A Wizard’s Secret

Merlin was currently floating in mid-air. Wisps of Wind Element were wrapped around him, supporting him. This proved that the belt was indeed a Flying casting tool.

The belt must contain a mystical power which could cast a Wind-type spell. In that manner, it lifted the Spell Caster into the air, achieving the effect of a Fourth-level spell.

A Flying casting tool like this was very precious. It should be known that Flying spells could only be achieved by a Spell Caster who had reached the Fourth-level and constructed a Wind-type spell.

For Spell Casters below the Fourth-level or for Spell Casters who were Fourth-level or above but did not construct Wind-type spells, a Flying casting tool like this made things more convenient, and might even indirectly improve their battle prowess.

Merlin further explored the powers of the belt. Its flying speed in mid-air was nothing to shout about, but it was much faster than Wind of Freedom that he used. It was around the speed of a typical Fourth-level Flying spell.

Moreover, although the belt required the supplement of some Wind-type elemental crystal stones, this amount was nothing much to Merlin, who now had many rings and a large sum of elemental crystal stones.

This Flying casting tool was the best item that Merlin had obtained at the second obstacle. Some of the other rings might have some precious materials, but they could not compare to this Flying casting tool.

Ever since the era of the Molta Empire, the most glorious age of Spell Casters had passed, much of alchemy’s legacy had been lost. Casting tools were a part of alchemy as well, and it was rather difficult to transfigure a Flying casting tool.

Therefore, when Merlin was in the Dark Magic Region, Sterling House, and Fort Udon, he had never seen anyone with a Flying casting tool. Therefore, this belt was considered quite a treasure.

After plundering the rings at the second obstacle until nothing was left, Merlin felt a vague feeling of even greater anticipation. In a flash of his figure, he headed toward the third obstacle straightaway.

Merlin had previously heard the Flame Being mention that in over three thousand years, only three individuals had made it to the third obstacle. Merlin was the fourth one, but besides him, no one else had ever completed the third obstacle.

Spell Casters who were able to reach the third obstacle must surely be extraordinary Spell Casters!

“Whoosh!”

Merlin’s figure appeared before the third obstacle. He swept his gaze across the ground but frowned because he did not see any bones or rings before this third obstacle.

Merlin remembered very clearly that the Flame Being had mentioned that other than Merlin, there were three others altogether who had reached the third obstacle.

However, those three did not manage to complete the third obstacle.

Merlin recalled what the Flame Being had said in detail. The Flame Being had mentioned that one was a real freak who had five types of Pandora Demon Abilities but that person used up all three chances to complete the obstacle and was cast into the Flame Prison.

As he thought of this, Merlin’s eyes shone, and he muttered in a low voice, “That’s right, the Flame Prison. How could Spell Casters who managed to reach the third obstacle die so easily? There was even a Seventh-level Spell Caster among them. They must’ve been thrown into the Flame Prison because they failed to clear the obstacle.”

The Flame Prison – this had been repeatedly brought up by the Flame Being. Furthermore, according to Merlin’s conjecture, this Flame Prison was surely on the Ship of Nikola.

However, Merlin might have complete control over the Ship of Nikola now, but he had not discovered any such Flame Prison.

“The Flame Prison should be a ‘prison’ set up by the Legend Nikola. Since it’s a ‘prison’, it must be well-hidden and sturdy in order to prevent people from easily escaping.”

Countless thoughts flashed across Merlin’s mind, following which he searched every corner of the Ship of Nikola once more. Moreover, he looked out especially for spots which were dense with Fire Element.

However, after a period of searching, he still did not discover any Flame Prison.

Nevertheless, Merlin did not give up but switched to another way of thinking. He searched for the place with the highest concentration of Fire Element on the Ship of Nikola.

“The place where Fire Element is the most concentrated at is where those Pillars of Flame are!”

The first thing Merlin thought of was those Pillars of Flame which were made by condensed Fire Element. The place with the highest concentration of Fire Element on the Ship of Nikola was surely where those Pillars of Flame were.

However, Merlin had never been to that area. Still, in order to locate the Flame Prison, Merlin decided to pay the place with the Pillars of Flame a visit.

…

“As I expected, what intense Fire Element!”

Merlin appeared in a room that was fiery-red. He looked all around. The place was filled with gigantic Pillars of Flame which were emanating an astounding scorching heat.

Merlin walked all around and discovered, by chance, that there was a thick, heavy metal door in this room filled with flames.

If Merlin had not come here himself, he would have no way of discovering this metal door.

Although Merlin controlled the Ship of Nikola, he could only see the numerous Pillars of Flame from a cursory look without gaining a clear understanding of these pillars’ details.

As he looked at the large metal door now, Merlin’s spirits began to lift.

“What’s behind these great doors? Could it be the Flame Prison?”

Merlin approached the large, metal doors and looked around, but there were no mechanisms or anything of that sort. He began to consider the possibilities. On the entirety of the Ship of Nikola, Merlin, who possessed the Flame Maxim, was, in fact, the master of the Ship of Nikola. He was completely able to enter any place on this ship.

As he thought of this, Merlin fiercely simulated the Flame Maxim in his Awareness. The Flame Maxim emitted strands of its force, and Merlin cried out hoarsely, “Open!”

“Rumble!”

After the force of the Flame Maxim was released around Merlin, the thick solid metal doors began to gradually open.

The metal doors opened, and in a flash of his figure, Merlin had stepped inside.

It was a spacious and empty hall. In the middle of the hall, there was a circular area which was surrounded by sixteen enormous pillars. Dense lines of runes covered the pillars.

There was even a trace of the Flame Maxim’s force which Merlin was familiar with.

The sixteen enormous pillars practically formed a massive Runic Magic Circle, enclosing the circular area. Inside the area were flames which danced and surged furiously.

“The Flame Prison. This must be the Flame Prison!”

Merlin felt a rush of glee. The flames, within the circular area surrounded by the sixteen runic pillars, evoked a sense of familiarity in Merlin. This force was similar to the Flame Maxim’s. This demonstrated how terrifying the flames within the area were. The moment one stepped in, one would be turned to ashes.

As for why this parched heat was not felt in the hall, it was most likely thanks to these mysterious runes which trapped the flames firmly in the circle. This formed the terrifying Flame Prison. Any Spell Casters who were unable to complete the third obstacle, and were not killed by the Flame Image, would be thrown into the Flame Prison.

“Such frightening flames – I’m afraid that no one would be able to withstand them. If the three Spell Casters who made it to the third obstacle were cast into the Flame Prison, they must be long dead. The question is whether those rings are still here or not?”

Seeing how petrifying the flames of the Flame Prison were, Merlin felt rather uncertain. Although rings were not easily damaged, in the face of such flames that had a similar force as the Flame Maxim and were surely created by the Legend Nikola himself, it was unlikely that a Spatial Ring would remain intact and undamaged.

Nevertheless, Merlin thought he might as well try. He headed toward the Flame Prison in order to get a clearer look.

As soon as he neared the Flame Prison, the runes on the sixteen pillars transformed into a large runic net which obstructed Merlin’s path. Based on the strength of these runes, Merlin guessed that even Great Wizards would find it hard to blast their way through.

However, the Flame Maxim in his Awareness was the foundation of the entire Ship of Nikola’s control, so he released the force of the Flame Maxim once again. Instantly, the runes which were blocking Merlin vanished.

“Swish!”

Merlin did not hesitate at all. Even though he felt a burning gust of energy after the Runic Magic Circle had disappeared, he still stepped into the Flame Prison.

The flames in the Flame Prison were extremely terrifying. Merlin did not dare to be careless in the slightest and constantly simulated the Flame Maxim. He discovered that the mere wisp of force from the Flame Maxim was completely able to suppress these raging, surging flames. It was because of this that Merlin dared to step into the Flame Prison.

Merlin walked into the Flame Prison casually. Under the Flame Maxim’s suppression, the flames of the prison were unable to touch him at all.

“Someone is thrown into the Flame Prison again?”

Suddenly, an old voice came from the middle of the Flame Prison. Merlin’s footsteps paused instinctively, and his Mind Power flared up.

“Is someone actually still alive?”

Merlin immediately became very cautious and began to head toward the voice. Finally, at the bottom of the thirteenth pillar, Merlin saw a Spell Caster who was tenaciously hiding beneath the pillar, his body curled up into a ball. The flames of the Flame Prison were burning on his body, yet they were blocked by a layer of similar flames.

Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly. He surmised almost instantly that this Spell Caster was one of those who were cast into the Flame Prison. As for the thin layer of flames, they moved with obvious Elemental fluctuations. This indicated that the Spell Caster was casting a spell, perpetually counteracting the flames of the Flame Prison.

However, this astounded Merlin. It was almost an impossible task to be constantly fighting against the flames of the Flame Prison and surviving until now. Not even a Great Wizard would have such a tremendous amount of Magic Power to sustain this.

Just as Merlin was sizing up this mysterious Spell Caster, this person lifted his head, revealing an unkempt beard and an aged countenance.

When he saw that the flames around Merlin seemed to be suppressed, the expression of this aged Spell Caster shifted greatly. In a trembling voice, he said, “That’s not right, you’re not a Spell Caster who’s been thrown into the Flame Prison. Speak, who are you really?”

The aged Spell Caster’s eyes were initially weary, but they sharpened in an instant and fixed firmly onto Merlin.