章節 59: [59] Eternal Night Spiral City
[Holding incredibly complex emotions, you returned to Londinium.]
[Before that, you had already evacuated the army near the front castle.]
[You knew very well the despair Artoria would fall into, but you couldn't accept her love no matter what... at least, not as Alvin.]
[Because... everyone except you loves her. Saying such words sounded exceptionally ironic... but, she lacked no shortage of that kind of love.]
[However, you are the only one who loves the witch...]
[Except for you, no one loves her.]
[Alvin Pendragon's heart was long given to Morgan Le Fay, a vow made under the night unseen by anyone, an unwavering oath until death.]
[You returned to the castle hall, having received Morgan's message left to assist Vortigern. Due to the violent time flow near the Anchor of the Planet domain, it might take her months to return to reality.]
[Suddenly, you realized this was a ploy to lure the tiger down the mountain...]
[You understood why Artoria chose to impersonate Morgan.]
[Because only in that way could she infiltrate the castle.]
[Now, Londinium was filled with shadows, hidden watchers, and traps everywhere. Except for the lack of castle cannons, the defense had long been turned into an unyielding fortress under your management.]
[Even if the blind Merlin sneaked in, he would be immediately detected, and with his non-attack magecraft, he couldn't harm Vortigern's physical form... his magecraft had no offensive capabilities.]
[If the Knights of the Round Table attacked, you could instantly swoop back and make them regret their decision.]
[Disguising herself as Morgan, Artoria was the perfect candidate for assassination, and no one would stop her.]
[Ironically, she didn't choose to kill Vortigern, but instead, she came to see you...]
[You took a glance at your daughter, who was already deeply asleep in the bedroom. Her mouth had a smile that seemed to melt hearts, sucking her fingers and murmuring the name of her beloved mother and father.]
[For Melusine, you didn't intend to confine your daughter. However, the current situation outside the island wasn't suitable for her to go out alone. So, just like in the past, she grew up within the castle. You and Morgan were her entire world.]
[Silently, you covered her with a blanket.]
[Under the darkened hall, under the night, you quietly stood beside Vortigern's throne. Your shadow, mysterious and lightless, seemed to dissolve into the shadows.]
[From now on, you would be stationed in Londinium, guarding the flesh of your father Vortigern, never leaving for a moment, until Morgan returned.]
[Your performance on the battlefield had terrified the Celtic army and made them increasingly attentive to you.]
[The entire intelligence system began to gather various information about you.]
[So, apart from the kingdom, your various deeds as the adopted son of Vortigern gradually spread to the opposite kingdom.]
[Those arrogant nobles hated you to the bone. Your name became more and more vicious and terrifying on this island... a name that completely overshadowed the White Dragon Vortigern.]
[Whether this is fate playing something funny or not.]
[Combined with your appearance on the battlefield, enveloped in flames while wielding the Firelink Greatsword... they gradually began to call you the Ember King, meaning a king who burns all of the wood (enemy)]
[You find amusement in your new title, as it's reminiscent of the nickname fans give to the final boss in games.]
[The Incarnation of Kings, Soul of Cinder, is precisely the final boss of the main storyline of Dark Souls 3, perhaps subtly implying that you are the ultimate villain in this process of age of gods decline.]
[Ember King, Alvin Pendragon, you are already an enemy to the world.]
[No one in this world understands you, except for the white dragon and the witch.]
[Defying Gaia, you undoubtedly become the villains who resist fate... their... savior.]
[Your talents 'Beautiful Youth' and 'Tyrant Aura' have undergone a transformation...]
[Beautiful Youth & Tyrant Aura → Savior of Villains]
[Savior of Villains: EX]
[Sinking into the abyss, looking up at heaven, you are the savior of villains.]
[If you are evil, why speak of redemption? If pursuing a peaceful life is also a kind of evil, then evil is your justice.]
[Your character, will, and determination make villains bow before you. People who meet you for the first time are naturally attracted to your charismatic personality. For characters with 'chaotic' or 'evil' attributes, you gain a significantly high favorability bonus.]
[While giving orders to shrink the army and prepare for the battle formation, you took care of your cute daughter at home. You silently guarded Londinium, as the final line of defense for Vortigern.]
[You had already prepared for Artoria's fierce attack, but unexpectedly, two months had passed without any movement from her side...]
In the splendid and flawless castle palace, in front of the altar under the sunlight.
The summoned court magus, dedicatedly gathered behind the golden-haired girl.
The magicians had worked tirelessly, and the process turned out to be much easier than expected.
The gaze of the golden-haired girl was fixed on the water pool in front of her.
In the clear and jade-like deep green solution, a small, continuously pulsating embryo was soaking.
It was the child born from the combination of her and her lover's bloodline.
"Indeed, the bloodline between dragons is so harmonious, it's fate, Alvin, my lover..."
Artoria's lips slowly curled, a kind of sickly and twisted smile appeared on her face.
"Our daughter is born..."
"Lily..."
The best chance to kill Vortigern had been missed.
The half-incubus of losing his sight, a bitter smile on his face.
The incubus's heart made him unable to understand human emotions.
Why? Why did Lily make such a choice?
His plan had no logical flaws.
She clearly wanted Alvin, so shouldn't she have tried to kill Vortigern?
This wasn't fun anymore, and he couldn't find joy in it anymore...
The twisted history was unfolding before him, and he lost his foresight.
Blindness.
Coupled with the impending death that would come soon.
A panic, never felt before, enveloped the half-incubus's mind.
"Stay away from me."
The half-incubus called out, but not even a glance was exchanged.
Only an indifferent and icy voice came from the back of the golden-haired girl.
"I don't want to see even your illusion. Don't appear in front of me from now on, or I'll cut you down every time I see you."
The half-incubus stumbled in the streets of Orkney County, bathed in sunlight, and people were full of cheerful voices.
King Arthur, sanctified by melting all the nobles, issued benevolent decrees to the people, and everything prospered. This country had never been so vibrant.
Hearing the laughter of the people.
The expression on the half-incubus's face was somewhat dazed.
What are you laughing at...
... What are you laughing at?
The emotion of joy was smelled and tasted by the half-incubus's heart.
But Merlin could only taste bitterness from it...
Ironic.
The laughter of the people seemed to be mocking him...
... Why, why did it turn out like this?
All the plans deviated from the established track of fate.
All the foresight, at this moment, became blurred.
Touching his own gray eye, the face of Merlin revealed an uncontrollable resentment.
Yes, that's it.
... It's all that guy's fault.
It's that guy who shouldn't have appeared in this era!
You've destroyed everything! You want to completely push our entire world into hell!
Alvin Pendragon!
Merlin want him dead... in the most miserable and painful way!
However, he cannot do such a thing myself.
A sense of powerlessness.
A feeling of loss.
As if immersed in mercury, a heavy sinking sensation.
"Alvin, I want you dead..."
The half-incubus's body trembled slightly, covering its face, emitting a sound that seemed like a howl or a sob.
Even the most basic invisibility could no longer be maintained.
People on the street looked at him that way.
They looked at this magus who suddenly emitted sobbing under the sunlight.
"Mom, look, that's the great sage Merlin..."
"Correct, hehe, I am the great sage, the magus of flowers, Merlin! Hehehe~"
Merlin slowly turned his head, crying and laughing at him.
The eyes, dripping with purple blood, looked terrifying.
"Stay away from the great sage!"
A child was pulled away by his mother.
The crowd on the street quickly dispersed.
The eccentric sage, anyone could tell he wasn't in the right state of mind. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to provoke a magus.
Hearing the discussions around, the whispers gradually fading away, the noisy and bustling voices.
They were all mocking him.
"Hehe~ hehehe~"
Emitting strange sounds, whether it was a sob or joy.
Swinging his steps, it seemed like he had lost his soul.
"You are all laughing at me... all laughing at me... I can taste it, it's all that guy's fault..."
Under the cloudless sky.
Under the bright and beautiful sunlight.
Merlin, seemingly feeling something, raised his head, the gray and lifeless pupils looking at the sun hanging high in the sky.
A dark cloud happened to float by.
The brilliant sunlight projected through the cracks in the cloud, splitting the golden light like a cold vertical pupil.
Unexplainably.
Once again, he heard the voice from the depths of his heart.
In Merlin's seemingly absent-minded expression, a faint smile gradually appeared.
"It's coming... like this..."
"Alvin, what you have done has completely formed a singularity in this era."
"The world will do its best to kill you, and the ultimate judgment is about to come."
Merlin received this message.
As if catching a glimpse of the dawn of hope.
He laughed hoarsely and madly.
"In response to the existence of BEAST, they will definitely summon those people here..."
"Alvin, you have fallen and become a BEAST..."
...
On the serene surface of the lake, ripples continued to undulate.
A burly old man was shackled on the lake, unable to move.
However, his gaze remained as deep as the oceans, without any fluctuations.
Cracks were spreading on those chains... continuously.
Standing before the old man was an elegant and sacred silver-haired fairy, exuding exquisite beauty reminiscent of the witch.
Vivian's forehead was slightly sweating. Even as the Great Mother of the Inner Sea of Planet Britain born in Avalon, trying to restrain the white dragon, Vortigern, was not an easy task.
Vortigern's will was the incarnation of Britannia.
To oppose him was to oppose the entire island.
Although he had abandoned his physical body, his spirit remained incredibly resilient. It was the unwavering determination possessed by the dragon that devoured light.
Even with the arrival of this lake.
Vivian was well aware that she could only delay him for a few more days at most, which, in reality, meant a few more years.
She could only hope that Vortigern's physical body would be destroyed first.
Moreover, if the radiance of the Anchor of the Planet was consumed, the holy lance would be projected, the anchor would be raised, and the return of the age of gods would be something the world couldn't tolerate.
Hence, the world would completely activate the mechanism for the extermination of Vortigern.
"According to our generation... you still have to call me uncle, Vivian. It was extremely reluctant for me to meet you. Why do we have to go through this unnecessary encounter?"
Vortigern's expression remained calm as if he sighed with emotion. He knew that Vivian was only buying time.
"Since you're reluctant, why bring it to this, Vortigern?"
Vivian's wrist trembled slightly, enduring the immense pressure from Vortigern.
"As a white dragon, it's easy for you to live, as long as you give up the return of the age of gods, the Inner Sea of the Planet will no longer reject you."
"Live? Perhaps..."
Vortigern smiled and said,
"Unfortunately, my back is too straight, and I can't bend down."
Even though his entire body was bound by chains, enduring the tremendous pressure from the lake.
The words he spoke.
Made Vivian bitterly speechless.
Yes, there are always people in this world who are unwilling to live a mediocre life. Although Vivian bears the responsibility of guarding the Inner Sea of the Planet, Vortigern's determination to oppose the world also moved her.
"I can't bend down...?"
The expression of the fairy seemed somewhat absent-minded for a moment.
Suddenly...
Splat.
A shadowy dagger pierced through Vivian's back, causing her to violently vomit a pool of luminous blood.
"Guh! Morgan...?!"
Vivian's face was filled with astonishment, she hadn't even sensed Morgan's approach.
Morgan's strength was something she was most aware of. Moreover, being opposites, they inherently possessed a mutual sensing ability. How could this go unnoticed...
Unless, Morgan's strength had long surpassed her own.
"Vivian, do you think I waste so much time talking to you for no reason?"
The lake stirred as the shackles binding Vortigern's entire body gradually began to crumble.
"I'm waiting for Morgan."
Crack.
Suddenly exerting force, he shattered the last chain on his body.
"Farewell, cage."
Vortigern raised his gaze, looking at the dimly glowing Anchor of the Planet in front of him. Once again, he spread his hands.
Gathering radiance, the phantom of a holy lance became more defined.
"Last two days..."
The dark figure of the witch slowly emerged behind Vivian. Seizing the opportunity, she delivered a deadly backstab.
"This is to repay you for the last favor, Vivian."
"You infused me with all your malice, and I no longer care, you enjoy fame while I endure hatred, and I am indifferent."
"And yet, you almost killed my Alvin."
The eternal flame, embedded within her for three years, had been developed day and night by the ultimate life form for another three years. Her magical energy had become much stronger than before.
The silver-haired fairy smiled bitterly as she coughed up blood. In their relationship as beings of light and darkness, they were each other's most formidable opponents.
"Morgan... that was not my intention... it was the fairies-"
"So what? What have you done over these years?"
The witch's expression was indifferent and cold, her deep blue eyes seemingly filled with chill.
"You sit by your fairy lake, enjoying people's praise and admiration. Listen to you, the 'Lady of the Lake,' what a beautiful name... Your legends and poems spread across this island, and people eagerly explore various mysteries to witness your beauty."
The witch laughed.
"So? What about me..."
Her words flickered like flames.
"...I'm confined to a dark castle, singing my love to shadows. No one, including my father, welcomes me. People avoid me, calling me a calamity, an enigma, and a monster... What have you done..."
"...What have you done?!"
With these questions, the witch herself shook her head dumbfoundedly and chuckled.
"You've done nothing."
"... I'm sorry."
Vivian smiled bitterly, unable to find words.
Because, indeed, she had done nothing.
She accepted all the goodwill from everyone without guilt. She shone brightly, welcomed and loved by people. The fairies were the ones who separated good from evil, what did that have to do with her?
An apology was not enough... so how could she make amends now?
"Morgan, we can-"
Vivian struggled to raise her hand, as if trying to comfort the dark version of herself.
"...Reunite as one. You can become the eternal Great Mother, and I'll return all my power to you. This is my redemption..."
Her trembling wrist.
But she was unhesitatingly ignored.
"I don't need that, Vivian. I, with my dark shadow, don't need your dazzling light."
The witch spoke each word deliberately.
"Because, I already have light."
Vivian was stunned.
She was rejected...
Despite them being two sides of the same coin, Morgan could immediately become the Great Mother by swallowing her. In this way, Morgan's personality might be influenced by Vivian's benevolence, and Morgan might be able to dissuade Vortigern.
But... Morgan refused.
Because she already had her own light.
"Is that so..."
Vivian smiled bitterly, raising her gaze. She was the fairy of the lake, the Great Mother of the Inner Sea of the Planet. As long as Avalon wasn't completely destroyed, she wouldn't be truly killed. But now...
"Sorry, Morgan. I actually knew you were coming..."
"This is also for... protecting the world."
"Forgive me."
Dazed.
The light seemed to become more intense.
In the slightly stunned expressions of Morgan and Vortigern.
The radiance on Viviane's body instantly became stronger, completely covering her entire body.
The witch stared blankly, watching as Vivian's figure collapsed, turning into countless threads of light that wound around herself.
Vivian sacrificed herself, extinguishing her consciousness.
With the dual attraction of light and darkness, she forcefully began to merge with Morgan.
Even if she wanted to delay Morgan here, it would only be for half a day at most.
... Why, why did she do this?
Morgan was slightly stunned.
After the fusion, she could immediately help Vortigern devour the radiance of the Anchor of the Planet.
She vaguely realized Vivian's intentions.
A terrified expression appeared on her face.
"Alvin!!!"
...
Holding Melusine's hand, the silver-haired young man strolled leisurely with her in the garden under the nightfall.
Smooth silver hair cascaded behind his head, and a pair of small dragon horns adorned his forehead. The girl's face was meticulously crafted, her azure eyes inheriting the beauty of her mother, sparkling like stars and serene like a lake.
"Daddy, when will Mommy come back?"
The silver-haired young man smiled, teaching his daughter to recognize the names of the flowers. The beauty in this garden, stacked together, couldn't compare to even a fraction of Melusine's cuteness.
"She'll be back soon..."
In a moment of trance, as if sensing something, Alvin raised his head and looked towards the cloudless night sky.
"My dear...?"
...
The scorching sun hung high, and everything flourished.
In the cloudless clear sky, a mournful sound suddenly echoed.
"Wah, again... again from the high altitude! Mash!"
"Hold onto my waist, senpai!"
Boom!
The figures of two people wielding large shields crashed to the ground like meteorites, stirring up clouds of dust that spread through the dense forest.
"Whew, landed safely..."
The red-haired girl rubbed her head, slowly lifting her gaze, only to see the flushed face of her purple-haired kouhai whom she had pressed beneath her.
"Senpai... we were tightly hugging each other just now."
Being stared at like that by her kouhai.
Tch, a bit embarrassing.
"Yes, sorry—"
Ritsuka Fujimaru immediately got up, glancing around at the forest environment. For a moment, she felt like something was missing.
"Wait, where's Fou?"
"Cough... cough cough!"
Cleared his throat with a couple of coughs.
A gentle and refreshing voice of a man sounded in front of the two.
"Welcome to Britannia, my friends. I am the Magus of Flowers..."
Boom!
The small beast with snowy fur shot out in a spiral, viciously swiping its claws across the face of the Magus of Flowers.
"Die, Merlin!!!"
"Ahn!"
The half-incubus tumbled to the ground.
Ritsuka and Mash looked at the scene where a person and a creature were entangled on the ground, their expressions appearing slightly bewildered.
"Fou?"
...
"Oh, so that's how it is. Merlin-san, Fou was a familiar you once kept... No, in a single timeline, two bodies cannot exist simultaneously, so the saint graphs of the two Fou have merged."
Ritsuka murmured this information, looking up at the magus of flowers in front of her.
"By the way, your eyes..."
The magus of flowers in front of her had a magnificent face full of charm. However, he kept his eyes closed, and two faint purple bloodstains seeped from his eye sockets.
He was blind. The legendary sage, Merlin, was blind.
"Well, it's a long story, Ritsuka-chan..."
Merlin smiled like a spring breeze.
"The terrifying enemy you're about to face, I once tried to stop him, and then... it ended up like this."
Hearing this, Rtisuka and Mash couldn't help but be astonished.
"A despicable guy..."
"No, it's because I was too weak."
The magus of flowers sighed, shaking his head with a smile.
"So, you mustn't be careless. Any bit of slackness is impossible against that person."
"Got it! Thanks for your advice."
A campfire was lit in the forest, grilling wild game. The red-haired girl contemplated the information about this Singularity, her expression very serious.
A bounded field unfolded before her eyes, and a solemn voice from a man with a single ponytail and a large coat resonated accordingly.
[The mission to stop the Goddess Rhongomyniad has failed, Ritsuka... No, it wasn't the Goddess Rhongomyniad at all... it was King Arthur herself. Our judgment has completely deviated.]
Ritsuka tightened her fist.
Yes, they had made a big mistake.
"Why did it turn out like that? By planting the Holy Lance and intending to trim the world for the perpetual cycle of Britain's history, it was not the will of the goddess, but the King Arthur herself."
Recalling her encounters with her comrades, the red-haired girl's face revealed a somewhat unspeakable sadness.
Mash, by her side, gently held her hand.
They were the last Masters of humanity, agents of the organization preserving human history, Chaldea.
Up until now, they had repaired several Singularities, witnessing various poignant farewells along the way.
The most recent one was in Jerusalem in the year 1273, where a Singularity with a Human Order Foundation EX had appeared.
It represented a severe deviation in that Singularity's history.
Summoned by Goetia, King Arthur wielding the Holy Lance... she established the holy city Camelot in the Jerusalem desert, created a sacred tree with the Holy Lance, and aimed to trim the world for the perpetual survival of Britain's history.
Under the leadership of Bedivere, one of the Knights of the Round Table, Ritsuka and her party embarked on a journey to return the holy sword.
King Arthur could never want to destroy humanity.
So they judged that it was the will of the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad that had taken over King Arthur's will.
But...
...they failed.
Bedivere went as far as to sacrifice everything, adhering to a thousand years of loyalty and perseverance, presenting the shattered silver arm to that king.
However, all he received was her ice-cold response.
"Get lost."
Despair.
Complete despair enveloped everyone's hearts.
They were wrong.
This wasn't the Goddess Rhongomyniad, it was King Arthur herself.
Her own will was to destroy the world.
"To save the king, we must reach that day for sure..."
Bedivere sacrificed his last life, giving the shattered silver arm, the remnants of his life, and sent them back to Chaldea.
The original Singularity continued to burn with Human Order.
And a new, even more terrifying Singularity emitted a massive alarm in Chaldea.
It was the year 527 AD in Britannia, a huge crisis that would overturn the entire world, not Goetia's doing... but a mutated Singularity.
[The Eternal Night Spiral City, Londinium.]
[Found it!]
The image of a girl wearing a splendid dress with a mix of blue and red hurriedly squeezed into the communication.
[In the era you entered... King Vortigern is about to pull out the Holy Lance, causing Britannia to return to the Age of Gods... So, this is the famous history of the battle between the Red Dragon and the White Dragon!]
[Ritsuka, you must correct this mistake, and perhaps you can solve the Singularity in Jerusalem as well! The Human Order Foundation value here is...]
Da Vinci's voice... suddenly came to a stunned stop.
[...ERROR!]
[CHALDEAS can't make a judgment on this... ERROR.]
"ERROR? What does that mean?"
Ritsuka browsed through the information sent by Chaldea, slightly squeezing the palm of her hand, lowering her golden eyes.
On her arm was a silver pattern like a sword blade.
It was the last promise made by Bedivere, who burned his last life...the tattered silver arm, also the imprint of the Excalibur.
"Leave it to me, Da Vinci-san. This is the last Master of humanity's promise..."
"... I will definitely not betray Bedivere-san's determination."
"Wait...! Ritsuka! Mash!"
The anxious voice of the woman sounded again.
[CHALDEAS also detected two others... summoned to this era as an assist for you to restore Human Order.]
[Their Saint Graph intensity is...]
Da Vinci's voice... paused for a moment, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
[...Grand Class?!]
...
The night sky was cloudless, adorned with dazzling stars.
By the pool reflecting the sparkling starry sky, a man with long hair, wearing a blue robe, was fishing in the water.
He held a rudimentary bamboo rod in his hand, with a woven fish trap placed beside him. Surprisingly, there was no bait on the fishing line, only the fishing line swayed in the water, creating subtle ripples.
Suddenly, two faint blue flames ignited behind the man's shadow, resembling will-o'-wisps, slowly drifting towards his back.
"You won't catch any fish like this, Fisherman."
A muffled, buzzing voice sounded from behind.
The man with the hair bun raised his head, smiling as he looked back at the robust figure, as tall as a small mountain, wearing a skull helmet.
"Isn't this... I caught you, Old Man?"
---
Can anyone guess who those two people are? Although one of them is clearly recognizable because that person is too iconic, the clue for the other person is Caster. Since Merlin has lost his qualifications due to losing his sight, and Solomon... you know what it means why it's impossible for him to be that person, so who do you think the fisherman is?
---
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XElenea
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