Chapter 140: Unstoppable Force (Part 1)

"Bang."

Valady's smile froze. If his lightning spell had hit Merlin, it wouldn't have resulted in such a loud noise. Instead, the explosion sent a cascade of earth-colored debris flying across the stage.

As the dust settled, Merlin remained standing on the platform, unharmed. Around him, solid earthen walls stood tall, defenses Merlin had erected at the last moment by casting Earth Guard three times in quick succession, barely blocking Valady's powerful lightning attack.

"A four-element mage?"

It wasn't just Valady who looked stunned; even the high-ranking fourth-level mages on the elevated seats reacted with surprise. Becoming a four-element mage was vastly different from wielding three elements. It required exponentially more energy and resources, often double or triple what a three-element mage would need.

However, the rewards were substantial. A four-element mage would be significantly stronger and could dominate at their level. If Merlin's prior performance had merely piqued the interest of these powerful mages, his mastery of a complex spell like Dark Fog and his rare four-element proficiency now made him a hot topic. Many mages began discreetly inquiring about him from Leo.

Mage Nasha, smiling softly, remarked, "Congratulations, Leo. You've got a true prodigy on your hands."

A mage who could construct four elements and handle their models well was considered an absolute genius, someone any magical organization would value highly.

No one expected Leo's tower to harbor such a remarkable "anomaly."

"Although Valady may struggle against Merlin, I doubt Merlin can truly defeat him," Nasha said, shifting her tone. "Valady has both speed and defensive spell scrolls to withstand powerful attacks. This match may come down to whose magic reserves last longer. Given that Merlin has been in Dark Territory for less than a year, I'd wager his magic reserves aren't nearly as deep as Valady's."

Several other fourth-level mages nodded in agreement. Despite Merlin's surprising strength, they, too, doubted his ability to defeat Valady with just Gale Step, Ice Freeze, Dark Fog, and Earth Guard.

"Just watch," Leo said confidently, his forehead's blood-red third eye flickering with a mysterious light.

Nasha chuckled, turning her attention back to the platform.

Merlin and Valady faced each other. Having witnessed Merlin's Earth Guard, Valady had already deduced that Merlin was a four-element mage. Though taken aback, he quickly regained his composure, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"So, a four-element mage... no wonder you're so confident! But do you really think those spells are enough to defeat me? This will come down to a battle of endurance!" Valady announced, evaluating his best chance of victory as a prolonged magic duel, though it was bound to be unpredictable.

"Endurance, is it?" Merlin murmured with a smile. Taking a deep breath, his immense mental power flared to life. His gaze sharpened with fierce determination.

"Lightning Net!"

A massive net of crackling electricity descended from above, spreading over most of the platform. Fine strands of lightning filled the air, each crackling with a deadly force.

"A five-element mage?"

Valady's face twisted in shock, struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. But he acted quickly, pulling out a spell scroll that glowed with a faint green light.

"Tempest Coil!"

The scroll unleashed a powerful first-level defensive spell. Though the name suggested offense, it was actually a highly effective defensive spell.

A gust of fierce wind whipped around Valady, forming a protective barrier. As Merlin's Lightning Net descended, the tiny strands of electricity couldn't penetrate the wind barrier. Any that got close were instantly shredded by the howling winds. The Tempest Coil protected Valady from all intrusions, shredding any magic that came within range.

"A spell scroll?" Merlin narrowed his eyes, recalling how Mage Jason in Blackwater City had also used a spell scroll, a second-level one at that. Yet, in the end, Merlin had overcome Jason with the Bell Pendant's Great Fireball.

"A mere first-level spell, nothing more!"

Merlin's elemental energy surged even stronger. The Lightning Net continued to press down on Valady, while waves of freezing air swept towards him from all sides.

The platform began to frost over, with icicles forming as Merlin cast multiple Ice Freeze spells. Each corner of the stage glistened with frost, the chilling air creeping toward Valady's defenses. Merlin's deep reserves allowed him to cast dozens of spells in succession, much more than an average mage, who typically maxed out at around 30 or 40 spells of this level.

Moreover, Merlin sensed he hadn't even reached his full magical potential; he could accumulate even more reserves if necessary.

Casting Ice Freeze in quick succession barely scratched his reserves.

Valady's face grew pale as lightning crackled above, ready to strike at any moment. He knew the Lightning Net could paralyze him with a single hit, making it impossible to use even his spell scrolls. At the same time, the frost on the ground continued to creep toward him, despite the Tempest Coil's relentless shredding of each advancing shard.

Finally, a thread of frost broke through, brushing against Valady's skin. He shivered as the cold reached his core, but he quickly drove it away.

This small slip, however, indicated his waning strength. Under Merlin's relentless onslaught of Lightning Net and Ice Freeze, the Tempest Coil's durability was faltering.

With its protection gone, Valady wouldn't last long.

"All right, enough. I surrender!"

Valady looked visibly drained. He glanced at Merlin, resigned. "I didn't expect to face a five-element mage. It's frustrating, but it's clear that your strength is beyond mine. Good luck, Mage Merlin."

With that, Valady left the stage and exited the arena altogether.

Watching him go, Merlin nodded in acknowledgment. Valady's strength was indeed impressive, even superior to Meryl in Blackwater City and possibly comparable to Mage Holmes. He had proven to be a formidable rival.

After winning his fourth match, Merlin advanced to the top sixteen in the Dark Territory tournament. Reaching this stage was an achievement reserved for those with exceptional talent and significant resources.

Of the sixteen remaining contestants, only about five or six had advanced without relying on magical tools, and Merlin was the most impressive of them all.

A five-element mage was a rarity, even in Dark Territory.

"Did you see that, Nasha? Valady lost," Leo remarked with a sly grin, looking at Nasha, who seemed slightly taken aback.

With a touch of reverence, she responded, "A five-element mage... It's been ages since Dark Territory last saw one. Not since Klais..."

"Klais?" Leo's expression turned serious, admiration evident in his tone. "Klais was undoubtedly Dark Territory's brightest star. Even I feel humbled by his achievements. With his five-element mastery, he became a first-level mage, and in just over twenty years, he reached the third level. By now, he must be aiming for the fourth level. If he succeeds, he'll be as powerful as any sixth-level mage."

Leo's respect for Klais was genuine; to call him Dark Territory's top genius was no exaggeration. It spoke volumes that someone as proud as Leo would openly praise a third-level mage.

With a soft smile, Nasha added, "Perhaps Merlin could become Dark Territory's next five-element prodigy after Klais."

"Merlin?" Leo looked at Merlin with a complicated expression, knowing the full truth. Merlin wasn't merely a five-element mage—he wielded six.

The challenges Merlin would face as a six-element mage were unimaginable. Very few would dare attempt the feat, knowing the immense difficulty of constructing and balancing six different magical models.

And he only had two years left in Dark Territory to accomplish this.