[Although his demeanor may appear gentle and amiable, Merlin will not let you leave peacefully. A confrontation with him is inevitable.]

[The opponent is a half-incubus, a sage, a great magus, and every title since birth echoes gloriously in Britannia.]

[He is Merlin.]

[But, so what?]

[You are... the ultimate life form.]

[Beneath this vast moonlight, it is your absolute home ground.]

[He wears human skin but is something inhuman, you possess a dragon's body yet harbor a clear human heart.]

[In this most dangerous pass.]

[Your heart, on the contrary, becomes extremely relaxed.]

[Where there is light, there is also accompanying shadow.]

[If that light represents the thriving vitality of all things, then the shadow represents 'death.']

[The shadows accompanying the night are quiet, extinguished, and murderous.]

[You, manipulating the shadows, attempt to gift the other a present named 'death,' an eternal tranquility.]

[In the ethereal thoughts, your murderous intent gradually quiets, your nature gradually converges.]

[You feel as if your body is constantly sinking, and in a trance, you seem to reach a certain extreme of dormancy.]

[If there is light, it will be swallowed by that light.]

[If there is no shadow, you yourself are the embodiment of shadow.]

[You don't like to argue about victory or defeat, nor do you get entangled in the troubles of conflict, but you also cannot allow... anyone to disrupt this peaceful life.]

[The excess magical power absorbed during this period, combined with your enlightenment, has further pushed you beyond your limits in skills.]

[Mana Burst (Shadow) → Mana Burst (Light Devour)]

[Mana Burst (Light Devour): A+]

[As the name implies, it is the ability to devour light.]

[Vortigern is called the demonic dragon that devours light, and as one with the bloodline of a vile king, you inherit his shadow attribute.]

[Understanding the unity of light and shadow, you can now take away the ubiquitous light on this vast land and convert it into your own magical power.]

[With the blessing of the night, even the radiance emitted by noble phantasms can be easily devoured by you. Perhaps, only those legendary artifacts won't have their brilliant light consumed by you.]

[With the light-devouring property, your magical power will be the pervasive, extremely dark fluctuation that corrodes everything.]

"Huu..."

"Haa..."

Inhale deeply, then exhale slowly.

Alvin adjusted his breathing, and with the chilling cold spreading in the air, the light around him seemed to distort slightly.

His five fingers pressed down, slowly gripping the sword hilt.

Click~

From extreme motion to extreme stillness, in this fleeting moment, all the concentrated power poured out, erupted...

Buzz~

In Merlin's eyes, the young man slowly swung the sword.

It was not the sharp slashing he imagined, nor the swift agility pushed to the extreme.

He swung the sword as if freely depicting with meticulous brushstrokes.

Slow, too slow...

It couldn't even be called a slash at all.

However, it was precisely this slow, almost stagnant movement...

That made the heart of the magus suddenly surge.

No, it's just an illusion!

...Interesting.

Rather, it's fascinating, truly fascinating!

This guy... Alvin, actually cast an illusion on him, a master of the illusion!

In an instant, Merlin comprehended the method Alvin used to release the illusion.

This spell did not affect himself but influenced everything visible to the outside world, making it impossible to counter!

Light is the essence of color.

Thanks to his previous experience with AI magecraft, Alvin had already reached the pinnacle in manipulating light and shadow.

Under his meticulous control, this ultimate life form not only absorbed the light but also completely covered the incubus's vision with flowing shadows.

The invisible blade is the deadliest.

What the magus witnessed at this moment was no longer real.

It was an illusion created by Alvin... a mirage.

Before realizing it, the attack had already hit.

"Come, enumerate your sins, Merlin... This momentary beautiful thing is the funeral bloom for you!"

In the silent obliteration, hundreds and thousands of dark sword lights symbolizing 'death' suddenly burst forth, like a beautiful rose quietly blooming in the twilight.

In an instant, it shattered Merlin's figure in the center into... a cluster of scattered petal fragments.

"..."

Alvin silently watched the petals cut into pieces and falling to the ground, withering in an instant.

Merlin, the half-incubus, had disappeared without a trace.

"...Did he escape?"

Even though he had captured him in the spell in an instant and confirmed that it was his true body.

This all-encompassing attack... was actually dodged.

Morgan was right.

This guy is really slippery.

Well, if he escaped... so be it.

Alvin turned around, preparing to go to Sir Ector's house, to see Artoria... perhaps for the last time.

Then, he saw Merlin's face, which was smiling disgustingly like a ghost, right in front of him.

"..."

The silver-haired young man squinted his eyes slightly.

"Ah, dear me~ What a terrifying move, Alvin..."

"The power of the attack you just unleashed has even reached the level of a Noble Phantasm..."

Pfft~

A dark sword light suddenly shot out from between the leaves, unexpectedly piercing through the magus's throat without warning.

However, what flowed out of the fatal wound, which would be considered lethal for ordinary people, was not blood... but colorful and dazzling flower petals.

"How is it? Do you like it~?"

"Unfortunately, you can't kill me yet, Alvin."

Humming an elegant and soothing tune.

He casually sprinkled the bloody flowers that flowed from him towards the silver-haired young man, and the half-incubus seemed to be having a very happy time.

"Have you had enough?"

Not even the need to wave his movements.

Alvin flicked his finger, and thousands of sword lights burst out again, piercing Merlin's figure.

But...

Petals.

Petals...

Still petals!

Colorful and disorderly, the petals fell from the dense forest, creating a gorgeous scene under the cold moonlight. However, no matter who was watching, Alvin felt nauseous.

Nauseous, thoroughly nauseous.

He had never seen such a sticky guy in his life.

"Merlin... do you love flowers so much with your white hair?"

"Well, there's nothing I can do~ After all, I am the Mage of Flowers."

The interwoven and gentle voice echoed from all directions.

From some unknown point in time...

This forest was already filled with countless Merlins.

Tearing him apart would summon another.

Even if cut in half or beheaded, two new Merlins would grow under the clustering petals.

The shadows surged like tides.

Alvin held onto the sword hilt, breathing slightly heavier.

The magical power of the ultimate life form could be described as vast and deep, but it wasn't something to be wasted.

Yes... he had fallen into the illusion.

When? From which step...

...Impossible to know.

It might be possible that since the first time he saw this guy, he was already deeply entangled.

Tricky indeed, the incubus's illusions were truly well-deserved.

However, it didn't matter anymore.

Because he also stood invincible.

"Just an illusion... it's meaningless if you can't kill me, Merlin."

Alvin turned his head without hesitation. In just a few breaths, the young man's figure dissolved into the shadows of the deep forest.

Can't win, then escape. No need to entangle with this idiot!

'This is my escape route, Merlin!'

"Kill you? Indeed, I can't kill you."

Watching the silver-haired youth leaving.

All Merlins smiled gently, as if completely unconcerned with Alvin's tactical shift.

"But, you are quite ruthless in your actions, Alvin..."

Saying so.

A deep wound slowly cracked open on the cheeks of all the Merlins, oozing dark purple blood. This caused the incubus's smile to lose its usual gentle demeanor and take on a somewhat sinister meaning.

It wasn't as carefree and easygoing as it seemed on the surface...

He was injured.

How long had it been since he last bled?

Merlin had already almost forgotten those distant days...

"Interesting, you're really interesting, Alvin. You're the most interesting person I've ever met."

"But unfortunately, you're right, I really can't let Lily continue to be in contact with you."

"This is also... for the sake of humanity's future."

"And, yes~ I won't use any violence, that's too crude."

"But it's okay."

"As long as I can stop you..."

With muttered soliloquies.

All the Merlins raised their wands.

To show his respect, he decided to exert his full strength.

This was the first time he cast this spell on a person.

The name of the Noble Phantasm engraved in Merlin's fate had long been known to him.

Although the time was not ripe yet, and the full power had not been unleashed.

However, dealing with the immature son of the White Dragon was more than enough.

All the Merlins chanted softly.

"From the inner sea of the planet, from the tower of insight..."

"From the four corners of paradise, let them know..."

"Their story is filled with blessings."

"Only those free of sin may pass...."

"Garden of Avalon~"

With the Merlins' rising and falling chants.

Crimson petals fell from the sky.

In an instant, the world seemed to become completely different, yet at the same time, nothing had changed.

"Goodbye, Alvin..."

The magus smiled and his figure quietly dispersed in the wind-blown flowers.

...

The night dyed the moon, the beauty slowly groomed.

Between the vermilion lips, a faint and gentle smile appeared. Morgan lazily lay on her side in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom, examining her reflection.

The toes, as moist as gem, slightly flexed in the black fabric.

Above the witch's long and well-proportioned legs, the black stockings shone with a tempting luster.

She even deliberately chose a pair of fluorescent high heels, gently swaying on the tips of her feet.

The delicate high heels, adorned with a faint glow, twinkled like stars.

The round and moist toes, wrapped in black fabric, lifted slightly, and the witch blushed, extending her arm to teasingly take off the shoes.

"This attire... it's really, really embarrassing..."

"But, Alvin seems to, really like this style?"

Surprised by her disciple's outstanding creativity in clothing and attire, all these exquisite dresses were gifts personally woven and tailored by Alvin during these days.

Their sizes naturally went through meticulous measurements by the hands of the young man, ensuring that every piece of fabric fit snugly.

Thinking about how tonight would be another passionate and thrilling battle.

A faint rosy hue appeared on Morgan's cheeks.

Comparing her slender and well-proportioned body curves, the sapphire-blue witch, full of anticipation, boldly selected various styles of daring lingerie from the wardrobe.

But...

Without any warning.

As if in a trance, a premonition seemed to emerge.

The thin fabric, as if nonexistent, quietly slipped from Morgan's hands.

"Alvin's presence..."

"Disappeared?!"

Morgan abruptly turned her head, looking towards the distant horizon under the night curtain.

The bright candlelight in the room flickered and suddenly extinguished.

The surrounding shadows silently flowed and gathered, inch by inch climbing onto her body, solidifying into substance. The witch was once again covered in that black veil that repelled people a thousand miles away.

Behind the curtain.

The witch's voice, as deep as the eternal night, echoed bone-chillingly, desolate and silent.

"If there's any mishap with Alvin, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth, tearing your body into pieces..."

"MERLIN!!!"

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