Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Exchange Conference 7

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feradi launches a powerful wind attack, expecting to overwhelm Merlin before he can use dark magic.
• Merlin survives by revealing Perfect Armor, a superior Third-Level earth spell strengthened by his Molten Earth Demon Energy. Its defenses are powerful enough to withstand attacks comparable to Peak Sixth-Level spells.
• When Feradi retreats using a speed spell, Merlin pursues him with Instant Wind Magic Energy, proving even faster.
• Merlin casts Dark Vortex, enhanced by the Dark Heart, which rapidly drains Feradi’s mental power and traps him in an illusion.
• Unable to resist, Feradi concedes, giving Merlin victory in the sixth round.
• Only four contestants remain for the seventh round: Merlin, the Child of Miracles, Balatu, and Belah.
• Merlin’s victory shocks the spectators because he has now displayed three distinct powers: wind Magic Energy, fire Magic Energy, and the Dark Heart. His reputation and the attention surrounding him grow considerably.
• Balatu and Belah openly prepare to challenge the Child of Miracles, whose status as the Southern Spellcaster World’s greatest genius has never been seriously threatened.
• Merlin remains determined to fight the Child of Miracles, believing he may receive an opportunity in either the eighth or ninth round.
• The chapter then shifts away from the conference to Black Sand Castle, where an eerie, tattooed elderly spellcaster and several companions approach the fortress.
• The elderly man, revealed to be Black-White Mage, attacks Black Sand Castle’s protective Rune Formation with a massive fused frost-and-fire spell.
• The attack shakes the entire castle and alerts its powerful defenders. A giant flaming hand is summoned to counter Black-White Mage’s assault, setting up a major confrontation.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates impressive versatility, defensive strength, speed, and control over multiple forms of Magic Energy. His victory establishes him as a serious contender rather than merely an outsider progressing through the tournament. His determination to face the Child of Miracles becomes stronger.
• Feradi: His strategy is sound—attack first and prevent Merlin from using dark magic—but Merlin’s hidden abilities overwhelm him. Feradi is forced to concede after falling victim to Dark Vortex.
• Balatu: Displays intense ambition and confidence, openly declaring his intention to defeat the Child of Miracles and claim recognition.
• Belah: Although less directly developed, he is identified as another elite genius whose purpose is also to challenge the Child of Miracles.
• Child of Miracles: His reputation is reinforced as the unrivaled genius of the Southern Spellcaster World. Even powerful Fourth-, Fifth-, and Sixth-Level spellcasters regard defeating him as a prestigious achievement.
• Black-White Mage: Introduced as a powerful Mage capable of using a rare Fusion Spell that combines opposing frost and fire elements. He leads an assault on Black Sand Castle.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and adaptability: Merlin’s unexpected earth and wind abilities overturn Feradi’s carefully planned strategy.
• Reputation and recognition: Merlin’s display of three different powers dramatically changes how other spellcasters perceive him.
• Competition among geniuses: The tournament is becoming a stage for the greatest talents of the Southern Spellcaster World to challenge the established hierarchy.
• Ambition and legacy: Balatu, Belah, and Merlin all seek the honor of confronting the Child of Miracles, whose reputation represents the highest standard of genius.
• Escalating conflict: The external attack on Black Sand Castle suggests that events beyond the tournament are developing into a major magical confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and Feradi engage in a battle of strategy: Feradi relies on speed and an opening attack, while Merlin counters with superior defense, speed, and mental magic.
• Balatu directly challenges the Child of Miracles, while Belah is likewise positioned as a rival seeking to surpass him.
• Sarah enthusiastically encourages Merlin and treats the possibility of his fighting the Child of Miracles as an exceptional honor. Merlin responds with calm determination.
• Black-White Mage and his companions confront Black Sand Castle’s defenses, provoking the castle’s powerful spellcasters and beginning an attack-counterattack sequence.

The eighth round of the Exchange Conference paired Merlin against the Child of Miracles, who revealed that his Mind Power had reached the Seventh Level. Before their duel began, a disturbance at Black Sand Castle escalated as three intruders entered the hall, including Klais, the former Dark Spirit Domain genius who had betrayed it.

• The Black-and-White Archmage broke Black Sand Castle's Rune Formation, and Archmage Uto threatened to trap the Osum spellcasters inside.
• The hall shook during the Exchange Conference, but the presiding spellcaster continued and had Merlin, the Child of Miracles, Balatu, and Belah draw lots.
• Merlin drew the Child of Miracles as his eighth-round opponent, while Belah and Balatu prepared to fight on the other arena.
• The Child of Miracles told Merlin his Mind Power had reached the Seventh Level and challenged him to use his strongest means.
• The hall shook more violently, and three unfamiliar spellcasters entered; Wizard Sarah, Wizard Enweiya, and Wizard Ilman recognized Klais among them.

Klais revealed his mastery of Space Blade when he attacked Black Sand Castle, severely wounding Balatu and killing several Sixth-level Spellcasters. He then challenged the Child of Miracles, who summoned his Miracle Gate as Klais attacked.

• Balatu tried to imprison Klais and his companions with a water spell, but Klais dispelled it and badly wounded Balatu with a single strike.
• The Child of Miracles recognized Klais’s space magic and Space Blade, and Klais confirmed his power while announcing his interest in testing it against the Miracle Gate.
• Several Black Sand Castle presiding mages attacked Klais, but he scattered their spells and killed them with Space Blade.
• The Child of Miracles identified Klais as a Fourth-level Spellcaster whose Space Blade had reached its third form.
• Klais launched a spatial attack at the Child of Miracles, who summoned the glowing Miracle Gate to defend himself.

Klais defeated the Child of Miracles in their clash, though the Child escaped with the Miracle Gate and the Spellcasters from the City of Miracles. As Osum’s forces attacked Black Sand Castle, Tumen urged Uto to use the Castle Guardian Spirit against the Black-and-White Archmage.

• Klais battered the Child of Miracles’ Miracle Gate with Space Blade, but the Child used its Guardian form to withstand the attacks.
• The Child of Miracles countered with amplified wind, then wind-and-ice spells, but Klais broke them with Chaos and Severance.
• Klais damaged the Miracle Gate and forced the Child of Miracles to concede, though the Child vowed to challenge him again after reaching the Fourth Level.
• The Child of Miracles used the Miracle Gate to carry himself and the City of Miracles’ Spellcasters out of the hall, beyond Klais’ reach.
• The Black-and-White Archmage fought Black Sand Castle’s Archmages, while Tumen warned Uto that Osum’s forces were causing devastation and urged him to use the Castle Guardian Spirit.

Black Sand Castle activated its costly Castle Guardian Spirit to confront the Black-and-White Archmage while Osum's forces attacked the Exchange Conference. As the spellcasters fought to escape the hall, Klais turned his attention to Merlin, setting up their inevitable battle.

• Uto and Tumen awakened Black Sand Castle's colossal Alchemy creation, the Castle Guardian Spirit, which fixed its gaze on the Black-and-White Archmage.
• Osum's forces blocked the hall entrance while powerful spellcasters fought inside, and the trapped crowd decided to break through the blockade.
• Klais killed several charging Third-level Spellcasters with spatial power and used the Silver Luo Formation to shield the entrance against the crowd's attacks.
• Silver Sword Hualair and the tall, thin spellcaster emerged from the formation and attacked the spellcasters trying to escape.
• Klais looked toward Merlin, who realized he would have to fight Klais, now a Fourth-level Spellcaster wielding Space Blade.

Klais slaughtered the Spellcasters in the hall, survived Wizard Hall’s desperate potion attack, and faced Merlin in the battle their paths had long been leading toward. The chapter ended with Klais shattering Merlin’s Dark Vortex and dismissing him as too weak.

• Klais used spatial power to cut down the Spellcasters who attacked him, while Merlin prepared Perfect Armor against the threat.
• Poisonous mist injured Silver Sword Hualair and the tall, thin Spellcaster, and Wizard Hall revealed himself as its source and demanded revenge for his daughter Guya.
• Klais killed Wizard Hall, but the blood from his body activated Blackblood Potion; Klais dispelled the poison with prepared potion powder.
• Merlin challenged Klais and attacked with Instant Wind and Dark Vortex, but Klais sliced the illusion apart before it could form.

Merlin was nearly killed by Klais’s spatial Severance before Wizard Leo intervened and drove Klais from the hall. The survivors escaped the collapsing hall and saw Black Sand Castle’s enormous Guardian Spirit facing the threat outside.

• Klais shattered Merlin’s Perfect Armor and attacked him with spatial Severance, leaving Merlin badly wounded.
• Wizard Leo blocked Klais’s attack with Dark Eye’s Dispel, and Merlin retreated while his severed palm began regenerating.
• Wizard Leo confronted Klais, who admitted he had stolen the Dark Spirit Domain’s Rune Formations to complete his spatial spells and had given them to Osum.
• Klais escaped with Silver Sword Hualair as Wizard Leo revealed that Helsius, Wizard Natgao, and Wizard Mills had died in the assault.
• Wizard Leo led the survivors out of the collapsing hall, where they saw Black Sand Castle’s giant spider-like Guardian Spirit, an alchemical creation capable of rivaling a Great Mage.

Black Sand Castle activated its Castle Guardian Spirit, forcing Osum’s spellcasters to retreat and killing many of them. As Black Sand Castle descended into chaos, Mage Leo led Merlin and the remaining Dark Spirit Domain members out.

• Uto ordered the Castle Guardian Spirit to attack, and it shattered the Black-and-White Archmage’s defenses and severely damaged his alchemical avatar.
• The Black-and-White Archmage ordered Osum’s spellcasters to retreat, but the Castle Guardian Spirit’s lightning killed many who had not escaped.
• Merlin watched the slaughter and noticed that Klais had already escaped Black Sand Castle.
• Mage Leo decided the Dark Spirit Domain should leave and avoid further involvement in the turmoil.
• Black Sand Castle opened its Rune Formation, and Mage Leo led Merlin and the remaining Dark Spirit Domain members out.

Merlin and Mage Leo’s group encountered Osum’s ambush while returning to Dark Spirit Domain, where the Black-and-White Archmage attacked Mage Leo for the Dark Eye. Archmage Uto drove Osum away, and Mage Leo, near death, sealed the Dark Eye and entrusted it and its cultivation method to Merlin.

• Mage Leo’s group found slain Flame City mages and fought their way through Osum’s ambushes in the forest.
• Ghostfire Mage confronted them, then the Black-and-White Archmage appeared and demanded Mage Leo’s Dark Eye cultivation method.
• Mage Leo used the Dark Eye’s fourth form against the Black-and-White Archmage’s frost hand, but could not stop the attack.
• Archmage Uto arrived and struck the frost hand, forcing the Black-and-White Archmage and Osum’s forces to withdraw.
• Mage Leo gave Merlin the Dark Eye cultivation method and warned him that the living eye could revive and bring a curse.
• Mage Leo sealed the Dark Eye’s third and fourth forms and removed the eye, leaving it in his hand.

After Wizard Leo died from the Dark Eye’s backlash, Merlin learned how the living power worked and chose to bond with it when Klais ambushed him near the route back to Dark Spirit Domain. Merlin broke the seal on its third form to fight Klais, triggering the Dark Eye’s backlash.

• Merlin took the Dark Eye from Wizard Leo, cremated his body, and led the others toward Dark Spirit Domain.
• Merlin studied the Dark Eye’s cultivation method in Wizard Leo’s ring and learned that it fed on blood, dark magic power, and negative emotions, but could consume its wielder.
• Wizard Enweiya spotted Klais and Silver Sword Hualair waiting near the Rune Formation, and Klais challenged Merlin to fight.
• Merlin cut his palm and let the Dark Eye root itself in his hand, then clashed with Klais’s Space Blade using the eye’s second form.
• Klais attacked with Space Blade, Severance, and Merlin shattered the seal on the Dark Eye’s third form, triggering its backlash.

Merlin’s Flame Law suppressed the Dark Eye’s backlash, allowing him to unleash its third form and counter Klais’s Space Severance. When Merlin began to break the seal on the fourth form, Klais fled, leaving Merlin to discover that suppressing the Dark Eye was slowly consuming the Flame Law.

• The Dark Eye’s backlash nearly destroyed Merlin’s consciousness, but the Flame Law flared and suppressed its negative emotions.
• Merlin used the Dark Eye’s third form to neutralize Klais’s space Severance, shocking Klais.
• Merlin tried to break the seal on the Dark Eye’s fourth form, and Klais retreated with Silver Sword Hualair after warning Merlin that the Dark Eye had ruined his prospects.
• Merlin stopped before the fourth seal broke and discovered that the Flame Law was gradually disappearing as it suppressed the Dark Eye’s third form.
• Wizard Enweiya and the others approached Merlin and asked whether he was all right.

Merlin returned to the Dark Spirit Domain with Mage Enweiya and the others and reported Osum’s attack and the deaths of key mages to Mage Moss. With war looming, Merlin resolved to strengthen himself and flew to the Rune Tower to claim Mage Fidel’s treasure before becoming a Fourth-level Spellcaster.

• Merlin and Mage Enweiya returned to the Dark Spirit Domain and asked to report the disaster at Black Sand Castle to the Seventh-level Mages.
• Merlin and the others told Mage Moss that Osum’s attack had killed Mage Helsius and other mages, while Mage Leo died protecting them on the way back.
• Merlin revealed the Dark Eye to Mage Moss, who dismissed the group and said he would inform the other Seventh-level Mages.
• Merlin urged Mage Enweiya and the others to construct Fourth-Level Spells, then considered how to raise his Mental Power and whether to derive or construct an existing Fourth-Level Spell.
• Merlin decided to challenge the Rune Tower again for Mage Fidel’s treasure and flew there without returning to his tower.

Merlin returned to the Rune Tower and used the third form of the Dark Eye to defeat the seventh floor’s Rune Formation. He entered the room containing Archmage Fidel’s prepared inheritance, leaving its contents unknown.

• Merlin quickly cleared the first six floors of the Rune Tower and told Wizard Aifidel he intended to challenge the seventh floor.
• Merlin chose to face the power of a Seventh-level Spellcaster, and Didimos unleashed Rune Thunder at him.
• Merlin used the Dark Eye’s third form to repel the Rune Thunder and shatter the Rune Formation.
• Didimos declared Merlin had passed the seventh floor and opened the room holding Archmage Fidel’s inheritance.
• Merlin entered the room, and the Rune Formation sealed him off from the outside.

Merlin obtained Great Mage Fidel’s Rune Heart Seal, a treasure containing extensive Runology knowledge and allowing its bearer to activate and arrange Rune Formations. After testing it on a Rune Disc, Merlin used it to create a teleportation formation and leave the Rune Tower.

• Merlin entered the sealed room on the seventh floor and heard Great Mage Fidel’s projection explain the Rune Heart Seal and its purpose.
• After the projection vanished, Merlin approached the Rune Heart Seal, which entered his Sea of Consciousness and gave him access to its knowledge and abilities.
• Merlin activated a Rune Disc with the Rune Heart Seal and confirmed that he could use it to operate Rune Formations despite knowing nothing about Runology.
• Merlin formed a teleportation formation with the Rune Heart Seal, stepped inside, and vanished.

Merlin cleared the Rune Tower’s seventh floor, obtained Fidel the Great Mage’s Rune Heart Seal, and returned to Wizard Leo’s tower to study runology. As Merlin began preparing Mokola Potions to strengthen his Mental Power, a black-robed mage entered the Dark Spirit Domain using a Dark Spirit Ring.

• The Rune Tower sealed itself and expelled its climbers after Merlin cleared the seventh floor and claimed the Rune Heart Seal.
• Merlin teleported to Wizard Leo’s tower, examined the Rune Heart Seal, and learned how runology used Mental Power and Rune Formations to control elemental forces.
• Merlin decided to build a Fourth-Level Spell by increasing his Mental Power, then began preparing Mokola Potions from the materials in his ring.
• A black-robed mage found an old Rune Formation in Maple Leaf Forest and activated it with a Dark Spirit Ring, entering the Dark Spirit Domain.

Merlin’s potion-making was interrupted when Dark Spirit Domain’s Rune Formation captured an intruding Seventh-level Mage from Shadow Thorn. Mage Dema agreed to attend a meeting called by three major Spellcaster Organizations, leaving Merlin to anticipate a wider campaign against Osum.

• Merlin ran out of Mokola Potion and prepared to brew more as his Spiritual Power continued to grow.
• Black Cat Didimos activated Dark Spirit Domain’s Rune Formation and trapped the intruder, Mage Tomu of Shadow Thorn.
• Mage Tomu requested that Mage Dema attend a meeting on behalf of Shadow Thorn, the City of Miracles, and Black Sand Castle, showing their alliance contract.
• Mage Dema appeared, ordered Didimos to release Tomu, and agreed to leave with him after making arrangements.
• Merlin recognized Great Mage Uto among the contract signers and suspected the three major Spellcaster Organizations were preparing to move against Osum.

After reaching peak Fifth-Level Mental Power, Merlin constructed a new Fourth-Level fire spell and named it Ashen Flame. He then attempted to merge Annihilation Flame into it, hoping to multiply its power.

• Merlin learned that the three major Spellcaster Organizations had united to move against Osum after Black Sand Castle uncovered its headquarters.
• Merlin spent more than a month preparing and consuming Mokola Potions, raising his Mental Power to the peak of the Fifth Level.
• Merlin used Matrix to select a perfectly compatible Fourth-Level fire Spell Model and successfully constructed it.
• Merlin tested the spell, saw it reduce everything in the room to ashes, and named it Ashen Flame.
• Merlin began trying to merge Annihilation Flame into Ashen Flame.

Merlin successfully fused Annihilation Flame with Ashen Flame, then used the Flame Law to deduce a new dark-element spell. He constructed Dark Phantom Slaughter and prepared to deduce a wind-element spell next.

• Merlin fused Annihilation Flame with Ashen Flame, raising its power to that of an ordinary Seventh-Level Spell in its first form.
• Merlin decided to deduce a Fourth-Level dark-element spell, while limiting further deductions to preserve the Flame Law.
• Matrix produced hundreds of dark-element Spell Models, and Merlin chose the fully compatible Dark Phantom Slaughter.
• Merlin simulated Dark Phantom Slaughter in his Sea of Consciousness, advancing Dark Heart to its second stage.
• Merlin set a wind-element spell as his next deduction.

Merlin used the Flame Law to derive the Fourth-Level wind spell Rainbow Wind Art and earth spell Ripple Armor, then decided to visit the Ancient Ruins to advance Annihilation Flame. He teleported out of the Dark Spirit Domain and reached the forest near the ruins, where he sensed the Flame Spirit.

• Merlin derived Rainbow Wind Art, a fast flight spell that could combine with Instant Wind.
• Merlin derived Ripple Armor, an all-around defensive spell that weakened attacks through layers of ripples.
• Merlin stopped using the dwindling Flame Law to derive more spells and resolved to seek the treasures needed to advance Annihilation Flame.
• Merlin used a Rune Formation from the Rune Heart Seal to leave the Dark Spirit Domain.
• Merlin arrived in a forest near the Ancient Ruins and sensed the Flame Spirit, then headed toward it.

Merlin returned to the buried Ancient Ruins to cultivate the second form of Annihilation Flame, and the Flame Spirit agreed to guide him through the trial. They reached a stone chamber guarded by a Hedgehog Puppet, which awakened as Merlin approached.

• Merlin cleared the buried entrance to the Ancient Ruins and opened a passage underground with his physical strength.
• Merlin burned the Patterned Spiders in his path to ashes with Ashen Flame.
• Merlin met the Flame Spirit, who recognized him and learned that he had constructed a fourth-level fire spell.
• Merlin told the Flame Spirit he had come to cultivate the second form of Annihilation Flame, and the Flame Spirit offered to lead him through the trial.
• The Flame Spirit led Merlin to a stone chamber, where a Hedgehog Puppet awakened and fixed its gaze on him.