Chapter 223: Skeletons
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
All the illusions could not be broken through by external forces, even with the help of the Clarity Stone. As Merlin rested, he realized that he had been in Darkness Void for a long time, and the Clarity Stone that was once the size of an egg, was gradually getting smaller.
This would mean that the strange scent that the Clarity Stone gave off would not be contained for long. Perhaps one day the Clarity Stone would be completely exhausted and by that time if Merlin could not rely on his own strength, he could have been lost in Darkness Void forever.
“Faith. I must have a strong sense of faith in order to combat obstacles and break through this illusion!”
This time, Merlin was more determined. The illusion was not that terrifying as it only affected him on a spiritual level. That was why no external forces would affect the illusion.
However, as long as he had a firm belief, no illusion could get to him.
However, a strong sense of faith was not something that could be established immediately. When Merlin was in the Kingdom of Light, he had received old man Etha’s Spell Manual from a Normie and relied on the Matrix to become the Six-Elemental Spell Caster he was now.
Merlin did not believe he could become a Six-Elemental Spell Caster without the Matrix.
“Without the Matrix, I may not have become a Six-Elemental Spell Caster. It would have been very difficult but I’ll learn from experience and construct Spell Models to become a Spell Caster!”
Merlin hesitated as the question echoed through his mind. Would he still be a powerful Spell Caster without the Matrix?
The old Merlin relied too much on the Matrix to construct Spell Models and prepare potions. With special tools to ease the difficulty and save time constructing Spell Models, he knew in his heart that these tools were not that unique.
They could not give him faith!
“Faith, faith…”
Merlin whispered as his eyes began to light up.
Merlin put the Clarity Stone back into his ring once more, and his surroundings began to change instantly. A fierce wind howled as his surroundings turned into what looked like a human purgatory.
Merlin slowly extended his arm and felt the strength of his Magic Power within him. A total of twelve Spell Models ran in an orderly manner. This was the most amount of real power Merlin had ever felt!
The source of this strong faith came from his own strength!
It was clear to Merlin that he did not possess strong faith but strong power. With power came faith, and as he realized this, he let out a slight grin.
Merlin looked around the life-like purgatory before him and grinned as he lightly shut his eyes.
After a moment, Merlin opened his eyes and his surroundings returned to the cold and dry cave. His body still stood in the same place.
“Broken! The illusion did not affect me!”
Merlin smiled slightly. He finally broke through the illusion of Darkness Void with his strong faith.
In fact, there were many ways to break through an illusion but it boiled down to a Spell Caster’s determination. There were some who could break through an illusion with just their powerful mindset.
Some people wholeheartedly desired to become stronger, and with their pure intent, could break through the illusion.
There were also some who were already mentally strong and were terrified of any illusion but they, too, could break through the illusion. In short, it was due to Merlin’s firm faith that he was able to break through his illusion.
“Turns out it’s only the third day!”
After Merlin broke through the illusion, he asked the Matrix and found out that it had only been his third day in Darkness Void. Merlin had gotten through the illusion but he was still in no rush to cultivate Darkness Heart.
After all, there were three types of Darkness Heart. He could already cultivate the first type but he wanted to try the second and third types of Darkness Heart.
Therefore, he still needed to spend more time in Darkness Void and experience more illusions. It would be best to be completely prepared. No one truly knew how formidable the illusion of the second and third types of Darkness Heart would be. All Merlin could do now was stay in Darkness Void and experience various other illusions.
…
Outside Darkness Void, Wizard Leo sat quietly on the floor. Not far from him was Wizard Hobbes, Wizard Gryzllo, and Wizard Bahrain, who had all accompanied him.
Merlin had been in Darkness Void for three days but there was not a single movement in it. Wizard Leo’s third eye was constantly s.h.i.+fting, seemingly reflecting Wizard Leo’s anxious feeling.
Wizard Hobbes looked up into the calm Darkness Void and said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Wizard Leo, I’ve already reminded you that it’s not easy to enter Darkness Void. Even with the Clarity Stone, it’ll be eventually exhausted. Perhaps you did not understand the specific information about Darkness Void I explained at Abyss Fort, but there’s no harm in reminding you now so you must be mentally prepared.”
After a pause, Wizard Hobbes continued. “Darkness Void was created by the Great Wizard Damani to help the Spell Casters of Abyss Fort cultivate Darkness Heart. There are three types of Darkness Heart. Each form has different requirements and so the illusions of Darkness Void are divided into three stages in a total of seven days! The first to third day is spent on the weakest illusion. If you resist through this time, you could easily cultivate the first form of Darkness Heart.
“From the fourth day to the sixth, the strength of the illusions would increase drastically. If you can get through them, you can cultivate the second form of Darkness Heart with no issue.
“The seventh day will be the strongest illusion. If even we, Seventh-level Spell Casters, came in, it would be of no use as we would all fall under the strong illusion. Hehe, you must depend on your own strength to get through the illusion and finally, you can cultivate the third form of Darkness Heart. However, even during the peak of Abyss Fort, there were only a handful of Spell Casters who could get through the seven days and cultivate the third form of Darkness Heart! If Merlin doesn’t come out after seven days, hehe, I’m afraid it’ll be too late. When the time comes, Wizard Leo, you must not forget your promise!”
Wizard Hobbes spoke but Wizard Leo’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, “We’ll wait for seven days and talk about it then.”
Wizard Leo’s tone was calm but the blood-shot eye on his forehead could not help but stare into the darkness of Darkness Void. After all, it was almost the end of Merlin’s third day…
…
“Huh? The strength of the illusions has increased?”
Merlin sat calmly. It was now his fourth day in Darkness Void, and from today, Merlin realized that the strength of the illusion had greatly increased.
This time, Merlin was surrounded by people he knew. There were his two wives Avril and Charise, and his father Old Wilson. There were also familiar faces from the Kingdom of Light such as old man Etha, little fatty Gutt, Anson, and the others.
Such familiar faces appeared in Merlin’s illusion. They were so vivid and brought back many memories for Merlin.
“Merlin, you’re late again. I’ll get punished by Swordsman Pero…”
The red-headed boy, Anson, complained to Merlin.
“Merlin, I’ve gotten two pretty sisters again for today.”
Little fatty Gutt whispered to Merlin with a smirk on his face.
“Merlin, if you fool around with them, I won’t go easy on you!”
Macy said with a sullen look on her face as she “warned” Merlin.
There were also Old Wilson, old man Etha, and the others. One by one, familiar people appeared before Merlin. Even though he knew that it was just an illusion, Merlin could not help but drift into his memories.
“This may just be an illusion but it would make people want to stay and forever be immersed in it…”
Merlin whispered. He felt nostalgic as the familiar people, faces, and voices flashed through his mind.
The illusion of Darkness Void was able to evoke long-lasting memories from Merlin’s mind. This made Merlin feel uncomfortable as he allowed himself to be immersed in it.
Such a powerful illusion in Darkness Void would surely cause many Spell Caster to become lost in it.
“It’s all fake. I know this is not real so how can I be so dumb to be immersed in it? Gutt, Anson, Father, rest a.s.sured, I’ll return to the Kingdom of Light. I won’t be immersed in this unreal illusion. I must end this!”
Merlin said with determination. Although the illusion made him reminiscent of his past, he still decided to break through the illusion. He could have been nostalgic, but he would not get lost. Thus, he shut his eyes tightly and as he opened them, the illusion disappeared, and he was back in the cold and dry cave.
“Matrix, how many days have I been in Darkness Void?”
Merlin asked. He had already experienced many illusions in Darkness Void but was unsure how long it had been. The illusions did not affect the Matrix and it had recorded Merlin’s time in Darkness Void.
“You’ve been in Darkness Void for five days and eight hours!”
The Matrix’s response was detailed, and Merlin had been so absent-minded. He had unknowingly immersed himself in the illusion for an entire day. From the fourth day, the illusions had become much stronger than the days before.
“It has been five days… It’s time to cultivate Darkness Heart.”
Merlin felt his time in Darkness Void was almost up. As he prepared to cultivate Darkness Heart, he saw something from the corner of his eye. He looked up and saw skeletons laying on the cold ground before him.
“Could these be the Spell Casters from Abyss Fort who entered Darkness Void?”
Merlin’s heart skipped a beat. These could be the Spell Casters who were trained by Abyss Fort to enter Darkness Void but they had all died here as they failed to cultivate Darkness Heart.
Merlin stood up and gently walked toward the pile of skeletons.