Ty hates going shopping.
"This is crazy," he complained, helping Lord Medlot pull up a box of bread. The locals, including the merchant who originally sold them the food, stopped to look at the immortal horse with a mixture of contempt and curiosity. "Useless, worse than useless."
"I'm discovering a new side of you, Walter," Medlot said thoughtfully, not ashamed of this thankless task.
"I should look into it, or let the dwarves carry the boxes." Tai expressed his dissatisfaction. "Can't we teleport them to the castle?"
"You spellcasters are all the same. You believe that you can 'solve' all problems with magic." Metro shook his head unhappily. "I understand you probably hate buying these groceries, but you have more to lose than you think when you're hiding in your ivory tower."
"Black Tower," Tai corrected, receiving a gentle tap on the back of his head. "Ouch."
"Didn't your father take you on a trip like this?" Metro asked, moving to the driver's seat.
"No," Tai replied, sitting on the back of the wagon carrying the crate. "My father thought it was better for me to study, study, and leave the countryside for the city. He said I wouldn't struggle like he did."
"Ah." The knight paused. "Your father is wise."
"You never mentioned your family, Lord Medlot," Tai said, unable to contain his curiosity. "You are truly the King's—"
The Black Knight glanced at him and he stopped.
"I was adopted," said Lord Medlot bitterly, ordering his horse through the streets of the city. "My father, whoever he was, left me in the woods to die. I was an inconvenience to him, but he didn't have the guts to do it himself."
"I..." Tai yelled. "Sorry, I……"
"No, no, you can't know," Medlot said in a gentler voice, and sighed. "I don't want to disclose my origins, so rumors are flying. I'm afraid the real story is... I was lucky to be born."
"But you didn't die in the woods." The White Snake apprentice pointed out.
"Believe it or not, I was adopted by three witches. I can tell you, not the friendly kind; they ruled the villages around the forest with an iron fist, cursing those who didn't give them their 'deserve' of their power. So much so that any new groom’s first night is theirs.”
"Sounds aristocratic," Tai deadpanned.
This made the knight smile, albeit a dark one. “I love them as much as I hate them,” he admits. "They had big plans for me, but they made the mistake of asking me to go to the nearest city for business when they needed rare materials. Once, I was busy negotiating with a businessman when I suddenly saw her, Surrounded by guards.”
"she?"
"A woman. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen; I had quite a few girls wanting to ask me out. She was the chief's daughter, some kind of warrior princess. At least she seemed that way to me. I asked the businessman if she was going Where, he said her father held a sword fight for her birthday.”
Tai thought it sounded too good to be true, but Lord Medrault never lied, and the knight's eyes lit up when he spoke.
"The witch's slaves trained me in all kinds of weapons, and I used the money I should have spent on the Magical Regent to buy some cheap armor that was too big for me and a basest steel blade. I Entering the tournament as the Unknown Knight, I defeated my first opponent. When the girl asked my name, I asked her for a favor in return. She agreed."
"Will you win the next martial arts tournament?" Tai asked, knowing the ending of the story.
"Oh, no." Medlot smiled, surprising the apprentice. "I went into the final round against a Royal Knight who was twice my age. I was tough, but as a boy with talent there's only so much you can do. Imagine when he picked I took off my helmet and saw what his expression was when I discovered that a boy just over fourteen years old had defeated six warriors."
"Then what?"
"The Royal Knights escorted me on the spot, and the girl insisted on treating me to dinner."
"Then what?" Tai asked, growing curious. "Did you marry her?"
"This is... this is another story." Medlot turned around and patted Tai on the head. "Unless you come with me next time."
Tai snorted, but couldn't help but laugh.
Tai flew to the edge of a steep cliff in [ghost form], expelling his memories. Returning to the Logres region so long after the demise of his order made him feel nostalgic, but the mists of the undead clouded his memories.
He rushed towards the point indicated on Medrout's map and reached the high mountains in the west. It's no wonder that no one has discovered Fianna's Tomb before; anyone who can't fly would be unable to cross these rock formations.
Dark clouds obscured the view above, and hail and thunder fell on the earth, accompanied by a biting cold wind. A natural stone platform stands on the mountainside, with two huge stone doors carved into it; they seem to have been recently dug out by magic.
An old friend was waiting for him at the entrance. Maybe he had been asleep for several hours.
As the legend goes, he became a death knight, a skeleton in scorched armor that radiated scorching and flickering fire. The armor on his chest has Calamity Su
t
emblem and swapped his old claymore for a legendary weapon [Laevatei
]'s flaming replica. This sword was used by Suter to set the universe on fire during Ragnarok.
As the Necromancer landed on the platform, changing from [ghost form] to human form, Ty's mind-reading ability hit the wall. A powerful defense system protects the minds of other undead from intruders; although the Necromancer can speak normally while shapeshifting into a human, this surprises him.
The only one who can resist disaster Pe
His power...is the effect of another disaster.
"You're dead too," Tai said first.
"I am. But like a phoenix, I rise from the ashes of cremation. For the fire of vengeance burns brighter in my heart than any mortal flame." [Death Knight] looked into the eyes of the [Disaster] dead man, and both A dead man stood there. "Decades have passed, my friend."
It feels like a lifetime ago.
"Med.
aut…”
"Nidhogg."
Ty immediately frowned. "Aspect. Walter's aspect."
[Death Knight] paused for a moment, seeming a little surprised by this answer. After a few seconds of silence, the soldier regained his composure.
"Nice to meet you," Medlot said, patting his old friend on the back. Even without the unnatural heat, his words should feel warm, but his words feel like the embers of something long gone. "I apologize for the trouble my mother caused you. They were held against my will and I was busy infiltrating my old order of knights."
"Very well; I have a few arrogant minions myself," Tai replied. "Did you kill him? Calvert?"
"No. As Lancelot, I kept waiting for the right opportunity, but it never came. He was extremely paranoid, drank his own mead to avoid poisoning, and was always surrounded by royal knights. If I sacrificed my identity, I might win, but I think I'm patient enough." The knight shook his head, clearly disappointed. "My spies tell me that he left the capital before news of the royal death reached him."
This shows that the Archmage knew about the Lyon incident when it happened.
"Come in," Metro invited his old friend into the tomb. "I've been talking about finding this place for so long, you should come and see it."
"Fianna's Tomb." Ty remembered the stories and eagerly walked in with his old friend. "Back when the Vanir and Aesir had yet to form a unified pantheon, two human kingdoms fought for dominance over Midgard. The Kingdom of Avalon, in service to the Aesir; and to honor the Vanir of Urai. Their sworn protectors are Fianna, a legendary band of ten high-ranking warriors."
"Seventy to seventy-three." Medlot replied as they walked into a long, ancient stone corridor. "A great warrior who died before reaching greater heights"
"How do you know their level?"
"Because I raised them," the knight replied casually. "When I was alive, I came here to find the artifacts left behind, but the undead broadened my horizons."
The Death Knight took his old friend to a catacomb; much smaller than the mausoleum beneath Lyonse Mountain. Ten golden sarcophagi are arranged in a circle around the central pillar that supports the ceiling, each engraved with runes symbolizing Fianna. Statues of Vanir oversee the tombs, but someone has defaced and desecrated them; in the darkness, only the embers of Medelot provide some measure of light.
As the sarcophagus closed, Walter could feel the undead within. Filled with magical energy, these ancient warriors are frozen in suspended animation until their new masters allow them to be resurrected.
Charisma check failed! Your (Undead Mastery cannot be overcome [Med
aut].
If Tai's Pe
If k can affect them, then at least one of them is an undead... Even if he is sealed, he can still see the [Death Lord] in some way.
"In their final battle," Metro explained as he touched one of the sarcophagi with his finger, "the Fianna fought to the last man and were ultimately defeated by the Royal Knights. Avalon absorbed Ulaid, Esir and Vanir were united into a single pantheon. To honor their fallen warriors, the last knights of Ulaid built a tomb for them and buried their bodies next to their legendary weapons. They were in darkness Sleep...until I arrive.”
"The original soul..."
"They died for Vanier," Medrut said. "Even if I raise them in traditional ways, they will turn against me and look for any opportunity to regain their freedom. It's better to take their minds away and replace them with discipline."
Forcing these undead to resurrect, while thus suppressing their free will... would require magic beyond the reach of a single Death Knight.
"You've earned the blessing of disaster," Tai realized.
"All, except you," Medelot replied, neither proud nor ashamed. "That's why the witch raised me. To prepare me for the mission I was born to fulfill."
"You want to march on Avalon." This was the only reason Tai could think of to train these warriors. "Metro, have you forgotten our goal?" We exist to end death, not to serve it. We have more important things to do than needless bloodshed. "
"I haven't forgotten," Medrault replied, a little annoyed that Tai doubted his dedication to the cause. "But we cannot achieve our goals in a world that destroys the lives of our own people. Even if the royal family disappears, another family may arise to take its place."
"Asclepius's final orders to me were clear," Tai insisted. "Don't waste your time on revenge. It's better to spend your time on accomplishing great things. Your army is better used against Haier."
"You are a spellcaster and I am a warrior." Medolot looked away, his hands shaking around the hilt of his sword. "I failed to hold Castle Black because I was outmanned. No longer...I will raise an army and march on Camelot, razing it to the ground and ensuring that Avalon can never recover. Then we will declare the end of the world."
A riff on “Prophet the end of the world?” He didn't like the direction the discussion was taking.
"I know what lies beneath Lyons, my friend," explained Metro, looking at his old student with his blazing eyes. "One of the three great roots of Greece. Dig out the roots and throw down the tree."
But if he destroys the World Tree, the barrier between the nine realms will disappear...
"You want to start Ragnarok." The Necromancer couldn't believe what he heard. "Are you crazy? Do you want to deliberately bring about the end of the world?"
Tai is indeed gambling with his fate, but Ragnarok is just a possible side effect of his grand plan, not the planned goal!
"Would you rather have the gods rule forever?" Medelot replied angrily. "After what they did to us?"
"We can reverse their hold on humanity by spreading their great work," Tye said. "Immortality will destroy their system of the afterlife. It may take centuries, but once people realize they no longer need to worship them, Midgard will be free of them."
"How long will it be before Odin plots against us again?" the death knight argued. "They will never stop hunting us, Walter. Even if you are right, that's not enough for me. I refuse to share the universe with Odin and his kind."
"Would you rather give it to the Disaster Squad?"
"No," Metro answered, his voice thick with anger and disgust. Apparently, he hated his new patrons as much as he hated Odin's gang. "Both of us have to go. Ragnarok will clear up the past."
The debate over “What happens next?” "Midgard will be reduced to ashes!"
"When the gods and disasters kill each other and the universe is engulfed in flames, we undead will experience the transition to another world." Medlot continued calmly. "When a new world rises from the ashes and life begins anew, we will spread the spirit of immortality to it. The new universe will be ruled not by gods and demons, but by the living dead. A pure world without life and death .That was Asclepius’ true wish.”
Tai is out of blood, but if he still had it, it would be boiling over at his mockery of his mentor's vision. "It's a twisted interpretation of it, that's all!"
"Asclepius left a diary. About who he was. Where he came from. He worshiped the snake god." Medero watched his friend carefully, peering into his soul. "Have you never wondered where our name came from? Who created the first undead? What do the murals in Naströn Cathedral really represent? Don't you remember your past life?"
“The fog of the undead made it hard for me to see,” Tai admitted. The memory of his past life is but a shadow. Blurry flashes and remnants of images long since swallowed up by time. He doesn't care about them and refuses to let them dictate his future.
"These murals don't represent the future, Walter," Medrout explained, "they represent the past."
Tai froze when something suddenly clicked. "This is not the first time such an incident has occurred."
"No."
"The next world after Ragnarok." Tai realized that he was looking at the paintings on the mural from another angle. Not a prediction, but a record. "This cycle has happened, more than once. Sub-magic?"
"There is no time." Medelot shook his head. "When Yggdrasil and the Nine Kingdoms burn, a new World Tree will rise from the ashes. The souls of the dead reincarnate, repeating the paths they took in their previous lives. There will always be small differences, but greatness The milestones remain unchanged. Or that was the case before the undead and Earthlings appeared."
"The gods tried to prevent the gods from destroying." Tai pieced together the puzzle. "In order to kill my previous life 'Nidhogg' with the people on Earth and prevent him from descending the world tree Yggd
asil. "
Medlot nodded seriously. "A long time ago, in the first universe, there was a dragon. Maybe he was always the same monster we knew; maybe he was smarter than average for his kind. Either way, he discovered a terrifying path to immortality. One who needs to eat the roots of Yggdrasil and feed on the corpses of the gods.”
Every mural, in this endless chain.
how many times?
how many times?
"Nyhog endures the cycle, relishing the chaos; he is an immortal demon willing to destroy all creation so that he can survive alone." "Each time, he knocks down the World Tree, destroying all He feeds on the killings of God's Twilight. All to repeat the cycle; all to maintain his immortality. With each reincarnation, his knowledge of magic grows until he realizes that he can resurrect the dead on whom he lives. He serves.”
"My [Sin-Eater] Pe
He forced me to feed on the corpses of sin..." Tai said in horror.
"The undead count, too." Salted meat to satisfy the insatiable appetite of the cruel dragon. That's why the undead were created. Asclepius knew this, for he was one of Nastrom's serpent priests. one."
Like being frightened. The mummy was discovered in Nastlund and was seen using the [Priest] ability after Tai gained the ability to cast spells on his followers.
"When the gods first summoned the people of Earth, they attacked and sealed Nastrom in an attempt to prevent Nyhog from launching Ragnarok." "In the end, they just delayed the inevitable. Asclepius Si fled the city's destruction and turned to Loki; they worked together to change fate in their favor."
"Lies," Ty defended his dead master. Asclepius would never worship disaster. you were fooled. "
"I know it hurts," Medlaut said, sounding apologetic. "I told you how Asclepius reacted when he learned your true name, Walter. He never intended to resurrect everyone; only his master. The Pale Snake believed for a wrong reason."
"You lied!" Tai raised his voice, furious. "Asclepius was a visionary who died for his ideals! They died to protect us!"
"To protect you." Medlot pointed his finger at Tai's face. "You are destined to be a disaster"
The Necromancer refused to believe this nonsense. Tai can accept the theory that Ragnarok is a cycle of reincarnation, but everything he does is based on lies? Impossible! "What about Hel?" the Necromancer pestered the knight. "How does she fit into this madness?"
Medlot was less confident about the role. "I believe that he was aware of the cycle; although I'm not sure if she would have tried to break it like Odin did. She survived Ragnarok and took her soul to the other world, but her behavior now doesn't make sense to me There's no point in saying that. No matter; we'll kill her when the time comes."
On this point, at least, Tai agreed. leftover……
"You are the snake that bites the root, Nyhog. He will lead Ragnarok and carry the dead into the other world. Don't you see the hand of fate?"
"No, I don't know," Ty responded dryly, refusing to play any role in the madness.
"While we can fight against the forces of fate, fate is an insidious force that tries to pull us back to our place," Medrut said. Odin killed Nihogg to avoid his fate, but allowed the eternal snake to be reincarnated into you. You are pulled back to Nastrom, back to the role you were supposed to play. You're not as free as you think, Walter. "
Tai had to admit it wasn't a coincidence, but he refused to fall into fatalism. "Did the records say anything about immortality? Did they mention the destruction of Avalon?"
"Avalon always falls," Medrut replied, before dropping another point, "although the World Records didn't predict this ending, nor your participation. Nor did they. The undead plague you unleashed.”
"What to do Arthur?"
"He will become a powerful king, rule for thirty years, and then die a great king on the battlefield."
"Then that means the prophecy of Ragnarok may prove false," Tye pointed out, "By killing Arthur before he becomes king, we're letting fate lie."
"To a certain extent, fate can be changed," the Death Knight agreed. But not enough to avoid the final outcome. Ragnarok is inevitable. "
His fatalism upset Tai. "You are like those fools who say death is inevitable and should be accepted. We have proven that human death is avoidable; why should the end of the world be any different?"
"Because I don't want that."
"Why?" Tai asked dumbfounded.
"In a world where no one will die, God will live."
Tai froze, noticing something in his old friend's eyes for the first time in the whole conversation. A strong madness, an uncontrollable hatred flashed in his empty head.
He will never stop.
The fire didn't stop. It either soaked through or devoured everything in its path until there was nothing left.
“The power of destiny is deeply ingrained in current reality,” Medelot said. "This chain of events can never be broken again, and even if we undead and earthlings can change things, fate will change its course. But after Ragnarok, everything is cleared up. Those who survive the transition Those who come down will decide what happens next. This is the only moment when the chains can truly be broken and the Age of the Dead prophesied by Asclepius can begin.”
"Suppose there is a new world after Ragnarok," Tai replied, sounding a little skeptical. "Disasters will get their lucky break and destroy everything."
To the caster's horror, Medelot didn't even respond with a refusal.
If he had lips, he might even smile.
To him, this situation is acceptable.
"You said the Inquisition burned you at the stake," Ty said gruffly, growing more nervous as he realized what he was dealing with. Who raised you from the dead? Who brought you back, Medora?"
(Death Knight) mocked, the Suter symbol on the chest armor shining brightly.
"Whose side are you on?" Ty accused Metro. "Loki's? Su
t
of?"
"No," replied the knight. "Let disasters befall me as they please, they will never win my loyalty. Like all gods they are fickle and cruel; let them burn in hells of their own making. In the end, they will all perish."
“That’s not what the fraternity was built for,” Tay insisted. "We want to discover human immortality. Whatever Asclepius's original motivations, you must still believe in our dream."
"Not possible as long as Odin, Hel and their ilk are alive."
"It is possible. I have made progress. I have accomplished the great work of abolishing death. We will spread the undead across Midgard until destiny is twisted."
"How long will it take for Esil's hands to finish you off?" Med
aut replied. “The rot has to be cut away so something better can grow.”
No.
No, that's what he said to his followers, and maybe even to disaster. But there are more reasons. It was an excuse to hide the ugly truth even from himself.
"You're not at war with the gods," Tai realized. "You're at war with life itself."
There was a heavy silence between them.
"I can't hold on any longer," Tai decided, his fingers ready to cast a spell. "If Severo was there—"
"Be careful, my friend," Medlot warned, his head on fire.
"She'll tell you it's crazy!" Tai protested, showing his old mentor the [Necromancer's Stone]. "If you have any souvenirs, I can resurrect her; if not, we can raid Helheim and retrieve her soul."
"Do you think that's the problem?" the Death Knight literally exploded. His armor shone with the bright fire of Muspelheim. "This isn't just about her, Walter."
"What was that about?" Walter growled angrily. "revenge?"
"I know the greatest secret of the gods, Walter."
The Necromancer paused.
"Ethil and Vanir are not born gods. That's what they are." In anger, Metro struck down a statue of Vanir with his sword, with swift precision. "They were once two powerful tribes of creatures who upgraded all the way to level 99, the true ceiling of human potential, not a disaster. They got Yggd
Asil's reward, became god-like beings, just like you; and then they began to prevent others from following in their footsteps. "
The Necromancer's eyes widened in horror. "You don't mean-"
"It's not just about raising armies for Ragnarok, or for us to worship them!" Medlot roared, "They're taking us out, Walter! Before we reach the level needed to challenge their rule, they're taking us out." We culled like sheep!”
Ty wanted to say he was freaked out, but honestly, he wasn't surprised at all.
He has always wondered why the gods condemned the undead since they could defeat disasters and change destiny just like the people on earth. But now, it makes sense; thanks to the undead's immortality, they'll continue to upgrade as long as they exist. If the gods allow them to level up without restrictions, some lich or vampire will inevitably reach level 99 and discover the truth. This also explains actions like dragon slaying.
These bastards…
"The deeper I delve into the dark secrets of this world, the more I despise it," (Death Knight) continued. "I discovered other murals from the universe long ago. Some show the fall of Camelot. Do you know who I see on the wall?"
You already know the answer. "you".
"Me," Medelot said, his voice full of venom. The Fall of Camelot happened numerous times. Sometimes, I'm called Mordred. Sometimes Arthur is my son or brother. I always kill him. From the moment I was born, I was destined to do all these terrible things, and Odin knew it! He was always whispering in my family's ears, raising us to worship him, and then defeating us in war to maintain his power. He and his perverted ilk must die. "
"Even so," said Tye, ever the optimistic defender of immortality. "There are other ways. Let us retake Midgard and storm the gates of Asgard with the living and the dead. Except Ragnarok."
"Nothing else!" Med
aut growled. "You can't change anything!"
"I can't fail," Tai shouted, the voices rising between them. "I've dedicated my life to this! No one will die! Not even the world!"
The [Death Knight] burns brighter until the Necromancer almost starts taking [Fire] damage.
All pretense of friendship and sanity is stripped away, revealing a horrific hell of pain, hatred, and despair. Only the destruction of everything the gods have created can quench the thirst of this fire. Medello is obsessed with revenge on the gods who have tormented him since his birth, and would rather see everything burned than consider another solution.
The worst part is, he may very well succeed. Walter himself has triumphed over the competition, defeating the heroes who might have been destined to stop him.
Can Tai duel Metro here and now? While he's a disaster, he hasn't reached level 100 yet, stopping at level 73. His former friend was of a higher level, had the blessing of the five plagues, and had Fianna behind him.
Now is not the time for confrontation.
The Necromancer didn't want it at all.
"I will not stray from my path, Nyhog," Medrault replied, calming himself and smothering the flames. "Out of respect for our blood ties, I will let you go and will not force you to join my crusade. But stay out of my way or I will withdraw your kindness."
"You want to kill your friends, just like you killed your own relatives?" Tai asked viciously. "I won't let you commit suicide after killing someone in reality."
"It is good to see you again, my friend, but remember this." Metro's eyes flashed with hellfire as his undead slaves whispered in their vessels. "When we meet again, let's go. Throw it away
