CHAPTER 185: FINAL HOUR

Nathan adjusted his stance, blade angled low like he was trying to bait Merlin into a counter. He’d been watching too much of the academy’s training matches, Merlin could see it in the way his weight sat wrong on his back foot.

Merlin shifted his grip, letting his sword’s tip lower just enough to make Nathan think he’d seen an opening.

Nathan went for it immediately, stepping in fast.

Too fast for him.

Merlin stepped to the side, hooked Nathan’s blade with his own, and spun him halfway around before giving him a light shove in the back. Nathan stumbled forward three paces and caught himself, groaning.

"Damn it," Nathan muttered, rubbing his shoulder. "Thought I had you."

"You thought wrong," Merlin said, voice even.

[Status Update: Energy Differential – 849% Advantage Over Target]

[Projected Outcome in Direct Engagement: Target Defeat in ≤ 9 sec]

’Nine seconds now. He’s getting a little better. Still nowhere close.’

Nathan came back to stand in front of him, sweat dripping from his hairline. "Alright, again. This time I—"

Merlin’s eyes drifted past him.

Across the training yard, between two buildings, a figure leaned against the wall like he’d been there all afternoon. White hair catching just enough light to make him stand out.

’You again.’

The man wasn’t watching Nathan. Wasn’t watching the match. His gaze was fixed solely on Merlin, calm, steady, like he had all the time in the world.

Merlin didn’t look at him for long. Just enough to confirm he wasn’t imagining it. Then he refocused on Nathan, who was oblivious.

"You ready or what?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah." Merlin took position again.

Nathan lunged, faster this time, but Merlin didn’t have to think. He sidestepped, caught Nathan’s wrist, and twisted the sword free in one smooth motion. The blade clattered against the grass.

Nathan groaned loudly, collapsing to one knee. "You’re—ugh—ridiculous."

Merlin handed him back the sword hilt-first. "Your grip’s too loose on the follow-through."

Nathan took it, glaring. "What’s the point of telling me if you’re just gonna exploit it anyway?"

"That’s the point," Merlin said simply. "You fix it or lose again."

[Training Progress: +0.04%]

[Opponent Combat Efficiency: 17%]

[Your Combat Efficiency: 100%]

’If I hold back too much, he’ll notice. But if I keep this pace, he’ll never close the gap.’

Nathan took another drink from his flask and shook his head. "Alright. Two more rounds and I’m done."

Merlin nodded, though his thoughts were already elsewhere.

When Nathan moved to reset his stance, Merlin let his gaze flick to the alley again.

Empty.

’Figures. He never stays long enough for me to say anything.’

They went two more rounds, Nathan lost both. The sun was dipping low by the time they finally stopped. Nathan was bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

Merlin was still standing straight, barely winded.

"You... suck," Nathan panted.

"Drink some water," Merlin replied.

Nathan drained the last of his flask, then straightened. "You heading back?"

"In a bit," Merlin said.

Nathan gave him a tired nod and started toward the apartment. Merlin waited until he was out of sight before turning his eyes to the rooftops.

No movement. No sound. Just the city going about its day.

Still, the feeling lingered.

The system pinged.

[Tracking Notice: Observer – Present within 300m radius]

[Threat Assessment: Unknown]

[Recommendation: Maintain readiness]

’No need to tell me twice.’

Merlin sheathed his sword and finally turned toward home. The gate was less than a day from opening again, and if the boss-class was half as bad as the system projected, Nathan wouldn’t be anywhere near that fight.

—

When they got back to the apartment, Elara was already there, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"You’re late," she said.

"We were training," Nathan answered for both of them, dropping his bag.

Elara looked Merlin over. "You don’t look like you trained at all."

Merlin just shrugged. "Guess I’m in better shape."

Nathan groaned and stomped off to his room, muttering about unfair genetics. Elara gave Merlin a long look, like she wanted to say more, then turned back to the stove.

He didn’t linger. He went straight to his room, closed the door, and opened the system interface again.

[Gate Breach Forecast: 23:58:12]

[Boss-Class Entity: Unidentified]

[Recommended Strategy: Isolate target – avoid collateral damage]

’Tomorrow, then.’

He shut it down, leaned back against the wall, and let the city noise outside drift in through the window.

Somewhere out there, the white-haired man was watching.

—

The next morning came with no fanfare. Just the dull gray light slipping through the blinds and the faint sound of Nathan clattering around in the kitchen.

Merlin swung his legs out of bed and checked the system.

[Gate Breach Forecast: 08:00:03]

[Time Remaining: 07:59:59]

[Boss-Class Entity: Estimated Combat Rating –10 Star]

[Projected Civilian Casualties Without Intervention: 4,317]

’So much for a quiet day.’

He got dressed and stepped out to find Nathan halfway through a plate of eggs. Elara was leaning against the counter again, scrolling through her tablet like she didn’t notice him.

"You’re up late," Nathan said through a mouthful.

Merlin didn’t answer right away, just poured himself some coffee. "Didn’t sleep much."

Nathan eyed him but didn’t push. "You wanna hit the training yard again? I think I’m getting closer."

Merlin sipped his coffee. "Closer to losing slower, maybe."

Nathan groaned. "You’re a terrible motivator."

Merlin almost smiled but let it fade. The system pinged again.

[Recommendation: Begin pre-deployment preparation – estimated arrival zone located within 12km radius]

’Great. Smack in our backyard.’

The hours ticked by faster than they should have. Nathan eventually left to run errands with Elara, leaving Merlin alone. He used the quiet to check his gear, blades, potions, spare rations, mana reserves.

By the time the clock showed one hour left, the city outside was still laughing and talking like nothing was coming.

[Warning: Spatial distortion detected – 59:12 remaining]

Merlin stood on the balcony, watching the skyline. That’s when the faint shimmer appeared in the distance, like heat rising off asphalt.

’There it is.’

He didn’t need the system to tell him that’s where the gate would tear open. The air itself felt wrong.

Eight hours was the estimate. Now it was less than one.

—

Merlin stayed on the balcony, eyes fixed on that faint shimmer in the distance. The city didn’t notice. The noise of traffic and chatter below kept rolling like nothing had changed.

[Spatial Distortion Intensity: 14% and rising]

[Estimated Gate Stability Threshold: 00:52:44]

’Less than an hour. Too soon for civilians to start panicking... if they even notice.’

He took a slow breath, letting the cold air fill his lungs. His mind was already running through approach angles, possible choke points, evacuation paths. Nathan wouldn’t be there, couldn’t be there. It wasn’t even a question.

A door clicked behind him. He didn’t turn immediately.

"Hey," Nathan’s voice carried out onto the balcony. "You’re still staring at that?"

Merlin gave the faintest nod. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how bad today’s going to get," Merlin said, setting his coffee down on the railing.

Nathan frowned. "You’ve been... off all morning."

Merlin shrugged, keeping his eyes forward. "Guess I’m in one of those moods."

[Observer – Present within 500m radius]

[Location: Elevated position, 147m NE]

[Line of Sight: Partial]

’So he’s here again. Of course.’

Nathan leaned against the railing beside him. "You know... if there’s something big happening, you could at least tell me. We’re supposed to watch each other’s backs."

Merlin glanced at him then, meeting his eyes for just long enough to sell the lie. "Nothing’s happening."

Nathan stared a beat longer, then sighed. "Fine. But if something does go down, you’d better not leave me out of it."

Merlin didn’t answer. Just turned back toward the skyline.

[Time Remaining: 00:49:32]

[Projected Civilian Casualties Without Preemptive Action: 5,012]

’Fifty minutes. Guess I should get moving.’

He pushed off the railing. "Don’t wait up."

Nathan frowned. "Where are you—"

"Just need some air," Merlin cut him off, already moving inside.

He went straight for his gear bag. Sword. Blades. Potions. Cloak. Everything in place. The system fed him updates with every step toward the door.

[Gate Distortion Intensity: 21%]

[Entity Energy Signature: Stabilizing]

’Looks like it’s going to be one of those days.’

—

Merlin tightened the last strap on his chest guard and slung the cloak over his shoulder.

The system’s ping followed him like a shadow.

[Gate Distortion Intensity: 24%]

[Time Remaining: 00:43:11]

He stepped out of his room and into the hallway. Nathan’s voice floated faintly from the kitchen, but Merlin didn’t slow down. By the time Nathan peeked around the corner, Merlin was already sliding his boots on.

"Seriously, where are you going?" Nathan asked.

Merlin kept his answer short. "Nowhere far."

Nathan didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push either. The front door shut with a soft click behind Merlin, and the cool air hit him like a reset.

—

The streets were the same as always, vendors calling out prices, a group of kids weaving between pedestrians, the clatter of a cart rolling over uneven stone.

’If they knew what was about to open up a few blocks from here... half of them would be gone already.’

The system map lit up in his vision, marking the distortion’s epicenter in a pulsing red.

He cut through an alley, then another, avoiding the main street. The crowd noise dulled with every turn until it was just him and the low hum of the distortion ahead.

—

The shimmer was more visible here, bleeding into the air like oil on water. No one else seemed to notice, either it was invisible to them, or they just weren’t looking in the right way.

Merlin reached up, adjusted his grip on the hilt at his hip.

[Gate Distortion Intensity: 31%]

[Time Remaining: 00:36:57]

’Thirty-six minutes... which means it’ll probably open in twenty.’