Chapter 249: The Exhibition

Merlin's mysterious carvings, relics from the era of the Morta Empire, remained enigmatic in origin. Their only apparent function was to enhance physical strength. Yet, as Merlin's physical attributes reached a peak, further improvement became increasingly difficult, and for a long time, his growth stagnated.

Now, with this sense of impending "transformation," Merlin was determined to seize the opportunity. He began to practice the postures engraved on the fourth carving with speed and precision.

These postures, mysterious and intricate, were already second nature to Merlin. Yet today, an unusual energy coursed through his body, as if boundless vitality demanded release. He practiced again and again, his movements accelerating, his strength and vigor mounting with each repetition.

Sweat glistened on Merlin's bare upper body, his pale skin marred by crimson veins that bulged grotesquely beneath the surface. Blood surged visibly through these veins, accompanied by faint, unsettling noises.

Suddenly, Merlin felt as though his body had exploded. He grew taller, his bones stretching and his muscles tightening with newfound density and power. Though he still fell short of the towering stature of the Wilson family patriarch, he was now notably taller than before.

"Strength," Merlin muttered, clenching his fist. His raw physical power seemed capable of smashing through the armor of even heavily armed elemental swordsmen.

Merlin swung his arm lightly, producing a crisp sound as it sliced through the air. Such power, derived solely from his body, far exceeded that of Tier 4 elemental swordsmen.

For years, Merlin had practiced the carvings' postures with unwavering dedication, despite the lack of apparent results. Now, as his body underwent this transformation—this "ascension"—he could feel the difference. His strength had grown to an almost incomprehensible degree, surpassing his own expectations.

Testing his durability, Merlin retrieved a sharp dagger from his spatial ring and drew it across his palm. The blade emitted a faint screech but left only a faint white mark on his skin. With greater force, he managed to draw a thin line of blood, which quickly began to heal. Within moments, only a faint scar remained.

Merlin inhaled sharply. The transformation granted by these carvings was astonishing. His body now possessed immense strength, extraordinary resilience, and accelerated healing. He realized that even without magic, he could overpower most Tier 1 mages in physical combat.

"Morta Empire…" Merlin murmured. The mystery surrounding this ancient civilization deepened. The empire's relics—its spells, tools, potions, and energies—continued to captivate and elude understanding.

The carvings had already proven invaluable to Merlin, but he suspected their purpose extended beyond physical enhancement. Regardless of their ultimate significance, Merlin knew he had gained a significant advantage.

He spent the remainder of the day acclimating to his transformed body, marveling at its newfound capabilities.

---

Two days later, Dolan City was abuzz with activity. The day had arrived for the Shadison family to publicly exhibit the **Vastness Tome**, attracting countless wandering mages to the Shadison estate.

The estate's gates were surrounded by a sea of people, with spellcasters' mental energies probing the grounds in unrestrained waves.

The gates creaked open, and Rheint, the family patriarch, emerged flanked by Tier 3 mages from the Shadison family. Behind them followed numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 mages, encircling the group in a protective formation and keeping watch over the restless crowd.

Despite some grumbling from the gathered mages, none dared provoke the Shadison family outright. In Dolan City, the Shadisons wielded significant authority, and no one wished to antagonize them prematurely.

Rheint surveyed the crowd, his gaze briefly lingering on a few familiar faces among the throng. He knew these individuals were mages from the rival Dorett family, likely planning to exploit the situation. Yet, the preparations he had made bolstered his confidence.

His eyes eventually settled on Lorinka and the black-robed mage beside her.

"So, he stayed," Rheint thought. Though Merlin had refused to assist directly, his presence alone was enough. Rheint was confident that, should chaos erupt, Merlin would intervene for Lorinka's sake.

Raising his voice, Rheint addressed the crowd, "Friends, it is the Shadison family's fortune to have acquired the legendary **Vastness Tome**, First Volume. Such a treasure is not for one family to hoard, and so we invite you all to witness its wonders!"

The crowd murmured with excitement. For the wandering mages, this was a rare opportunity to access the detailed spell models of Tier 1 to Tier 3 spells without effort.

Rheint gestured, and a group of Tier 3 mages surrounded him protectively. Moments later, he produced a large, intricately bound tome that shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow—the **Vastness Tome**.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as the legendary book was unveiled. Even Merlin, who had maintained his composure, found himself intrigued.

"So this is the Vastness Tome?" he murmured. Extending his mental energy toward the book, he found no immediate reaction, heightening its enigma.

"Open it!" someone shouted.

"Show us what's inside!"

The calls grew louder, and Rheint hesitated only briefly before opening the tome. Light spilled forth, bathing the area in a radiant glow as spell models materialized midair.

One by one, the models appeared—simple spells at first, gradually increasing in complexity. The sheer variety and detail left the crowd awestruck. Even Merlin's interest deepened.

"So comprehensive…" he whispered. While he initially dismissed the tome's contents, the detailed spell models now seemed invaluable for **Matrix**'s data collection. Merlin began recording each spell meticulously, preparing for future analyses.

The crowd mirrored his actions, with wandering mages hurriedly transcribing the spells most relevant to their needs.

Watching the crowd's fervent focus, Rheint allowed himself a small smile. "We've already achieved most of our goal. These mages won't turn against us after receiving these spells. But keep an eye on the Dorett family—I have a feeling they won't give up so easily."

Rheint's gaze fixed on a cluster of mages lurking among the crowd, their intent unclear but undoubtedly hostile. The air grew tense, the calm before the storm.