Assistance

"Merlin? Your disciple?"

Santo the Arcane Mage looked at Merlin as he flew toward them, a trace of hesitation on his face. The War of Civilizations had already erupted, and those below Legendary level were essentially of no use now. Almost everyone below Legendary level in the Spellcaster camp had withdrawn from the fighting. Only the Rock Clan, thanks to their ability to form Ancestral Forms, still had powerful Upper Rock Clan members joining forces to participate in the War of Civilizations.

Thus, Merlin's appearance left Mage Santo puzzled.

"Mage Santo, Master Blackfire!"

Merlin flew over and bowed to Santo the Arcane Mage and the Blackfire Monarch, then stood respectfully to one side.

Mage Santo's expression darkened. "Blackfire, what exactly is going on?" he asked in a low voice. "This is a War of Civilizations. What we need is absolute strength. Only by bringing more Mages of Legendary level and above to the front can we hope to win!"

A War of Civilizations was a contest of reserves, especially those of Legendary level and above. Whichever side had more and stronger Legends would win. There was no other way.

The Blackfire Monarch, however, shook his head slightly. "Mage Santo, we have no fewer Legendary Mages than the Rock Clan has comparable fighters. Why, then, can't we gain the upper hand?"

"The Rock Clan can form Ancestral Forms, which naturally puts us at a disadvantage! What a pity. If everyone were proficient in Runology, why would we fear their Ancestral Forms?"

There was a note of helplessness in Mage Santo's voice. Spellcasters also had a way to combine their strength: by relying on Rune Formations, they could wield power that rivaled the Rock Clan's Ancestral Forms.

The Overlap Squad, for instance, had been a match for the Ancestor Squad precisely because