A Wizard's Secret

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Merlin cast Frost, which was incredibly powerful when fused with Large Frost. It was unbelievably close to reaching a First-level spell, and considering his strong Magic Power, the spell could be released continuously without fail.

The cloaked man's Bright Wind was also very impressive. As one after another struck, Merlin would have to build up even more Magic Power to prop up an Earth Guard, or else he would not be able to resist any longer.

"Dark Mist!"

This time, Merlin cast a strengthened form of Dark Mist. Despite possessing nearly peak Second-level Mind Power, even the silver-haired old man felt a slight blow from it.

This gave Merlin confidence in his spell.

However, as he released the strengthened form of Dark Mist and allowed it to surround the cloaked man, a strong force of Mind Power came rushing from the sky towards Merlin.

Upon experiencing such Mind Power, Merlin's expression changed slightly. Such strong Mind Power seemed even more terrifying than that of the silver-haired old man, it was almost to the extent of a Third-level Spell Caster.

The strengthened form of Dark Mist might have dealt some damage to a Spell Caster with Second-level peak Mind Power. However if it was with a Third-level Spell Caster, his spell would simply have no effect.

"Thunderbolt Net!"

Since the strengthened form of Dark Mist was useless, Merlin could only put up a hard fight. He immediately cast a strengthened form of Thunderbolt Net.

In an instant, the sky was filled with massive thunders and lightning. As the ground was filled with ice crystals, and a cold breeze filled the air, the spell quickly attacked the cloaked man.

"Earth Wall!"

Earth-element quickly formed on the cloaked man's body. His Earth-element was much stronger than Merlin's strengthened form of Earth Guard. Since Thunderbolt Net was only effective on the surface, it only made the cloaked man shift slightly.

Only Large Frost was able to freeze the entirety of it, but just as Merlin was about to bombard him with Fireball, the cloaked man propped up an Earth Wall once more.

As a result, Merlin felt quite helpless. He had no way of defeating the cloaked man, as the cloaked man had only cast Wind-type and Earth-type spells, there were more spells that he had not conjured yet. In that moment, Merlin knew he had to stay alert.

"Raining Flame!"

Suddenly, the cloaked man cast another spell. Rich Fire-elements emerged from his body, and the skies turned a fiery red color. Droplets of blaze came falling from the sky like rain forcing Merlin to take cover.

Merlin was alert from the start and quickly cast a new spell, and as expected, his opponent had conjured a wide-range attack. However Merlin was ready this time. As soon as the cloaked man had launched his attack, Wind-element emerged from Merlin's body in a wave-like motion.

"Gale!"

Merlin's silhouette stepped back in a flash, escaping the area that was being attacked by Raining Flame.

"Huh? How can you be a Six-Elemental Spell Caster and still try to escape? Ice Trap!"

The cloaked man sneered and once again cast an Ice-type and Binding spell. It was clear, the cloaked man was a powerful First-level Four-Elemental Spell Caster.

Merlin was slightly frightened. He had depended on his Magic Power, it was not often that he could be restrained by an opponent's spell. If only the cloaked man had not cast Ice Trap, Merlin would still have a chance to slowly maintain his dominance and eventually kill him.

However, the opponent was a Four-Elemental Spell Caster and a First-level Wizard. As Dark Mist was no use at this point, Merlin had only one option left, he had to defend himself and put up a hard fight.

"Earth Guard!"

Merlin quickly conjured the Earth-type Defensive spell. The opponent's Ice Trap and Bright Wind continued to attack, which forced Merlin to conjure a strengthened form of Earth Guard after every three common spells, leaving him depleted of Magic Power.

Luckily, Merlin had used elemental crystal stones earlier, this allowed him to accumulate Magic Power from every Zero-level spell as each one gave the ability to cast sixty or seventy spells. If The Matrix had not rebuilt the Spell Model, it was simply impossible for it to expand to store such a powerful accumulation.

Merlin's plan was to out maneuver the cloaked man till he expended his Magic Power.

As he continued to defend himself, Merlin kept up his furious attacks with Fireball, Frost and Thunderbolt Net. With vigorous Magic Power and innumerable successions of various attacks, the cloaked man went into a fury. He raised an Earth Guard once more, using up a great deal of his Magic Power.

Both were now caught up in an awkward predicament where they both had used up too much of their energy!

At Merlin's current strength, to defeat a similar First-level Spell Caster was not a problem. However, the opponent was a First-level Spell Caster, with powerful and a rather large reservoir of Magic Power. His various spells were cast fluently with incredible Mind Power. As Dark Mist was useless, Merlin felt that he no longer stood a chance, but kept putting up a hard fight.

The cloaked man was also getting angry. Once he received news from Wizard Neil, he rushed over. However, Wizard Neil failed to inform him of Merlin's strength. He had only mentioned that he was a Six-Elemental Spell Caster.

Who would have known that this Six-Elemental Spell Caster would be this terrifying? He had noticed that Merlin's most impressive spell was Dark Mist. If it were not for his Mind Power and experiences, he could be compared to a Third-level Spell Caster. However, if he had been drawn into the illusion created by Merlin's Dark Mist, he feared it would be a grim outlook

The cloaked man was furious at Wizard Neil. There was no way for him to escape. He could only hold his ground in hopes that Merlin would soon waste away his Magic Power. However, it had been half an hour and Merlin still had Magic Power. The cloaked man could not hold him off for much longer.

Suddenly, the cloaked man ceased casting his Raining Flame. From the looks of it, it would appear that his Magic Power was almost exhausted from fueling Raining Flame . At the same time because Merlin was continuously casting Fireball and Frost, he was also running low on Magic Power. He was firing off a dozen or so of Fireball or Frost in order for it be enough to break the cloaked man's Earth Wall.

Thus, Merlin abruptly ceased his Fireball and Frost attacks as well. He could only continue to cast Thunderbolt Net and maintain his Defensive spell, Earth Guard.

Another half an hour passed, both of the caster's faces was turning pale when suddenly, the cloaked man removed his hood and revealed his true face.

The man was about 30 years of age with fair skin. However, on the left side of his face bore a big scar. It was terrifying to look at, it was no wonder why he wore a cloak.

Merlin was already used to seeing Wizard Pario's terrifying looks. Compared to the cloaked man's looks, it was not a bother to him. It did make him curious, what was the cloaked man up to.

The cloaked man looked at Merlin. He was on his guard and kept his Earth Wall propped up as he said to Merlin,"Wizard Merlin, I am Vyksa. I was tricked by Wizard Neil and that was why I came to kill you. However, Wizard Neil is now dead. You and I cannot deal with each other. Why don't we give up and stop casting any more spells? Let us walk away from this fight. What do you say?"

By this point, Merlin was only putting up a strong front,. His biggest advantage, Dark Mist, had already been rendered useless against his powerful opponent who had Third-level Mind Power. That was how he had gotten into that Magic Power showdown with the cloaked man.

Even though he wanted to call it a day, he knew he could not trust the cloaked man as he looked towards Wizard Neil's burnt body, he laughed coldly and said, "Wizard Vyksa, it would seem you were rather familiar with Wizard Neil just a while ago. What a terrifying thing to happen, but this isn't the first time, is it?"

The cloaked man looked at Wizard Neil's corpse and grudgingly shook his head, "You're right. I used to be a roaming wizard when I met Wizard Neil. He had been looking for me, he told me that there was a quick method where I could get my hands on all types of potion materials and Spell Models. Hehe, you would have guessed by now. Wizard Neil's plan was to kill the Spell Casters that worked in the Dark Magic Region.

Merlin's heart sank. As expected, Wizard Neil had teamed up with roaming wizards to assassinate the Spell Casters of the Dark Magic Region. With him in the Dark Magic Region, he could get a better understanding of the Spell Casters and ambush them when it was least expected. His plan would have had great success rates.

This time, Wizard Neil was planning to use the old trick to kill Merlin. That was why he picked the location and even called upon a much stronger wizard, Wizard Vyksa. If Wizard Ryllis had not reminded Merlin which allowed him to be prepared, things would have taken a turn for the worse.

As Merlin's expression grew gloomy, the cloaked man said, "Wizard Merlin, we don't have to fight to the death. You are a Six-Elemental Spell Caster with a promising future. As for me, I have already built up Four-Elemental spells and was just successfully promoted to First-level Spell Caster, with hopes of one day becoming even a Second or Third-level Spell Caster. If we die here, it won't be worth it. What do you say?"

With that, the cloaked man ceased casting his Ice Trap. He had no more Magic Power to complete the Spell Model for Ice Trap. He and Merlin alike, had no more Magic Power for a Wind-type, Fire-type nor Ice-type spells. He still had Earth Wall up, but even that seemed as if it would not last for much longer.

Merlin was in the same predicament. With the exception of Dark Mist, Gale and Earth Guard, he had no Magic Power left. Even with an Earth Guard, he barely had much Magic Power left.

As for Dark Mist, it had no effect against the cloaked man who had Third-level Mind Power and Gale was not an Offensive spell. Merlin had but one choice.

"Fine, let us cease our spells and take three steps back!"

Merlin agreed with the cloaked man's proposition and began to tear down his Earth Guard as the cloaked man did the same with Earth Wall. However, they both knew clearly, that even if they had not removed their defenses, their Magic Power would run dry with no way to cast another spell.

However as Merlin stepped back, another elemental crystal stone appeared in his hand. It was one he had hidden under his ring. He slyly took it out and used it to restore some Magic Power.

"Wizard Merlin, I hope you are still keeping your promise. Remove the elemental crystal stone from your hand."

The cloaked man said quickly with a deepened voice.

Merlin replied with a slight chuckle, "Wizard Vyksa, I should say the same to you as well. Let us not play these silly games and keep that elemental crystal stone away."

It was apparent that as they both stepped back, they each took out elemental crystal stones sneakily to restore their Magic Power.

Both wizards chuckled lightly, feeling as if they were simply two sides of the same coin and placed their elemental crystal stones away.

"One, two, three steps! Alright, let us now slowly turn our bodies!"

The cloaked man stared blankly as he said with a deepened voice. Both men were on high alert as they gradually turned away from each other.

"Swish!"

Suddenly, both wizards turned back sharply. There was a hint of madness across their fa