Months ago...
"Hey Merlin I have a question" Sunny walked to Merlin who was fishing out soul shards, they had been hunting together in the dark city for a while.
"Yeah... Sunny I'm listening" Merlin answered.
"Is there a way to stop the 'rivers of blood in the bright castle' part of the vision?" Sunny asked.
Merlin stopped his actions and stood up to face Sunny.
"What do you mean?"
"You know there's going to be a lot of killing in the castle and I'm not eager to fight an army" Sunny shrugged.
Merlin nodded then returned to the dead nightmare creatures.
"Sure Sunny I can stop that part of the vision but they'll still need to be killing"
Sunny sighed and asked.
"So we'll kill them before they kill us?"
"No Sunny..." He chuckled "we'll just have to kill three people and the rest will fall apart or submit"
...
Present
Merlin stood in front of the bright castle, his face bore no emotions, in his left hand was a black glove with silver linings, it was the memory he received from the fallen demon, on his right hand was a black metal gauntlet that extended to his elbow and the fingers were sharp as claws, this was the Formless.
He walked with calm steps towards the castle entrance, as he approached the guards there he used a simple illusion to make himself invisible and stole their thoughts for insurance.
Merlin walked into the castle, as he stepped into the long hallway, the guards didn't notice him at all, he walked through the walls searching room after room for Gunlang and Harus.
After a few minutes of searching each room, he saw large doors that led to the supposed throne room, infront of the castle doors were two guards standing by and keeping watch, he walked towards the guards calmly, as he neared, the guards caught sight of him and drew their weapons.
As they were about to attack him their actions paused midway, Merlin rushed forward incredible speed and with his clawlike gauntlets slashed their throats, the they got their minds back they had already started dying of blood loss, no words could escape their lips as their body became limp and fell to the ground.
Merlin stared at their corpses, ignoring the spell that announced his kill he made his way to the door, with his bloodied gauntlets he pushed open the door, behind the door sat Gunlang and by his side stood the hunchbacked Harus, besides them there were four other guards who had already summoned their weapons.
Gunlang stared at Merlin's bloodied glove and spoke.
"Hunter of the forgotten shore, follower of Changing Star... It seems you've come prepared to die, invading my castle without my permission you leave me no choice"
Gunlang sighed and shook his head.
"It's such a pity, you could've been one of my personal guards, with your talent and reputation you could have had everything you ever wanted..."
Gunlang didn't finish as Harus began to step forward, he straightened his hunchback and summoned his hammer chain, he stepped down from the throne room and walked forward stopping a distance opposite Merlin.
Instead of Harus, the four guards rushed at Merlin the first slashed with his sword but Merlin effortlessly sidestepped it, then he used two of his clawed fingers to accurately pierce through the sleeper's eye his hand locked inside the guard's skull.
Bang...
The first guard's head exploded as brain matter splashed everywhere, Merlin who had just killed the sleeper in two moves didn't hesitate as he lunged at the nearest guard, as he got infront of the sleeper he pierced his hand through the sleeper's chest, accurately removing the heart.
The other two guards were about to turn around but Merlin stole their thoughts and with two slashed of his claw the sleepers fell dead, the entire thing took less than ten seconds as Merlin turned to face Harus he spoke for the first time since entering the castle.
He stared Harus dead in the eyes and spoke.
"Don't expect your death to come as easy as they had it..." He paused then continued his voice dripping with cold venom "I'll make you watch yourself die in real time"
Harus scoffed as he approached Merlin, the next moment Merlin was robbed of his sight but even without seeing he remained calm, Merlin then activated spirit vision and the once black world became laced with colours, Harus' figure was outlined with vitality, same with Gunlang behind him, the memory in his hand also outlined itself with vilalty, evident proof that the spell was alive.
Harus swung his chain ball at Merlin but Merlin simply tilted his head and avoided the trajectory, Harus was unfazed with his dodge and immediately proceeded to give a barrage of attacks, switching between close range and long range, but Merlin avoided them effortlessly.
Merlin watched Harus' attacks, he calculated trajectory, distance and recoil and after a few seconds he devised a strategy, the next attack that came aimed at his chest, he simply caught it held the chain, without wasting time he pulled Harus closer with the chain to shorten the distance, Harus unsummoned the chain in his grip but that made him play into Merlin's plan, with the brief second between summoning, Merlin lunged at Harus, the executioner dodged to the side, but the figure he dodged was an illusion Merlin had made up on the spot, the original Merlin was one step behind and directly attacked him after he dodged.
The punch hit Harus in the jaw making him stagger, Merlin gave him no chance to steady himself as he hit him again in the gut, then in the face again, Merlin kicked his shin knocking him to the ground, the series of attacks has made Harus unable to resummon his memory.
Merlin kicked the kneeling Harus in the face and he fell back to the ground, Merlin rushed at him and with his legs he stomped on his left ankle completely breaking the bone, Harus' screams tore through the castle, Merlin ignored his wails and crushed the other one too, Harus tried to crawl back up but Merlin kicked him in the ribs sending him rolling on the ground.
He walked towards Harus, bent down and placed an arm on his elbow, immediately the location was covered in frost, Merlin streched the almost frozen hand, he raised his gauntlet and brought it down with force and Harus' right arm snapped in two, the executioner wailed again but none of those reached Merlin's ears.
He used his gloved hands to forcefully close Harus' eyes and then he used the burn ability to burn his eyelids shut, melting most of his nose skin, he then went on to break the other of Harus' hand and his knees too.
He picked up the almost unconscious Harus by the hair, the executioner's face now burned almost beyond recognition, he used shock to jolt Harus up, then he placed his hand on the executioner's face, immediately ice covered his nose and mouth leaving him suffocating, Harus struggled for the better half of a minute and after that his memories began to disappear, Harus was dead, he looked at the corpse and he said in his mind.
'I've avenged you Annie'
He held the corpse by the hair and dragged it out of the room not sparing Gunlang another glance, strangely the lord hadn't said or done anything and just watched the entire thing. Merlin dragged the corpse out of the castle, the guards who had seen him gasped when they saw the owner of the corpse and quickly avoided him.
He dragged Harus all the way to the meet point, as he walked in the three were still waiting there, he threw the corpse to the center of the room, The three looked at the corpse, Seishan looked surprised and a little scared, Genma took an involuntary step back with fear in his eyes while Kido threw up at the sight of the corpse.
"There... You'll join me now right" Merlin's voice sounded through the quiet room.
Genma and Kido were too terrified to talk but they managed to nod.
"That's rounded up, now go back and tell your guys to stand down completely, I'll be taking the bright castle today"
...
Genma and Kido left the room leaving Seishan and Merlin.
Seishan spoke up first.
"You're different from before"
Merlin stared at her then sighed, the guilt in his mind easing up a little as he replied.
"Is that so, well it takes a tyrant to kill another tyrant so that's what I'll be until I hand over the position of bright lord"
"Hmm I see, I wanted to tell you that after all this is over there's a place for you in the Song domain" Seishan said as she made her way to the door.
"I understand.. I'll take you up on that offer when we're done here" He answered.
"Alright I'll be expecting you" She then stepped out the door.
As she stepped out Merlin stood still for a moment then walked to a chair and sat down, as he did he raised his head to the roof and closed his eye, and from the side of his eyes tears streamed down slowly.
...
After an hour, there was commotion outside, apparently Gunlang had been too chicken to fight himself so he issued a kill order on Merlin with two hundred shards for whoever brought his corpse.
Merlin sighed then from inside the house he snapped his fingers flame jumping away towards the square.
As he arrived at the square he shouted loudly and used the Loud ability of the trickmaster to enhance his voice.
"GUNLANG! I INVOKE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE!!"
His voice sounded far and wide as many sleepers rushed to the square, a few moments later Gunlang accompanied by Tessia who just got a promotion walked into the square, he was followed by multiple guards too.
"Who do you challenge?" Gunlang asked with authority in his voice.
"I Attendant Of Mysteries challenge Tessia of the pathfinders" Merlin answered confidently.
Gunlang asked straightforwardly
"And on what grounds do you Invoke the challenge?"
Merlin smiled and said.
"He's too weak for the power he holds, I challenge him for his position"
Gunlang stayed quiet but Tessia who hadn't what previously happened inside the castle proudly stepped out and said.
"I accept your challenge, I'll put you in your place you fool"
Merlin stared at him then sighed. Tessia walked to the square and maintained a little distance from him, then he summoned a mace memory, Merlin summoned the Sunlight Shard and held the beak shaped hammer in his hand.
As the fight began Tessia raised his mace to smash down but his movements stopped halfway, Merlin swung his hammer at full strength and as it collided with Tessia's head, the sleeper's head bursted apart, In two seconds one of the senior fighters had died.
"Disappointing" Merlin said as he spat at the corpse, then he turned to Gunlang and said.
"Well I've caught number two, it's time for number one"
He raised his voice again and said.
"Gunlang I challenge you for the position of bright lord!!... You are too weak to lead this place"
Although it was a bullshit reason Merlin still stuck with it, he couldn't think up any better lines.
Gunlang scoffed and spoke with authority.
"You've become arrogant because of accomplishments, I will give you one last chance to submit and I will forgive you of your actions" (bro was trolling... He's scared)
"I refuse, come out and die Gunlang" Merlin summoned the stone sword and the dawn shard and held it in his hand, he didn't unsummon the hammer z he just placed it by the side. (Bruh was stacked... Formless Gauntlet form, Cuthul's Gloves, Stone Sword, Dawn Shard... Hell yeah!!)
Gunlang took heavy steps towards Merlin, meanwhile Merlin's memories vibrated with power from the dawn shard.
Immediately the fight began, Gunlang's echo flowed to form a battle axe while Merlin held up his sword.
The two immediately began the rough clash, they struck, blocked, parried, countered and all that, the result was an almost equal fighting capability until Merlin began using his abilities.
Gunlang that was about to move immediately lost his footing and staggered, with the small opening, Merlin struck the side of his armour, the echo dented then repaired itself, as Gunlang approached again Merlin immediately flashed a bright light blocking hi vision, by the time his vision cleared up the battle ground was covered in fog, and within the fog, Gunlang could see five illusory figures.
A second later and the fog cleared revealing five identical Merlin, the rushed out at the same time, the first slashed as Gunlang tried to block, the attack fazed through his guard and body, an illusion, the second attacked, same feint, the third did the same leaving only two figures.
The two began to warp and in a moment, two became four this time they ran forward together, constantly crossing each other.
The first attacked _
Feint_
The second_
Illusion_
Third_
Same as others, the last stepped back, Gunlang immediately rushed to slash it but his sword cut right through, they were all illusions, from behind Merlin undid the concealment of the black screen he added with illusion and drove his sword right through Gunlang's back.
Gunlang stumbled down to a knee, Merlin flame jumped to the side and picked up the hammer, he flame jumped back and smashed the hammer into Gunlang's head, again and again until the memory gave way.
The bright lord of the bright castle had faced a brutal end.
Merlin stood in front of the corpse and raised the hammer and shouted.
"I am now the lord of the bright castle, anyone who dares opposes me will bear the consequence"
The crowd fell silent, no one made a move against him, then from within the crowd Seishan, Kido and Genma stepped out until they stopped infront of him and they immediately got on one knee pledging loyalty.
And then Merlin made his first decree.
"From this point on, all rules made by Gunlang is ineffective, the new rules shall be in place!"
He paused then continued.
"The entire Bright Castle shall be in lockdown for a full month, anyone can enter freely but absolutely no one is allowed to leave, and no information about what happened today will be spoken outside of the bright castle!"
"And second... Just enjoy yourselves, I'm not going to hold anyone for anything as long as it's not illegal or wrong!"
"That will be all" and he flame jumped out of there.
A few hours later after the commotion had passed Seishan entered the throne room, sitting comfortably on the chair was Merlin who had cleaned himself and tied his hair back, as she entered she stopped infront of him and asked.
"You called for me?"
Merlin leaned forward and said.
"On the the second street after the memory market, there's a bookstore that is empty, I want you to bring me every thing inside"
Seishan looked confused for a moment then nodded and left the hall.
Merlin stared into the empty space and sighed.
"Sunny, Neph you're in for a surprise..."