In the afternoon, Taran City had been lit up in dazzling sunlight, but now, this sunlight was nowhere to be seen. The light itself seemed to be distorted, and it was so dark that one would not even be able to see their own hand.

"What intense Darkness Element… What spell is this?"

The two ugly Wizards were still waiting outside Taran City. A moment ago, they saw firelight soar into the skies of Taran City as a few exceptionally large Flame Giants attacked wildly and shrilly. Every movement packed an astounding force.

However, the Flame Giants seemed to have disappeared all of a sudden, and Taran City had descended into pitch-black darkness. Not even their Mind Power were able to probe into the situation.

As such, the two ugly Wizards were apprehensive, and they did not dare to enter Taran City rashly. All they could do was wait outside anxiously, occasionally peering into the distance, hoping to see the figure of Snake Elder…

…

"Darkness Tide!"

Merlin stood in the midst of the darkness. Everyone who was in the area was enveloped by the darkness and was caught in the illusion, except for him and Wizard Bammou.

The strengthened version of Darkness Tide in addition to the enhancement of Darkness Heart, was currently Merlin's greatest strength. No matter how many Spell Casters he was facing, as long as their Mind Power was insufficient, they would be trapped in the illusion.

"Rumble! Rumble!"

Although Darkness Tide had sunk everyone into an illusion, the five golden Flame Giants were not really affected. They were transformed from the Runic Magic Circle, and possessed no consciousness, so as long as the Runic Magic Circle was not broken, they would still have their formidable fighting powers.

Merlin furrowed his brows. These Flame Giants were rather troublesome. It was a good thing that even Wizard Finello was caught in the illusion of Darkness Tide, thus the Flame Giants were no longer controlled by anyone. Now they were simply making their attacks instinctively due to the Runic Magic Circle and posed a much smaller threat.

"Fiery Collapse!"

Merlin aimed at one Flame Giant and unleashed Fiery Collapse all while he frantically simulated the Flame Maxim, emitting traces of the Maxim's force.

Although it was only a trace of the Flame Maxim's force, the Maxim itself was made to suppress all flames, being at the core of all flames. Therefore, this trace of the Flame Maxim's force was enough to slow down the golden Flame Giant.

Merlin took this opportunity to unleash Fiery Collapse in full. The white flames wrapped around the Flame Giant and began to burn furiously, constantly consuming the flames on the Flame Giant's body.

After all, the Flame Giant was like a Fifth-level Spell Caster. Even though Merlin's Fiery Collapse had been forcefully combined with his spells, its might was barely at the standard of the Fifth-level. As a result, when it encountered the Flame Giant, it was at a slight disadvantage and needed a long time of attack to defeat the Flame Giant.

"Bang!"

At last, one of the Flame Giants exploded with a loud bang and was quickly dispersed into the air.

Following that, Merlin took a deep breath. The force of the Flame Maxim was subtly emanated, and the dispersed flames seemed to have found their target. They frantically burrowed into Merlin's body and was turned into Magic Power by the Flame Maxim.

"It's a shame that the Flame Maxim couldn't be changed. Otherwise, it could be strengthened further, and my control over Fire-type spells would be even greater!"

Merlin observed the Flame Maxim in his Awareness regretfully. Ever since he obtained the Flame Maxim on the Ship of Nikola, he had been unable to gain full control of this Flame Maxim. Moreover, when he utilized the Flame Maxim to move the Ship of Nikola, a third of the Flame Maxim was used up and was not restored in the slightest up until now.

Only Legendary Wizards were able to consolidate a Flame Maxim. With each use, it was diminished further, and currently, Merlin had no way of replenishing the Flame Maxim. He could only rely on the Flame Maxim's force to suppress Fire-type spells.

Of course, the Flame Maxim was not all-powerful. Merlin had always been able to sense the Flame Maxim. In this manner, he could gradually deepen his understanding and perception of the Maxim. Who knew, maybe one day, after he had become a Seventh-level Spell Caster, the Fire-type spells that he created would have terrifying strength.

Nevertheless, for now, Merlin only had limited use of the Flame Maxim's powers. It was able to suppress most Fire-type spells, but if it encountered a Seventh-level Fire-type spell, it was likely that a small wisp of force emitted by the Flame Maxim wouldn't have much of a suppressive effect. Even now, as he faced the five Flame Giants, Merlin was cautious and prudent, needing to take them on one by one.

After one Flame Giant had been destroyed, Merlin stuck to the same method and demolished the other four Flame Giants. The dispersed flames were used by Merlin to replenish the Spell Models in his Awareness.

"Fiery Collapse!"

After he had resolved the matter of the Flame Giants, Merlin's gaze landed once more on the Spell Casters of Taran City. These Spell Casters were more or less all acting under Wizard Finello.

It was also because of these Spell Casters that Wizard Finello, after activating the Runic Magic Circle, was able to turn into a powerful Wizard, comparable to a Fifth-level Spell Caster, in one move!

Therefore, without the slightest bit of mercy, Merlin waved his hand gently. Flames covered the sky and turned into sparks of firelight as they descended, darting in all directions as they ceaselessly claimed the lives of Spell Casters.

These Spell Casters were all trapped in the illusion of Darkness Tide and could put up no resistance at all. A small flicker of flame was enough to turn each of them into ashes.

There were no pitiful wails, no noisy cries, not even the stench of blood. Everything appeared calm and tranquil, but in the pitch darkness of Taran City, those wisps of white firelight were enough to make anyone shake in terror. Wherever the firelight appeared, it was sure to leave behind the ashes of some Spell Caster.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred Spell Casters were wordlessly burned to ashes by the blaze. Their lives were all "harvested" by Merlin.

"As expected, after losing such a great number of Spell Caster, the power of the Modoya Magic Circle is much weaker."

Merlin saw that upon Wizard Finello's body, the flickering light of the mysterious runes was no longer as bright, and his force was clearly diminished. Before this, Wizard Finello's force was comparable to a powerful Fifth-level Spell Caster's, but now, even when blessed by the power of the runes, his force was merely at the peak of the Fourth-level.

A Fourth-level Spell Caster was nothing much to Merlin. Wizard Finello was no longer a threat to Merlin.

"This robe isn't too shabby."

Merlin reached out and snatched the robe that Wizard Finello was wearing. This was a robe which was inscribed with many runes and was comparable to the robe that Merlin had exchanged for in the Resource Tower.

Naturally, Merlin would want to keep a robe like this. Now that he wanted to turn the Wilson clan into a Spell Caster clan, he could not do without various spells, casting tools, and the like.

Therefore, he had even collected all the rings worn by the Spell Casters, more than a hundred of them, whose lives he had "harvested".

"The ring too."

Wizard Finello was like a completely unresisting lamb. He was stripped of his robe and ring by Merlin.

"Hmmm? There's more good stuff?"

After Merlin had taken Wizard Finello's robe, he noticed that at Wizard Finello's chest, there was a sort of disc which was the size of a palm. It was engraved with dense lines of runes and was implanted into the skin.

"Rip!"

Without the slightest bit of mercy, Merlin immediately ripped apart the flesh at Wizard Finello's chest. Instantly, blood sprayed out, and the palm-sized disc was in Merlin's hand.

At the moment when the disc was ripped out, Merlin clearly sensed that the Runic Magic Circle of Taran City was rocking fiercely as if it would collapse at any moment.

"Could this be the legendary Runic Magic Disc?"

Merlin's eyes gleamed. This was a treasure indeed. Only great Spell Casters who had mastered runology and alchemy were able to transfigure a Runic Magic Disc.

Some powerful Spell Casters were able to engrave a Runic Magic Circle into a casting tool, which could be used by any Spell Caster who was adept in runology. The powerful Magic Circle within the Runic Magic Disc could be activated without having to waste effort in setting it up, and it could be carried away at any time, making it convenient to use.

This was also the main reason those powerful Spell Casters were willing to study runology. With the Runic Magic Disc, one's power could be substantially increased, and it was much better than many casting tools.

For instance, Wizard Finello was able to exhibit the strength of a Fifth-level Spell Caster immediately after he activated the Runic Magic Circle. Through this, Merlin could tell how powerful the Runic Magic Circle was when it was engraved into a Runic Magic Disc!

After he had harvested all he wanted from Finello, Merlin dispelled the Darkness Element that filled up the sky with a great wave of his hand. A ray of light gradually began to shine through the sky which was initially pitch black.

The entire Taran City slowly began to come alive once more. The Normies who were caught in the illusion did not even know what had happened. They only felt like they had just experienced a peculiar dream.

There was only Wizard Finello left. He was only wearing thin clothes now, and his wizened frame was exposed in front of everyone. His appearance was so pitiful, his face was drained, and he looked just like a normal, derelict old man.

"My robe, my ring, and my Runic Magic Disc…"

Wizard Finello fixed his gaze on Merlin. He instantly understood his situation. He did not even have his Runic Magic Disc, so the Runic Magic Circle that he had so painstakingly set up was useless now. The only thing that was waiting for him was a miserable ending.

However, Wizard Finello drew in a deep breath, and said meekly, "Wizard Merlin, I'm defeated, but I'm still a Fourth-level Spell Caster and a master of runology. I'm willing to sign a contract and become Wizard Merlin's most loyal slave!"

Now that Wizard Finello had fallen to such a stage, he could not be bothered with much else. He was even willing to sign a slave contract with Merlin.

"Slave?"

Merlin barked out a cold laugh and was about to say something when suddenly, in the distant sky, a burst of green light appeared rapidly. Within that enormous, horrifying green glow was the faint silhouette of a giant snake.

"Finello, if you dare to harm Wizard Merlin, no one would be able to save you!"

Along with that enraged voice, a giant snake rose up above Taran City in a violent, whistling gale. The snake's tremendous size was unequaled, and it was covered entirely in intricate green scales. Its massive, sinister head poked through the clouds, and it's prying eyes fixed onto Taran City down below.