Chapter 200: Mysterious Symbols

Merlin's gaze landed on the spot where Golan and his companions were hiding. Although his expression remained calm, Golan and the others felt a chill, as if they were frozen in place, unable to move.

Especially Mage Karen, who had previously mocked Merlin, now felt a growing anxiety in his heart as he met Merlin's cold gaze.

Soon enough, however, Merlin turned his gaze away and continued on, allowing Golan and the others to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Golan, what should we do now?" Mage Karen, visibly unsettled, whispered, already contemplating a retreat. Both Merlin and Samir's group were intimidating, and seeing Merlin's power firsthand, he felt certain that if they hadn't stepped back earlier, they might have met the same fate as Houghton and Bastlo.

Golan, still watching Merlin and the others carefully, replied in a low voice, "We need to keep our distance. Let them enter the ruins first. If we encounter them again, we'll leave right away. With Mage Merlin around, they shouldn't trouble us."

His gaze lingered briefly on Alina beside him. Golan had noticed that Merlin's glance earlier had specifically been directed at her. As long as Alina was with them, he felt confident they wouldn't face any trouble if they crossed paths with Merlin again—a reassurance that solidified his decision to proceed into the ruins.

With that, Golan and his companions continued to observe Merlin and Samir's group from a safe distance.

---

"Mage Merlin," Samir commented with a grin, "after today, your name will undoubtedly overshadow ours."

The group was visibly impressed by Merlin's skill. Exterminating fifty or sixty wandering mages with ease had left even seasoned figures like Samir stunned, as they hadn't anticipated that Merlin's magic would be so potent on top of his Pandora Mana.

"Alright, now that we've cleared the obstacles, some people have already entered the ruins. Let's not delay any longer," urged Mage Bronn, eyeing the entrance with growing eagerness.

"Let's go," Merlin agreed. His gaze drifted briefly to the remains of Houghton and Bastlo, shattered into countless icy shards. Although he regretted that their magic tools had been destroyed along with them by the Frostfinger, he quickly turned his focus back on their mission.

The four of them jumped into a large pit at the ruins' entrance, preparing to delve into its mysterious depths.

After a short while, more spellcasters began appearing in the distance. Though fearful of Merlin and the others, they were also unwilling to abandon the allure of the ruins entirely. Seeing that Merlin and Samir's terrifying group had entered the ruins, they too gathered their courage.

"Let's go in as well," Golan whispered, leading Karen and Alina to follow into the ruins.

---

Inside, the ruins were dark and damp. Merlin reached out to touch the wall, feeling the moisture clinging to the stones, which crumbled easily under slight pressure.

They were still in the uppermost layer of the ruins—a nine-story tower, with only four levels exposed above ground. These upper levels had been thoroughly explored countless times before. The real mystery lay in the five underground layers they sought to reach.

Moving carefully down a dark, narrow passage, they soon came upon a gap that led deeper into the structure. Judging by the tracks left behind, it was clear that others had been here before.

Bronn sent one of his alchemical creatures ahead to clear the way, ensuring it would detect any immediate danger. With one swift kick, the creature shattered a decayed wooden door, allowing them entry.

As Merlin followed, he noticed the thick layer of dust in the air. Though the underground ruins were remarkably well-preserved, centuries of neglect had left everything covered in a shroud of dust.

Suddenly, Merlin cast a Freeze spell. In an instant, a colorful spider, about the size of a baby's palm, was encased in ice on the wall.

"Be cautious," Samir warned, glancing at the frozen spider. "The ruins likely contain hidden dangers."

Merlin activated a protective Earth Shield around himself. Although it drained mana, this defensive spell would safeguard him against smaller threats. The others wore enchanted robes that negated the need for active defenses, making Merlin envious. However, he knew that once he constructed his final spell, Darklight Domain, he'd officially become a first-level mage and receive his own robe from the Dark Spirit Domain.

With Bronn's alchemical creature leading, they advanced deeper into the ruins. After they'd moved on, however, the spider Merlin had frozen began to emit a strange green light. Its body grew rapidly, breaking free from the ice. Now the size of a dinner plate, it bared two sharp black fangs before scuttling into the darkness, following Merlin's group from afar.

---

"Hold on," Merlin said abruptly, frowning as he caught a faint whiff of blood. His senses, honed by practicing the mysterious postures from the relief, were far keener than others', allowing him to detect the scent.

Samir and the others hadn't noticed the smell but, hearing Merlin's words, they quickly readied themselves.

"Darling, go check the way ahead," Bronn murmured to one of his alchemical creatures, which swiftly charged down the corridor.

While they waited, Merlin moved around the room, examining its dusty interior. He approached one of the tower walls and wiped away the grime, revealing an array of strange symbols etched into the stone.

"Bronn, could you use a wind spell to clear this room of dust?" Merlin asked.

"Did you find something?" Bronn replied, casting a spell that sent gusts of wind through the chamber, sweeping away layers of dust and exposing more of the symbols on the walls.

As the markings became visible, Samir's eyes widened, his voice suddenly eager. "These are formulas used in potion-making! I've seen these kinds of symbols in other ancient ruins, left by mages for crafting potions. The fact that we've found them here could mean there's a room dedicated to potion-making nearby—perhaps containing the very potion I need!"

For Samir, who had entered the ruins specifically in search of a remedy to stabilize his mind's spell model, the discovery of these symbols was a thrilling development.

"These symbols…" Merlin studied them carefully. They seemed to be remnants of an advanced system from 3,600 years ago, when mage society was at its peak. Merlin had read that potion crafting, alchemy, spell-casting, and runes had all reached unprecedented levels during that time.

Feeling a hunch that these symbols could contain valuable insights, Merlin instructed his magical assistant to record them for future analysis.

At that moment, Bronn's alchemical creature returned, carrying a corpse in its arms. The stench of blood filled the air, confirming Merlin's suspicions.