Chapter 117: The Mission (Part 2)

Merlin and Lorinka waited in the mission hall, each lost in thought. After about two hours, a gray-robed mage approached them, saying calmly, "Come along. We've gathered four people for your mission."

Merlin and Lorinka rose and followed the mage to the front.

"Are these the other two?"

Merlin saw a man and a woman standing ahead. The male caster wore a pristine white robe inscribed with mysterious runes that only those with mental power could sense—a clear indication it was a spellcasting tool.

Such robes were typically provided for free to official members of the Dark Spirit Realm, but this man's robe appeared unique, likely exchanged at the Tower of Omniscience. Merlin had browsed the tools in the tower before, but their prices were staggering, with even minor tools costing tens or hundreds of contribution points. This man's robe alone would require at least fifty to one hundred points, making it a luxurious item.

The white-robed mage turned, examining Merlin and Lorinka with a slight frown.

"Which mage tower are you from?" he asked in a haughty tone.

Lorinka's expression remained steady; she seemed used to such questions. Judging from the man's attire, he was likely from a wealthy family of mages, so a bit of arrogance was not surprising.

"We're students of Master Leo. I am Lorinka."

Merlin stepped forward as well, saying, "I'm Merlin."

"Oh? It's you?"

The female mage next to the white-robed man turned around, a look of surprise flashing across her face.

Merlin nodded, smiling slightly. "I didn't get the chance to thank you last time. My apologies!"

This female mage was the one he'd consulted previously in the Tower of Omniscience. He hadn't expected her to take on this mission as well.

The man in white looked at her. "Relis, you know him?"

The mage named Relis smiled and nodded. "We met at the Tower of Omniscience."

She then pointed at the white-robed mage beside her, saying, "This is Mage Holmes, and I am Relis. We're both students of Master Great."

"You're Mage Holmes?"

Lorinka's eyes widened slightly as she stared at him in surprise.

"Yes, I am Holmes," he replied confidently. "Since we're all set on this mission, let's meet in five days and depart for Eastlin."

Lorinka quickly composed herself, exchanged a glance with Merlin, and nodded. "Very well. We'll set out in five days for Eastlin."

The five days gave both parties time to prepare for the potentially dangerous mission, as no one knew what awaited them in Eastlin.

Holmes and Relis left the hall, and as Merlin watched them go, he asked Lorinka quietly, "Lorinka, what's special about Holmes?"

Noting her earlier surprise upon hearing his name, Merlin was curious.

With a complex expression, Lorinka replied in a low voice, "Mage Holmes has only been in the Dark Spirit Realm for a year, yet he's already made a name for himself. He studies under the renowned Master Great and, under his guidance, has constructed four spell models in a year. Given his presence here, he's likely ready to construct a Level One spell and ascend to a Level One caster."

Merlin nodded, understanding that Holmes was indeed talented and strong. Although being a four-element caster only added one spell compared to a three-element mage, it required immense effort, both in mental power and in constructing spell models.

Few were willing to undertake the challenge of adding a fourth spell unless they were exceptionally talented. But a four-element mage was undeniably a standout among spellcasters.

Seeing Merlin remain silent, Lorinka smiled gently. "Mage Merlin, believe it or not, Holmes's attitude isn't too bad. As students of Master Leo, we're generally regarded as the least promising and lowest in potential here in the Dark Spirit Realm. There's an 80% chance we'll be sent out after three years. Holmes's arrogance aside, at least he's willing to complete the mission with us. In the past, students of Master Leo have often been shunned, causing others to abandon missions."

Lorinka's tone grew bitter, showing she'd faced similar situations herself.

Merlin smiled, unfazed. He certainly wouldn't be bothered by such trivial matters.

"Let's go back and get ready," he said. He and Lorinka left the hall and returned to their tower to prepare.

**— — —**

Back at Master Leo's tower, Merlin started his preparations. Since this was his first mission and potentially dangerous, he intended to be cautious.

After careful consideration, he asked Lorinka to lend him five contribution points, which she generously agreed to without any questions. Merlin was grateful for her kindness.

With five borrowed points and his remaining three, he had a total of eight points—enough to redeem the "Thunder Web" spell.

Wasting no time, Merlin went to the Tower of Omniscience and exchanged his points for the Thunder Web spell. Although his mental power was largely depleted by the Dark Mist, it was just enough to construct another Level Zero spell, albeit with more effort than before.

It took him an entire day to successfully model Thunder Web in his mind.

With Thunder Web, Merlin now officially became a six-element mage. His mental power, nearly drained, could only maintain six Level Zero spells. To advance to a Level One spell, he would need a substantial increase in mental power.

Six-element mages typically required two to three times the mental power of three-element mages, making it extremely challenging to reach the necessary standards and construct complex Level One spell models. This difficulty contributed to the rarity of mages beyond three elements.

Though Merlin had recently constructed Gale, Dark Mist, and Thunder Web, they were relatively new and not yet fully empowered. While they would suffice for common dangers, the mission to Eastlin might bring unexpected threats, so Merlin needed to bolster his strength as much as possible.

He spent his remaining three contribution points in the Tower of Omniscience, exchanging them for elemental crystals of wind, darkness, and lightning.

These crystals would accelerate the mana accumulation in his newly constructed spell models.

Having completed his preparations, Merlin stayed in the tower, focusing on enhancing his mana reserves with the elemental crystals and awaiting the appointed mission date.