A New Beginning

Chapter 16 Jim Versus Merlin

Jim's POV:
(Written by @Kodbro)

"So let me get this straight," Krel said. "There is this evil Sorceress called, Morgouse and you want us to help you stop her?"

"Pretty much what Jim said. But yeah," Toby said.

"Thanks to my grandpa, we know where she is. The only tricky part is killing her," I explained.

Back at Trollmarket, we were all in the Hero's Forge when Merlin spoke out from next to us. "Aah Trollhunter, " he said. "Looks like fate has brought us all together again." That's when I noticed that he was looking at Aja and Krel.

"Merlin?" Douxie asked.

Seriously, why was this guy here again?

"What are you saying?" I asked him, ignoring Douxie's surprise.

"Jim, you already wear the Eclipse armour. To allow you to walk in the sun, I cast an enchantment that would allow you to switch your amulet. But with Morgouse out there, it's time to do it again," he explained.

"You mean, you upgraded it?" I asked him.

"You will see. Here," he said, handing me over Daylight which was a darker shade of blue now.

Looking down at the words inscribed on the circumference I said, "For the glory of Merlin, Midnight is mine to command."

Then still wearing Eclipse, Might night lifted me up into the air where my red armour changed to a dark blue in a big ball of light and magic. Everyone gasped when I was placed back down. "I don't think I can ever get tired of that," I said.

"Lively. You think?" Aja asked me.

"How do you feel, Jim?" Claire asked.

I don't know, I thought as I inspected my new armour. I felt..."Alive," I said. "Like I have just woken up."

"Which is probably a side effect from the Amulet. Night vision is one of them," Merlin said.

"Awesome sauce..." Toby said. "Jim, you leveled up again."

"While Daylight, Eclipse and Midnight alone are futile against a sorceress, now that you are wearing all three, you will be unstoppable, James," Merlin told me.

I felt unstoppable myself.

"Do you mind?" He asked me, taking his own sword out as he did.

And even though I wasn't sure how I was able to now wear all three of the amulets at once, I happily summoned Midnight and said, "My pleasure."

Suddenly, it was just us in the centre of the Hero's Forge. Everyone was standing on the edge with Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!!. "Let's see what you've got, Trollhunter," Merlin said.

Let the fight begin, I thought, waiting for him to take the first move which he did. I easily dodged his blow and hit him from behind.

Then we were just sparring, neither of us outnumbering the other. There was a gleam in my eyes when I almost knocked him over again.

"Good. Remember how weak you were when you were human, Jim. It's why you chose to become a troll in the first place. I gave you the choice," Merlin said in between our duel.

As our swords clashed and sparked, at one point, Blinky had decided to switch on the Hero's Forge so that our fight could be more challenging.

The blades swung around us as the centre of the Forge rose up with us standing on top. And this time when I leapt up each level, I had never done it this flexibly before.

"Now use that weakness to best me!" Merlin shouted from the other side.

I did and as I hurtled myself towards Merlin, I could hear Blinky say from done below, "By Deyre, the last time I've seen Master Jim this nimble was when he had been wearing the Gridshaka. What has Midnight done to him?"

"Made him stronger," AAARRRGGHH!!! laughed.

Their commentary made me smile and feel more confident instead of afraid, which was still the first rule of being a Trollhunter, despite my new found arrogance.

As Merlin came at me again, I swung Midnight out at him which he dodged before hurtling his own attack at me which I summersaulted away from. Next thing I knew was that with one yell of triumpth, I had Merlin on the ground with the tip of my Sword just touching his green-armoured chest.

"Check mate," I said.

"Do that," Merlin said. "And I have no a doubt that you will be able to defeat Morgouse once and for all. That's what Aja, Krel and Douxie are here for. To help with James and Steven. You can't fight everyone, Trollhunter."

"Maybe," I said, looking down at him. "But I sure can try. You forget, I also have Blinky, AAARRRGGHH!!!, Claire and Toby with me."

"And I will be there too," Merlin said. "Then are you ready? Ready for rule 2?"

"You mean am I ready to finish the fight? Always," I said.