'' was their only hope for survival. Failure meant extinction. And all that hope now rested on the shoulders of a King who was still unconscious. 

After the last body was carried away, Yue Wu found himself alone. Sighing again, he glanced at the Realm Gate before turning away. 

In the past, this gate had symbolized the strength and progress of the kingdom. Now, it loomed like a monstrous predator, devouring warriors and leaving only despair in its wake. 

Just as Yue Wu turned around, a voice heavy with authority and sorrow rang out. 

"Another failure?" 

The familiar tone startled Yue Wu. As he turned to see who had spoken, his entire body froze and then trembled. Without hesitation, he clenched his fists and pounded them against his chest in greeting. 

"Your Majesty!" 

It was the King! He was alive and awake! An overwhelming wave of emotions - relief, excitement, hope - washed over Yue Wu, making his blood race. 

In this kingdom, the King was everything. As long as he lived, there was still a chance for salvation. 

Qin Yi waved his hand, signaling for Yue Wu to dispense with the formalities. However, his face was filled with sorrow and gravity. 

As he walked through the city, Qin Yi had seen it all. The so-called Royal City was pitifully small. The streets were filled with gaunt, pale people who were obviously suffering from prolonged hunger. 

No wonder, even as a King, he had only been served simple millet porridge when he was bedridden. This humble dish was probably the best food available in these dire times. 

The kingdom had reached a terrible point where even basic survival was a struggle. With the memories and soul of the previous King now merged with his own, Qin Yi understood the situation all too well. 

If they didn't move forward, death awaited them. 

"Xiyao hasn't returned yet, has she?" Qin Yi asked quietly as he looked at the glowing, misty Realm Gate. 

"Princess Xiyao remains in the Otherworld. She hasn't returned," Yue Wu replied solemnly. 

"I see."

Murmuring to himself, Qin Yi's mind conjured up the image of Xiyao, the girl they called Princess. 

The original owner of this body was only 17, and Xiyao, his younger sister, was only 15. 

At 15, a child on Earth would be in middle school, playing happily without a care in the world. But here, she was already involved in a brutal war with the ''Otherworld'', constantly on the brink of life and death. 

Now that Qin Yi's soul had merged with this body, he felt everything the original owner had - especially the overwhelming care and concern for his sister. 

"She is much stronger than me to hold on this long," Qin Yi sighed and shook his head. 

"Your Majesty," Yue Wu began to offer comfort, but Qin Yi raised a hand to silence him. 

"Any new information?" 

In order to invade the Otherworld, intelligence was crucial. Not only did the frontline troops rely on it, but the kingdom also needed to constantly gather and analyze information. 

The ministers would study it to develop optimal strategies to establish control over the Otherworld and ensure the success of the King's Way. 

"This time we have something new," Yue Wu replied seriously. "A soldier shouted a name before he died: Uchiha." 

Hearing the strangely familiar syllables, Qin Yi froze. 

"Uchiha?" His expression became indescribably strange. 

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your pronunciation matches the name the soldier shouted," Yue Wu confirmed, clapping his hands in astonishment as he looked at Qin Yi. 

Meanwhile, Qin Yi's mind was in turmoil, overwhelmed by the sheer shock. 

The name Uchiha was all too familiar to him. In his previous life, it was a famous clan from one of the "Big Three" Shōnen anime. However, he had never imagined that he would hear it here after his transmigration. 

But... was it a joke? Could it be that the ''Otherworld'' they were trying to conquer was the world of ''Naruto''? 

Looking up at the glowing ''Realm Gate'', Qin Yi's emotions soared. 

Without hesitation, he activated the administrative controls of the ''Realm Gate'' through his mental link. 

In this world, a King was far more than just a title; they were the embodiment of immense power and authority, possessing abilities bestowed by the cosmos itself. 

One such ability was the Myriad Realms Transfer, which allowed them to cross dimensions and access any world connected to the gate. 

What Qin Yi was looking for now was information about the world his predecessor had entered. 

"HY-3201. Classification: Void. Status: Unknown Otherworld. Progress: Exploration underway." 

A line of text appeared in his mind, and Qin Yi's eyes flashed. He magnified the projection of the outline of this world, allowing scenes to flow into his vision. 

Ninjas wearing headbands with village symbols, various well-known ninjutsu techniques, and the distinct borders of the Five Great Nations. 

It was unmistakable. This was the world of Naruto. 

"Is this... a coincidence?" Qin Yi murmured, his thoughts racing. 

He then expanded his search, checking the list of other accessible worlds within his authority. 

One by one, familiar names appeared before his eyes: 'One Piece', 'Journey to the West', 'Chinese Paladin', 'Dragon Ball', 'One Punch Man', 'Fate', 'King Kong', 'Marvel', and countless others. 

The more Qin Yi delved into it, the more astonished he became. 

Many of these worlds were directly tied to the anime, games, and movies he had enjoyed in his past life. Yet, the people in this world knew nothing about them. Even his predecessor, who had randomly selected worlds, had done so without any deliberate intention or knowledge. 

"Am I being set up to cheat my way through as a King?" 

--- 

'(End of Chapter)'