The arrival of Merlin and Wizard Leo had caused quite a commotion. Wizard Leo smiled at Merlin. "Merlin, look at all the Spell Casters around you. They're all looking forward to your attempt at the Runic Tower."

Merlin was naturally clear about the discussions of the Spell Casters around him. However, he also knew that they were not exactly looking forward to him challenging the Runic Tower. Instead, they looked forward to judging the indirect "showdown" between him and Kleis.

Merlin lifted his head and looked at the tall Runic Tower. The competitive spirit started filling his heart too. He did not mind if other people compared him and Kleis. In fact, even he himself wanted to have a real contest with Kleis.

However, ever since Kleis betrayed the Dark Magic Region and defected to Ozmu, he never showed up again. Hence, Merlin also did not have the chance to compete with Kleis, but now with the Runic Tower, he could also indirectly compare himself to Kleis.

"Teacher Leo, I'm going in!"

Merlin muttered to Wizard Leo. Then, he turned around and Wind-type elemental fluctuations started appearing on his body. In the blink of an eye, he flew into the mysterious Runic Tower.

…

Upon entering the Runic Tower, Merlin saw three Spell Casters – two males and one female, all seemingly Third-level Spell Casters.

"Swoosh."

Before he had the time to look at the three Spell Casters closely, Merlin saw them shrouded in white light and disappear from the first floor of the Runic Tower instantaneously.

"They've passed the first floor?"

Merlin was surprised. It only took him a moment to realize that the three Wizards had probably passed the first floor of the Runic Tower and had advanced to the second floor.

There were Spell Casters attempting the Runic Tower almost every single day. Even if they failed, they would not die either. They would only be sent out of the Runic Tower, and a certain amount of their contribution points would be deducted.

After all, Great Wizard Fidel's purpose of building the Runic Tower was not to kill the lower-leveled Spell Casters of the Dark Magic Region but to select the best among them. The aim was to select these individuals to be prioritized for nurturing, especially those who were knowledgeable in runology by granting them some unique and powerful treasures. Hence, even if they fail, they would not die.

Merlin did not waste his time on guessing the three Spell Casters' intentions. Instead, he went straight to the center of the first floor. There were several vermilion pillars carved with dense mysterious runes.

The life force of these runes was somewhat similar to the life force of the runes on the stone tablets outside the Dark Magic Region. Thus, they should have been engraved by Great Wizard Fidel himself. Even after thousands of years, they still possessed incredible power.

This was the magical power of runes. So far, Merlin had seen many Runic Magic Circles. Besides, he himself possessed a powerful Runic Magic Disc.

However, when it came to the study of runes, no one could ever match Great Wizard Fidel. Any Runic Magic Circles that he simply engraved could actually produce life force, just like black cat Didimoss, the spirit of the Runic Magic Circle in the stone tablet. This was a feat that even a Great Wizard could not achieve.

This was enough to prove how deep Great Wizard Fidel's research on runology was!

"Hum hum hum."

Merlin stood in between the vermilion pillars. The mysterious runes on the stone pillars began to flash with glints of white light. These white lights swiftly gathered in mid-air. Slowly, a big black dog appeared.

This big black dog shook its ears. Its gaze looked blank, and it appeared languid. The life force on its body was not strong either. It could even be considered quite weak.

However, what surprised Merlin was that this big black dog had a "lively" life force, which was very similar to the black cat Didimoss in the stone tablet outside the Dark Magic Region.

Merlin retreated a few steps to create a distance between the big black dog. After all, this was the Runic Tower, a tower personally built by Great Wizard Fidel. Even these runes were engraved by Great Wizard Fidel himself. Hence, no one knew how strong this big black dog was, so he needed to be more careful.

The big black dog slowly looked up and glanced at Merlin. It could actually speak, and it said coldly, "I'm the guardian spirit of the first floor of the Runic Tower. Beating me can grant you advancement to the second floor. Those who fail will be sent out of the Runic Tower! Are you clear?"

Merlin nodded and responded, "Clear!"

"Swoosh."

The big black dog had already started attacking the moment Merlin spoke. It was exceptionally fast. Initially, it looked very lazy, but now, its movements became very agile. Its entire body was covered with mysterious runes, which made its apparent body size seem larger.

The big black dog's attacking style was very simple. It was rampant but its strength raised some doubts. It was too weak.

"Frozen Space!"

Merlin did not utilize a Pandora Demon Ability. Instead, he directly released a Third-level spell, Frozen Space!

Frozen Space was developed from the basis of the spell, Ice Seal Zone. It could almost form a "space". Of course, it was not a real space, but a mere tiny, completely frozen place, which was completely encased by ice elements from the top to the bottom of the space.

"Ka-chak."

The Third-level spell, Frozen Space had both binding power and a certain degree of attacking power. After all, that sub-zero temperature was quite powerful. Once frozen, many low-level spells would not be able to protect against it. With the weak body of a Spell Caster, one simply could not survive the incredibly low temperature.

Of course, the big black dog in front of him was not a Spell Caster. Yet it seemed even more incapable of bearing the coldness. It was frozen by Merlin's Frozen Space right away. As the ice crystals cracked shortly after, its figure disappeared as well.

"I've won? That's it?"

Merlin was a little stunned. Though it was only the first floor, this seemed way too easy...

"Whoosh."

After a moment, once again, a big black dog appeared from the mysterious runes on the stone pillars but this time, the big black dog did not attack. Instead, it directly spoke to Merlin, "You've passed the first floor of the Runic Tower. However, you shouldn't be complacent. The first floor of the Runic Tower was only equivalent to a First-level Spell Caster. You're a Third-level Spell Caster, so beating me doesn't really mean anything. Your real test is above the fourth floor!"

Only then did it dawn on Merlin that the guardian spirit of the first floor of the Runic Tower was only equivalent to a First-level Spell Caster while the second layer was equivalent to a Second-level Spell Caster. The higher the floor in the Runic Tower, the more powerful the strength of the guardian spirits.

When he reached the fourth level or above, Merlin would face a real test because the guardian spirit of the fourth floor was comparable to a Fourth-level Spell Caster, the fifth floor was comparable to a Fifth-level Spell Caster, and the sixth level to a Sixth-level Spell Caster. As for the final floor, the guardian spirit of the seventh floor would reach the level of a Seventh-level Spell Caster!

Great Wizard Fidel's purpose of building the Runic Tower was to shortlist the true geniuses of the Dark Magic Region, especially geniuses who were adept with runes. Thus, he even allowed up to three Spell Casters to team up and use Runic Magic Discs to attempt the floors.

Even so, it was too difficult for Spell Casters below the Fourth-level to defeat a Seventh-level Spell Caster. It was not surprising that no one in the Dark Magic Region had been able to pass the seventh floor. They could not even get past the sixth floor.

The strongest ones achieved the same thing as Kleis, who had only passed the fifth floor but did not defeat the guardian spirit of the sixth floor.

"Alright, to the second floor then."

After the big black dog had finished talking, its figure dissipated instantly. Then, a white light immediately emerged from the vermilion pillar and enveloped Merlin.

"Swoosh."

When Merlin's figure appeared again, he had reached the second floor of the Runic Tower!

There were also a few vermilion pillars on the second floor. Merlin had already familiarized himself with the environment in the Runic Tower, so he immediately stood in between the vermilion pillars. Very soon, the mysterious runes condensed the guardian spirit of the second floor in the form of a fat squirrel.

This fat squirrel had a horrific tail which swept over with lightning speed. It was very difficult to dodge it.

However, this hit could not hurt Merlin at all.

Shortly after, Merlin casually cast a Third-level spell which easily defeated the guardian spirit of the second floor. He continued to the third floor of the Runic Tower.

The guardian spirit of the third floor was a scary white spider. This white spider could spit out tough white silk. There was also an odd smell on the spider silk. Catching a whiff of this would immediately paralyze the opponent.

However, it was easy to deal with this spider. Merlin directly used Fiery Collapse, incinerating the spider into ashes effortlessly, thus defeating the guardian spirit of the third floor.

Next, Merlin smoothly advanced to the fourth floor of the Runic Tower. This time, Merlin met the three Spell Casters he saw on the first floor again.

The three Spell Casters were all fighting the guardian spirit of the fourth floor – a strong giant black wolf.

This giant black wolf was extremely fast, and its body was tough. It could even withstand the usual Fourth-level spells multiple times. Only by continuously attacking a certain area on the body could the giant wolf be harmed.

Merlin watched the three Spell Casters battle from the side. The three Spell Casters were actually Four-Elemental Spell Casters. Besides, the spells they built were quite impressive. Hence, even if they faced the giant black wolf alone, they could still triumph in the battle.

These three Spell Casters might not be as brilliant as the genius Kleis, but they could absolutely be deemed exquisite. In a small spell casters' organization such as the Dark Magic Region especially, they were definitely target individuals focused for training.

Nevertheless, such three bright Spell Casters had teamed up together. Hence, they obviously desired to beat the fifth floor of the Runic Tower or even the sixth floor!

"Boom."

Finally, the three Spell Casters cast spells altogether. One restrained the giant black wolf while the other two Spell Casters seized the opportunity to cast offensive spells madly, instantly defeating the giant black wolf.

"We've finally passed the fourth floor... However, this was just the beginning of our test. Let's go to the fifth floor!"

The three Spell Casters seemed to be headed by Wizard Envia. They looked at Merlin, desperation revealed in their expressions. Then, a white light shrouded them and their figures disappeared.

Merlin frowned and glanced above him. He was able to come to the conclusion that if they did not have any special moves, the fifth floor would surely be the limit of these three Spell Casters. It would be virtually impossible for them to pass the fifth floor!

"My turn!"

Merlin looked at the few vermilion columns, but a relaxed smile etched on his face. Perhaps, for an average Third-level Spell Caster, facing the guardian spirit of the fourth floor was already the start of a real challenge since it was comparable to a Fourth-level Spell Caster.

However, for Merlin, the fourth or even the fifth floor was no different from the first three floors that Merlin had passed!

"Whoosh."

Merlin quickly stood in the between the stone pillars. Slowly, the white light emitted by the mysterious runes quickly gathered in mid-air.

Gradually, the figure of a giant black wolf appeared!