Final confrontation(chapter 174)

A/N Unfortunately, this would be the last chapter until June as i am currently undergoing surgery. so i will write the end of this fanfic this June, in the meantime, check out my other fanfic The Moiety of Magic, which will be continuously uploaded as i already have nearly 100 chapters.

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Chapter 174

The foul energy clawed its way through the fabric of reality, slithering from Grey Knight's body. It was as if the cursed sorcerer had been lying dormant, waiting for the perfect moment to resurface. Grey Snape's surroundings shifted abruptly, and his vision spun. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the timeless void. Instead, he stood in a dimly lit chamber, and before him was Rachel. Her arms crossed, her face unreadable, though a slight frown tugged at her lips. "Oh, it's you," she said flatly, the air thick with tension.

Grey Snape barely spared her a glance before something else demanded his attention. With a mere thought, the system interface materialized before him. Yet as he compared it to Grey Knight's own system, the stark differences were undeniable. Grey Snape's interface gleamed with absolute authority, its overwhelming superiority glaringly evident.

[Name: Grey]

[Mana: -/-]

[Skill: Potion-Creation: You can create a potion using two or more materials as long as they can harmoniously blend together. Any potion created using the potion creation skill has a 100% chance of granting a permanent effect. There is a 0% chance of failure when this skill is used. Cost: None. Lv.MAX (0%)]

A dark, satisfied grin tugged at Grey Snape's lips. "At least he had the decency to gather such high-quality materials," he muttered. Without wasting another moment, he materialized two pristine portions of the god-grade materials — one intended for Grey Knight and the other for Rachel. The thick, glowing liquid pulsed with divine potency. Rachel, however, seemed oddly relaxed. She made no attempt to intervene, her knowing smile remaining firmly in place. 

The sight unsettled Grey Snape, and for a moment, he pondered her motives. Why had she attacked him before? Why did she question Grey Knight's whereabouts? But then, he scoffed, dismissing the thoughts entirely. "As I thought," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "This filthy demon could never love me like my dear Hermione." The words dripped with malice, yet Rachel's expression did not waver. Grey Snape turned away, focusing on the creation of the potion, the hum of divine energy crackling in the air.

-scene change-

In the heart of the Antarctic wasteland, where the shattered remnants of Pangea floated ominously above, the air pulsed with an ancient malice. The once pristine ice had fractured beneath the weight of arcane energies, leaving jagged spires jutting from the earth like the teeth of a forgotten beast. A massive citadel, formed from obsidian and infused with the essence of countless realms, stood defiantly against the howling winds. This was Merlin's Bastion, the seat of power for the Order of Merlin, where shadows danced and whispered the secrets of broken worlds. Inside the grand chamber, torches burned with ethereal flames, casting an eerie blue glow over the four figures gathered in ominous council. Each one bore the weight of authority — not just over this world, but many.

Seated at the head of the obsidian table was Althea Argyros, Merlin's Brain, her silver hair cascading like strands of woven moonlight. The runes embroidered into her robes glowed faintly, feeding on the ambient magic that clung to the very air. Her violet eyes, once tempered with cold intellect, now flickered with the embers of bitter recollection. To her right sat Imari Oshima, Merlin's Hands, the war-scarred leader of the Martial Mage Division. Though her expression remained stoic, the tension in her jaw betrayed the lingering fury within. At Althea's left loomed Cao Shen, Merlin's Feet, his red eyes gleaming like embers in the shadows. His wiry frame seemed to ripple with restrained lethality, the jagged scars on his face serving as a grim reminder of countless battles. Finally, with a languid grace, Elise Fontaine, Merlin's Voice, lounged with unsettling poise. Her auburn hair burned like molten copper in the pale light, while her sharp green eyes gleamed with predatory amusement. Yet beneath that facade, the sting of bitter memory festered.

"I trust we all remember our last encounter with him," Althea's voice was soft, but the weight behind it could shatter bones. The others did not respond immediately. There was no need. The memories had etched themselves into their very souls — the blinding storm of runes, the thunderous clash of arcane forces, and the sensation of death's cold embrace. Gray Snape. The name slithered through their thoughts like venom. He had been their undoing in the previous timeline, an unrelenting force of calculated vengeance. Even Viridian, the monstrous fifth head of the Order, had fallen beneath his wrath. And now, against all reason, he had returned.

"That old snake," Imari spat, her hands gripping the polished table, fingertips crackling with barely restrained power. "He's weak now, but even so, he tore through Viridian. Do you understand what that means?" Her voice was low, but the words thrummed with frustration. "He was holding back. Testing his limits. And we all know what happens when Gray Snape learns how far he can go."

Elise chuckled softly, though the amusement never touched her eyes. "And yet, despite it all, he remains predictable. Hatred has always been his compass. That… and his absurd devotion to that mudblood whore." Her words dripped with disdain, and even Imari allowed herself a twisted smirk. "But he's not the only one with memories of the past. This time, we know what he is capable of. We know his flaws. Merlin has granted us the opportunity to tear him apart before he becomes a true threat."

Cao Shen's voice, low and rasping like dried leaves, finally broke the silence. 

"And yet we underestimate him at our peril. Even now, weakened as he is, he possesses knowledge of the arcane beyond our understanding. His mind… it is dangerous. Efficient. Relentless. That is why Merlin demands we strike now — to weaken him further, to ensure he cannot rise." His crimson eyes gleamed. "And we are not alone. The resources of the fractured worlds are ours to command. Assassins. Mages. Entire legions. Even if he evades one blade, another will find its mark."

Althea nodded, her gaze lingering on the others. "Merlin's will is absolute. Gray Snape cannot be allowed to regain his former strength. Our forces will move in waves, applying constant pressure. Not to kill him immediately, no. That would be far too simple. We will dismantle him. Break him. Every ally he seeks will crumble. Every step he takes will be met with resistance. By the time we are through, his only salvation will be the sweet release of death."

For a moment, silence clung to the chamber like a funeral shroud. Yet beneath that stillness, the air thrummed with anticipation. The shadows of the Order shifted restlessly, as though savoring the prospect of the carnage to come. Elise leaned forward, her smile widening. "And when the final blow is dealt," she purred, "we will stand as the true gods of this fractured reality. No Gray Snape. No opposition. Only the Order of Merlin." No further words were spoken. The decision had been made.