Merlin’s Catastrophic Plan
Siegfried wobbled back and forth as the pain in his backside worsened. Placing his hand onto his neck, he closed his eyes and could barely hold his weapon inside his other hand… it felt as if he was being weakened severely.
"I'm conducting an experiment on you Siegfried. How about you be a good boy and let me go through with it?" (Merlin)
"Experiment…? You think I'm your Guinea pig Merlin!?" (Siegfried)
"HAHAHA! Of course you're! A Guinea pig is what you're meant to be for me! I knew that some hero would come to slay my master Lord Jörmungandr! It's even better that the hero ended up being you." (Merlin)
"…How is it better…?" (Siegfried)
Merlin crossed her arms, wearing a smirk on her face.
"It's because it doubles my benefits. I wish to experiment on a hero, and you're a hero, while I also wish to learn more about Balmung, and you have Balmung. The sisters of fate have treated me nicely…" (Merlin)
"…DAMNIT… MERLIN! RELEASE THIS SPELL OFF OF MY BODY!" (Siegfried)
"You honestly think that you have the position to give me orders? FOOLISH HUMAN!" (Merlin)
Merlin kicked Siegfried onto his back, stomping right onto his chest with her foot, grinding it back and forth.
"….Gngh…." (Siegfried)
"You want to know my experiment Siegfried? Are you soooo curious to find out about it like a curious little boy? WELL, ARE YOU?!" (Merlin)
Merlin's eyes became crazed, full of lust to drive the general into a pool of dread.
"…What is… your experiment—? GAAH!" (Siegfried)
Siegfried felt her foot sink deeper into his chest, cracking most of his armor.
"We know about the ideal of good and the ideal of evil, don't we? They've come long ago, one created from a powerful blade held by Hades, and another by humanity's rebel against evil alongside the goddess of life. The reason why those with absolute evil mana forces are able to resist the effects of unholy, cursed, and dark magic is because those things naturally are associated with evil. The same goes for absolute pure mana forces, as they are able to resist holy magic, law magic, and light magic because those concepts are naturally associated with good." (Merlin)
Merlin took her leg off Siegfried's chest, looking up into the sky with a bright smile.
"…But there's one thing missing Siegfried…" (Merlin)
"…What… one thing…?" (Merlin)
"Those with half evil and half good mana forces have no benefits… it's just normal in this world, to be half good, and half evil. It's like Yin and Yang." (Merlin)
Siegfried grunted as he tried to stand back up to his feet once more.
"…Yeah…? So what do you plan on doing about it Merlin?" (Merlin)
Merlin snickered.
"Heheheh… of course as the great Merlin herself, I will change it. I will change how it works entirely!" (Merlin)
"…And you plan to use me in order to enact that goal of yours?" (Siegfried)
"INDEED! YOU'LL BECOME THE GREATEST GUINEA PIG AMONG EVERYONE ELSE THAT I'VE USED!" (Merlin)
Siegfried finally returned to his feet, picking up Balmung with him.
"…AWAKEN… BALMUNG!" (Siegfried)
Balmung was surrounded by black fire. Siegfried managed to hold the hilt with two hands as he squinted his eyes, barely able to stand.
"I admire your dedication, Siegfried, but I told you it's already useless, didn't I? Stand down… and make this easier for yourself. I've offered to spare you by having you join us, now you've lost that chance." (Merlin)
"I will never turn down… nor will I ever run from a fight. THE VERY FACT YOU THINK THAT IRRITATES ME MERLIN!" (Siegfried)
Siegfried would run forward, holding his weapon as the black fire sporadically got larger around Balmung.
"…SEAAAAAA!!!" (Siegfried)
He swung Balmung with all his strength, launching multiple slashes of black flames.
"…I've already told you it's USELESS!" (Merlin)
Merlin would snap her fingers, casting a barrier around Balmung as she dodged the slashes that came her way.
"…What is this?" (Siegfried)
Siegfried tried swinging the weapon again to only lose its grip, causing it to fall.
"An seal…?" (Siegfried)
"Indeed. During your battle against my clone, I analyzed and started to understand how your weapon worked… and it was fairly easy to create sealing magic powerful enough to seal your weapon and its power." (Merlin)
"…This… cannot be… you sealed Balmung away?" (Siegfried)
"Are you really surprised? You went up against me, of course, I sealed away your weapon, and its power. Heh, not that it matters, as in about five minutes my experiment will finally be in play." (Merlin)
Siegfried fell to his knees, looking down at the small stream of magma underneath his palms.
"Balmung… is sealed away…? The weapon that… the world itself had given to me…" (Siegfried)
"It seems you've lost your will to continue. Perfect, now that you understand your position, learn your place Siegfried." (Merlin)
"DAMNIT… DAMNIT… I CANNOT LOSE… ITS MY DUTY TO SLAY JÖRMUNGANDR!" (Siegfried)
Siegfried had a frown of frustration on his face… he felt hopeless, lost, and confused. Slamming his fist into the ground it would crack… forming a small crater.
"HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME… YGGDRASIL!? I HAVE YET TO DO MY DUTY… YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GUIDE ME TO MY DESTINY AREN'T YOU?!" (Siegfried)
"You talk to the world tree as if it listens to you and your frustration. Sadly it's just a delusion you have Siegfried. The world tree doesn't care about guiding you to your destiny, that's just a theory you heroes created to make yourselves feel powerful. In reality, you so-called "Heroes" are just born more special than others, nothing more or less." (Merlin)
"No… you're wrong Merlin… I know that Yggdrasil is there listening… I know they hear my every word! I KNOW THAT THEY FEEL MY FRUSTRATION! I WON'T LOSE UNTIL I DEFEAT YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL!" (Siegfried)
"WHAT AN DELUSIONAL FOOL!" (Merlin)
Merlin kicked him in the face, but Siegfried didn't budge.
"…What…?" (Merlin)
"…I won't… let you have… BALMUNG!" (Siegfried)
"H-HE NULLIFIED MY SET OF EVENTS?! BUT HOW? I SEALED BALMUNG?!" (Merlin)
Merlin glanced over at the sealed blade, seeing it hover in the air.
"IMPOSSIBLE! IT WAS SEALED AWAY, HOW DID IT BREAK FREE!?" (Merlin)
"…It doesn't matter Merlin… conceptual weapons adapt to all harm directed at its user and itself, allowing it to evolve to become stronger so it could save the both of us!" (Siegfried)
All conceptual weapons surpass the effects of catastrophe magic and all other magic. Siegfried stood back up and risen his arm into the air.
"COME TO ME BALMUNG! RETURN TO YOUR MASTER!" (Siegfried)
The blade would release a vibrational sound through the air, eventually returning back to Siegfried's palm at light speeds.
"YOU HAVE LOST MERLIN!" (Siegfried)
"…IT SHOULD BE TIME NOW!" (Merlin)
"BE TURNED TO ASHES!" (Siegfried)
"I WON'T MAKE IT—!" (Merlin)
Siegfried dashed towards Merlin, holding Balmung above his head.
"...HAAAAAAAAA…!!!"(Siegfried)
"DAMNIT…!" (Merlin)
"…GNNHH…" (Siegfried)
Siegfried suddenly lost course, falling to his side as Balmung left his grip.
"….Gack!" (Siegfried)
Siegfried's eyes widened as blood poured from his mouth, gagging and puking most of it up.
"…I made it… it finally worked!" (Merlin)
Merlin's expression was of fear, having beads of sweat all over her forehead in terror, but she did manage to survive.
"…Hahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU WERE CLOSE! YOU WERE VERY CLOSE IN KILLING ME, BUT SADLY YOU STOOD NO CHANCE WITH MY SPELL ACTIVE IN YOUR BODY!" (Merlin)
Merlin laughed loudly as she walked towards Siegfried, standing over him before turning him on his backside with her foot.
"Your body is undergoing a new transcendence, that's why you're puking up blood. Not just your body, but your soul and mana force as well. My experiment is to see if I can change the effects of a mana force, and its resistances. You'll be the first one to undergo this evolution, so you should be grateful Siegfried." (Merlin)
Merlin would kneel to her knees, placing her hand on his cheek.
"Pure mana forces, evil mana forces, and the infamous dual mana forces that everyone naturally has will be changed. Congratulations Siegfried, you'll be known in history as the father of this new evolution I wish to create!" (Merlin)
"…Merlin… you bastard…" (Siegfried)
"Now then…" (Merlin)
Merlin leaned forward, wiping the blood from his lips as she collided her own with his. Kissing Siegfried on his lips, she would transfer most of her mana into his body, fueling it up enough to leave him alive.
"I gave you some of my mana. The spell normally drains all your energy and could possibly kill you, but I need you alive." (Merlin)
"I'm disappointed, Siegfried, I thought you would be able to handle someone like her. All you needed was a better strategy." (???)
"…That… voice?" (Siegfried)
"…You are—!" (Merlin)
"It's familiar… I've heard it before!" (Siegfried)
Merlin stood up as her eyes widened, her face full of terror to notice this… person.
"Grimhild… Yorgana…?" (Merlin)
"Merlin, I thought I taught you my magic for the better, but you're using it to tamper with the natural cycle of life? I knew something was suspicious…" (Grimhild)
"I've only made your magic better than what you normally taught me… you aren't the only genius in this world, Witch of Justice." (Merlin)
"Ah? Then we should test that, shouldn't we?" (Grimhild)