Chapter 210: The Challenge

"What's wrong? I can't leave?" Merlin picked up on the hint of surprise in the flame spirit's voice and quickly asked.

The flame spirit paused, then replied, "Why don't you go up and try for yourself?"

Merlin eyed the flame spirit with suspicion but turned and entered the passageway, making his way up to the first floor of the ancient tower.

The first floor was silent and empty, devoid of any signs of life.

He approached the thick stone door that Rhysene had sealed to trap him inside the tower.

"*Flame Burst!*" Merlin cast the spell, unleashing intense heat and explosive force on the door. Yet the door remained utterly unaffected.

Merlin then lifted his pale finger and pointed toward the door.

"Whoosh."

A rush of cold energy shot forth, freezing the entire door solid. A cracking sound echoed as frost covered the stone surface.

Then, Merlin cast several fireballs at the door, exploding against the frozen stone. But to his frustration, even the potent chill of the *Frozen Finger* spell had no effect.

"Just as I thought—it's unbreakable."

Merlin frowned, no longer wasting energy on trying to break through the door. He returned to the underground hall and approached the flame-shaped statue.

"Flame Spirit, is there any way to break through that door?" he asked, feeling a rising unease.

"Break it down? Merlin, you'll never get through that door," the flame spirit said calmly. "This tower was fortified by its master against a powerful foe, with layers of intricate runic wards. That door has a rune array that would require a grand mage to breach."

Merlin's expression darkened. A grand mage? Even in Darklight Domain, he'd only encountered a few six-level casters. He had yet to even see a seven-level caster, let alone a grand mage.

The flame spirit noted Merlin's disheartened look and spoke again. "Merlin, you don't necessarily need to break down the door to leave the tower."

"Oh? Is there another way out?" Merlin asked, hope rekindling.

"Indeed. When my master built this tower, he anticipated the possibility of a siege. He placed a rune array for escape within a hidden chamber."

"And where is this rune array?" Merlin's spirits lifted.

The flame spirit shook its head. "For security, the escape array is inside a sealed room that only opens when *Flame of Destruction* has been mastered to its first form."

"Flame of Destruction's first form? Then I'll start training right now!" Merlin said eagerly, issuing a command to the Matrix. "Matrix, display all information on *Flame of Destruction*."

The spell's requirements appeared in his mind. To train in *Flame of Destruction*, one needed to first master either *Flame Burst* or *Sea of Flames*, the foundation spells.

Besides that basic requirement, similar to *Frozen Finger*, *Flame of Destruction* required numerous rare materials. Where *Frozen Finger* only needed a single component, *Flame of Destruction* required *Essence of Earthfire*, *Flame Stone*, and other materials—many of which Merlin had never heard of.

From what he understood, the more materials required, the greater the Pandora spell's power once cultivated. Unlike *Frozen Finger*, which only had two stages, *Flame of Destruction* had three forms, each increasingly powerful.

"So many materials... Flame Spirit, you mentioned that the tower's master left certain items to assist in training *Flame of Destruction*, correct?"

The flame spirit nodded. "Indeed, the master left various treasures. However, they're not easily obtained. They're stored in a chamber guarded by a powerful protector. Only by defeating the guardian can you access the master's treasures."

"A guardian? I see the master was quite cautious."

"That's right. The master crafted these chambers carefully to safeguard his life's work. To inherit *Flame of Destruction*, one had to surpass the strength of ordinary casters," the flame spirit explained.

Merlin nodded, realizing that the ancient mage who built this tower had been a powerful spellcaster. For reasons unknown, he'd departed, leaving only his most cherished creation. Only the dedicated could attain it.

The thought that Rhysene had escaped with an incomplete spell amused Merlin. He'd never be able to cultivate it without these vital resources.

"Very well, Flame Spirit. Take me to this challenge," Merlin said confidently. With five primary spells and a variety of defensive tools, he felt prepared. His mastery of *Frozen Finger* would allow him to face even powerful third-level casters. He was ready.

The flame spirit nodded, and with a wave, sent out a peculiar energy pulse.

"Boom."

A stone door behind the statue slowly lifted, revealing a chamber beyond.

"Merlin," said the flame spirit, "that is the sealed room. If you can't overcome the guardian, simply exit the chamber, and the guardian will cease its attack. Remember, you can try again if necessary. Don't push yourself too hard, or you'll lose your only chance."

Merlin committed the spirit's words to memory, then stepped into the chamber.

The room was vast yet bare. In a corner, Merlin spotted a peculiar creature—a white, rabbit-like being, perched silently.

"At last, someone has arrived," it said, looking up. "Young spellcaster, I am Lister, servant of the great Doran."

Merlin recognized Doran as the tower's creator. The rabbit-like creature looked harmless enough, but Merlin sensed an intense ice-element aura emanating from it.

A flash of realization struck him: this creature was no mere animal. It was an elemental beast.

Only elemental creatures possessed such mastery over their domain. Merlin's own spells—*Freeze* and *Solid Ice*—were effectively nullified here, every bit of ice energy absorbed by the creature.

Elemental beasts were notoriously powerful. This rabbit-like creature's icy aura matched that of a high-level caster, presenting a serious threat.

"*Guardian Stone!*" Merlin cast his strongest defensive spell through his enhancement tool, summoning a wall of gray, ethereal stones around him.

The rabbit creature, noticing Merlin's shield, began to transform. Its body swelled, hind legs growing massive and powerful. The white fur darkened, turning half black, and its sharp claws gleamed with a deadly sheen. All ice energy in the room coalesced around it.

"*Frozen Finger!*" Merlin immediately unleashed his strongest attack. Elemental beasts were formidable; only a Pandora spell could face it.

"Whoosh."

A surge of deadly frost shot towards the creature. Initially dismissive, the rabbit's eyes widened as it sensed the incoming chill. It darted to the side with incredible speed, evading the blast.

"Crack!"

The frost struck the wall, freezing it solid.

"A Pandora spell—*Frozen Finger* no less! Impressive, but too slow!" The creature sneered, recognizing the technique. Instead of fear, a thrill lit its eyes as it crouched to attack.

"Thud."

In a flash, the creature sprang forward, becoming a blur. Its speed outmatched even Merlin's enhanced spells. No wonder it wasn't worried about *Frozen Finger*. With such agility, no spell could land unless it immobilized him first.

In seconds, the creature was upon him, towering three meters tall, like a terrible monster.

Its powerful claw slashed down toward Merlin's head.