A Wizard’s Secret

A carriage sped along the wide street. Within the carriage, Merlin started to speak but hesitated. After a long while, he could not help but ask, “Father, just now when we were in the manor, those subordinates of General Mungus could easily sneak into the Holy Dragon City? Shouldn’t it be that, since the royal family is the ruler of the Holy Dragon City, the armed rebellion would find it hard to breach this place?”

Merlin had thought that the Holy Dragon City was initially very secure, but at that moment, it looked like that was not the case. Those people were able to easily infiltrate the Holy Dragon City. What safety was there to speak of?

Count Stanwin looked at Merlin and seemed rather pleased. He felt that ever since they left Boulder City, Merlin had transformed significantly and no longer as “naïve” as he used to be. Now, he was able to support an entire clan.

Although Merlin was under constant potential danger due to his parasitism, this transformation still delighted Count Stanwin very much.

Thus, Count Stanwin explained in a low voice, “The royal family still has tremendous influence in the Holy Dragon City. It’s impossible for other rebellion forces to infiltrate the Holy Dragon City. However, the Holy Dragon City’s measures seem to only target contenders who are full-shifters. If anyone at that level enters the Holy Dragon City, the royal family would know at once. Moreover, even if there’s only one head of the Sacred Lion Beast left, it still possesses a frightening might. Those contenders who are full-shifters or higher won’t dare to enter the Holy Dragon City. As for those below the level of full-shifters, what use would they be even if more of them came in?”

Count Stanwin explained everything clearly and Merlin wore an expression of sudden realization. It turned out that the Holy Dragon City only targeted those who are full-shifters or higher.

Contenders like these, after shapeshifting and wantonly causing destruction, could easily destroy a city. Thus, they posed the greatest threat. As for those below full-shifters, they were not much of a threat toward the royal family even if more of them came in. All that was needed was a little control. The royal family’s greatest strength did not need to be mobilized.

As a result, Mungus’ men were able to stealthily infiltrate the Holy Dragon City.

“Leon, I’ve put you out. If you really don’t wish to marry Baratha, then return the Bead of Infamy. I’ll handle Count Altadin.”

After a moment of silent thought, Count Stanwin spoke in discursive tones. At that point, he treated Merlin as an equal. Merlin was no longer the youth of the past that needed protection.

Merlin looked up and smiled as he said, “How am I put out? Baratha is very pretty, and I think Lady Reese is sure to agree. Of course, Father will have to explain to her.”

To Merlin, whether it was in the Void Zone or the Almighty Beast World, he had never felt much sentiment towards women. What he sought was the path to power, in order to surpass the Latitude Cosmos. The feelings between men and women were merely a passing memory of a few decades to him.

Moreover, he could sense the wildly snarling almighty beasts’ will within this Bead of Infamy. Merlin could not bear to return it.

“Haha, as long as you’re willing. When we return to the manor, I’ll begin preparations for your wedding, selecting a good day for the wedding between you and Reese, and Baratha too. Then we may quickly continue the bloodline of our Hilderbrandt clan.”

Count Stanwin seemed to be satisfied. Previously, he had only planned for Leon to live a peaceful life. Although he would pass on his countship, Count Stanwin never considered passing on the heavy responsibilities of the clan.

However, after Merlin was parasitized, he seemed to have transformed suddenly. The burdens of the clan could be handed over to Merlin. In this regard, Count Stanwin naturally felt very satisfied.

His only regret was that Merlin was a Host, liable to be devoured by the almighty beast’s will at any time. This was the common plight of all Hosts.

…

After returning to the Manor, Merlin did not bother with matters of the wedding. He pushed everything else to one side. Count Stanwin was there to worry about the wedding.

Later, Merlin instantly headed to the basement after a brief discussion with Count Stanwin. In this crude laboratory, the Nourishment Pond was still left with a moss green liquid. Still, Merlin knew that this water was no longer useful. He had to create the formula again.

Nonetheless, the number of gold coins Merlin currently possessed was insufficient to purchase the ingredients for another batch of Hermani formula.

Merlin had gone into the laboratory to inspect the Bead of Infamy he recently received. At first, he did not sense much, but after placing the Bead of Infamy on his skin, Merlin’s keen senses could detect the terrifying almighty beasts’ will within the Bead of Infamy that was roaring constantly.

“What powerful almighty beasts’ will! As expected of the various almighty beasts’ will collected by the full-shifting progenitor of the Leicester clan.”

Even though Merlin had not actually merged with these almighty beasts’ will, he could sense their immense power.

“I’ll go in for a look first.”

Merlin followed Count Altadin’s instructions and began to focus his will into the Bead of Infamy. After a moment, his consciousness was even in an occasional numbness.

“Boom.”

His consciousness had entered an indescribable subspace, which was pitch-dark all over. It must be the subspace within the Bead of Infamy.

Moreover, as Merlin’s consciousness went in, a detailed introduction of the Bead of Infamy’s characteristics swiftly surfaced in Merlin’s mind.

It turned out that the Bead of Infamy was divided into three layers of subspace. The first layer contained the low-tier almighty beasts’ will, while the second layer contained mid-tier almighty beasts’ will.

As for the third and final layer, the sole high-tier almighty beast’s will was sealed within. This high-tier of almighty beast’s will was the same almighty beast bloodline that parasitized the progenitor of the Leicester clan.

“There’s actually subspace-type treasures used to seal almighty beasts’ will. It looks like this world isn’t as simple as I thought. Those full-shifters and those beyond that level have more the just frightening destructive power.”

Merlin stared at this subspace. Although it could only accommodate his consciousness, it was wondrous enough. After all, this world was not stronger than the Void Zone. It was rare for a subspace-type treasure like this to show up.

At a single thought from Merlin, his consciousness immediately drifted to the first layer in the Bead of Infamy. As soon as he went in, Merlin could hear the roaring of countless almighty beasts reverberating in his ears incessantly.

If he was an average person, his consciousness would be dazzled and he would have to exit the Bead of Infamy. Nevertheless, Merlin paid no attention to the snarling of these low-tier almighty beasts’ will.

“Three-headed Dog? Green-patterned Python and the Gray-feathered Roc? Indeed, these are all the low-tier almighty beasts’ will.”

Merlin swept his consciousness over, finding that there were many low-tier almighty beasts’ will in this subspace. Some of them were not inferior to his Two-headed Pterolycus in the slightest or were even more exceptional.

Being able to seal in so many low-tier almighty beasts’ will, this Bead of Infamy’s value to Hosts was practically incalculable.

However, Merlin was not that interested in the will of these low-tier almighty beasts, which was certain to have limited potential. Even at their limits, as Heroult pointed out, they were not that powerful.

Following that, Merlin resolutely stepped into the second layer subspace of the Bead of Infamy. Here, the number of almighty beasts’ will were evidently fewer in number. In total, there were only eighteen almighty beasts’ will.

When these will noticed the presence of Merlin’s consciousness, they immediately erupted furiously. The onslaught from these will could even tear apart the consciousness of an ordinary person.

Therefore, Count Altadin reminded him not to simply enter the Bead of Infamy.

“Purple-eyed Polar Bear, Nightjar King… these are all powerful mid-tier almighty beasts. Some of the outstanding ones are even mightier than the Deinosuchus bloodline!”

Merlin was somewhat tempted. If he had not obtained the Bead of Infamy, any one of the almighty beasts’ will within the second layer subspace would tempt Merlin because these all far surpassed the potential of the Two-headed Pterolycus.

Still, Merlin knew that there was a sealed third layer subspace, within which the will of a high-tier almighty beast. This was Merlin’s true target.

“High-tier almighty beast… Even in the whole Holy Dragon Empire, those who possessed a high-tier almighty beast bloodline could be counted on one’s fingers!”

Merlin’s spirits soared. The high-tier almighty beast was definitely a dominant almighty beast within the Almighty Beast World.

“If one doesn’t have a powerful will, entry to the third layer of the Bead of Infamy is forbidden!”

Just as Merlin was about to enter the third layer subspace, this message flashed across his mind. This must have been left behind by the progenitor of the Leicester clan.

This meant that the third layer subspace might very well contain great danger.

High-tier almighty beasts were distinct from mid-tier and low-tier almighty beasts. Even if it was just a will, it would be very fearsome.

However, Merlin did not care. After detecting the third layer subspace, his consciousness immediately drifted in.