"Gaaaaah! My eyes, my eyes!"
The white incubus wailed and rolled on the ground. He instinctively reached his hands to cover the Clairvoyant eyes that Artoria had slashed, but it was ultimately in vain.
With his movements, patches of purple blood sprayed around. Before long, Merlin's white robe was completely polluted by purple, and the air was filled with a floral scent so thick it was nauseating.
And the instigator of all this, Artoria, was currently looking down with a cold expression at this nominal teacher of hers, who was twisting in agony on the ground like a maggot.
"Why! Lily! Why would you do this to me?!"
Finally, Merlin recovered slightly from the pain of losing his sight, but what immediately surged into his heart was an even more intense bewilderment and anger.
After breaking his vow with Morgan and escaping Avalon, Merlin had considered who might want to kill him.
For instance, Vortigern who had dragonified into a Demonic Dragon; or the Witch who noticed the vow was broken and chased after him, only to be stalled by his Magecraft; or perhaps a certain rebellious Knight of the Round Table.
But even though he had imagined so much, even factoring Kay into the equation, he never expected that the one to ultimately strike him down would be Artoria, who trusted him immensely.
One must know that in order to evade the potential dangers that might follow, Merlin had hidden his main consciousness within Artoria's sea of consciousness.
Therefore, even when Vortigern used the Sword of Reversed Dawn to destroy the entire sea of flowers, he couldn't kill him. Thus, when Lamorak used the power of the White Dragon to summon shadows to trap and kill him, what he ultimately killed was merely a closely connected clone.
It could be said that among everyone present, the only one who could truly kill him was Artoria.
But how could this be possible?
The incubus was very confident in how much this young girl cherished their hard-won bonds before completely ascending the throne. So, even if his delay led to Artoria discovering the secrets he had been hiding from her, Merlin didn't care at all.
He even uttered words like "I have barely ever told a lie"—something so obviously wrong that even a dog could hear the problem with it.
What? You say Artoria might hate me for this?
How is that possible? I am her big brother Merlin, the Great Magus Merlin who created her existence and gave her a grand ideal.
Even if she was deceived by me, at most she would just be sad and a little anxious. When the time comes, I just need to use my silver tongue, and won't she still be my Lily, the Artoria who is about to become the Eternal King according to the trajectory of destiny?
And the only thing to resolve was Lamorak, who was in a similar situation and also had an influence on Lily.
So how should it be resolved?
Very simple. I'll just create an illusion and erase the concept of Lamorak from Artoria's consciousness.
When the time comes, after that guy outside is beaten to the point of being unable to rise by the Knights of the Round Table and the Celtic army, I'll let Lily out and have her kill Lamorak.
Thinking of this at the time, Merlin was quite looking forward to it. After all, being killed by a friend who cared about him in such a situation—he imagined he could extract a uniquely delicious emotion from this 'visitor from beyond the heavens', right?
As for his previous statement that he wouldn't let Artoria kill Lamorak...
Hehe, how can the actions of a Great Magus be called breaking a promise?
The one who kills Britain's second White Dragon is the Child of the Red Dragon. What does that have to do with Artoria?
As long as a White Dragon appears in Britain, it is destined to be slain by the Red Dragon. All of this is merely following the trajectory of destiny.
But all these beautiful fantasies were now gone.
All the incubus's expectations and desires were destroyed the moment the 'Sword of Selection' drawn by the young girl sliced across his eyes.
Why? Why why why?!
Why is it you who hurts me! Why is it you who destroyed my Clairvoyance! Shouldn't you be the person who believes in me and trusts me the most?! Artoria!
Seemingly sensing the intense negative emotions radiating from the Magus, Artoria's expression became even colder.
"Why can't I treat you like this, Merlin? Have you not deceived me enough? Is it not enough to make me angry?"
From the initial disbelief and self-comfort upon learning the truth of the fading Age of Gods from Vortigern, telling herself that Vortigern was merely trying to sow discord between her and Merlin before he died...
To the later disbelief and helplessness when the supposedly dead Merlin resurrected, and she received his answer upon seeking confirmation...
And then to the anger when Merlin used the illusion factor planted when he blessed the Knights of the Round Table, violating their will to try and kill Lamorak.
If all of this merely caused her kind self to lose all trust in Merlin and ultimately not want to see him again...
Then when Merlin pushed his luck, trying to influence her state of mind to make her proactively forget Lamorak, Artoria became thoroughly infuriated, birthing killing intent and malice toward him.
Furthermore, the method this guy chose to influence her was actually to make her relive a life without Lamorak.
Facing such scum, Artoria didn't want to tolerate him anymore.
Fine, since you boast of seeing through everything, grasping the trajectory of destiny, and playing everyone in the palm of your hand, then I will destroy the 'Clairvoyance' you rely on.
Losing the ability to find sources of food was undoubtedly the cruelest blow to an amusement-seeking incubus like him.
But Artoria's words clearly did not trigger his self-reflection; it even made the incubus's expression more perplexed.
"Then what about Lamorak! Didn't he deceive you too!"
As if finding an outlet, Merlin questioned Artoria.
"From the very beginning, he approached you with an ulterior motive!"
"His so-called allegiance was merely to fulfill his agreement with Vortigern. From start to finish, he never viewed you as his liege or his comrade."
"Lily, you also heard Lamorak admit it himself. He is the Witch's knight, the Vile King's ally, yet he never once mentioned you."
At this point, whether it was genuine or deliberate, Merlin's tone carried a hint of sighing emotion.
"Do not hold out hope for him anymore, Lily. Lamorak is no different from me."
"You probably don't know, but that guy, like me, isn't human either."
"He is merely a Water Fairy. He only took on a human form for some reason, and all his displayed images and behaviors were merely mimicked."
"Fairies are the most cunning creatures..."
At this point, Merlin instinctively raised those terrifying eyes—now turned gray with the flesh around the sockets flayed outward—to look at Artoria.
Although he had lost his sight, he could still barely see the outlines of objects using Magecraft.
Involuntarily, the incubus's nature began to act up again. He wondered what kind of expression Artoria would have after hearing these words and seeing that guy for who he truly was.
Would it be the same coldness and anger she had for me, or sadness and struggle?
Ahhh, what a pity... I can't see such a scenery anymore...
But when the young girl finished listening to Merlin's instigation in silence and slowly spoke, Merlin was stunned.
"So it was you, Merlin."
Not developing any negative emotions towards Souya because of Merlin's words, Artoria seemed to recall something unpleasant, and the look she gave Merlin grew several degrees colder.
"So you knew long ago that Lamorak used to be a Water Fairy. Therefore, back then, he didn't leave without saying goodbye; he was chased away by you, wasn't he."
Countless times, she had continuously reflected and pondered why Mr. Fairy had left without saying goodbye after making a promise with her.
Was it because the her at that time could never meet his expectations? Or because she couldn't grasp the principles he talked about no matter how much she studied them?
Or simply because she made Mr. Fairy feel annoyed, so he chose to leave without saying goodbye?
Such questions had troubled the 12-year-old Artoria for countless nights.
Perhaps some would think it meaningless to waste so much breath on such a trivial matter.
But for some people, it is often not childhood that heals a lifetime, but a lifetime used to heal childhood.
Artoria, raised from childhood as a tool to become a King, craved friendship and craved to be loved. Her childhood was entirely spent amidst swords and wounds; everything that children should have had nothing to do with her.
Even her only friend, her adopted brother Kay, was a full 5 years older than her.
For her to finally encounter a friend one day who would tell her stories she had never known and accompany her as she grew, only to lose him because he left without saying goodbye one day.
How could this not make her conflicted and heartbroken?
And these emotions found a place to anchor later when she met him again—having already gained a body—and discovered he was the Water Fairy from back then.
This was also the initial reason why she so desperately desired to obtain Lamorak.
Perhaps if she had walked the path of destiny given by Merlin, until Artoria became the King Arthur of original history—full of divinity but devoid of humanity—this would have become insignificant.
But the current her had transcended history and broken free from destiny. She was human, she had a human heart, and therefore possessed human emotions, as well as longing and expectations for affection.
So upon learning that Merlin was the culprit who chased Lamorak away, Artoria instantly laughed.
If it weren't for you, Lamorak would have stayed by my side all along, right?
If it weren't for you, Lamorak wouldn't have been snatched away by Royal Sister and sworn loyalty to her, right?
If it weren't for you, none of this would be the way it is now, and there would be no rift between them, right?
"Everything is your fault, Merlin."
Without the slightest hesitation, the young girl swung the Sword of Selection constructed from her mental imagery, thrusting it into Merlin's chest amidst his flustered expression.
"Stop trying to drive a wedge between Lamorak and me, you incubus."
"You don't understand the human heart at all, nor do you know what it means to be human, yet you foolishly attempt to play with and manipulate human emotions. No matter how much the skin you wear looks human, you are still just an incubus."
"And although Lamorak is only a Water Fairy, even if he didn't have a human form, his character, his thoughts, and his soul were undoubtedly a clear human heart."
The young girl tilted her head slightly. Her beautiful face under the sunlight was filled entirely with mockery and disgust for Merlin.
"Let me tell you the truth. From the very beginning, Lamorak told me that he did not walk the same path as us. From start to finish, he never hid who his heart belonged to."
"Therefore, there is no deception between us."
Hearing the young girl's words, Merlin finally fell completely silent.
Countless emotions surged repeatedly in his heart—anger, confusion, jealousy—yet he remained utterly speechless.
That mouth which usually stirred human hearts was finally shut tight.
Sighing softly, Artoria took one last, deep look at Merlin slumped on the ground, then dropped the Sword of Selection in her hand, letting it dissipate with the wind, and turned to walk away.
In the air, only the young girl's resolute back and final words remained.
"I will not kill you, Merlin. Even though your death is not to be pitied, I am human. Unlike you, I know gratitude. Sparing your life is compensation for the teachings and care you've given me over the years."
"But similarly, stay blind in those eyes of yours and remain in Avalon for the rest of your life. Do not ever come out again."
"Goodbye, Merlin."
As for Artoria.
Now, she needed to break this layer of illusion, go find Lamorak.
And then, have a fight with him.
No words were needed; knights could understand each other's feelings through the clash of their weapons.
She was going to prove to him, just as she had said before, that she had the strength and the resolve. Even if it meant going against the Will of the World, even if it meant breaking the destiny of the Red Dragon, she wanted to be with him.
Live together, accompany each other, and together welcome and protect the arrival of the Age of Gods.
Even if it ultimately invited the World's crusade, she didn't want to let go of his hand ever again.
The current Artoria, no matter who it was, no one could separate her from Lamorak, not even the main wife Morgan.
If possible, she even wanted to have a child with him.
Having learned that the so-called King Arthur was merely a false lie constructed by an incubus, Artoria didn't want to persist in it anymore. She was going to live the life she wanted to live as a human.
But before Artoria could get very far, she suddenly noticed something.
When she snapped her head back, what she saw was a tall tower abruptly appearing in her mindscape, and an endless sea of flowers stretching beneath the tower.
Great Magecraft: 'The Everdistant Utopia (Garden of Avalon)'.
In front of the tower, Merlin's blind and pale figure stood there. His lips bore a cruel smile as he looked at Artoria with a near-pathological expression.
Seemingly noticing the young girl's gaze, Merlin spoke with a smile.
"Lily, since you didn't choose me, but chose that guy, then I can only resort to some extreme measures."
"What I cannot have, that guy Lamorak shouldn't even think of having either."
"Just stay here in this 'Illusionary Avalon', Lily, and quietly wait for everything outside to end."
"Without your presence, the Will of the World will directly intervene and descend upon Britain. When that time comes, Lamorak will die, the Knights of the Round Table will die, and even all of Britain will be destroyed."
At this point, seemingly afraid Artoria would attack him again, Merlin's figure began to gradually turn transparent. His consciousness was returning to his main body in Avalon.
However, the soul is connected to the physical body. Even if his consciousness returned, his eyes would still be blind.
Soon, the incubus's figure dissipated, but his final words still lingered in the young girl's heart.
However, there was no panic in the young girl's expression, only an unusual calmness.
Gazing at the flashy, towering tower piercing the clouds, Artoria gently reached out her hand.
The next moment, a brilliantly shining blue-gold Holy Sword appeared in her hand.
'Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur)'.
It was not an imagination projected by the mind, but the solid true body. What appeared in this eternal illusion was the true body of the Holy Sword of the Planet.
Long ago, Artoria had understood a principle.
A thing like a sword doesn't determine the person; rather, the person determines the sword.
Even though her ideology had now changed, even though she no longer wanted to fight for the World and would even oppose the World for a certain someone, the Holy Sword of the Planet had already acknowledged her as its master.
Then it was no longer the Planet's Divine Construct, but the personal sword of the Knight King Artoria. That was all.
This is the destination of weapons. Understanding this principle makes it a Holy Sword. Not understanding it means it will be destroyed, just like the Sword in the Stone.
"Holy Sword, Unleashed."
In the young girl's hands, a resplendent and glorious golden light shone.
"The gathered breath of the stars. The shining torrent of life."
"For me, sever this isolated Utopia of Illusion."
A breeze blew, the sea of flowers swayed, and the young girl's golden hair fluttered. Beneath the gentle gold was a pair of resolute and beautiful emerald eyes.
"Excalibur!"
Surrounded by thousands of flowers, a massive golden pillar of light shot up into the sky, carrying glorious light and heat.
The next moment, that white solitary tower seemingly standing at the edge of the sky...
Collapsed with a crash.