I, Guinevere, am going to crush you, you curry stick, today!

"But fortunately—"

"Even such a clever and intelligent goddess made a wrong move."

"Knowing that the remaining few people, Vivian and Nini Anne, were not easy targets to kill, the goddess planned to abandon Terena after retrieving the Wind Mark, reclaim the core power of death, and resurrect in an incomplete form while hiding herself and quietly waiting for the right moment. Therefore, she deliberately had Terena kill an innocent pregnant woman and transfer most of her soul consciousness into the body of the baby whose soul was perfectly compatible with her own. Death and terror were originally the goddess's symbols in this world, so this should have been a flawless plan. Without sensing anything amiss beforehand, even the so-called all-knowing Magic King Solomon would probably have had difficulty discovering the truth."

"Unfortunately, there were two unexpected events in the whole affair. The pregnant woman's husband had studied under a druid for a period of time, but was sent back because he lacked talent. However, that druid was very protective of his own. Without the husband's knowledge, a small spell had been cast on him, so that if he encountered any danger, the druid would immediately know and take action."

"So, shortly after Terena killed the pregnant woman and took the baby, the druids came knocking. Although Terena was ultimately no match for her and was brutally murdered, the stillborn infant, which housed most of the goddess's soul, also disappeared unexpectedly during the battle. After searching for a while without success, the goddess quickly erased Terena's memory of the incident to prevent her from giving herself away to others. And this was the first accident."

"As for the other unexpected event, it was that the protective old druid happened to have some kind of connection with a certain prophet. I don't know what their relationship was or what agreement they reached. I only heard from the prophet that he was also present when the old druid was killed by Terena. He appeared and took away the dead baby, placed it in a secret place, and managed to seal the soul and memories that belonged to the goddess."

"The poor child lived on all alone. Until a year later, a sudden downpour led her to meet two other people. And now, this is the turning point in the story—"

Merlin turned around.

Before her lay the town of Plymouth. Though it was far away, her smiling eyes seemed to reflect a scene: in a filthy alley, a knight wielding a holy sword took two steps back, his back against a cold wall, while in the dilapidated inn in front of him, a beam of light, like the sun leaping over the mountain, suddenly lifted the roof and rose from the ground.

The light stood opposite the holy sword in the knight's hand.

And at the very center of the light, there was also a sword.

It is pieced together from fragments that gleam with a metallic sheen, and its shape resembles a bright torch.

Nimiao looked up blankly.

Even hundreds of miles away, the image of the sword was reflected in the crimson eyes.

She suddenly realized that she recognized the sword, just as she remembered every word Merlin had said, every single one of which was actually something that had happened deep in her heart.

Then everything came to mind.

Including one's own name.

"I……"

A bitter taste rose in her mouth. She wanted to say something, but only managed to utter a few words before falling silent. The female magician, however, looked at her first, her eyes calm. In this moment, this calmness was all the more chilling.

"I prefer to be an observer, or a supporting character who only offers advice when the plot stalls, rather than an important character who actively drives the story forward."

"So, before the main character appears and the story continues, I've arranged this stage for you, giving you a chance to choose."

"After regaining your memories, who are you now?"

"Nimia, or perhaps—"

"Is she Nuada's wife, the goddess Niman, who symbolizes 'malice' and 'terror'?"

P.S.: I originally just wanted to write a couple thousand words and then go play the game, but when I came to my senses I had already written four thousand... So sad! Then I looked at everyone's opinions on yesterday's single chapter, so I decided not to change the title for the time being. I'm thinking of changing the cover, since I'll be getting the Holy Lance soon, how about changing it to Lancer Artoria?

Chapter 126 The Tower Reaching the Sky (Part 7)

Light burst forth from the inn—if the first ray of light gave one an impression of sacredness and inviolability, and the second ray of light was reminiscent of a majestic and radiant sun, then this third ray of light was like a shining star in the desolate night sky, guiding lost travelers in their direction.

It was like a spark of light, a flame of civilization stolen by the gods and thrown to the human world, rising slowly in the darkness, soaring into the clouds, and facing the other two pillars of light from afar.

Many people witnessed this scene with their own eyes, but only a few understood its meaning. Gawain gripped his sword tightly, leaning against the graffiti-covered wall. At his level, even without triggering the blessing of a saint, there were very few things that could make this young knight feel threatened.

But looking at the light that had enveloped the entire inn, he felt a long-forgotten tremor—an instinctive fear in the face of something powerful, along with a surge of anticipation and fighting spirit. All these emotions were mixed together, and when Gawain came to his senses, he realized that his body was trembling slightly.

It wasn't just people who trembled; in his hand, the gleaming blade also emitted a whistling sound. Although its master hadn't infused it with any magic, it gradually emitted a dazzling light, like a powerful bow slowly drawn to its limit, its power gathering and ready to be unleashed.

"What exactly is this..."

Gawain was puzzled. The three brothers had a close relationship with Guinevere and naturally knew that the sword she carried was no ordinary item. However, according to Guinevere herself, the holy sword given to her by the witch of Avalon was temporarily unusable for various reasons. If that was the case, then what exactly was the sword that was causing such a celestial phenomenon before his eyes and whose power seemed to be no less than his own?

But he also understood.

This is definitely not a good time to seek answers.

The firelight was warm, but it also had its dangers, as was the scene before them. Sensing that something was about to "burst out" from the pillar of light, Gawain suppressed his worry for Guinevere, raised his sword, gripped it with both hands, and exuded an aura of power.

To outsiders, Plymouth appeared almost entirely enveloped by two beams of light that appeared one after the other and confronted each other. The azure magic circle that filled the night sky was still slowly turning, and the snow-white tower stood among the clouds, revealing only a small part of its body that looked both real and illusory, standing alone between the sky and the earth.

The scene, devoid of color, settles into a pair of indifferent eyes.

"Now all the conditions are met."

next moment.

Before everyone's eyes, the tower and the other two beams of light vanished simultaneously, and night fell once more!

……

The shift between light and darkness, instantaneous, seemed to plunge the entire world into darkness, causing everything to lose its outline in a flash. Yet, this visual illusion lasted only a moment—

"sky……"

The crowd slowed down, and whispers arose. The guards who were supposed to maintain order on both sides had no time to pay attention to anything else, and they all looked up at the sky above in astonishment.

"It's...dawn?"

Someone murmured.

For a moment, perhaps even the man himself couldn't understand what it meant. His mouth was wide open, as if he had been truly petrified. He stood frozen in place for a long time, and what his pupils reflected was a blue sky.

The stars had disappeared, the moon was nowhere to be seen, and as the clouds drifted by, the warm sunlight shone down, dispelling the chill that had lingered on my body until now. Normally, this would just be another beautiful, sunny day, but now…

"Mommy, why is it already bright?" a child asked. The child was innocent and unaware of why everyone around him looked like they had seen a ghost. He pointed to the sun and asked in a childish voice.

The woman holding the child's hand remained silent for a long time.

Even though this town serves as a buffer zone between two kingdoms, and its inhabitants are either homeless adventurers or travelers who have migrated here for various reasons, even though these people have a broader perspective and more knowledge than those who have never left their hometowns from birth to death, they still have few opportunities to come into contact with the extraordinary world.

"what happened……"

"I want to go back to my small town..."

If the sudden appearance of the pillars of light and the snow-white tower was still within the realm of what most people could accept—it was simply another act by those incredibly powerful magicians—then the transformation from night to day was far beyond their imagination.

Faced with unexpected events beyond their control or even unimaginable, all they seem to be able to do is feel anxious and let all sorts of speculations grow and spread in their hearts.

The group's pace slowed amidst whispers until it finally came to a complete stop. Realizing that continuing might lead to uncontrollable accidents, the lead guard acted swiftly, dispatching his men to distribute food and water while simultaneously patrolling the area to nip any potential problems in the bud.

"Hopefully, once the sun truly rises... everything can return to normal." He walked past a crowd, his hand on his sword, and stopped a middle-aged man who was whispering his guesses. After observing for a while, he moved on to the next location.

As he walked, he silently drew a cross on his chest.

May the Lord protect this land.

……

"opportunity?"

The woman snorted coldly, as if she had just recovered from the shock brought by the third ray of light, but her tone was still somewhat unsteady, as if she was suppressing something: "You actually... you actually didn't even spare his last possessions."

"The Sword of Inevitable Victory is a secret treasure from Fendias. From beginning to end, Nuada was merely one of the people it recognized, never its master."

"Then tell me, besides him, who else is qualified to wield that sword!"

You'll know the answer soon.

As they exchanged questions and answers, it seemed as if invisible sparks flew between them. Mananan placed his trident heavily on the ground, but in this still, black-and-white world, it didn't stir up a single speck of dust.

"Hmph, shameless scoundrel! Since you refuse to return, then hand over the Trident of Poseidon! You who have abandoned the Mother Goddess's last wish, you are unworthy of the name Tuhaddanan, and even less worthy of this weapon personally forged by Mother Goddess Danu—"

"Whether you are worthy or not, it's not up to you to decide. Don't forget, until you are killed by the Eye of Barol, the name of the Sea God will always be above the Three Goddesses. Of course, in this era, the Trident of the Sea God is no longer my weapon. If you want to take it back, you can wait until things are over and negotiate with the owner of this body yourself."

After speaking, Mananan gripped the halberd with one hand, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked ahead, as if he were looking at the Drem opposite him, or as if he were lost in thought.

The woman's voice trailed off for a moment: "What if I say no?"

"I'll say it again. Until that battle is over, the name of the sea god will always be above that of the three goddesses."

He shook his head:

"You—have no ability to say no."

……

"Look, Mom, that tower has reappeared!"

The night suddenly turned into day, and the bright sunlight made those who were used to the darkness feel dizzy and lightheaded, while only the children remained energetic.

He glanced curiously at the adults around him who were frowning for some reason, but after discovering something even more interesting, he immediately threw out his little question: "Look, look!"

The little boy skipped and pointed in a certain direction. His mother looked over in confusion. "What?"

"That white tower!"

That was the direction of Plymouth, but when the mother turned her head, she saw nothing. For a moment, she thought her child was playing another prank and was about to scold him when she suddenly heard another person beside her say, "Ah, it's that tower! Why is the tower in that spot..."

He was talking about the tall tower, but he was looking in the opposite direction the child was pointing. The crowd, which had quieted down, quickly became noisy again, but most of them were shouting that they saw the snow-white tower. As for which direction the tower was in, everyone had their own opinion, saying it was east, west, south, or north.

The mother herself soon saw the giant tower that had briefly disappeared.

"That direction..."

The towering pagoda, though no longer shrouded in light, still exudes a strange sense of illusion, like a mirage seen in the desert, fleeting and indistinguishable from reality or illusion.

However, anyone who looks at it for the first time will immediately understand this fact—the tower stands there, perched at the point where the sky, the earth, and the sea meet, like a sentry tower, watching over the world alone.

But as the woman looked in that direction, she suddenly seemed somewhat dazed.

That was... the place where the three of them lived when her husband was still alive. Despite their poverty and humble circumstances, they were still able to hold onto a little bit of happiness tightly.

Like a ray of light shining into the heart

A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her numb eyes. In just a moment, the mother seemed to recall those happy past moments again. Her lips twitched stiffly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

She even felt some pain in her face because she hadn't laughed for so long, but the pain itself was also satisfying.

This is proof that I am alive.

Looking at that towering structure that resembles a mirage—everyone looks in a different direction, and the memories that arise are different—but without exception, a ray of light quietly shines into the softest part of their heart.

Some bit their lips, some turned their heads away, and some even burst into tears, but the anxiety and unease they had felt until now vanished like snow after the release of their emotions. At this moment, the entire crowd finally calmed down.

……

"With the resonance of the divine artifacts and the opening of permissions, the Tower of Radiance, which has truly descended, serves as an 'anchor' in the fixed planetary system, symbolizing protection and hope. In this extremely chaotic period, people are desperately yearning for a spiritual anchor."

"And as people gradually realize this, those who are recognized by the Tower of Radiance will replace the Tower itself and become beings that people respect, worship, and even believe in."

As Merlin gazed at the snow-white tower that shone between the distant heavens and earth, her eyes remained as still as a deep well, as if there were no memories worth recalling. She spoke leisurely, and at the end, a hint of expectation could be heard in her words.

"That being was King Arthur."

The speaker was Nimiao, but she seemed no longer the Nimiao of before. She was still dressed simply, with long violet hair cascading down her back. She was about ten years old, and her small body stood there with a serious face, looking rather precocious.

Only his scarlet eyes, which had previously sparkled with an innocent charm befitting his appearance, suddenly became much deeper and more somber. As if blood were gradually congealing, darkening and deepening in color, the originally pungent smell of blood also subsided, becoming almost imperceptible.

"However, the divine age of this island is also on its last legs, and is about to come to a true end like other regions. When that time comes, when gods and fantasy are no longer allowed to exist, how will the king who has been placed on the altar conduct himself?"

"Well, things will work themselves out. When the time comes, there will always be a way." Merlin smiled nonchalantly. "So let's get back to something more practical. The Tower of Glory reminded you of the memories of the goddess Niman, but right now, you probably don't feel anything about those past events."

"You tampered with it?"

"You're wronged. Your incomplete soul consciousness was once sealed away by that old druid at the cost of his life. Even the influence of the Tower of Radiance can only give you memories, not truly make you feel what you've experienced. It's like a book, a story; even if you know the cause and effect, it's never as profound as if it happened to you."

"And that's why I asked that question earlier. If it were the goddess Neman, who was determined to be resurrected and was willing to start a grand war for it, the answer would be obvious. But the one standing in front of me now is not Neman herself, but 'Nemü, who has obtained Neman's memories,' isn't that right?"

She looked down at the little girl, who remained silent, her gaze slightly lowered, lost in thought.

"The choice is yours. As long as you are still the Nimiao that the little princess and the others know, I can guarantee that you will not say a single word that you shouldn't to anyone else."

"What if the answer is different?"

"Oh, this is a bit of a headache..." Merlin pressed his temples in an exaggerated manner, looked down at the bottom of the cliff, and exhaled: "Speaking of which, this cliff is very high. Falling from here would probably... hurt a lot."

"You're threatening me."

"How could that be? I have the softest heart. I can't bear to see people suffer, especially a lovely little girl like you..." He tilted his head and said, "So don't worry, you won't feel any pain at all."

"Ah."

The girl chuckled softly and shook her head: "There's no rush to answer this question. Let's wait for the results from the other parties first."

"Do you mean?"

“Why pretend? I was there the whole time at the last meeting; your plans are crystal clear. If it were ‘Dad’…”

Seemingly finding the familiar form of address somewhat odd, she tugged at the corner of her mouth, chuckled softly, and continued, "If she can wield Nuada's sword and prove she's worthy of continuing—"

"I might change my mind."

P.S.: Two chapters combined into one, a massive 4,000-word chapter! Let's give a thunderous round of applause to the diligent Qingbai!