Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Darkness Eye, dispel!”

Darkness Eye in Merlin’s palm immediately emitted a crimson light, which quickly shot out and engulfed the Alchemy Creature.

At the same time, a huge ghostly face appeared above Merlin’s head, letting out a dim, sinister laugh. The frantic, onrushing momentum of the Alchemy Creature came to an abrupt halt. It seemed to have suffered a great blow and began trembling like a leaf.

Moreover, the skin all over its body began to ulcerate, and a great force seemed to tear it apart.

The third form of Darkness Eye was extremely frightening, especially in addition to the suppression of Glacier Country. It was a simultaneous attack from two special Pandora Demon Abilities, and not even Kleis would have been able to withstand it!

Upon seeing the gigantic ghostly face above Merlin’s head, Wizard Blackmurk’s face changed slightly as he growled, “The legendary accursed power, Darkness Eye?”

Wizard Blackmurk knew of Darkness Eye as well. It was a special Pandora Demon Ability, a formidable ability created by the Great Legend of Darkness, Wizard Oflas, who possessed unfathomable powers. He did not expect that Merlin would possess Darkness Eye.

Wizard Blackmurk was overjoyed at this unexpected discovery. In truth, he was named Blackmurk because he was a Darkness Wizard. However, since his Alchemy Creature was too powerful, many Spell Casters had forgotten that he used to be a fearsome Darkness Wizard.

With his Alchemy Creature around, Wizard Blackmurk rarely used Darkness-type spells in front of anyone. He would be able to cultivate Darkness Eye as well!

“Haha, Darkness Eye, the fabled Darkness Eye! Not only do you have the Neverending Book but you also have Darkness Eye as well. Hand them both over for you won’t be able to escape!”

Wizard Blackmurk seemed untroubled in the slightest that Merlin possessed Darkness Eye. Seeing that his Alchemy Creature was no match for it, he did not panic but instead unleashed a blood-red mist which rapidly submerged the Alchemy Creature.

“Roar…”

The Alchemy Creature gave another majestic roar and stubbornly endured the strength of Darkness Eye. It rushed toward Merlin once again. With every step it took, the skin upon its body was further torn apart. This was the power of Darkness Eye.

Carmine blood flowed out from the splits in the Alchemy Creature’s skin, which was a ghastly sight.

However, the injuries on the Alchemy Creature were healed soon enough. The layer of blood mist surrounding it had incredible regenerative powers. As long as the Alchemy Creature was not dealt with a single, fatal blow, small injuries like these were of no concern to it. This was a nearly indestructible creature!

“Incinerating Fire!”

The huge ghostly face above Merlin’s head seemed to become more distinct as it howled noiselessly. The third form of Darkness Eye was unable to cause much harm to the Alchemy Creature.

Any Spell Caster at the Seventh-level would have no way of withstanding the third form of Darkness Eye. Nonetheless, the Alchemy Creature was not a Spell Caster but an indestructible monster with terrifying regenerative abilities. There was no end to its extraordinary strength, and it was fast too. Without the suppression of Glacier Country, Merlin would have been in grave danger.

Still, despite the suppression of Glacier Country, and even with Darkness Eye along with Incinerating Fire which he had just cast, his opponent’s Alchemy Creature was still not dead, rushing ferociously toward Merlin.

As he watched this bulldozer-like, colossal mass rushing at him furiously, a fiery viciousness flared up in Merlin. It was not that he was incapable of handling this Alchemy Creature or that he did not have the ability to kill Wizard Blackmurk. Once he unleashed that kind of strength, he himself would be in danger. It was not quite worth the price.

Darkness Eye in his palm seemed to be swept up in wrath as well. Within Darkness Eye, a vague force was vehemently pounding as if it wanted to break the seal. This was the fourth form of Darkness Eye which had been sealed by Wizard Leo before his death.

This was Merlin’s greatest power. Once he released the fourth form of Darkness Eye, neither the Alchemy Creature before his eyes or Wizard Blackmurk would be a match for him. He would be able to dispose of them with no difficulty.

Nevertheless, this was a double-edged sword. Merlin knew very well that since he currently did not have the ability to control the fourth form of Darkness Eye, there was a chance that it would instantly swallow him up.

Perhaps Merlin could momentarily suppress the fourth form of Darkness Eye with the strength of the Maxim, but there was not much power left in there. If he continued using it to suppress the fourth form of Darkness Eye which could cause exhaustion, Merlin would be at risk as well.

He had witnessed Wizard Leo’s deathbed condition. Even Wizard Leo, having wielded Darkness Eye for so long, was unable to hold off the backlash of the fourth form of Darkness Eye. How could Merlin possibly do it?

Therefore, if it was not a last resort, and if the situation was not thoroughly desperate, Merlin would not dare to release the fourth form of Darkness Eye.

“Retreat!”

Merlin did not hesitate in the slightest. At this point, even if he was unwilling to retreat, he had no choice. Faced with a seemingly indestructible Alchemy Creature which clearly possessed the strength of the Seventh-level, and being unable to harm it, Merlin still could not release the seal of the fourth form of Darkness Eye. He could only withdraw for now.

“Swish.”

Merlin possessed Flash Wind which had unparalleled speed. Thus, in one flash, he transformed into a rainbow beam, shooting off into the distance. He was rather inconspicuous in the white expanse of Subzero Snowfield.

“He’s escaped?”

Wizard Blackmurk was briefly taken aback but he reacted quickly. He immediately led his Alchemy Creature with a cold smile on his face. Wind Elemental fluctuations emerged around him, and he instantly gave chase.

At the moment, there were only three of them left – the Frost Lord who had just swallowed Paolo, Wizard Ernie, and Wizard Watson. The Frost Lord was currently in an unstable state. No one knew whether it would be successful in swallowing Paolo, for it needed a period of time to merge.

However, regardless of its success, the Frost Lord’s contract with Merlin and Wizard Blackmurk had ended, and there was no connection left between them.

As for Wizards Ernie and Watson, they exchanged a glance and seemed to be at a loss.

Naturally, they had their own residences in Subzero Snowfield but they were now Merlin’s slave, and could only follow behind Merlin. However, now that Merlin had fled, they did not know whether to chase after him.

Just as both of them were deliberating, a message flashed across their minds, sent by Merlin through the contract paper.

“Both of you, follow behind me but don’t alert Blackmurk. After I’ve shaken him off, I’ll join you!”

Upon receiving Merlin’s message, Ernie and Watson could only fly toward Merlin powerlessly.

…

In the pure white expanse of the snow plain, three Spell Casters dressed in long, blue Wizard robes were cautiously approaching a small hill. At their lead was a middle-aged man with fine scars on his face.

“Phew…”

The middle-aged man let out a long sigh. He squinted slightly at the small hill before him and retrieved a map from his ring. Following that, he said while feeling moved, “Found it, I’ve finally found it! This is where the ancient monument is. I’ve searched for it for over thirty years in Subzero Snowfield, and I’ve finally found it today, haha!”

“Gustin, you’re sure the ancient monument is here?”

Behind the middle-aged man, a Spell Caster with a full beard asked doubtfully.

“Hehe, look at the map. This is really where the ancient monument is. I got this map more than thirty years ago, and have dreamed of finding this ancient monument every day to obtain the treasure within. Haha, I shall become a lord of a region in Subzero Snowfield. The endless resources are enough for me to become a great Spell Caster! Rest assured for if you follow me, you’ll surely become a formidable Spell Caster as well!”

These few Spell Casters were here to search for a fabled ancient monument. They had relied on that old map in Gustin’s hand.

Gustin had received this ancient map over thirty years ago. At that time, he was still an Entrance-level Spell Caster and did not have the abilities to search for the ancient monument. Now, he had become a Third-level Spell Caster, and could finally look for it.

Therefore, with two of his best friends, he began on a journey to locate the ancient monument. After much trials and tribulations, they had come across the general vicinity where the ancient monument was, in this wasteland.

“Gustin, since we’ve found the ancient monument, let’s go in quickly. Let’s see if the path stated on the map is real or not?”

The other two Spell Casters were still half-doubtful even now. In Subzero Snowfield, maps of ancient monuments, like the one in Gustin’s hand, were a dime a dozen. There was a constant supply of these maps, most of which carelessly manufactured by Spell Casters with ulterior motives in order to swindle some elemental crystal stones.

If Gustin had not been so persistent, they would not have been willing to go on this crazy trip with him.

Now that they had finally found the place where the ancient monument was on the map, they wanted Gustin to have no more illusions about this. Thus, they urged Gustin to follow the method on the map to access the ancient monument.

Gustin’s heart burned fervently. He took a few steps forward and came to the place where the ancient monument was marked on the map. He began to mutter as fluctuations of Ice Element gradually materialized around him.

“Open up, Ecuador’s Door!”

Gustin’s face flushed red due to his excitement. As soon as he spoke, the group of three directed their gazes at the plain of white snow before them.

“Rumble.”

Soon enough, the entire snowfield began to quake, and a terrifying force seemed to awaken beneath the thick blanket of snow. The fallen snow began to rise to a peak. A gigantic, ancient castle rose from the depths in the initially vast and empty snowfield.

At the only entrance of the castle, there was a mysterious large door covered completely in runes. On the door, the word “Ecuador” was written in the ancient Molta language.

“It’s the secret treasure of Ecuador, haha, it really is the secret treasure of Ecuador. Are you guys seeing this? I, Gustin, have finally found Ecuador’s secret treasure!”

Gustin was incomparably excited. He pointed at the ancient castle which had appeared out of thin air, and babbled incoherently, “Ecuador’s secret treasure was left behind by a great Spell Caster. There are powerful guardian puppets within, but these have been fossilized. As long as we don’t touch them, we won’t trigger them. So, we’re able to enter the depths of the castle and obtain the secret treasure of Ecuador!”

Gustin pointed at the lofty stone statues deep within the ancient castle. These statues were scary guardian puppets, but they have been fossilized by a mysterious spell. As long as the Spell Casters did not touch them, they would not be activated, and the Spell Casters would be safe.

These details were all the same as what was recorded on the map. Seeing the truth before their eyes, Gustin’s two companions could not deny that Gustin was right. There really was Ecuador’s fabled secret treasure.

Now, they had discovered Ecuador’s secret treasure. Upon thinking about the various benefits that they were about to receive, their hearts surged with an excitement that was beyond words.

“Come on, let’s go in. Remember, no matter what, don’t touch those stone statues!”

Gustin carefully warned them as he did before. However, just as they got ready to step into the ancient castle, a black cloud suddenly appeared in the distant sky, blustering mightily as it flew toward where they stood.

Behind the black cloud, there was a vague outline of a terrifying human figure that was burly and sinister, who extended one large hand and hit the cloud greatly. The resulting Elemental fluctuations were shocking, to say the least, causing them a great amount of alarm.

“Bang!”

After a loud crash, the black cloud dispersed, and a figure dropped in a straight line toward the ground, right in the direction where Gustin and the rest stood.

“No, no, no… Oh my god, please don’t touch the stone statue at all cost…”

Gustin had begun to yell in terror. The map stated that the guardian puppets of Ecuador possessed frightening powers. Once they were awakened, they would kill all intruders.

That figure who had been smacked down was falling toward those stone statues.

“Boom!”

A massive crash rang out as the figure dropped pathetically to the ground, immediately sending those statues flying. The entire snowfield seemed to quake all at once.

“Swish.”

The figure who had dropped to the ground did not seem to be hurt, leaping up suddenly. It was a young Wizard dressed in a black robe but his eyes had abnormally unfathomable depths. At the moment, his face was incomparably icy and filled with rage.

“Blackmurk, do you really think I won’t dare to kill you?”

The black-robed young Wizard extended one fair palm. In his palm was a blood-red eye which blinked incessantly, producing an eerie sight.

At the same time, an enormous, hazy, ghostly face gradually materialized behind the young Wizard. The hazy ghostly face grew more solid and clear, accompanied by bursts of sinister laughter which echoed all around.

“We’re done for. The legendary unrivaled guardian puppets of Ecuador will wake up, and we’ll all die!”

Gustin was trembling all over. He looked at the stone statues which had been knocked all over the place, and his face turned purple. He was gripped by dread. The map had clearly stated that once Ecuador’s guardian puppets were awakened, no one would be able to defend themselves against the merciless and powerful guardians. All intruders would be killed.

Now that the stone statues were sent flying by the crash, how could they not have been touched?

Gustin appeared to be brimming with resentment as he glared at that fearsome young Wizard. The enormous ghostly face above the young Wizard’s head seemed to indicate that it would not be wise to provoke him.

It was just that Gustin had no idea – where did these people come from?