Chapter 007 The Forgotten

All of this reminded Merlin of a novel he had read with Phil during a boring time... The title of that novel seemed to be "Death Comes"

What does this mean

He could no longer afford to hide it. He took off his sunglasses and looked seriously at Phil. He pointed to his own face and said

I wanted to have a sip of water, but instead encountered a short circuit in the electrical wires

To transcend death, one must leave something behind. He died due to a shattered soul, yet it is through this that he was able to truly be reborn. However, all that has passed is as if it were events of a previous life; he is a ... ...

This discovery caused Merlin to feel a slight unease, as he suspected that he might not have completely escaped the influence of that contract

18 years

snap

transformed him from a person who had everything into a wandering soul

Two heavy blows caused blood to flow from Merlin's forehead. On the third day, he raised his head, yet...

Those who are under the gaze of the influential are naturally influential themselves

As Merlin was getting out of the car, he slipped and collided with the railing in the parking lot, nearly piercing his head

However, he is very unfortunate today

The young man held his mother's hand, comforting her

This frightened Phil, who thought that the uninvited fellow was suffering from a sudden illness. Just as he was about to call for a doctor, he was stopped by Merlin

A wisp of white smoke emanated from his nostrils, mouth, and ears, resembling a pile of firewood, amidst the sparks flying; perhaps in the next moment, he would be completely ignited

As the Three Palaces Demon stated, it would rather destroy this peculiar soul than allow others to possess it

Beside Phil, Mrs. Coulson's tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes. This mother wiped her tears while saying to her son:

Do not cry anymore, Mother

I really don't know you, I have never seen you. But your eyes are cool, man, is this some new makeup technique

The big shots sitting at the gambling table observed this scene in silence, indicating that at this moment, no one wished to express their opinion

The busy tone on the phone caused Merlin to even lose his grip on the receiver, and in that moment, he collapsed onto the ground. He curled up in the corner, his hands covering his eyes, tears streaming continuously through his fingers

Who are you? How do you know my name?

The woman's voice grew cold as she warned:

Previously, Merlin thought that was merely the misplaced artistic temperament of Judas, but it now appears that it was actually a warning

His soul is being torn apart

The torn contract did not kill him, but it killed his name, it killed all memories related to him, it killed all traces of his existence in this world

bang

As they approached the hospital, Merlin's car window was once again adorned with some unpleasant "gifts" from the annoying birds

Hmm, the Forgotten.

May I ask ... ...

This is certainly just a psychological effect

In the black pupils of his eyes, there was an additional faint red dot. Although it was very weak, it resembled the human form of the three palace demons he had witnessed three nights ago, whose eyes also contained such flames.

Every intersection along the way had long red lights, and while crossing the intersection, I nearly collided with an elderly gentleman who was out for a stroll with a cane. As a result, I was scolded by that irritable old man for several minutes

bang

Just a restless soul without a place to call home

He stood up, took one last look at James Coulson in the hospital room, the man he had called father for 18 years. He sighed, put his sunglasses back on, and then said to Phil:

Oh my... why is it me...

It was as if he were a fish out of water, struggling with convulsions, desperately trying to breathe, yet unable to draw even a breath of air into his lungs, as if all the organs within his body were filled with the surging, scorching magic.

Pain

The 'Demon' wheel sequence has stagnated, entering the first sequence of the 'Lucky' wheel. The two participants please prepare for the next round of dice rolling, or forfeit.

Merlin let out a sigh

In response to this inquiry, the recorder shrugged and replied in a gentle tone

The attire of this individual is somewhat peculiar

No, it is not.

At the moment when dawn was approaching, he suddenly opened his eyes. As a result, with the help of the headlights from the car beside him, he saw in front of him a groundhog that had crawled out of its burrow, curiously observing him as if it were looking at a fallen giant

Just like high myopia

Merlin tightly clutched his own hair with both hands, raising his head and smashing it against the ground. He attempted to alleviate his mental torment through this external pain

Now he ... ...

The woman over there asked in confusion

The big shot, puffing on a cigar, waved his hand to interrupt their flowery conversation and said with some impatience

Phil

It is as if a raging fire has been ignited within, with a scorching light manifesting beneath his skin. It resembles a serpent of fire slithering through the body

May I ask if you are Mei Riley

Ah!

This is a hospital, an intensive care unit, where the people who appear here are never lacking in sorrowful events

As he was going upstairs, he collided with a hurried doctor, nearly causing himself to fall from the 3rd floor

Merlin changed into a set of clothes in the room and then drove to the hospital

Hello, who are you looking for

The singing behind me grew increasingly somber, like the final notes of an ending.

Merlin gestured to Phil that he did not need assistance

The young man, exhausted from a night of toil, was certainly not in the best of moods after being suddenly awakened. He lifted his head and stared at Merlin, who was wearing sunglasses, and with the tone of a young person, he impatiently said:

Did that demon show mercy?

It was at this moment that Merlin noticed something strange in the rearview mirror

Phil said

Merlin rubbed his forehead, clearing some of the blood clots from his hair. He sat in the car in a daze for over ten minutes, and it was not until dawn was approaching that his vision began to recover, although he still saw faint double images when looking at things

I am going to make a phone call, I am a friend of your father, I will be back shortly

Merlin lowered his head, and in the haze, he could see that his clothes were soaked with dripping blood. Moreover, from time to time, he could hear some murmuring noises in his ears, as if a dozen people were speaking at once, making it difficult for him to calm down, let alone think.

In the dead of night, it is quite distressing to see someone lying alone on the grass

His eyes

The agony surging through his body can only render Merlin worse than dead, but the cataclysmic changes occurring within his soul could lead Merlin to eternal damnation

In the violent tremors of that scorching power, the claws gripping his soul were frantically pulling outward, as if they intended to completely tear apart his soul, utterly shatter it, and obliterate his very existence.

Phil hurriedly comforted his mother, while Mrs. Coulson watched the direction in which Merlin had left, tears streaming down her face. This moved Phil deeply, as the events of the past few days had already overwhelmed the 15-year-old young man. Ultimately, the mother and son embraced each other, weeping bitterly, which in turn evoked sorrow in those around them

Fu

... ...

Merlin only remembers that he just experienced a terrifying event, the contract with the demon ultimately erupted, and he was almost killed by it, but it seems that he has survived

bang

That contract, although it is unclear what is going on, seems to have indeed taken effect, at least in part

Well

Did I not say so? A kind-hearted person donated some money to us, covering my father's surgery and post-operative recovery, so you need not worry.

bang

Merlin sat heavily in Lola's driver's seat, his eyes closed, rubbing his head, occasionally shaking it in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of double vision

This is not a description, but a fact that is currently happening

Phil stared intently at Merlin's face. After a few seconds, he shook his head and pointed at Merlin's eyes, saying:

Merlin seemed to have experienced a long dream, but as long as it is a dream, there will be moments of awakening

You should go back now; Mother and Phil must be worried

Merlin could not tell if it was an illusion, but he felt that the sunlight today was particularly glaring, even making him feel somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if the scorching sun of the afternoon enveloped him, and that slight sense of burning made Merlin unable to resist taking an old denim hat and James's sunglasses from Lola's trunk, putting them on his head, which made him feel a bit more comfortable

He has died

May I ask who you are

Yes, I am

Only by discarding the illusory dust can true knowledge emerge. This story has finally become interesting

Accompanied by a low, tearing sound, Merlin raised his head, and in that moment, his eyes suddenly lost their luster

He was completely enveloped in a long black robe, and a black eye patch covered his left eye. The icy blue gaze of his other eye showed no change in expression, only a hint of a lifeless stillness akin to ice and snow

Listen, buddy! That's right, my father has indeed suffered misfortune, but the Coulson family will pull through. I appreciate your support for our family, but you have really mistaken the person.

Merlin saw his brother Phil resting on a chair outside the hospital room from a distance. Merlin took off his hat, hesitated for a moment, but did not immediately remove his sunglasses

Who is your younger brother

beep beep beep

Merlin's fist suddenly tightened at that moment

Phil, my son, who is that

Is that your friend

Mrs. Coulson walked over from the other side, holding a cup of hot coffee. She handed the coffee to her only son and, watching Merlin's lonely figure as he departed, she asked:

crack

The bad news is that the death scene encountered in that dream just now does not seem to be an illusion

He said he is a friend of my father, but he is also too young... Mom? What is wrong? Why are you crying?

Phil Coulson was also left bewildered by this overly familiar guy. The 15-year-old youth abruptly removed the hand that Merlin had placed on his shoulder and said to Merlin in a serious tone:

Merlin comforted himself as he stepped out of the elevator and cautiously walked towards James's hospital room. He made an effort to appear calm, as he did not want to worry his family

You said I should not forget you ... ... but you, you all forgot me first ... ...

In fact, there is not.

He collapsed

He called out Phil's name and walked over to him

Merlin weakly got up from the ground, his head spinning as if he had been struck in the head by a punch from Tyson. He seriously suspected that he might be suffering from the aftereffects of a concussion, as everything he looked at now appeared double.

The figure wearing an eye mask nodded slightly, gazing at the scene before him, and said

It is as if there are invisible hands firmly grasping both sides of his soul

Your Excellency, the Blade of Dawn, it is your turn

Lola's car door was pushed open, and to the intense beat of Mike's new song, Merlin stumbled and fell to the ground. The pain rolling between his body and will was like waves, and in that extreme and vivid twisted agony, he fell as if he had lost the ability to stand upright.

A voice resembling that of a referee sounded at this moment

On the other side, Merlin stood by the public telephone in the hospital, picked up the receiver, and dialed a long string of numbers. He placed the receiver to his ear, and after a few rings, a pleasant woman's voice came through the receiver

Merlin used his fingers to widen his eyes, carefully examining himself in the rearview mirror by the light of Laura's headlights. As his eyes widened, the red light spots also seemed to enlarge, but it appeared that there were no other effects beyond the visual phenomenon.

Crossing death, you must leave something behind

Meilin

He looked at Phil, who seemed like a stranger beside him. In that moment, he felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He sat in the chair in a weakened posture, his complexion pale and ashen

At the moment Merlin opened his eyes, the groundhog was startled and quickly scurried back into its burrow, trembling in the darkness, fearing that the awakened giant would come to trouble it

Merlin's lips moved slightly, and he was extremely nervous, much like a gambler waiting for the results of a draw. His voice became dry and hoarse as a result, and he asked:

buzz

Do not be afraid, little brother, we will get through this, father will get better

Eighteen years of life, like a dream that never existed, are completely shattered at this moment

The individual wearing the peculiar bracelet removed the cigar from his mouth and looked at the person across the gambling table

I do not care who you are, but this joke is not funny! My only cousin Merlin passed away 18 years ago... Please do not call again, I do not appreciate your jokes, goodbye

What is going on here

I am ... ... I am Merlin, do you still remember me? Cousin.

No, it's not that. I just... I just suddenly feel like crying, very sad, but I don't even know why. Phil, I feel like I have just lost something very important, something very precious.

A cool night breeze swept through, lifting the black hair of Mei Lin as if it were wild grass on the ground, yet he could no longer respond to this gentle wind

The prominent figure turned his head, looking at the recorder sitting by the gambling table, and asked:

A sentence that the Phantom Stranger had previously uttered in the café suddenly sprang to Merlin's mind

Merlin's lifeless body crashed onto the wilderness

The good news is that his vision is recovering rapidly

His body remained intact, yet it began to cool rapidly, as if a heated stone had been thrown into cold water. Streams of white smoke swirled around his body, but within that body, the soul it housed had already been shattered into pieces under the violent impact of the power unleashed by the Three Palaces Demon.

Merlin restarted the car and rushed back to the farm. Although it had already been sold, the agency had given the Colson family half a month to pack their belongings

The indescribable pain filled Merlin's body and spirit, which had just become relaxed, at this moment

Then let him get up quickly

Perhaps he, perhaps Merlin Riley really died 18 years ago

... ...

So, what do you plan to name this segment of the story

Having spoken, Merlin turned and left. Behind him, Phil gazed at the figure, feeling a sense of familiarity with the person before him. However, after searching through his memories repeatedly, Phil ultimately confirmed that he had indeed never seen this person before.

Merlin observed the expression on Phil's face; he was not foolish and immediately realized that there might have been some new developments in the situation

As time gradually passed, while Merlin was lost in thought, dawn finally arrived in earnest. The first ray of light pierced through the darkness, as if a curtain of light had been drawn back, illuminating this desolate wilderness.

No, it is unlikely

Phil's agitated tone caught Merlin off guard; he thought his brother was joking with him. He let out a sigh, sat down beside Phil, patted him on the shoulder, and gently reassured him

Do you not recognize me

Perhaps this is just a sign, and there may be more severe aftereffects to come

If this matter is not a prank by Phil, it indicates that Merlin has indeed paid a price for the previous "rebirth"