Ch 47: The Final Trial and Talk with ???

The first step to facing the beast was gathering information. I wandered through Riverfort, speaking to anyone who had encountered the creature or survived its attacks. The accounts painted a grim picture: the beast was terrifyingly fast, reacting to the faintest sounds. Its skin was nearly impervious to ordinary weapons, and it could detect a heartbeat from several meters away.

The townsfolk mentioned that gunpowder-based weapons, had worked to some degree. However, their limited blast radius meant they couldn't kill the creature outright. I needed a weapon that combined range, precision, and silence—a nearly impossible trifecta.

Back at Elise's house, I decided to test the feasibility of my AWP sniper rifle. I placed it on the table, and Elise's eyes widened as she examined it.

"This is... definitely bigger than the muskets the Imperial Capital uses," she remarked, her fingers running along the sleek metal barrel. "What is this thing?"

"It's called a sniper rifle," I explained. "Think of it as an advanced, long-range musket, but with much more destructive power. The problem is the sound—it's loud enough to alert the beast before I can take it down."

I loaded a round into the rifle and stepped outside to demonstrate. Firing into the air, the rifle's sharp report echoed across the town. Elise flinched, covering her ears as the noise reverberated.

"No," she said firmly, lowering her hands. "If you use that, the beast will hear you instantly and come straight for you. It needs to be quieter."

---

Her words confirmed my suspicion. If I could silence the AWP somehow, but suppressors weren't exactly part of this world's technology. That left me with a wild idea—one that bordered on insane.

"What if..." I began, pacing the room as the thought formed in my head. "What if I used myself as a silencer?"

Elise frowned, clearly baffled. "What do you mean?"

I held up my hand. "If I use my shoulder or something else soft to muffle the sound, it might reduce the noise enough to prevent the beast from pinpointing my exact location. It'll definitely hurt like hell, but I can manage."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Arthur, that's ridiculous! You'll injure yourself before even fighting the beast."

"It's not the best plan, I know," I admitted with a small shrug. "But it's the only way I can guarantee the shot won't draw attention."

Elise sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're impossible."

"True," I said cheerfully. "But before I even try this, I'll need to teach you how to use the AWP."

---

The next morning, I led Elise to an open field just outside Riverfort. I set up a makeshift target using some wooden crates and began explaining the rifle's mechanics.

"This lever here is the bolt," I said, demonstrating as I slid it back and forth. "It loads the next round into the chamber. The scope is for aiming—look through it to line up your shot."

Elise hesitated as she held the rifle, her hands trembling slightly. "It's heavier than I expected," she admitted.

"Don't worry," I assured her. "You'll get used to it. For now, just focus on your stance and aim."

I guided her into position, adjusting her grip and stance until she looked steady. "Now, take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger gently. Don't jerk it."

She nodded, closing one eye as she peered through the scope. A second later, the sharp crack of the rifle echoed through the field. The bullet hit the target, though slightly off-center.

"Not bad," I said with a grin. "Let's try again."

---

After hours of practice, Elise's aim had improved significantly. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, she could consistently hit the center of the target.

But there was a problem the AOE damage worked on contact and the second the bullet hits my shoulder it will explode not only hurting me but also the one pulling the trigger.

---

After dismissing my ridiculous idea of using myself as a silencer, I decided on a different approach: take down the beast with Caliburn while using my clones as distractions. It was risky, but it made more sense than potentially losing an arm—or worse.

During my first trial back in the coliseum, I had used clones, but they were laughably weak. They vanished into smoke at the slightest damage—hell, even pinching one would've been enough to "kill" it. The clones I'd been using in the HP world were leagues above what i currently had access to.

I created two clones. One acted as bait, its primary job to draw the beast out of hiding. The other stayed back, ready to assist if things got messy.

The beast emerged from the forest, its form twisting and unnatural, almost zombie-like. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of flesh and rot. The smell alone was enough to make me gag, but I pushed the nausea aside and focused.

The bait clone yelled and stomped, making as much noise as possible to grab the beast's attention. As it lunged at the clone, I charged in with Caliburn, the golden blade gleaming in the dim light.

With a single, precise strike, I drove the sword into the creature's head. It let out an ear-piercing screech before collapsing in a heap.

"One down," I muttered, catching my breath. "One to go."

The second beast appeared not long after, seemingly drawn by the commotion. This one was faster, its movements more erratic. It took some creative teamwork between me and the remaining clone, but after a grueling few minutes, I managed to land the final blow.

But something was amiss these beasts were weak or were they just the minions of the final boss. Or did I grow stronger.

---

I didn't get much time to think, though. As I wiped the blood off Caliburn, the world around me began to swirl. Colors blurred together, and the forest faded away, replaced by a serene garden.

It was beautiful, with vibrant flowers and a soft breeze that carried the scent of blooming roses. In the center of the garden stood a woman with long white hair, her presence both calming and imposing.

I knew immediately who she was.

"Merlin," I said, narrowing my eyes.

She smiled, her lavender eyes sparkling with mischief. "You catch on quickly, Arthur. I've been watching you."

Now all the pieces started to fall into place, this was all an illusions. The trials, the constant sense of being tested—it was all her doing.

"Why?" I asked, my grip tightening on Caliburn. "Why go through all this trouble? The giants, the mages, the zombie monsters… What was the point?"

Her smile didn't waver. "To see if you're worthy of wielding Excalibur."

I blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of her answer. "That's it? You could've just handed it to me, you know. Saved us both a lot of trouble."

Proto Merlin chuckled, shaking her head. "It doesn't work that way, Arthur. A blade as powerful as Excalibur cannot be given freely—it must be earned. I needed to test your strength, your courage, your resolve, and your willingness to sacrifice yourself. Only then could I be certain that you were the right person to bear the sword."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "You could've just asked me to fill out a questionnaire or something. All these trials, all these illusions… It was overkill."

Her expression softened. "Perhaps. But you proved yourself, didn't you? You completed every challenge I placed before you. That's why you're standing here now, holding Caliburn in one hand and Excalibur waiting for you."

I opened my mouth to argue, but stopped. As much as I hated to admit it, she had a point. The trials had been grueling, but they'd forced me to grow stronger and smarter.

Proto Merlin stepped closer, her voice softer now. "You've done well, Arthur. Better than I expected. The path ahead of you will be even more challenging, but I have no doubt you'll rise to the occasion."

Before I could respond, the world began to swirl again. The garden faded away, replaced by the familiar confines of my enchanted case.

---

I looked down to find two new additions in front of me: a gleaming sword and a scabbard that radiated a soft golden light.

Excalibur and Avalon.

I picked them up, marveling at their craftsmanship. Excalibur's blade was flawless, its edges glowing faintly with a golden aura. Avalon felt warm to the touch, almost alive in its own way.

---Note

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