Pantheon Online

"Die!" A player with a wild look in her eyes screamed as she shot forward, leading her Pantheon to take down the idiots who dared to ambush them!

"Hmph, pathetic." The runes on Merlin's staff lit up before a golden light shot forward.

The light split into seven different beams. Each one striking a different player charging at them. The players gaped in shock as golden chains appeared around their legs and anchored them to the ground, preventing them from going anywhere!

"They're all yours, Arthur." Merlin smiled as he glanced sideways at his old friend.

"You know, William..." Arthur turned his deep blue eyes on Merlin. "You should adjust that attitude of yours. They're just trying their best and we should respect that."

Arthur shook his head sadly as he thought about how much his friend's personality had changed since Camelot had grown. In the old days, William had made gaming fun for him. Now, he always seemed to be chasing a profit. 'How did it come to this? Colt, where are you now?'

"For Camelot!" Arthur roared as he raised his sword into the sky before dashing towards the immobilised enemies before them. Camelot's team echoed his cry before chasing after him!

"Not you two... Stay here and watch..." Merlin set his sights on Mordread and Morgana, who were about to follow Arthur as well.

Once the others were out of earshot, they turned towards Merlin. Each of them wore a heavy frown as they stared at the figure.

"Father... How are we meant to improve if don't take part in these fights!" Mordread growled as he stared at Merlin.

"I warned you! Neither of you will call me that while there's any risk of someone hearing you! How much money and effort do you think it took to conceal you two from the world!" Merlin growled as he glanced at his disobedient children. "Don't forget that I'm still pissed you named yourself 'Mordread' as if it somehow makes you seem 'cooler'! His name was Mordred for God's sake!"

"Ahem, Merlin..." Morgana drew the name out to show her own displeasure at the scenario. "Don't you think it was too on the nose to have us take the names of those who betrayed and eventually killed King Arthur in the legends?"

"Hah! Do you really think Arthur would make the connection? He knows we've used up most of the good names. With your positions in the team, it was more suitable for you to have more famous names from the legends. Even if he didn't like that, they weren't strictly on the round table's side he can't argue with it." Merlin stared at Arthur's back in the distance as he cut through the enemies. Divine orbs lay on the ground wherever he passed.

"So when?" Mordread growled as he stared at the supposed father in front of him. 

"When what?" Merlin raised an eyebrow as he looked at his son.

"When will we do this? We're sick of living in the shadows. We're sick of mom crying her eyes out because you guys live apart all for the sake of your big plan!" Mordread's face turned scarlet as he struggled to keep his voice down.

"You keep quiet!" Merlin hissed as he glared at his children. "Your mother understands that this is all for you! Camelot should have been mine! I got Arthur into video games. I figured out the build that was best for him! I trained him to make use of his potential!"

"Yeah, like we haven't heard this a thousand times! How you slowly put the team together. How you waited for so long to suggest that you make your own professional team. But Arthur beat you to it! How he stole the team that you put together. How he stole the major shareholder position of the team because he founded it." Morgana wore a sneer on her face as she stared at her father. "The great strategist was beaten to the punch!"

Merlin glared at her. His anger was seething as he tried to calm down. If this conversation carried on, then they were likely to be discovered. "Just shut up. Mordread, pay attention to how Arthur is fighting. You're a hybrid so learning his style of close combat will benefit you."

"Yeah, as if it helped Excalibur." Mordread rolled his eyes as he thought about Colt.

"You are an idiot sometimes! You really think that was Mr Anderson's full potential! That moron idolised Arthur so much that he wanted to be just like him! Never realising that Arthur's style never suited him!" Merlin growled as he shook his head at his son's stupidity. "Either way, he had to go. He would've supported Arthur to the end."

"That's why you had me submit that report to the board? Not to make me the Captain, but to get rid of a threat?" Mordread's anger returned in full fury. 

When his father had come to him with a strategic report already written out after Mayhem's last tournament and told him to submit it, he was ecstatic. He thought his father had finally recognised his skills. That he had become worthy of leading the team! Yet now it seemed that the great Merlin, Mr William Gould, was just as cunning and cold-hearted as ever!

"What's going on?" Arthur chuckled as he glanced at the trio. The fight had already come to an end when he spotted a heated talk happening between the three of them.

"The usual..." Merlin sighed as he put on his best act. "They're just angry that I'm pointing out their shortcomings and how they can learn much more from watching you."

"You know, you should listen to him..." Arthur smiled at Mordread and Morgana. "I wouldn't be where I am today without his guidance. If there's anyone you can trust to point you in the right direction, it's him."

The corners of Merlin's smile twitched as he struggled to maintain his mask. 'You're damn right you wouldn't be here without me! Just wait! You won't even know what hit you!'