Shadow of the Beautiful World

Any plan that has been made in the real world will always encounter various deviations when it is implemented.

This situation is generally called an accident, and it can also be called a surprise.

Merlin didn't like this kind of surprise.

Surprise means that there is no preparation, and it also means that all subsequent planned links will be disrupted and restarted.

He would prefer to see everything move forward according to the established route, but he also knew that this was impossible, so after his rebirth, he changed his way of doing things.

I still like to make plans, but I no longer make detailed plans down to every link, but just come up with something similar to an outline.

In each ring, in the handover of each ring, there is sufficient space for all kinds of accidents.

This is a very scientific way, because even from a physical perspective, the more precise the structure, the easier it is to be destroyed.

But that being said, there are still some unexpected situations that Merlin could not have anticipated.

Like now.

After easily killing 20 lower demons, Stephen Strange proved that he could enter the next stage. He got half of the precious Vatum wand from Merlin.

He was also able to leave the mystery house and return to New York to meet his girlfriend, Dr. Palmer Christine.

Eat a meal, drink some wine, live a married life or something.

After a short rest, he will go to Europe to find the other half of Vatum's wand, so as to prepare for the final stage of actual combat training in hell.

But Merlin was in trouble.

An unexpected event.

For some unknown purpose, Master Ancient One chose the final contestant after the number of contestants for the Supreme Mage Contest was exhausted.

And this guy's identity is quite special.

Asgardian, Loki.

Well, Merlin admitted that, as the son and most proud disciple of Queen Frigga, Loki is indeed qualified to join this battle due to her understanding of rune magic and her own ability to cast spells.

After all, Stephen Strange, who was still an ordinary person two months ago, was eligible to participate in the competition, so giving Rocky a place is not a big deal.

The problem that Merlin is worried about is that Loki's identity is relatively sensitive.

Loki is the fourth prince of Asgard, and now the fourth princess, and after Thor gave up the kingship, Loki is very likely to inherit Odin's position as the king of gods.

She would be queen of the Asgardians, at least on the surface.

At the time when Asgard fell to Earth, and the people of God's Domain were bound to stay on Earth for a long time, you suddenly made this decision...to appease? Or...want to borrow their power?

Merlin stepped into the light curtain door leading to Asgard. He seemed to be discussing this issue with Master Ancient One, but in fact, he was just talking to himself.

He was guessing the meaning of the Supreme Mage's behavior.

The Supreme Mage is not just the Supreme Mage of the earth, her jurisdiction is in all the worlds and dimensions where magic works.

From this point of view, although all the supreme mages are earthlings, there is no rule that this lofty position cannot be held by foreigners.

At present, except for Loki, the other candidates are all from the earth.

Even Victor von Doom, who has the most villainous temperament, does not deny this point, which makes no matter who becomes the next supreme mage, he will instinctively safeguard the interests of the earth.

This is probably because Merlin did not consider the inertial thinking of people outside the earth.

But just now, after communicating with the three consciousnesses in the Book of Weishandi, Merlin discovered a loophole in this thinking.

This is not the first time that the battle for the Supreme Mage has been held.

In countless parallel worlds, the battle for the supreme mage has been carried out many times, but in the pocket universe, this is the first competition.

In other parallel worlds, there did appear to be supreme mages served by foreigners.

From this point of view, it is completely reasonable for the ancient one to give Rocky the right to participate.

From this point of view, choosing Loki is more likely to stop the mouths of those outsiders who covet the position of supremacy.

In this way, it is very likely that when the competition begins, there may be more than one non-earth player, Rocky.

Well, it seems that this battle is really getting more and more interesting.

Lord Raven appeared on the large island in the center of the Pacific Ocean with his hands behind his back, amidst the light and shadow.

The Asgardians who have migrated here have blocked their country for the past few days, not allowing any earthlings to set foot in it.

But looking out from where Merlin was, one could still see many helicopters circling in the surrounding waters, as well as some surface ships.

It seems that the earth officials are also very interested in these legendary aliens who suddenly appeared in this world.

But at this time, the operation to appease the people in Asgard has not yet ended, and the exchanges between the two parties are estimated to take some time to start.

Merlin looked back to the center of the island. He saw many rune wizards busy on the ruins of the former Golden Palace. The ruins were suspended above the island, like a floating island.

Beside those busy wizards, there were many short-dressed Asgardians carrying some building materials.

The Golden Palace will be rebuilt so soon?

Merlin pursed his lips, he didn't know how to evaluate this behavior.

It is estimated that in addition to appeasing the people, the current blockade may have other factors. These aliens will not start contacting the earth people until the reconstruction of the magnificent Golden Palace is completed...

It's all come to this point, don't you forget to show the majesty of God's Domain?

These Asgardians really care about face.

But the people of Asgard, who have ruled the World Tree star field for tens of thousands of years, have their own national conditions here, and it is not good for Merlin to get too involved in these matters, not to mention that he is not doing diplomacy on behalf of human beings today.

Lord Raven took a step forward, his figure disappeared on the ground of the island, and when he reappeared, he came to the top floor of the Great Rune Tower.

As a result, he saw Frigga, who was leaning on a staff and was a little sick, supervising Loki's magic practice, and judging from Loki's expression and the sweat on his forehead, she had been practicing for a long time up.

Merlin didn't disturb Loki's practice, he stood aside, watching Ms. Loki's magic with interest.

hum

In the swing of Loki's staff, her slender figure was divided into four parts, and then turned into 16 vivid illusions in the flash of light and shadow, cooperating with each other, each like a real spellcaster.

Some of those phantoms were holding staffs, and some were holding sharp blades of starlight. During the surge of magic power and the interlacing of light and shadow, the magic beacons placed on the top of the big rune tower were precisely destroyed one by one.

Nice illusion.

Merlin nodded slightly, with a look of appreciation in his eyes.

Although the illusion used by Loki is not as powerful as the Ikon illusion he is good at, that is, the shape of Icon, Loki's magic is more inclined to induce and conceal surprise attacks.

Although these separated phantoms are fragile, each has the ability to cast spells individually.

It can be thought of as a downgraded version of the Shape of Ikon.

If you are surrounded by these illusions and cannot break through all the illusions in a short time, it is easy to be enraged in Loki's wave of magic raids and shadow assassinations.

And most importantly, Loki is a cunning guy.

Among the 16 phantoms in front of Merlin's eyes, Loki's real body does not exist. She herself hides in the shadows and walks around, holding a cold dagger in her hand.

Merlin could even imagine the scene where the opponent had spent a lot of effort to kill all of Loki's phantoms, but was slit by Miss Rocky who jumped out of the shadows.

The dark and sneaky wisdom is the magic weapon for Loki to win.

This guy is the most cunning magic assassin.

You have been using illusion all the time, and you have loved this seductive trick since you were a child, but Loki, this is your strength and also your flaw.

The Queen of Heaven, who had been on the sidelines, tapped her staff to let Loki dispel all illusions. She said to her daughter seriously:

When the situation is under control, you have absolute confidence to knock down your opponent, but once you fall into adversity, you will breed all kinds of negative emotions and even make wrong choices.

You lack the courage of the Asgardians, or rather, you are well aware that courage does not mean recklessness to a spellcaster, but I mean, Loki, you have another choose.

Tin Hau stepped forward and said to her silent daughter:

You know exactly when to go all out, especially on a battlefield like the Supreme Mage Battle, and running away won't bring you victory.

If you really desire the throne of the Supreme Mage, then you have to find a way to prepare yourself the cards for the final victory.

Perhaps it would be good to prepare her a 'Thor Summoning Technique'.

Before Loki could answer his mother's instructions, the voice of the raven sounded from the shadow of the Great Rune Tower.

The lord of hell came out from behind the pillar where he was hiding. He leaned slightly towards the master of this place, the Queen of Heaven, Frigga, and joked:

Loki lacks the will to fight the enemy to the death because she has been well protected by Thor since she was a child. With Thor present, if the brother and sister work together, Loki's hope of winning will be greatly improved.

Moreover, the rules of the battle for the supreme mage do not stipulate that Loki cannot summon helpers from outside the battlefield.

Merlin chuckled lightly, and said:

In other words, as long as Thor himself agrees to join the battle with Loki's summons, this is not against the rules.

vanity!

The moment she saw Merlin appear on the stage, a gleaming dagger jumped out of Loki's hand. She glared at Merlin angrily. She still hadn't forgotten the excessive things Merlin did to her.

Um?

Merlin's eyes twitched.

With a flick of his finger, the curse of vanity on Loki's body suddenly tightened.

The body of the fourth princess became stiff, as if a marionette was being manipulated, and she was in the posture of a ballet dancer with her hands raised, and she danced lightly in the hall amidst the terrified eyes.

Merlin's fingers kept beating, and Loki's dancing movements became more and more exaggerated.

It's really like a puppet dancing on the stage, and like an elegant green swan.

boom

The magic staff in the Queen's hand jogged on the ground of the rune tower, and with the low sound, the magic power of the mage tower was mobilized and concentrated on Loki, forcibly interrupting the manipulation of vanity.

Your Excellency Raven, I don't think you are here to provoke.

The sick Frigg looked at Merlin, and said:

My husband is sleeping in the sleep of God, he has no time to entertain you, so I will not be polite, please explain why you are here.

I'm here to deliver something.

Merlin suspended something on his fingertips and pushed it in the direction of the Queen of Heaven.

Frigga held it in her hand. It was an emblem marked with a three-eyed charm, which was the symbol of Karma Taj.

I'm here to deliver the 'admission ticket'.

With his hands behind his back, Merlin said to the queen and Loki who was staring at him:

Maybe the Supreme Mage didn't clarify some specific rules of the Supreme Mage battle. Let me add that although this matter is related to the Supreme Mage's throne, the person responsible for starting and hosting this battle...

it's me!

Lord Raven looked at Loki whose complexion changed slightly, and he said:

So if I were you, Miss Rocky, I wouldn't provoke the referee who is enough to decide your life or death before the game starts.

Tianhou reached out to caress her daughter, but she looked calm.

While the God King was asleep, the Empress took charge of Asgard's affairs. This is not the first time she has been regent, and no matter from which level, the Empress who accompanied Odin through ups and downs is also a person who is enough to let A ruler with peace of mind.

She looked at Merlin, and she said:

Stop making such nonsense jokes, Your Excellency Merlin, you are almost frightening my daughter.

Since you can be entrusted with an important task by the supreme mage, then I believe that you must be self-disciplined enough in the process of refereeing, and there will be no violation of justice.

I can only say that I tried my best.

Merlin shrugged, and he looked at Loki, who had an uncertain expression, and persuaded him in an elder tone:

Also, I need to remind you, Miss Rocky.

Don't take it lightly when you hear that the other contestants are from Earth, and don't look at this competition with your stereotypes of gods and gods.

Among the contestants, there are a few players with strength, even I will feel tricky.

That's all for now.

Lord Raven waved his hand as if to say goodbye, he turned and floated into the lit portal behind him, he said:

The things have been delivered, and the warning has been given. Then, let us see you at the opening of the battle for the supreme mage.

Welcome as a candidate, Loki.

Welcome to participate in this world-renowned magic war!

—————————

Merlin disappeared in the Great Rune Tower.

Although he said goodbye to Tianhou and Loki, he didn't really leave Asgard.

While the light and shadow of the Great Rune Tower dissipated, the figure of Lord Raven appeared on another part of the island, a lighthouse by the sea.

Around this seemingly inconspicuous lighthouse, there is an entire regiment of elite warriors, all from the Golden Palace Guard guarding the God King. They have sealed off the coast and strictly forbid anyone to approach it.

And at the top of the lighthouse, in a restored room, hoarse, women's singing, accompanied by banjo music, echoed on the rolling shoreline.

Lord Raven's figure appeared at the edge of the lighthouse. He looked forward, and at the edge of the lighthouse, a girl in a linen robe with fluttering hair was sitting on the edge of the lighthouse.

Judging from her back, she is quite sad at this moment.

Audrey...or you, Angela.

Merlin said softly:

I guess, you must really want to go back to the home in your heart, not this place you regard as a cage, so I will ask...

You, want to go home?