NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 693 Lake of Avalon
693 Lake of Avalon
The scenario he wanted to avoid most was unknowingly provoking a local powerhouse, leading to a full-scale war while he still couldn't use his cards or had no substantial forces under his control.
With this thought in mind, Daniel's gaze drifted toward a large patch of woodland not far from the village. If he couldn't claim land traditionally, then he will actualize it instead.
Daniel walked to he middle of the large woodland not far from the village, the wood is thick enough for aoncealing someone inside it rom prying eyes while sparse enough not to blocked out the sunlight which is ideal for him.
He will settle here for now, then think about how to expand and a way to quickly accumulate point and return to his time.
Within Daniel mindscape one of the cards that represent the rise of teh Camelot is here. The Lake of Avalon card.
—
Card Name: Lake of Avalon
Illustration: A vast, silvery lake reflecting the light and blue sky above. Magical particles glint on its surface, while fog hovers gently above. The surrounding forest is filled with yellow fae fluttering about.
Rarity: Legendary
Type: Unique Location
Description:
Tap: Gain 1 Light or Water Mana.
Gain 5 Life each time you tap 'Lake of Avalon' for mana.
Flavor Text: The Lake of Avalon, a place of healing and the final resting place of both Arthur, the wise king of Camelot, and Excalibur, the Sword of the King.
—
Daniel chose the card and immediately actualized it. One of the major advantages of the location card was that it didn't require mana or any additional support to actualize. It only needed a suitable location for it to materialize in the real world.
As light descended from the sky, shining upon the ground at the heart of the woodland, the materialization of the Lake of Avalon began. The process started at the lake's surface, forming at the center and gradually expanding outward until it was complete.
A vast, silvery expanse of water slowly appeared, its still surface mirroring the azure sky above. Its tranquil surface was interrupted only by faint ripples caused by an unseen breeze.
A faint mist hovered just above the lake, rolling and curling like a slow wave. The sounds of the surrounding forest swaying with the gentle touch of the wind created a strange, magical atmosphere and nostalgic feel.
On the shore, ancient stones stood half-buried in moss, laying like a winding path toward the magical lake surrounded by wildflowers. The air shimmered faintly at the water's edge with strange magical energy.
Ray of sunlight pierced through the green canopy of woodland, creating golden pools of light where yellow light from the face and pixie dust glowed as they danced and played on the surface of the silvery lake and flowers.
These ethereal beings moved like glowing motes, their laughter a soft, melodic hum that echoed gently through the air.
This place was steeped in an overwhelming sense of serenity and calm. Time seemed to stand still here, as though the lake and its woodland sanctuary existed in another realm apart from the reality of its surrounding woodland, untouched by the chaotic taint of the mortal world.
This magical and nostalgic scene left Daniel unable to tear his eyes away. Moreover, he noticed something that did not exist in the illustration of Avalon Lake on the card, A tall tower by the lake and a gazebo not far from it, nestled within a garden of flowers, hidden behind an illusory wall of magic designed to keep the place concealed from prying eyes.
He remembered the gazebo. It closely resembled the one amidst the lake in Envy's private space, which she had created from her memories.
Daniel subconsciously wandered toward the gazebo and discovered that it was nearly a perfect replica of the one in Envy's private space. While there were some minor differences, the resemblance was nearly 1 to 1. Intriguing, he entered the tower and began exploring its interior. Inside, he found two primary chambers.
The first one was a workshop located just below the living area. It was filled with an array of magical appliances and experimental equipment, tools that could assist him in artifact creation and various magical experiments.
The second one was the living area, which had all the essentials: a bed, a restroom, a kitchen, and a cozy space to relax and enjoy the view. The only things missing were modern-day conveniences like electricity and certain amenities.
However, he could always visit the shelter, pick out novels that The Keeper had stocked on the bookshelf, and store them here to pass the time.
Now that he had a roof over his head, a strange thought entered his mind. He recalled that Envy was also here, and considering that this was still the Dark Ages, Arthur and Camelot might not even exist yet. This meant she might not have met Merlin.
In this scenario, he had two options: intercept her before she met Merlin, or find Merlin and beat the crap out of him, imprisoning him somewhere to prevent their encounter. However, doing so might alter history significantly…
"Hmmm… what to do… what to do…" Daniel pondered aloud.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him. With this new plan, he could prevent Merlin from meeting Envy while still preserving the course of history!
— Meanwhile - The Village Hall —
Within the large hall of the village Daniel had visited, a long-haired, bearded, and muscular man sat on the wooden throne at the center of the room. His attire, a level above that of the average villager, made him look more like an elite warrior than a nobleman.
The fierce-looking man was Theign Cuthred, also known as "The Iron Bull." A renowned warrior, Earl Norman, "The Snake," had promoted him from a loyal soldier to a Theign due to his strength and dedication.
In the hall, a lanky man with a swift and dexterous air about him approached, kneeling before the imposing Theign.
"Theign some villagers noticed a strange phenomenon in the eastern woodland. A golden light suddenly shone from deep within the heart of the forest," the lanky man reported.
"Send someone to investigate. I want to know what it is," Theign Cuthred ordered.
"Yes, Theign," the man replied, bowing before leaving the hall.
--- A Few Hours Later ---
A group of warriors arrived at the outskirts of the eastern woodland. The group included the lanky man and the same warriors whose clothes Daniel had burned earlier.
"Damn it! That brat burned my clothes and left me naked in the wind! If I catch him, I'll tie him up and hang him upside down, naked!" one of the warriors cursed through gritted teeth.
"Yeah! You're right! Next time, I'll chop his arms and legs off! That brat took advantage of our opening to launch a sneak attack! Otherwise, we wouldn't have lost to him!" another chimed in angrily.
Indeed, at the time, Daniel had exploited their underestimation of him to launch a sneak attack. But given that there were five of them against him alone, using underhanded tactics wasn't dishonorable, especially since he had only his wits and bare hands.
"I don't think the fault lies with him," the lanky man interjected, his sharp gaze turning to the five warriors. "From what I've heard, he was just one man, and there were five of you. Even if he used dirty tricks, he still managed to knock you all out with his bare hands."
The lanky man's voice dripped with disdain as he continued, "If I were you, I wouldn't dare underestimate a warrior capable of taking down five of Theign's most seasoned fighters in such a short time. Frankly, he might be as strong as Theign Cuthred himself."
"Hey! That's too much, even from you, Wiglaf!" the leader of the warriors snapped, his tone threatening. "Don't forget, you're just a lowly thief who our Theign accepted under his command. Don't think being his right-hand man gives you the right to dishonor us!"
"Dishonor?" Wiglaf scoffed in disdain. "That's rich, coming from someone who acts like a bandit, threatening an unarmed man and then getting beaten to a pulp as a result."
"You!" The warrior leader moved to unsheathe his sword, but Wiglaf's knife was faster. The blade pressed against the warrior's throat, poised to pierce it at any moment.
The warrior froze in his tracks, not daring to draw his weapon. He knew better than anyone why Wiglaf was Theign's right-hand man. Despite being a devout Christian, it wasn't just his skill and resourcefulness but the willingness to carry out the Theign's more questionable tasks.
"Do you want to continue?" Wiglaf asked, his voice cold and his eyes devoid of warmth.
"No... Sorry. It's my fault, Wiglaf," the warrior relented he choose to back off as his clothes damp with sweat.
"Good. Let's continue on our way, we need to find out what caused the strange phenomenon," Wiglaf said, slipping his knife back into his pocket.