Mixarnt gasped for breath, his mind started reeling from the flood of information that had been forced into his consciousness. The concept of an Ideal Zone was now clear to him, but it felt like trying to grasp water—he understood it, yet he couldn’t quite hold onto it. His body trembled as he knelt on the ground, sweat dripping from his brow. "Ugh... damn," he muttered, trying to steady himself.
Just then, a shadowy figure materialized before him, its presence suffocating and dark. The figure was unmistakable—Arthur, but not the Arthur Mixarnt had met in Caspade. This was a darker, hollow version of the legendary king, his eyes pale and emotionless, his armor black as night with crimson accents. In his hand, he wielded a corrupted version of Excalibur, its blade radiating a malevolent energy.
"That is the darkness of Arthur," the golem explained, its voice strained as it shielded Mixarnt from the dark wave of power that had erupted from the shadowy figure. "He came years ago with Merlin. He helped her finish her research, and in exchange, she removed the darkness from his heart. But the darkness she extracted remained here, bound to this place."
Mixarnt’s eyes widened as he processed the golem’s words. "So you’re saying... haa... haa... that the person standing in front of me is Arthur himself, but the dark version of him?" he asked, his voice shaky. He remembered the Arthur he had met in Caspade—a cheerful, middle-aged man who wielded a sword and fire magic with equal skill. The man before him now was a stark contrast, his clean-cut hair and emotionless gaze making him almost unrecognizable.
The golem’s core flickered as it spoke, its body half-destroyed from shielding Mixarnt. "Yes. This is the embodiment of Arthur’s darkness, a remnant of the man he once was. He wields the dark version of Excalibur, a weapon of pure destruction."
Dark Arthur raised his blade, his voice echoing with an eerie, layered tone. "Holy Sword, Excalibur," he intoned, his words sending a shiver down Mixarnt’s spine. The dark energy radiating from the sword intensified, and Mixarnt barely had time to react.
"Enigma Enhance—ugh!" Mixarnt started to activate his ability, but he still isn't stable yet, the sheer force of Dark Arthur’s power overwhelmed him. Just as the dark wave was about to hit him, the golem stepped in, taking the brunt of the attack. Its body was nearly obliterated, but its core remained intact, flickering weakly.
"Idiot! Why’d you do that!?" Mixarnt shouted, his voice a mix of frustration and concern.
"Because you are Lord Merlin’s successor," the golem replied, its voice growing fainter. "You carry the knowledge she studied all her life. Now, boy, although it isn’t perfect... activate it."
Mixarnt frowned, confused. "Activate what? What are you talking about?"
Before the golem could respond, the entire cavern began to shake violently. Cracks spread across the crystalline walls, and the ancient machinery groaned as if coming to life one last time. Mixarnt stumbled, struggling to keep his balance. "W-what’s happening!?" he yelled, his voice barely audible over the rumbling.
"Now that the knowledge has been passed to you, this place is no longer needed," the golem explained, its voice barely a whisper. "It will vanish—Lord Merlin’s Ideal Zone. You must act quickly, Mixarnt. Use the knowledge you’ve gained. This is your final test."
Mixarnt’s mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. The cavern was collapsing, Dark Arthur was advancing, and the golem was on the verge of shutting down. He closed his eyes, focusing on the concept of the Ideal Zone that Merlin had implanted in his mind. It was still vague, but he could feel it—a connection to something greater, a power that transcended the physical world.
"Alright," Mixarnt muttered, his voice steadying. "If this is what it takes... then I’ll do it."
He took a deep breath, his body glowing faintly as he tapped into the knowledge Merlin had left him. The air around him crackled with energy, and the collapsing cavern seemed to slow, as if time itself was bending to his will. Dark Arthur paused, his pale eyes narrowing as he sensed the shift in power.
"Let’s see if I can do this," Mixarnt said, his voice filled with determination. He raised his hand, and the runes on the cavern floor began to glow brighter, responding to his will. The Ideal Zone—Merlin’s ultimate creation—was now his to command.
