Two thousand four hundred years.
This was the time Naoki and Naoki Number Two had not met.
Since the day the two separated two thousand four hundred years ago, since the day Naoki asked Naoki Number Two to remain on the Boundary Island to guard the Holy Sword.
Two thousand four hundred years had passed.
The two should have been the people who understood each other best in the world, because fundamentally the two were one person, so the two should have been very familiar with each other.
However, at this moment, Naoki felt a pure alienation from his other self.
"Don't want to talk?"
Naoki Number Two smiled.
"After all, this is a reunion after two thousand four hundred years. I think it's fine if we embrace to celebrate our reunion."
"Before that, answer some of my questions first." Naoki said coldly, "Is this your doing?"
A headless question.
Naoki did not specify which event, but Naoki Number Two knew what he wanted to ask.
"Hmm... That depends on which one you're asking about."
"If you're asking about summoning our beloved ones from Proper Human History, that was indeed my doing. And moving all of them to Camelot City with spatial exchange and instigating them to fight with you, that was also my doing."
"Or, do you want to ask who made this Horned God awaken now?"
Naoki Number Two showed a smile that was very familiar to Naoki.
"Then my answer is yes, it was indeed I who awakened the Horned God Cernunnos—are you satisfied with this answer?"
*BOOM!*
The answer to Naoki Number Two was a terrifying Mana pressure from Naoki that almost crushed and pulverized his entire body!
As if a giant mountain had suddenly pressed down on him, Naoki Number Two instantly knelt! His knees even created two small indentations in the floor of the Throne Room!
"That really hurts, attacking oneself like this."
However, there was no change at all in Naoki Number Two. Neither his tone of voice, his facial expression, nor the emotions in his eyes, still appeared relaxed and comfortable, as if Naoki's suppression was just a greeting from a neighbor.
Naoki looked down at his other self: "Give me an explanation."
"Explanation, huh... Hmm, do you think now is the right time to listen to my explanation?" Naoki Number Two pointed behind Naoki, "The Horned God is almost crawling out. As the Fairy King who rules Britain, shouldn't you go defeat him?"
"..."
Without needing a reminder from Naoki Number Two, Naoki had already felt it. In the great hole behind him, a terrifying curse that even he could not bear had spread out. The Mana in the air completely changed under the influence of this curse, causing his great magic circuit, which he bore, to experience a slight anomaly.
Cernunnos had awakened.
But this should have been impossible, because Cernunnos's heart had already been pierced. Although his body was still alive, it would be impossible for him to move again, unless—
"You filled Cernunnos with a Divine Core?"
"What other way do you think would make him move again?" Naoki Number Two laughed, "That Divine Core was filled with the fairy we hate the most, and that is Aurora, the fairy we also hate the most—within a week in this Salisbury, I used all the tricks of seducing women Merry ever taught, and managed to happily persuade her."
Although she was the Clan Head, Aurora turned out to be very simple. All her actions were only aimed at making herself the most beautiful and most popular fairy in Britain. Other than that, she had no other reason to act.
"I just said that you contacted me, asking me to bring her to the royal city to give her the title of the most beautiful fairy in Britain. And she, like a fool, innocently followed me to the edge of the great hole. She only realized she had been deceived when I pushed her down."
"...."
Naoki fell silent.
He hated fairies, was deeply disgusted by fairies. In this regard, Naoki Number Two was right. He also hated Aurora. In terms of results, he was very satisfied with what Naoki Number Two did.
But, if he only wanted to kill Aurora, there were many ways. Why did he choose to make Aurora an offering to Cernunnos?
"You... want to destroy this island?"
"Why do you want to protect this island?"
Naoki Number Two retorted with another smile.
"You should know, this island is an island of sin. There's no point in its continued existence. From the beginning, we never thought of letting this island survive. We even wanted to destroy it completely, make this island disappear entirely."
"However... now you don't seem to think so, do you?"
Naoki Number Two stood up from the floor, resisting the Mana pressure.
"Because you cast all those thoughts onto me. You cast all that you didn't need, all that would hinder the manifestation of Morgan's wish, you cast it onto me."
Two thousand four hundred years ago, the reason Naoki decided to split himself, besides based on a contract with the planet, had another purpose.
That is, he wanted to strengthen his resolve.
Although he said he would save Britain with Morgan, he also knew that in his heart, there wasn't the slightest intention to save Britain. This island should have been destroyed from the beginning, and should never have existed.
This was not the thought Naoki needed at that time. He wanted to save Britain with Morgan, so he didn't need the thought of destroying Britain.
Therefore, he separated that thought.
[His self who wanted to destroy Britain] and [His self who wanted to save Britain].
Two thousand four hundred years ago, Naoki became two entities with completely different thoughts. However, after the split was complete, he himself did not realize it, nor did Naoki Number Two who bore those thoughts realize it.
Until the Cursed Worm came to Naoki Number Two for its third manifestation, after the second Avatar was destroyed.
"I want to destroy this island. Following our initial thoughts in our heart, destroy this island together with the fairies—so I chose the worst fairy, made her the core to awaken Cernunnos. Next, under Cernunnos's influence, all fairies in Britain will turn into Molles."
"Then, the Curse summons Beasts, Beasts summon Fire. The two Calamities you nurtured by your side, even if they hide and are protected, will gradually lose control under the influence of the curse—"
*PU-CHI!*
A piercing sound interrupted Naoki Number Two's monologue.
The electric light emanating from Naoki's fingertip directly pierced his heart.
"Be quiet, my other self."
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
Three consecutive electric lights were shot, creating three more holes in Naoki Number Two's body.
Heart, stomach, neck, and the spot between the eyebrows.
Four electric light shots completely hit the four most fatal spots, instantly turning Naoki Number Two's body into a corpse.
Without looking at the fate of his other self, Naoki tapped the throne, rotating the throne that faced the door 180 degrees, to face the great hole.
Staring at the pitch-black curse rising from the great hole, his limitless magic circuit, terrifying like a giant tree, appeared behind Naoki. Its dense branches immediately covered the entire throne, and spread along the floor, walls, and ceiling, spreading throughout the Throne Room in an instant!
"Circuit link."
"Releasing the Mana restraining the barrier, releasing the Mana suppressing the curse, releasing the Mana purifying the curse—all restrictions are removed. The Mana Source, the Royal City of Camelot, operates at full power."
The Calamity of Curses would summon the Calamity of Beasts, the Calamity of Beasts would summon the Calamity of Fire.
This was what would originally happen, the prophecy for Barghest and Melusine, after Cernunnos awakened. Barghest would transform into a Mana-devouring Black Dog trampling Britain. Melusine would show her true form as the Albion Dragon, continuously bombarding Britain.
Until both were finally annihilated.
"I will not let that happen."
Naoki, surrounded by countless magic circuits, declared thus to the empty Throne Room.
"Currently, there is only one Calamity in Britain that I control."
"The Calamity of Curses, the Horned God Cernunnos of the Celts."
"Today I will completely annihilate you, leaving not even a shred of your remnants."
Mystic Code of the Closed Soul: Holy Lance Rhongomyniad.
Activate!
"Holy Lance, Anchor Lifted!"