Chapter 262: Molten Soil
"Finally..." Merlin let out a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, he had recorded all the information about the *Melded Earth* magic in his matrix system earlier, allowing him to carefully review it later in the comfort of his tower.
He placed the *Melded Earth* magic back into its jade box, then turned to the Guardian Mage, bowing slightly. Without hesitation, he exited the portal and returned to the Dark Spirit Space.
Hellsious was waiting patiently in the space. When he saw Merlin emerge from the portal, a smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Merlin, did you find the magic you needed? That portal… even I have never entered it."
There was a hint of envy in his tone. Despite being a seventh-level spellcaster, Hellsious had never obtained a Pandora Spell nor made a significant enough contribution to the Dark Spirit Realm to earn access to the portal.
Merlin nodded. "Yes, I found the magic I needed. Master Hellsious, shall we return to the Dark Spirit Realm now?"
He was eager to retreat to his tower and begin studying the *Melded Earth* magic in depth.
Hellsious nodded, leading Merlin to a rune array in the Dark Spirit Space. A brilliant white light engulfed them both, and in an instant, their figures vanished.
---
**Within the Tower**
A flash of bright white light illuminated the tower. At the same time, a faint red glow flickered from the crimson vertical eye on Master Riel's forehead.
Two figures emerged from the light—it was Merlin and Hellsious, just returning from the Dark Spirit Space.
"Master Riel!" Merlin greeted with a smile upon seeing his mentor. Riel nodded slightly, his expression softening as he spoke. "Good, Merlin. It seems you've successfully exchanged for suitable magic."
He turned to Hellsious with a grin. "Thank you, old friend. This was a great help. Merlin, let's return to our tower."
Riel led Merlin away from Hellsious's domain without asking what magic Merlin had exchanged. Along the way, Merlin, unable to suppress his excitement, volunteered the information himself.
"Master Riel, I've exchanged for a Pandora Spell called *Melded Earth.*"
"Melded Earth?" Riel paused, a faint smile spreading across his face. "I've heard of it. Not bad at all—a defensive magic that can also integrate with spells. It's certainly well-suited for you."
Riel's approval made Merlin even more confident in his choice. Shortly afterward, they returned to the top of Riel's tower. Merlin quickly headed to his room, eager to delve deeper into his new magic.
---
**Inside Merlin's Room**
"Matrix, pull up the *Melded Earth* magic data," Merlin instructed.
The matrix system promptly displayed the details of the *Melded Earth* magic that he had recorded in the Dark Spirit Space. While he had skimmed through it earlier, there were still many intricate aspects he hadn't studied thoroughly.
"*Melded Earth* magic requires a material known as molten soil… Where in the world will I find that?" Merlin frowned. While the process of training in Pandora Spells wasn't usually complicated, acquiring the necessary materials was another story entirely.
In the past, he had been fortunate. For *Ice Needle,* he had obtained hundred-year frost marrow from Samir's belongings. For *Flame Destruction,* the materials had already been prepared within the ancient ruins. *Heart of Darkness* had required more personal insight, though Riel's *Clarity Stone* had been instrumental in his success.
It became clear to Merlin that obtaining materials for Pandora Spells was often the most challenging aspect of mastering them. Now, for *Melded Earth,* the molten soil was proving to be a formidable obstacle.
"Molten soil… it must be a rare earth-element material. Perhaps I can find references to it in the *Tower of Myriad Books.*"
Determined, Merlin left his room and headed for the library tower.
---
**In the Tower of Myriad Books**
The tower was bustling with activity. Most of those present were official members of the Dark Spirit Realm—first-level spellcasters and above. However, Merlin's arrival caused a noticeable stir.
Merlin's reputation had grown immensely. As a six-element spellcaster and the slayer of two prominent third-level spellcasters from Osam, his name now eclipsed even the infamous Clais. Even third-level spellcasters now acknowledged him with subtle nods of respect.
Merlin, accustomed to such attention after his time in Dorun City, ignored the stares. He quickly found what he was looking for.
"This is it—three books on earth-element materials: one on potion ingredients, one on alchemical materials, and one on rare treasures. I'll take all three."
The cost was modest, only fifty contribution points—an insignificant amount for Merlin, who had amassed over ten thousand points. He had spent little of it, leaving him ample room for indulgence.
After retrieving the books, Merlin used the matrix to instantly record their contents. He then instructed, "Matrix, search for information on molten soil."
The matrix swiftly completed the task. "Search complete. One entry found. Molten soil is commonly found within volcanoes. It is a special type of soil formed over millions of years and is a crucial ingredient in powerful alchemical creations. Reports suggest that it can be found on the Cordomansila Islands, home to many active volcanoes."
The results left Merlin pleasantly surprised. Molten soil wasn't just a magical material—it was a prized alchemical resource. However, training with *Melded Earth* required it, making it indispensable for Merlin.
The location of the molten soil, the Cordomansila Islands, was far from the Dark Spirit Realm and near the northern oceans—a dangerous and largely uncharted region.
"The Cordomansila Islands? That complicates things…"
Merlin furrowed his brows. The islands, far removed from the organized territories of spellcaster organizations like the Dark Spirit Realm, were notorious for their wildness. They were teeming with rare materials but also fraught with danger—home to sea beasts as powerful as fifth, sixth, or even seventh-level entities. The islands were also frequented by rogue spellcasters, some of whom were as strong as seventh-level spellcasters.
For Merlin, venturing there now would be reckless. He realized he needed to strengthen his abilities before considering such a journey.
The most practical way to enhance his power was by constructing a second-level spell. His mental strength had already reached a formidable level, sufficient for constructing a second-level spell.
The spell he wanted to construct was clear: *Dark Tides,* a second-level black magic spell. With *Dark Tides* augmented by the *Heart of Darkness,* Merlin would possess the strength to rival even the most elite fourth-level spellcasters.
"I'll wait a little longer—until my mental strength in the Bell Space doubles again. Then, I'll construct *Dark Tides.*"
---
**Days Later**
"Hummm…"
A faint vibration emanated from Merlin's chest, where the Bell Space resided. His eyes snapped open, and he murmured, "It seems my mental projection has reached its limit again."
Wasting no time, Merlin extended his consciousness into the Bell Space. As expected, his mental projection had reached its capacity. The accelerated growth of his mental strength thanks to the Bell Space was proving invaluable.
"Fusion!"
Without hesitation, Merlin merged his mental projection into his own mental strength. The result was an immediate and astonishing surge in power.
"Finally…" Merlin exhaled deeply. For the first time, he felt the immense strength coursing through his mind—a strength sufficient to construct the second-level spell, *Dark Tides.*