Chapter 108: Mage Leo (Part 2)

Led by Lorinka, Merlin arrived before the tower.

From a distance, the towers had appeared tall and majestic, but standing directly beneath one, Merlin realized just how massive and imposing it truly was.

The walls of the tower were a grayish white, showing signs of age. A faint white glow emanated from the walls—barely noticeable unless one looked closely. The source of this light was the dense array of mysterious runes covering the walls, enshrouding the entire tower in a strange, distinct energy.

This must be the rune array Lorinka had mentioned, the element enabling these towers in the Dark Spirit Domain to stand so magnificently.

Besides Mage Leo's tower, several other towers stood nearby. However, these paled in comparison, making Mage Leo's tower appear even more formidable by contrast.

"Lorinka, does the height of Mage Leo's tower indicate that he is exceptionally powerful?" Merlin asked, recalling that Lorinka had once mentioned that only powerful mages in the Dark Spirit Domain could construct such tall towers.

Given that both he and Lorinka were considered low-potential mages by the gray-robed mages, Merlin assumed their mentor would not be particularly strong. Yet, the grandeur of Mage Leo's tower sparked a sense of curiosity.

Lorinka, as if reading his mind, smiled mysteriously. "Every mage assigned to Mage Leo's tower asks that. Mage Leo is indeed one of the most powerful mages in the Dark Spirit Domain. He is a Sixth-Level peak spellcaster and a master of four magical disciplines. Aside from the handful of mages who are Seventh-Level or higher, Mage Leo ranks among the strongest here."

"Mage Leo is that powerful? Then why were we assigned to his tower?" Merlin was surprised, not expecting Mage Leo to be so formidable.

Lorinka didn't answer directly. "You'll understand once you meet Mage Leo," she replied, then led Merlin into the tower.

As soon as they entered, Merlin caught a sharp, unpleasant smell. He glanced at the first floor and saw only a scruffy, haggard man in a black robe.

Lorinka walked up to the man and spoke respectfully, "Mage Hall, how is the Ink Phantasm potion coming along?"

The man raised his head slightly, casting a listless glance at Lorinka. "The Ink Phantasm potion isn't easy to make. I've already wasted eighteen batches of ingredients. Lorinka, if you could lend me some materials…"

Before he could finish, Lorinka quickly shook her head. "I won't disturb you any further, Mage Hall. I'm taking Mage Merlin to see Mage Leo."

With that, she hurriedly pulled Merlin into a corner of the room, where dense runes were inscribed on the floor.

"Use your mental power to activate the rune on your Dark Spirit ring. Remember, in the Dark Spirit Domain, all rune arrays require a Dark Spirit ring to operate."

She lifted her hand, and her ring emitted a beam of light that intertwined with the runes on the floor. Merlin followed her example, and soon they were both enveloped in a glow from the runes, vanishing in an instant.

*Whoosh.*

Merlin felt a light tremor in his body and suddenly found himself in a new place, surrounded by clouds and mist. He realized they had been transported directly to the tower's top floor.

The rune array had instantly brought them to the top, saving them what could have been an endless climb.

"Amazing!" Merlin's fascination with the runes grew. Ever since he entered the Dark Spirit Domain, he noticed that mysterious runes were everywhere, each with its own unique purpose.

"Who was that Mage Hall on the first floor?" Merlin asked, curious.

Lorinka sighed. "Mage Hall resides on the first floor of the tower. He's one of Mage Leo's students and a full member of the Dark Spirit Domain. He's also the tower's most devoted potion master, spending almost all his energy on potion-making. It's usually convenient, as his potions are often cheaper than those from the Dark Spirit Domain."

She paused, then added, "Mage Hall's dedication, however, is extreme. He often 'borrows' potion ingredients from provisional members, promising a share if the potion is successful. But as you might guess, most attempts end in failure…"

Lorinka's expression showed her exasperation; clearly, Mage Hall was difficult to deal with.

Merlin nodded thoughtfully, learning much from her remarks. Potion ingredients were valuable and not to be given to Mage Hall lightly. However, his expertise might provide insight into stabilizing spell models.

"Let's go in. Mage Leo is waiting inside," Lorinka said, gesturing to the door before them.

Merlin took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

"Mage Leo, I am Wilson Merlin, newly arrived at the Dark Spirit Domain…"

He stopped mid-sentence, drawing a sharp breath as a chill ran through him.

In the room sat a towering, slightly hunched mage with a surprisingly healthy complexion despite his advanced age—presumably Mage Leo.

Yet Mage Leo's eyes had no irises; they were hollow and deathly gray, evoking a sense of dread. More unnervingly, a small fleshy lump protruded from his forehead, bearing a blood-red, vertical eye that was fixed directly on Merlin, making his whole body shiver involuntarily.