章 276: Chapter 275 "3 vs 1"

In the eleventh century, the "Dark Queen" Morgan Le Fay, sovereign of Avalon Island, commanded legions of dark creatures and could stand toe-to-toe with Merlin himself, a testament to her formidable magical prowess.

However, in a pivotal showdown with Merlin, she was nearly defeated when he employed the potent "Book of All Laws" to all but sealed her fate. Only through her Animagus form's unique ability to disengage from her physical form did she narrowly escape.

Yet, this escape exacted a heavy toll, depleting much of her magical reserves. Here, the term "magic power" refers not merely to the energy expended in spellcasting but to the essence of magic itself—a fusion of soul, spirit, and corporeal form. This core essence, shrouded in mystery, lies at the heart of ancient magical theory, its true nature eluding even the most erudite wizards.

Legend has it that in the ancient East, a roving mage named Lu proffered a theory on the genesis of magical power within the body. Regrettably, owing to Lu's unconventional lifestyle, his teachings failed to gain enduring traction. Skyler once had the privilege of hearing Master Chang He allude to this theory, wherein the spirit was elucidated as consciousness,

The theory posited by Chang He delineated the spirit as consciousness, the soul as unconsciousness, and the body as the conduit that orchestrates a self-regulating cycle within the human form—a concept known as "Yuanshen" or the Primordial Spirit

In applying this theory to Morgan's predicament, it becomes apparent that her affliction stemmed from damage to her soul—a malady for which there existed no immediate remedy. Her only recourse lay in an extended period of dormancy, spanning millennia, to allow her soul to gradually mend.

However, a conundrum emerged. While the soul could convalesce over time, Morgan's corporeal vessel was not impervious to the erosive forces of the ages.

Encased within an alchemically fortified coffin and entrusted to the guardianship of her most loyal confidant, the Shadow Dragon, Morgan would await her resurrection for a millennium. Her plan entailed the acquisition of a descendant's blood, which would facilitate her corporeal return.

Regrettably for Skyler, with the extinction of the pure-blood lineage, Meredith stood as Morgan's sole remaining descendant—thus, her only avenue to resurrection lay in the possession of Meredith's body.

Yet, despite Morgan's commanding personality, it is crucial to acknowledge that within this vessel, Meredith holds sway, for Meredith harbored an enduring fixation—the very same fixation that now governed her thoughts.

With less than 10% of her consciousness remaining, Meredith had been battling her thoughts for nearly a year, exhibiting remarkable resilience.

Morgan, adept at understanding human nature, recognized the source of Meredith's resilience—it was the power of "pure love."

"Love" is not to be underestimated. In the realm of magic, it holds a profound and often inexplicable force.

Many times, much weaker opponents have unexpectedly defeated formidable dark wizards, and love often plays a role in these outcomes. While there are multiple factors at play, love consistently emerges as a significant one.

Due to this influence, Morgan finds herself unable to fully assimilate Meredith's consciousness, resulting in an inability to access the magic potential of her host body fully. This limitation hinders her magical and spiritual development, preventing her from reaching the threshold of becoming a quasi-mage.

In contrast, Barbarossa, another powerful figure present, is only at the level of a quasi-mage despite his stature as the leader of all pirates in the Seven Seas. His humble origins belie his current position of influence.

Originally just a low-level wizard who graduated from Beauxbatons, Barbarossa struggled to find decent employment in Spain after completing his studies.

Faced with financial hardship, he resorted to traveling across various European countries, engaging in clandestine activities to sustain himself.

His ventures led him to the shadowy underworld of places like Knockturn Alley, where he operated in the murky realms of magic.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Barbarossa accidentally killed a wizard in Spain, later discovering that the victim was none other than a young disciple from a prestigious pure-blood family, and the personal apprentice of the notorious "Joker," one of the four esteemed wizard masters of the Silver Spear.

Known for his unpredictable nature and formidable abilities, the Joker held immense influence and was fiercely protective of his disciples. Barbarossa's actions incurred the wrath of the Joker, subjecting him to relentless pursuit and danger.

Driven by desperation and the need to evade his vengeful pursuer, Barbarossa fled the European continent, seeking refuge among the wizarding world's pirate factions.

Embarking on his humble sailor's journey, Barbarossa sought solace in the open sea, hoping to elude the relentless pursuit of the vengeful Joker. Little did he know, this decision would irrevocably alter the course of his destiny.

Fate took an unexpected turn when the pirate vessel "Dark Phoenix," under Barbarossa's command, ventured to explore ancient ruins nestled upon a remote desert isle. Their expedition was abruptly interrupted by the malevolent Kraken, a legendary sea-dwelling behemoth.

Barbarossa miraculously survived the harrowing encounter and stumbled upon the hidden treasures concealed within the ancient ruins.

Word of Barbarossa's discovery swiftly reached the ears of the Pirate Lord governing the region, and even caught the attention of the former Pirate King.

Impressed by Barbarossa's bravery and resourcefulness, he was warmly welcomed into the ranks of the Pirate King's loyal followers. Thus began Barbarossa's remarkable ascent to prominence, as he accompanied the Pirate King on daring exploits across the seven seas.

Following the Pirate King's demise, Barbarossa assumed the mantle of Pirate King himself, ruling the vast expanses of the ocean with unrivaled authority. His saga epitomized a legendary tale of grassroots ascent from humble beginnings.

Yet, unbeknownst to many, Barbarossa's meteoric rise in power owed much to an encounter that reshaped his destiny—the fateful meeting with the enigmatic black wizard of ancient Persia, Jafar Yahya.

To delve deeper, Jafar Yahya's essence was encapsulated within a Horcrux, a dark artifact of immense power. With Jafar's aid, Barbarossa was bestowed with unparalleled might, enabling him to surmount the myriad challenges within the ruins and claim the treasure as his own.

However, Barbarossa would later uncover the unsettling truth: Jafar was but a pawn, a mere facade for the true mastermind lurking in the shadows—Herpo the foul, the nefarious figure who once roamed ancient Greece and now presided over the enigmatic cabal known as the Knights of Walpurgis.

Endowed with innate magical prowess as a scion of the Pirate King lineage, Barbarossa's sorcerous abilities were formidable. Yet, unbeknownst to him, his pact with Jafar came at a grave cost. Concealed within Barbarossa was a dark curse, clandestinely placed by Jafar, which bound him to the will of Herpo.

Henceforth, Barbarossa found himself ensnared in Herpo's web of control, compelled to heed his every command.

Fearful of Barbarossa's potential to transcend his influence, Herpo imposed a malevolent curse that stifled Barbarossa's magical advancement, akin to the enchantment afflicting Morgan Le Fay. Thus, despite his lineage and inherent prowess, Barbarossa found himself impeded from furthering his magical prowess beyond the threshold of a quasi-mage.

As for the third formidable figure—Voldemort—he stood as a true magician in his own right, wielding power that transcended mortal limitations.

In engagements with Dumbledore, the wielder of the revered Elder Wand, Voldemort displayed a proficiency that surpassed mere mastery of magic. His prowess not only eclipsed the rank of a magister but potentially elevated him as the foremost among them.

Yet, Voldemort's overreliance on the brute force of dark magic and his penchant for singular approaches revealed glaring vulnerabilities.

The recent clash with Skyler starkly illuminated these deficiencies. Despite leveraging his formidable might, Voldemort found himself stymied at every turn, unable to capitalize on his strengths and instead grappling with constraints that left him disheartened.

In essence, facing Skyler, who had unveiled the pinnacle of magisterial prowess, posed an unprecedented challenge. None of the trio—Voldemort, Morgan, or Barbarossa—held an unmistakable upper hand in a one-on-one encounter with Skyler.

Contemplating this reality, a sense of unease pervaded the trio. Were it not for their numerical superiority, they might have contemplated strategic retreat as a prudent course of action.