A Wizard’s Secret

“You’ve passed!”

Merlin heaved a slight sigh of relief. Him passing the obstacle this time was indeed kind of an opportunistic event. The Flame Being did not mirror Merlin’s Darkness Heart, which allowed Merlin to utilize the enhancing effects of Darkness Heart on Darkness-type spells to pass the first obstacle.

This also showed that the simulation ability of the first obstacle was not perfect. At least, Merlin’s Darkness Heart and his enhanced spells could not be replicated.

The Flame Being’s eyes were scorching hot as he scanned Merlin intensely. Then he said with a calm voice, “Yes, although you’re suspected of ingenuity, this first obstacle was never originally intended for an average Spell Caster. If I’m not mistaken, your Darkness Tide was only a Second-level spell, yet it has such immense power. You must’ve cultivated Darkness Heart, right? Only Pandora Demon Abilities that were integrated into spells can’t be replicated.”

Merlin did not answer, assuming that to be the truth.

“Alright, let’s go. You’ve passed the first obstacle, but there are two more obstacles awaiting you next!”

The Flame Being said as he stared at Merlin.

Meanwhile, Merlin took a glance at Wizard Bayton right next to him. There was no way that the other person could pass the first obstacle. Leaving him there was undoubtedly like sending him to his death.

After a moment of thoughts, Merlin looked up and asked the Flame Being, “If I’ve passed all three obstacles, can you let Wizard Bayton leave?”

“Leave? Heh heh. I can only tell you that there’s such hope, but only if you can get through all three obstacles!”

Although the Flame Being did not answer directly, he had indirectly revealed a trace of information. As long as Merlin passed the three obstacles, then it was also possible for Wizard Bayton to leave safely.

On that thought, Merlin said to Wizard Bayton, “Wizard Bayton, wait quietly here, don’t attempt the obstacles again.”

Wizard Bayton nodded, a hopeful look appeared on his face. He smiled and said, “Wizard Merlin, go ahead, I believe you can surely pass all three obstacles!”

After a few reminders, Merlin proceeded to follow the Flame Being, gradually leaving the room. He reentered the long corridor, and then reached another dimmed stone room.

This stone room was very dry and had a foul smell of dust in the air. It seemed that no one had come in for a long time.

There were some flame totems in the dry stone room. These flame totems were vivid and looked like they could be ignited.

“Well, here’s the second obstacle!”

The Flame Being proclaimed slowly after he brought Merlin to the stone room.

“This is the second obstacle? Where’s the guardian?”

Merlin searched around for a moment but did not see any guardian.

“Guardian? The second obstacle doesn’t have a guardian. You only need to remain in this stone room for half an hour. Blazing flames will be ignited from these flame totems. You can use spells or even Pandora Demon Abilities, but you can’t use Defensive-type casting tools, so you have to take off that two robes on you.”

The Flame Being simply introduced the rules of this second obstacle, which involved surviving the scorching flames within the room.

After seeing the rules of the second obstacle, Merlin’s mind was even more certain that the owner of this ancient monument must have very high attainment in Fire-type spells. This endurance of burning flames was very likely a test.

Although Merlin had constructed Fire-type spells and even Fire-type Pandora Demon Abilities, he had no idea if he could withstand the scorching flames.

Nevertheless, since he had arrived at the second obstacle, Merlin wanted to attempt it anyway.

“Come on, second obstacle, I’m ready!”

Merlin said to the Flame Being with a serious expression.

The Flame Being nodded and then swung his hand forcefully, and the door of the stone room was immediately sealed.

“Let’s begin, flame totems!”

As the voice of the Flame Being fell, the temperature of the entire stone chamber rose rapidly. The vivid flame totems on the surrounding walls seemed to have “come to life”. Streaks of flames began floating out of the flame totems, spreading into the entire stone room.

Merlin took a deep breath and immediately cast the Second-level Earth-type spell, Earth Veil. He was also ready to unleash Glacial Finger at any moment

Before long, the flames enveloped Merlin and his Earth Veil was pierced instantly when met with these flames.

Moreover, Merlin tried to release Frigid Ice, but it was instantly evaporated by the flames before it could condense into ice crystals. The strength of these flames seemed to be more terrifying than Merlin’s Fiery Collapse.

“Pandora Demon Ability, Glacial Finger!”

As Merlin unleashed Glacial Finger, the frost could freeze some of the flames, but soon, a large blaze of flames would sweep through and melt the ice crystals completely.

“Even Glacial Finger has no effect!”

Merlin inhaled sharply. He did not intend to unravel the secret of the flames at all. He was only a First-level Spell Caster. How could he comprehend the profound mystery of the flames? Even those Seventh-level Spell Casters would not understand the enigma of the elements.

Perhaps, only those Great Wizard would comprehend the mysteries of the elements. This second obstacle which was set by the Spell Caster who left behind this ancient monument, served no effect at all, according to Merlin’s perspective.

In the beginning, it was able to stop most Spell Casters who wanted to pass the obstacle.

Merlin had never thought of understanding the secret of the flames. He just wanted to see if spells and Pandora Demon Abilities could be used to resist the burning flames, but now it seemed that it would not work. He was unable to resist the scorching flames. If he let the flames near his body, he would be incinerated to ashes in an instant.

“I surrender!”

Merlin did not show any hesitance and admitted defeat. He had three chances to get through the obstacle, so naturally, he would not want to die in vain.

As Merlin’s voice fell, suddenly, the surrounding flames quickly dissipated, and the temperature of the entire stone chamber dropped rapidly, returning to normal in no time.

“Failed? It’s only the first try. You’ve two more chances!”

The Flame Being’s voice rang again. He seemed to have predicted that Merlin would fail.

Merlin frowned, and asked in a deep voice, “The flames of the second obstacle – I’m afraid that’s not only a Fourth-level spell right? It’s even stronger than my fiery Collapse!”

Merlin’s Fiery Collapse was the most powerful spell which could match that of a Fourth-level spell. Same as Glacial Finger but it had no effect on the flames in the stone room. Those flames were even more powerful than Fiery Collapse, which brought Merlin to his question.

“It’s no big deal if I reveal it to you. The flames in the second obstacle are completely simulated from the powers of flames from Fifth-level spells. Your two Pandoras Demon Abilities, no, it should be three Pandora Demon Abilities, won’t have any effect.”

The Flame Being did not keep it a secret, explaining the flames in the stone room briefly.

“What? Simulation of flames from Fifth-level spells? The usage of casting tools is even prohibited. With spells alone, even with additional Pandora Demon Abilities, I’m only at the first stage. At best, I can only match the peak of Fourth-level spells. How am I supposed to resist these flames?”

When Merlin heard that the flames were all comparable to Fifth-level spells, he knew that he could not resist it no matter what. Not only him, but he was certain that most Spell Casters would not be able to resist it too.

On the other hand, the Flame Being seemed calm as he slowly said, “Your strength is comparable to a Fourth-level Spell Caster, so the flames of the second obstacle are a Fifth-level spell. If you have the strength of a Third-level Spell Caster, then the flames will only have the power of Fourth-level spells. Some Fourth-level Spell Casters have Pandora Demon Abilities, and can even cultivate until the second stage, so this second obstacle will be relatively easy for them. However, Spell Casters like that, in all these years, not even one of them have been here. So far, there are only three people who were able to get through the second obstacle!”

“Three people?”

Merlin’s face was solemn, and his emotions gradually calmed down. If the second obstacle was easier than the first obstacle, how could it be called the second obstacle then?

Just as the Flame Being mentioned, this second obstacle was not considered difficult. If there was a Fourth-level Spell Caster who happened to have cultivated a Second-level Defensive-type of Pandora Demon Ability, staying in the room for half an hour would really be a piece of cake.

However, such Spell Casters were too scarce. The Flame Being also said that in such a long period of time, he had never seen even one of these Spell Casters.

There were already three people who passed the second obstacle. Although there was only a handful of them, still, three of them had gotten through the second obstacle. This also showed that the second obstacle was not completely impossible to pass.

If one desired to understand the mystery of the flames, it was virtually impossible. Merlin also believed that the three people who had passed the second obstacle definitely did not do so by comprehending the enigma within the flames, but had other methods instead.

Merlin thought for a moment and asked the Flame Being, “Has there been a Seventh-level Spell Caster here? How did they get through the first and second obstacles?”

The Flame Being looked calmly at Merlin and then replied, “Not bad that you can think of this. You’re much smarter than those other halfwit Spell Casters. Of those who passed the second obstacle, there was indeed one Seventh-level Spell Caster, but the first and second obstacles for Seventh-level Spell Casters were completely different.”

Though the Flame Being did not explain clearly, Merlin had faintly guessed that this place could sadly be the same as Bell Space, which also had limits.

The limit would be Seventh-level Spell Casters. For the first obstacle, it would be difficult to replicate a Seventh-level Spell Caster, perhaps, it could not be replicated at all. It was because every Seventh-level spell was constructed personally by the Spell Caster and was exclusively unique. Copying that would be way too difficult.

“Well then, you’ve asked enough questions. This second obstacle has impeded most Spell Casters. If you can’t get through it, you can only stay here forever. Look, those skeletons belonged to those Spell Casters who were previously trapped in this second obstacle.”

The Flame Being pointed to a corner outside the stone room, where there were countless skeletons piled up. They looked frightening. They were all Spell Casters who were trapped in the second obstacle.

Merlin took a glance at the Flame Being, then took a deep breath and said with a low voice, “Actually, it’s not entirely impossible to get through the second obstacle!”

At this moment, a relaxed smile was displayed on Merlin’s face, and his expression seemed to reveal a hint of confidence.