King of Knights (I)

If Manaka's presence was within Arkhan's expectations, then the appearance of the true Merlin completely exceeded his expectations.

What surprised him even more was that she had been in contact with him since such an early stage, yet he hadn't noticed any clues at all.

Until now, he still vividly remembered the scene of that little girl kneeling on the ground, tears in her eyes, begging him to save her loved ones from the brink of despair.

Her desperate look for a glimmer of hope in the darkness was something he couldn't forget no matter what.

Needless to say, when he saw Manaka sacrificing all of Camelot's residents to summon Beast VI, he felt enraged. Not only had he failed his promise to Mari to save her father, but Manaka had stolen not just the lives of tens of thousands, but also the hopes of countless families for the future.

However, that ordinary rustic girl suddenly appeared at such an unexpected moment, transforming into a peerless and beautiful mage.

Even though Arkhan knew it was a good thing, a hint of complexity couldn't help but surface in his eyes, filled with unspoken melancholy.

He had to admit that, at such a critical moment, Merlin's appearance was indeed very heartening.

Since she chose to appear at such a time, it at least indicated that she had some confidence in solving the current crisis.

Even so, Arkhan was curious, how exactly did she plan to do it? Surely, she wouldn't just march up there and whack the monster with her staff?

"Your expression seems a bit rude, are you wondering if I'll personally deal with that ugly monster in the sky?" Merlin surprisingly understood his expression, smiling slightly. "If that's what you're thinking, then I'm sorry to disappoint—you see, I'm just a beautiful, wise, and frail mage. Fighting isn't really my thing, okay? When I was with Arthur before, I was the one responsible for slacking off and shouting instructions to him."

"So what's your plan then?" Arkhan furrowed his brow slightly.

Although he knew he wasn't alone, Merlin's easygoing attitude gave him a strong sense of deja vu.

"Well, it's the old way, of course." Merlin shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Slacking off is my thing. As for fighting, that's best left to my big boy."

She strolled forward casually, her target being Arthur lying on the ground.

Meanwhile, Beast VI, whose outline was already visible, let out an angry roar, its massive fleshy tentacle descending from the sky with tremendous force and speed toward Merlin.

"Hey, hey, at least I'm his caretaker, don't I have the right to visit him? Your yandere tendencies are off the charts, aren't they? No wonder Arthur doesn't like you!"

Merlin pouted, her staff glowing faintly in her hand, and soon, her body dispersed into countless flower petals, scattering in the air under the force of the Beast's blow.

In the next moment, countless flower petals descended around Arthur, and the graceful figure of Merlin stepped out from among them.

She looked at the numerous charred scars on his body, clicking her tongue in sympathy.

"My goodness, Arthur, you're really something else... Even with that bad woman finding you Rhongomyniad, even turning you into a Divine Spirit, you still end up getting beaten like this... Good grief, I'm starting to feel embarrassed for you."

"Merlin..."

Arthur's nearly vacant pupils barely focused, but upon hearing that familiar voice and tone, he almost immediately recognized the voice's owner.

"It's not Merlin anymore, my name should be Mari now... Oh dear, why do you have to embarrass yourself like this? I can't even use that name without feeling ashamed now..." Merlin sighed in frustration.

"Sorry..." Arthur managed to say with difficulty.

"Fufu, just kidding!"

Merlin's expression changed faster than flipping a page, instantly switching to a cheerful demeanor.

"But seriously, Arthur, I've warned you countless times, don't go messing around with pretty ladies. The prettier they are, the more dangerous... You've already suffered once at the hands of your sister, why haven't you learned your lesson? Look, now you've caused such a mess again, and I have to come personally to clean it up... Dear me, what a tough life I have..."

Seeing Merlin's face, like a mother dealing with her unruly child, Arthur couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Alright, Mer—Mari, just tell me what to do..."

"Eh? Arthur, you're surprisingly cooperative this time!" Merlin seemed a bit surprised, then grinned. "Since you caused the trouble, you have to solve it yourself. After all, I'm just a mage who's good for nothing except being gentle, sweet, and smart. Fighting is your specialty, yes?"

As Merlin casually flipped her hand, a scabbard gleaming with golden metallic luster soon appeared, adorned with striking blue enamel decorations, engraved with long-lost fairy letters in the center, emanating a noble and elegant aura.

"Avalon..." Arthur gazed at the scabbard in astonishment. "But, I remember it was..."

"Right, it was indeed lost, but later, I managed to retrieve it. After the fall of Britain, I dug it up from underground in Cornwall." Merlin shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Perhaps your responsibility hasn't yet been deemed complete?"

"Responsibility ..." Arthur glanced at the sacred relic that cast a shadow over his life, his expression revealing a hint of complexity.

"So, are you going to take it or not?" Merlin jiggled Avalon. "If you don't want it, I can give it to that black hair guy over there. Anyway, he's also Arthur, and Avalon shouldn't reject him."

"I... accept."

As Arthur muttered with difficulty, he touched Avalon, and under its power, his injuries gradually healed.

"You're right... this is my responsibility. Since everything started with me, it should end with me..."

"Although your life has been quite a mess, I have to admit, at least in terms of taking responsibility, you're impeccable, Arthur." Merlin shrugged her shoulders again, pressing Avalon against his abdomen.

In a faint glow, Avalon penetrated and merged into Arthur's body like liquid mercury, and before long, a surge of vitality erupted from him.

In the next moment, an invisible domain enveloped his body, the power to defy death quickly acting upon his crumbling body.

Like bamboo shoots breaking through after a spring rain, his dry, blackened skin peeled away, revealing tender, ivory-like flesh beneath.

*Ba-dump!* *Ba-dump!*

His dragon heart trembled again amidst a thunderous roar.

Fresh blood circulated through his veins, necrotic tissues regenerating with new replacements, akin to a snake shedding its skin, emerging with a new body from the old husk.

Arthur stood up, his golden hair shimmering in the breeze, his emerald eyes gleaming with vigor, invincible like a war god.

Soon, Avalon emanated from his body, dispersing into countless fragments that surrounded him. Gradually, these fragments reassembled, forming a silver armor and blue tunic that adorned his body.