Chapter Summaries

Merlin partnered with Mage Vlad to sell Alkaline Earth Potions while keeping Merlin’s identity secret. With Matrix’s help, Merlin brewed six potions from eighteen ingredient sets, and Mage Vlad supplied him with more materials on credit.

• Merlin asked Mage Vlad to sell the Alkaline Earth Potions he brewed in exchange for thirty percent of the profits, and Vlad agreed.
• Mage Vlad gave Merlin roughly eighteen sets of ingredients and promised to keep Merlin’s involvement secret.
• Merlin used Matrix and precise glassware to brew six Alkaline Earth Potions from the eighteen sets.
• Mage Vlad inspected the potions, praised Merlin’s thirty-percent success rate, and offered nearly thirty more ingredient sets for 1,500 Elemental Crystals to be deducted from future sales.
• Merlin accepted the materials and returned to Mage Button’s courtyard to continue brewing.

Merlin used his improved potion-brewing skills to earn thirty thousand Elemental Crystals by supplying Alkaline Earth Potion through Mage Vlad. After Merlin left Vlad’s courtyard to visit the Silver Tower, Colton’s surveillance confirmed to him that Merlin was the mysterious Potionologist.

• Merlin brewed twelve batches of Alkaline Earth Potion from nearly thirty sets of materials and gave them to Mage Vlad, who reported strong sales and paid him.
• Merlin and Mage Vlad agreed that Vlad would continue supplying materials and deduct their cost and his thirty percent profit share from future sales.
• Over the next month, Merlin brewed Alkaline Earth Potion in large quantities and accumulated thirty thousand Elemental Crystals after expenses and Vlad’s share.
• Merlin delivered fifty-three more batches to Mage Vlad and said he would slow down production before leaving for the Silver Tower to buy materials for Phantom Demon Potion and Blueberry Potion.
• Colton watched Merlin leave Vlad’s courtyard using a spellcasting tool and concluded that Merlin, not Vlad, had brewed the potions.

A purple-haired old man sent Colton and a powerful Alchemical Monster to capture Merlin alive. After buying potion materials at the Silver Tower, Merlin was ambushed on his way back to Mage Button's courtyard and fought back, ending with Berserk Flame engulfing Colton in Dark Mist.

• The purple-haired old man learned that Merlin had brewed the Alkaline Earth Potions and ordered Colton to capture him alive with his Alchemical Monster.
• Merlin spent 28,800 Elemental Crystals at the Silver Tower on twelve sets of Phantom Demon Potion materials and nine sets of Blueberry Potion materials.
• Colton pointed out Merlin on the street and sent his Alchemical Monster charging at him, forcing Merlin to defend himself with Guardian Monument.
• Merlin slowed the monster with Freezing Spells and Thunder Web, then used Berserk Flame and Gale Spell to rush Colton.
• Merlin trapped Colton in Dark Mist, withstood the monster's charge using an amplified Guardian Monument, and struck Colton with Berserk Flame.

Merlin killed Colton, an Alchemist and student of Mage Samir, but learned that Samir had arrived to avenge him. Samir restrained Merlin and sent his Mithril-armored Alchemical Monster to attack, leaving Merlin’s final defensive spell under a hammer blow.

• Merlin killed Colton with Berserk Flame, and Colton’s burly Alchemical Monster melted into a pool of blood.
• Mage Button identified Colton as Mage Samir’s student and warned Merlin to leave the Floating City before Samir found him.
• Mage Samir appeared in the courtyard and attacked Merlin with a powerful fire spell.
• Merlin tried to flee, but Samir trapped him with Water Bind and ordered his Alchemical Monster to capture him.
• The Mithril-armored Alchemical Monster destroyed Merlin’s first three Guardian Monuments and brought its hammer down on his enhanced final barrier.

Merlin endured Samir’s attacks with his enhanced Guardian Monument and escaped the flames using the Gale Spell, forcing Samir to offer a deal. Samir promised to obtain Centuries-Old Cold Marrow in exchange for Merlin concocting a potion, and gave him the potion formula to examine.

• Merlin used repeated enhanced Guardian Monument spells to withstand Samir’s alchemical monster and fire spell, then escaped with the enhanced Gale Spell.
• Samir admitted he could not stop Merlin and proposed a deal, offering valuable items in return for Merlin concocting a batch of potion.
• Merlin remained wary of Samir but stayed because Samir’s alchemical monster stood near the black-robed old man and Mage Button.
• Merlin asked for Centuries-Old Cold Marrow, and Samir said he knew someone who possessed it and would trade his Mithril alchemy methods for it.
• Samir sent Merlin the potion formula, and Merlin examined it while keeping his defenses ready.

Merlin agreed to brew the Eduro Potion for Mage Samir in exchange for Centuries-Old Cold Marrow, then spent ten days preparing and attempting the complex potion. He emerged from his room as Samir anxiously asked whether the brewing had succeeded.

• Merlin learned that Mage Samir sought the Eduro Potion to stabilize his high-level spell models and agreed to brew it for Centuries-Old Cold Marrow.
• Merlin refused to work in Samir’s laboratory and set a ten-day deadline, while Samir left him one portion of potion materials.
• Mage Button warned that Samir could monitor them and that leaving the chaotic Floating City would be difficult for Hill.
• Merlin studied the potion’s 369 steps, used the Matrix to guide the brewing, and worked for several days preparing the materials and concoction.
• Ten days later, Samir returned to Mage Button’s courtyard, and Merlin emerged from his room looking fatigued.
• Samir hurried to Merlin and asked whether the Eduro Potion had been successfully brewed.

Merlin used seven attempts to prepare the Edulo Potion and finally succeeded, giving Mage Samir hope of obtaining the potion he needed. He showed Samir the blue-green powder and asked whether Samir remembered his promise.

• Merlin told Mage Samir that the first preparation had failed but that he needed more ingredients and believed repeated attempts could succeed.
• Mage Samir gave Merlin all eight remaining sets of Edulo Potion ingredients and promised to hand over the Centuries-Old Cold Marrow if Merlin succeeded.
• Merlin failed seven times as he learned to control the potion's heat, then successfully prepared the Edulo Potion on his seventh attempt.
• Merlin confirmed through Matrix that the potion was genuine and told Mage Button and the old man in black robes that he had succeeded.
• Mage Samir hurried to Merlin, who showed him the potion, put it away, and asked whether Samir remembered his promise.

Merlin exchanged the Edulo Potion for Centuries-Old Cold Marrow, then greatly increased his Mental Power with potions and constructed Solidifying Ice, Freedom's Wind, and Lightning Orb. He prepared to use the marrow to practice the Pandora Demon Energy Extreme Ice Finger, while Darklight Domain remained beyond his current Mental Power.

• Mage Samir verified Merlin's Edulo Potion and traded it for the Centuries-Old Cold Marrow before leaving to drink the potion.
• Merlin prepared and drank Blueberry and Phantom Demon Potions, raising his Mental Power to the limit for a Second-Level Spellcaster.
• Merlin used Matrix to construct Solidifying Ice, then constructed Freedom's Wind and Lightning Orb.
• Merlin strengthened the magic power of his new Spell Models and concluded he needed much more Mental Power before he could construct Darklight Domain.
• Merlin opened the glass vat containing the Centuries-Old Cold Marrow to begin practicing the Pandora Demon Energy Extreme Ice Finger.

Merlin cultivated the first stage of the Pandora Demon Energy Extreme Ice Finger using Centuries-Old Cold Marrow, but stopped after exhausting his ice-element Elemental Crystals. He tested the partially cultivated power and found it could freeze and shatter even a defensive Spell rivaling a Third-Level Spell.

• Merlin accidentally exposed himself to the Centuries-Old Cold Marrow’s chill, then sealed the vat and treated his frostbitten finger.
• Merlin carved a special symbol into his finger and used Solidifying Ice to balance the cold poison while cultivating the Extreme Ice Finger.
• After a month, Merlin stopped cultivating because he had used nearly all his ice-element Elemental Crystals to replenish Magic Energy.
• Merlin tested the Extreme Ice Finger on pinewood, Earth Guardian, and Guardian Monument, freezing and shattering each one.
• Merlin used the Extreme Ice Finger against an enhanced Guardian Monument amplified to rival a Third-Level defensive Spell, and shattered it after draining much of his ice-element Magic Energy.

Merlin exchanged his potion earnings for ice-element Elemental Crystals to support his cultivation of Extreme Ice Finger. Mage Samir invited him to explore Ancient Ruins from the Molta Empire era, and Merlin agreed to join the expedition.

• Merlin reviewed the difficult requirements for cultivating Extreme Ice Finger and went to Mage Vlad to obtain ice-element Elemental Crystals.
• Mage Vlad exchanged the proceeds from Alkaline Earth Potions for five thousand ice-element Elemental Crystals, and Merlin declined to prepare more potions for now.
• Mage Samir told Merlin that the Edulo Potion had stabilized several of his Spell Models but had not eliminated their underlying instability.
• Mage Samir invited Merlin to join a group exploring Ancient Ruins dating from the Molta Empire era, seeking potions or formulas that could stabilize Spell Models.
• Merlin accepted the invitation, and Mage Samir led him to meet the other Spellcasters joining the expedition.

Merlin proved his strength to Samir’s allies by surviving Damashu’s Third-Level spell, then challenged Damashu to take a blow from him. The chapter ended with Merlin destroying Damashu’s alchemical monster with Extreme Ice Finger and pointing the same attack at Damashu.

• Samir introduced Merlin to the Third-level Spellcasters Damashu, Buren, and Laisen, who were preparing to enter the Ancient Ruins together.
• Damashu tested Merlin with Eye of the Storm, and Merlin blocked it using an amplified Guardian Monument spell.
• Damashu agreed to let Merlin join the expedition but showed greed for Merlin’s amplification-type casting tool.
• Merlin challenged Damashu to withstand one blow, and Damashu sent his fast alchemical monster to attack while preparing a powerful spell.
• Merlin cast Extreme Ice Finger and froze the alchemical monster into shattered ice, then pointed his finger at Damashu.

Merlin killed Mage Damashu with Extreme Ice Finger, revealing his Pandora Demon Energy and intimidating the other Spellcasters before agreeing to depart for the Ancient Ruins in ten days. Mage Laisen later followed Merlin and claimed to have important information about the expedition that Mage Samir and Mage Buren did not know.

• Merlin froze Mage Damashu's Lava Fire and defensive armor with Extreme Ice Finger, then shattered him into fragments despite Mage Samir's plea to stop.
• Mage Laisen identified Merlin's power as Pandora Demon Energy, and Merlin used Damashu's death to make the other Spellcasters wary of coveting his tools.
• Mage Samir proposed setting out for the Ancient Ruins in ten days, and Merlin, Mage Laisen, and Mage Buren agreed.
• Mage Laisen secretly followed Merlin, who noticed him and prepared to use Extreme Ice Finger before Laisen revealed himself.
• Mage Laisen said he had expedition information unknown to Mage Samir and Mage Buren, and Merlin invited him inside to talk.

Great Mage Laisen revealed to Merlin that an Ancient Ruins held Pandora Demon Energy and asked him to help overcome its guardians. As Merlin trained Extreme Ice Finger ahead of the expedition, Anliena and Ximi arrived at his courtyard seeking him, and Merlin finally came out to greet them.

• Great Mage Laisen told Merlin he had been trapped in the Ancient Ruins for three years and could not reach its Pandora Demon Energy without help.
• Merlin agreed to work with Laisen and trained Extreme Ice Finger with Elemental Crystals for the ten days before their planned return to the ruins.
• Anliena and Ximi discussed the growing number of Spellcasters in Floating City and went to find Merlin, hoping to enlist his help in the Ancient Ruins.
• Anliena called for Merlin at his courtyard, but the old man in black robes and Great Mage Button said he was not receiving visitors.
• As Anliena and Ximi prepared to leave, Merlin opened a door and greeted Anliena.

Merlin met Anliena and learned that the Dark Spirit Domain and its allies were pushing Osum back, making his return likely. Anliena invited him to the Delman Family, where she planned to discuss a matter involving Karen.

• Anliena recognized Merlin as the famed Six-Element Spellcaster and Potion Master, then told him the Dark Spirit Domain and several allied organizations were intercepting Osum and gaining the advantage.
• Ximi asked Merlin about his spellcaster abilities, and Anliena invited him to visit the Delman Family; Merlin agreed despite having an Ancient Ruins expedition with Samir the next day.
• On the way, Ximi told Merlin about the Delman Family’s many descendants and its practice of placing members in different Spellcaster Organizations to secure influence and resources.
• Merlin reflected that the Delman Family’s generations of effort and deep foundations made him abandon his idea of turning the Wilson Family into a Spellcaster Family.
• Anliena brought Merlin to the Delman Family and pointed out its vast cluster of buildings.

Merlin visited the Delman Family, where Anliena invited him to join an expedition to ancient Molta Empire ruins. Karen and the Flame City Spellcaster Golan arrived, and Merlin learned the ruins’ location had become public knowledge across Floating City.

• Anliena led Merlin through the Delman Family and explained why First-level Spellcasters were rare there and highly valued.
• Anliena privately invited Merlin to explore ruins left from the Molta Empire, saying she knew their exact location.
• Before Anliena could reveal the location, Karen arrived and challenged her for telling Merlin about the ruins.
• Karen introduced Golan, a Four-Element Second-Level Spellcaster and official member of Flame City, as a Delman Family prodigy.
• Golan said the ruins’ news had spread throughout Floating City, and Merlin worried they were the same ruins he had agreed to explore with Spellcaster Samir and the others.

Merlin learned that news of the Ancient Ruins had spread throughout the Floating City and warned Samir, Buren, and Laisen that stronger Spellcasters might reach the ruins first. Samir explained that few such powerful Spellcasters were present in the city, but Merlin wondered whether distant Spellcaster Organizations might still send reinforcements.

• Merlin refused Golan and Anliena's invitation to enter the Ancient Ruins, then left the Delman Family as Karen mocked him.
• Merlin went to Samir's residence and found Samir, Buren, and Laisen gathered there to discuss the spread of the ruins' location.
• Samir suggested other Spellcasters had discovered the Ancient Ruins independently, while Buren and Laisen urged the group to hurry there and rely on their combined strength.
• Merlin warned that Fourth-level or stronger Spellcasters might already be heading to the ruins, but Samir said the Floating City had no wandering mages above the fourth level and the Silver Tower avoided sending mages into ruins.
• Merlin asked whether other Spellcaster Organizations might send powerful Spellcasters to the Ancient Ruins.

Merlin agreed to leave for the Ancient Ruins with Samir and the others after learning that powerful Spellcasters from the organizations were unlikely to come. At the ruins, Golan, Karen, and Anliena watched Spellcasters gather until the arrival of the Floating City's Four Alchemists disrupted the crowd and Golan recognized a youthful black-robed figure among them.

• Samir explained why wandering Mages valued the Ancient Ruins more than members of Spellcaster Organizations, and Merlin agreed to set out immediately with the group.
• Spellcasters gathered at the buried Ancient Tower, where Karen urged the others to enter and Golan decided to wait for a powerful Mage to scout ahead.
• Hockton approached the ruins, but Baslow attacked him with a fire Spell before heading toward the entrance himself.
• Two figures knocked Baslow aside, and the Floating City's Four Alchemists ordered everyone unrelated to their business to leave.
• Golan recognized the Four Alchemists, noticed one was missing, and was astonished by the youthful black-robed Spellcaster among them.

Merlin and the three remaining Floating City Alchemists arrived at the Ancient Ruins, where they slaughtered the Spellcasters who refused to retreat. As the battle continued, Baslow and Old Hockton attacked Merlin, unaware that they had chosen a far more dangerous opponent than they expected.

• Anliena recognized Merlin with Great Mage Samir, Great Mage Buren, and Great Mage Laisen, while Great Mage Golan worried about the Alchemists’ arrival and noted Great Mage Damashu was absent.
• Great Mage Samir ordered an attack on the Spellcasters surrounding the ruins, and the Alchemical Monsters began killing them in a one-sided massacre.
• Great Mage Golan and Anliena withdrew, while Merlin noticed them leaving.
• Baslow and Old Hockton targeted Merlin, and Old Hockton joined Baslow in bombarding him with Spells.
• Great Mage Samir and the others watched without concern, knowing Merlin had killed Great Mage Damashu and was stronger than they were.

Merlin survived a barrage of Spells and slaughtered the attackers with Lightning Orb and Extreme Ice Finger. After Mage Golan and Mage Anliena witnessed his strength, Merlin noticed their hiding place.

• Merlin used an amplification-type casting tool to strengthen Guardian Monument and block the incoming Spells.
• Merlin cast Lightning Orb, killing many wandering Mages and forcing others to flee.
• Merlin froze Mage Baslow and old Hockton with Extreme Ice Finger, shattering both of them.
• Mage Golan and Mage Anliena watched Merlin's victory and recognized how greatly his power had grown.
• Mage Golan noticed that Merlin was looking toward their hiding place.

Merlin and his companions entered the Ancient Tower, where Merlin found mysterious symbols that Samir identified as ancient potion-preparation methods. The group continued deeper into the ruins after Buren’s scouting Alchemical Monster returned carrying a bloodied corpse.

• Merlin, Samir, and their companions entered the Ancient Ruins, followed later by Golan, Karen, and Anliena.
• Merlin’s group entered the buried Ancient Tower, and Merlin froze a venomous Patterned Spider as they explored.
• The Patterned Spider broke free from the ice and followed them into the darkness.
• Merlin smelled blood, and Buren sent an Alchemical Monster ahead to investigate.
• Merlin uncovered mysterious symbols on the dusty walls, and Samir recognized them as ancient potion-preparation methods.
• Buren’s scouting Alchemical Monster returned carrying a corpse.