"Bang!"

There was a loud bang, and the entire auction venue was frozen in ice crystals. The boundless chill rapidly assailed everyone who was present, and it seemed like no one was able to withstand it. Only when it spread to the doorways of the luxury suite, it was as if held back by some of the distinguished guests, who prevented the chill from entering.

However, most of them were frozen solid, including the distinguished guests!

"Crack!"

Ice crystals formed quickly within luxury suite number twenty-eight. Darknight and Lady Phillie wore grave expressions for the ice crystals were beginning to invade the room.

"Humph!"

Merlin snorted coldly. This frigid blast was impressive but he had Glacier Country and was not fearful at all. The transparent Glacier Country descended instantly, containing the speed by which the ice crystals spread.

Other than the suite Merlin was in, there were only seven or eight other rooms that were not frozen by the ice crystals.

"Swish."

The white-robed Wizard was extremely fast. After unleashing the chill, he snatched the Memory Crystal from the podium in one great swipe, following which he withdrew quickly to the back.

"Put the Memory Crystal down!"

"Who did this? Who would be so impudent as to rob an item from the auction in Dara City?"

Many Spell Casters still seemed to be caught in a dream. This was far too shocking. There were merely seven or eight Wizards in the auction who were able to hold back the spell cast by that white-robed Spell Caster earlier. Even the lovely, charming Seventh-level female Wizard on the podium was frozen by the ice crystals, unable to put up the slightest resistance.

Such an unexpected development had never occurred in the past auctions in Dara City.

"D*mn it, what a mighty chill. It must be that madman Ores!"

The Whirlwind Lord in luxury suite number thirteen had all his limbs frozen. Fortunately, he had immense strength and soon broke free of his bindings. Nonetheless, he had an idea of who would be bold enough to rob a treasure from the auction.

"Swish."

Thus, the Whirlwind Lord quickly flung the doors open and flew out from the auction venue, chasing after the white-robed Wizard. There were many Spell Casters who were currently doing the same thing as the Whirlwind Lord, most of which were the mysterious and revered distinguished guests.

"Master, what do we do? It must be that Spell Caster at the peak of the Eighth-level, Ores. He's a powerful Wizard on par with Wizard Dara. Only he would dare to act against Wizard Dara's auction."

Wizard Darknight was well informed and recognized that white-robed Wizard at once.

"All of you should wait here. The Memory Crystal was snatched – this might be an opportunity!"

A smirk appeared over Merlin's lips. If the Memory Crystal was in the auction, it would not be wise for him to make his move. However, now that it had been robbed, it was a chance for Merlin to seize it for himself while avoiding plenty of unnecessary trouble.

"Swish."

Therefore, Merlin rushed out of the luxury suite as well and went after the white-robed Wizard Ores.

As soon as he left the auction, Merlin saw that there were many waves of powerful Elemental fluctuations in the sky which were speeding ahead. They must be hunting down Ores.

"Ores, how bold of you! Since you've come, you don't have to leave. Stay on…"

Suddenly, a raspy voice rang out across the sky, sounding like it was transmitted from all directions. At the same time, a huge hand formed purely from flames lunged powerfully at the white-robed Wizard Ores.

"Boom!"

The white-robed Wizard seemed prepared. He raised one hand and pointed. The sky was frozen solid into ice crystals, and the two spells clashed heavily against each other.

It was not a scene where the flames melted the ice crystals. Conversely, the two types of Elemental fluctuations tangled with each other, bursting with an occasional explosion, containing astonishing might.

"Wizard Dara has made his move!"

"What intense Elemental fluctuations. Wizard Dara has come infinitely close to a Ninth-level Spell Caster. He might really have a chance of becoming a Glorious Wizard in the Glorious Palace in the future!"

A few Spell Casters recognized Wizard Dara. This was Dara City, where Wizard Dara held an absolute advantage. Only he could stop Ores.

"Heh heh, Dara, it's been such a long time. It seems like you haven't made any progress. I'll take this Memory Crystal for myself, haha!"

Ores roared with laughter. He was not harmed by the giant flame hand, and instead retreated in one piece. He was light as a feather, and his speed increased many times over as he flew out of Dara City like a rainbow beam.

"Whoosh."

In the sky, the flames gradually condensed into a body with indistinct features. Nonetheless, violent Elemental fluctuations emanated from the entire body. This must be Wizard Dara who managed this auction.

Wizard Dara was the host of the auction. Now that something like this had happened, if he did not hurry to stamp out its repercussions, it would have a disastrous effect on the auction.

Therefore, Wizard Dara's expression was as gloomy as water, his eyes glaring steadily at Ores' disappearing figure in the distance.

"Ores, you dare to ruin my auction. I shall chase you to the ends of the world!"

Wizard Dara was filled with rage, brimming with natural resentment toward Ores. Thus, his figure quickly sped into the direction where Ores had left.

At the same time, the Whirlwind Lord and the others saw clearly that the exchange of blows between Wizard Ores and Wizard Dara was completely beyond the level of Seventh-level Spell Casters. It was a battle of Wizards at the peak of the Eighth-level.

"Swish."

Merlin's figure appeared in mid-air. The Whirlwind Lord narrowed his eyes slightly, exuding a chilly, murderous force all over his body. He laughed coldly. "So, you're not Tambert. It looks like the foolish fellow has been replaced by you! Very well. Count yourself lucky this time. After I've obtained the Memory Crystal, I'll come to wipe out Bisque City!"

The Whirlwind Lord was instantly able to tell that Merlin was not Tambert of Bisque City, so he immediately surmised Merlin's general identity as the Spell Caster who had replaced Tambert, gaining fresh control of Bisque City.

Nevertheless, the Whirlwind Lord was now in a hurry to get the Memory Crystal. Naturally, the "trivial matter" of dealing with Merlin would have to wait. The Whirlwind Lord would make his attack after getting the Memory Crystal.

Merlin did not bat an eyelid as he stared at the Whirlwind Lord's disappearing figure. An intense, deadly look flashed in his eyes but he quickly restrained himself. He saw that many Spell Casters had begun their chase, among which were Spell Casters who were at the peak of the Eighth-level like Wizard Dara.

Therefore, Merlin did not dawdle any longer, and vigorous Wind Elemental fluctuations rose up around his body

"Flash Wind!"

Merlin unleashed Flash Wind at full force in addition to his Fifth-level Wind-type spell Traceless Wind. His speed further reached an outrageous level.

"Whiz."

Merlin was like an arrow at maximum velocity, and he quickly overtook the Spell Casters in front of him. He took the lead and was the first in the chase, causing no end of amazement to the Spell Casters looking at him.

In terms of speed, the current Merlin was definitely the first amongst these Spell Casters. Even Ores, who was frantically escaping far ahead, was not as fast as Merlin. The gap between the two narrowed more and more.

"How can he be so fast? He's not the old fellow Dara. So, who is he?"

Sensing the Spell Caster who was increasingly close behind him, Ores frowned slightly. He did not know who that person was, and could only ascertain that it was certainly not Wizard Dara.

Ores was far too familiar with Wizard Dara and naturally knew that Wizard Dara's speed was no match for his. He had rarely met anyone whose speed could be compared to his.

However, Ores not only had met someone like this now but the person's speed was even greater than his.

Ores did not stop. With one in front, and one behind, the both of them quickly outstripped the Spell Casters behind them. They flew to a desolated, remote location. Ores reckoned that Wizard Dara and the rest would need some time before they would catch up, so he stopped and turned around, quietly hovering in the air.

He wanted to know who this Spell Caster was, one who could pursue him so stubbornly at such an incredible speed.

"Hmm? He's stopped?"

Merlin saw that Ores had stopped in front, so he began to slacken his pace at a distance, coming to a stop in mid-air as he faced Ores.

"Who are you? I know most of the Seventh and Eight-level Spell Casters who attend the auction in Dara City yet you're the only one I don't recognize!"

Ores realized that this Spell Caster was a stranger. The force of Elemental fluctuations on this stranger's body was merely at the Fourth-level. A Spell Caster like this had chased after him – was this not akin to seeking his own death?

Thus, Ores became more curious and was in no rush to attack. Conversely, he sized up Merlin with full interest.

However, Merlin did not take a second look at Ores, and merely said coldly, "Bisque City, Merlin!"

"Bisque City? Isn't that a zone controlled by Tambert?"

Ores was about to say something else but Merlin had already stretched out his palm casually. He revealed, in his fair palm, a blood-red, eerie eye which flickered constantly.

"What I want is the Memory Crystal!"

Merlin's voice was icy, and there was not a trace of fear as he faced the Spell Caster at the peak of the Eighth-level, Ores.

"What spell is this or is it a Pandora Demon Ability?"

Ores had never seen such a peculiar eye. Naturally, he did not know that this was a powerful special Pandora Demon Ability, something far beyond a Fusion Pandora Demon Ability.

"Someone like you wants the Memory Crystal? Haha, that's really hilarious…"

However, before Ores could finish speaking, he felt a stab of trepidation trembling throughout his body. An intense sense of threat spread deep in his heart.

"Darkness Eye, control!"

Merlin drew in a deep breath, and the eerie, blood-red Darkness Eye immediately unleashed its fourth form. At the same time, the sky was filled with a crimson glow which expanded like a huge net, confining Ores within.

In particular, a giant ghostly face had appeared above Merlin's head. The ghostly face burst out in peals of terrifying laughter, its faces twitching incessantly. The fourth form of Darkness Eye had flared up fully.

Ores' mocking smile froze instantly. He reacted quickly, and without any hesitation, a layer of ice crystals, smooth as a mirror, appeared all over his body.

"Hum."

In the instant the blood-red light fell across Ores' body, his expression underwent a great change for the first time….