Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

A fat figure scuttled out from behind Merlin. It was one of the few Potential Wizards Merlin had known in Arcane City, Wizard Arrot.

Arrot's plump face was beaming fully, and he said, “It's been so long. Wizard Merlin is finally back.”

“Yes, it's been decades…”

Merlin looked closely at Arrot, noticing that his Elemental fluctuations had already reached the Ninth-level. It looked like in the past years, Arrot's progress was not insignificant either.

“Huh? Wizard Merlin, you're no longer a Seventh-level Wizard?”

Arrot could not discern Merlin's current Spell Caster level, and could only sense that there seemed to be a faint oppressive feeling coming from Merlin, making him feel a sense of pressure.

“Arrot, Wizard Merlin's progress is much faster than yours. If I'm not mistaken, Wizard Merlin, you should be a Ninth-level Spell Caster now, right?”

In front of Arrot, came another Spell Caster who smiled as he moved forward. His smile was one of confidence.

“Wizard Saturn, congratulations. It's not common for a Six-Elemental Spell Caster to become a Great Wizard!”

At one glance, Merlin recognized this Spell Caster and his powerful force. It was the Six-Elemental Wizard, who was like Merlin, with extraordinary talents. Moreover, in just a few decades, Saturn had advanced at an incredible pace as well. He had already managed to fuse his Six-Elemental spells, and become a Great Wizard.

It must be known that now Merlin was a Ninth-level Spell Caster, he knew profoundly how difficult it was to fuse Spell Models. It was completely different from spell fusion. Back then, Wizard Midnight who was merely a Five-Elemental Spell Caster had not fused as quickly as Saturn had done.

The plump Wizard Arrot hurriedly told Merlin, “Wizard Merlin, you haven't been in Arcane City these years, so of course you don't know that our batch of Potential Wizards owes so much to Wizard Saturn. After he became a Great Wizard, his powers reached an unimaginable stage, coming infinitely close to a Great Legend. He's dubbed one of the strongest existences below the level of Legends! Heh heh, in Arcane City, Wizard Saturn is fully deserving of the t.i.tle of the strongest within our batch of Potential Wizards. One time, Wizard Saturn was besieged by five members of a foreign tribe who were comparable to the most preeminent Great Wizards. He killed them all, and even captured one of them alive!”

Upon mentioning Wizard Saturn's past glory, Arrot was like a babbling torrent, talking with excited vigor.

A smile had appeared on Merlin's face. Saturn's progress was rapid indeed. Becoming a Great Wizard successfully was already a unique feat among ten thousand others, to say nothing of being a Six-Elemental Wizard.

Presently, Saturn was like Wizard Kubale whom Merlin had met back in the Inceptive Dimension. Both were Six-Elemental Spell Casters, and even if they were not like Merlin who had so many Perfect-grade spells, once a Six-Elemental Spell Caster had fused all their Spell Models, they became rather fearsome. Instantly, they were one of the mightiest existences beneath Legends.

It was not surprising that Saturn was calm and collected even when dealing with five members of a foreign tribe on par with the most preeminent Great Wizards, and could even capture one of them alive.

“Merlin, you'll surely fuse your Spell Models soon as well. At that point, when you become a Great Wizard, you won't be inferior to me at all!”

Saturn still had such confidence. In the past in Arcane City, he was always secretly measuring himself against Merlin trying to see who was really the foremost genius of Arcane City.

After so many years, he had finally gone through countless hards.h.i.+ps to become a Great Wizard, turning into one of the mightiest beings below the Legends. Now, he saw that although Merlin had advanced quickly too to become a Ninth-level Spell Caster, Merlin obviously still had not fused his Spell Models, and had fallen behind Saturn.

As he received Saturn's “encouragement”, Merlin simply smiled easily, and did not mind the self-a.s.sured tone of Saturn's words.

“Alright, let's go in. I believe that Wizard Merlin has received the message from Arcane City?”

Merlin bobbed his head. “I have indeed but I don't exactly know what happened.”

This turn of events had occurred very suddenly. Arrot and Saturn were also hurriedly summoned back. In fact, it was not just Arrot, Saturn, and Merlin. Even some unknown Great Legends had all made their way to Arcane City.

In his short time in Arcane City, Merlin had already b.u.mped into more than ten Great Legends. Previously, when he had stayed in Arcane City for such a long time, he had not even seen this many Legends.

When he noticed how many Legends there were, Merlin and the rest grew somber. Something momentous must have happened, otherwise, there would not be so many Great Legends.

“Swish.”

A familiar figure materialized before Merlin.

“Teacher Zado!”

“Legend Zado!”

Arrot and Saturn bowed toward Wizard Zado, who waved his hand lightly. Thereafter, he spoke to Merlin quietly, “Merlin, follow me.”

“Yes.”

After bidding farewell to Arrot and Saturn, Merlin quickly followed behind Zado. He knew that Zado must have something urgent to say.

After Merlin followed the Legend Zado to the castle. Zado's expression turned even more serious as he said slowly, “Merlin, the Blackfire Lord had followed the Arcane Wizard Setoh to the Seely Dimension. Before he left, the Blackfire Lord had asked me to tell you how dangerous this whole affair is.”

“What's really going on? Is it really a civilization war?”

Merlin dew in a deep breath and asked softly.

“A civilization war… Indeed, such a cruel phrase but it's true. This time, it could very well be a civilization war. The Rock Tribe can no longer bear to keep the peace. Beginning with the Seely Dimension, they have been making preparations. At last, not long ago, they started a full-on war. As we weren't ready, things don't look too good. Therefore, the three Ultimate Arcane Wizards finally started to summon all of the Great Legends in the Spell Caster civilization, asking them to each bring Spell Casters above the Seventh-level, to hurry to the frontlines.

“As for Spell Casters from Arcane City, if they're above the Seventh-level, they must also follow Arcane City's arrangement, and rush to the Seely Dimension.”

Merlin finally knew the severity of the situation. It was not just a mere civilization war. From the very start, the Spell Caster civilization was already at an absolute disadvantage, leaving the three Great Ultimate Arcane Wizards with no choice but to mobilize the full strength of the Spell Caster civilization. The forces of Arcane City alone were unable to turn things around.

“Teacher Zado, hasn't Arcane Wizard Setoh been keeping watch over the Seely Dimension long ago? With an Arcane Wizard overseeing things, how can the situation be so bad?”

Merlin was somewhat puzzled. Back when the Arcane Wizard Setoh had used his spatial avatar to save Merlin from the Slothful Beast's body, he was already managing the Seely Dimension. Unexpectedly, things still went badly.

The Legend Zado shook his head helplessly as well. “As for what happened exactly, I'm not clear…”

“Bong bong bong.”

Just then, a bell tolled deafeningly. This was to gather all the Spell Casters of Arcane City.

“Merlin, go ahead. A war between civilizations is ruthless. Remember, don't try to show off. Even Great Legends, Honored Legends, and Lords might die. All you can do is try your best to survive!”

The Legend Zado's voice was gravely admonis.h.i.+ng. Faced with the brutality of a civilization war, not even a Great Lord could afford to let down their guard.

Merlin nodded and took his leave, flying toward the square where the bell was rung.