Free Web NovelChapter 265: ICISEI Episode 251
Episode 251: The Real Merlin Who Actually Ran All the Way from Avalon to Help!
『 The waves of the Chaos Tide had already begun to churn incessantly, accompanying Tiamat’s draconic transformation.
The immense tide stirred in the air, radiating an intense chaotic energy as if the entire world were trembling.
At this very moment, the scalding black mud—black and red—beneath Tiamat’s feet was relentlessly eroding the land of the Underworld, spreading outward like boiling magma.
Her cold eyes radiated a faint, chilling light, gazing mercilessly at Fujimaru Ritsuka and his party, as if looking at a group of weak, inescapable creatures, which was truly hair-raising.
A terrifying sense of oppression welled up in everyone’s hearts, causing them to shiver involuntarily.
This intangible fear pierced their hearts like a sharp blade, leaving them barely able to breathe.
"Is there... really no way to stop her here!"
Romani’s anxious voice came through from Chaldea once again, carrying a deep sense of helplessness and urgency.
The anxiety in his voice seemed to spread through the air, making the entire battlefield even more oppressive.
Listening to Romani’s worried voice and the expectant gazes of her companions, Ereshkigal took a deep breath and gripped her weapon tightly, trying to calm herself down.
However, that heavy pressure remained like a shadow, making her feel an unprecedented weight.
"I... I’ll try... I’ll try... but..."
Before Ereshkigal could finish her sentence, her hands had already begun to tremble uncontrollably.
Facing such a powerful enemy, her heart was filled with uncertainty and unease, and even a touch of despair.
"This erosion is simply too aggressive..."
Ereshkigal whispered, her body unable to help but take a slight step back.
The black and red mud seemed to have a life of its own, rushing toward them, leaving her struggling to cope.
Even with Fujimaru Ritsuka standing behind her, it couldn’t give her more confidence or courage. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Satou Kazuma (KonoSuba): "This goddess is scared too, huh." ]
[ Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord): "Even though she was so majestic when we first saw her, she’s so timid now." ]
[ Rimuru Tempest (Tensura): "Exactly." ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "It feels so embarrassing~" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "I don’t think you should be saying that about others, Secretary Fujiwara." ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Hehehe." ]
[ .....]
『 But... just at this moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped forward once again.
No matter how difficult the situation, it seemed nothing could completely crush the determination and will of this human Master.
Regardless of the predicament, his heart was always filled with firm conviction and a fearless spirit.
His existence was like a banner representing human justice and bravery. In the constant process of challenging, even after experiencing failure, that tenacity will never show any sign of weakening.
He kept striving, never giving up.
"ERESHKIGAL!!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar that seemed to pierce the sky, the shout came from Fujimaru Ritsuka’s resolute mouth.
This shout was filled with determination and strength, as if declaring his will and conviction to the entire world.
He understood very well that at this moment, there could not be even a hint of wavering; even if there was only a sliver of chance, a glimmer of hope, it could not be let go.
"Leave this to us! Your task is to focus on confronting Tiamat!"
As he said this, one hand was already placed on the sturdy shoulder of his companion, Mash, and the Command Spell on his hand, which had already lost its life, was continuously transferring magical energy to her.
When Mash felt this powerful energy support, she activated her Noble Phantasm immediately.
In an instant, the great shield emitted a dazzling blue light, firmly guarding the black mud zone that they were advancing through, but facing immense resistance, thereby ensuring that Ereshkigal, who was in a dangerous situation, could temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack.
Even if this would cause great depletion or even reach her limit, he was determined to protect Ereshkigal’s safety so she could focus wholeheartedly on the battle against Tiamat.
"Understood! We will take responsibility for this to the end!"
The two warriors exchanged a firm look, seemingly having made all preparations at this moment; the determination to fight to the death regardless of the dangers they faced was clear for all to see.
But just at this critical moment, a slightly hesitant voice came from the other side.
"Of course... if it really is possible to rely on you, that would naturally be for the best... but right now, the operational efficiency of the Underworld itself is far worse than it used to be..."
Hearing these words, the usually composed Ereshkigal suddenly appeared somewhat flustered, her words revealing deep worry about the impending battle and a clear attitude of retreat.
In reality, one couldn’t entirely blame her for this situation.
After all, as a goddess who had lived for years in a gloomy and desolate place—the Underworld—a lack of rich practical experience and the ability to handle crises was somewhat inevitable.
However...
More people felt very dissatisfied with this.
Because at such a life-and-death juncture, everyone should be in the same boat, working together to face difficulties—that was the most important thing!
Although it was indeed rare for anyone to be willing to stand up and shoulder the burden in the absence of the leadership of the former king, Gilgamesh, Ereshkigal’s display of such a pessimistic attitude was truly hard to accept.
"However! If we don’t defeat her here and now, then we truly won’t have any room for maneuver!"
Indeed, as Fujimaru Ritsuka said, if they missed the current opportunity and failed to defeat the enemy completely, it would not only mean that the history belonging to humanity would come to a regretful and sorrowful end;
At the same time, all the glorious past of the world of Heroic Spirits would also vanish like smoke, becoming nothing more than a permanent memory.
Therefore, no matter what, they had to take that crucial step and bravely face the unknown destiny ahead.
Moreover: "Although it is only a speculation, judging from the current situation, Tiamat is in her weakest state." When Dr. Romani said this, everyone became confused but also felt a faint, inexplicable sense of excitement.
Looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka, who held confidence in her, Ereshkigal no longer backed down.
"Make up your mind, Ereshkigal!"
As if to cheer herself on, Ereshkigal gripped her weapon tightly and closed her eyes firmly.
She felt her heart racing, but the conviction in her heart allowed her to no longer hesitate.
Finally...
"I... I will do my best!"
After making a firm resolution, Ereshkigal gripped her weapon tightly.
Her gaze became resolute, as if she could pierce through the darkness.
The rolling waves of black mud, at this moment, crashed at the foot of the rock where they stood.
The black mud pool churned with unsettling power, constantly spreading outward.
The terrifying shockwave caused the black mud to kick up huge waves, which had already reached above the heads of the three for a moment.
The black mud seemed like it would devour everything, ready to fall at any moment and submerge them in endless darkness.
This time, it all depended on Ereshkigal’s performance.
All hope was pinned on her.
Could Ereshkigal help them escape from danger? Could she turn defeat into victory in this adversity...
At this moment, even time seemed to have come to a standstill.
Just as the rolling black mud was about to cover them, the air seemed to solidify.
However, at this critical juncture, a pink flower suddenly bloomed on the ground of the Underworld.
The soft light instantly illuminated the surrounding darkness.
This flower, which was out of place in the Underworld, slowly appeared before their eyes.
It seemed to grow from the void, silently drifting onto the black mud, bringing a mysterious aura with it.
Almost in the blink of an eye, the black mud mixed with black and red actually transformed into pieces of beautiful pink petals.
These petals quickly scattered across the land of the Underworld, emitting an incredible aesthetic.
The once dead-silent Underworld was actually covered with such bright and eye-catching flowers.
This scene was simply too magical and beautiful, making it hard to believe. 』 freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Such pretty flowers." ]
[ Nilou (Genshin Impact): "They look as beautiful as Padisarahs." ]
[ Nahida (Genshin Impact): "...." ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "This, why?" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "At this moment, she is completely different from before." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "The change is really huge." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Exactly, it’s completely different from before." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "It’s as if the previous one was fake." ]
[ .....]
After all, no one could have imagined that when it came to this point, Ereshkigal would still have a trump card... Could it be... that the panic just now was all an act?
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"Well done!"
Tanjiro couldn’t help but wave his arms in excitement, the agitated emotion on his face unable to be contained.
—
『 However, looking at the dreamlike scene before her, Ereshkigal stood there, stunned.
The black mud that should have been rushing toward the sky like a landslide, the black mud that had surged right before her eyes, had in this moment turned into an ocean of pink and white flowers. Such an incredible change left her unable to believe her eyes for a moment.
For a time, those bright petals drifted across the sky, seemingly contrasting with this place that had always been devoid of light, outlining a beautiful scene never seen before, completely different from the usual, under the sky of the Underworld.
This place was once a desolate and dead land, but now it was covered by the beauty that had suddenly emerged.
"This is..."
Dr. Romani’s voice was full of disbelief. He stared at the data changes on the screen, barely able to believe that this scene had really happened.
"The Chaos Tide is being converted into harmless matter at an astonishing speed, and all threat indicators from the Lahmu have returned to zero!"
Just as this wise analyst was reporting the earth-shattering news with an almost trembling voice, a small flower that had just fallen from mid-air landed gently in the palm of the Heroic King Fujimaru Ritsuka, as if it were a gift specifically arranged by nature.
"So that means... everything you saw..."
Before he could finish, Romani seemed to suddenly realize something extremely important yet extremely unexpected, causing his usually calm pupils to instantly flash with uncontrollable excitement. One could even clearly feel that the whole person was shaken by this thought.
An identical question surfaced in their hearts: Could it be that a person they all knew was hidden behind all this?
Just as this thought took shape, Fujimaru and Mash shouted out almost at the same time: "This can’t be, right!"
And just as the two were still shocked by this sudden and bizarre miracle, a figure they felt incredibly close to and familiar with was diving down from above with lightning speed.
"Awesome! That’s great!"
Seeing that all-too-familiar figure, even in such an urgent and incredible situation, the two couldn’t help but reveal long-lost smiles.
If there was anyone who could transform such a terrifying existence into a beautiful scene full of vitality, and make every move feel like performing an exquisite magic show, then the name that first popped into their minds without a doubt was only one—the famous Merlin!
Accompanying such a man, dressed in white robes and possessing an extraordinary temperament, as he landed gracefully in front of everyone, the four words "Just in time" became his silent yet powerful answer to everyone.
At the same time, the flowers that were originally floating quietly in the air seemed to sense some kind of summoning, gathering in the same direction one after another, forming a spectacular and beautiful pink ocean by his side, as if the entire world had been infected by this miracle and become vivid.
Then, Merlin confidently explained:
"Since the black mud gives birth to life, then the strategy is just to change it into harmless life!"
"Big success!"
The group looked at Merlin before them, feeling very surprised for a moment, but then, joy quickly covered their faces like the warm sunshine in spring.
"Merlin!"
"Merlin?"
Almost at the same instant, two voices filled with different emotions came from the Underworld and Chaldea.
For Fujimaru and Mash, this call carried undisguised joy and excitement;
But for Dr. Romani, who was in another place, it contained more incredulity and shock.
If it were normal times, such a scene would definitely make people feel extremely scared.
But now, in this critical moment of crisis and life-or-death, being able to save the lives of the two in time was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise.
"How could you!"
Dr. Romani looked at Merlin standing before him, and for a moment, he became somewhat incoherent, his voice unconsciously raised quite a bit.
"Was it summoned again? No, no, no... absolutely impossible! Merlin, how could you possibly appear here?"
And Ereshkigal, who was already dumbfounded on the side, was frozen in place after seeing such a scene.
Even while facing the immensely powerful Tiamat, Merlin still appeared leisurely and fearless, standing in the center of that ocean of pink flowers, as if this were not a battlefield but some quiet and peaceful garden.
"Don’t worry."
He gently waved the small magic wand in his hand, and immediately, this ocean of flowers, beautiful as a dream, slowly faded away and returned to its original state.
"I am the real one, the magician Merlin in name and reality!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he placed his palm on his chest and raised a proud and mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth, seemingly very proud of this matter.
"Just a moment ago, I rushed all the way here from Avalon to support you guys..."
"Run?"
When they heard Merlin describe his journey so easily and freely, everyone present couldn’t help but be deeply shocked.
"You said you ran... here?"
Mash, who was standing to the side, seemed not to have fully understood yet and repeated the question, while looking at the man who looked young but possessed powerful strength with eyes full of admiration. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Run? Here?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "What kind of method is this? How strange?" ]
[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Indeed, it is a bit strange." ]
[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "This legendary mage really likes to do things like this." ]
[ Artoria Pendragon⦍Saber⦎ (Type-Moon): "..." ]
[ .....]
『 Seeing this, Merlin, who was already quite complacent, became even more spirited.
At this moment, he stood with one hand on his hip and the other gripping his staff, striking a truly majestic pose.
"That’s right, that’s how it is!"
"There is nothing I hate more than sad partings."
"No matter what... I will never allow such a thing to happen to me, especially in a critical scene like today. Therefore, even if it violates the principles I usually adhere to, I believe this is an acceptable choice." 』
『 .....』
