Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 348 Avalon (Part 3)

Ding ding ding ding...

Ding ding ding ding...

Ike stepped onto the island in the middle of the lake, taking in the scenery with great interest—a landscape completely different from what he had seen before. There was no decay of the swamp, nor the twisted and eerie atmosphere of the dense forest; the island miraculously retained a remarkably beautiful view. Although faint traces of battle could still be seen, it was mostly a place of comfort and enjoyment, truly deserving of its name as a "fantasy land far removed from the world."

Of course, it would be even better if that green guy didn't keep slashing at his magic shield with his sword.

It's a fine sword, unlike any weapon forged by fairies. Its design is ancient, seemingly from before the Middle Ages. However, it's not in perfect condition yet.

Ike admitted that he felt a little uneasy when the sword struck his magic shield. Although he was confident in the strength of his magic shield, it wasn't an ordinary weapon. However, after actually taking the hit, all his apprehension disappeared.

The lush green thing was a person, who must have been at the bottom of the lake for too long, his entire body covered in green algae. He was completely naked, yet his body hair remained intact. He moved nimbly and with considerable strength, but he had absolutely no consciousness.

Yes, this guy has been dead for who knows how many years. He only behaves this way because of the magic power and obsession within him.

If I'm not mistaken, before he completely lost consciousness, his mind was probably focused on killing everyone who approached the island in the lake.

So, we come back to the same question: What exactly happened in Avalon?

The answer is obvious: this place has been attacked, and the attack was far beyond what Avalon could defend itself against.

The reason why the four giants did not see the Green Knights and the Lady of the Lake when they arrived a thousand years ago may be because they were away on a campaign. However, due to the difference in strength between the two sides, Avalon suffered repeated defeats.

Finally, one day, Avalon was breached.

All the Green Knights perished, and the Lake Witches were also defeated, though their fates were unknown. In Ike's mind, however, the odds were against them.

Not many buildings remain on the island in the middle of the lake; only a half-collapsed treehouse is relatively intact. It was here that Ike found some fragmented records.

This should be the archives of Avalon, containing not only these records but also many prehistoric records, especially those from the time of King Arthur. However, the vast majority of these are damaged, and only a few remain.

Fortunately, the written language was Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. Although it was a bit difficult to read, it was still understandable.

"...Darkness re-emerges upon the earth in its cycle. The great king and the great wizard are helpless and turn to Avalon for help..."

"...Following the covenant...the sword is lent to the great king...a covenant is hereby established..."

"...Darkness has corrupted...The king has fallen, the sword returns to Avalon..."

"...taking his anger out on the wizard, imprisoning him..."

"...Darkness cannot be stopped...the threat of death..."

"...The behemoth has breached the defenses, the First Knights... are annihilated..."

"...The wizard...proposes...forbidden power...to seal Avalon..."

"...The end of the world is coming..."

After going through the remaining records, Ike roughly guessed what had happened in Avalon from these fragments of information. However, this brought even more questions, such as what "darkness" was and where the power that had conquered Avalon came from.

Of course, despite his doubts, Ike had no intention of figuring out the truth. Instead, he focused his attention on the guy who was still relentlessly hacking at him with his sword.

"Merlin?"

Ike muttered to himself, finding it hard to reconcile the mindless, instinct-driven zombie before him with the greatest wizard in the magical world, but the fragmented records forced him to make that connection.

Shaking his head, Ike walked out of the treehouse, enduring Merlin's attacks. Reaching the lakeside, he pointed his wand, and a wisp of water rose up and hovered in front of him.

"Ordinary lake water..."

Ike used magic to test the lake water—the kind of magic used to identify potion ingredients—but found nothing. Of course, this could be because the sample came from the surface of the lake. As for the deeper parts of the lake, Ike had no intention of exploring them yet.

He hadn't forgotten where Merlin had emerged from; there must be a secret at the bottom of the lake.

After thinking for a moment, he lightly waved his wand, and golden threads appeared out of thin air, binding the lush green Merlin tightly, immobilizing him in place in a starfish shape.

"There are too many secrets... so, let me lend you a hand..."

Ike looked at Merlin, who was still struggling even though he was bound, his eyes slightly closed. When he opened them again, his pale blue eyes had a touch of gold. His robes fluttered without wind, and even the surrounding grass and trees seemed to be pressed down.

Merlin's hand, gripping the wand, trembled slightly, and his shaking intensified. The golden threads on his body slowly faded, gradually merging into his form.

It seeps into the skin, thread by thread, until it is completely absorbed.

At this moment, Merlin had completely changed. He was no longer the messy and slovenly man he once was. Instead, he had regained some of the aura of the greatest wizard in the magical world.

A pale gold robe enveloped her body, making her skin appear whiter, and her hair flowed naturally down her back. The sword in her hand gleamed, and the long staff she held in her other hand also emitted soft light.

"Imprisonment!"

The wand traced an arcane path through the air, and a golden magic circle flashed beneath Merlin. Only after confirming that he was truly still did Ike let out a long sigh of relief.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ike nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with the results of his magical research over the past period.

He didn't want to investigate the truth behind Avalon, nor did he want to know what Merlin was doing at the bottom of the lake. But since Merlin left the bottom of the lake because of his appearance, and was determined to fight to the death, then no matter what, as a junior wizard, he should help him in any way he could.

Therefore, Ike used magic to give Merlin's body some life, relying on the magic circle engraved on his body to gradually absorb the life force of the plants on the island in the lake.

This magic was a product of Slytherin's research, incorporating some concepts from magical plant cultivation, and was then improved by Ike. The effect was decent; in a previous experiment, Ike successfully allowed a withered blade of grass to perfectly absorb the life force of a blooming rose, giving it new life.

Of course, the price was that the roses turned to ashes.

The inscription on Merlin's body was modified. Ike strictly limited the absorption of life force, allowing it to flow slowly and gradually, so that Merlin's body could slowly regain its vitality, making him faster and more powerful when he cuts someone next time.

Ike also repaired the weapons in his hands, engraving many inscriptions such as "Sturdy" and "Sharp" on them to enhance their power. This was true for both swords and wooden clubs.

After all, Merlin is completely incapable of casting spells now, which only makes him more powerful when he's chopping or smashing people.

After resting for a while and watching Merlin, who was still standing still in a starfish position, Ike suddenly sighed.

She bowed slightly, then turned around, flicked her wand, and floated gracefully towards the other side of the lake.

It's time to leave...

(End of this chapter)