Wizard Leo's mastery of runes was better than most, so after he had resolved his grudges with Ozmu, he threw himself into the research of runes wholeheartedly.

However, Wizard Leo's face flushed red suddenly. In particular, the blood-red third eye on his forehead quickly opened, and drops of fresh blood began flowing from the crimson eye, dripping to the ground.

Wizard Leo was shaking fiercely all over. The blood-red third eye began to glow with bursts of red light, only this light was rapidly weakening. It was a frightening sight.

"What's the matter? To activate the third form of Darkness Eye… What has Merlin encountered?"

Wizard Leo forced himself to calm his horrified emotions. He immediately knew what had happened. Back then, he had given Merlin a life-saving bracelet, which contained some of Darkness Eye's strength.

Nevertheless, not even Merlin knew that once he used the life-saving bracelet, Wizard Leo's Darkness Eye would react instantly. Furthermore, Wizard Leo's Darkness Eye evidently seemed to be suffering from serious damage now as it was dripping blood. This did not even happen when he was hunting Osseus.

Wizard Leo's face s.h.i.+fted irregularly. He knew clearly how powerful the Darkness Eye he had obtained was. Wizard Leo had always claimed that he had refined Darkness Eye through trial and error, which was why he was able to cultivate it.

However, in truth, Wizard Leo understood very well that he was merely a Sixth-level Spell Caster, so how would he be able to rectify Darkness Eye completely? Besides his fortunate encounters, the more significant reason for his success in cultivating Darkness Eye was that the one he obtained was the complete version – it was the true Darkness Eye!

Wizard Leo had previously realized something about Darkness Eye. Abyss Fort's Darkness Eye only had two forms, delude and exterminate. Conversely, Darkness Eye that Wizard Leo possessed had no less than seven forms. At the moment, he was only able to cultivate up until the third form, and every time he utilized that, he had to do it forcibly. The Darkness-type Spell Model in his body would even become unstable after he used it.

This meant that Wizard Leo had not fully mastered the third form of Darkness Eye, to say nothing of the fourth, fifth, or even the seventh form.

Wizard Leo was also astounded by the seven forms of Darkness Eye. He knew that his Darkness Eye was possibly the genuine, complete Darkness Eye. Certainly, not even ordinary Great Wizards would be able to create something like this.

It was just that no matter how he searched, he was unable to find a single trace of Darkness Eye's origins. Now that his Darkness Eye had undergone such a transformation, it must be Merlin using the life-saving bracelet which Wizard Leo had given him.

In addition, Darkness Eye was forced to utilize its third form. It was clear that Merlin had run into an overwhelming danger.

"Merlin, come back alive…"

Wizard Leo mumbled softly to himself. There was nothing he could do right now. The life-saving bracelet he gave Merlin only contained up to the third form of Darkness Eye. If the third form of Darkness Eye could not help Merlin to escape the danger he was in, then it was useless even if Wizard Leo went there himself.

…

"Bang!"

The apparition of Darkness Eye withdrew in a flash, leaving only a shapeless giant hand behind. The air whistled as the hand clawed at the Flame Image.

When the large hand formed, the Flame Image turned extremely solemn. The white flames around its body flared up into the ceiling and rapidly turned into a violent storm of fire which crashed ferociously into the large hand.

"Boom!"

A gigantic crash rang out. The giant hand, which the apparition of Darkness Eye had transformed into, slowed down slightly for a moment upon encountering the white flames. Thereafter, it immediately extinguished the flames by smacking it, its blows landing directly on the Flame Image.

Instantly, the body of the Flame Image began to crumble inch by inch. Its gaze was still fixed upon Merlin, and it let out a long sigh. "The third form of Darkness Eye, it's merely the third form… I lost. I expected nothing less from the Pandora Demon Ability created by the Great Legend of Darkness, Oflas, throughout his lifetime…"

As soon as it spoke, the figure of the Flame Image disintegrated into sparks of fire, which vanished within the hall.

"I've overcome the obstacle?"

Merlin was somewhat in disbelief. It had been more than three thousand years, and no one had been able to clear the third obstacle, yet he had completed it. Although it was through a form of "trickery", he overcame it, nonetheless.

"Snap!"

With a sharp crack, the bracelet on Merlin's hand fell apart, breaking into fragments to the ground. The life-saving bracelet which Wizard Leo had given him could only be used once. It appeared that the life-saving bracelet would no longer be of any use now. 

The Flame Being slowly approached Merlin, looking at him with a complicated expression. "Although you didn't rely on your own strength to clear the third obstacle, Master didn't say that one could not use casting tools when he was designing the third obstacle. So, you've pa.s.sed the third obstacle! I really didn't think that, even now, Darkness Eye would still be cultivated by someone, and until the third form at that…"

The words of the Flame Being and the Flame Image seemed to indicate their familiarity with Darkness Eye, yet Merlin did not know much about it. He only knew that Darkness Eye was something complex, more powerful than any Pandora Demon Ability he had on him. Otherwise, Wizard Leo would not be able to utilize Darkness Eye to kill a Seventh-level Spell Caster in Ozmu.

Therefore, Merlin asked the Flame Being, "Are all of you familiar with Darkness Eye? What are its origins, really? Which Wizard created it?"

The Flame Being glanced at Merlin. It might be due to Merlin's success in clearing the third obstacle that its tone was mellower now as it calmly said, "We're more than just familiar with it. Master had personally seen the Great Legend of Darkness, Wizard Oflas. More than three thousand years ago, when Master was a nameless n.o.body, the Legend of Darkness Wizard Oflas was one of the strongest Spell Casters alive, and received the t.i.tle of Great Legend!

"Darkness Eye was created by Wizard Oflas and has seven forms altogether. With Darkness Eye, the Great Legend of Darkness Wizard Oflas, had slain many genuine G.o.ds!"

From the Flame Being's tone of voice, it seemed to revere the Great Legend of Darkness, Wizard Oflas.

"G.o.ds? Like the G.o.d of Light?"

It was the first time Merlin had heard of "G.o.ds". Ever since he became a Spell Caster, he did not believe in any G.o.ds. As for the G.o.d of Light publicized by the Church of Light, from Merlin's perspective, he guessed that it might be no more than just a relatively powerful Spell Caster and that there was no such "G.o.d".

However, now that the Flame Being had mentioned "G.o.ds", Merlin's interest was instantly piqued.

"G.o.d of Light?"

The Flame Being shook its head helplessly. "These are tales from three thousand and six hundred years ago. It's too complicated to explain everything. All that I know is left in Master's message. Once you obtain Master's treasure, you'll learn of everything."

Merlin was burning with eagerness. He was now sure that the "Master" the Flame Being spoke of was no average Great Wizard, and was even a powerful Spell Caster from the era of the Molta Empire.

He was full of antic.i.p.ation about the treasure left behind by such a powerful Spell Caster. Moreover, he might learn of some secret information regarding the Molta Empire's era three thousand and six hundred years ago. Merlin became even more impatient.

"Come on, since you've cleared the three obstacles, I'll bring you to Master's treasure."

As soon as the Flame Being spoke, it led Merlin away from the hall into a narrow pa.s.sage. After the pa.s.sage, they arrived at a room which appeared to be very plain.

The room was connected to the hall. Based on its furnis.h.i.+ngs, it must be where the Flame Being's master used to rest. Around the room were relatively smaller s.p.a.ces, in which strange and bizarre items were placed, all covered in dust. Evidently, it had been a long time since anyone came in here.

The Flame Being looked at the plain room and a nostalgic expression appeared on its face. It said softly, "It's been more than three thousand years, and Master had left us for more than three thousand years too… In the end, someone was able to clear the three obstacles. My mission is complete!"

Merlin felt that the Flame Being's tone of voice sounded rather strange, but did not say anything. He merely followed behind the Flame Being quietly.

The Flame Being brought Merlin to a stone wall, following which it reached out a hand and quickly drew a few runes. The runes immediately sank into the stone wall.

"Rumble! Rumble!"

The stone wall began to rise gradually. Although only a small crack was formed, Merlin could feel a wave of scorching energy coming from that crack.

After the stone wall opened completely, Merlin finally saw what really lay behind it. It was a room covered in narrow lines of runes. The mysterious characters were densely packed together, unceasingly flickering with light.

In the middle of the room was nothing else but a wooden rack with four legs. On the wooden rack was a delicate, transparent bell jar. Inside the bell jar was a weak ball of flame, about the size of a baby's fist.

Even though this tiny ball of flame did not appear to have much power, Merlin was able to feel an unbearable burning heat from where he stood. 

Furthermore, it was not just Merlin's body which felt the heat. Even the Spell Models of Fireball and Furious Flame in Merlin's Awareness seemed to have become erratic.

This was something that had never happened to Merlin. Even the flame sprite he met back then in the ancient monument did not have the ability to destabilize his Spell Models.

"What in the world is this?"

Merlin questioned the Flame Being.

The Flame Being looked at the tiny ball of flame within the bell jar with an indiscernible expression, saying in a low voice, "This is the treasure left behind by Master – his Flame Maxim!"

As soon as it spoke, the body of the Flame Being began fading away, following which it turned into wisps of fire which burrowed into the bell jar. Slowly, it merged with the ball of flame within the bell jar.

There was only a deep sigh left behind. "It's been over three thousand years, my mission is finally completed! I was a trace of consciousness belonging to this Flame Maxim left behind by Master. I received Master's orders to search for a Spell Caster who could clear the three obstacles and inherit Master's Flame Maxim. Now I've finally found you. Go ahead, accept Master's Flame Maxim…"