Merlin's exclamation caused a strange pang of pain in Artoria's heart. Leave? Let this sword just remain here, hanging in its ice coffin? Such a powerful force is in front of you, but it cannot be touched, it cannot be used.

"Divine power is eternal", the inscription says, although at the same time there is a danger of tearing the soul apart, and the soul will fall into hell forever, never to be saved.

But......

"My heart is broken," murmured Artoria, and instead of backing down, she walked forward step by step, "and if I don't get it, I'll be in more pain than hell." ”

Her heart was broken, she was tormented, her future in Britain was becoming more and more uncertain, and the lives of her people were threatened. The evil forces of the evil gods are eyeing the innocent people, ready to poison the innocent people.

As the king of the people, she failed to lead everyone to the light, and her heart was already broken. In order to be able to change the power of a qiē, in order to obtain this power that can defeat the evil god, what is it to add a few more scars to yourself.

"Artoria, my child, please, let's go," Merlin pleaded in a hoarse voice, "let's go find another way, there must be another way to defeat the evil gods, you can't make a curse on your head." ”

"Curse?" said Artoria, looking up in a daze, "I am willing to bear any curse in order to save Britain." ”

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Merlin trembling.

"Artoria, you know I'm an honest man, I don't like to think too much, but I tell you, son, it's a big problem. Let's go, just leave this sword here to your fate. Forget about it, and let's go home. ”

An image suddenly conjured up in Artoria's mind, and she saw her soldiers, her people, surrounded by hundreds of people who had died from the plague of evil gods. They fell. Filled with rotting toxins, she was tormented by pain and wanted to die but couldn't, screaming and screaming on the earth, and suffering endless torture - just like the horrific situation she had seen in Nanhai Town.

She had already sworn not to let it happen again when she was in Nanhai Town, how could she watch her people suffer like that? She had already vowed to change this qiē and restore it!

Just then, another image appeared, of a huge block of ice containing a sword in stone, which Artoria now saw as part of something bigger and stronger. And it. And the sword in the stone inside came to her in order to avenge the victims.

A pleasant voice with a light smile whispered in her head, "The dead need revenge, the living need salvation, Miss Artoria, it's time for you to choose." ”

The sound was melodious and beautiful, like a silver bell, giving Artoria a sense of familiarity. But she didn't bother to think about the source of the voice, and she looked at the fantasy of the wind in front of her with fascination. Step by step, his eyes were full of fascination.

"This is mine!"

The words seemed to burst out from the depths of her heart, and she clenched her fists, "I have a responsibility to the dead." I am more responsible to my people. No one can stop me from taking revenge, Merlin!"

She looked away from her sword and met Merlin's worried look, then her expression softened slightly. "Not even you. ”

"Artoria. I've taught you how to fight. I want you to be a good king and a good warrior at the same time. But one of the keys to being a good fighter is knowing how to choose the right fight...... and the right weapons," Merlin painstakingly exhorted this. He pointed to the Frozen Sword of Stone and said, "And this is not a weapon you should have. ”

Artoria took a deep breath and raised her hands to the ice cube that wrapped her sword, taping her smooth face to it. Her jade-beautiful cheeks were only an inch away from the smooth surface, and Merlin was still talking, but the voice seemed to come from some distant place, and Artoria couldn't hear it.

"Listen to me, kid. We'll find another way to save the people of Britain, let's go, go back and find a way. ”

Merlin was wrong, he simply couldn't understand. Artoria had to do it. If she turned away now, she would fail again, and she couldn't let that happen. She was burdened with the hopes of her people, and she could no longer afford to lose.

"Now, I summon the spirits of this place. She said, breathing frost in the cold, stagnant air. Within her reach, the sword in the stone hung upside down in the air waiting for her.

"It doesn't matter what you are, good or evil, neither or both, but I can feel you, and I know you're listening. I'm ready, I understand from the bottom of my heart. And I'm saying to you now - I'm willing to pay any price if you can help me save my people. ”

The wait was long and tough, but nothing happened. Artoria's exhaled gas condensed into hoarfrost, then dissipated and faded, then frosted again. Cold sweat oozed from her forehead. Is she willing to give what she has -- has she been rejected? Has she failed again?

A low sigh rang out, and Artoria held her breath. The smooth surface of the ice suddenly burst, and the crack zigzagged and stretched in all directions, until Artoria could barely see the sword in the center of the ice. Then she staggered a few steps back, covering her ears at the sudden loud noise that resounded throughout the cavern.

The ice that sealed the sword exploded, and shards as sharp as a sword flew everywhere, shattering into the solid stone walls of the cavern. Then, a cold and violent sword wind rushed into the sky, and that terrifying sword aura was the only strength that Artoria had ever seen in her life, and she was blown back again and again, and finally crushed to the ground by the powerful wind.

Involuntarily, Artoria knelt down in front of the pedestal, her arms instinctively covering her head, when she heard an abrupt ceased.

"Merlin!"

The moment those cold sword winds rushed into the sky, the old wizard subconsciously wanted to resist, but he was knocked away in an instant, losing all his ability to resist. In the splatters of blood, Merlin's old body was knocked to the wall, and his body struggled in pain and did not move.

Artoria scrambled to her feet, ripped off her gauntlets, and rushed towards her old friend and teacher. She put her hand on the wizard's wound and stared nervously, "Merlin, are you okay? Answer me!"

But the old wizard closed his eyes. Her lips were trembling, unable to respond to her inquiries, as if she was dying.

Looking at the old wizard's appearance, Artoria's tears could not stop flowing, and she knelt beside Merlin in pain, her eyes blurred with tears. She had said she would rather pay any price, was that the terrible price she had to pay?

Not her own life, but the life of a friend, someone who cared for her, taught her, supported her.

She looked down at the old wizard's orange-peeled face, tears stinging her eyes.

It's my stupidity. The price I pay. Please-

Then. She felt it suddenly, and she stared in amazement—it had broken through the ice and plunged in front of her, the light blue runes enveloping the blade in a brilliant icy halo. She stood up in fascination, the sword in the stone waiting for her, like a lover longing for caresses, waiting to be awakened by her in all its glory.

The voice that had been smiling before whispered in the depths of her mind, "This is the right path." Princess Artoria, only the fantasy of the wind can give you strength and save the people of Britain. So...... Accept it, Your Highness Artoria, and accept the gift of the Lord of Darkness, and you will be able to save a qiē. ”

Artoria froze. She stood up with blank eyes and staggered towards the gleaming weapon. Her trembling hands were slightly open, and they were still wet with her friend's blood.

She curled her fingers to grasp the hilt of her sword. Feel the perfect feel, as if it was made for her.

Suddenly, a chill hit her, spreading down her trembling arms and down her entire body to the bottom of her heart. The pain alerted her for a moment, and then suddenly she got better. All of them got better. The fantasies of the wind belong to her, and she belongs to the fantasies of the wind.

The familiar voice still whispered, murmured, and chuckled in her head, as if it had always been there—it was...... Avalon, the ideal place away from the world.

She let out a cry of joy and raised her sword, gazing at it with surprise and extreme pride. She, Artoria Pendragon, will be successful. Now, the illusion of the artifact wind, like her mind, her heart, her breath, became a part of her.

And she, listening intently to the secrets it revealed. And firmly believe that this is the last way to save Britain, and save the hope of a qiē!

As long as she holds this divine sword, she will change one qiē and destroy one qiē. From this day forward, she will be the supreme king, and she will use this sword to bring glory and victory to her people.

Oath Victory!

Then, a complicated sigh sounded in her ears instead of a low shallow laugh.

"Poor boy, are you so desperate for power?"

Artoria was stunned, like a basin of cold water falling from the sky, awakening her from that strange mental state. Her eyes widened, she looked at the caves around her, and asked in a wary voice, "Who are you?!, why are you whispering in my ear?"

"Me?huh...... I'm just a stupid loser, but I'm trying to correct my mistakes. If you want, you can call me Qin Hao. ”

"Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

"Since you want to see me, then come on......"

The moment the voice fell, the light seemed to fade from Artoria's eyes, and an eerie darkness twisted around her. Then she felt her body tugged at a force, flying at breakneck speed among the endless dark stars, the wind ruffling her hair, and she was flying towards the center of the darkness, the midpoint where the endless stars converged.

Immediately after, she saw it.

It was a tall, majestic figure, long purple hair hanging down, black demonic horns sharp on his forehead. With his hands behind his back, the man stood in the center of the entire starry universe, quietly watching her approach, revealing a gentle smile.

"Welcome to the world where I created zào, Artoria, all your doubts will be answered here. (To be continued......)