Chapter 223: The Illusion

As soon as Merlin stepped into the Dark Maze, the spell models of **Dark Mist** and **Darklight Domain** in his mental sea became unusually active. It was as if an endless stream of dark elements surged toward him, faster than when he utilized dark-elemental crystals.

For the first time, Merlin understood what Leo meant by the "density" of dark elements. What level of power did an Archwizard truly possess? What abilities did they wield? Merlin had no clue. However, seeing the grand rune formations of the Dark Spirit Domain and the overwhelming force of the Dark Maze gave him a glimpse of the unparalleled strength of Archwizards—something beyond his current comprehension.

Inside the Dark Maze, aside from the overwhelming influx of dark elements, Merlin suddenly noticed the light around him begin to distort. The space itself seemed to collapse, as though he were being thrust into an unfamiliar realm.

"What's happening? Spatial collapse? That's impossible. Even an Archwizard wouldn't be able to collapse space like this. Could it be... an illusion?"

Merlin quickly realized that he was caught in one of the many illusions within the Dark Maze—a trap that had ensnared countless wizards, leaving them lost forever.

Rather than panic, Merlin remained calm. He still had the **Stone of Clarity** from Leo. Using it would immediately dispel the illusion, but he chose not to rely on it yet. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to immerse himself in the illusion.

The surrounding space continued to collapse rapidly. In the blink of an eye, Merlin found himself standing on an ever-shrinking patch of ground. The illusion was so vivid—both visually and through mental probing—that it felt entirely real.

Merlin stretched out a hand toward the collapsing space. A sharp pain shot through him, and he watched in horror as his hand seemed to disintegrate into nothingness, consumed by the collapse.

The pain and fear were so visceral that Merlin couldn't help but feel a flicker of terror, even though he knew it was all an illusion.

"Enough," he muttered, retrieving the **Stone of Clarity**. The moment the stone emitted its strange aura, Merlin's mind cleared. The illusion dissolved instantly, replaced by the cold, dry reality of a cavern.

"So, it was just an illusion," Merlin murmured, glancing at the stone in his hand. With its help, he was no longer concerned about being trapped in the maze.

Finding a quiet corner, Merlin sat down and activated his **Matrix**. "Matrix, display the cultivation method for the **Dark Heart**."

The **Matrix** had already recorded the method in detail, making it easy for Merlin to review. Soon, the instructions appeared vividly in his mind.

The **Dark Heart** was described as a tool to drastically enhance the power of dark-element spells and provide strong resistance against most dark-element attacks. Its true potential, however, lay in its ability to fuse with fourth-level spells, amplifying their power even further.

Merlin continued reading:

>The **Dark Heart** exists in three forms:

>

>1. **First Form**: Slightly enhances dark-element spells. When fused with fourth-level spells, it doubles their power.

>2. **Second Form**: Greatly enhances dark-element spells. When fused with fourth-level spells, it triples their power.

>3. **Third Form**: The ultimate form of the **Dark Heart**, which massively amplifies dark-element spells. When fused with fourth-level spells, it increases their power five to tenfold.

Merlin gasped at the incredible potential of the **Dark Heart**. Even the weakest form, when fused with a fourth-level spell, could double its power. For a wizard, such an amplification was extraordinary.

"Remarkable. Most enhancement tools only increase spell power by a fraction, but even the weakest **Dark Heart** can double a spell's power. The second and third forms are unimaginable," Merlin thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

However, the true strength of the **Dark Heart** was only evident with fourth-level spells. For now, it would offer only modest improvements to his current repertoire of spells, such as **Dark Mist** and **Darklight Domain**.

Still, Merlin understood the long-term benefits. A fourth-level dark spell amplified by the **Dark Heart** could surpass many sixth-level spells in power, explaining why the Abyssal Fortress once rivaled the largest wizarding organizations during its peak.

The cultivation method required engraving a mysterious rune onto the body, just as Merlin had done with **Frost Finger** and **Emberstorm**. This rune would generate a unique dark energy, which would pull the wizard into endless illusions. Success depended on the ability to break free from these illusions and gain control over the rune. Failure meant being permanently lost in the illusions—a fate worse than death.

The three forms of the **Dark Heart** corresponded to three progressively complex runes. Each successive form generated illusions far more intense than the last. Only wizards with absolute confidence dared attempt the second or third forms.

"Breaking through the illusions is the key," Merlin muttered. "The **Dark Maze** and the **Stone of Clarity** exist to help wizards train against these illusions, making it possible to face them during cultivation."

Merlin resolved to familiarize himself with the illusions of the Dark Maze before attempting to cultivate the **Dark Heart**. He stored the **Stone of Clarity** and waited for the next illusion to unfold.

The environment around him shifted abruptly. He found himself on a narrow cliff ledge, overlooking a bottomless abyss. The darkness below seemed endless, and Merlin's heart raced as he clung to the ledge.

Despite knowing it was an illusion, the visceral fear of falling remained, gnawing at his mind. When the cliff crumbled beneath him, Merlin instinctively activated the **Stone of Clarity**, snapping back to reality. Yet again, he had failed to break the illusion on his own.

"Sometimes, even knowing it's fake, the subconscious refuses to accept it," Merlin murmured, his frustration mounting. Steeling himself, he resolved to try again.

Time after time, he entered the illusions, experiencing countless heart-stopping scenarios. Each time, he tried different approaches—yelling, staying silent, using spells, channeling mental energy—but nothing worked. The illusions held firm.

"How do I break free?" he wondered aloud. "It's not about magic or mental energy. No external force seems to affect the illusions."

Merlin's thoughts turned inward. Perhaps the solution wasn't about tools or power, but something deeper.

"Faith," he whispered, his eyes lighting up. "I need unwavering faith—not in the **Matrix**, but in myself. The belief that even without it, I can become a great wizard…"

A spark of realization ignited in Merlin's mind. For the first time, he felt he might have found the key to breaking free from the illusions.