Chapter 129: Fierce Battle (Part 2)

"Die!"

Merlin surged forward at blinding speed, catching the silver-haired elder off guard. He could see the fear etched on the elder's face as he closed in.

"Dark Mist!"

Without hesitation, Merlin unleashed Dark Mist, casting it three times in a row until it shrouded the entire cavern in a thick, dark haze.

"Dark Mist, huh? Hah! Do you think you can drag me into a nightmare?" The elder's shrill voice echoed as he laughed, releasing an immense wave of mental energy that shredded through the mist.

Dark Mist was effective against those with weaker mental strength. However, this silver-haired elder, as a descendant of ancient shamans, possessed an extraordinary mental force. His unleashed mental power was nearing the threshold of a Level Three spellcaster, shattering Merlin's mist with ease.

*Whoosh!*

Merlin sensed danger behind him—a cluster of lethal, dark rays from the Blood Bat, aimed straight at him. He could dodge with Enhanced Gale Speed, but doing so would give the elder a moment to recover, making it harder to close in again.

Merlin clenched his teeth, his gaze hardening.

"Dark Mist!"

This time, Merlin summoned an enhanced version of Dark Mist. His mind surged with energy, strengthening the spell until a thick fog enveloped the elder, effectively immobilizing him.

Even with his peak Level Two mental strength, the elder was momentarily caught in the illusion. Merlin only needed this brief moment to attack—a moment he could use to finish the elder, who lacked the physical resilience of the Blood Bat.

"Giant Fireball!"

Merlin noted the elder's vacant, terrified look—a clear sign he was trapped in the hallucination. Now was his chance.

A massive fireball blazed toward the elder, and, at the same time, Merlin conjured layers of Earth Guard behind him.

*Crack! Crack!*

One by one, the walls of earth were pierced by the dark rays from the Blood Bat, indicating its relentless attack. Merlin went all out, casting an enhanced Earth Guard spell, yet still sensed an overwhelming danger approaching. Earth Guard alone couldn't hold off the deadly dark rays.

"Greater Freeze!"

Merlin cast Greater Freeze, forming an enormous block of ice to absorb the assault. His efforts paid off, though neither the ice nor earth barriers could completely block the onslaught.

As his last line of defense, Merlin now relied on the enchanted robe borrowed from Holmes.

*Fzzz.*

Merlin felt three sharp impacts against him, realizing they were the dark rays. Though the Blood Bat's dark rays weren't particularly forceful, their piercing effect was unparalleled. The enchanted robe held for only a moment before shattering under the assault, its protective runes extinguished.

With his final barrier shattered, Merlin felt a searing pain, as though his body was being torn apart by the intense force of the dark rays. Waves of rage and despair rose within him—side effects of the ray's corruptive energy.

"Explode!"

Merlin, his vision blurred with pain, channeled the last of his mental strength and detonated the giant fireball.

*Boom!*

The explosive fire engulfed the elder, sending flames spiraling throughout the cave. Merlin gritted his teeth, enduring the Blood Bat's relentless attack on his body.

Fortunately, none of the rays had hit his vital organs, and Merlin's mental resilience kept him from succumbing to the ray's corruptive influence.

The physical damage was substantial. For ordinary spellcasters with frail bodies, a single dark ray could be lethal. Lorinka and Relis, each hit by just one ray, were instantly incapacitated. Three rays would have been fatal to most, but Merlin's body had been tempered by his mysterious relief, making him as resilient as a Level Three Elemental Swordsman.

Exhausted, Merlin focused on the flames and smoke, searching for any sign of life.

*Chittering.*

The half-evolved Blood Bat let out a shrill wail, its body flailing erratically. Finally, the creature collapsed, its crimson glow fading. The life force within it had vanished, and a deathly stillness settled over the cave.

"Is it... dead?"

It wasn't only this Blood Bat. The other bats scattered throughout the cave began to convulse and dive into the bloody pool, where they dissolved and vanished.

The mist cleared, revealing the smoldering remains of the elder's corpse.

Relieved, Merlin's tense body gave way. He slumped to the ground, gasping for air. The searing pain from his wounds was overwhelming, and blood coated his hands. Glancing around, he saw that Holmes, Lorinka, and Relis were similarly worn and wounded.

"This mission was... brutal."

Merlin shook his head. Though he had anticipated danger, he hadn't expected a battle so intense. They had nearly been wiped out.

Then Merlin's gaze drifted to the elder's remains. He recalled the shaman's uncanny mental strength, nearly at a Level Three spellcaster's threshold. Such power wasn't the result of mere meditation. Perhaps he had inherited the secrets of an ancient shamanic tradition, enabling his mind to grow exponentially.

With a spark of anticipation, Merlin slowly got to his feet, moving toward the elder's remains, hoping to uncover some of those mystical secrets.