Chapter 199: A Formidable Opponent

As the endless barrage of spells engulfed Merlin's silhouette, a faint glimmer of triumph appeared on the faces of Mage Bastlo and the elderly Mage Houghton.

But before they could fully relax, a dim light enveloped Merlin's figure. Simultaneously, a deep rumbling echoed from within the smoke and dust cloud created by the barrage of spells.

Upon hearing this sound, both Houghton and Bastlo's faces twisted in shock. It signified that Merlin had somehow managed to deflect or absorb the entire onslaught, possibly with a potent spellcasting tool or a high-level defensive spell.

"Blocked it?" Houghton murmured in disbelief. They had already surmised that Merlin wasn't a third-level spellcaster, assuming he was at best a first-level one. No first-level spellcaster should have been able to withstand such a relentless assault—only a third-level defense spell could do that.

Suddenly, faint arcs of electricity began crackling overhead as fist-sized spheres of lightning materialized above the mages' heads. Each sphere pulsed with bolts of lightning as thick as a finger, radiating raw, destructive power.

"Ball of Thunder!" Merlin's voice rang out from the smoky haze, his figure partially shielded by stone tablets shimmering with a dull gray glow. He had managed to deflect the assault with a strengthened version of his Earth Shield, augmented by his spellcasting tools.

"He survived! He must be carrying a powerful amplification tool. His first-level spells are performing on par with third-level spells!" A look of astonishment flashed across Bastlo's face. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it. But Merlin's defensive barrier, despite being a mere first-level defense spell, held up like a third-level one.

Yet, Bastlo showed no signs of retreat. Instead, his body glowed as he activated a defensive spell of his own and charged at Merlin, eyes blazing with reckless determination. Houghton, on the other hand, hesitated. He cast a wary glance at Merlin's stone barriers and the ominous orbs above, deciding that breaking through Merlin's defenses was beyond his abilities. Channeling wind elements around him, he prepared to make a swift retreat.

"Oh? Trying to escape? Too late!" Merlin's eyes narrowed. His Ball of Thunder spell unleashed waves of lightning across the area. Many of the lesser mages screamed in agony as the lightning struck, obliterating them instantly.

This was true slaughter. Even Samir's alchemical creatures hadn't been this effective; Merlin's spell, with its wide-ranging impact, decimated any mage caught in its path. Only those with formidable defense spells or spellcasting tools could withstand the Ball of Thunder's onslaught.

For the higher-level spellcasters, such as Bastlo and Houghton, the lightning spell posed little threat. Merlin knew it would take more than this to deal with them. His gaze hardened.

"Mana... Frostfinger!" he muttered, as his white-tinged finger, appearing like a crystal of ice, pointed straight at Bastlo.

A faint hiss was all that followed before Bastlo, still in mid-charge, froze in place, his face locked in an expression of shock. In the blink of an eye, he shattered into countless icy fragments, scattering across the ground.

Merlin's Frostfinger spell did not dissipate after claiming Bastlo. Instead, it turned toward Houghton, who was preparing a wind spell to flee. Witnessing Bastlo's demise left him trembling uncontrollably, his terror apparent.

"What... what is this? A spell? A tool?" Houghton didn't recognize Pandora Mana, but the sight of Bastlo's gruesome end eliminated any will to fight. He spun around and tried to flee at full speed.

But Merlin's Frostfinger was faster. The icy aura wrapped around Houghton, gradually encasing him in a layer of frost.

"No, no, my robe, it should protect me..." Houghton's voice cracked as he frantically activated the defense spell woven into his robes. But under Merlin's Frostfinger, even his prized cloak froze solid, becoming brittle and shattering like glass.

A faint cracking sound marked the end of Houghton. Just like Bastlo, he splintered into tiny frozen shards.

In an instant, two formidable second-level mages had perished, unable to mount any defense against Merlin's power. The sight of these powerful figures reduced to ice and shattered sent a wave of horror through the remaining mages, who were still struggling to resist Merlin's thunder orbs.

Watching this brutal display, the surviving wandering mages found themselves overwhelmed by fear. Their defiance quickly dissolved, and they scrambled to escape the orbs' range, driven by sheer desperation.

Most who had survived the initial attack were at least first-level mages, equipped with defensive spells or tools. But by now, they were gripped with regret for underestimating Merlin, who had so ruthlessly decimated half their number with a single spell.

"Run, run! This young spellcaster is the real deal, a true menace!" many mages shouted as they desperately evaded the residual bolts of lightning and fled in the opposite direction of the ruins, terrified at the idea of getting any closer.

Soon, Merlin ceased maintaining his Ball of Thunder spell, which had left the ground charred and littered with bodies. From the original crowd of nearly a hundred mages, only fifty or so had managed to survive by escaping or hiding.

The scene was a testament to Merlin's power; he had effectively eliminated half of the gathered mages in mere moments.

"Vicious, truly vicious! Who is this young spellcaster? A terror on the battlefield... wielding an area-of-effect spell, and a first-level one at that!"

The few who had escaped looked back at Merlin with horror, knowing they would never forget this moment.

** **

In a secluded spot, Golan, Alina, and their group looked on, stunned by the scene before them.

The barrage of spells that had been aimed at Merlin seemed impossible for anyone to withstand. Golan himself knew he wouldn't have survived it. But Merlin not only withstood it but retaliated, instantly killing the powerful second-level mages Bastlo and Houghton.

Bastlo was formidable in his own right, but Houghton was renowned for his survival skills—even in the presence of third-level spellcasters. Yet here he was, unable to withstand even a single move from Merlin.

Recalling the deaths of these two and the piercing chill of Merlin's spell, Golan and the others couldn't help but feel a deep-seated fear.

"Incredible, truly incredible! Merlin's potential far surpasses that of even Kress. Alina, your Dark Spirit Domain has truly produced a remarkable talent—a six-element spellcaster, an extraordinary existence!"

Golan's previous irritation at Merlin's "arrogance" had vanished, replaced by admiration. In the Derlman family, he was considered a genius, but in the City of Flames, he was merely average. Merlin, however, stood in a league of his own, displaying unimaginable strength as a six-element spellcaster.

"Merlin's progress has been astonishing..." Alina remarked, both in awe and disbelief. She had known Merlin was strong, but in the Dark Spirit Domain, he hadn't exhibited this level of power. His rapid advancement was staggering, hinting that he might have recently advanced to a first-level spellcaster, a feat that would make him a formal member of the Dark Spirit Domain—something Alina could only envy.

Suddenly, Golan's face shifted as he saw Merlin's gaze turn directly toward their hiding place...