The atmosphere had shifted. Xolo’s strength had suddenly tripled in a matter of seconds and everyone in the audience could only cower in their seats. Merlin knew this wasn’t any mere child he was facing.
"Why do you look like Dante?" Merlin asked. Xolo was still focused on his new transformation and the overwhelming strength that ran through his body.
"It’s my technique. I’m able to transform into anyone I look at, but the best part is that I transform at the peak of their power, and that child will be strong," Xolo said as he pointed at Dante. "I can only do 2 transformations a day though."
Not only did his body change, but his power also shifted from magic and into Uzu. He had fully copied the form of a Nergal. "I feel like I can pull the moon from the sky. Such immense strength, such humility in him," Xolo said as he finally felt Dante’s feelings.
The power Xolo possessed not only allowed him to transform into the person he looked at, but also let him take that person’s strongest form. It was a power that could defeat a lot of strong opponents.
The moment he took his first step, the ground quaked. He took stones from the ground using Dante’s ability to control earth and he started throwing them at Merlin. Merlin dodged, jumped, and cut as many rocks as he could, but they just kept coming.
He was now blinded by the amount of dust that was in the arena, and before he could cast a spell to clear it up, Xolo appeared right in front of him. The form he took from Dante was now bigger than Merlin, and before Merlin could react, he was punched on his chin and sent flying into the sky. Xolo jumped into the air and grabbed Merlin by the back of the head and slammed him into the ground face first.
Merlin stood up, and his nose was all bloody and his face was covered in bruises. He spit out the blood in his mouth and clasped his sword tighter, and vanished. His speed was too much for any normal mortal to react to, but Xolo somehow saw him coming and he grabbed his leg and slammed Merlin into the ground again.
This fight seemed to be in Xolo’s favor, but Merlin wasn’t going to give up this easily either.
"OBLITUS ES," Merlin chanted, and reality shifted for a second. One moment Xolo was standing tall and a second later his head was suddenly buried into the ground. Everyone in the audience was confused about what had happened.
"OBLITUS ES," Merlin chanted again, and this time Xolo and Merlin appeared in the sky and Merlin was holding onto Xolo’s head.
A loud boom thundered through the arena. Merlin stood over Xolo and the boy had returned to his normal form.
"You’ve lost, kid. Stay down," Merlin said, but Xolo was too stubborn to listen.
"I’m not losing to a coward like you! I’m not!" Xolo screamed in anger. "Fine, if I can’t beat you using your friend’s body, then I will use your own body," Xolo said and his body started transforming again.
Merlin’s eyes bulged out in fear, not because he feared the boy, but he feared what would happen if Xolo managed to turn into him. "Stop, you fool! You will kill yourself—" Merlin stopped mid-sentence as soon as he realized it was too late.
"Ahhh!" Xolo cried out in pain as a white light surrounded him. "What’s this power? What the hell are you?" he cried out as his body couldn’t contain the power Merlin had. White wings popped up on his back but then faded away as quickly as they had arrived.
"BLOOD OF THE OLD GODS. BLOOD OF THE FIRST MEN, HEAR MY CALL. REIRRAB," Merlin chanted and a huge purple barrier surrounded Xolo.
Xolo couldn’t contain the energy inside him anymore and it exploded out in a white light. The barrier Merlin put up cracked but it managed to hold in the energy, and when the explosion of energy stopped, Merlin ran to Xolo.
His body had been burned by the power he tried to hold in. Merlin cast a healing spell and his body slowly regenerated.
"My boy!" King Osiris said as he jumped down to the arena. "Is he going to be okay?" he said as he held Xolo in his arms.
"He will fully recover with time. He is a strong child, most people would have died from such power," Merlin said to the king.
REGRETS
The cool weather in the Sol Kingdom was a perfect place for them to rest. This was the most peace they had seen in a while, and Merlin was happy to see Alexander and Dante smiling again.
Laila was sleeping on Merlin’s lap as they watched the waves swirl around. In the 3 days they had been in the Sol Kingdom, Merlin had gathered as much information on the holy knights and the gods.
"I’m going to check on Xolo," Merlin said to the others.
Alexander looked anxious. Like he had something on his mind that needed to be said.
"Can I come with you?" Alexander asked.
"Sure," Merlin replied.
Merlin grabbed Alexander’s shoulder and they teleported to the palace. They found themselves in the hallway and no one could be seen.
"I wanted to talk to you," Alexander said.
"What is it?" Merlin said with a bit of concern. Alexander hesitated a bit, fear roamed through his mind.
"I’m not the same Prince Alexander you knew," he waited for a reply but Merlin didn’t say anything. "I was a soldier who died in a war, but I was given one more chance by an angel and he transported my soul into Prince Alexander."
"I already knew that," Merlin said, and Alexander looked confused.
"What do you mean you already knew?" he asked.
Merlin leaned against the wall and said, "Well, first off, you were too kind to me when you woke up after going missing. You didn’t know the prince, but I can tell you he was a prick.
"The prince found it funny to kill innocents. I was about to kill him myself if he didn’t die in that stupid war," Merlin said. Alexander was too stunned to even speak. "What was the name of the angel that gave you a second chance?"
"He said his name was Azrael, the angel of death," Alexander said.
"Okay, I see," those were the only words that Merlin said. Alexander was expecting more questions, but they never came. "Let’s go check on Xolo."
Alexander was still confused by their conversation, but he didn’t want to dwell on the matter. He followed Merlin to Xolo’s room.
When they stepped into Xolo’s bedroom, they found him sitting on his bed.
"You are awake," Merlin said and walked to the boy.
He pressed his hand on Xolo’s head and checked his temperature. Xolo had a look of shame on his face, he couldn’t even look Merlin in the eye.
"I’m sorry," Xolo said.
"What?" Merlin uttered.
"I said I’m sorry. I’m sorry for picking a fight with you and I’m sorry for being disrespectful. When I changed into your form, I felt the burden you carry inside you," he said. "I regret calling you a coward."
"It’s alright, kid, I forgive you," Merlin said.
"I heard you were looking for a way to defeat the gods?" Xolo said.
"Yes, but all the weapons that could hurt them have been destroyed," Merlin answered. A woman came into the room, and she had something in her hand that was wrapped in cloth.
"Not all of them. My father agreed to give you one of our treasures," Xolo said. The woman handed Merlin the mysterious item and as soon as he opened it, his eyes lit up.
"Is this a chaos weapon?" he asked. The weapon was a Zweihänder sword which glowed a bright green color.
"What’s a chaos weapon?" Alexander asked.
"It’s one of the only weapons that can actually kill the gods and the fallen ones," Merlin answered.