To tempt a god

On the following day, Richard and Rachel learned about Legend's decision to stay in the Arkana. They were very happy, yet still a bit concerned.

Rachel: Are you sure it's ok, Legend?

Richard: I do not know if I could do the same if it were me in your position, my friend.

Legend: Guys, it's fine. I think it's what I'm meant to do. And even if I'm not... I'm still happy with my decision. Besides... I've got you guys, right?

Rachel: That you do, Legend!

Meg: Good for you, runt. 

Legend: Who're you calling a runt? I'm still much taller than you!

Everyone had a nice laugh. Then Legend remembered his friend Shin, who always used to call him a runt.

Legend: Shin always used to call me that, you know?

Meg: I believe I did hear him call you that the day we met at Gowzer's castle...

Rachel: Right... your ninja friend. I'm so sorry you lost him, Legend.

Despite feeling a little down, Legend was quite grateful for his new friends. Rachel's words were especially comforting. They were like magic that mended a broken heart.

Legend wanted to truly commit to this heroic path he had chosen. That meant learning the way of the sword. 

Legend: Say, Richard... You think you could train me in using sword tech? I need to be able to manage myself with a sword... Otherwise, I'll be just wailing this thing like a crazy person.

Richard: You know... I actually have a better idea!

Richard suggested Legend should meet Cid, the one who taught him everything about the sword. Meg thought it was an excellent idea. That way, they could split up and still be searching for the weapons they needed to defeat Dark Wizard Merlin and prevent the return of the Four Fiends.

Legend: So... Where is this master of yours... Cid, is it?

Richard: He is back home at Dalmacia. I shall send a letter to the king with Meg, that way, he will not be able to come up with an excuse to not teach you... Believe me... he can be a very devious old man...

Legend: Devious? What do you mean? How devious?

Meg: I'll have you know, I don't have pockets to carry items, much less letters, you blockhead!

Richard: In Dalmacia, currier pigeons are quite common. You might even find yourself a nice female companion over there! – Richard said in a playful manner. Meg looked like he was somewhat embarrassed.

Legend: Get with the program, Meg!

Rachel: That would be quite interesting, honestly. Imagine Meg taking care of squabs! - they all started piling on, making fun of good old Meg. 

Meg: This is humiliating...

Elsewhere on the Western Continent

Meanwhile, at the desert dunes, near an abandoned tower... The mysterious mage that had previously helped our heroes in Lybia walked alone. He had been walking for a long time, ever since he got the orb from the Nightmare dimension that Rachel gave him. It's like he was looking for the right location to do something... Or he was expecting someone to reveal himself. It was most likely the latter.

He stopped walking at a certain point, right next to the ruins of a tower. It was noon at the time. The sun was shining brightly above the clear skies. The wind blew dragging a gust of sand with it. The man just stood there without moving or making a sound. No one else was apparently there, at least no one that the human eye could see. 

Mysterious man: There is no point in masking your presence. I know you have been following me. I can tell you and your colleagues have been tracking me for some time now.

Merlin: Well, darn! And here I was expecting to make a dramatic entrance! How disappointing! - Merlin revealed himself a few meters in front of the mysterious man. As usual, he had a crazy-looking grin on his face. The mysterious man had his eyes closed but was facing toward him.

Mysterious man: What is it you want? I am currently occupied, but I'll hear you out since you came all this way - he said calmly, with a sober-looking smile.

Merlin: How generous of you! Well. On behalf of the most powerful triad in the Arkana, I humbly welcome you to The Cabal: The coalition that will bring God back to this world.

Mysterious man: Not interested. - he replied in a rather blunt manner. Still looked calm and collected, with his eyes closed and a conservative smile.

Merlin: Hold on... You didn't even let me finish...

All of a sudden the mysterious mage burst out into laughter. It was completely out of nowhere and unexpected. Merlin started laughing too. But then as suddenly as he started laughing, he went dead serious, and Merlin flinched for a moment.

Merlin: A man as interesting as you surely must see this as an opportunity for gre- he was abruptly interrupted.

Mysterious man: I gave you the time of day as a courtesy, but now you begin to bore me. I have no interest in joining a league that attempts to recruit others out of fear. You're so pathetic it's sickening. There is no beauty in that... - He wasn't smiling anymore. His eyes were still closed. His welcoming aura suddenly started to turn into something else... and Merlin was able to sense it.

Merlin: What?! How dare you!? – Merlin was outraged. He felt insulted, and his pride deeply wounded. Initially, he was thinking of a way to sway him into joining their Cabal. Now he was filled with murderous rage.

Mysterious man: Leave now. I won't warn you again.

Merlin: It seems you don't understand your situation here. I don't want to have to kill you.

As Merlin said these words, three rocks that were among the wreckage of the ruins turned into mimics. It wasn't exactly that they turned... they actually were mimics all along. They then placed themselves in such positions as to surround the mystery man. 

Mysterious man: Are you sure you want to do this? - He said in a dead-serious tone. Merlin was a little nervous about this new aura he was giving off. But his pride was hurt and he wasn't willing to let it go.

Merlin: You brought this upon yourself. Mimics! Kill him!

The three mimics then launched a barrage of razor-sharp tentacles at the mysterious man all at the same time. But something really strange happened. The moment when he was supposed to be hit by those razor-sharp tentacles, it kind of seemed as if he had disappeared for like a fraction of a second, then instantly reappeared. As soon and as quickly as that happened, the mimics were all dead. They had been torn to shreds. 

Merlin: {What the hell just happened?! I didn't even see what he did... It had to be him, right?}

The Mysterious mage then pointed his finger at Merlin for a few seconds...

Merlin: That's rude... Didn't your mother teach you not to--

Merlin wasn't even able to finish what he was saying. The man just wasn't having any of it.

Mysterious man: Be gone.

A large energy beam blasted from his finger, piercing through Merlin's torso. It happened in an instant. Merlin fell to the ground with blood everywhere (especially coming from the hole in his torso).

However, the mage soon realized that Merlin was not yet defeated.

Mysterious man: Alright. I see I underestimated you. So you're not exactly human, are you?

Merlin got back up and his wound started to regenerate. He wiped off the blood from his mouth and chin with his hand. He then started to laugh.

Merlin: Shhhhhhhh! Let that be our little secret!

Merlin regenerated from his wounds fairly quickly. He looked at the remains of the dead mimics, then looked back at the mysterious mage with a smirk on his face.

Merlin: Perhaps now is the time for proper introductions? I am Merlin. Dark Wizard of The Cabal. And you are...?

Mysterious man: Still not interested.

Merlin was seemingly irritated and upset. He began to doubt that he would be able to control the situation.

He decided to show him his signature magical attack: Incinerate. It was a Dark magic spell that drew flame from the Dark Dimension. The only downside to it was that it required a lot of channeling. Using this spell was a risk since his opponent was likely to interrupt his channeling and not allow him to cast his spell. Merlin still went ahead with it despite the risk.

Merlin: Fiery hell that dances deep in the bowels of the Dark Dimension... Seek the flesh of my enemies... and burn them all to cinders!

INCINERATE!!!

From Merlin's hands, a huge incineration wave manifested and with great speed moved forward toward the mysterious man. The fire of the incineration wave covered a large portion of the desert. It was impossible to see anything because of the searing heat and all the smoke. Merlin thought that he had killed the mage. But to his surprise, once the smoke and part of the fire cleared, the man was standing in the same place. The same position. Unharmed.

Merlin: T-t-that's impossible! There's no way Incinerate didn't have any effect! Its fire isn't the element of this world... It comes from the Dark dimension itself!

Mysterious man: You're right. I confess that it would have been bad to receive your flames. But fortunately for me, I've recently acquired this orb. With it, I was able to block your magic.

The orb was the same one where the Spirit Fiend was trapped.

Merlin started to panic, while the mysterious mage had finally opened his eyes and as time went by, he had an increasingly deranged look on his face…

Merlin: {Damn! Damn it all to hell! If Incinerate has no effect on him I'm done for! I never expected him to be giving off such a deranged aura... Something isn't right here! Whatever it is, I can't stay here and find out!}

Merlin quickly shot a black orb from his hand that went in a spiral trajectory directly above the mysterious mage. He was naturally keeping an eye on that orb. A barrage of lightning started shooting from the orb. While that happened, Merlin tried to teleport away to safety.

Just before he managed to teleport, though, something hit him so hard and so fast that it tore off his right arm and part of his torso.

Merlin: {What the hell was that? Was it that orb that was floating in front of him? I didn't even see it... much less sense it!} 

Mysterious man: Merlin, Merlin, Merlin... Who the hell told you that you had permission to leave?

Merlin fell to his knees and was completely overwhelmed by fear.

Mysterious man: Now I will show you a fate worse than death, just because you wasted so much of my time. The ant trembles when it realizes the boot is upon it. God laughs when fools conspire against Him. You are really going to regret not being able to die...

Merlin: What's that supposed to mean? That you're a god?

The mysterious man started laughing maniacally, while Merlin was genuinely frightened for the first time ever.

The orb started to glow, and the man uttered one word alone:

Mysterious man: Capture! 

After this, Merlin's entire body was sucked into the orb. The orb then glowed briefly, and one could hear faint screams lost in the distance.

Just when the Mysterious man thought he could be on his way, he realized his inconveniences were not over yet...

Man in Armor: Tell me, sorcerer... What have you done with him? Whatever it is, I am afraid I cannot allow it.