Chapter 268: Issuing a Challenge
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Fifth-level Spell Caster?”
Merlin began mumbling to himself. Truthfully, he was rather excited at the prospect. After all, he had just constructed a Second-level Darkness-type spell, Darkness Tide. If it was enhanced by Darkness Heart, Merlin did not know how powerful it really was. However, he was certain that Fourth-level Mind Power would be unable to withstand it.
At the moment, Merlin’s strongest spells were no longer Fiery Collapse and Glacial Finger. They were only at the first stage or first form, and their strength was merely at the level of powerful Fourth-level spells. They would not be of much use against a Fifth-level Spell Caster.
Therefore, Merlin’s greatest strength was currently the second-level spell, Darkness Tide after it had been enhanced by Darkness Heart. If only Darkness Tide was able to trap Fifth-level Mind Power in the illusion or even if it merely somewhat affected it, then Merlin would have the ability to fight a Fifth-level Spell Caster.
In the Dark Magic Region, Merlin would not have the opportunity to battle against a Fifth-level Spell Caster. As for Wizard Leo, Merlin had no intention of going against him for Wizard Leo was much stronger. Even an average Sixth-level Spell Caster would be no match for him. Merlin’s Darkness Tide would have no effect whatsoever on Wizard Leo.
Now, he had the chance to challenge a Fifth-level Spell Caster from Fort Udon. If he succeeded, he would obtain the rank of a Middle gray-robed Wizard in Fort Udon, and receive more benefits.
As a result, Merlin nodded. “I’ll challenge a Middle gray-robed Wizard!”
Seeing that Merlin had agreed to challenge a Fifth-level Spell Caster, these gray-robed Wizards broke out into smiles. Then, a tall and lanky gray-robed Wizard said, “Wizard Merlin, please wait for a moment. I’ll invite a Middle gray-robed Wizard for this challenge!”
Merlin bobbed his head, and then looked toward the translucent rooms. It seemed that Fourth-level Alchemy Creatures were the strongest ones in there.
“Are there no Fifth-level Alchemy Creatures in Fort Udon?”
Merlin softly inquired. If there were Fifth-level Alchemy Creatures, then he would not have to face the Fifth-level Spell Caster directly.
The gray-robed Wizard shook his head slightly. “Wizard Merlin, it’s far from simple to transfigure a powerful Alchemy Creature. The average Third-level Alchemy Creature is already considered formidable. There are very few who would be able to transfigure a Fourth-level Alchemy Creature. There are many alchemists in Fort Udon but the number of those who can transfigure Fourth-level Alchemy Creatures is too few. What’s there to say about Fifth-level Alchemy Creatures? Therefore, if we feel that someone has the capabilities of a Fifth-level Spell Caster, we’ll invite a genuine Fifth-level Spell Caster to test it out.”
After a pause, the gray-robed Wizard shot Merlin a mysterious look, laughing quietly. “What’s more, there’s one good thing about not facing an Alchemy Creature. If a Middle gray-robed Wizard is willing to take on this task, then Wizard Merlin would not need fear for his safety. A Middle gray-robed Wizard would make their moves in an appropriate manner. Once you surrender, they would stop immediately. After all, you were able to defeat a Fourth-level Alchemy Creature, and are already eligible to become a gray-robed Wizard in Fort Udon, so you’re considered as one of our members.”
Initially, Merlin still harbored some doubts about facing a Fifth-level Spell Caster. If his Darkness Tide was useless, then he might be in danger. However, now that he heard what this gray-robed Wizard had said, his worries were thoroughly put to rest. He just had to wait for the right time to show them everything he had, and see how far he was from the standard of a Fifth-level Spell Caster.
After Merlin had waited for a moment, the gray-robed Wizard who had gone to invite a Fifth-level Spell Caster finally returned, but there were no other Spell Casters following behind him.
This gray-robed Wizard shook his head lightly, and said helplessly, “Wizard Merlin, Wizard Sakvara is currently preparing a potion. I’m afraid that it would take two or three days to complete, so for the time being, we invite you to stay in Fort Udon. Wizard Sakvara will naturally come after that.”
He would still have to wait for two or three days. After muttering to himself, Merlin ultimately nodded. He could use this time to make some preparations.
“Alright, I’ll wait for two or three days in Fort Udon.”
Thereafter, a gray-robed Wizard warmly brought Merlin away from the great hall.
“Wizard Merlin, the place that we’ve arranged for you is a s.p.a.ce we prepared expressly for visiting Spell Casters. Just wait there for a few days, and once Wizard Sakvara has finished preparing the potion, we shall inform you.”
Merlin bobbed his head, following which the two of them arrived at a residence with low ceilings. Although it was no castle, the surrounding environment was decent with many rooms. It looked like it was indeed prepared for visiting Wizards.
“Alright, I’ll leave first. After two or three days, I shall update you.”
The gray-robed Wizard finished speaking and left directly.
Merlin gave his surroundings the once-over and was very satisfied. Thereafter, he entered an empty room. The décor inside was relatively simple, and it was completely spotless. Someone must have cleaned it every day.
This residence with low ceilings contained many rooms, but Merlin had observed that almost all of them were empty. This meant that there were very few Wizards from the outside who visited Fort Udon. Even the number of Wizards who wanted to join Fort Udon must be very few.
“Buzz… Buzz…”
Merlin was sitting in the middle of the room when something vibrated at his chest and a scorching heat began to emanate from it.
“The Mind Power duplicate within the Bell s.p.a.ce has reached its limit again?”
Merlin was momentarily stunned, but after some calculations, he realized that it had been a long time since he left the Dark Magic Region and came to the Kurdmansla Islands. It was normal that his Mind Power duplicate would reach its limit during this time.
Thus, Merlin hurriedly extended his Mind Power into the Bell s.p.a.ce. As expected, the Mind Power duplicate in the Bell s.p.a.ce had reached the limits of the Bell s.p.a.ce and needed to leave the Bell s.p.a.ce.
“Fuse!”
Without the slightest hesitation, Merlin immediately fused with the Mind Power duplicate in the Bell s.p.a.ce. He had practiced this many times, so it barely took him a while before the Mind Power duplicate’s Mind Power was completely fused with his own.
Merlin’s Mind Power began to expand greatly, and he felt exhilarated.
“Not bad, my Mind Power has grown immensely once more. Although it’s not at the peak of Third-level Mind Power, it’s nearly there. Perhaps I’ll reach that point after fusing a few more times with the Mind Power duplicate.”
Merlin perceived this growth in his Mind Power and was pleased. Between Third-level and Fourth-level Mind Power, there was a complete leap in the upgrade. The quant.i.tative change would induce a qualitative change. The improvement would be huge, and the required “amount” of Mind Power was also colossal.
Therefore, even though Merlin had the Bell s.p.a.ce, and his Mind Power was growing at an incredible rate, it was not easy to reach the stage of Fourth-level Mind Power. After all, Merlin had only been a Spell Caster for a few years while those Wizards from Spell Caster clans had begun their Mind Meditation since young. Hence, their Mind Power had gradually increased bit by bit through meditation. Merlin, being able to grow at such a pace, had already surpa.s.sed many Spell Casters who had begun their Mind Power Meditation since young.
There would have been such a great increase in his Mind Power if he had not just constructed the Second-level spell, Darkness Tide, and used up a huge portion of Mind Power to stabilize it.
Even so, the strength of Merlin’s current Mind Power was enough to construct a Second-level spell. Of course, it would not use up more Mind Power than Darkness Tide had.
When Merlin was in the Dark Magic Region, he had already chosen a few Second-level spells of different types which he was satisfied with. These spells were relatively stronger ones, unlike the merely average spells in the Neverending Book.
Now, what Merlin had to do was to carefully choose which spell he should construct first.
“I’m in no urgent need for Offensive spells as I have Fiery Collapse and Glacial Finger for now. These are comparable to Fourth-level spells, so at the moment, Offensive spells can’t directly increase my powers.
“The Speed spell Light Breeze is suitable for my current situation. In an unfamiliar place like the Kurdmansla Islands, it’s likely that I’ll run into some danger. If I have Light Breeze, then my chances of escaping when danger happens is greater.”
Merlin carefully thought about it for a moment, before finally focusing his gaze on the Defensive spell Earth Veil. This spell would provide a more complete defense and was much stronger than Guardian Monument.
Although it was merely a Second-level spell, and its defensive capabilities could not compare to Merlin’s robe, this would only be temporary. Once Merlin found some Lava Soil, he would immediately be able to cultivate the Pandora Demon Ability, Fuse Earth.
With the enhancement of the Pandora Demon Ability, Fuse Earth, Merlin would be able to completely combine it with Earth-type Defensive spells. At that point, Merlin’s Earth Veil would become extremely formidable.
Therefore, constructing Earth Veil now was also a way of preparing for the cultivation of Fuse Earth in the future.
With his heart set on this, Merlin instantly initiated the Matrix. “Begin a.n.a.lyzing the Spell Model of Second-level spell Earth Veil!”
“Beep. a.n.a.lysis completed. One hundred eighteen thousand six hundred and thirty-five Spell Models have been newly constructed!”
Earth Veil’s Spell Model could not be considered complex, so the Matrix quickly a.n.a.lyzed many Spell Models from scratch. Merlin began choosing among these for the best Spell Model in terms of the three aspects of stability, power, and compatibility.
Currently, he was constructing a Second-level spell, and beneath the Spell Model of the Second-level spell were the First and Zero-level Spell Models. Therefore, compatibility was evidently an increasingly important factor.
Merlin had realized the significance of compatibility since the previous time he constructed Darkness Tide. Thus, when he selected a Spell Model, firstly, it would have a high compatibility, following which he would consider stability, before finally looking at power.
If it was not highly compatible and clashed with the other Spell Models, then it would easily collapse. If that happened, even the most miraculous potions would be of no use.
“This Spell Model is just it!”
After a long period of selection and comparison, Merlin finally picked out a Spell Model which he was relatively satisfied.
As such, Merlin quickly mobilized his Mind Power and began simulating Earth Veil, gradually constructing it in his Awareness.