A Wizard’s Secret

In the large, pitch-black hole, Merlin followed Wizard Leo, and his Mind Power keeping track of his surroundings at all times.

The dark passage was long. Merlin was able to sense that they were going deeper into the ground. Abyss Fort did not have a castle-like building. Conversely, they built their structure underground with huge passages extending into all directions.

Very soon, a glimmer of light gradually appeared in the dark passage, and a faint golden glow appeared on the bumpy, uneven wall.

“We’re here. Wizard Leo, it’s not your first time coming to Abyss Fort, but it’s the first time for this young fellow. He’s so curious!”

Wizard Hobbes revealed a smile on his aged face upon seeing Merlin peering around all over the place.

Merlin was curious indeed. This great hall was buried deep underground but it did not feel stifling at all. Moreover, four pure white glassware which looked like lampshades were hung in the corners of the hall. A giant gleaming pearl was placed in each one, and a soft white light shone from these pearls, illuminating the great hall until it was like daylight.

The design of the facilities in Abyss Fort was mind-boggling to Merlin.

“Right, let’s get down to business! Wizard Leo, what did you mean when you mentioned Darkness Eye?”

Wizard Hobbes’ expression turned solemn and he asked in his gravelly voice.

The blood-red third eye on Wizard Leo’s forehead blinked slightly. Although he was blind in both eyes, this “Darkness Eye” was able to replace those eyes, perceiving everything in his surroundings. Furthermore, it seemed to be able to see things which people normally would not. For instance, things like illusions were unable to confound Wizard Leo with his Darkness Eye.

“The cultivation method for Darkness Eye that you have here in Abyss Fort is flawed. Throughout so many years, did anyone in Abyss Fort manage to cultivate Darkness Eye successfully?”

Wizard Leo spoke suddenly but he did not reply to Wizard Hobbes’ previous question right away. Instead, he brought up the cultivation method for Darkness Eye.

Of course, Wizard Hobbes understood the matter very well and laughed coldly. “Hehe, Wizard Leo, the cultivation method for Darkness Eye is flawed indeed. This is not a big secret. Moreover, the cultivation method of your own Darkness Eye is actually flawed as well. However, it’s indeed impressive how you’ve devised your own method for cultivating Darkness Eye and was successful at that.”

Wizard Hobbes’ eyes shone with an obvious curiosity about the cultivation method for Darkness Eye that Wizard Leo had devised.

A smile tugged at the corner of Wizard Leo’s lips. “Sixty years ago, I came to Abyss Fort to exchange something precious for your Darkness-type spells. This time is no different, I come bearing a gift. I’ll be giving you the cultivation method that I’ve devised for Darkness Eye!”

“The cultivation method for Darkness Eye that you’ve devised?”

A passionate gleam flashed across Wizard Hobbes’ eyes. If it was someone else who had claimed that they devised a cultivation method for Darkness Eye, Wizard Hobbes would surely be dismissive and scornful.

However, the one who made this claim was Wizard Leo. This was a significant factor for Wizard Leo, who was widely acknowledged to be highly accomplished in his cultivation of Darkness Eye. He had even relied on Darkness Eye to transcend his rank and beheaded a Seventh-level Spell Caster from Ozmu.

With solid results like these, no one was skeptical about Wizard Leo’s Darkness Eye. Naturally, Wizard Leo would value the cultivation method he had devised more than any other treasure.

As he thought about this, Wizard Hobbes could not help but ask, “Wizard Leo, what do you want in exchange for the cultivation method of Darkness Eye?”

A slight smile emerged on Wizard Leo’s lips. As he expected, since his Darkness Eye had demonstrated its powerful abilities, the cultivation method for Darkness Eye that he had devised was the most appealing thing he could offer Abyss Fort.

Therefore, Wizard Leo placed his fingers lightly on the table, and said in a deep voice, “You must allow my student, Wizard Merlin, to enter your library and pick any Darkness-type spell above Second-level that he likes. This is the first condition.”

“Secondly, the cultivation method of Darkness Heart, the Pandora Demon Ability that Abyss Fort possesses, must also be passed along to Merlin. Moreover, Merlin would need to use your Darkness Void to help in his cultivation for a few days. It’ll be best if he’s able to successfully cultivate Darkness Heart during this time. These are my two conditions, and if you agree to them, I’ll give you the cultivation method for Darkness Eye that I’ve devised!”

Wizard Leo had finished speaking and waited silently for Wizard Hobbes’ reply.

Wizard Hobbes had a gloomy look on his face, and his gaze constantly turned toward Merlin. He did not think that this time, Wizard Leo would use his precious cultivation method for Darkness Eye purely just to obtain a spell and the Pandora Demon Ability, Darkness Heart, for Merlin. Thus, Wizard Hobbes wanted to find out what was so special about Merlin that made Wizard Leo go to such lengths and was willing to pay such a great price just to help him.

After a long time, Wizard Hobbes finally opened his mouth to speak. “On the first condition, the Darkness-type spell that’s above Second-level – Merlin is completely free to choose but he must sign a contract to never divulge this spell to anyone.”

“No problem!”

Wizard Leo nodded. Back when he had obtained the spells from Abyss Fort, he had signed a contract to never divulge these spells. However, among his two conditions, it was the second one that was crucial.

“As for the second condition, Wizard Leo, you should know very clearly that Darkness Heart is owned exclusively by Abyss Fort, and we have never shared it with outsiders.”

Wizard Hobbes spoke in a slow, heavy voice as his eyes fixed firmly on Wizard Leo.

“Hehe. Wizard Hobbes, it’s true that Darkness Heart has never been divulged to outsiders, but how does it compare to Darkness Eye? Whether something is important or not, I believe you’ll think it through for yourself.

“Darkness Heart is admittedly very important but you may choose to sign a contract with Merlin to prevent him from divulging it to anyone. Not even I would be able to cultivate it. In that case, Merlin would be the only one who would cultivate it, and yet all of you shall obtain the cultivation method of Darkness Eye. There’s always the chance that there’s a Spell Caster in Abyss Fort who is gifted and determined, who would be able to cultivate Darkness Eye successfully after learning my cultivation method.”

The blood-red third eye on Wizard Leo’s forehead shone with a strange, crimson light. After he spoke, he said nothing else and waited silently for Wizard Hobbes’ final decision.

After a moment, Wizard Hobbes stood up and said to Wizard Leo, “This is a very significant matter. I’ll need to discuss this with the rest.”

“No problem. We can wait.”

Wizard Leo’s expression was calm as he spoke lightly.

Wizard Hobbes nodded and walked into the depths of the large hall, leaving through a passage on the other side. With the underground passages on all sides, one would not know where these passages led to if one had not stayed here for a long time. If Abyss Fort was ever in danger, the Spell Casters could quickly leave the place through the labyrinth of passages.

The Dark Magic Region was a mysterious place. One would need to be transported by Runic Magic Circles just to enter or exit the Dark Magic Region, and it was extremely difficult for outsiders to find the Dark Magic Region. On the other hand, Abyss Fort had constructed a large and complicated web of underground passages, causing confusion to outsiders.

As such, it was difficult for these places, which housed spell casters’ organizations, to be overthrown with a single attack. This was the main reason the spell casters’ organizations were able to survive for over a thousand years without suffering any devastating attacks or destruction.

“Wizard Leo, what’s Darkness Heart?”

Merlin saw that Wizard Hobbes had left and could not help but ask Wizard Leo this question. From the previous discussion between Wizard Hobbes and Wizard Leo, Merlin only knew that Darkness Heart was a Pandora Demon Ability possessed only by Abyss Fort. However, Merlin was still baffled as to what it was exactly.

In a calm voice, Wizard Leo explained, “Darkness Heart is a Darkness-type Pandora Demon Ability but it’s different from Darkness Eye. Darkness Heart is merely a Supportive Pandora Demon Ability. If you’ve cultivated it successfully, the powers of any Darkness-type spell you cast would be greatly increased, and its effect would be stronger than most Enhancing casting tools. Moreover, if you encounter any attack from Darkness-type spells, Darkness Heart would automatically neutralize it. As long as it isn’t a Darkness-type spell of unusually excessive strength, it would be of no threat to you.”

After a pause, Wizard Leo turned grave, and his voice deepened. “Still, if it were just these benefits, I wouldn’t let you cultivate Darkness Heart. The biggest benefit of cultivating Darkness Heart comes when you’re constructing Fourth-level spells. At that time, the Fourth-level Darkness-type spells you’ve constructed can be combined with Darkness Heart, and the spell’s power will become incomparably mighty.

“I’ve occasionally come across the golden age of Spell Casters three thousand and six hundred years ago in ancient records. These ancient, powerful Spell Casters were able to fuse every spell with Pandora Demon Ability, and these spells would’ve terrifying power even if it was a First-level spell. However, as time passed and things changed, the peak era of Spell Casters had passed. Most Pandora Demon Abilities were lost in distant history, to say nothing of the methods for combining Pandora Demon Ability with spells. Currently, Darkness Heart is the only Pandora Demon Ability that I could find which may be combined with spells.”

Wizard Leo released a long sigh, his voice thick with regret.

During the golden era of Spell Casters three thousand and six hundred years ago, it was possible for Pandora Demon Ability to be fused with spells, and even First-level spells had contained frightening power once it was fused with Pandora Demon Ability.

Merlin thought of his Pandora Demon Ability, Fiery Collapse. Altogether, this Fiery Collapse had three forms, and it seemed that these forms could be combined with Seventh-level spells. This was an indirect confirmation that what Wizard Leo had just said could have very well been the truth.

Just as Merlin was about to inquire more on this matter, Wizard Hobbes had returned to the great hall. Moreover, two Spell Casters with powerful forces trailed behind him. These Spell Casters did not say anything once they came into the great hall but only narrowed their eyes slightly, sizing up Merlin and Wizard Leo without once looking away.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere in the great hall became rather oppressive.