Chapter 52: The Battle of the Spellcasters (Part III)

"Attack!"

Without another word, both Merlin and Mage Jason sprang into action.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

Jason's wide robe seemed to flutter on its own, and clusters of holy light shot from his hands like raindrops. In an instant, five beams of light were released.

These five beams were Holy Light Orbs, Jason's zero-level spell, yet each orb packed significant power. Even Old Wilson's specially crafted armor could hardly withstand repeated hits from these holy orbs.

But Merlin was not one to hold back. He focused his mental strength, activating the fireball spell model in his mind. Instantly, five fist-sized fireballs hovered around him.

"Go!"

With a flick of his finger, Merlin sent the fireballs hurtling toward Jason's holy orbs. Red and white, the two zero-level spells clashed in midair.

"Boom, boom, boom."

The loud, thunderous explosions left everyone temporarily deaf, unable to hear anything over the echoing roars.

What was even more terrifying were the remnants of the spells—fire and holy light—that ripped through anything in their path, destroying everything they touched. In moments, the entire hall was left in shambles, with scorched stone floors and splintered wood scattered everywhere.

"We can't stay here!" Old Wilson ordered, signaling his knights to retreat from the hall.

Likewise, Augdin, Wengrit, and the others hurriedly left, fearing the devastating aftermath of the spell battle.

In seconds, the hall emptied, leaving only Merlin and Mage Jason facing each other.

"Your magic… stronger than that heretic I encountered before," Jason said, his face dark. He had been testing Merlin, but Merlin's mana reserves were impressively potent, rivaling those of Etta, the old heretic Jason had killed before.

"Mage Jason, where's your first-level spell? If you don't use it now, you might lose your chance," Merlin replied calmly. He knew that Jason was a genuine first-level spellcaster. It was a first-level spell that had killed Etta, and Merlin was wary of it.

"First-level spell? Heretic, even a zero-level spell is enough to deal with you!"

Jason's face held an arrogant smirk as his body began to emit an even brighter white glow, a sign that he was gathering light elements at an intense rate.

Merlin's expression shifted slightly. As a first-level spellcaster, Jason's mana regeneration and mental strength were superior to Merlin's. In a prolonged battle, Merlin would be at a disadvantage.

He knew he had to act quickly.

"Frost Spell!"

Merlin cast his second spell, freezing the air around Jason almost instantly. Thick layers of ice crystals formed on Jason's lower body, locking him in place.

Binding spells like this may not have high offensive power, but their restrictive effects were formidable. To be certain of immobilizing Jason, Merlin cast the Frost Spell three times in quick succession.

Three Frost Spells were Merlin's current limit for this spell. He had one more chance to release the Great Frost Spell, but three spells seemed enough to restrain Jason without wasting that precious cast.

With Jason immobilized, Merlin wasted no time, aiming his hands at him to unleash his strongest spell.

"Great Fireball!"

With a hum, a massive fireball materialized, radiating intense heat and warping the air around it.

Merlin had cast the Frost Spell and the Great Fireball almost simultaneously, so the moment Jason realized he was bound, his face shifted in panic.

"Explode!"

Merlin's lips curled into a slight smile. Jason now had no time to release a first-level spell. Spellcasters' bodies were typically weaker, only marginally stronger than the average person.

Against the power of the Great Fireball, far exceeding normal zero-level spells, Jason had no chance.

"Boom."

The giant fireball erupted, engulfing Jason in a sea of flames, filling the hall with blazing heat. The explosion's force covered an area of tens of meters.

Even Merlin had to retreat hastily, the hot air pushing him out of the hall.

"Crack."

A sharp sound followed as cracks appeared along the once-sturdy walls of the hall. The walls were now covered in web-like fissures, remnants of the Great Fireball's impact.

Everyone outside stood stunned, watching the inferno consuming the hall. The sheer destructiveness of the flames instilled fear in all who saw it.

"So powerful… a heretic with powers akin to the church's mage… incredibly strong!" whispered Augdin, the City Lord, casting a furtive glance at Merlin. The power he and Jason displayed surpassed Augdin's understanding. With such terrifying strength, even hundreds of knights would be helpless against Merlin alone.

As the flames in the hall gradually subsided, Merlin, who had just begun to relax, suddenly tensed.

Others may not have noticed, but his mental strength allowed him to sense the intense light element still gathering inside the hall.

A chill breeze from outside swept into the hall, clearing away the smoke and revealing a silhouette within.

"Not dead?"

As the smoke cleared, Jason's figure became visible. The ice crystals that had restrained him were gone, and the violent explosion seemed to have left him unharmed. Even his pristine white robe bore not a trace of ash.