Chapter 122: Shock and Disappointment

"Capes? Kathleen? What are you doing here?"

After clearing out the Dark Blood Bats, Mage Damber finally noticed Capes and Kathleen.

"Mage Damber, please help my father and Mage Palio!" Kathleen, clearly familiar with Mage Damber, briefly explained their situation.

Damber's face darkened as he turned to Holmes. "Mage Holmes, what do you think we should do?"

Understanding the situation, Holmes contemplated briefly. To complete their mission, they needed to thoroughly investigate the Dark Blood Bats.

Holmes narrowed his eyes and glanced at Kathleen and Capes before saying, "Take us to the Dark Blood Bats' nest."

Kathleen and Capes were overjoyed and quickly replied, "The nest isn't far. Let's hurry!"

With that, they led Merlin and the others deep into the forest.

Before long, they reached a clearing scattered with mutilated bodies—the remains of the Level Four elemental swordsmen sent by Eastlin, now lifeless, with a thick stench of blood filling the air.

Seeing so many gruesome corpses, the group's expressions turned grim. These warriors, once formidable enough to challenge spellcasters, had all fallen here, underscoring how dangerous the Dark Blood Bats truly were.

"Two caves?" Holmes muttered, eyeing the two dark openings before them with hesitation.

Suddenly, a sharp screech echoed, and from the pitch-black caves emerged a swarm of Dark Blood Bats, each emitting a faint red glow. They filled the sky like a crimson cloud—there were easily a thousand of them. No wonder Mage Palio and thirty Ice Swordsmen had faced such peril.

"Dark Mist!"

Merlin reacted swiftly, casting Dark Mist the moment the bats charged out.

A thick mist spread, covering a wide area, including both caves. But this time, the Dark Mist had no effect—the bats surged through it, unaffected, charging madly at Merlin and the others.

"Dark Blood Bats are dark elemental creatures. Dark Mist has little effect on them," Holmes called out. "Everyone, give it all you've got! We won't be able to enter the caves until we drive these bats back."

Holmes's robe glowed, activating its protective runes. These mysterious symbols enveloped him, and when the bats attacked, they were deflected by the barrier.

"Binding Wind!"

With a wave, Holmes conjured fierce gusts of wind, trapping several Dark Blood Bats.

"Ice Burst!"

Holmes's spells were primarily offensive, with even his ice-based spells dealing significant damage in confined areas. Unleashing his full power, he cast "Earth Spike," "Ice Burst," "Binding Wind," and "Scorching Flames" in quick succession, keeping the bats at bay and protecting himself and Relis.

Holmes's display of skill was a testament to his reputation as a talented spellcaster in the Dark Spirit Realm.

However, Merlin's group wasn't faring as well. Neither Lorinka nor Mage Damber had the strength to defend themselves effectively, let alone protect Capes and Kathleen. Surrounded by hundreds of frenzied Dark Blood Bats, Capes and Kathleen found themselves in grave danger.

Merlin frowned, realizing he couldn't hold back any longer.

Taking a deep breath, he tapped into his mental strength, focusing on the spell models in his mind.

"Thunder Web!"

Since Dark Mist was ineffective against the Dark Blood Bats, Merlin resorted to his newly constructed spell, Thunder Web.

Sparks began to crackle and flash, rapidly forming a wide net of electricity that ensnared many of the bats. With a resounding *crackle*, powerful bolts of lightning surged across the web, paralyzing the bats within.

The electricity didn't harm the resilient Dark Blood Bats much, but the paralyzing effect temporarily immobilized them.

With a swift movement, Merlin, channeling the wind element, used Gale. All they saw was a faint shadow as he moved through the swarm.

*Crunch, crunch.*

As he weaved through the bats, Merlin cast Freeze repeatedly. Each bat caught in his spell was encased in ice before shattering upon hitting the ground.

"Fireball, Freeze, Gale, Dark Mist, and now Thunder Web… Merlin is a five-element caster?"

The entire group was stunned as they watched Merlin effortlessly eliminate the relentless Dark Blood Bats. Even Holmes, typically proud and composed, couldn't hide his shock.

A five-element caster was rare, even among large spellcasting organizations. Holmes, who had already constructed four elements, understood all too well the courage and determination required to build a fifth.

Mage Relis's expression showed confusion. She remembered Merlin as a novice who had only joined the Dark Spirit Realm six months ago and didn't even understand the concept of contribution points. Yet now he was a five-element caster. The transformation was almost unbelievable.

"Either he's a prodigy… or a reckless fool," Holmes muttered with a complex look. In his eyes, a spellcaster capable of constructing five-element models needed immense resolve and talent. Yet Merlin, placed under the supervision of the little-regarded Mage Leo, was deemed to have limited potential.

To Holmes, Merlin's choice to build five spells suggested he had given up on advancing to a Level One caster and was instead focused on boosting his immediate power.

"A five-element caster… Has he truly given up?"

Lorinka shared Holmes's sentiments. Coming from a spellcasting family, she understood the significance of constructing five spells—it was a decision usually made by those confident in their ability to reach not just Level One, but Levels Two, Three, or even Four. Such people were rare prodigies, possessing both great talent and unwavering determination.

But Lorinka, knowing Merlin's background, was aware that his three previously constructed models were likely unstable. Instead of reinforcing them, he had recklessly added new spells. To Lorinka, it was clear—Merlin had entirely abandoned the idea of advancing.

In her eyes, there was now only a deep sense of disappointment.