A Wizard’s Secret

As before, there were many Spell Casters dressed in different costumes coming in and out of the Resource Tower. Although Merlin rarely walked out of the Wizard Tower in the past half year, he learned enough knowledge about the general customs of the Dark Magic Region.

Every Spell Caster dressed in gray robes in the Dark Magic Region were those who had been assigned missions from the Mission Hall.

For example, the gray-robed Wizard who had previously examined Merlin’s Dark Magic ring and the lethargic-looking gray-robed Wizard in the Resource Tower – both had accepted tasks from the Mission Hall.

These tasks came with conditions. The primary rule was that only an official member of the Dark Magic Region such as a First-level Spell Caster or above could take on such tasks.

Merlin ignored that indolent gray-robed Wizard when he arrived at the Resource Tower and went straight to the second floor.

There were more Spell Casters on the second floor but most of them were there to select First-level spells in preparation to becoming First-level Spell Casters.

Merlin glimpsed absentmindedly at the First-level spells on the bookshelves and then moved to the section that stored Zero-level spells. The Dark Magic Region had a massive collection of Zero-level spells, arranged and organized in more than a dozen bookshelves.

He first selected Wind-type Gale, which was exactly the lesson taught by Wizard Nasha previously. Gale was characterized by its speed where it was not utilized for attacking the opponent but to double up the Spell Caster’s speed.

It was exactly because of Gale that Merilung was able to move at the speed of lightning, leaving behind only trails of faint shadow in others’ eyes.

“Two contribution points isn’t too expensive.”

Merlin took a quick look at the price of Gale and realized it only required two contribution points. This was not to say that Gale was cheap because it was not a strong spell. Instead, it was because of its immense popularity that most spell casters’ organizations and even some common Spell Casters families and roaming Wizards, could easily obtain it.

After he selected Gale, Merlin continued his search on the bookshelf. After spending half a year inside of Wizard Leo’s tower, working hard to cultivate intermediate level Mind Meditation Spell, his current Mind Power had increased several folds and was even able to support the construction of a First-level Spell Model.

Therefore, Merlin tried to obtain as many Spell Models as he could. Apart from Gale, his next favorite was Darkness-type spells. The fierce battle that broke out with Merilung during his time in Count Selin’s castle had exposed Merlin to the peculiarity of Darkness-type spells. If it was not for the black-robed old man’s assistance at the last minute, Merlin would have been caught in a turmoil of disasters.

However, Darkness-type spells were rare to come by in the Dark Magic Region. Merlin had checked out several bookshelves consecutively but still did not find any Darkness-type spell. After all, there were differences amongst spell casters’ organizations.

The Abyss Fort, for example, was renowned for Darkness-type spells, and these kinds of spells could be found there in an inexhaustible variety. On the other hand, the Dark Magic Region was famous for runes. The Great Wizard Fidel who created the Dark Magic Region had great attainments in runology.

Therefore, Merlin had expected to find lesser Darkness-type spells in the Dark Magic Region.

Suddenly, he focused his gaze and then quickly walked toward a row of bookshelves near the corner. On the top of the shelves were several Darkness-type spells arranged neatly together.

Merlin picked up a few of them at random and all these Darkness-type spells had unique names.

“Hand of Darkness. Condenses Darkness Element to bind the target. Most effective at night! Three contribution points.”

Merlin was not looking for this type of Binding spell. Currently, he already possessed a Binding spell which was Frost. Although Hand of Darkness had its own specific features, it was not necessarily comparable to Frost’s binding effect. Merlin put it back again and took out other Darkness-type spells.

“Darkness Rays. Strong penetration effects accompanied by strong negative emotions. Most effective at night! Three contribution points.”

This was a remarkable offensive Darkness-type spell but it had some limitations and might not necessarily overpower Fireball, therefore Merlin did not choose this spell.

Although these two Darkness-type spells which required three contribution points, it did not mean that they were greater than other spells which require lesser contribution points. It was because Darkness-type spells were rare in the Dark Magic Region hence more contribution points were needed in purchasing them.

Merlin did not choose either Hand of Darkness or Darkness Rays mainly because of the functions of these two spells overlapped with the Spell Models that Merlin had previously constructed.

What Merlin needed urgently was a Hallucinating spell like Dark Mist that Merilung had cast.

After searching through the shelves for a short while, Merlin finally found the spell he needed.

“Dark Mist. Uses Darkness Element to form an absolute enclosed dark space. Anyone lacking Mind Power can fall into the illusion! Five contribution points.”

Merlin finally found Dark Mist, which characteristics described in the book was the same as Dark Mist cast by Merilung. Back to that time when Merlin fell into the hallucination of Dark Mist, he sensed no sound, no direction, and surrounded by complete darkness. Even Mind Power seemed to have lost its effect. That feeling of utter confusion still left a lingering fear in Merlin’s heart even until now.

However, this might be the aftermath of Merlin’s weak Mind Power at that time, which in a way also explained the force of Dark Mist.

“Five contribution points, hmm, not far from what I expected.”

Merlin wandered around the Resource Tower for a long time and he had learned that Zero-level spells required a maximum of five contributions at most. Therefore, Zero-level spells that required five contribution points were either the best amongst their kind or spells with unique characteristics.

Eventually, Merlin had chosen Gale and Dark Mist. If he really succeeded in constructing these Spell Models in his Awareness, then he would have acquired five different spells and became a powerful Five-Elemental Wizard amongst the sea of Spell Casters.

An average Spell Caster was Three-Elemental Wizard and slightly more powerful ones would be Four-Elemental Wizards. Both Merilung and Wizard Leo were Four-Elemental Wizards.

There were very few Spell Casters of more than Five-Elemental or above, even in the Dark Magic Region. At least Merlin had not encountered any Spell Caster more than Five-Elemental or above up until now.

However, being a Spell Caster of more than Five-Elemental was not Merlin’s ultimate goal. At present, Merlin already acquired Binding, Speed, Defensive, and Hallucinating spells, but only possessed Fireball as an Offensive spell. Although it was destructive when dealing with a single opponent, it was gradually failing to keep up with his current needs.

Therefore, Merlin needed to select a more powerful spell that was capable of attacking a wider range, in order to make up for the weakness of Merlin’s single attack.