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

Sensing the source of this pressure, she widened her eyes and looked up. Under the crimson moonlight, a crack twenty or thirty meters long and wide suddenly appeared in the scarlet sky. Grayish-white mist spread out from it, transforming into a jet-black dragon wing that blotted out the sky and the moon, casting a huge shadow down.

With a gentle wave, a fierce wind swept through, breaking the human-faced vines that covered the entire castle into pieces, sending them flying wildly. Faintly, countless suppressed cries and shrieks seemed to rise, only to be interrupted and suppressed by a distant dragon's roar.

The dragon's roar swept across, followed by a deathly silence. Guinevere's ears were ringing. Even though it wasn't the first time she had faced this evil dragon, its size was vastly different from before—one of its wings alone covered almost half the sky, bringing a shock that was incomparable to the last time.

It was like a natural disaster.

Guinevere craned her neck to its limit to barely make out the size of the dragon wings. Incredibly, instead of feeling fear, she felt a sense of intimacy under these circumstances.

This emotion, which even the girl herself found unbelievable, appeared for only a moment before disappearing without a trace, as if it were just an illusion.

"Humanity--"

The deep, powerful roar of the dragon, like rolling thunder, resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

"We meet again."

……

"Where are we going?"

Night had fallen, enveloping the fields. It was only dusk, but in an era lacking modern entertainment, most people had already eaten and drunk their fill and were preparing to turn off the lights and go to sleep. Outside the town, on the dusty road, two figures slowly emerged from the horizon and walked towards them.

The little girl's soft voice betrayed a deliberate attempt to conceal her unease. Merlin, holding his staff in one hand and Nimue's hand in the other, walked slowly without immediately answering the question. After walking for a while, he looked up at the sky.

"What a beautiful moon."

"what?"

Nimiao looked over as well, but it was already evening, and the setting sun was still hanging over the western mountains, refusing to set, so there was no way to see the moon, let alone whether it was pretty or not. She blinked, thinking to herself, "This older sister is really strange. Could she be a fool?"

Anyone else, even Guinevere herself, would have complained without hesitation. But for some reason, she always felt that although Merlin seemed cheerful and easy to talk to, there was always a scary feeling about him. She would avoid him whenever possible, and even when they were together like this, she tried not to speak, as if she was afraid that if she said the wrong thing, Merlin would swing his cane and hit her like he had hit Guinevere earlier.

Lost in thought, Merlin chuckled to himself, not responding. "I know what you're thinking. Don't you find it strange that I say the moon is beautiful when I can't see it? Maybe I'm a fool..."

"How do you know what I'm thinking?!" Nimiao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"It's written all over your face."

"Oh……"

P.S.: There will be another chapter later, remember to vote!

Chapter 120 The Tower Reaching the Sky (Part 1)

"Oh……"

Nemia quickly wiped the expression off her face, pretending to be an emotionless poker face. Merlin glanced at her and couldn't help but chuckle.

During their brief conversation, the two continued on their way. The setting sun gradually sank into the distance, and the orange-red sunlight and evening glow receded rapidly like the receding tide, replaced by the deepening night.

Suddenly, a chill crept into the air, and from afar, a sound like the howling of wolves drifted over. If you couldn't hear it clearly, it was frightening.

The little girl couldn't help but shrink back, whether from the cold or frightened by the wolf's howl, she didn't know. She timidly looked at the adults to the side, and Merlin happened to look over at that moment.

She smiled and said, "But actually, whether it's daytime or nighttime, whether we can see the moon or not, the moon is there, it never moves, it never disappears."

Nemia was taken aback when the female magician brought up the topic again, unsure how to respond. Merlin, however, didn't wait for her reply and continued, "So isn't it strange? The moon is always there, but people can only see it at night, so many people think the moon only exists at night, just as the sun only exists during the day..."

"In this situation, are the people these days still talking about, and thinking about, the same moon as before?" She spoke casually, as if discussing a trivial topic over tea. After waiting a moment and not hearing a reply from the girl, she smiled slightly again: "It seems this question is too difficult for you right now. But what if one day you figure it out..."

"Do you understand?"

"By then, perhaps some tragedies will be avoided. Okay, let's leave that topic for now and talk about something more practical—"

Seemingly sensing something, Merlin abruptly stopped speaking and halted in his tracks, turning his head with the little girl to look in a certain direction.

Not far ahead of the two.

Just a few days ago, Kay and Derem had spent some time at the cliff.

……

The still lake reflected the gradually blurring sky and scenery. Fisher stood on the lakeside, took a breath, and slowly exhaled. Behind him, Dreem quietly grasped the bandage wrapped around his left hand. No one spoke. The lake shimmered, and beneath the calm surface, an undercurrent seemed to lurk, ready to erupt at any moment.

"Then... thank you for your trouble."

Fisher murmured to himself as he slowly removed the dark gold ring from his hand with a reverent and solemn expression.

Toss it forward.

Suddenly, a wind picked up all around.

The wind was initially gentle, but the moment the ring reached the highest point of its parabola, it suddenly intensified, howling and sweeping in from all directions, passing over the three people standing by the lake, and forming a visible vortex in the center of the lake amidst the surrounding trees and rocks—in the blink of an eye, a hurricane took shape!

And right in the center of the hurricane was that dull-colored ring.

Tell me your wish—

The wind howled and wailed, and at one moment it sounded like a human voice. It was impossible to tell whether it was a man or a woman, old or young. Fisher was not surprised. His hands, which were hanging at his sides, suddenly clenched and then loosened: "Activate the Tower of Radiance."

“This is not your wish,” the voice in the wind replied immediately.

Fisher's expression changed slightly: "My wish is... to save Elaine, to save my father, and to end this... nightmare that has lasted for thirty years."

The wind continued to howl, but the voice fell silent for a moment.

“State the price you are willing to pay for it—”

“You can take anything I have,” Fisher replied without hesitation.

"you sure?"

"As long as all of this can be accomplished, the price is too cheap."

"very good--"

As soon as he said that, a tremendous gale swept in, making the hair and clothes of the three people on the lakeside flutter wildly, leaving them somewhat disheveled. Fisher's eyes stung from the wind, but he did not blink, staring intently at the ring deep within the swirling wind, afraid of missing any change.

“Then offer your body, so that the vanished gods may descend once more. Then offer your existence, so that the lost age of gods may be restored. Just as Pelesi once did, use everything you have to buy a brief moment of peace for those you care about, for what you cherish, and for what you have to offer—”

In the raging wind, the light flowed and gradually transformed into a pure white trident. The pale gold ring on the head also quietly melted into a pool of gold, trickling into the trident and solidifying into a radiant gem.

at the same time.

With a forceful pull, Dreem was about to untie one end of the bandage, his body leaning forward, ready to pounce. Suddenly, a bone-chilling coldness shot straight up from his back. Without time to think, his right hand, which was about to untie the bandage, flipped back and flicked, and countless blood-red vines burst from the ground, intertwining to form a wall!

Swish!

The giant axe cleaved through the tangled vines, but Dreem took advantage of the momentary delay to stumble back several steps, causing the axe, which was meant to cut him in two, to miss its mark and crash to the ground with a thud, sending dirt flying and dust billowing.

"you……"

Blood Raven remained silent, raising her great axe once more, assuming an offensive stance. Dreem coldly watched her, then glanced at Fisher's back—the latter was reaching for the trident in mid-air, but he too abandoned any attempt to pounce, standing still and letting out a cold laugh.

When did you discover it?

Blood Raven remained silent. Instead, Fisher, gripping the trident, turned and looked at him with indifferent eyes.

That gaze didn't seem to be looking at one's own kind, but rather at a doll, a statue, or any other being of unequal status.

If there were a high and mighty god, then this would be the kind of gaze He would use when looking down upon humanity.

"I see."

Despite not receiving an answer, Dreem seemed to have figured something out. He chuckled softly, flicked his fingers, and the layers of white bandages instantly unwrapped, revealing the noblewoman's left hand hidden within.

"Next question."

He looked back and forth between the two of them, a strange smile playing on his lips: "You don't naively think that this woman alone can stop me, do you? You only have two options: either give up Fisher's wish and choose to kill me here... but you can't do that."

Fisher—the sea god Mananan, holding his trident, remained silent, seemingly certain. Dreem's smile deepened: "Then there's only one other option left. You activate the Tower of Radiance, let this woman buy time, and after I kill her, we'll have a real fight."

“Indeed, this is the only option.” Mananan nodded. “The premise is…”

The words have not yet fallen.

The once calm lake behind him suddenly began to shake violently, ripples spreading and tearing apart the peaceful sky and clouds, as if something was about to burst out of the water.

Dreem's expression changed: "Could it be—"

"...Only Blood Raven is stalling for time."

Mananan slammed the trident down heavily, and a visible shockwave formed, striking Dreem like a blunt object, causing him to stagger back several steps.

After he finally managed to stand up straight.

Look up.

But then a loud "splash" was heard, and countless water splashed. A huge black shadow suddenly rose from the center of the lake, with a snake's neck, a leopard's belly, a deer's hooves, and a lion's rump. It was the water-seeking beast that the Sea God's words had sunk to the bottom of the lake!

“This is… impossible, a creation of nightmares, how could you…” The moment he saw Avank, a hint of panic finally appeared in Drem’s eyes, but more than that, disbelief. His expression changed drastically, but Mananan simply withdrew his gaze from him and turned away as usual.

"Try to get an hour."

The Water-Seeking Beast opened its mouth, as if uttering an inaudible cry. Blood Raven nodded, then shook its head.

"I will take my revenge."

She stared at the person in front of her, the hatred in her eyes almost tangible, and her voice uttered one word at a time through clenched teeth.

"up to you."

Mananan seemed indifferent to the situation, turning his head without a word and replying casually. He then raised his hand, lifting the trident that symbolized the power of the sea god high, its gemstone shimmering with iridescent light, like a wondrous kaleidoscope.

next moment.

A disc-shaped magic circle appeared in front of the trident, expanded, and swept out!

P.S.: Second update~

Chapter 121 The Tower Reaching the Sky (Part Two)

Rome, Tiberius Observatory.

At this time, astrology was all the rage in the Roman Empire. From the emperor and the senators to ordinary people, everyone was enthusiastic about it, and various official and private astrological institutions sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

But this astrological observatory is unlike its contemporaries, which were shaped by the times. Its history can be traced back to five hundred years ago, when it was ordered to be built by the second emperor, Tiberius, who even named it after himself. Subsequent emperors never restricted or suppressed it, allowing it to grow and expand.

For centuries, the Tiberius Astrological Station has housed almost every era's leading astrologers, making it a coveted institution for anyone aspiring to this profession. Only those lacking sufficient personal ability and connections would consider joining another organization.

Almost everyone believes that this situation of diverse flowers blooming while one stands out will continue for a very long time.

Contanlis thought so too.

He was born into a minor noble family on the fringes. Because he showed talent and interest in astrology from a young age, his father used many connections to arrange for him to study under a highly respected scholar from the age of seven. As it turned out, this was the most correct thing that minor nobleman ever did in his life.

He joined the Tiberius Astrological Station as an apprentice at the age of seventeen, became a full-fledged astrologer at the age of twenty-three, and is now fifty-nine years old. He is a world-renowned astrologer who is treated with great respect even by emperors.

Despite his smooth-sailing life, Contanlis did not become as short-sighted and arrogant as some of his colleagues. On the contrary, with the passage of time, the old man became more humble and composed. Compared to socializing with others, he preferred to contemplate alone or observe figures, silently making notes that only he could understand.

The same is true tonight.

The sky over Rome, the capital, may seem unremarkable compared to other city-states, but in the eyes of astrologers, each star, bright or dim, flickering and uncertain, is like a book containing countless mysteries—past, present, and future, encompassing everything in the world.

The quill moved swiftly across the parchment, and the old man would occasionally look up, squinting at the starry sky above. His eyesight had recently begun to deteriorate noticeably; in the past, someone his age would have been close to retiring from the front lines and taking on tasks such as organizing documents. But thanks to the gadgets developed by the Imperial Magicians, he could continue to observe the stars as he did now.

Unlike the stubborn, conservative, timid, and suspicious old emperor of the previous generation, the current young emperor, Lucius Sibelus, known as the "Sword Emperor," has achieved remarkable progress in various fields in just a few years since his ascension to the throne, surpassing the achievements of the past decades.

The Roman Empire, which had once fallen into decline, now seems to be experiencing a revival.

Even though people still harbor doubts about the old emperor's death, the comparison between then and now has gradually weakened those voices of suspicion and criticism, and the star in the sky that belongs to the emperor shines brighter and brighter every day.

But after extreme prosperity comes inevitable decline.

Throughout the ages, countless dynasties have risen and fallen, and this is an inescapable law that Contanliss has always been troubled by, yet he has no one to confide in. Only the unchanging starry sky above can bring him temporary peace of mind.

Suddenly, the old man stopped holding the pen. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly realized something, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes behind his thick glasses.

"That is……"

In the distant sky, a streak of azure light flashed briefly in the north. Among the dozens of astrologers present, no one else noticed this momentary anomaly.

"The star of Mananan, symbolizing the Celtic sea god... a divine star that should have fallen long ago... to the north is Britain."

Suddenly, certain clues began to connect in the old man's mind, and a guess vaguely emerged—an unbelievable guess that he had to face. The quill pen, dipped in ink, drew a straight line on the parchment that had been magically treated, but the old man had no time to notice it, nor any heart to feel sorry for this unexpected waste. He turned around and strode towards the main entrance.

We must report to His Majesty that our previous suspicions were correct; a strong divine power still remains on the island of Britain, concentrated enough to resurrect long-fallen deities. If only we could utilize this power…

His brisk pace gradually slowed as he pondered this. Noticing the puzzled looks coming from several other directions, Contanlis placed his hand on the door, his expression darkening.

This matter could not be kept secret.

But the old man knew what would happen after informing His Majesty of this. Could doing so truly make the empire strong once again?