[8:00 PM second update, asking for recommended votes!]
Merlin stared at the bandit leader before him. The man's build was not bulky, nor did he look strong, and his physical condition seemed far from exceptional.
Yet the reality was that this bandit's physique was comparable to a Second-Level Elemental Swordsman. This was deeply abnormal, and furthermore, there were fifty bandit riders whose physical stats rivaled First-Level Elemental Swordsmen, which made it even more extraordinary.
"You are not elemental swordsmen, so why do you possess such formidable strength that falls nothing short of an elemental swordsman's?"
Merlin asked directly, and Old Wilson beside him also nodded unconsciously, evidently quite interested in this question.
The bandit leader's expression shifted slightly, his lips twitching as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out for a long time.
Crack.
Another cluster of ice crystals instantly materialized on the bandit leader's body, and the ice spread with extreme speed, freezing almost his entire upper torso and leaving only his bare head exposed.
As a binding spell, the Freezing Spell lacked massive destructive power and fell far short of a Fireball, but dealing with a mere bandit leader like this was effortless.
Sensing that the ice crystals on his body seemed on the verge of creeping up toward his head, the bandit leader could no longer remain silent and was forced to cry out loudly, "Mage, please stop! I'll talk! Our physiques are so exceptional entirely because of the Grand Chief!"
"Grand Chief?"
Merlin stopped casting the Freezing Spell, took two steps forward, and said to the bandit leader, "Tell me about your Grand Chief in detail."
The bandit leader's face was already somewhat pale, his body shivering uncontrollably. Although his physical condition was excellent, the extreme low temperature of Merlin's Freezing Spell would