Chapter 116: The Mission (Part 1)

"Lorinka, the Mage."

Merlin approached the familiar figure and softly called out.

"Oh? Merlin, are you here to take a mission as well?"

Lorinka turned around, surprised to see Merlin. In her mind, Merlin had only been in the Dark Spirit Realm for half a year, so she didn't expect him to be in a rush to take on missions.

Merlin nodded with a hint of helplessness. "Yes, I'm low on contribution points. I'm getting ready to construct a Level One spell, but the spells in the Tower of Omniscience require a lot of points, so I had to come here to see if there were any missions available."

After a moment, Merlin looked closely at Lorinka, noticing her furrowed brow and an expression tinged with worry. He asked softly, "Lorinka, are you also preparing to construct a Level One spell?"

Merlin knew Lorinka had been in the Dark Spirit Realm for nearly three years. If she didn't construct a Level One spell soon, she'd be forced to leave, so he asked with concern.

Lorinka nodded, her expression serious. "I have less than a month left in the Dark Spirit Realm. If I don't advance to a Level One caster soon, I'll be sent away. No matter what, I have to give it a try this time. But I'm short on contribution points, so I came here for a mission."

Merlin empathized deeply. Constructing a spell model was challenging for many ordinary casters, and Lorinka, nearing the end of her time here, had no choice but to take the plunge.

"Have you chosen a mission?" Merlin asked softly.

Lorinka shook her head slightly. "The missions are either too difficult, like finding a Heart-Eating Herb in the Valley of Storms, which awards 300 points but is deadly, even for Level Two casters, or too simple with too few points… I haven't decided yet."

Merlin wasn't familiar with these missions, nor had he heard of the Valley of Storms. He realized that taking a mission in the hall required caution—one misstep could lead to danger.

Seeing Merlin's concern, Lorinka smiled gently. "Since you need to earn points for a Level One spell as well, let's do a mission together. We can watch each other's backs."

While Lorinka phrased it as mutual support, Merlin sensed she was merely being kind, willing to lend a hand. Having been in the Dark Spirit Realm for just six months, Merlin still appeared inexperienced, especially in her eyes.

Merlin nodded gratefully and was about to speak when a dazzling light suddenly radiated from the rune mirrors around the hall.

A new mission was announced by the Dark Spirit Realm.

**Mission: The city of Eastlin in the Black Moon Kingdom has reported sightings of Dark Blood Bats. A team of four is required to investigate. Both temporary and official members may participate. Reward: 50 points per person, plus the Level One spell "Flame of Fury."**

The mission caused an immediate stir in the hall. For a Level One caster, 50 points might seem trivial, but for beginner casters, it was a significant opportunity. Alongside the points, the Flame of Fury spell, which normally required 30 points to redeem, was an enticing bonus.

Merlin felt tempted by the mission and glanced at Lorinka.

Lorinka, however, hesitated. "What? Is the mission particularly dangerous? It's only an investigation," Merlin asked, puzzled.

Lorinka looked at him, then explained, "Dark Blood Bats are merely elemental creatures of darkness, manageable for most casters. However, these bats are known to swarm in the thousands. To investigate thoroughly, we'll need to trace the bats to their source, which could be dangerous."

As Lorinka spoke seriously, Merlin understood this mission was not as simple as it appeared, explaining why the initial excitement in the hall had quickly faded as people weighed the risks.

After a pause, Merlin looked again at the mission notice. Both the 50 points and the Flame of Fury spell were too enticing to ignore. "Lorinka, the mission might be risky, but the reward is substantial. That Flame of Fury spell could benefit us both, so I think we should accept it."

Lorinka pondered for a moment, then smiled and said quietly, "You're right. Even if it's dangerous, the points and spell are worth it. Let's take it."

Together, they approached the gray-robed mage at the front of the hall. Lorinka spoke to one of them, "We'd like to take on the Eastlin mission."

The gray-robed mage looked at them, then said calmly, "Present your Dark Spirit Rings."

Merlin and Lorinka handed over their rings, and the mage used a magical tool to record information on them. The rings began to emit a faint red glow.

"You have accepted the mission. From now on, the rune formation on your rings will record your every move as proof of completion. Wait in the hall; once two more accept, your team of four can set off," the mage said, returning their rings.

Merlin noticed mysterious runes newly inscribed on his ring, undoubtedly by the gray-robed mage, to track his actions.

Lorinka appeared unbothered, already aware of the procedure. "Let's wait here. Given the mission's rewards, it shouldn't be long before others join," she said with a calm smile.

As the mission required a team of four, Merlin and Lorinka stayed in the hall, waiting patiently for others to join them.