Chapter 131: The Return (Part 2)

In the task hall, Merlin and Lorinka handed over their Dark Spirit Rings to several gray-robed mages.

"Please wait; we will verify them."

The gray-robed mages had originally inscribed the Dark Spirit Rings with new mystical runes, which recorded the wearers' activities. Thus, the mages could tell at a glance whether Merlin and Lorinka had completed their task.

While waiting, Merlin noticed on the wall that the task to investigate the dark blood bats in the Eastern City had been marked as "Completed."

Following his gaze, Lorinka also saw the task status but was unsurprised. "Holmes and Relis likely returned to the Dark Spirit Realm before us and already submitted the task."

Merlin nodded. This task allowed for independent rewards once the investigation was complete. Since Lorinka's injuries had worsened, they had taken longer on the return journey. It made sense that Holmes and Relis might have returned first.

Shortly after, the gray-robed mages came back and returned the Dark Spirit Rings to Merlin and Lorinka. One of the mages looked at Merlin with a meaningful, serious expression and offered a slight smile. "We've verified your rings; you indeed completed the task, and you did very well. Yesterday, Holmes and Relis already claimed their rewards. Would you like to claim yours now?"

"Absolutely," Merlin replied without hesitation. Both he and Lorinka needed the contribution points and the Level One fire spell *Fury Flame*.

The mage nodded and inscribed more runes onto their Dark Spirit Rings. Merlin's ring now displayed "50" to indicate his contribution points.

In addition to the points, Merlin and Lorinka also received the long-awaited Level One fire spell *Fury Flame*. The gray-robed mages eyed Merlin curiously, clearly aware from the recorded runes that he was a rare six-element spellcaster.

Merlin gave them a slight bow before he and Lorinka left the task hall.

Once back at Mage Rio's tower, Lorinka looked at Merlin with a complex expression and spoke solemnly. "Soon, I'll be sent out of the Dark Spirit Realm. So, I'll be focusing on constructing a Level One spell in the tower."

Merlin understood; Lorinka was preparing for one final attempt to reach the next level.

"Then I wish you every success, Lorinka. May you soon construct your Level One spell model and become a true spellcaster!"

"Let's hope…" she replied. Though aware that her chances weren't high, Lorinka knew she'd regret it if she didn't try. After a brief exchange, they went their separate ways.

---

Back in his room, Merlin immediately checked his mental energy. The black cat's mysterious boost had pushed him beyond his understanding, and he wanted to ensure there were no side effects.

After careful examination, Merlin found his mental energy stable, akin to the steady growth he achieved through meditation.

"Archmage Fidel truly left an incredible legacy. The spirit Didymus is an astonishing creation…"

During his six months in the Dark Spirit Realm, Merlin had learned much about Archmage Fidel, the founder of the realm. As the only archmage above Level Nine in the Dark Spirit Realm, Fidel was an icon. Known for his expertise in rune magic, he personally set up the long-distance teleportation arrays across the realm a thousand years ago.

Didymus, the cat-like rune spirit, was an enigma. Only the most knowledgeable mages in rune magic might understand its creation.

With his mind eased, Merlin brought out the ring he had taken from the silver-haired elder. In the quiet of Rio's tower, free from interruptions, Merlin eagerly began inspecting its contents.

Inside the ring, Merlin found hundreds of elemental crystals, including some as large as a baby's fist, each worth a substantial amount of contribution points. Clearly, the elder had collected these crystals from spellcasters he had slain.

In addition to the crystals, Merlin found notes from various spellcasters, some of which provided minor insights, though not enough to be significantly useful. What truly interested him, however, was the shamanic knowledge that the elder had possessed.

It took Merlin several hours of sorting through various items before he finally uncovered a scroll of hide.

"Yes, here it is!"

Excited, Merlin unfurled the hide scroll.

"Ritualistic Shaman Methods to Control Elemental Creatures."

"Techniques to Rapidly Transform Elemental Creatures into Elemental Beings."

"Blood Pool Creation Method."

The scroll detailed ancient methods for controlling elemental creatures and accelerating their transformation into elemental beings, including the blood pool technique. According to the scroll, transforming a dark blood bat into an elemental being required at least ten thousand human sacrifices and special shamanic rituals.

Merlin skimmed through the control methods, noting that the process required extensive time and effort, far more than he was willing to invest. Even if he succeeded in controlling an elemental being, it would only match a Level Four spellcaster.

With over fifty towers in the Dark Spirit Realm, each representing at least one Level Four or higher spellcaster, the era of shamans was indeed past. Merlin thus set the ritual techniques aside and continued searching through the scroll.

He knew that ancient shamans were known for their immense mental energy, like the elder whose mental strength was close to a Level Three spellcaster's. What Merlin sought were the shamanic methods for enhancing mental energy.

"Here it is!"

Near the end of the scroll, Merlin found a formula for a mystical potion called "Phantom Elixir," designed to boost mental energy.

The potion's recipe, however, contained materials Merlin did not recognize. Since joining the Dark Spirit Realm, he had realized he lacked time for studies in runes, alchemy, and potion-making, having focused solely on strengthening his mental energy and building spells.

"It seems I'll need to consult Mage Hall on this potion recipe," he thought. Hall was a formal member of Rio's tower who had devoted his studies to potion-making. If anyone could help, it was him.

After storing the ring, Merlin took out the reward spell book, *Fury Flame*.

Though his current mental energy couldn't support a Level One spell yet, Merlin could still study its complexities.

Suddenly, Merlin felt a faint vibration in the air. Symbols began glowing on a wall in his room, forming a strange array that emitted a soft light. The symbols coalesced into a translucent face—it was Mage Rio.

"Merlin, come to me at once," the face ordered before fading, leaving Merlin's room in silence.

Merlin glanced around, realizing Rio's tower allowed him to observe everything within its walls. This was the power of the tower and rune magic.

"What could Master Rio need?" he wondered. It was rare for Rio to summon any spellcaster personally.

Still puzzled, Merlin quickly left his room and used the teleportation array to reach Mage Rio's chambers.