The raging flames filled the entire sky like a sea of fire. This was the Fourth-level spell that Vlaar had cast.

Merlin drew in a deep breath. At this point, his robe had no way of withstanding this, and even the Second-level Defensive spell Earth Veil that he had just constructed would be unable to block a Fourth-level spell without any enhancements.

Therefore, Merlin could only actively attack.

"Pandora Demon Ability, Glacial Finger!"

Merlin extended one pale finger and stabbed it toward Wizard Vlaar. In an instant, an icy gust of air flew out and formed ice crystals everywhere it passed.

"Crack! Crack!"

Countless ice crystals were formed, with some even enclosing the flames in mid-air, which then fell to the ground and shattered into smithereens. This ability was even able to freeze and seal a Fourth-level spell in ice. It must not be a spell, not one that Merlin, a Wizard who was not even a mere Second-level Spell Caster, would be able to cast.

"Pandora Demon Ability… This is Pandora Demon Ability. You actually have Pandora Demon Ability?"

Astonishment washed over Wizard Vlaar's face. A Pandora Demon Ability possessed a strange and unfathomable power, and Wizard levels were completely irrelevant if one had Pandora Demon Ability.

In Gray Wing Alliance, Wizard Vlaar had personally witnessed a Second-level Spell Caster who had cultivated Pandora Demon Ability easily defeat a Spell Caster at the peak of the Third-level, as well as contended against a Fourth-level Spell Caster.

Thus, Wizard Vlaar knew very well the power of Pandora Demon Ability. Seeing that Merlin had utilized his Pandora Demon Ability, he was immediately on his guard.

Just as Wizard Vlaar was about to cast a Defensive spell, turbulent Darkness Elemental fluctuations abruptly surged around Merlin.

"Darkness Tide!"

Merlin softly commanded. In an instant, the surrounding light darkened, and an endless flood of Darkness Element rushed forth just like a tide, which completely surrounded Wizard Vlaar and the rest.

Darkness Tide, after the enhancement of Darkness Heart, was able to easily trap a Spell Caster like Vlaar, whose Mind Power only just reached the Fourth-level, in the illusion.

Wizard Vlaar was not even able to put up the slightest bit of resistance. His entire body went limp as he was completely caught in the illusion.

"Crack."

The chill of Glacial Finger rapidly froze Wizard Vlaar's arm. Merlin repeated his previous procedure in punishing Donaugh earlier, and straightaway crippled one of Wizard Vlaar's arms.

This was because Merlin was rather apprehensive about Gray Wing Alliance, so he did not dare to kill anyone so rashly.

"Whoosh…"

Merlin dispelled Darkness Tide, and Wizard Vlaar recovered his senses. His face was deathly pale, and he had lost all sense of feeling in his right arm. Just like Donaugh, one of his arms was crippled by Merlin.

Vlaar bit his lip furiously, and his face turned dark as he coldly glared at Merlin like a venomous snake. This glare made Merlin very uncomfortable. If he was somewhere else, he would have killed Vlaar long ago. However, they were on the Kurdmansla Islands, so Merlin still had many other considerations.

"Vlaar, what's wrong? Is it an attack by someone from Fort Udon?"

A boorish voice rang out, and a few Spell Casters came from behind in loud heavy steps. It was a Spell Caster whose face bore the mark of three shallow scars, making him look rather sinister.

This scar-faced Spell Caster, upon seeing Vlaar's drooping arm, swept his gaze across Merlin, Bordeaux, and the rest, one by one.

"Heh heh, Captain, if you've come any later, I might be dead!"

Vlaar licked his lips. After seeing this scar-faced Spell Caster, a trace of glee had dawned upon his face.

"It was them who did it?"

The scar-faced Spell Caster questioned coldly in a low voice.

"Captain, it's not like you don't know how the people of Fort Udon are like. The damage caused to Donaugh and I were all thanks to some guy named Merlin."

Vlaar glared at Merlin with vicious hate as he narrated everything that had happened to the scar-faced Spell Caster.

"Very well, you're the one who harmed Vlaar? Regardless of whether or not you're from Fort Udon, you have to pay the price of harming Vlaar. Since you've crippled one of his arms, I'll cripple both your arms!"

An overbearing force suddenly emanated from the scar-faced Spell Caster. It was a force belonging to a Fifth-level Spell Caster. The scar-faced Spell Caster was actually a Fifth-level Spell Caster.

"Ugly bastard, you're acting big in front of us Wizards from Fort Udon? Heh heh, come on then, let this old man see how much you've grown in these past few years."

A sharp voice rang out from the crowd. Soon, a wizened Wizard, wearing a gray robe and a torn hat over his head, slowly walked out. Behind him were a few other gray-robed Wizards.

Merlin squinted slightly. He recognized the robes they were wearing. These were the robes worn by Spell Casters from Fort Udon. As they were gray ones, it meant that these were Spell Casters who were above the Fourth-level.

In particular, the wizened old man who spoke seemed very shriveled and scrawny as if wind might carry him off, but the force emanating from his body was more terrifying than the force of the scar-faced man.

Upon seeing the wizened old man, the scar-faced man's face changed slightly and appeared extremely unpleasant. He asked in a low voice, "Waller, is your Fort Udon really going to cover up for these people?"

"Cover up? Hehe, they're all about to become members of our Fort Udon. You know as well that every member of Fort Udon is our comrade. If you say that we're covering up for our comrades, then so be it. What, you have something to say?"

Wizard Waller spoke carelessly as if he was not concerned in the slightest.

The face of the scar-faced man sank even further. This was Fort Udon, who did not fear anything in the slightest. It did not matter if they were facing Gray Wing Alliance or Wizard's Tower. Even if it was over a mere First-level Spell Caster, for as long as it was a member of Fort Udon, the faction would hold nothing back.

This was Fort Udon. They were unlike Spell Casters and were more like a bunch of idealistic lunatics who got together. One idealist might have no way of surviving in the world of Spell Casters, but if a group of powerful idealists assembled, then their power would be immense, causing a headache for any other faction.

"Let's go!"

The scar-faced man knew that with Waller's arrival, they would not be able to take advantage of the situation today. The people of Fort Udon were a bunch of lunatics. If those form Gray Wing Alliance really attacked, they would immediately suffer the attacks of stronger Spell Casters from Fort Udon.

Perhaps Gray Wing Alliance would retaliate for their sake, but by that time they might be long dead.

The scar-faced man led the others from Gray Wing Alliance away with their tails between their legs. Only then did Merlin truly witness Fort Udon's strength and dominance. It was not surprising that Fort Udon was named the number one strongest faction of the Kurdmansla Islands for they were indeed more powerful than Gray Wing Alliance.

It was not their strength which was greater than Gray Wing Alliance's, but it was due to their characteristic of being unafraid to stir up trouble, and to say nothing of starting a war with another powerful faction in order to save a Wizard of Fort Udon. As long as it was to rescue a Wizard from Fort Udon, no matter how massive a ruckus was created, Fort Udon would support it with all their might.

Therefore, it might be that Fort Udon seemed unreasonable and tyrannical to outsiders, but members of Fort Udon felt an incomparable sense of affection and security.

The wizened old man, Waller, walked toward Merlin, Bella, and Vadrak. After taking in the measure of Merlin and the rest, he smiled and said, "All of you are about to join Fort Udon? In truth, you need not fear. With Fort Udon behind you, you don't have to fear anyone on the Kurdmansla Islands! Although that ugly bastard earlier appeared fierce and vicious, he did not dare to really kill all of you. Hehe, he had previously suffered at the hands of Fort Udon."

Merlin bobbed his head, and Bella and Vadrak wore expressions of gratitude.

"Alright, you all can follow me back to Fort Udon."

Wizard Waller waved his hand lightly, and the crowd of Spell Casters from Fort Udon gradually made their way back to Fort Udon.

In a short moment, the group had hurried back to Fort Udon. Wizard Waller smiled at Merlin. "Wizard Merlin, you're only a First-level Spell Caster – it's really too unbelievable! That Vlaar is a shabby one but he's still a Fourth-level Spell Caster. You might try your hand at defeating that Fourth-level Alchemy Creature, for there's hope you might become a gray-robed Wizard."

Wizard Waller did not know of Merlin's situation. He was unaware that Merlin had already defeated the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature, and was now waiting for the Fifth-level Spell Caster in Fort Udon to finish preparing his potion in order to accept Merlin's challenge.

Merlin only smiled in response to Wizard Waller. Following that, Wizard Waller sent Merlin and the rest to their residence, before saying in a meaningful tone, "On the Kurdmansla Islands, it's tough if you don't join any factions. It's the same even for those powerful roaming Wizards. It's best if you receive your evaluation early and join Fort Udon. Then, you'll be official members of Fort Udon, and on the Kurdmansla Islands, no one would dare attack a member of Fort Udon!"

Wizard Waller's tone revealed his absolute confidence and assurance. Besides, Merlin, Vadrak, and the rest had witnessed Fort Udon's dominance with their own eyes today.

"Alright, you can all rest here. I'll take my leave first."

Wizard Waller spoke warmly, and having sent Merlin and the rest back to their residence, he turned to leave.

"Swish."

Just then, a gray-robed Wizard ran into him from outside the residence.

"Huh? Wizard Waller, you're here too? Why aren't you on patrol? What are you doing here?"

This gray-robed Wizard evidently knew Wizard Waller, and without even waiting for Wizard Waller to answer his previous question, he spotted Merlin and hurried toward him. A smile broke out across his face. "Wizard Merlin, follow me quick. Wizard Sakvara has completed his potion preparation and is now waiting for you to complete your evaluation!"

Merlin nodded. He calculated the days and realized that he had waited for two days. Wizard Sakvara had indeed completed making his potion and accepted his challenge.

Others might not know of Wizard Sakvara, but Wizard Waller knew him very well. Hearing that Merlin was about to accept Wizard Sakvara's evaluation, he immediately guessed the reason. His eyes almost popped out of his head as he said in disbelief, "What did you say? Wizard Merlin is going to challenge Wizard Sakvara?"

"Wizard Waller, if you're interested, you can tag along and watch. Hehe, if Wizard Merlin succeeds, what a shock it'll be to the entire Fort Udon!"

The gray-robed Wizard's face was shining with an ecstatic glow.