Chapter 374: Blacksand Fort I
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the pitch-black night, a slight breeze caressed the Spell Casters who were sitting around a bonfire. These were the Spell Casters from the Dark Magic Region.
The Dark Magic Region was a good distance away from Blacksand Fort. Even if they flew at full speed they would need a few days’ time. Merlin’s speed of flight was slower compared to the rest. After all, he was relying on a Flying casting tool, so naturally, he could not possibly compare to these Seventh-level Wizards. Furthermore, using a Flying casting tool to fly took up a large amount of Magic Power.
Fortunately, Merlin had plenty of elemental crystal stones and was not worried about exhausting his Magic Power.
Throughout this journey, Wizard Envia and the other Third-level Spell Casters constantly glanced at Merlin. They were invariably in admiration of how Merlin had a Flying casting tool.
“Wizard Merlin, I wonder if you still have another Flying casting tool with you? If you do, please state your conditions. I’ll try my best to fulfill them.”
Wizard Envia was extremely envious of Merlin’s Flying casting tool. He came from a relatively powerful Spell Caster clan but was unable to obtain a Flying casting tool.
Merlin shook his head. “I’m very sorry. I only acquired this one Flying casting tool by pure chance, and don’t have any additional Flying casting tool!”
When he heard what Merlin said, a disappointed look washed over Wizard Envia’s face.
Merlin continued. “Wizard Envia, with your apt.i.tude, you should be able to begin constructing Fourth-level spells very soon. At that point, you would naturally be able to construct a Wind-type Flying spell, which is far superior to a Flying casting tool.”
In general, only Spell Casters above the Fourth-level could construct Flying spells. In reality, with Wizard Envia’s abilities, he should already be able to construct Flying spells now.
However, Wizard Envia smiled bitterly as he shook his head. “It’s not that easy to construct a Fourth-level spell. Even now, I’m still a.n.a.lyzing Fourth-level spells from scratch. It’s far too difficult, and it may be a few more years before I can construct a Fourth-level spell. What’s more, I didn’t construct Wind-type spells…”
It was rare to find a Spell Caster who had not constructed Wind-type spells. After all, everyone knew the importance of speed, and if one wished to fly, one would still need a Wind-type spell.
It was not surprising that Wizard Envia was insistent on acquiring the Flying casting tool.
After falling silent for a moment, Wizard Envia said softly, “Wizard Merlin, if you become a Fourth-level Spell Caster in the future, and have a Flying spell, is it possible for you to hand the Flying casting tool to me?”
As he looked at Wizard Envia’s hopeful gaze, Merlin pondered the matter briefly before saying, “I’ll consider it. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Wizard Envia nodded and a smile broke out across his face. He had searched for a long time in the Resource Tower but he did not come across a Flying casting tool.
He had even looked for it in other places. He was willing to pay a large price in order to obtain a Flying casting tool but was unable to find it even until now.
Now that he had finally discovered that Merlin had this rare Flying casting tool, he would not let the opportunity slip past him so easily, even if he had to wait a few years.
It was rather chilly in early spring. The Spell Casters surrounding the bonfire slowly began to shut their eyes, beginning to meditate.
Merlin did not know what Blacksand Fort was like, so he asked Wizard Envia, “Wizard Envia, I wonder how much you know about Blacksand Fort?”
“Blacksand Fort? It’s a large spell casters’ organization, very different from the Dark Magic Region! In the Dark Magic Region, there’s only one Ninth-level Spell Caster, but there are many Ninth-level Spell Casters and two Great Wizards in Blacksand Fort!”
In the current world of Spell Casters, Great Wizards were relatively uncommon. In order to become a large spell casters’ organization, it was absolutely necessary to have a Great Wizard.
For instance, even though the legacy and inheritances of Sterling House were still lacking in comparison to spell casters’ organizations, the presence of the Great Wizard Sterling meant that Sterling House was a formidable force that was comparable to a large spell casters’ organization.
Blacksand Fort, having two Great Wizards, could indeed be considered an extremely powerful large-sized spell casters’ organization. After all, even during the most glorious era of the Dark Magic Region, they merely had the one and only Great Wizard Fidel.
Although Merlin had known that the Dark Magic Region was a small-sized spell casters’ organization, he did not expect that the disparity between them and other large-sized spell casters’ organizations was so wide.
…
After an arduous journey lasting a few days, Merlin and the rest finally landed in a desert that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The temperature was high here, and it was scorching, causing them to feel slightly uncomfortable.
Merlin swept his Mind Power quickly across the area but did not discover anything out of the ordinary. However, Heusius and the rest had stopped here.
“Is Blacksand Fort here?”
Merlin could not help but ask.
Wizard Heusius bobbed his head, but he appeared rather gloomy. He said tiredly, “Indeed, Blacksand Fort should be here, yet something’s different today. I can’t find Blacksand Fort.”
“You can’t find Blacksand Fort?”
Wizard Heusius was a Seventh-level Spell Caster with unparalleled Mind Power. It was strange indeed that not even he could find Blacksand Fort. Blacksand Fort was a large spell casters’ organization. They could not possibly have relocated without reason.
Therefore, this matter was rather peculiar!
Suddenly, the crimson vertical eye in Wizard Leo’s forehead opened gradually. A beam of blood-red light transformed into a light veil, shrouding the surrounding area.
Following that, Wizard Leo laughed coldly. “So, someone is playing tricks. It’s an illusion!”
Merlin’s heart leaped. He possessed Darkness Heart, so no illusion should be able to fool him. However, he was not able to detect anything out of the ordinary now.
If this was truly an illusion, then there was only one explanation. This illusion was not created by any Darkness-type spells, which was why Merlin’s Darkness Heart did not react at all.
“Darkness Eye, delude!”
Since Darkness Eye was able to produce illusions, naturally, it was able to dispel illusions too. As soon as Wizard Leo spoke, the crimson third eye in his forehead blinked quickly. A blood-red light shone and turned into ripples, spreading outward in all directions.
“Hum hum hum.”
Everywhere that the blood-red light washed over, a faint light veil appeared. This light veil rapidly disappeared under the power of Darkness Eye, revealing one towering, magnificent building after another.
There was a world of difference between these buildings and the towers of the Dark Magic Region. The buildings of Blacksand Fort had pointed roofs and a circular structure. They were arranged closely together and formed a spectacular sight.
Furthermore, a spray of black sand grains would drift by in the sky once in a while. It came from Blacksand Fort.
According to rumors, every few months, Blacksand Fort would experience an extremely rare black sandstorm. The grains of sand were all black and had mystical properties. They could be collected to be used as materials for some casting tools.
Blacksand Fort was located in such an unforgiving environment because of these precious black sand grains. Moreover, Blacksand Fort was well-known for their alchemy and had transfigured many powerful alchemy products. They were even able to transfigure a few Enhancing casting tools.
“I wonder if Blacksand Fort could currently still produce an a.s.sembled casting tool like the Bell s.p.a.ce?”
Merlin thought of his Bell s.p.a.ce. It was certain that not just any Spell Caster would be able to transfigure such a wondrous a.s.sembled casting tool.
Since he had come to Blacksand Fort, he could make thorough inquiries about a.s.sembled casting tools. Perhaps he might even find more components of the Bell s.p.a.ce.
The current Bell s.p.a.ce was composed of a few casting tools. If he was able to find further components of the Bell s.p.a.ce and combine them successfully, an even more peculiar change would occur, and he would have a casting tool which was more powerful and mystical.
After Wizard Leo had used Darkness Eye to dispel the illusion of Blacksand Fort, the sprawling desert disappeared without a trace. In its place was a fascinating small town.
It was a small town indeed. Blacksand Fort only had one doorway as its entrance. The other areas seemed to be surrounded by low ramparts. However, if one took a closer look, one would see that these ramparts were joined to the sky by lines of mysterious runes. This was obviously a large-scale Runic Magic Circle that was protecting Blacksand Fort.
Only through that large doorway could one enter Blacksand Fort!
“Let’s go!”
Heusius wore a rather disheartened look – to think that Blacksand Fort had set up an illusion. If Wizard Leo was not around, they would not have been able to enter. What a joke it would have been, and the entire Dark Magic Region would become a laughing stock.
“Whoosh whoosh.”
Just as Merlin and the rest approached the huge doorway, two Spell Casters appeared before them, blocking the way. One of them, a tall and lanky Spell Caster, gave Wizard Leo a long, deep look before saying haughtily, “Which spell casters’ organization or Spell Caster clan are you from?”
Merlin frowned. The force around these two Spell Casters was not very strong. At best, they would be Fourth-level Spell Casters, yet their manners were so arrogant.
“We’re from the Dark Magic Region!”
Wizard Heusius spoke coldly. Following that, he handed a token of the Dark Magic Region for the two Spell Casters to examine.
Thereafter, the two Spell Casters nodded. “That’s right, you’re from the Dark Magic Region! That illusion earlier was set up using a Runic Magic Circle by a Seventh-level Spell Caster from Blacksand Fort. Even a Spell Caster above the Seventh-level would be hard-pressed to detect it, to say nothing of dispelling it. In general, we would have to head out to meet them.”
After a pause, the two Spell Casters gazed deeply at Wizard Leo, a solemn light s.h.i.+ning in their eyes. “Nevertheless, we were bringing in the members of another medium-sized spell casters’ organization earlier and were planning to let you wait for a moment. To think that this Wizard was able to shatter the illusion…”
Anyone could see that these two Spell Casters had their eyes on Wizard Leo.
However, the rest of them knew quite well that these Spell Casters had not been bringing in other Spell Casters. It was evident that this was deliberate. They had wanted to make a joke of the Dark Magic Region or something along those lines. It was not the first time they had done this. Only they had not expected their attempt to backfire, for Wizard Leo was able to forcibly dispel the illusion.
If Blacksand Fort was to a.s.sign blame and found out the cause of this, the both of them would be punished. Thus, there was a subtle, unfriendly manner in the way they looked at the Spell Casters of the Dark Magic Region.