Noden's Bow

Under the moonlight.

There was a wooden bridge by the shore. Five Guardian Fairies rose proactively to welcome Duncan, while the Lady of the Lake moored the boat, then smiled and reached out to pull him ashore.

Duncan curiously surveyed his surroundings and said softly, "Thank you."

From God's Eye View.

After passing through The Mist and entering Avalon, his body had also become a hazy, semi-transparent state, somewhat like the Valkyrie he had encountered before, very close to a spirit form. But once he truly set foot on Avalon's soil, the Human Form in the projection interface became clear again.

Thetis smiled as she led the way ahead, with the five fairies following behind. Along the way, pixies brought fresh fruit. Duncan casually picked one up and tasted it; it was exceptionally sweet.

The fairy walking ahead smiled. "Welcome to Avalon."

"Honored guest from afar."

"You may rest here for the time being. Tomorrow, I will send you away from the Land of the Otherworld."

Were they really just inviting him over for a visit?

Duncan's attention was entirely on the Avalonian fairies. They were all Three-Star Silver-Gray marked units, while the nearby pixie spirits were One-Star Silver-Gray. They were far weaker than he had expected.

"Was it because Celtic Mythology had already declined so greatly?"

Duncan enlarged the map and saw a breathtakingly beautiful island. There were no hostile units at all; every marker was blue. At the edge of the forest was a Two-Star Silver-Gray target labeled "Green Knight."

Celtic Mythology had not been destroyed by The Church, but had instead been replaced by the early Roman Gods.

The core region of early Celtic Mythology had been Gaul. After the rise of the Roman Empire, Druid beliefs gradually became history, and the Celts were forced to migrate elsewhere. They had always been relatively scattered, with primitive beliefs that had never formed a complete pantheon. Later, they were basically all concentrated on Britain Island.

After Julius Caesar conquered the Province of Britannia, all that remained of the natives' beliefs was anything related to Avalon. Many primitive deities had been wiped out.

"Looks like they're extremely weak now. They don't even have a proper deity."

These fairies guarding Avalon were probably only comparable to minor goddesses in Ancient Greek mythology—the level of Nymphs. Nymphs were spirits formed from nature, generally appearing as beautiful young maidens. They served those more powerful chief gods.

"A pantheon that hasn't been completely destroyed, but can only cling to life."

Duncan wanted to see what they intended to do. Following the six fairies, he entered an area that resembled a Druid Circle.

There were hardly any buildings on the island, and pitifully few inhabitants. It seemed like an Otherworld Divine Kingdom in its twilight years.

A melodious tune began to play.

Pixies danced through the air, much like those described in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. They were called fairies and pixies, and in Druid beliefs, they were spiritual embodiments of nature.

The fairy Thetis invited Duncan to sit in the seat of honor, and the six beautiful fairies sat around him.

Dozens of pixie spirits brought out all kinds of food, mainly fruits and vegetables, though there was also an abundant spread of meat. Then many little pixies began to dance, while pixies like bards performed. The atmosphere immediately became cheerful and lively.

A group of flying pixies that somewhat resembled flower fairies brought over cups of wine. A rich floral fragrance spread through the air, and the amber liquid was irresistibly enticing.

The six fairies rose and raised their cups. Thetis, at their head, smiled sweetly and said, "Lord Duncan."

"Please taste Avalon's Mead."

"It is one of the finest wines in the world."

Duncan swallowed. He could indeed smell the wine's fragrance. He was not much of a drinker himself, but the scent was truly alluring, stirring an urge within him.

He drank a cup in one swallow.

To Duncan, it tasted like a fine vintage—honey, floral notes, and the flavor of wine blended together, making his entire body feel at ease. Seeing him drain the cup, the surrounding pixies immediately rejoiced and danced gracefully around him.

The sight even made him feel as though he were wandering through Fairyland in a dream.

The six Avalonian fairies said nothing else. It was as though they had simply arranged a grand feast and invited Duncan to attend.

A cheerful atmosphere gradually spread.

Before he knew it, Duncan had already drunk many cups, and even his vision seemed to grow slightly hazy.

Thetis clapped her hands from beside him.

Very soon, a Green Knight emerged from the forest. He held a magnificent war bow in his hands, knelt on one knee, and presented it before Duncan.

--"Noden's Bow [Mythical Wonder] [Holy Relic]: A bow used by Noden, the God of Hunting in Celtic Mythology, possessing incredible supernatural power. Although Celtic Mythology has gradually declined and the God of Hunting perished long ago, the war bow He left behind still possesses considerable power. Traits: Magic Break, Rapid Fire, Multi-Shot, Armor Piercing. Special Ability—Wind Arrow."

--"Wind Arrow [Special Ability]: Consumes mana to condense an invisible arrow of wind."

Gasp!

What did this mean?

The moment Duncan saw Noden's Bow before him, even the effects of the wine faded considerably.

Within the Druid Circle.

The six Avalonian fairies exchanged glances, then slowly rose and curtsied to Duncan. Thetis, their leader, spoke sincerely. "My sisters and I noticed that you seem to lack a suitable war bow."

"So we invited you here, intending to present this war bow to you."

A gift?

Something this valuable?

Duncan looked hesitant as he reached out and picked up Noden's Bow. The instant it touched his hand, he sensed its extraordinary nature, because it actually resonated faintly with the magic within his body.

This weapon was incredibly powerful, probably comparable to one of the Church's Holy Relics.

Duncan pondered for a moment. "You want to give it to me?"

The six fairies of Avalon in the Mist nodded slightly. They did not look as though they were merely putting on an act.

This thing was a little too hot to handle!

It was good, certainly.

But accepting such a generous gift would definitely mean paying something in return.

Duncan stared at Thetis, who stood at their head, and asked in a deep voice, "What price must I pay?"

At his words, the six fairies of Avalon in the Mist slowly shook their heads. Thetis, their leader, bowed slightly, and the other five fairies followed suit. Duncan immediately turned aside to avoid their salute, refusing to accept it. Thetis then said softly, "Avalon in the Mist is gradually fading away."

"If, in the future, my lord finds this gift useful, we ask only that you shelter our legacy in the real world."

"So that it will not vanish completely from history."

The Church's faith had already spread to Britain Island, and before long, even Scandinavia would have followers of the Church. Britain Island had suffered an enormous impact as well. First came the Roman Gods brought by the Empire; later came the Church's missionaries; now the invading Saxons had brought faith in the Norse Pantheon.

It could be said that Celtic Mythology had been beaten down in turns by the factions of every pantheon. In England, Avalon in the Mist was probably the only place that still retained a certain amount of Legendary Points.

So that was it.

Duncan felt much more at ease after hearing this. He had escorted Raven Queen Triss across more than half of Europe, and he had long since become inextricably tied to Polytheism.

When you owed too many debts, one more hardly mattered.

When Duncan picked up the war bow, the six fairies of Avalon in the Mist could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. The fairies around them also cheered with delight. More fine wine and delicacies were quickly served, while Bards played and sang, and the joyful atmosphere returned.

Duncan glanced at the fairies before him and suddenly asked, "I'm not the first mortal to come to Avalon in the Mist, am I?"

The fairies hesitated at his words.

But Duncan gestured for them not to worry, raised his cup and drained it in one gulp, then guessed, "Who else has been here?"

"Gaius Julius Caesar?!"

"Am I right?"

After the Empire conquered Britain Island, it still preserved some Celtic beliefs. It was not difficult to guess that Avalon in the Mist had once bowed to Caesar, which was why the Ancient Roman Pantheon had shown mercy, allowing the Druid legacy to slowly take root here.

The fairies fell silent for a moment before Thetis said quietly, "Caesar did indeed come here."

Another of Duncan's doubts was resolved.

It seemed that mythological creatures of the Medieval Era also had to depend on the real world. Their continued existence in this world was determined by reality.

After a night of singing and drinking, Duncan unknowingly became drunk as well.

At some point, he had already entered his Human Form. He only felt himself surrounded by soft voices and fragrant beauties, tender bodies and jade-like arms entwining around him. It was as though he had fallen into a dream amid a crowd of enchanting women, drunk and unable to find his way back. At that moment, he felt a pleasure and bliss unlike anything he had ever known, as if he were in a heavenly palace.

When he awoke, he had already returned to reality. Morning light appeared on the horizon, yet he did not feel the slightest hangover. It all seemed like an illusory dream.

—Noden's Bow.

Only when he grasped the strange war bow beside him did he realize that none of it had been a dream. It was just that this legendary war bow no longer shimmered with the strange glow it had possessed in Avalon in the Mist. It now looked like nothing more than a rather exquisite nobleman's bow.

"How is this still a Deity... They've fallen so far that they're practically like the spirits and demons of Eastern legends, begging mortals for help..."

Duncan hitched up his pants, feeling that he had not lost out.

The fairies of Avalon in the Mist had placed such a heavy bet on him. They truly thought highly of him. Back then, Caesar had been able to protect the continued existence of Avalon in the Mist's faith. No matter what, Duncan had to give it a try.

"Looks like the Church has really driven the other pantheon factions into a corner!"

Duncan also thought of how King Uther had slaughtered Wizards in the Kingdom of Camelot. The ones he had mainly killed were the traditional Celtic Priests. Rather than asking the native inhabitants for help, the fairies of Avalon in the Mist had placed their hopes on an outsider like him. He truly did not know how disappointed they must have been in the natives of Britain Island.

King Arthur also seemed to have received treasures from Avalon in the Mist. The Guardian Fairies of Avalon in the Mist had probably placed their hopes on King Arthur back then and had never even considered King Uther.

Duncan lifted Noden's Bow. Magic Surge stirred within his body, only to be drained completely in an instant.

—Wind Arrow!

A breeze rose in the woods. Then an invisible arrow condensed upon the war bow. It could not be seen with the naked eye; only God's Eye View could make out its outline. The moment it formed, it drained Duncan's Mana Bar dry. Then the arrow tore through the air and struck a tree trunk more than ten meters away, leaving a two-centimeter-deep hole in it.

"No."

"My Mana Bar isn't even enough to fire one arrow?"

The magic within Duncan's body had been utterly drained. He understood now: it was not just him. Every supernatural being, whether Witch or Priest, was being firmly suppressed by the laws of reality.

Under such circumstances, even mythological creatures would be severely suppressed upon descending into reality.

Time passed silently.

When Duncan returned to Devon Town, he was surprised to find that the barbarian soldiers stationed there had already withdrawn.

"What happened?"

"They just gave up occupying this place?"

Duncan had thought the enemy would send reinforcements, or transfer the strongest warriors among the barbarians to deal with him. Instead, they had been so decisive. After looting Devon Town once again, all the barbarian soldiers withdrew from the area.

They relocated to the next town stronghold with open terrain, where they stationed a large force and also transferred in a group of elite Forest Hunters.

Devon Town had only two or three hundred soldiers stationed there to begin with. Duncan had killed more than thirty in two days, and he had also beheaded Bloodaxe-Nidron.

Unable to withstand the harassment, the enemy simply retreated to a place that was easier to defend.

However, as time passed, tales of Duncan spread rapidly across Britain Island after their retreat. Especially once people learned that he had shot and killed the King of Kent, the legend spread at an even more astonishing pace.

It was not only the Britons spreading it. Saxons, Angles, Jutes, and the many branches of Germanic Barbarians were all talking about it. It even began spreading across the European Continent.

That had been one of the kings of the Germanic Barbarians, and he had suddenly died just like that.

It was a very subtle matter.

After countless outrageous rumors spread and fermented, they began to change once more. Duncan's identity gradually became linked to the legendary Avalon. Some claimed he was an elven ranger from Avalon; others said he was a mortal favored by the fairies of Avalon, a helper invited from the European Continent to aid the Britons against the invading barbarians.

The many rumors continued to evolve, but they always retained some connection to Avalon in the Mist. Thus, as Duncan's deeds were praised, Avalon itself was frequently mentioned as well.

Until one day.

The surviving Druids of Britain Island, the priests of the Celts, publicly acknowledged that the man who had shot the King of Kent had close ties to Avalon. In that moment, myth entered reality. The Britons were stirred with fervor, as though they had personally witnessed the birth of a legend.

Of course, Duncan knew nothing of this at the moment. He was busy receiving the Exiles Legion Anya had transported from Gaul.

The first batch numbered two hundred people in total.

Led by Kevito, they were mainly able-bodied young men from the Exile Stronghold. Their weapons and armor were on par with those of the Imperial Border Guard, while a small number of elites wore the scale armor of the Field Army. Perhaps because of the boost from their equipment, Kevito was now a One-Star unit as well, marked as "Private Legion Commander."

When Raven Queen Triss saw Duncan, delight appeared on her face. Yet when she approached him, a trace of puzzlement emerged. She sniffed lightly and asked in a soft voice, "You met the Lady of the Lake here?"

Duncan nodded frankly.

Raven Queen Triss stared at him for a moment, then her gaze fell upon the war bow on his back. Her expression turned shocked. "Noden's Bow?"

It seemed she recognized the war bow.

Duncan removed the bow and handed it to her. Raven Queen Triss gently stroked it and sighed faintly. "I never expected them to give you this bow."

As Monotheism rose rapidly, she was not the only one having a hard time.

Raven Queen Triss returned Noden's Bow to Duncan and said as if in passing, "Since they gave it to you, keep it safe."

"If you need anything, go find Anya. The Lady of the Lake is not as simple as you think."

"They are primordial spirits from the Era of All Spirits."

It was only after Druid belief was assimilated by Roman and Greek culture that it became much milder. Early Celtic Mythology had greatly revered the blood sacrifice of living people.

When the Empire established a province on Britain Island, it directly suppressed the many native tribes, razed mountains and destroyed temples, smashed Sanctuaries, interrupted rituals, and wiped out who knew how many true and false gods of Celtic Mythology.

The fairies of Avalon.

They were survivors of that era. After the Empire ruled the Province of Britannia, their image gradually transformed into something akin to the Nymphs of Ancient Greek mythology.

Before that, however, they had been goddesses in Celtic Mythology who received blood sacrifices.

Duncan had not known these things, but after hearing Raven Queen Triss's words, he could not help nodding thoughtfully.

It seemed even Deities could perish.

That was only natural. The highest gods of Eastern mythology had also changed continuously with the passing of the ages.