Chaos and Creation: Merlin’s Awakening (Updated)

I stepped out of the portal and returned to my mansion. Jarvis greeted me immediately, informing me that I had a guest who arrived shortly after we left—and had been waiting ever since. Of course, I already knew who it was. With a wave of my hand, I signaled Jarvis to stop talking and lead the way.

He guided me to the guest room, where I found a woman seated, sipping tea patiently. As expected, it was Merlin—an Elf of her caliber would have undoubtedly sensed the upheaval caused by my actions and come to investigate for herself. After all, she had spent 3,000 years searching for the chaos I represented.

Merlin's story is one of profound sadness. What she believes about herself—that she is Belialuin's daughter—is false. In truth, Belialuin took her in as a test subject. Her real identity? She is the first Elf. After creating humanity, My Will sought to craft another race—stronger, capable of rivaling other species. Thus, the concept of Elves was born. However, during their creation, the Demon King and Supreme Goddess exploited the vulnerable moment of genesis to seal away My Will. Only Merlin survived, and in a final act of desperation, My Will sent her to Belialuin, whose kingdom was neutral at the time.

Belialuin discovered Merlin's immense magical potential and claimed her as his "daughter" to ensure no one else could take her. But this marked the beginning of Merlin's suffering. She wasn't truly his child, merely an experiment—a tool for creating soldiers powerful enough to rival other races. Yearning for her father's love, she received nothing but exploitation.

One fateful day, sick of living like a prisoner, Merlin fled Belialuin. Though pursued by its people, she managed to evade capture until Meliodas, a member of the Demon Clan, intervened. When Meliodas extended his hand gently, Merlin felt a warmth she'd never known before. Over time, those feelings deepened into something special—but Meliodas never reciprocated romantically. Hoping to win his heart, Merlin shed her youthful form, adopting the appearance of an adult woman and halting the flow of time within her body. Yet, her hopes were dashed when Meliodas fell in love with Elizabeth.

At first, Merlin was consumed by anger, sadness, and jealousy. Despite this, she couldn't bring herself to hate either of them. Instead, she grew close to Elizabeth, treating her like a sister.

Eventually, Merlin returned to Belialuin, seeking solace in magical training and devouring every scrap of knowledge she could find. Yet, none of it filled the void in her heart. That changed when she overheard scholars discussing Chaos—the primordial force believed to have created the world, the Demon King, the Supreme Goddess, the Giant Clan, and finally humanity. Determined to fill the emptiness inside her, Merlin devoted her life to reviving Chaos, hoping it might satisfy her starving soul.

When rumors spread of a miraculous child born with infinite magic, both the goddesses and demons sought to claim her, believing she could tip the scales of war in their favor. Belialuin opposed this, claiming the girl and her power belonged to them. Defying her people, Merlin negotiated with the gods, accepting blessings from both the Demon King and the Supreme Goddess. Furious at being deceived, the two deities unleashed their wrath upon Belialuin, cursing it with fog, death, fire, and lightning. Merlin escaped unscathed, becoming the sole survivor of her homeland.

Near the end of the Holy War, Merlin commissioned Dabuzu, a giant craftsman, to create the Coffin of Eternal Darkness—to seal away the Demon King and the Supreme Goddess.

Later, she encountered Arthur, mistakenly believing him to be the successor of Chaos. In reality, he was destined to lead humanity against future threats, blessed by My Will—not Chaos itself.

Stepping into the room, I addressed her directly.

Sora: "Merlin, I presume?"

Noticing my entrance, she stood and began examining me from head to toe. She wouldn't sense My Will unless I allowed it, so I permitted her scrutiny. When she finally detected it, her eyes widened in shock.

Merlin (thinking aloud): "But how? Isn't Arthur the successor? I'm never wrong…"

Sora: "No, he isn't, Miss Merlin—or should I call you by your real name, Aelrindel?"

She trembled at the mention of her true name, but what came next shocked her even more.

Sora: "Your name is Aelrindel, the First of the Elf Clan—and the future queen."

Merlin: "What do you mean, 'Elf Clan'? There's no such clan, and I'm supposed to be its queen?"

I sighed deeply and looked at her.

Sora: "I'm truly sorry for everything you've endured. Let me explain."

For the next few hours, I recounted the history of this world—the role of My Will, the mistakes made by the races it created, the creation of humanity, the origin of the Elves, and the failures that followed. I explained how My Will attempted to save her—and how those efforts ultimately went awry.

Her expressions shifted constantly throughout my explanation. She interrupted me several times to ask questions, seeking clarification. Eventually, after absorbing the information, she requested some time to process everything and tend to unfinished business. She promised to return later if she had further questions.

Sora: "Of course. Take your time. Before you go, let me tell you about the Seven Deadly Sins and my plans for this world's future. You should also visit here to reunite with old friends. And don't worry about Liones—it's safe now."

She nodded, stood up, and departed. Once she was gone, I walked outside and gazed toward Camelot. Speaking in a voice loud enough for my target to hear, I declared:

Sora: "Do you really think you can hide from me, Cath Palug? I know your plans for the boy—and this world has no place for you."

In Camelot, a strange-looking cat crouched in hiding. Suddenly, it transformed into a massive feline creature with dotted patterns across its body. Its long tail ended in three points, its oversized mouth revealed fangs piercing through its cheeks, and its eight legs propelled it forward. Panicked, it began fleeing for its life—even though no visible threat surrounded it. Moments later, small portals opened in the space around it. Red-golden chains emerged, binding the beast tightly. Then, a crimson spear struck its heart, ending its existence. Shock and fear lingered on its face as the light faded from its eyes.

Sora (thinking): "Now that's done… What's next?"