Meanwhile, Mark and his group decided to call it a day and decided to go home due to Anya's current mental state with Mark dragging whatever loot they can grab in the upper floors which was a handful of old documents and salvageable supplies. But all that left Mark in a state of mixed feelings, on one hand, his old soul had made him feel a sense of frustration at President Sokolov but at the same time he was genuinely worried about Anya and her current mental state after her first kill, and at the same time disappointed that he didn't delve into the lower floors and fought a Yotun.

Eventually, the three of them stopped and found a hooded figure with a quarterstaff standing over them by the bridge that links the Vault to the nearby Camp.

"One of you has something I'm looking for." The hooded figure said extended his hand with an open palm and showed what appeared to be a holographic projection of Arthur causing Mark's eyes to widen in surprise. How did he know about him? Mark thought to himself as his group and the hooded figure just stared at one another

"Mark, isn't that the sword you found a while back?" Sandra said glancing at Mark who was gripping on Arthur so hard his knuckles were turning white. He had told Sandra that he had picked up Arthur after losing his first sword but he didn't tell her all the other features Arthur had.

"I'm not giving it to him," Mark said defiantly the hooded figure was about to speak up once more but then the ground rumbled causing the three of them to look down to find the gate on a nearby entrance that have yet to be cleared broke open unleashing a horde of Svadraugr and a Yotun out which was roughly around thirty or so.

The reports that Mark had read about the Yotun were true, unlike the average Svadraugr which was a normal human with their heads covered in fungi across their bodies, the Yotun was covered head to toe with spores and fungus making direct contact with them highly dangerous as it was said that Yotuns are capable of infecting people aside from their bites.

"We need to run!" Mark said turning to Sandra and then turning to the hooded figure but the figure is gone before any of them can warn about the incoming horde. Sandra nodded as she grabbed Anya, who was too terrified to react to anything, and carried her as she and Mark sprinted out of the Frostgate and into a nearby group of Mercenaries that were preparing for a trek into the Vault.

"Horde!" Mark and Sandra said the incoming party of Mercenaries panicked for a moment but they also sprinted back to the outpost, which was established after Mark, the Rescue and the Exploration Team had discovered and attempted to open the Northern Vault. Eventually, the three of them got over the sandbags with all three of them arming themselves.

"What do you want me to do," Anya said snapping out of the fear. Mark turned to a mercenary who was loading his rifle and he tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, can you teach her the ropes?" Mark told him, he smiled and nodded as he began to lecture her on gun control, as soon as he left her with him Mark made his way towards Sandra who was in the middle of fighting four Svadraugr.

"So care to tell me about Arthur?" Sandra said vertically bisecting a Svadraugr, behind him two other Mercenaries were off fighting more Svadraugr.

"I found it in the middle of the Vault," Mark explained to her as he sliced off the legs and impaled it on the head. It wasn't a lie, he did find it there while dodging some Svadraugr and old unused defence systems, though he didn't know that someone is out to get it. But then he recalled that the Camelot Arms is part of a collection or a series of weapons, it was possible that when Mark placed a virus that erased Arthur in the database it might have had a ripple effect allowing this collector to locate and zero in on the location of Arthur.

"So it just so happens that the one thing you found is being sought after by another?" Sandra said with a raised eyebrow at him.

"It appears so," Mark said slicing a Svadraugr in half.

ROAR!

The two of them flinched as they turned to find the Yotun charging towards them with each step making a thud noise, Mark and Sandra rolled to the side as the Yotun ran past them and grabbed an unfortunate Mercenary and ripped her head off.

Looks like I have no other choice! Mark thought as he pressed a combination of buttons, for Arthur to transform into its other form a certain combination of buttons is pressed allowing the nanomachines to change and form into the other forms. After a series of buttons, the blade retracted and formed into a massive shield that is three times his size. This is the Pridwen, a massive heater shield that is impervious to many forms of attacks and is made out of nanomachines.

"So that's why he's after Arthur." He heard Sandra comment, Mark ran towards the Yotun and rammed the shield sending it stumbling back allowing a Senior Mercenary to rush in and impale the Yotun with a spear.

Mark switched it back to Caliburn and then sliced the legs off causing the Yotun's body to hide on the ground with a loud THUD! But Mark wasn't done, he climbed up onto the Yotun and repeatedly stabbed it with his sword as it groaned in pain. Mark was panting as he ended up doing twenty stabs onto the Yotun with Caliburn as he ended up killing it on the stop, the others just stared at him with a mixture of shock and fear in their eyes as the Yotun was the last Svadraugr remaining. Sandra was about to comment but they heard this strange clapping noise, they all turned to find the hooded figure

"Impressive, most impressive." The Hooded Figure said taking off his hood to reveal a human with short slicked back hair and cold blue eyes that appear to be glowing. "A little bit barbaric but there's room for improvement since you seem to be on the younger side of things."

"Who are you and what do you want with him," Sandra said immediately running towards Mark's side alongside Anya who reloaded her Automatic Crossbow and aimed it at the figure much to the confusion of the other Mercenaries who were watching this all unfold.

"Come now I mean no harm," The Man said extending both his arms with a smile that held a dozen different hidden meanings. "My name is Merlin, and I'm here to train you to become a worthy wielder of Arthur."

Mark had always considered looking for a chance to run away and train and become stronger for his trip. The only reason that he hasn't decided to pull through with that plan is that his parents will no doubt panic and come looking for him. But now an opportunity opens up as Mark, Sandra, Anya and Merlin gathered around a table within the Camp Cafeteria while all eyes landed on Merlin who had this unnerving smile on his face.

There was something rather, inhuman about him. Like someone with an affinity for illusion magic. Mark thought to himself as he watched him explain everything. According to Merlin, he was looking for the Camelot Arms or anyone that has wielded them and then train them into becoming capable wielders of the Camelot Arms he has already located a handful and brought them to this anonymous site.

"So this site, you're not gonna tell us where?" Sandra said as she was barely touching her beer. One thing that Mark noted is that she barely touches her liquor when things are serious.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"That's correct," Merlin said with a nod.

"And he's not allowed to contact his family from within this site where he was working?" Sandra added.

"That's correct," Merlin said with a nod, there it is again. That weird uncanny feeling he was getting from Merlin.

Sounds like a good deal to me but I can't seem to bring myself to agree with those terms. Mark thought crossing his arms and in deep thought unaware that he was being looked at by Merlin and Sandra. Anya meanwhile was shifting uncomfortably and was more or less interested in the food she was provided with.

"Can't we meet in the middle?" Mark said hoping he can find some middle ground but from the get-go, it was clear that Sandra is the one doing the negotiations.

She is after all his assigned guardian.

"I'm afraid that's a negative," He shook his head. "My terms are fairly simple, come with me and depending on your performance will be able to see your family in six to four years."

"Then I refuse," Sandra said with a glare that made even the most hardened veteran freeze in their tracks, yet for some reason that still didn't intimidate Merlin who just frowned as though he was upset that he didn't get his design.

"Please reconsider." He simply said.

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[The Second Advent]

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"Interesting turn of events," Gray said as she was in the middle of a call with Mark all the while they were both working out, and both of them were doing pull-ups in their respective rooms. He had just explained to her everything about Arthur and a man named Merlin arrived and had spent the last few days pestering them, how he had found the Trick Weapon underground and how it can transform into various forms.

In all honesty, she was somewhat jealous making her want a Trick Weapon even more.

"Just so you know I'm just slacking off that's why I'm behind," She said as Mark chuckled under his breath in amusement.

But you know, I like it when you lead on. It makes you, manlier. Gray thought to herself as the two of them simultaneously took a break from the workout she grabbed her holo-phone and placed it on the side while Mark held on to his while taking a sip of water. That was always the case between them, Mark was always the true leader, sure she tried to assert her leadership but only with Mark's suggestion or advisory and without him she would find herself having difficulty in making the hard decisions.

Maybe Grandmother is right, I'm too reliant on Mark. She thought while in the middle of a conversation with Mark about his recent adventures. How they kept exploring the ruins of an old Hashira Enterprises Vault and how he managed to take down a Yotun after a quick search on what those were left Gray amazed as he was able to pull such a thing. Though what caught her attention was the appearance of the girl named Anya, and the way Mark talked about her just made her jealous in a different way.

"So when will you be coming home?" She asked one of the many things Leah and her grandmother had thought her is that Men are known to be polygamous, the sooner Mark can get home the faster she can make him forget about her.

"Probably within the week, according to Sandra we're contracted until August 8 after that we'll be heading home after that," Mark explained to him with a yawn and was followed but the sight of him laying in bed, Gray hoped she wasn't blushing as the whole thing looked as though they were sharing the same bed.

"That's good to hear, you, Miria and Gaige have tons of stories to tell me once you head home," Gray said lying on a bed as well and smiling at him. "You have cool stories too that the others would love to hear," Mark pointed out sounding almost offended at the idea that she doesn't have any exciting stories compared to Mark and their peers.

"It was just me killing a Silverfang Wolf," Gray answered referring to the time she managed to stop a Silverfang, which were these intelligent massive wolves that were native to Loria Gray managed to tame the wolves and that was terrorizing the countryside nearby settlements, and in the process not only killing the leader of the Silverfang Wolves but also taking a pup that she is currently raising in the process.

"So what? That was your own doing and it was worth praising," Mark said with a yawn. "Anyways I'm heading for bed, I'm calling it a day."

"Alright see you tomorrow," Gray said with a smile as Mark ended the call.

And it was the last time she would see him.

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[The Second Advent]

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Days have passed since Merlin had arrived and by then Mark had finally made up his mind. He was going to join Merlin at whatever site he was being taken to, there was also a possibility that he'll be assaulted and left for dead but he knows something about Project Camelot and Mark intends to uncover everything he knows about it.

But as he was about to make his way towards Merlin's room in the middle of the night, where everyone is now fast asleep, he found himself staring at Sandra's chest with her arms crossed.

"And where do you think you're going?" She said with a rather amused smile.

"I'm going for a little walk," Mark lied with a grin on his face hoping that she falls for it.

"You're going to Merlin aren't you?" She continued now placing her hands on her hips. "It's written all over your face after all."

Oh no she figured out, Mark thought to himself as he swallowed hard, he had been told more than once that he had this look on his face that she best describes as 'a hungry wolf that has found his prey' which he took more of a slight tease as he didn't know he had such a look.

"Are you...going to stop me?" Mark asked threading carefully and choosing his words carefully.

"Honestly I want to but..." Sandra trailed off with a torn look on her face. It was no secret that in the last few years, she had become an older sister figure to him and vice versa. So it would come as no surprise that he feels a bit conflicted about leaving her.

"...I know that I, no we, will just hold you back. Which is why I want you to promise me." Sandra said with tears in her eyes as though she had been trying to hold them back. Well, it was no secret that he had long surpassed them but none of them wants to admit it, this is because none of them have any clue who is the right mentor to allow Mark to reach his peak potential.

"I'm sorry but I wanted to come with him," Mark said patting Arthur who was on his scabbard. "But I want to learn and master Arthur."

"Don't apologize." His father spoke, and this caused Mark to turn around to find his parents standing in the hallway with a reluctant looks on their faces. What were they doing here? Mark thought to himself as he took a step back while the two of them immediately ran towards him and pulled him into a hug.

"Father, mother?" Mark asked almost surprised at the sight of them as they hugged him tightly. "Sandra told us about you and so we came all this way to see you off," Joshua said ruffling his hair.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Mark said pulling away and taking several steps back. "You are all fine with me running off with a stranger?!"

"I'm not!" Mary said she was on the verge of crying as she pulled Mark into a hug. "My sweet little boy going on a journey with a stranger!"

And then Joshua and Sandra took turns explaining to Mark that yes, he had long surpassed his family in terms of skill. Calling him a gifted kid was too much of an understatement, and they were wondering what to do with him until finally that opportunity came in the form of Merlin. As for the matter of security, they had long figured out that Mark was too mature to be fooled or taken advantage of by some stranger.

But the problem is that both Mark and his Parents are reluctant to see him off, this is because Joshua doesn't want him to go off adventuring since the world is far too grim for him to as in their eyes he was still a twelve-year-old that has yet to experience the world. Not that it's going to be a problem for Mark, he is after all ages older than them mentally so that doesn't seem to be a problem for him, he just needs their assurance that he'll come back alive.

"If there was another way then I would have taken it, mother," Mark told her who started crying and pulled him into a hug.

"That's what I hate, there's no other option to get you to stay," Mary said with Joshua and Sandra chuckling in amusement. And so with his parent's blessing in hand, Mark went back to prepare more stuff for the journey and by the time he was out of the room he found his parents talking to Merlin with Sandra in tow.

"Promise us that you'll protect our son," Joshua said though that came less than a plead and more of an active threat.

"I assure you, Mr and Mrs Dirus I will do whatever I can to make sure he is safe, I have been entrusted with Childcare training as well," Merlin said with a bow.

"And bring him home as soon as training is over." Mary pleaded towards him, she didn't wait for his response as she immediately ran over to hug Mark once more this time Joshua walked over to do the same thing to him.

"Promise us to come home safe," Joshua said in a low voice.

"I promise."

And thus a new path in his journey had just opened up, a journey that began thanks to his discovery of CA-01 Arthur.