A Wizard’s Secret

“Wizard Leo, we meet again.”

One of the Wizards who Wizard Hobbes had brought along suddenly spoke, breaking the stifling atmosphere.

“Wizard Gryzllo!”

Wizard Leo bobbed his head. He had met Wizard Gryzllo previously when they joined forces with Abyss Fort to keep the masters of Ozmu in check. Wizard Gryzllo was also a Seventh-level Spell Caster.

“This is Wizard Bahrain! The three of us have had a swift discussion. Wizard Merlin isn’t just Wizard Leo’s student. He’s a prodigious Spell Caster who had recently appeared in the Dark Magic Region, a Six-Elemental Spell Caster more gifted than Kleis. Am I correct so far?”

Wizard Gryzllo shot Merlin a deep glance and then spoke in a calm, even tone.

Wizard Leo was not too surprised. Merlin had only recently become an official member in the Dark Magic Region. On the surface, Abyss Fort, Fire City, and the other spell casters’ organizations seemed to have united now to deal with Ozmu. In reality, these few organizations were competing amongst each other as well, so it was natural that each of them had unique ways of finding out important developments.

The news of Merlin, the Six-Elemental Spell Caster, had been circulating outside the small circle of the Dark Magic Region, so of course, Abyss Fort did not have to try too hard to know of this.

“That’s right, Merlin is a Six-Elemental Spell Caster indeed, and he has signed the highest-level contract with the Dark Magic Region! He has become an official member of the Dark Magic Region!”

Wizard Leo did not plan on hiding this. Matters like this could not be concealed anyway. When Kleis, a Five-Elemental Spell Caster became an official member of the Dark Magic Region, the news had spread to each spell casters’ organization. What’s more to say of an even more gifted Six-Elemental Spell Caster like Merlin?

“A Six-Elemental Spell Caster… So many talented ones are emerging in the Dark Magic Region. Kleis had just left, and now the even more prodigious Merlin! However, Wizard Leo, I’m afraid that a prodigy like Merlin would become Ozmu’s preoccupation…”

Before Wizard Gryzllo could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Wizard Leo. “Regarding Ozmu, the Dark Magic Region can handle them by ourselves. What we’re discussing now is the matter of our exchange. How did your discussion go in relation to the conditions I’ve listed out earlier?”

It was obvious that Wizard Leo did not want to dwell excessively on Ozmu.

Upon listening to what Wizard Leo had to say, Wizard Hobbes and the other two exchanged glances, after which Wizard Hobbes said in a low voice, “We can agree to these conditions but there’s something Wizard Leo should know. Spell Casters who enter Darkness Void of Abyss Fort will face a certain extent of danger. If Wizard Merlin becomes lost in Darkness Void, we would take no responsibility.”

Not only was Wizard Leo not worried, he even broke out in a smile. “That’s to be expected. Would I be ignorant of the dangers of Darkness Void? If Merlin really were to become lost in Darkness Void, I’ll still keep to my promise and hand over the cultivation method for Darkness Eye.”

“Alright then!”

Wizard Hobbes and the rest nodded their head in a satisfactory manner as their eyes flashed with passion.

“This is the cultivation method for Darkness Heart!”

From his ring, Wizard Hobbes took out a deftly assembled book which contained only a few thin pages written in the Molta language.

Merlin took the book from Wizard Hobbes’ hands and flipped through it briefly, following which he used the Matrix to record the cultivation method of Darkness Heart.

“Wizard Merlin, sign this contract.”

Seeing that Merlin had already looked through the cultivation method for Darkness Heart, Wizard Hobbes immediately took out a contract that was suffused with a faint golden glow.

Merlin nodded. He had already signed a contract with the Dark Magic Region, so he seemed to be familiar with the process. After he took the contract, he extended his Mind Power onto the paper, and declared each word solemnly, “I swear upon my name, Wilson Merlin, to never divulge the Darkness-type spell and Darkness Heart that I shall obtain from Abyss Fort!”

With each word that Merlin uttered, a corresponding mysterious rune would float out from the contract paper before it sank into the paper. When the final word was spoken, a powerful pulling force gathered a portion of his Mind Power and imprinted it onto the contract.

“The contract is signed. Wizard Merlin, are you ready to head toward the library to pick out a Darkness-type spell, or are you going directly to Darkness Void to cultivate Darkness Heart?”

Wizard Hobbes kept the contract paper and squinted his eyes as he asked.

Merlin was just about to inquire about Darkness Void, but Wizard Leo immediately answered for him, “Merlin will go to Darkness Void to cultivate Darkness Heart first.”

Seeing that Wizard Leo had spoken, Merlin could only nod, but with a face full of doubt. He was utterly uninformed about Darkness Void in Abyss Fort. Besides, Wizard Hobbes had just said that there was a certain degree of danger in entering Darkness Void, which caused Merlin to feel a trace of hesitation.

“Later, on our way there, I’ll slowly explain the situation of Darkness Void in close detail.”

Wizard Leo seemed to have read the hesitation in Merlin’s heart and made the effort to explain.

Merlin nodded, after which Wizard Hobbes and the rest stood up. “Let’s go, I’ll bring you to Darkness Void.”

Following that, Merlin and Wizard Leo trailed behind Wizard Hobbes as they entered the complicated system of dark passages.

In the pitch-black passage, Wizard Leo began explaining Darkness Void to Merlin.

“Darkness Void is a mystical area that was created by the founder of Abyss Fort, the Great Wizard Damani, who used a tremendous amount of energy in this effort. It’s filled with an endless flood of Darkness Element and has the illusive effect of Darkness-type spells. Once one enters Darkness Void, one will be caught in an illusion.

“This is, of course, hazardous, but the Great Wizard Damani wouldn’t have just created an area that was purely dangerous. Although Darkness Void is a dangerous place which would trap people in illusions, it’s extremely conducive for the cultivation of Darkness Heart. If one works with Darkness Void and resists the illusions, Darkness Heart would be cultivated without any obstruction. You’ll understand the specifics of this once you look closely at the cultivation method of Darkness Heart.”

Wizard Leo provided a simple introduction to Darkness Void, and Merlin was clear about its functions, which was to help Spell Casters who were determined to cultivate Darkness Heart.

It was likely that the Great Wizard Damani’s original intention was to allow the Spell Casters of Abyss Fort to utilize Darkness Void so that they would better cultivate Darkness Heart.

However, from what Merlin could see now, there were very few people who had cultivated Darkness Heart in Abyss Fort, so he could not help but feel doubtful.

Wizard Leo seemed to have guessed Merlin’s thoughts, and said softly, “Of course, Darkness Void is a dangerous place. A moment of inattention and one would be lost completely… However, there’s a treasure in Abyss Fort called Clarity Stone. As the name implies, with this stone, one would be able to stay clear-headed in Darkness Void and not worry about falling into an illusion. Thus, cultivating Darkness Heart becomes even easier. However, for the past hundreds of years, Abyss Fort has not possessed a Clarity Stone. Wizard Hobbes, am I right?”

Shortly, Wizard Hobbes’ steps stopped. Even though they could not see his expression in the darkness, they expected him to be gloomy. However, Wizard Hobbes only replied in a cold voice, “That’s right, Abyss Fort no longer has a Clarity Stone, so the majority of Spell Casters who entered Darkness Void were lost in the illusion. Only a few of them actually managed to cultivate Darkness Heart.”

In fact, Wizard Hobbes was concealing something. In Abyss Fort, only a few Spell Casters had cultivated Darkness Heart. Moreover, under the corrupt influence of Ozmu, some of these Spell Casters had betrayed Abyss Fort.

“Alright, Darkness Void is right in front.”

Wizard Hobbes turned around and shot Merlin a deep look, speaking in an indifferent tone, “You understand the dangers of Darkness Void – without a Clarity Stone, a vast majority of those who entered Darkness Void would be completely lost inside.”

This was also part of why Wizard Hobbes and the rest had so readily agreed to this. Darkness Void provided amazing benefits for the cultivation of Darkness Heart but without a Clarity Stone, entering it was akin to suicide. Eight or nine out of ten would be lost forever in the illusion.

“Who said he would enter without a Clarity Stone?”

Just as Merlin was struggling with his own hesitation, everyone heard Wizard Leo’s voice clearly. At the same time, an egg-sized, oval, black stone had appeared on Wizard Leo’s palm. The stone was emitting a peculiar force, which lightened Merlin’s somewhat heavy mood.

“Is that a Clarity Stone? It really is a Clarity Stone!”

Wizard Hobbes could not help but cry out in surprise. Wizard Gryzllo, as well as Wizard Bahrain, widened their eyes in shock, their gazes fixed on the black stone in Wizard Leo’s hand as their faces twisted with astonishment.

For hundreds of years, the Clarity Stone had been missing from Abyss Fort. Otherwise, with their ownership of Darkness Void, how could they possibly have declined to such a state?

In the beginning, Abyss Fort had been far stronger than the Dark Magic Region, Fire City, and other spell casters’ organizations but they had used up their Clarity Stones until there was nothing left. There had been a lull in the emergence of talent, and their power suffered a great loss and gradually declined over time.

Therefore, looking at the Clarity Stone in Wizard Leo’s hand now, the Spell Casters of Abyss Fort were naturally astounded.

“Would I so recklessly allow Merlin to enter Darkness Void without preparation?”

A grim “smile” appeared on Wizard Leo’s face. Even though such a “smile”, along with that terrifying expression would frighten anyone, it made Merlin heave a sigh of relief. It seemed like Wizard Leo had prepared everything.

With the Clarity Stone, he would be much safer when he entered Darkness Void, and his chances of cultivating Darkness Heart successfully were greatly increased.

“Merlin, take this Clarity Stone and go into Darkness Void.”

The crimson third-eye on Wizard Leo’s forehead was constantly blinking, glowing with its peculiar blood-red light, making Wizard Gryzllo, Wizard Hobbes, and Wizard Bahrain, the three Seventh-level Spell Casters, feel an indescribable pressure in their hearts.

Only when they looked at Wizard Leo’s empty arm socket did the three Seventh-level Spell Casters recall that Leo had just beheaded a Seventh-level Spell Caster from Ozmu. Even though they coveted the Clarity Stone, they would not make any foolhardy move at this point in time.

“Darkness Void, open!”

After Wizard Hobbes had casually created a few mysterious runes, a thick stone door began to open slowly. It was pitch-dark inside, and not even one’s Mind Power could detect anything inside.

Darkness Void was just behind that stone door. Merlin took a deep breath and stepped into it.

“Wizard Leo, we’ll wait now. Most of those who entered Darkness Void was able to get out in two or three days, a week at the most! If seven days have passed, then Wizard Merlin can no longer be rescued, even if he holds a Clarity Stone.”

Wizard Hobbes snorted coldly. It was clear that he was displeased about Wizard Leo’s somewhat threatening gesture where a Sixth-level Spell Caster had dared to threaten three Seventh-level Spell Casters.

However, as they thought about the Seventh-level Spell Caster from Ozmu who was beheaded by Wizard Leo, Wizard Hobbes and the rest could only put up with it for now and accompanied Wizard Leo to quietly wait outside Darkness Void.