Chapter 153: The Same Kind of People

Merlin's **Ice Bind**, enhanced with **Great Ice Bind**, was incredibly powerful, reaching close to a level-one spell in strength. With his abundant magic energy, he could release the spell continuously, creating a formidable attack.

Meanwhile, the hooded man's **Blazing Wind** was relentless, one after another, forcing Merlin to expend extra magic to maintain his **Earthen Shield**, as he couldn't block the attacks otherwise.

"**Dark Mist!**"

This time, Merlin unleashed an enhanced version of Dark Mist, confident in its effectiveness. Even a level-two peak mage like the silver-haired elder had been momentarily stalled by it.

However, as the mist enveloped the hooded man, an overwhelming surge of mental power emanated from him, locking onto Merlin.

Merlin's expression shifted. This mental force was even more potent than the silver-haired elder's, approaching the strength of a level-three mage. Dark Mist, enhanced or not, would be ineffective against someone with such mental fortitude.

"**Thunder Net!**"

With Dark Mist ineffective, Merlin opted for a head-on attack, summoning an enhanced Thunder Net. Bolts of lightning illuminated the sky, while icy crystals coated the ground, radiating a cold mist that spread toward the hooded man.

"**Earthen Wall!**"

The man quickly summoned dense earth elements, forming a thick wall that far surpassed Merlin's **Earthen Shield**. Merlin's enhanced Thunder Net only caused the wall to tremble slightly, and although **Great Ice Bind** could freeze it, the hooded man promptly recast Earthen Wall, making Merlin's attack futile.

The fight dragged on, with Merlin forced to continuously resist the hooded man's assaults while watching for other possible tricks from his opponent, who had yet to reveal all his spells.

"**Rain of Fire!**"

Suddenly, the man cast a new spell, and fire elements surged around him, turning the sky a blazing red. A torrent of flames descended like rain, covering Merlin's position.

Merlin was prepared. Sensing the incoming spell, he activated **Gale** and quickly dodged out of the spell's range.

"Hmm, as expected of a six-element mage," the hooded man sneered. "But this time, you won't escape. **Ice Trap!**"

With this icy binding spell, the man revealed himself to be a powerful level-one, four-element mage. Merlin's heart sank slightly. His broad array of spells typically prevented others from gaining the upper hand. However, with the hooded man wielding Ice Trap, Merlin had no choice but to endure his attacks.

"**Earthen Shield!**"

Merlin cast his defensive spell once again, clashing with the man's **Blazing Wind** and **Ice Trap**. Each **Great Earthen Shield** he used required significant magical energy.

Fortunately, Merlin's magic reserves, enhanced by the Elemental Crystal and restructured spell models, allowed him to sustain over sixty castings per spell. This massive reserve was critical, as he realized he had little option but to wait it out, testing his endurance against the hooded man's.

An hour later, both of them appeared fatigued. The hooded man finally stopped casting **Rain of Fire**, seemingly having exhausted the spell's energy. Merlin also ceased his **Fireball** and **Ice Bind** attacks, leaving only **Thunder Net** and **Earthen Shield** active.

Eventually, the hooded man pulled down his hood, revealing his face—a pale, scarred visage with a prominent mark on the left cheek, giving him a ghastly appearance.

Having become accustomed to Leo's intimidating looks, Merlin barely reacted. He was more curious about the man's intentions.

The man, maintaining **Earthen Wall** carefully, spoke, "Mage Merlin, I'm Vixer. Neil tricked me into attacking you, but with him gone, neither of us has the advantage. How about we call it a draw and leave?"

Merlin, his strongest asset—Dark Mist—neutralized by Vixer's powerful mental defenses, also found himself reluctantly considering Vixer's proposal. However, he glanced at Neil's charred corpse on the ground and responded coldly, "Mage Vixer, you and Neil seemed quite practiced at ambushing mages. This isn't your first time, is it?"

Vixer looked at Neil's remains, sighed, and admitted, "Indeed, I once wandered as a mage until Neil persuaded me to join him, promising resources and spell models. His method, as you guessed, was ambushing Dark Spirit Domain mages."

Merlin's face darkened, his suspicions confirmed. Neil had been working with wandering mages to ambush Dark Spirit Domain members, using his inside knowledge to set up deadly traps. If Merlin hadn't received Rilith's warning, he might have faced a deadly outcome.

Seeing Merlin's anger, Vixer continued, "Mage Merlin, there's no need for us to fight to the death. You're a six-element mage with vast potential, and I, too, have a future. Dying here is senseless, wouldn't you agree?"

With no spell power left in his **Ice Trap**, and nearly all his other spells depleted, Vixer had little choice but to suggest a truce. Similarly, Merlin had exhausted most of his spells. Only **Dark Mist**, **Gale**, and **Earthen Shield** retained some power, with **Earthen Shield** itself barely holding.

"Very well," Merlin agreed. "Let's remove our spells, take three steps back, and part ways."

He withdrew **Earthen Shield** as Vixer dismissed **Earthen Wall**, knowing that both of them were almost out of energy.

While stepping back, Merlin discreetly retrieved an Elemental Crystal to restore his magic.

"Merlin," Vixer's gaze sharpened, "let's stick to the agreement and put the crystal away."

Merlin smirked, noticing the crystal in Vixer's hand as well. "Likewise, Vixer. No tricks."

They exchanged wary smiles, recognizing they were cut from the same cloth. Both reluctantly put their crystals away.

"One step, two steps, three… now, let's turn."

The tension between them thickened as they slowly began to turn.

Suddenly, both whirled around, their eyes filled with fierce determination.