The Violet-Gold Crown (Part One)

Whoosh.

Merlin appeared in the great hall of Osum Headquarters.

"Finally, I'm back!"

At last, Merlin sensed the familiar atmosphere. Before he could take in his surroundings, a terrifying surge of elemental energy erupted. Runes and spells rained down on him from every direction.

The attack might have rivaled a Supreme Archmage and approached the power Klais had once wielded, yet Merlin remained calm. He simply stood where he was as a layer of spell armor formed around him.

Boom!

The entire hall shook. A violent cloud of dust swallowed Merlin.

"That's all? Not even close..."

His calm voice sounded from within the dust. Merlin emerged unscathed.

Two Archmages stood before him, both radiating intense elemental energy. A brief assessment told him they were Peak Archmages. More than twenty other Archmages stood behind them.

Clearly, these two had led the overwhelming assault.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Archmage Savallon and Archmage Telian?"

Merlin recognized the two Peak Archmages at once. He had not found them in the Inner Hall. Instead, they had come out first and laid an ambush at its exit, waiting for him to appear.

An ordinary Supreme Archmage—even Klais—might have been caught off guard by that sudden assault. But they had faced Merlin. He was more formidable than a Civilization-Level Prodigy, and an attack like that was easy for him to withstand.

"That's right, Merlin. You've got nerve, sneaking into Osum Headquarters. Were these two the ones you relied on?"

Archmage Savallon waved a hand and brought Mage Tamo and Mage Gils before Merlin. Evidently, he and Archmage Telian had captured them both.

Merlin's voice remained calm. "You already know Klais is dead, don't you? He died by my hand. Do you two really think you can stop me?"

His tone was mild, but his words sent