A Wizard’s Secret

On the deserted mountain road, occasional rustling sounds could be heard intermittently.

“Stop!”

Wizard Leo’s voice was slightly hoarse, so it sounded a little strange. He held up a hand and stopped everyone in their tracks. As he looked around them, the blood-red vertical eye in his forehead began to blink slowly.

Merlin was following behind Wizard Leo, together with Wizard Envia and the others. There were only five of them left from the Dark Magic Region. The loss of three Seventh-level Spell Casters was enough to cause a huge shock in the Dark Magic Region.

They were yet to arrive in the Dark Magic Region. They had just left the vast desert and had entered a dense forest. Normally, they would prepare to fly across the forest but Wizard Envia, Wizard Sarah, and Wizard Ilman were not yet Fourth-level Spell Casters and could not fly, so they had to rely on Wizard Leo to carry them.

If it was just one or two persons, Wizard Leo could probably carry them, but three was simply too strenuous for him. Thus, they decided not to fly and headed into the dense forest on foot, hurrying toward the Dark Magic Region.

Right now, however, there was a stench of death hanging in the air in front of them. That was why Wizard Leo stopped all of them in their tracks. Looking carefully ahead, they could see some mutilated bodies lying among the thick bushes.

Wizard Leo recognized their identities from the outfits on the dead bodies. In a low voice, he said, “These are Wizards from Fire City!”

“Fire City?”

Merlin took a careful look at the clothing on the dead bodies. True enough, they were dressed in long, fiery-red Wizard robes with the insignia of Fire City. They had probably just departed from Blacksand Fort and were rushing back to Fire City when they ran into misfortune at this spot.

“Who is it? Show yourself!”

Wizard Leo snarled deeply, and a crimson light shot out of Darkness Eye toward the dense forest in front of them.

“Thud.”

True enough, there was a Spell Caster looking at Wizard Leo with a stunned expression. Then, his expression turned into disgruntlement as his body fell lifelessly onto the ground.

Darkness Eye wielded by Wizard Leo was not a power that could be easily withstood by an average Spell Caster. Looking at the dead body on the ground, Merlin and the others paled slightly.

“Ozmu! They are from Ozmu! Did they set up an ambush outside as well? They are really trying to cripple the entire force of the southern Spell Caster world!”

Inside Merlin’s head, many thoughts began to swirl around as he pondered the various possibilities. He could vaguely guess Ozmu’s plans. First, they invaded Blacksand Fort under the guidance of the Black-White Great Wizard.

However, that was merely the first group. The second group hid outside Blacksand Fort at every exit route so that almost every Spell Caster would be discovered and subsequently slaughtered by them.

Such crazy behavior from Ozmu was akin to a declaration of war toward the entire southern Spell Caster world!

Nevertheless, it was understandable since Blacksand Fort had discovered the old nest of Ozmu. If Blacksand Fort managed to combine the major forces of the southern Spell Caster world and attacked their base, then Ozmu would not be able to withstand the attack.

Thus, Ozmu’s objective was to weaken or intimidate the mighty forces of the southern Spell Caster world, and this was the best opportunity for them. Since everyone was in one location, they did not have to expand too much effort to annihilate a large number of Spell Casters.

“What should we do? Wizard Leo, besides this route, is there any other way to return to the Dark Magic Region?”

Merlin knew that the dense forest before them certainly hid more Spell Casters from Ozmu. Even if they used flying spells, they might end up becoming live targets and be killed by Ozmu’s Spell Casters.

Wizard Leo shook his head. “Even if there’s another way, there will just be another ambush team from Ozmu waiting for us. Let’s proceed and kill every ambush on the way!”

A murderous air began to stir around Wizard Leo.

Therefore, Merlin and the remaining Wizards from the Dark Magic Region followed behind Wizard Leo as he navigated through the dense forest. At all times, Darkness Eye in his forehead looked around vigilantly.

“Thud thud.”

Wizard Leo’s forehead flashed a crimson light, and another two hidden Spell Casters of Ozmu fell to the ground. They were about to sneak an attack on Wizard Leo but were discovered by Darkness Eye, so they were killed.

With Darkness Eye as a lookout, all the hidden Spell Casters were unearthed without any resistance! This was the power of Darkness Eye. Relying on Wizard Leo to lead the way, Merlin and the others managed to pick up speed and moved through the dense forest. In front of them, they could almost see the edge of the forest. As long as they exited the forest, there should be no more ambushes by Ozmu.

“Leo, I see that you indeed have Darkness Eye and the complete version at that! Now, I’m very interested in your Darkness Eye. Even though I can’t cultivate a cursed power like this, I’d like to study it for myself!”

From the dark shadows under a tree, a purple-haired old man dressed in a black robe slowly appeared. The purple-haired old man’s expression was exceedingly calm as he blocked their way.

Wizard Leo slowly came to a halt. For the first time, Darkness Eye in his head did not move to attack immediately. After a long pause, he opened his mouth. “Wizard Ghostfire! How unexpected of you to be waiting here.”

Merlin had never heard of Wizard Ghostfire, but Wizard Envia’s expression changed vastly. In a whisper, he explained to Merlin, “Wizard Ghostfire was a truly fearsome Spell Caster more than three hundred years ago. Back then, he was already a Ninth-level Spell Caster but because he offended a large spell casters’ organization, he was under pursuit for many years until Ozmu stepped in to save him. Many years have passed since then, so I don’t know how much more powerful Wizard Ghostfire might have become. Although he’s still not a Great Wizard, I’m sure his powers have improved greatly. We’re definitely in trouble!”

A Ninth-level Spell Caster! This purple-haired old man was a Ninth-level Spell Caster. It was not surprising that Wizard Leo was behaving cautiously. Previously, just facing against two Eighth-level Spell Casters, Wizard Leo already had to bear the danger and pay a huge price to wield the fourth form of Darkness Eye in order to kill them.

Right now, Wizard Leo was again forced to face against Ninth-level Wizard Ghostfire. Merlin and the others had found themselves in a dire situation. Ozmu had truly planned it well because even if someone managed to clear the entire path, there was a powerful Spell Caster waiting at the end.

Wizard Ghostfire smirked. “Hehe. Wizard Leo, you’re a very important person to Ozmu. We at Ozmu are very interested in your Darkness Eye, so I’m not the only one waiting here for you!”

As he was speaking, Wizard Ghostfire shook his hand and cleared a path as if he was welcoming someone.

Soon, from within the shadowy trees, another Spell Caster emerged. When they saw his unique appearance, everyone including Merlin was shocked.

“The Black-White Great Wizard?”

Wizard Leo could not help but shout. This mysterious Spell Caster had a head full of half-white-half-black hair. It was not surprising that even a Ninth-level Spell Caster like Wizard Ghostfire showed respect to him.

It was the Black-White Great Wizard who had just escaped from the Holy Fort Guardian Spirit in Blacksand Fort!

…

Inside Blacksand Fort, the Great Wizards Utto and Tumen were directing the clean-up of the entire place. This time, Ozmu did not only disrupt the summit but also ripped Blacksand Fort’s reputation to shreds. Both the Great Wizards Utto and Tumen were put to shame, so their hearts were naturally seething.

“Whiz whiz.”

Suddenly, two Spell Casters flew into Blacksand Fort. These two were Seventh-level Spell Casters from a medium-sized spell casters’ organization from the southern Spell Caster world.

The two Seventh-level Spell Casters looked horribly exhausted. Upon spotting the Great Wizards Utto and Tumen, they yelled, “Great Wizard Utto, Great Wizard Tumen, please save us. Ozmu set up ambushes outside Blacksand Fort to trap all the spell casters’ organizations who are leaving from here. We’re suffering a massive loss as we speak!”

“What? That damned Ozmu, they’re declaring war against the entire southern Spell Caster world! They’re crazy!”

Great Wizard Utto could hardly believe his ears. Ozmu’s actions were simply too irrational. In the past, the most they had done was ignite a spark and fanned the fire or enticed a few prodigies from spell casters’ organizations.

Although their actions back then were loathing to say the least, it was not the same as this time. They had publicly massacred Wizards from the entire southern Spell Caster world, which was as good as declaring war against the entire southern Spell Caster world. It was beyond crazy, even worse than invading Blacksand Fort.

“In any case, this summit was organized by Blacksand Fort. We cannot sit back and allow Ozmu’s bloodshed to continue. Tumen, you hold up Blacksand Fort, I’ll go out and save all the Wizards!”

Following that, Wizard Utto transformed into a colorful light and shot out from Blacksand Fort.

…

The Black-White Great Wizard’s expression was extremely composed. His alchemy clone was nowhere in sight. Merlin had guessed that the Black-White Great Wizard must have hidden the alchemy clone somewhere to allow it to recover.

Even without his alchemy clone, the Black-White Great Wizard was still an impressive Great Wizard. Regardless of how powerful Wizard Leo’s Darkness Eye was, it was still not quite comparable to him.

“Surrender the cultivation technique of Darkness Eye!”

The Black-White Great Wizard’s cruel gaze was transfixed on Wizard Leo. As for Merlin and the others, he could not be bothered to spare them a look.

An ugly grimace carved out on Wizard Leo’s face. He knew that this time, it would be difficult for him to escape. Since the Black-White Great Wizard had come in person, it was obvious that he coveted Darkness Eye.

Despite being a cursed power, Darkness Eye was still a special Pandora Demon Ability. Naturally, Ozmu was very interested in obtaining it. Even if they could not cultivate it, they would use it to study Darkness-type Pandora Demon Abilities.

“Darkness Eye, control!”

Without wasting another breath, Darkness Eye in Wizard Leo’s forehead swelled in size and glowed crimson red like it was bleeding.

This was the fourth form of Darkness Eye. Every single time Wizard Leo activated it, it came with a huge price to pay!

“Humph!”

The Black-White Great Wizard snorted and stretched out a white palm into the sky.

“Boom!”

A huge glacial palm began to condense rapidly in the sky, stretching almost tens of meters wide above their heads. The cold air could be felt by Merlin and the rest of them far below, suffocating them.

“Retreat, hurry!”

Without a moment of hesitation, Merlin yelled loudly. Dragging Wizard Envia and the others with him, he quickly retreated a few hundred meters away, all the while staring at the gigantic glacial palm in the sky.

With a howl, the glacial palm sped downward. Despite that, Wizard Leo did not move an inch. His already emaciated body was only skin and bones, a repercussion from forcefully activating the fourth form of Darkness Eye the previous time.

This time, he still had to activate the fourth form of Darkness Eye!

Darkness Eye in Wizard Leo’s forehead glowed darker and darker, emitting an eerie sensation accompanied by strange child-like laughter.

“Whiz.”

Darkness Eye shot a crimson light including a huge ghostly face, which soared into the sky to meet the huge glacial palm.

“Hiss.”

The glacial palm sustained one hit after another, but that was all. The difference in power level was too great. Even the fourth form of Darkness Eye was unable to block the attack from the Black-White Great Wizard.

The huge ghostly face was smashed into smithereens by the glacial palm as it continued to descend with a loud howl. Wizard Leo appeared to age significantly. At the same time, his entire body trembled violently, and fresh red blood began to trickle out of his ears, nose, and empty eye sockets. He looked terrible.

Darkness Eye in his head exuded a brighter glow with faint screams in the background. It was as if Darkness Eye knew its predicament of being crushed by the glacial palm and came to life.

However, there was no use. Wizard Leo was no longer able to resist this huge glacial palm!

“The Black-White Great Wizard, you’re digging your own grave!”

Suddenly, from deep within the mountains, an angry roar sounded. Simultaneously, an equally large fiery palm flew toward them and slammed into the glacial palm violently.

“Boom!”

As a result, there was a huge collision and Wizard Leo was thrown a few hundred feet back. Merlin and the others quickly ran forward to help him up.

“Utto?”

The Black-White Great Wizard frowned. Since Utto had arrived, it was meaningless to continue this bloodshed. It would only incur more losses for Ozmu.

Therefore, the Black-White Great Wizard did not linger. Once he saw Wizard Utto approaching, he quickly led all his men away. For a moment, the sky was filled with Spell Casters who were previously hiding in the dense jungle. If not for the arrival of the Great Wizard Utto, it was probable that all the spell casters’ organizations and Spell Caster clans would be massacred by Ozmu.

Nevertheless, even with the Great Wizard Utto’s intervention, the entire southern Spell Caster world still suffered a massive loss.

Circling high in the air, the Great Wizard Utto merely cast a sweeping gaze at Merlin and the others. After all, he was a highly-respected Great Wizard and was not overly concerned about a small, unremarkable spell casters’ organization like the Dark Magic Region. Instead, he quickly flew back toward Blacksand Fort.

The forest gradually quieted down again. Merlin gently helped Wizard Leo up, and a troubled expression appeared on his face. He could clearly feel that Wizard Leo’s life force was fading away as if it was being sucked by the blood-red vertical eye in his forehead. The blood-red vertical eye was also behaving strangely like it just came back to life. Merlin took another look at Darkness Eye and was almost entrapped by the blood-red vertical eye.

“Merlin!”

“Teacher Leo, I’m right here. What is it?”

Merlin’s tone was very calm. He knew that Wizard Leo’s current outlook was not promising, but there was nothing else he could do right now. As for Darkness Eye, not many people in the Spell Caster world understood it, let alone Merlin.

A grim smile appeared on Wizard Leo’s face. “Merlin, I knew that this day would come eventually. Darkness Eye is indeed a cursed power, though I don’t regret cultivating it. Even if I didn’t forcefully activate the fourth form of Darkness Eye this time, I don’t have much longer to live…

“The cultivation technique of Darkness Eye is in my ring. Take it. However, that’s not important. The important thing is, I can pass Darkness Eye to you but remember that it’s alive. Don’t ever let it come back to life. You must always be able to suppress it, otherwise, the curse will strike you. The reason I’m suffering this outcome today is perhaps due to the curse, like all the other Wizards who had cultivated Darkness Eye before this!

“The decision whether or not to cultivate Darkness Eye is yours to make, but before I die, I won’t allow Darkness Eye to achieve its goal. I’ll seal the third and fourth forms of Darkness Eye. If you decide to cultivate Darkness Eye, don’t open the seals of the third and fourth forms before you have absolute confidence of controlling it…”

Once he finished speaking, Wizard Leo’s face flushed, and he slammed his bony hand forcefully against the huge blood-red vertical eye in his forehead.

It was indeed huge because the blood-red vertical eye started swelling in size.

“Hu hu hu…”

Darkness Eye cried out sorrowfully like a child, seemingly begging for Wizard Leo not to seal it. However, Wizard Leo was unmoved, and Darkness elements started to swirl all over his body.

“Phew…”

Finally, after an unknown period of time, the Darkness elements dissipated. When Merlin took another look at Wizard Leo, he discovered that the blood-red vertical eye was no longer in his forehead. All that was left there was a bloody gaping hole.

In Wizard Leo’s hands rested a demonic-looking, blood-red vertical eyeball!