"Boom"

The Insight mothership docked in the stratosphere roared with a salvo.

But it wasn't a brutal purge, it was more like a demonstration.

Dozens of buildings in New York City were shattered and collapsed with a roar in the midst of bullets and beams of light falling from the sky.

The image was fully projected onto the city's big screens and televisions.

In this way, the Joker is telling the city that what he just said is not a joke.

This salvo was like a firewood that filled the hearth, and when the fear was ignited, it turned into a raging fire, boiling the city like boiling water in an instant.

People are like a herd of irascible beasts, irritable by impending danger.

Terrible things haven't happened yet.

But if the situation is allowed to continue to deteriorate, then it will happen very quickly.

"Huh"

Merlin's figure appeared high in the sky, looking out at the Insight Mothership floating above the clouds.

Above the clouds, the silver-gray Mothership of Insight hovered there.

The steel creature was like a hundred-eyed giant hovering in the air, and the hideous muzzles of the cannons were like the eyes of giants, constantly bursting the light of judgment on the ground.

And further afield, the three Insight motherships on the west coast are also moving in this direction.

According to Icarus' last message, Hydra built a total of 12 motherships and displayed them all over the world.

The Joker now has the main console in his hands, and he can start a carnage in the rest of the world at any time, even if the troubles in New York are solved.

Wrecking a ship won't solve the problem, it will only make things elusive.

If we want to solve this problem once and for all, we must start from the roots.

"Buzz"

Merlin dissipated the magic aura in his hand, and he disappeared into the clouds without alerting anyone.

He appears at a phone booth in Hell's Kitchen, where he picks up the phone and dials a number.

A moment later, Batman's deep voice came from the phone.

"I'm on my way to New York, and it's going to take some time."

"You came by car?"

Merlin asked rhetorically:

"Why don't you take a plane, or call the leprechaun to teleport you?"

"I've got my preparation."

Batman Says:

"I saw what the clown was doing in New York, don't be impulsive, Merlin, wait for me to come over and you will act!"

"Hmm."

Merlin Says:

"I'll wait for you, I need your help, and I'm going to do something else."

Merlin and Batman spoke a few more words, then hung up.

He stepped out of the phone booth and looked around, the streets were empty, but there were still traces of blood, and the wind blew through the messy streets, blowing newspapers and debris on the ground.

In the dust, the city is very quiet.

But Merlin could sense the unease in the city just by sniffing lightly.

How did things get to this point?

Merlin shook his head.

His figure vanished in place, and in the glow of the twisted light, he appeared in another place.

Blick Street, 177.

The sanctuary of the Supreme Mage stands here.

But it only appears when it needs to be.

Merlin was lucky today, he came here and the sanctuary was right in front of him.

He stepped forward and stretched out his hand to push the door open.

With the sound of the wooden door clattering, he entered the sanctuary.

It was the same place as the last time he arrived, with a very solid carpet on the floor in the antique décor.

Directly in front of the entrance is a wooden staircase leading to the second floor, on the terrace, there are well-polished windows, and the sunlight shines through the windows into the room.

It's secluded.

It's quiet, not like the world.

The room was filled with bookshelves, and the shelves were full of books.

There are also some special collectibles, all of which are strange things, including cold weapons, medieval muskets, and black tripods with an oriental style.

And something Merlin hadn't seen.

Undoubtedly, these are the private collections of the Supreme Master.

The magical aura that shines on it is not only powerful, but also chic.

Merlin walked over to the bookshelf, took a book bound in chains, and turned a page with words he was not familiar with.

It's a bit like the Central Asian text, but Merlin never has anything like it in his memory.

"That's the original Sanskrit."

A gentle voice rang out behind Merlin.

He turned around and saw the Supreme Mage in white robes emerge from the pulsating halo.

The powerful spellcaster was still the same as before, with no magical fluctuations on the outside, and looked like an ordinary, hairless, gentle lady with clear, deep eyes.

"It originated from the last era and was dedicated to the recording of mystical and dangerous knowledge, and the ancient ascetics blessed this writing with magical powers, and it was impossible for anyone who did not recognize it to read it."

The Supreme Master took the book from Merlin's hand and put it back on the shelf, saying:

"The world is not yet complete, so it is powerless to evolve such words..."

"It's normal that you haven't heard of it, and in a while, well, a year or two, these words can be rubbed into the world."

The Supreme Mage smiled at Merlin, her fingers flicking.

The space where the two of them were moving silently, Merlin only felt a flash in front of him, and he appeared in another quiet room.

He sat in a wooden chair with a fragrant cup of tea in his hand.

The Supreme Master was kneeling not far away, and was using graceful movements to collect the tea leaves.

At her hand, a small delicate sandalwood stove was burning, filling the room with a calming aroma.

"So, why are you here? Merlin. ”

The Supreme Mage focused on the movement at hand, and she asked without raising her head:

"Has it been decided that you want to solve the crisis of the world by your own withdrawal? Or is it just to say goodbye to me? ”

"I'm not going to quit."

Merlin put down the teacup in his hand, and he said seriously:

"Only in this story am Merlin. Riley. ”

"Good."

The Supreme Mage looked up, she smiled at Merlin, and she said appreciatively:

"Looks like you've got to the point of the matter, good."

"But now that you've made your decision, it means that you're here to say goodbye to me?"

"Not really."

Merlin put his hands on his knees, and he whispered:

"I have come to ask for your help, Supreme Supreme, I want to ask you to help this city..."

"I'm not afraid to fight evil, I'm determined to finish it all today, but this city..."

"It has become a battlefield, and once the war starts again, millions of people will die because of me, and I hope..."

"Oh, I see what you're here for."

The Supreme Master nodded, and she said:

"The evil can not care about the casualties of the innocent, they will be honored by more blood, but not the righteous who are on duty, and the pursuit of protection is obviously more important than pure victory."

"So, this is the yoke of the good..."

"You want me to remove this distraction for you before the decisive battle comes."

"Yes."

Merlin nodded, and he said:

"I know that's a bit excessive, so if you need me to pay or ask me to do something for you, I'll try to do it."

"You're giving me a blank check, Merlin, you slippery head."

The Supreme Master chuckled, and she said:

"You yourself can't predict what your future holds, and now you're trading your future for help..."

Or do you think you have a chance to win? So you're also looking forward to your own future, and the story will continue, right? ”

Merlin didn't answer, but silence represented everything.

"Okay."

The Supreme Mage nodded, her fingers flicking slightly, and a black tome jumped into her hand.

She looked at the book in her hand and said:

"Maybe this magic will help you, but Merlin..."

"You and I are both spellcasters, you should know that knowledge is priceless, and the first two times I helped you were because of some of my ... Well, private reasons. ”

"But now that the debt has been paid, as you say, you need to be paid for this knowledge."

"Please."

Merlin listened intently.

"I'm leaving, Merlin."

The Supreme Master looked out the window at the city full of sunlight and fireworks, and she whispered:

"The evolution of this world has entered the most critical stage, and my stay here will affect this process..."

"You see, conflict and chaos are necessary for the evolution of all things, and a pool of stagnant peace will only plunge a hopeful civilization and the world into the abyss."

"But this world needs a Supreme Mage, and any complete world needs a guardian of the magical level."

She looked back at Merlin, and she said:

"If you don't bear such a heavy fate, perhaps you, who have learned a lot of magic from me, will become my successor."

"As the last price I pay for you, Merlin. Riley, if you can survive, if you can perform a miracle, then I need you to choose a Supreme Mage for this world after I leave..."

The Ancient One stood up, and with her hands behind her back, she said to Merlin:

"You need to train him or her instead of me, and teach a qualified Guardian of the Dimension."

"That sounds like a lot of responsibility."

Merlin looked at the black tome suspended in front of him, and said:

"But if it's your request, then I'll finish it seriously. If I survive..."

"In the legends of the East, there is such a story."

The Supreme Master walked to the window and let the sun shine on her, and in the flow of sandalwood gas, she said to Merlin:

"Fish swimming in the water will challenge the falling waterfalls, and they need to swim against the current to make the impossible possible."

"The moment they cross the waterfall, they will turn into dragons, break away from the mundane, and be free to soar through the sky, no longer bound by any rules."

"If you can't transcend, you can only sink."

"But in any crisis there is opportunity, Merlin."

"As soon as you step over the day in front of you, a new world will appear before your eyes, and you will get all the freedom... And if you want to win, you have to be free first. ”

"But if you have the will to break the boat, and so recklessly set foot on the battlefield that others have arranged for you, how can you win?"

The Ancient One said to Merlin:

"It's tempting to think too much and make you hesitate, but prudence is a good thing, I mean..."

"Think again, find a loophole or something you've overlooked, and if you're sure everything is correct, then give it a go."

The figure of the Supreme Supreme slowly disappeared into the sunlight, and her voice still echoed in the quiet room:

"This bad game of fate is coming to an end, but is there another one? Merlin. ”

"Are you looking forward to the next round?"

"The spell of the dimensional mirror image is not difficult for you, so learn it with peace of mind, there is enough time..."

The figure of the Ancient One Master vanished.

Her last words seemed to tell Merlin to move forward, but they seemed to be mixed with some kind of misty warning.

Merlin always felt that there were other meanings in the last words of the Supreme Supreme.

"Think about it again, do you want to fill in the gaps?"

Merlin flipped through the tome in his hand, thinking over all his thoughts so far as he seized the last time to learn the magic the Supreme Mage had given him.

Time in the ashram was slowed down many times by the Ancient One, Merlin could feel it.

This was probably the last help that the Supreme Master gave him.

He needed to hurry up to learn the magic, but his train of thought didn't stop.

While learning the magic, Merlin took his notebook out of his pocket.

He flipped through some of his past thoughts, perhaps...

"Huh?"

Merlin's gaze landed on a page of his notebook.

There was a record of one of his plans a long time ago, and after he became stronger and stronger, that risky idea was put on the shelf.

But at this moment...

Merlin suddenly realized, perhaps, in addition to fighting to the death, like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, shattering the shackles of the game in one fell swoop.

He should also prepare a Plan B.

Yes.

A second plan is needed at any time!

Putting everything on the final battle doesn't seem like what a wise agent should do.

"Never fight on a battlefield that someone else has arranged for you..."

Merlin closed his eyes, carefully recalling what the Supreme Mage had said as he left.

When he reopened his eyes, a glint flashed in his eyes.

"Yes, if I really want to win, I have to find a battlefield in my favor... I've got to jump out, I've got to get out of it..."

He lowered his head and looked at the notebook in his hand, and after a moment, he whispered:

"I see."

"Thank you for the reminder, Master."

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