Speculation about Merlin's Identity: A New Novel
"Wuhu~ Take off!"
Outside the Happiness Manor, a young man in a flowing robe of pale moonlight white chuckled to himself.
He stood beneath a graceful cherry blossom tree, his entire being wrapped in a faint, shimmering aura, exuding an ethereal and dreamlike quality. A gentle breeze stirred, and falling cherry blossoms framed him with elegance, adding an air of refined charm.
The atmosphere brimmed with mystery, beauty, and an otherworldly allure.
As jade is to man, so are snow-like petals to flowers; the world itself seemed to resemble a painting of rivers and mountains.
Silvery ripples floated through the air, and a panel appeared before him, revealing some thrilling updates.
[Creator: Luo Shu]
[Life Tier: Heaven-Realm, Third Stage (Peak)]
[Bloodline: Traces of Primordial Red Dragon Blood]
[Available Techniques: Izanami-Style Swordsmanship, Izanami-Style Magic Compendium, Magic Release...]
[Theoretical Lifespan: 819.7 years]
[Divine Credits: 6,872,361.01]
The Heavenly Curtain Project was implemented flawlessly—instantly earning over six million divine credits!
He'd struck it big... won beyond his wildest dreams.
Were it not for the need to bolster the Heavenly Curtain credibility by staging a grand scene of Britain from "Lunar Masterpiece" over Glastonburg, Luo Shu's divine credits would have broken the seven-million mark by now.
Still, the expense was well worth it!
After the Glastonburg event went viral, the once-slowing flow of divine credits skyrocketed as if on a rocket, shooting into the stratosphere…
And at the Mirage's end, Merlin's enigmatic smile lingered in many people's minds.
It felt as if he were gazing mockingly across millennia, his eyes taunting the hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Some people were left deeply unsettled.
Netizens eagerly typed away, some nearly fanatical in their interpretations:
"What is Merlin smiling about? Is he laughing at the downfall of later generations' morals and values?"
"No, I think his smile holds a sense of pride, a quiet arrogance. This phenomenon only occurred after the Heavenly Curtain descended; it's possible the longer it's here, the more monumental events will unfold."
"If people in parallel worlds become known to us, maybe these spirits will descend to our world, too."
"No, no… that's just wishful thinking."
"I think Merlin's smile has a hint of pity—he's sympathizing with King Arthur."
"That's a point! But, honestly, why does Merlin's smile look so charming?"
"Maybe he's a succubus?"
"…"
At first, everyone speculated on whether Merlin could actually see into the future.
What did his mysterious smile mean, and why would he smile at people from a future era…?
Yet, as more time passed, the theories became wilder.
A female netizen who enjoyed over-the-top romance novels claimed she was a psychology professor at the world-renowned 'Stanford University' and had, through frame-by-frame analysis, decoded every emotion hidden behind Merlin's smile.
With rapid keystrokes, she posted her so-called "analysis essay" online.
[It looks like a smile, but it's truly mockery.]
[In his eyes, there's a hint of disdain, two parts cool indifference, three parts sarcasm, four parts casual ease, and ninety parts utter contempt—as if he were a god gazing down upon the world…]
[Discontent with the treatment of the Celts, he has descended to exact punishment upon the British.]
"What kind of pie chart is this!"
Many netizens were exasperated, roasting the essay mercilessly.
British netizens were particularly vocal in their outrage.
Regardless, Director Luo chuckled in satisfaction.
No matter how wildly people speculate, it's all good.
His script had been airtight, and as long as people were talking, belief in Fate/staynight would only grow stronger.
All of this would add to his collection of "power tokens"!
Of course, many were also reminded of the author Merlin, famous on Twitter for The Steel Land.
That novel was eerie to the core, resonating with an unsettling undertone.
Not only did it feature a lifelike world and grand scenes of epic proportions, but with just a few words, it sketched a thrilling story. Despite its vast scope, it didn't lose sight of the small, intricate emotions of its characters.
Every element—the music, text, illustrations—was crafted to perfection, pulling readers into its world.
Yet, this precious work of art was free…
Strange.
So very strange.
It felt as if The Steel Land were less a cherished work of art and more a humble pamphlet on fire safety.
A kind-hearted firefighter distributing it to educate the public, perhaps.
But everyone knew that if such a masterpiece hadn't been meticulously crafted by top-tier teams over months or even years, it would be impossible for it to exist.
If it were created by human hands, it would definitely be sold for profit!
Merlin, the novelist in our world.
Merlin, the flower mage in the parallel world.
Could there be a secret link between the two?
Perhaps…
People held their breath, tense with anticipation, hearts pounding with curiosity.
Could they… be one and the same?
Across countries, netizens clenched their fists, took a deep breath, and
As they began reading the mysterious Steel Earth word by word… they were instantly captivated.
Excitement, thrill, wild flights of imagination…
This book was just too good—no matter how many times they read it, they couldn't get enough. The heavy, immersive feel of an impending apocalypse washed over them, blurring the lines between fiction and reality as each mystery unfolded through the characters' perspectives.
But the most infuriating part? The author left it hanging at the climax, abandoning the story with plot holes unfilled, driving everyone insane!
Such a cliffhanger!
In terms of cliffhangers, who could possibly outdo Merlin?
Fans were exploding, furiously flooding the comments with demands for updates.
"Come on, update already!!"
"Good grief, if you don't update soon, I'm going to lose it!"
"Welcome to the 'we'll probably never see the end' series."
"I once had a ton of novels in front of me, but I chose Steel Earth—now I've turned into a professional patience cultivator."
"You know, I have a friend who's also a writer, and thanks to frequent updates, she's now rolling in cash. Not that I'm implying anything, just thought I'd let you know."
"I'm seriously suspecting that Merlin has completely forgotten about this unfinished novel."
"Merlin, Merlin… You really live up to your name, you heartless wizard!"
"It feels like an addiction—I've read it to the point of ecstasy, totally immersed in the plot. If it doesn't update, I refresh every three minutes just to keep my self from not going crazy!"
"Clicked in and read it all in a flash. I suggest you, dear author, show some good faith and update a lot more!"
"Dear Merlin, I'm a loyal reader. Please update frequently. Otherwise, I might just kneel down and beg you, drooling as I plead. T﹏T"
Readers' frustrations seemed ready to tear through the skies.
The earliest, most creative update demands had racked up tens of millions of likes.
Foreign fans, curious enough to cross language barriers, came to read the novel and were infuriated by the cliffhangers.
"Come on! At least finish the battle between Arya's legion and humanity's survival!"
"Next time for sure~"
Watching the comments, Luo couldn't help but chuckle.
This account, under the alias "Merlin," had to maintain an air of mystery, keeping the vibe high-class and indifferent.
Could he simply cave in to his readers' fiery pleas and actually update?
Of course not!
Still…
Even if he didn't fill that cliffhanger, digging a new pit could be fun, too.
Releasing another Moonworld story under "Merlin" would add even more mystery, boost hype, and if he eventually unveiled "Merlin" to the world, it'd make headlines across the globe.
But… which work to choose?
Luo stroked his chin thoughtfully.
How about the counterpart to Steel Earth… Coral of the Moon?
"Whoosh—"
Ripples of silver light shimmered, scattering tiny, glimmering specks across his snow-white palm.
He gazed at the dozen or so NTZ-48 pills in his hand, pondered a moment, then swallowed them all in one go.
Instantly, his mind overflowed with thoughts, countless waves of inspiration surging forth. His eyes lit up with excitement as he sat at his computer, pressing the power button.
The Internet—activated!
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