Chapter 455: Eternal Night Mountain
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Against the pitch-black night sky, two dark silhouettes were flying at full speed. Their destination was the highest peak around Boulder City – Eternal Night Mountain!
Eternal Night Mountain had always been occupied by Wizard Darknight and the other Spell Casters. In this vicinity, they were considered a formidable force. Not only were there three Fourth-level Wizards on Eternal Night Mountain but Wizard Darknight himself had also far exceeded the capabilities of an average Fourth-level Wizard.
However, when he met Merlin, he had not managed to reveal any of his capabilities before he was suppressed.
“Darknight, you’ve built such a formidable force on Eternal Night Mountain but why didn’t you go to some weaker towns and form a trade a.s.sociation instead? That way, you would be able to obtain resources continuously. Why did you choose to remain on the desolated Eternal Night Mountain?”
Merlin was very puzzled. This dimension was vastly different from the Glorious Land. In the Glorious Land, most resources existed in places that were undiscovered and inaccessible to the Normies, so the Normies and even many Spell Casters did not know about it.
However, in this new dimension, the Normies were well-versed with the Spell Casters. Even the most ordinary Normie would be able to identify some precious materials. Furthermore, many of the precious materials were publicly available for sale, and not left in some desolate, uninhabited place.
Upon hearing Merlin’s question, Wizard Darknight appeared to look quite helpless. “Master, it’s not that easy! There are some small towns in this vicinity that may be weaker but it’s still difficult to conquer them. Don’t be fooled by the looks of Boulder City. They may seem like they are growing prosperously but they are just balancing dangerously on a tightrope. The countless other towns and cities around here are subjected under the sphere of influence of Bisque City, and have to pay them large amounts of elemental crystal stones each year. Some of the smaller cities can’t afford it at all.
“Being on Eternal Night Mountain, naturally, we don’t have to pay them any elemental crystal stones. Furthermore, there’s a secret where the others don’t know. There’s a hidden valley that sprouts all kinds of rare and precious potion materials. Hehe, so, we rely on this valley to trade an endless supply of various resources. Even if someone was to give us a small town, we would not be willing to leave.”
Merlin’s eyes sparkled. Now it made sense that Darknight would choose to remain on Eternal Night Mountain for so many years, and that so many Wizards were willing to remain with him on the mountain. It was not undue influence but a tangible benefit.
Of course, this little bit of benefit was negligible compared to the huge elemental crystal stone mine. Therefore, when Darknight learned about the elemental crystal stone mine from Winston of Tagan City, he did not hesitate and left the mountain immediately.
“Master, we’re almost there!”
They were soon approaching Eternal Night Mountain, so a smile began to appear on Wizard Darknight’s face. However, right at this moment, waves of elemental fluctuations began to ripple across the pitch-black night sky. Someone was casting spells.
“There’s someone fighting in front. Does this mean there’s trouble on Eternal Night Mountain?”
Wizard Darknight’s face changed instantly. The first thought that came to his mind was that Eternal Night Mountain was in danger. However, he had just left the mountain for a few days, and Eternal Night Mountain was not a day-old fledgling. Every Spell Caster in this vicinity knew about the existence of Spell Casters on Eternal Night Mountain. Who would dare to stir up trouble?
Regardless, if there was a fight, something serious must have occurred.
“Let’s hurry up and see.”
Merlin knew that Wizard Darknight must be feeling very anxious, so he increased his speed. The two dark silhouettes soared across the night sky, as light as a breeze, rapidly headed toward Eternal Night Mountain.
“Swis.h.!.+”
Soon, both arrived at Eternal Night Mountain, and true enough, there were two opposing forces of Spell Casters at a standoff. Their clothing was striking, and the side with greater numbers consisted of Spell Casters who were dressed similarly as Wizard Darknight. Leading them were two Fourth-level Spell Casters, whom Merlin a.s.sumed were probably Darknight’s subordinates.
On the other hand, the opponents were dressed in bright red Wizard robes and looked exceptionally unique. They were also led by two Fourth-level Spell Casters, though their numbers were fewer. There was only four or five of them in total.
The two sides were in a standoff. The ground around them was littered with pits and dents, probably remnants of the spells released earlier.
“Those are Wizards from Bisque City. Why would they come all the way here?”
Upon spotting the Spell Casters in bright red Wizard robes, Darknight’s face dropped. This clothing was not unfamiliar to any Spell Caster. It was the clothing belonging to Wizards of Bisque City.
However, Bisque City was a huge distance away from Eternal Night Mountain, so why would they suddenly come to Eternal Night Mountain?
“Hmph, you guys have the audacity to secretly occupy this valley full of rare and precious potion materials. Everything around here belongs to Bisque City! If not for our painstaking scrutiny and surrept.i.tious trailing, we wouldn’t have discovered such an amazing valley! Haha, just wait till we report back to Sir Wizard Tambert. I’m sure we’ll receive a handsome reward!”
These Spell Casters in bright red robes were indeed from Bisque City but it seemed like they discreetly came to Eternal Night Mountain, and had their sights set on unearthing the secret of Eternal Night Mountain.
Darknight’s heart skipped a beat. He whispered in a low voice, “s.h.i.+t, we’ve been found out! I’ve already advised them not to sell the precious potion materials too often since it attracts a lot of attention. They must’ve disobeyed my instructions and sold huge quant.i.ties of precious materials again. It must’ve caught the attention of Bisque City, hence they tracked it all the way to Eternal Night Mountain.”
It was apparent that Wizard Darknight’s mind was in complete chaos and did not know what to do. Once they were discovered by Bisque City, it would be impossible for them to retain control over the valley. Even Darknight himself would be in great danger.
Wizard Tambert from Bisque City was a powerful Seventh-level Wizard who was particularly greedy. Any mine or treasure within his sphere of influence would be forcibly seized by him. Likewise, once the amazing valley on Eternal Night Mountain was discovered by Tambert, it would be impossible to keep.
“Hmph, do you think you can leave? Why don’t you just stay back today?”
The two remaining Fourth-level Spell Casters on Eternal Night Mountain naturally knew the gravity of the situation, so they were determined to make these Spell Casters from Bisque City remain here forever.
Therefore, under the pitch-black night sky, a strong gale whipped into a vicious tornado and sped toward the red-robed Spell Casters.
This was a Fourth-level spell, and its power was not to be trifled with. The few red-robed Spell Casters dared not dither any longer since the Spell Casters on Eternal Night Mountain held an advantage over them.
The red-robed Wizard at the helm sneered. “Hehe, all of you are as good as dead now. When we go back and report to Sir Wizard Tambert, he’ll send powerful Spell Casters and raze this mountain to the ground! Let’s go!”
The red-colored robes worn by these Wizards began to emit a series of runes. The runes transformed into a huge s.h.i.+eld in the sky that blocked the raging tornado.
This was a Runic Magic Circle that was a.s.sembled from the engraving on their robes. It was considered a type of a.s.sembled casting tool, though not as impressive as the real a.s.sembled casting tools.
The long robes on these red-robed Wizards were capable of emitting runes that formed a defensive Runic Magic Circle to withstand the spell attacks of numerous Wizards on Eternal Night Mountain. Even Merlin was astonished by the feat.
Once they resisted the attacks, these red-robed Spell Casters did not hesitate any longer and flew down the mountain. They wanted to disappear into the night as soon as possible, to escape back to Bisque City and report back to Wizard Tambert.
Seeing the red-robed Wizards who were about to disappear into the night, the Spell Casters on Eternal Night Mountain began to pale. This time, they were in grave trouble.
“Master!”
Wizard Darknight began to panic. He was anxious to take action and stop the red-robed Wizards from escaping back to Bisque City. If they managed to return to Bisque City, then it would be highly dangerous because the greedy Wizard Tambert would not give up easily.
“Don’t worry, they can’t escape!”
Merlin narrowed his eyes. Then, his body flashed several times faster than before and disappeared into the night sky. Wizard Darknight, who was looking at him till a moment ago, was stunned.
“Swis.h.!.+”
In the pitch-black night, a dark figure suddenly appeared, blocking the way of the red-robed Wizards. The red-robed Wizards were slightly baffled since they had not sensed any elemental fluctuations. Someone had managed to creep up to them soundlessly, which heightened their guard.
“Who are you?”
“Glacier Country!”
Merlin was not interested in engaging in a conversation with these red-robed Spell Casters. He immediately wielded Glacier Country, and the translucent Glacier Country descended. This spell could freeze even a Seventh-level Spell Caster, what more these mere Third- and Fourth-level Spell Casters.
“Crack crack.”
Under the frigid blasts, each of the red-robed Wizards was frozen into chunks of ice sculptures. The Wizard robes on their bodies were rendered completely useless.
“Smas.h.!.+”
Once all the red-robed Wizards had been frozen into ice sculptures, Merlin gently flicked a finger and a ma.s.sive gale began to stir. In the blink of an eye, the ma.s.sive gale had smashed the ice sculptures into tiny ice shavings which disappeared into the night.
“Fuh…”
A gentle breeze flew by. Merlin raised his head and saw a large group of Spell Casters appearing in front of him. They were all Spell Casters from Eternal Night Mountain. They had felt a s.h.i.+ft and rushed forward to check but instead, witnessed the unfolding of a mind-boggling, unbelievable scene.
It was easy to dismiss those few Third-level Spell Casters, but still, there were two Fourth-level Spell Casters in the lead, and all of them were equipped with the special defensive rune-engraved robes from Bisque City. However, they had been killed effortlessly by this unknown Spell Caster, and from the look of things, it was not a particularly laborious effort either.
“Did you also come for the potion materials on Eternal Night Mountain?”
The remaining Spell Casters from Eternal Night Mountain exchanged a look, highly wary at Merlin. Though this mysterious Spell Caster who appeared out of nowhere had killed the red-robed Wizards from Bisque City, they could not ascertain whether he was a friend or a foe.
“Remus, Kewell, stop right now!”
At this moment, Wizard Darknight finally arrived. He immediately yelled at the two Fourth-level Spell Casters on top of Eternal Night Mountain.