A Wizard’s Secret

“The third round!”

Merlin threw a glance at the people next to him. They were the nine other Spell Casters who had also been assigned to Wizard Leo’s tower. Perhaps, in the beginning, some of them were confident that they could become First-level Spell Casters. However, as time passed, these Spell Casters were filled with grievances due to long-term restriction to resources and indifference from Wizard Leo.

Merlin’s emergence seemed to have ignited a glimmer of hope in them. He who did not seem inferior to Spell Casters from other Wizard Towers had won two rounds of matches until then, so they placed all their hopes on Merlin.

“The third round – Wizard Merlin versus Wizard Glyman!”

Finally, the gray-robed Wizard called out Merlin’s name again, to officiate the beginning of the third round.

When Merlin rose to his feet, he felt countless gaze fixed on him. This was in stark contrast to when he left for the first two rounds.

After the previous two rounds of competition, finally, the crowd began to notice Merlin.

“The third round – the best part has finally begun!”

Many Spell Casters who, due to boredom, had their eyes almost drawn together, was slightly more enthusiastic watching this round. There were too many Spell Casters who participated in this conference. In the first two rounds, even Wizard Leo’s tower sent out ten Spell Casters as participants.

As a result, the standard of the previous two rounds of competition was not commendable. Hence, the audience had lost their spirit and were getting sleepy.

However, after the first two rounds, this third round that accumulated only the Spell Casters of certain strength was definitely going to be more exciting to watch.

Merlin reached the high platform quickly. He was facing a man with long auburn hair and dressed in a black robe. Both of them inspected each other in silence.

“Merlin!”

“Glyman!”

After the basic etiquette, the Runic Magic Circle established on the high platform shrouded the entire platform.

The third round had officially begun!

“Boom!”

Wizard Glyman struck almost as soon as the competition began. At the lift of his hand, a flame rose up and almost half of the high platform was engulfed in fire.

There were scorching flames everywhere. This was a Fire-type spell with a wide range of lethality. It seemed that Glyman had observed Merlin’s battle style earlier and figured that Merlin had dominated his opponent by striking first. He would cover the opponent with Dark Mist, let them fall into an illusion, and end the battle by freezing the other party.

However, Glyman had already fired the first shot. To create a chance for himself, he cast a wide range Offensive spell which completely suppressed Merlin from releasing Dark Mist.

“You can’t cast Dark Mist now. Surrender, or you’ll be burned to ashes by the flames.”

Glyman’s voice sounded very calm. Although the power of his wide range Offensive spell was not strong, it was enough to deal with a Spell Caster whose physical attribute was only slightly better than a Normie.

One of the established rules of the conference was that the competition would continue if no one surrendered, and eventually lasted until the other party died!

A look of disappointment washed over Merlin’s face as he shook his head slightly. He thought that he would encounter some powerful Spell Casters at the third round, but Glyman had been a great let down.

“Gale!”

Merlin released Gale in an instant. The silhouette of his body shook slightly before disappearing to the back, avoiding the violent flames. Simultaneously, he also cast Dark Mist which enveloped Glyman.

“I surrender!”

Glyman knew that he had lost after seeing Merlin’s release of Gale and successful escape from the Fire-type spell that he had cast. Hence, before waiting to be enveloped by Dark Mist, he called out to surrender.

“You’re really strong. It’s not a surprise to be defeated by your hands!”

Glyman took a deep look at Merlin before leaving the stage. Just like this, Merlin had successfully passed the third round!

Later, Merlin was greeted by Elena, who expressed extreme excitement when he left the stage. She clenched her fist and spoke in an incoherent manner, “Merlin, three rounds, you’ve actually won three rounds! This is the record established by Wizard Sauron when he was still around!”

Wizard Sauron, who created a three-round winning streak twelve years ago, helped gain some face for Wizard Leo. However, in every conference since then, not one of Wizard Leo’s students had achieved this record. Even winning one round was a rare occurrence, let alone winning three rounds in a row.

Merlin just smiled and did not say anything to Elena who seemed to be carried away by his success. Although Elena was not considered pretty, she was still adorable as the girl next door. She was different from those solemn-looking Spell Casters.

Numerous powerful Spell Casters of Fourth-level or higher sat on the stone benches in front of the stage. The first two rounds were just a screening, hence they were not paying much attention as it was only a means to eliminate those who were obviously underpowered.

However, they started to keep an eye out starting from the third round. Many Spell Casters had noticed the battle between Merlin and Glyman. Wizard Nasha, who had just leveled up as a Fourth-level Spell Caster, smiled at Wizard Leo after seeing Merlin had once again defeated his opponent effortlessly. “Wizard Leo, those gray-robed Wizards have given you a great gift. I remember this young man, Merlin, who came to the Dark Magic Region less than a year ago. In such a short period of time, he has already constructed three spells, including the very complicated Dark Mist. That’s really commendable. Perhaps Merlin can be the next Wizard Sauron?”

Wizard Nasha seemed to have a friendly relationship with Wizard Leo and spoke freely as she was quite familiar with Wizard Leo’s students.

Wizard Leo turned around but shook his head slightly. He replied in a calm voice, “The next Sauron? That may not be it!”

“Well? Wizard Leo, do you think Merlin will win the fourth round?”

From his tone, Wizard Nasha gathered that Wizard Leo had high expectations for Merlin, but the fourth round would be different from the third.

Particularly now that the matches in several other high platforms had also come to an end, Merlin’s opponent in the fourth round had already been decided – it was Wizard Varadi.

Wizard Nasha had watched Wizard Varadi in his previous rounds. He was good at attacking and possessed a strong Mind Power, one which was approaching that of a Second-level Spell Caster.

Acquiring Mind Power close to the level of a Second-level Spell Caster meant that Merlin’s Dark Mist was unable to lure Varadi into the illusion. Besides, Wizard Varadi also possessed several First-level Defensive Spell Scrolls. He was one of the participants who could potentially advance into the quarterfinals.

Nasha did not believe that Merlin had a chance in defeating Varadi.

Wizard Leo did not explain himself but revealed a smile that looked uglier than a cry. He said faintly, “Wait and see, the fourth round is about to begin!”

Wizard Nasha had gotten more confused after sensing the strong confidence in Wizard Leo’s tone. Did Merlin possess a powerful Spell Scroll too?

“The fourth round – Wizard Merlin versus Wizard Varadi!”

As soon as the voice fell, everyone in the audience became quiet instantaneously. The fourth round finally began. Even Wizard Nasha dismissed the doubts in her heart and focused her gaze at the stage.

“Wizard Merlin, surrender if you really can’t do it!”

Elena said weakly. She had watched Wizard Varadi fight and felt that he was unusually strong. She could not think of any way that Merlin could defeat Varadi.

“Surrender?”

Merlin’s gaze was focused on Wizard Varadi who had already stood on the stage. The corner of his mouth curled into a smile as he whispered in a low voice, “It’s only interesting when you encounter a strong opponent. Varadi, let me see how strong the genius Spell Caster of the Dark Magic Region really is.”

Confidence glimmered in Merlin’s eyes. He had only been in the Dark Magic Region for less than a year but he had already transformed from having to rely on the Bell Pendant to defeat a Wizard like Merilung and to battle opponents way better than Merilung. However, he was not getting too thrilled.

“Swoosh!”

Merlin moved quickly to the stage, and then examined Wizard Varadi from top to bottom.

Varadi had a slightly dark skin tone. He was dressed in a short-sleeve, tight-fitting garment with two massive hoop earrings hanging from his ears. His outfit looked rather peculiar and perhaps a little wild.

“Merlin!”

“Varadi.”

Both parties acknowledged each other after the Runic Magic Circle shrouded the entire high platform.

“Dark Mist!”

Merlin took the lead and directly enveloped Varadi in the mist. Since Merlin’s successful construction of Dark Mist, it had been greatly effective in dealing with general Entrance-level Spell Casters who had no ways of resisting it.

Perhaps this was one of the important reasons why Merilung dared to seek revenge alone in Count Selin’s castle.

Dark Mist spread into a wide range and surrounded Varadi completely.

“Frost!”

Merlin did not hesitate to release Frost immediately. A chilly sensation filled the heavy mist.

“Dark Mist is really strong, but not enough to lure me into the illusion!”

A cold voice sounded from somewhere in the mist, and Merlin soon felt a strong fluctuation of Mind Power. This fluctuation had reached the peak of a First-level Spell Caster, which was infinitely close to that of a Second-level Spell Caster, almost the same as Merlin’s current Mind Power.

Merlin’s Zero-level Dark Mist was unable to lure Varadi, who possessed a stronger Mind Power, into the illusion.

Merlin used his Mind Power to monitor the entire match. When he released Frost, Varadi, who did not fall into the illusion, immediately noticed the danger. Strong fluctuation of Wind Elements suddenly appeared around his body, which showed that he had cast a Wind-type spell. Therefore, he escaped from Frost cast by Merlin easily.

“Swoosh!”

When Varadi’s voice fell, he immediately cast a Wind-type spell which greatly increased his speed so he could quickly rush out of the heavy mist. At the same time, a sneer appeared on his face, and the fluctuation of Earth Elements suddenly became strong around his body.

“Sinkhole!”

This was an Earth-type Binding spell. Evidently, Varadi knew that Merlin possessed Gale which gave him an enhanced speed almost equal to him. Therefore, he quickly cast a Binding spell to bind down Merlin.

Merlin was indeed bound to the ground. Several khaki tentacles composed entirely of Earth Elements sprawled up on Merlin’s legs like vines.

Simultaneously, Varadi waved his hand in the air, and a dazzling light flashed across his eyes. Merlin immediately felt a huge threat. This was a powerful Thunder-type Offensive spell of super high speed. In the blink of an eye, the lighting seemed to be rushing toward Merlin.

“It’s over!”

A smile crept across Varadi’s face. At a time like this, Merlin had no choice but to surrender. Otherwise, a powerful Thunder-type Offensive spell would send Merlin into a dead end.