Shadow of the Beautiful World

In the palace at the top of Mount Doom, the conversation between Merlin and the parchment has entered the final stage.

He looked at the parchment, which contained the last advice left by the Oneiroi.

The god you meet and talk to is different from the main gods of all other pantheons. His existence is very strange.

Let me put it in a way you can understand.

Before the furnace of the universe was ignited, he was the incarnation of the will of the universe. He represented the power ceiling of every evolutionary stage of the universe. He is completely different from the god you understand.

The reason why he didn't appear before was because when the game was going on, the gambling dogs of the two single universes replaced the will of the universe and messed around. After they withdrew their power, he appeared without being suppressed. gone.

But there is no need to worry, a powerful force must have shackles.

If he can destroy the entire hell by himself, then he doesn't need the angels of heaven at all, and the eternal battle is even more a joke. Don't approach him intentionally, and don't provoke him at will.

He's not going to be a problem for you, in fact, he's happy to see what you do next

That's all for now, Merlin.

They discovered my abnormality, and they will contact me at least 6 months later!

swish

All the writing on the parchment disappeared, and even the parchment itself became dull.

Without the support of Oneiroi's will, it has become ordinary paper.

But Merlin folded it carefully as if holding the most precious treasure, and put it in his close pocket.

If there is no accident, this ordinary paper is probably the most important collection in Merlin's hands from now on.

A few minutes later, Merlin walked out of the mechanical palace.

He stood on the edge of the Doomsday Volcano and looked down. The magma lake that was billowing with smoke before was no longer visible.

A huge, black, heavy steel shell was buckled in the crater of the Doomsday Volcano, and only in some excavated pipes could a little bit of magma flow out.

This giant lava lake has been transformed by the Mechanicus into a new material processing factory.

The ore excavated from all over hell was sent here, washed away impurities in the unique magma of the Doomsday Volcano, and forged into the steel needed to make omnics, and just a few days ago, Mechanicus ushered in another A skilled forger.

In front of him was the soul of Greiner, the master blacksmith of the rebellious dwarves, and was sent into a giant omnic body in the form of a transformed Horcrux.

He changed his face and became another mechanical sage of the Mechanicus.

He is now in charge of the forge workshop at Doomsday Volcano.

And the most important thing this rebellious soul is currently doing is to create a new generation of bodies for the Mechanicus.

A stronger shell, stronger strength, more agile movements, better destructive power, and the transplantation of magical abilities.

That last point is the most important.

If the new generation of omnics cannot master the power of magic, they will be trapped and dead in Merlin's wasteland.

We can't let Merlin himself open the portal to other regions for every omnic army to attack, right?

However, this topic is somewhat difficult. Relying on the research of Zatana and Icarus, the progress is very slow. Merlin still has to do many other things at present, and he has no energy to devote himself to such tedious research.

Therefore, Merlin intends to meet an old friend who has a super talent in the fusion of magic and technology.

But there is no rush in this matter.

After Merlin's resurrection, all kinds of things came in a mess. The big and small things seemed to be endless tasks, but they had to be prioritized.

After defeating Maharaja Marduk's plot to break the truce agreement and bring the whole hell under the control of the Sons of Hell, Merlin finally had a rare rest time.

He needs to arrange his itinerary well.

After that, he had to devote himself to more intense affairs, especially after the Oneiroi solved the puzzle, a sense of urgency was suppressed in Merlin's heart.

Time is waiting!

3 days later, at midnight, Hell's Kitchen, St. Matthew's Church.

Although it has been a long time since the death of the beloved Father Paul, there is still a steady stream of mourners who visit the church.

The current presiding officer of St. Matthew's Church is Sister Margie.

But if there is no accident, after a while, the Sisters of Divine Grace headquartered in Europe will send a new priest to preside over the church.

After all, St. Matthew's is, in a de jure sense, the property of the Sisters of Divine Grace.

It was almost midnight at this time, the door of the church was closed, and Sister Maggie had already rested, and there was no one in the huge and quaint church.

But in the darkness, a shadow stepped into the church.

He held a bouquet of white flowers in his hand, and bent down in front of the small stone tablet in memory of Father Paul.

Merlin stood up. Looking at the stele, he seemed to be looking at the dead Father Paul.

The old priest was his friend.

There is no entanglement with other factors, they are just pure friends. The two have known each other for more than ten years and have not shared too many secrets. It really seems like a casual acquaintance.

The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water

A strange oriental saying appeared in Merlin's mind.

According to Icarus, it was a strange memory that Merlin had always forgotten in the corner of his mind. When Merlin was alive, he himself did not notice the existence of those memories.

Now those memories were open to him, but to no avail.

They become blurred, and there is no more special feeling, as if Merlin is in a movie belonging to another life.

No emotional swings.

After all, two lives are human

How is Paul doing with you?

In the empty church, Merlin suddenly asked.

After a while, a gentle voice came:

It's okay, he belongs to the faith. For him, that's probably the best ending.

A faint light emerges from the darkness.

But the one who appeared in the church was not the Archangel Michael who was rescued by the children of hell that day, but another archangel, Merlin's acquaintance, Archangel Gabriel.

She stepped out of the light, wearing the black and white checked suit when she first met her, her short blond hair was biased to the left, and matched with that very neutral face, it made her look very chic and detached.

It's like an urban woman in a high position, with a cold aura of her own.

I heard that souls who enter heaven will become angels, and to become angels, they must enter the reincarnation pool and be washed away from their past memories. If I see Paul now, will he still recognize me?

Merlin said without looking back:

You guys, let old friends never see each other for the last time?

That's a good thing, Merlin.

Gabriel seemed to have calmed down from the anger of being humiliated by Merlin that day. Invisible to mortals, she folded her wide wings behind her back, put her hands in her trouser pockets, and walked towards Merlin.

She said softly:

In terms of your current status and what you plan to do, I don't think it's the right choice to let Paul meet you again.

A star angel is too close to you, it will only be swallowed by darkness. I am not accusing you of being an evil person, but power, this kind of thing, is really hard to say.

Merlin was silent, he did not refute Gabriel's statement.

The archangel walked up to Merlin, she waved her hand, and there was an extra bouquet of flowers in her hand, she put the flowers in front of the stone tablet, and then clapped her hands.

she says:

Michael originally planned to come to thank you in person, after all your subordinates saved him from the brink of death

Not a subordinate!

Merlin corrected:

It's brother.

All right.

Gabriel shrugged, and she continued:

Heaven owes you and your brothers a favor, a very heavy favor.

However, because of the breach of the armistice agreement, the two sides are still arguing. Michael, as the sufferer, has no way to leave that time-consuming meeting.

He gave me the matter of thanking you. The reason is that I have met you a few times. Speaking of friends, are we friends? Merlin.

This question made Merlin's expression slightly surprised.

He turned his head, looked at Gabriel, and said:

Are you out of your mind?

You are an archangel, and I am a king of hell, do you think we are friends? Can we be friends?

Do you dare to accept my friendship? You are not afraid of being reprimanded by your fellow countrymen and thrown into heaven, especially after the scandal has just been revealed.

whispering sound.

The heroic Gabriel curled his lips in disdain. The archangel took a step back and sat on the first row of pews in the church.

She crossed her legs and put her arms flat behind the seat, posing like a big guy.

she says:

Who can blame me? Rande Keir, the bitch who gave up the perfect weapon and kept secretive after the incident was revealed? Or Michael, the stunned young man who only knows how to fight?

The archangel said frankly:

After the slightly interesting Lucifer's rebellion, I was very boring in heaven. If you treat me as a friend, I would also be willing to accept drinking with the lord of hell. It's not like I haven't done it before.

Then I really underestimated you.

Merlin looked back at the nonchalant Gabriel, and said:

Women are narrow-minded, so it's better for us to meet less before your resentment towards me dissipates.

Men are all egomaniacs, so until your misunderstanding of me disappears, I don't really want to see you again.

Gabriel sneered without any weakness.

After a few seconds, the archangel waved her hand and said:

Michael's thank you, I sent it to you. We will repay the favor from heaven when you need it, but I have a few small questions.

She stared at Merlin, and she said:

Is the silver of Judas with you?

Um.

Merlin nodded frankly, and said:

I am useful.

Then put it away.

Gabriel said:

It's better to have it with you than to be lost by incompetent mortals again. I don't want to encounter a madman trying to kill an archangel next time. Michael's encounter with that scares me. Look at my wings. , still trembling now.

While speaking, the archangel actually spread its wings, showing Merlin the quivering feathers.

She said nonchalantly:

But since Marduk is dead, this matter is over. The fall of a hell lord is enough to stop the mouths of those angry guys in heaven.

Then the second thing is, are you going to join the battle for the King of Hell?

Gabriel looked at Merlin.

The latter still nodded.

Ah, very good.

A strange smile flashed across the archangel's face, and she said:

I heard that you presided over a smooth transition of the throne in Marduk Hell? Not bad, dare to break the rules of hell, I look good at you, Majesty Merlin, maybe the next king of hell will be you.

I accept your blessing.

Merlin put his hands behind his back, he looked at Gabriel in front of him, and said:

Anything else to ask?

That's all for now.

Archangel said:

But looking at you, you also have questions to ask me? Tell me, if it's not an important secret, I will answer it truthfully.

the first thing!

Merlin raised a finger and said:

You want me to help him appease the giant beast, but I can't just rush into the dark sea and dive into the deepest part to meet it? That would mean I'm going to die.

Oh, this.

Gabriel patted her head, and she said:

There is a spell, as long as you recite it, you will be able to establish a spiritual link with the giant beast. I should have given it to you last time, but my lord, um, I forgot, as I get older, I always forget this and that.

She reached out and picked up a ball of light, and handed the light to Merlin.

The latter is in hand.

He asked again:

The second thing, I heard that there is an original holy object in the universe in heaven, the Spear of Destiny

What do you want to do?

Gabriel's eyes narrowed immediately, a hint of vigilance appeared on her face, she said:

Let me tell you, Merlin, although we owe you favors, don't even think about something that can break the rules!

Again!

Merlin interrupted Gabriel, pointing to the sky, he said:

Go ask your lord, everything has a price, I believe, your lord knows what I want it to do and, I don't think he will refuse me.

Finally, it's about the debt that Heaven owes us.

Merlin shook his head, he said with emotion:

Fellowship is really amazing. Even the most despicable villains think it can't be changed, but if the debt of favor drags on for a long time, it can easily evolve into another thing, hatred

So, for the sake of our current moderate relationship, I'll use it now.

Merlin looked down at Gabriel, and he said:

I want something kept by that bitch you said.

Randkill?

Gabriel was embarrassed for a moment, and she said:

Let me guess, Ghost Rider?

right!

Merlin nodded in satisfaction, and said:

Randekil is in charge of managing all the spirits of vengeance. I believe she must have a way for the spirits of vengeance to coexist perfectly with knights. I want that method!

She won't let go so easily.

Gabriel said worriedly:

That guy is stubborn

That's something for you to think about.

Merlin raised his head and looked at the closed church door. He looked down at Gabriel and said:

I just need that method, bring it, and the debt of favor will be written off.

Okay, I won't send you off, some of my friends are coming to talk to me, you go back

Don't forget to ask me about the Spear of Destiny, and then put down your middle finger, my friend, whether you are a woman or a holy archangel, your behavior at this time is absolutely irrelevant

It's so indecent!