(Sunny POV)
"Alright I'm ready…" I answered back as Serpent flowed down my hand and formed an odachi.
Merlin also summoned his black sword as he got into stance, his teleportation ability is troublesome to deal with, but it's possible to avoid it through shadow step.
"Let's do this, I won't use my aspect legacy, since yours isn't really offensive" Merlin spoke as he got into position.
'My aspect legacy may not be good at offense, but shadow sense can be useful in combat'
"And no divine memories either…" Merlin added.
"Sure" I nodded, after all the shadow lantern can only store shadows, and the mask doesn't really help either, compared to his own that is capable of killing over a thousand nightmare creatures.
As I got into the regular battle stance we learnt from Saint, he also went into an unknown battle stance, it should be the one he said he learnt from Azarax.
The next moment, he started exuding a pressure that I was all too familiar with, killing intent, I've felt this pressure a lot in the second nightmare, and also when he was having a private interview with Saint Cor, but compared to back then, this feels less oppressing, at least to me.
"Merlin stop…" I raised my hand to stop him, I wasn't affected, but through shadow sense, I could tell that Rain who was standing a distance away was still affected, after all she was literally shaking.
The pressure from Merlin immediately seized as he turned to look at Rain in the side.
"Sorry, it's a habit I picked up along the way" he said in his regular voice, and I understood, after all in the dream realm, all he did was kill, there was no need for him to restrain his killing intent.
He got into his stance, then the next moment his figure became unfocused, and he disappeared from my shadow sense while still standing right in front of me.
'Damnation… so he used that skill again, how am I supposed to use shadow dance if I can't even sense your shadow'
I took a deep breath and sighed as I got into position, since I couldn't rely on shadow sense, I'll just have to fight the regular way.
Merlin didn't give me time to think as he immediately lunged forward, I immediately commanded all my shadows to wrap around my body, as I felt my strength multiply, then I raised my sword to block his downward slash.
Clang!
The sound of swords rang out in the open space, I pulled back my sword as I stabbed towards his shoulder, he deflected the attack as he kicked in the direction of my torso, I shadow stepped away as I reappeared behind him, like he expected it, he turned and slashed sideways, forcing me to parry the attack.
I took a step back and I attacked again, we clashed and he was pushed back by a step, after all although he was a Tyrant, I was a devil and my strength also increased with my shadows wrapping around me.
After using pure swordsmanship for a while, I was able to figure out that his sword style was highly focused on adapting to changes in the attack pattern of others, although I've used many styles that I picked up in the dreamscape, he still managed to counter all of them effectively.
After a while, we both took a step back, and I immediately knew what came next, from now on, it was going to be a battle of aspects.
I prepared myself, but his next movements shocked me, I knew that he could use illusions, but seeing it made me still envy it, in front of me stood four identical Merlins, looking slightly to the side I saw Rain's eyes wide open as she stood dumbfounded, and I would be too if I didn't know that three of them were illusions, but the worst part was that I couldn't identify the real Merlin.
Back on the Forgotten Shore, after the fight with Nephis, I was able to tell his location through shadow sense, but now, I'm stuck with four Merlins, and I can't tell which one is the original.
'I guess he isn't the strongest for nothing…'
…
(Third Person POV)
Sunny got into a defensive stance as the four figures rushed towards him, he blocked the first, but his sword went right through.
Illusion.
The second circled round and slashed from the side, Sunny shadow stepped to avoid and stabbed at the shoulder, again, the sword went through, another illusion.
The third was already on him, he raised his guard as he chose to block the incoming attack, but a slight hesitation as to whether it was another illusion made him lose focus, and unfortunately, the third Merlin's sword clashed with his, due to his hesitation, the weight of the sword made him lose his stance, and Merlin took advantage of that opening to deliver a kick to his torso, that sent him flying.
As Sunny stood up, he turned to face Merlin, and he saw that Merlin had already summoned an armour, one that had a hood, he was wearing regular clothes, so he couldn't summon his armour, so he changed his stance to one that focused on defense.
The next moment, Merlin disappeared into flames as he appeared beside Sunny, Sunny slashed at him, but Merlin didn't block, instead the slash went right through as he dissolved.
Merlin had used another illusion.
Sunny turned around and saw Merlin, a few meters away, and in his hand, pointed towards him was a slick black gun. His mind immediately remembered a scene from the Forgotten Shore.
'Damnation…'
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Sunny immediately shadow stepped away from his position, as the air bullets missed their target, as Sunny reappeared, Merlin's figure appeared beside him as he flame jumped.
Clang!
Another series of swords clashing began with Merlin on the offensive, whenever Sunny shadow stepped away, Merlin would immediately follow using flame jump.
After a while, Sunny decided to use Shadow Control as he called on the shadows around, the shadow wrapped around Merlin's feet restricting his movements, and Sunny used that opening to slash at Merlin, however as his attack didn't cut Merlin, only a paper figurine that had replaced him.
'Tsk… I forgot he could do that'
Seeing that Merlin could escape his restrictions, he immediately changed tactics as shadow tendrils rose from the ground and attacked Merlin.
As Merlin slashed the tendrils, new ones appeared, and when he flame jumped away, new tendrils would still emerge from the shadows, Sunny also didn't give him space as he attacked with the shadow tendrils, forcing Merlin to constantly defend.
Then Merlin flame jumped away, however this time as he appeared he didn't raise his sword to attack the new tendrils, Sunny noticed his movements as he didn't immediately attack himself, instead he used the shadow tendrils, and just as he guessed, the shadow tendrils went right through, an illusion.
"You lost Sunny…" Merlin's voice sounded from behind Sunny.
As he turned around, he still didn't see anyone, but he felt a sword press down on his shoulder, the next moment, Merlin's figure appeared out of thin air, with the sword in his hand.
..
.
As Merlin undid the concealment ability of the Spectre Suit, Sunny's eyes widened slightly as he spoke up.
"You've got invisibility now?"
He sighed and dismissed his sword as he replied.
"Nope, it's an enchantment of the armour"
"I see, well since we're done, let's head back" Sunny replied as the sword in his hand turned back to Serpent and returned to his arm where it appeared as a tattoo.
As they were walking back to the visually stunned Rain, Sunny asked.
"By the way, how are you so good at controlling your essence when you haven't had any practice, it took a while to control mine"
"The thing is, unlike you guys I had a little practice, because I had to learn to control essence to be able to awaken, so as I became a Master, my control just refined itself" he explained.
"I understand" Sunny nodded then he turned to Rain "looks like you enjoyed the show, let's head back"
Rain looked between the two of them and asked.
"Are all Ascended strong like you guys?"
"Eh… no, not all, just maybe a few" Merlin answered as he placed his hand on her shoulder and Sunny's "Alright, close your eyes…"
..
.
As they reappeared in Sunny's house, Ariel, who was sprawled on the chair, immediately shot up and rushed towards him.
"Big brother… welcome back"
He hugged her back and replied.
"Hey there Ari… hey Silver, thanks for taking care of her"
"You're welcome…" Silver nodded as her eyes turned to Rain.
"This is Rain, she's Sunny's… student" He introduced her "and Rain this is Silver, my elder sister, she's a Saint, and this is Ariel, my younger sister…" he swallowed the 'She's also a saint part'
"Hello I'm Rain, nice to meet you" Rain bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you too Rain" Silver nodded softly.
"Hello…" Ariel also waved.
"How come they look alike but you don't despite being siblings…" Rain turned to him and asked in a low voice.
"Pffft… cough… cough…" Sunny desperately tried to hold back his laughter as Merlin glared at him.
"Huu…" Merlin sighed and replied in a forced calm voice as his eyes twitched slightly "You won't understand Rain…"
"Are you maybe adopted?" Rain asked again as her eyes looked as if she had come to a brilliant conclusion.
He sighed as he sharply turned to Sunny who was still holding his laughter.
"Something like that…"
"It's okay" Rain nodded and added "I'm adopted too, so we're in the same position"
"Lucky us huh" he replied dryly.
"Anyways Rain…" Sunny spoke up "you're supposed to be going now"
"Ah! That's true, thanks for today, and bye…" Rain said as she hurriedly left the house.
"Sigh…"
As Rain left, Sunny sighed tiredly, then he turned to face Merlin and asked.
"Should I tell her?"
Merlin stared at him and said in a calm voice.
"That's your decision to make Sunny… not mine, if you decide to tell her now, or tell her later, I won't interfere with your choice"
"I see" Sunny sighed again then he asked "did I tell her?"
"You did" Merlin answered curtly as he walked towards the kitchen.
As he got there, he picked up some ingredients and started preparing some stuff, for everyone, he was a bit tired from their spar earlier, so he decided to do the cooking today.
'I wonder, can Silver cook, maybe it's because the ingredients might be different from ours, but who knows, from her story, she was definitely a princess, what if she never learned… something tells me I definitely shouldn't bring up this topic with her'
As he finished cooking, they all sat together and ate quietly, until Sunny remembered something and spoke up.
"Hey Merlin, I've asked Master Jet, and she said we should meet up tomorrow concerning you getting your place"
"Ah… I understand, thanks Sunny, I need to collect Master Jet's number too"
The conversation trailed off from there as they seemed to discuss many things, with Silver occasionally joining.
…
In the Song domain…
"You called Mother…" Eubin bowed as she looked towards the puppets that stood below the throne.
"Eubin…" the puppet said calmly.
"Yes Mother"
"Changing Star and her faction, the fire keepers, have officially joined Valor, and two from her cohort are with the government, you need to recruit that child Merlin immediately" the puppet spoke as the words echoed through the quiet castle.
Eubin thought for a while then she asked.
"Should I send one of the blood sisters? Seishan is currently challenging her second nightmare"
"No" the puppet shook it's head "you should go yourself, and if he refuses, do your best to 'persuade' him"
Eubin's brows furrowed slightly, she understood her mother's hidden words, if he refused, she would use her ability on him, the same ability that made her the famous Beastmaster, the ability to enthrall living creatures.
"I understand Mother" She nodded as she walked out of the castle to make her preparations.
'Hopefully this goes well, if not, then he might just join Valor to spite us, and that would be the worst option'
She looked towards the sky and muttered under her breath.
"I really wish you were here Shan…"
'Ah… I remember that she did mention something about him accepting her invitation, hopefully he hasn't changed his mind'
"What's on your mind?" A soft voice sounded from beside her.
"Oh, it's you Hel" Eubin turned to the owner of the voice, Saint Deathsinger, Hel, her sister.
"You look like you have a problem" Hel said as they walked back.
"Sigh… I have to go recruit that Merlin, the so called humanity's strongest Ascended" Eubin said helplessly.
"That's not exactly difficult, why the trouble?" Hel raised an eyebrow.
"That's the thing, if he doesn't accept, I'll have to enthrall him…" Eubin replied in a dejected voice.
"Oh… that might backfire if we're not careful" Hel nodded in understanding.
"Any advice?" Eubin asked as she turned to face Hel.
Hel thought for a moment, then as if remembering something, she spoke up.
"If he refuses, tell him these words, 'everyone will die, including me', just tell him that and he should agree"
Eubin sighed as she pinched her brows.
"Not this again Hel… we all know that everyone dies"
"Just tell him will you, trust me" Hel patted her shoulder and walked away.
"Sigh… just great, now I'm feeling much worse than before" Eubin sighed as she walked away, all she could think of was how she would convince Merlin without resorting to her ability.
.
.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, I went on a week long camping trip, no electronics allowed (family rules)... I'll be dropping two chapters today and another two by tomorrow...