Before this, the old Spell Caster appeared to be on his last legs in the Flame Prison, but now a tremendous force shimmered around his body. In particular, the layer of flames covering him flared up violently, faintly repelling the flames of the Flame Prison.

This tremendous presence immediately froze Merlin where he stood. Nonetheless, Merlin did not bat an eyelid. On the Ship of Nikola, he was unafraid of anyone. Furthermore, they were in the Flame Prison. Not just anyone would be able to withstand the endless flames. The old Spell Caster was no more than someone who appeared stronger than he really was by forcibly radiating his presence.

Seeing that Merlin remained cool and collected with an unperturbed expression, the old Spell Caster, who seemed to have such vigorous force a moment ago, immediately turned dispirited. The surrounding flames wildly wrapped around him and a pained expression appeared on his face.

It appeared that the old Spell Caster's previous outburst of force was not as simple as it seemed. Who knew how much pain he had suffered?

The old Spell Caster gave Merlin a deep look, following which he said in a dejected and faint voice, "Only those who had obtained the Legend Nikola's Flame Maxim would be able to move freely in the Flame Prison. It looks like you're the Spell Caster who had completed the three obstacles and finally won the Legend Nikola's Flame Maxim!"

The old Spell Caster raised his head, wearing an inscrutable expression. It turned out that his previous burst of energy was merely a show of bravado.

"Oh? You actually know about the Legend Nikola, and even about the Flame Maxim?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow, his interest aroused by the old Spell Caster's words. After all, the Ship of Nikola was hidden in the ocean depths, and the Flame Being had said that all those who entered the Ship of Nikola were forcibly dragged in by the Flame Being. If one did not clear the third obstacle, one would not know what the treasure on the Ship of Nikola was.

"Heh, of course I know about it because that year, I came here especially for the Flame Maxim that the Legend Nikola had left behind! Before that, I came across a message that the Legend Nikola had left in a mysterious way, and learned that he had left a Flame Maxim at the bottom of the sea. I didn't know the exact location, but I had a rough idea of where it was.

"Therefore, I waited unabatingly for decades at that region of the sea… In the end, my efforts were not wasted. I was dragged in here, only it was a shame that I was unable to defeat the Flame Image of the third obstacle in the end."

It turned out that the old Spell Caster had come here intentionally for the sake of the Flame Maxim that the Legend Nikola had left behind. Perhaps the Legend Nikola was worried and left behind other messages.

Every century or so, the Flame Being would seize a new batch of Spell Casters and bring them to the Ship of Nikola. Thus, the old Spell Caster had waited vigilantly around the area. Naturally, he would be taken by the Flame Being and brought to the Ship of Nikola.

As soon as the old Spell Caster finished speaking, silence descended over the Flame Prison. At last, the old Spell Caster spoke again, "You've gotten the Flame Maxim. Go on, what are you going to do to me?"

"Do to you?"

Hearing this, Merlin carefully looked the old Spell Caster over. Although he appeared rather downcast, he must surely have powerful abilities to persevere within this terrifying Flame Prison and held on for so many years without dying.

In particular, the burst of force that he had displayed far surpassed the average Seventh-level Spell Caster.

Seeing that Merlin seemed to be hesitating, the old Spell Caster said in a low voice, "Let me out. I, Bammou, am willing to grant you three promises! If you don't trust me, we can sign a contract!"

"Three promises? Wizard Bammou, I'm afraid you don't understand your situation here. I'm in control of the Ship of Nikola, and your life is also in my hands. You think I would care about three small promises?"

Merlin laughed coldly. This guy really had a bright idea, using only three promises in exchange for Merlin to set him free. If he turned on Merlin after he was out of danger, what use would the three promises be?

Therefore, Merlin would not fall for this so foolishly.

Wizard Bammou, upon seeing Merlin's expression, clenched his jaw. "Although you've obtained the Flame Maxim, you're still unable to refine it. Even though you cleared the third obstacle, you must surely have relied on some trick, who knows what, for your abilities aren't that powerful. If you agree to set me free, we can sign a contract and I'll accompany you, protecting you for ten years!"

Wizard Bammou suggested another arrangement, only this one was much better. Merlin could see that Wizard Bammou must be the Seventh-level Spell Caster that the Flame Being had mentioned.

So many years had passed and yet Wizard Bammou was still alive. He was able to resist the flames of the Flame Prison and was certainly more than just a simple Seventh-level Spell Caster. The protection of such a powerful Wizard for ten years would be a decent choice.

After a moment of pondering, Merlin still shook his head.

Wizard Bammou's face turned cold and he said hoarsely, "You've turned down both of these conditions. What do you really want in exchange for setting me free?"

In the Flame Prison, one had to endure torment and suffering every day. Even though Wizard Bammou could force himself to stay alive, he had no chance of escaping the Flame Prison. As such, of course he would want to seize the only chance he had of leaving the Flame Prison.

"It's simple. Sign a slave contract of the highest grade with me, and I'll let you out!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Merlin's lips as he said calmly.

"What? A slave contract? Impossible, this is absolutely impossible – even if I die in this Flame Prison, I'll never sign a slave contract with you!"

Upon hearing Merlin's request, Wizard Bammou did not seem to give it any thought before rejecting it straightaway. Moreover, he sounded quite resentful.

Among all different types of contracts, the slave contract was the most demanding. For Spell Casters who signed the slave contract – everything they owned, including their lives, was in the hands of their masters. Their masters could kill them off on a whim.

Not even Entrance-level Spell Caster would sign such a harsh contract, what more a proud Seventh-level Spell Caster like Wizard Bammou.

After signing a contract of the highest grade in the Dark Magic Region, Merlin had gained some understanding of the different types of contracts. Incidentally, he learned some details regarding the slave contract, and in this way, he gained knowledge of the existence of such a harsh contract.

Wizard Bammou was a bona fide Seventh-level Spell Caster and not an average one at that. If Merlin set him free, Merlin must have absolute control over him. Thus, signing a slave contract was the only way.

"Wizard Bammou, don't be so quick to turn this down. I'll wait here for three days. If until then you're still unwilling to sign a slave contract, then you can stay here forever and enjoy yourself."

With that, Merlin turned to leave the Flame Prison, but he did not go too far. Instead, beneath the sixteen runic pillars, he sat in the lotus position. He would wait here for three days.

From this spot, Merlin could still see Wizard Bammou's every movement. There seemed to be a layer of faint firelight around the Spell Caster's body, which must be Wizard Bammou's spell. Still, that Fire-type spell appeared to be somewhat similar to the flames of the Flame Prison.

It was these flames, which rather resembled the Flame Prison's, that allowed Wizard Bammou to withstand the scorching heat of the Flame Prison and in that manner, he had survived until now.

Merlin closed his eyes lightly. Through the Flame Maxim in his Awareness, he had immediate control over the Ship of Nikola. Every corner of the entire ship appeared in Merlin's mind.

Before this, Merlin had not found the Flame Prison, so he had no way of controlling it. However, now that he had located it, Merlin had the ability to control the Flame Prison through the Flame Maxim's command of the Ship of Nikola.

Therefore, with a single thought from Merlin, the sixteen runic pillars which enclosed the Flame Prison began to shudder slightly. Following that, the characters of the mysterious rune flew into the Flame Prison.

"Boom!"

As soon as these runes entered the Flame Prison, the flames of the entire prison surged ferociously as if someone had poured gasoline over them. They burned even more frantically than before.

Merlin laughed softly. "Wizard Bammou, enjoy these for three days. Of course, if you can endure these three days, I might consider letting you out."

Wizard Bammou's face turned a deep red and the fluctuations of Fire Element all over his body became abnormally intense. The layer of flames over his body seemed unable to withstand this, and he seemed to be in a situation that was getting dangerous.

This was Merlin's little trick. Wizard Bammou was a complicated individual. The terrifying presence that Merlin had previously felt from him was full of a ruthless spirit. Only someone who had slaughtered many others would emit such a force.

Wizard Bammou bore this bitterly. Merlin was in no hurry as well as he had plenty of time. However, after seeing the frightening power of the Flame Prison, something occurred to Merlin. If he encountered a powerful enemy, he could drag them into the Ship of Nikola and cast them into the Flame Prison, and everything would be taken care of.

Nonetheless, it was a shame that the Ship of Nikola could not be moved and could only stay in the depths of the ocean. Otherwise, what a solid backing Merlin would have!

"Heh, to make me surrender through such despicable means – I'm afraid that you'll be disappointed!"

Wizard Bammou fixed his glare on Merlin and gnashed his teeth as he spoke.

Merlin paid him no mind and checked upon the spells in his body instead. He had just constructed four Second-level spells in a row. In addition, he had used up a large number of elemental crystal stones in order to build up a certain amount of Magic Power in these Spell Models and equipped himself with fighting power.

Merlin did not spend too much time on the other spells but instead focused particularly on the Second-level Fire-type spell, Sea of Purgatory Fire.

Before this, Merlin had relied on the Flame Maxim's suppression to forcibly combine Fiery Collapse with his Fire-type spells. Now that he had constructed a new Second-level Fire-type spell, he wanted to see if Fiery Collapse could also be merged with Sea of Purgatory Fire.

"Sea of Purgatory Fire!"

Merlin cast the Second-level Fire-type spell, Sea of Purgatory Fire for the first time. A sweep of flames instantly appeared in mid-air before him.

The raging flames roared with might which was obviously much stronger than the First-level spell, Furious Flame. However, as he stared at the flames of Sea of Purgatory Fire, Merlin's brow gradually began to furrow.