[Third Person's PoV]
Ice started forming around Alexia, morphing into multiple weapons, while balls of fire began to swirl around Rose. Sherry swapped the fire mana stones from her guns for yellow thunder ones.
Once loaded, she spun her guns around her fingers and aimed sideways at Merlin, pressing the trigger to form a ball of yellow lightning.
'I didn't know Sherry was gangster like that,' Merlin inwardly mused.
"Are you done with your performance?" Merlin smirked as he spun his cane around. "Because if you are, I believe it's my turn now."
Merlin aimed his cane towards them, sending his floating cards their way. As their projectiles clashed, explosions erupted everywhere, but Alexia and the others didn't stay still. They used the explosions as a smokescreen and disappeared into the shadows, reappearing from Merlin's shadow with their weapons pointed at him, ready to strike.
Merlin smirked, turning his body into that of a snake, making him flexible enough to dodge all their strikes. He wrapped his body around Alexia, immobilizing her, while the others hesitated to strike for fear of harming her.
The snake licked Alexia's cheek, causing her to shiver in disgust. She let out a burst of magical power, unwrapping the snake from her body. Seizing the opportunity, Sherry shot a lightning bullet towards the snake's head, causing it to explode into a flurry of cards.
"You are so annoying!!" Alexia yelled in frustration, plunging her sword into the ground and covering the surrounding area in ice. Her friends jumped out of the way in time, but Merlin's legs were encased in ice.
He looked down in shock before glancing at Alexia. "Wait! Let's talk about this."
Alexia looked at him smugly. "It's too late to plead for your life. You should have done that before you decided to get in our way."
Sherry placed a hand on Alexia's chest, stopping her. "It's just another illusion. Don't fall for it."
"But how? He should have been captured by my attack."
Merlin's smile turned unnaturally wide, giving him an eerie look. His legs and arms then turned into springs as he flung his body towards them, despite his feet still being encased in ice.
He appeared in front of them, laughing creepily with his spring-like arms. "What a party pooper. How did you know?"
"He is so creepy. What the hell is wrong with him?" Alexia complained.
Merlin smirked, opening his mouth as his tongue and eyes popped out, and cockroaches covered his entire body.
"Ewww," they shivered, jumping back.
A chuckle behind them made them turn and swing their weapons, but Merlin merely blocked them with his cane.
"Are you girls ready for the grand finale!?"
Sherry kept pressing the trigger, sending multiple shots while advancing towards him. Merlin jumped back and spoke into his cane like a microphone. "Come one, come all!" He then slammed the cane into the ground, causing the entire surroundings to change.
"Everyone, regroup," Sherry said. "We don't know what's going on, so stay close and watch each other's backs."
'And here she was thinking she wouldn't be a good leader,' Merlin thought with pride.
Everything transformed into a crazy carnival and circus, with pictures of clowns and statues of jesters everywhere. Suddenly, they were transported to different parts of the circus. Alexia found herself in a hall of mirrors, each reflecting different versions of her. The reflections started moving independently, grinning creepily as they stepped out of the mirrors.
Rose was surrounded by wild animals led by a woman in a domino mask and a latex outfit, wielding a whip like a typical dominatrix. Meanwhile,
Sherry appeared in a circus ring with no performers, only a cheering crowd and decorations, like a giant ball, a cage, a red lamp, and a center part for the ring master.
A tiny colorful car appeared, and Sherry watched in confusion until the door slammed open. A large foot stepped out, followed by a giant clown. More and more clowns, each taller and more menacing, emerged, wielding weapons with murderous intent.
Merlin's voice echoed like an announcer. "WELCOME EVERYONE TO MERLIN'S MURDEROUS MANSION, WHERE THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE IS TO KILL, KILL, AND KILL!" His diabolical laughter filled the air. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
In reality, Merlin was only chuckling as he looked at all of them knocked out on the floor. He walked around, spinning his cane and musing to himself, "Now, who should I kill first?"
He put his cane to the side as the sound of metal clashing rang out. Merlin leaned his head and saw Beatrix, their weapons creating sparks as she pressed her sword down, looking at him with cold eyes.
"And here I was wondering when you were going to appear, Ms. Silent Protector."
Beatrix's body glowed with a white hue as she enhanced herself with magic. She had seen what Merlin was capable of and wasn't willing to stall for time. Immediately, she went on the offensive, her figure turning into a white streak, like a shooting star charging towards Merlin. She swung her sword wildly, intending to cause permanent injuries.
Merlin blocked her attacks using his cane as a bo staff. As their weapons clashed, Beatrix narrowed her eyes. "Just who are you?"
Merlin guided her sword down with his bo staff before swinging it towards her face. "Weren't you listening, darling? I believe I already introduced myself. I'm Merlin, The Grand Magician."
Beatrix leaned back to dodge the blow, using the momentum to kick at Merlin. He blocked her leg with his forearm, and they remained locked, trying to overpower each other.
"I meant, why is someone of your skill doing such a job?"
Merlin jumped back, giving her a thumbs up with a large smile. "Because the boss is a really beautiful woman! Why else?"
Beatrix lost the motivation for conversation and went on the offensive again, remembering her fight with Beru and Bellion and what she learned about Shadow Garden's martial arts. She kicked the ground ten times in rapid succession, appearing before Merlin and swinging her sword towards his neck.
Merlin's eyes widened in surprise but inwardly he praised her for mastering the technique so quickly. He leaned all the way back, holding his hat and chest in mock surprise. "By the Queen! You almost gave me a heart attack."
He winked as he slowly disappeared from her view. "Kidding."
Beatrix clicked her tongue, knowing he was going to be an annoying opponent. Merlin appeared behind her, putting his cane against her neck in a chokehold. She leaned back into him, kicking both legs into the air and using the momentum to flip Merlin over her. As he slammed into the ground, she stabbed her sword through his neck.
Merlin looked surprised as blood began to pour from the wound. He released the cane, clutching his neck. Panic and fear filled his eyes—the fear of death, the fear of what was to come.
"Help… me," he pleaded with tears in his eyes, his bloody hand reaching for her leg. "...Please," he said as a single tear rolled down his face. His hand slowly slid down her leg, staining it with his blood until it went completely limp. He closed his eyes for the final time.
"..."
Merlin opened one eye, peeking with a tiny smirk, only to see Beatrix looking down at him coldly. He quickly closed his eye and pretended to be dead again.
Beatrix's eye twitched before she slashed her sword down, causing Merlin's body to explode into cards.
"Boohoo! Boohoohoo!" She heard someone fake crying and looked up to see Merlin sitting on a lamppost, wiping his tears with a card.
"Poor Merlin! Boohoohoo! He was one of the good ones," he said, dropping the card, which landed by Beatrix's feet. It was the Joker card.
Merlin suddenly looked surprised, dodging a lightning bullet that flew past his head. He turned and saw Sherry waking up, aiming her gun at him. "You actually broke out of the illusion?"
"Next time, don't make the weak point so obvious. The red lamp was a dead giveaway," she said as she broke the others out of the illusion.
Merlin smiled, standing up on the lamppost. "Well, anyway, good work everyone. The cargo already got away. You can't get to it now, which means I did my job," he said, pretending to check his watch.
The others widened their eyes, having forgotten about their mission.
"As a magician, I hope you guys had as much fun as I have," Merlin said, taking off his hat and bowing. As they all lunged towards him, his figure turned into a flurry of sakura petals that flew away on the wind.
"Pip pip cheerio, mates. Until next time."
I want to see how many of you understood the red lamp reference
[Third Person's PoV]
Alpha and Gamma looked at the four people in front of them in surprise.
"You mean to tell me that all four of you lost to a single person? It's understandable that the three of you failed, as you were still in training, but even you, Beatrix?" Alpha asked, incredulously.
Beatrix looked a bit ashamed. "This opponent was different… He wasn't strong, but he was skillful and tricky. His illusions were so good that it was impossible to differentiate what was real and what wasn't."
Alpha had a thoughtful expression on her face. "And what did you say was his name again?"
"He kept calling himself Merlin, Merlin the Grand Magician," Sherry said, looking a bit downcast for failing her mission.
Alpha nodded before closing her eyes and calling Beta. "Beta, come here for a moment."
From Alpha's side, her shadow expanded and out appeared Beta. "You called?"
"Yes, I wanted to confirm something with you. Do you remember the story our husband shared with you about the Knights of the Round?"
"You're talking about the Diabolos Cult?"
Alpha nodded her head in confirmation.
Beta nodded, pulled out a book, and began flipping through the pages. "Of course I remember. I remember every story Lord Husband has told us."
"What was the name of the magician of the Round Table?" Alpha asked.
"His name was Merlin. He was known as the best archwizard to have ever lived, a master of magic with no equal, and the right-hand man of King Arthur, the leader of the Round Table."
Alpha nodded, before Beta asked why she needed this information.
Alpha then recounted everything that Beatrix and the others had shared with her, causing Beta to look surprised.
"Are you saying they fought against someone claiming to be Merlin? Is he related to the cult?"
"We don't know, but the possibility is very high. We need to find him and discover what he's up to."
"He mentioned that he took the job to guard the cart because the person who offered it was a beautiful woman," Beatrix informed Alpha a bit awkwardly.
Alpha looked at Beatrix with a straight expression, asking if she was serious, to which Beatrix nodded, her cheeks gaining a red color.
Sherry then raised her hand. "Can I say something?"
Alpha smiled at Sherry. "You don't have to ask for permission, Sherry. You are also our husband's wife; you should feel free to say whatever you please."
Sherry nodded. "I don't think he's with the cult."
Alpha and the others were surprised.
Alpha then remembered that Sherry had experience with members of the cult. "And why do you think that?"
"He didn't have any intention of killing us. He just looked like someone looking for something fun to do. He had multiple chances to kill us. It might be arrogance, thinking he could kill us at any time, but I just didn't get that feeling."
Alpha then turned towards the others. "And what do you think?"
Beatrix nodded. "I agree with what Ms. Sherry says. He saw everything as a big joke. He didn't have the desire to kill us; he was just stalling for time until we weren't able to accomplish our objectives."
Alpha became pensive. "I see… so here's what we'll do. Beta, I want you to take Delta and hunt him down. I want you to interrogate him and get any useful information.
If you find out he's a member of the Diabolos Cult, I want you to end him as quickly as possible and not give him another chance to get away.
And if you find out he has no relationship with them, I just want you to capture him and stop him from interfering with our business."
Beta nodded her head. "As you command," she said before closing her book and disappearing into her shadow.
Alpha then turned towards the others. "You've all done enough. Thank you for your work. You may get some rest now."
…
"CID, WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING MY DAUGHTER?" Aurora shouted, watching Celeste surrounded by a purple hue, floating in a circle, having the best time of her life.
"Hehehehehe," Celeste giggled as she held her toes.
She then began to clap as she rotated, letting out baby giggles. "This is so much fun!"
Cid was just lazing about, smiling. "I didn't teach her anything; this is just her," he said proudly. "It's her power as a Monarch."
Aurora had a hand on her hip as she looked toward Celeste with worry. "Why are you so relaxed? What if she got hurt?"
Cid just waved her off. "Relax, she's not going to get hurt. I'm looking after her. Plus, like I just said, she's a Monarch. Although a baby, she's still a Monarch, which means she is highly resistant to damage."
Aurora slowly raised her fist and enhanced it with her magic. "I'd like to see how resistant to damage you are."
Cid rolled his eyes as he stood up and scooped Celeste out of the air. Celeste pouted as she glared at Cid.
"Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah!" 'Release me! I want to continue flying!' Celeste commanded.
Cid just booped her nose. "I'm sorry, little one. Your mother is a party pooper who doesn't know how to have fun."
"What! Take that back!" She glared and pouted.
Cid looked at the two of them, both glaring and pouting at him, which caused him to laugh. "Hahaha, you two are so much alike."
"I'm not a party pooper," Aurora grumbled. "I'm just making sure my daughter doesn't get hurt."
Cid just chuckled and kissed the side of her head.
Celeste just looked at them in disgust. 'Ew.'
…
Two days later…
Merlin was sitting in a train car with a cup of tea in hand, a cart with a teapot to the side. As he drank his tea, he had a pinky finger out like a true gentleman.
Merlin let out a contented sigh after he finished his tea. "Nothing beats good tea with a good scenery," he said as he looked out the window.
Only to see a wild woman on all fours running, keeping up with the train. The woman had the ears and tail of a wolf and smiled widely, showing her sharp canines.
She started moving closer to the car before jumping and punching a giant hole, ripping the car open.
Merlin's hat stood in place as his black hair fluttered slightly due to the wind. "Want a sip of tea?" Merlin offered with a smile.
Delta was confused as he didn't react like she expected. The roof of the car was then pierced by four flame arrows, which started to melt it open.
Down dropped an elven woman with short silver hair and glasses.
She was on her knee with an arrow drawn, aiming it towards Merlin, while Delta just had her sharp claws aimed towards his neck, looking at him with an excited expression.
"Cup of tea?" Merlin offered Beta with a smile.
"I don't have time for your tricks. Move a single muscle, and I won't hesitate to shoot right through you."
"My dear, why the hostility? All I did was offer you a cup of good ol' tea. It's quite delicious and it has honey. A simple no would have sufficed."
Merlin went to take a sip, which caused Beta to release her arrow, hitting Merlin in the chest while Delta ripped his head clean off.
"Didn't Alpha say to capture him alive?" Delta asked curiously, worried she would get in trouble.
"Don't worry, our husband can simply resurrect him."
"I'm still alive and well, you know?" they suddenly heard.
They snapped their heads to where the voice was coming from and found Merlin's head on the floor, looking at them with a smile.
They turned towards the body as it suddenly rose up and grabbed the head off the floor. He then put his head back on. "Wait, where did you guys go?"
Merlin asked in confusion. "Oh, wait." He grabbed his head and flipped it back forward, as he had put it on the wrong way. "Ahh, there we go. As I was saying—"
They both then jumped towards Merlin with no expression on their faces, ready to end him quickly.
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GOT IT