Episode 25: Merkadis | A Tears to Tiara Episode Summary brought by reychop

As Arthur and the group discovered the dead corpse and seemingly mistake it for the final enemy, a voice interrupted them and stopped them in their tracks. The voice introduced the body as the holy emperor of the holy empire. The said heika is an avid pursuer of immortality and due to that desire, he was consumed by death. The owner of the voice came from a young man, barely older than Arthur. The said man shines in pure white and has a confident, carefree smile on his face.

If you remember, this same man appeared in the massacre of the senate members, the one who introduced himself as the emperor's gardener and summoned a great scourging fire which devoured the senators one by one.

This young man is now telling the group how foolish it is for the old man to fear ageing, and that believing ancient prophecies and silly astrology is what led him to his death. Furthermore, he added that the tower that they were standing on is merely a part in the heika's quest for immortality.

Riannon then asked who he is. And in an almost mocking manner, he responded that he is merely a nobody, a caretaker of this place.

Episode 25: Merkadis

Outside the tower, the Gaels await their leaders return. And although they want to come to their aid, not any of their scouts could find the entrance beyond the mazes of the white tower.

Back at the top of the tower, Ogam told of the rumor upon hearing the gardener's tale. He told the group that there used to be an oracle whom the emperor held in high esteem. The emperor's trust and respect quickly gained way for him to rise and earn a special seat in the senate council.

Octavia then added that this Astrologer from Chaldea is known as Vector the Astrologer.

Knowing that Ogam is blowing his cover subtlely, the gardener revealed his true identity by mentioning Arawn's real name- Lucifer. Thus it was concluded easily that he is the white phantom. Upon hearing that the one standing behind them is the true white phantom, Arthur tensed up, about to draw his sword. But past lessons has taught him something. And instead of wishing for blind revenge and irrational vangeance, he demanded to know instead why the phantom killed his father.

The phantom instead smiled and answered him that his father refused to cooperate in revealing the hidden location of Arawn's grave, which was guarded by the lineage with which Arthur's father belonged to. His father was murdered because due to his refusal, the phantoms weren't able to reach the traitor, Arawn, in time allowing him to ressurrect, contrary to their plans of putting him to sleep forever.

Furthermore, the phantom admitted that he tampered with Arthur's memories a little. And the warrior has showed his uselessness when he failed to kill Arawn in their past encounter.

This angered Arthur. But at the same time gave him a realization. He realized that this place is all but illusion. And as he calls out to Dyrnwyn, he slammed the ground with great force and as Dyrnwyn's powers were unleashed, he unmasked the impurities that surrounded the place.

The place no longer shows the peaceful and beautiful sky garden but a wasteland. Dead skeletons littered the ground and harsh atmosphere replaced the serene ambience. This struck a chord within Ogam and asked the phantom how much atrocities must they do before their bloodlust is satisfied. In turn, the phantom reminded him that he is the one who pledged his allegiance to them in the first place.

Having no answer to this, the white phantom continued and told them of his plans for this world. He told them that he will destroy and recreate the world just as they intended. But Arawn cannot allow this, stating that he would protect this world, instead. Upon the demon king's declaration that they would destroy their tower, a blast was heard and a hole, a break in the boundary between the heaven and earth, appears.

Once the hole materialized, a lightning was emitted from it and the skeletons were animated. The phantom then laughed and told them of the ideal world he deemed as "perfect". He declared that the only perfect and pure world lies in the white ashes of these humans. Indeed, a world that shall be burnt and as it turn to ash shall it meet a silent repose. As it does so, a perfect balance is achieved and a perfect, spotless world is created.

Arawn disagrees and so does Arthur. They will not allow their world to be destroyed just like this. Thus their battle for survival begins.

The skeletons advanced and although they lack in skills and endurance, their number makes up for their weaknesses. The white phantom challenged them, stating that they couldn't lay even a finger on him. And as he did so, the light intensified, causing a massive earthquake and startling the Gaels outside.

Back in Avalon, the remaining elves found ways in calming themselves down. By reading the book that she drew about the adventures of Arawn, they managed to see the battle in a tiny light. But the most ironic thing is, although her artistic skills are rather dull, she has managed to replicate the entire event in her story.

Meanwhile, the enemies fell one by one as Arawn and Arthur fought side by side. At this time, Ogam was briefly reminded of Arawn and Pwyll's battle. As the battle rages on, the group then determined to attack the white phantom and put him as their top priority target. One by one, they gave their best shot. But it was futile. The white phantom is either more agile or simply stronger than the rest of them.

However, Arthur is not contented. May it be for vengeance, or for survival, he simply cannot give up. Thus with extreme resiliency, he struck the phantom again and again, irritating him.

Arawn explained to him that these people that he is facing is different from the army that he commands. To answer his question, these beings cannot give up for they have their own ambitions, and their own freedom.

But the phantom retaliated by saying that they simply forget to acknowledge their own heplessness. His rather lengthy and discriminating speech annoyed Arthur, causing him to attack with renewed strength. And this time, his sword struck...

The white phantom paused... A look of horror and disbelief ruined his confident look as he stared at the drops of blood from his face. Impossible! He is a white phantom- the absolute beings, superior to all and perfect beyond imagination. And a simple inferior human drew blood from him? He cannot believe it... Trapped in his own nightmare, he was driven insane.

But not for long. A huge fire enveloped the environment as the tower shook. And for the white phantom, all is not lost. He laughs as he declared the coming of the "Great Fire of Purification".

And at this same time, a giant machinery emerged from the area. And gigantic as it was, the merkadis is dubbed as the "ultimate destructive weapon", powerful enough to raze villages in seconds. Not to mention it is the one who killed Arawn, being a weapon that utilizes the element, electrum, which Arawn is weak to.

The phantom, in his desperate attempt to rectify his "imperfection" stood in front of the machine and beg it to purify him. "Cast this deformed world to oblivion!!!" As it receives its first order, it breathed fire out to the phantom and consumed him. Once it does so, the obelisks on its back glowed and then.... they broke to tiny pieces.

As Ogam revealed, the Obelisks served as limiters to the power fo the merkadis. And since it was broken, the merkadis' full power is released, preventing him from predicting what will happen next.

With sheer power, it transformed itself to accommodate the newly freed power inside. The tower collapsed and the ground beneath Arawn's group fell, causing them all to fall into the hole. But they were saved, thankfully, by none other than Talieshin! Yep, the boy is alive! And thanks to his newfound family, the dragon tribe, they have a new ally in battle.

And once the chaos subsides, they were to feast their eyes on probably the most destructive and most powerful weapon of all time- the merkadis, in its purest and final form! Reunited under such a strange and chaotic circumstance, will they survive, or will they fall? Watch with me! And tune in for more! Let us all watch the FINAL Episode of tears to tiara, Episode 26: Words of Power!