The achievement notification—and Sir Edmund's surprise—came at the same time.
Saitama hadn't expected to unlock an achievement right then. But he had no time to dwell on it—his system suddenly lit up with danger markers across all of Britain, glowing crimson.
It meant the Decepticons had gone all-in. They were staking everything on killing him.
Seeing Sir Edmund's astonished face, Saitama said, "I know you've got a lot of questions, my lord, but we don't have time! Please take us to your submarine—another minute and we'll be too late!"
"Vivian, move!"
He pulled everyone along toward the castle gate.
They had barely driven out when a tide of spider- and rat-shaped micromachines surged like a wave, pouring into the old fortress.
From the mountain road, Sir Edmund glanced back at the scene and could only click his tongue. If Saitama hadn't hustled them out early, they would already be in Megatron's hands.
Halfway down the slope, Sir Edmund had the robot valet stop the car and stepped out. He looked at the young man in the cream jacket and red cape.
"Young man, you carry many secrets."
Saitama nodded. "But I can promise this: I stand with humanity."
Sir Edmund tapped his cane and stared at the family castle that had stood for centuries and was now falling to the Decepticons. "I believe you. From the first moment I saw you. That's why I didn't hesitate when you told me to leave. I just didn't expect the Decepticons to move this fast."
He looked to his robotic servant. "Darling, is the location set?"
The robot bowed. "Yes, my lord. Everything is ready."
"Good. Take them to the submarine and activate the defenses. I'll remain here a moment."
"But, my lord—"
"Do not worry about me being taken. Even if they seize me, what use is a man in his twilight years…"
He never finished the sentence. The ground vanished beneath his feet; in the next instant Saitama scooped him up and shoved him back into the car.
Gratitude flashed in the robot's eyes.
Saitama patted the valet's shoulder. "To the harbor. Now."
Sir Edmund was dumbfounded. He'd wanted to stay behind so he wouldn't burden them—and he had zero interest in deep-sea adventures at his age. With his luck, he'd end up feeding the sharks.
"Hey, young man, put me down!"
"Trust me, sir. Drive!"
The sleek, understated car glided off the mountainside road—and with it began the final act of Saitama's war against the Decepticons.
Inside the submarine, Sir Edmund sighed. "Why bring a burden like me? Saitama's piloting, the valet is watching the depths, and that girl Vivian grabbed all the odd jobs. And me—once a man who kept everything under control…"
"Sir," Saitama said, "your family has guarded Merlin's Staff for generations. Don't you want to see it with your own eyes?"
Sir Edmund fell silent. Truthfully… he did.
They probed the ocean and gradually reached a lightless abyss.
When the four finally arrived, they discovered something impossible—a hidden harbor cut into a stretch of deep sea no one had ever approached.
It felt like a city of the deep—a myth made real.
More astounding still: after they slipped through the entrance and turned two bends, they reached a strange domain with breathable air and a faint glow filtering from far above the water.
Even so, they didn't dare relax. Suits on, they moved toward a cavern mouth.
Below the lip of the cave hung scores of cables, each a hundred meters long, sunk into the sea for who knew how many years and still intact.
"Are we really going down there?" Vivian asked. Her voice wavered. If Saitama hadn't been beside her, the sight of that drop alone would have made her dizzy.
"Do we have a choice?" Saitama said.
A chime rang in his head.
[Explore Merlin's Burial Ground to receive 1 Attribute Lottery.]
[Obtain Merlin's Staff to unlock a hidden quest.]
Saitama blinked. So the true questline of this TF5 world… was here.
With the task triggered, he stopped overthinking and went first, sliding down a cable. He landed and looked around. It was like the ancient tombs from adventure novels.
He, Vivian, the old lord, and the robot were the "tomb-raiding party."
"Hold up. Let me scout ahead."
Step by step, Saitama advanced. He'd seen the original TF5 plot; he knew there were traps. For example, the figure he was stepping over now—
He checked the "statues" dusted over and realized they were petrified Transformers—four of them. A knot tightened in his chest. Could he defeat all four without alerting everything above?
He pressed on.
In a blur he slipped into the burial hall.
A massive stone coffin lay at the center. The floor around it formed a ring of twelve engraved figures—the knights of the Round Table.
"These guardians are patient, I'll give them that. Guess we open the coffin first."
Saitama pushed, stone grinding on stone.
Inside lay a regal figure crowned in gold. The bones were nearly powder, but in the arms of the corpse rested Merlin's Staff—untouched by time.
Saitama bowed to the remains, then gently lifted the Staff.
And froze.
Right—only Merlin's descendant—Vivian—could break the seal by touching it herself.
(End of Chapter)
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