Berserk: The Prophet

Edvarut began secretly devising countermeasures. On the one hand, he strengthened the training of the national army, improved the soldiers' combat capabilities, and developed various advanced weapons and equipment. Ostensibly, this was to deal with potential external threats, but in reality, it was more about guarding against Semirfodo. On the other hand, he began to win over some domestic nobles and powerful figures, forming his own group of confidants, strengthening centralized power, and specially training a group of assassins, trying to have enough strength to resist him in the event of any unforeseen changes.

...until a mysterious diviner from the East visited this place.

"...It should not belong to this world. Your Majesty should make plans as soon as possible."

Upon hearing the mysterious diviner's words, Edvarut's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by that? How come Samantabhadra doesn't belong to this world?"

The diviner, dressed in a black robe and with his face veiled, revealing only a pair of deep, mysterious eyes, slowly said, "Your Majesty, in my divination, I saw that this dragon emanates a strange light, a light that does not belong to any power of our world. Its existence may disrupt the balance of the world, bringing unknown disasters to Grant, and even the entire world."

Edvarut frowned, his heart filled with both fear and turmoil. He feared the immense threat that Semileford might pose, and he was conflicted about Semileford's contributions to Grant over the years and the bond he shared with them.

“Then what do you think I should do?” Edvarut asked.

The fortune teller revealed to Edwalt the secret to obtaining the power of the dragons and how to deal with them.

"...Your Majesty, success or failure hinges on this."

Edvarut listened to the diviner's words, his mind churning. Gaining the power of the dragon sounded incredibly tempting; if successful, he could not only eliminate his worries about Semilefordo but also become truly invincible in this land. However, the risks behind it chilled him to the bone. Failure, angering Semilefordo, would plunge Grant into utter ruin.

"Is this method really feasible?" Edvarut asked doubtfully.

The diviner nodded slightly. "Your Majesty, this is the only way at present. Furthermore, as long as you create the 'Blood Grail,' use it to collect the dragon blood of Semily Buddha, and then perform a specific ritual, you can harness the dragon's power for your own use."

Edvard fell into deep thought, fully aware of the difficulty and danger of the matter. But for Grant's future, and for his own power and status, he felt he had to take the risk.

However, having reigned on the throne for many years, Edvard naturally knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch. "...What do you want from me?"

"Heh, I'm just a traveling fortune teller, merely collecting magical supplies. I'm only interested in the dragon's last tear."

“I will think about it carefully,” Edvarut said.

...A conspiracy involving the slaying of a dragon unfolds.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of this, Samuelford was enjoying the midday sun with Benedictine on the mountaintop. Its size was now far too large for the town to contain.

Benny is troubled by her recent argument with Edward, and she's also reached marriageable age, with many eligible young men wanting to propose to her.

Being with the dragon meant fewer troubles and entanglements; it was definitely more relaxing to spend time with the Buddha.

“My brother… seems to be getting more and more afraid of you, Saimi Lefudo.” Benedict lay on the huge stone slab, playing with the leaves, as if trying to see the veins under the leaves through the dazzling sunlight.

Sai Maitreya Buddha tilted his head, his huge eyes filled with doubt, "Why? I didn't do anything to frighten him."

Benny sighed, "Perhaps it's because your power is too great. My brother is always worried about situations he can't control."

Saimile Buddha was silent for a while, "I never intended to hurt anyone, including him."

"...Perhaps, well, I hope it's just my imagination." Benny frowned. How could she not know her brother, whom she had grown up with?

“Edward…is he perhaps a coward in some sense?” Benny casually tossed the leaf aside, letting it drift away in the wind.

"...Why do I say that? I think he has wisdom and courage that are different from ordinary people. His ideas are often quite surprising, whether it is governing the country or planning on the battlefield." Saimile Fudo watched as the leaves that were drifting in the wind landed in front of him and did not fall for a long time. The dragon breath that shot out from his nostrils burned them into ashes and scattered.

“He’s always been like this since he was a child. He’s curious and afraid of everything unknown, and because of that fear, he wants to eliminate any threat that might harm him or me.” Benny sat up and picked up a twig to draw simple talismans on the ground.

“It started before we met you, when we were hunting in the jungle.” Benny was lost in memories, her eyes somewhat distant: “Back then, we encountered a wolf in the jungle. It was huge, with fierce eyes and disgusting saliva dripping from its mouth. My brother tensed up instantly, gripping his spear tightly until his knuckles turned white from the force.”

"But actually, the wolf didn't attack us first, but my brother was convinced that it would be a threat to us, so he struck first."

Sai Maitreya Buddha listened quietly, his huge tail swaying gently on the ground.

“Although that wolf looked scary, maybe it was just foraging in its own territory and didn’t want to bother us. But my brother is afraid of the unknown. He feels that if there is even the slightest threat, it must be nipped in the bud,” Benny continued, her tone tinged with helplessness.

"And then?" Samantabhadra couldn't help but ask.

"Later, we almost lost our lives to those wolves. I still have that scar on my left arm to this day." Benny paused, gently stroking the scar under her clothes, and continued, "But after a fierce fight, we managed to kill the beast by using the terrain. However, while cleaning up, I found its den nearby, where there were several hungry cubs."

“At that moment, I was filled with mixed feelings. Perhaps we didn’t have to be enemies with it, but my brother’s fear made him make that decision.” Benny put down the branch and looked at the shapeless talisman on the ground.

“From then on, I realized that my brother’s fear of the unknown was deeply ingrained in his bones. As we grew up, this fear did not lessen, but rather intensified as the responsibilities on his shoulders became heavier.” Benny looked up at Semileford. “So, when you become stronger and stronger, beyond his control, his inner fear is triggered again.”

The eyes of the serpent were filled with complex emotions, a mixture of sympathy for Edvarut's past and helplessness at being misunderstood. It sighed softly, and hot steam billowed from its nostrils, forming a small, fleeting puff of white mist in the air.

Humans are truly fragile yet complex beings, but it is precisely because of this that they have been able to establish one nation after another, compete for resources with races many times stronger than themselves, and become the dominant species on the land.

“I understand his fear, but what can I do?” Saimile Buddha muttered to himself, his huge claws gently scratching the ground. “I cannot control the growth of my power, nor have I ever thought of using this power to hurt anyone.”

“To me, everything that humans care about is irrelevant. All I need to think about every day is how to fill my stomach and how to find some shiny things to decorate my nest.” Saimile Fudo’s dragon claw picked up a small pebble and played with it, crushing the stone with just a little force.

...it no longer dares to easily hold such fragile creatures as humans in its grasp.

“I know, Semilefodo, it’s not your fault, you’ve never hurt anyone.” Benny stood up, hugged Semilefodo’s head, and gently stroked its forehead.

“...You are kind.” Benny stroked the dragon’s forehead, soothing it with gentle words.

"If I were to marry someone from another place, would you choose to come with me?"

The Maitreya Buddha was slightly taken aback; it had never expected Benedict Cumberbatch to mention marrying far away. A hint of panic and reluctance flashed in its enormous eyes, and it quickly said, "Benedict Cumberbatch, you're going to marry far away? Why? Of course I'll go with you. Wherever you go, I won't let you be alone."

Benedict sighed softly, pausing her stroking of Semirfodo, her eyes filled with melancholy: "I don't want to leave here either, I don't want to leave you and my brother, and Grant that we've been protecting together. But, for the sake of Grant's stability, my brother might arrange for me to marry into another tribe on the continent."

Saimile Buddha snorted angrily, hot breath coming from his nostrils: "How could he do this! You are not a tool to maintain power. Benny, if you don't want to, I can take you away. No one can force you."

Benedict shook her head with a wry smile: "Sai Maitreya Buddha, things aren't that simple. Although Grant is powerful now, the surrounding forces are still eyeing us covetously. A marriage alliance might bring lasting peace and avoid more bloodshed. This is my responsibility as Princess Grant."

The Maitreya Buddha remained silent. It understood that Benny's words made sense, but its reluctance to part grew stronger. After a long while, it slowly said, "Benny, if you really decide to marry far away for Grant, I will always be with you. I will stay by your side and make sure you are not harmed."

Benedict looked at Samantabhadra, her eyes filled with emotion. She smiled softly and said, "Thank you, Samantabhadra. Your words make me feel much better. Actually, I'm also very reluctant to part with you and my brother. Over the years, we've been through so much together, and you've long been the most important member of my family."

Saimile Buddha nuzzled against Benny's body and whispered, "Benny, you are also the most important person to me. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be by your side."

Like most oviparous animals, dragons are always attached to the first thing they see after hatching.

Clearly, Benedict was pleased with his answer. She turned her back to the dragon and gazed into the distance from the mountaintop.

"If I am unwilling to enter into this marriage, would you be willing to carry me across this ocean to see the world with my own eyes?"