Chapter Summaries

Summary of “Irresistible Momentum (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin returns from his previous battle and uses Elemental Crystals to replenish his magic power, now wealthy enough to treat them as a practical resource rather than a luxury.
• Holmes wins his match only by relying on a Spell scroll, leaving him nearly depleted. His rival, Neil, mocks him for needing outside assistance.
• Neil reveals his ambition to attract the attention of the Dark Spirit Domain’s hidden Seventh-level Spellcasters, hoping to be accepted as a student and gain status.
• The Seventh-level Spellcasters finally begin observing the exchange meeting through their enormous spiritual power. This raises the stakes for all remaining competitors, who now hope to distinguish themselves.
• Merlin is matched against Holmes in the fifth round. Knowing he cannot defeat Merlin, Holmes voluntarily concedes and asks Merlin to defeat Neil for him.
• Neil wins his own match and becomes Merlin’s opponent in the sixth round.
• Merlin overwhelms Neil immediately with a simultaneous combination of Thunder Web, Gale Spell, Freezing Spell, and numerous Fireballs. Neil cannot even cast a Spell before surrendering.
• The spectators are stunned by Merlin’s overwhelming strength and realize that his use of Fireball proves he is a Six-Element Spellcaster.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates extraordinary control, speed, and magical reserves. His ability to unleash several powerful Spells nearly simultaneously confirms that he is far beyond ordinary competitors and strengthens his chance of attracting a Seventh-level Spellcaster’s attention.
• Holmes: Though he defeats his opponent, his dependence on a Spell scroll exposes his weakness compared with Merlin and Neil. He accepts that Merlin is stronger and voluntarily withdraws rather than fight a losing battle. His request that Merlin “teach Neil a lesson” shows both trust in Merlin and resentment toward Neil.
• Neil: His arrogance and ambition become more extreme once the Seventh-level Spellcasters begin watching. He sees every rival as an obstacle and dreams of rising into the Dark Spirit Domain’s elite circle. However, his confidence collapses when Merlin attacks, and he surrenders instantly without managing to fight.
• Anliena and the other Spellcasters: Their earlier excitement reflects the growing recognition of Merlin’s achievements and the importance of the exchange meeting.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and momentum: Merlin’s successive victories establish him as nearly unstoppable, with each battle increasing his reputation.
• Ambition and recognition: The arrival of the Seventh-level Spellcasters motivates competitors to seek advancement, prestige, and powerful mentors.
• Rivalry and insecurity: Neil’s hostility toward Holmes stems from his need to prove his superiority, while Holmes’s failed advancement leaves him frustrated and discouraged.
• Preparation versus innate superiority: Holmes requires a Spell scroll and Neil relies on a single First-Level defensive Spell, but Merlin’s broad mastery and rapid casting render both advantages ineffective.
• Social status within the magical hierarchy: Becoming a student of a Seventh-level Spellcaster represents not only greater magical strength but also elevated standing within the Dark Spirit Domain.

Character Interactions

• Neil repeatedly taunts Holmes over his failure to become a First-level Spellcaster and his use of a Spell scroll.
• Holmes warns Neil not to become overconfident, then later asks Merlin to defeat him.
• Merlin and Holmes exchange a respectful understanding before Holmes concedes.
• Neil insults Holmes again before fighting Merlin, but Merlin responds calmly by promising to fulfill Holmes’s request.
• Merlin’s overwhelming attack ends the confrontation before Neil can retaliate, transforming their verbal rivalry into a decisive demonstration of power.

Chapter Summary: “The Final Battle (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin attracts the attention of a distant Seventh-level Spellcaster after revealing himself as a Six-Element Spellcaster. His overwhelming victory over Mage Neil was partly intended to demonstrate his abilities and gain notice from the most powerful Spellcasters in the Dark Spirit Domain.
• Mage Neil is defeated without ever having the chance to attack. Bitter and humiliated, he views Merlin as having destroyed his opportunity to impress the Seventh-level Spellcasters.
• After the match, Merlin openly confirms that he has constructed six Zero-Level Spells, shocking the surrounding Spellcasters. Six-Element Spellcasters are extraordinarily rare, and no such figure has appeared in the Dark Spirit Domain for many years.
• Mage Leo is praised for having such an exceptional student, though Mage Nasha points out the serious disadvantage of Merlin’s path: constructing six elements makes advancement to the First level vastly more difficult.
• Mage Nasha warns that Merlin may struggle to become a First-level Spellcaster within two years and could eventually be forced to leave the Dark Spirit Domain. Mage Leo responds that Merlin resembles his own reckless, determined nature.
• The exchange meeting reaches its final stage, leaving only four contestants: Merlin, Luo An, Cecil, and Abel. All have attracted the attention of the Seventh-level Spellcasters, but each still seeks to distinguish himself further.
• The seventh round begins with two simultaneous matches: Abel versus Cecil, and Merlin versus Luo An. Merlin’s match receives the greatest attention because of his unprecedented six-element talent.
• Merlin and Luo An exchange respectful words before the battle. Both remain outwardly calm but are determined to win. The Rune Formation activates, signaling the beginning of their decisive fight.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates confidence, ambition, and strategic awareness. He deliberately displays his power to attract the Seventh-level Spellcasters, yet remains composed and modest in conversation. His six-element construction establishes him as an unprecedented talent but also creates an enormous obstacle to future advancement.
• Mage Neil: Reveals his jealousy and vindictive nature after being decisively defeated. His failure is especially painful because he had hoped to gain recognition at the exchange meeting.
• Mage Leo: Shows pride in Merlin and recognizes Merlin’s reckless determination as similar to his own. His terrifying Dark Eye, which he activates during Merlin’s upcoming match, emphasizes both his power and his concern for his student.
• Mage Nasha: Acts as a practical and experienced mentor figure. She understands Merlin’s potential but regrets that his six-element path may prevent him from becoming a First-level Spellcaster.
• Mage Luo An: Appears respectful and friendly toward Merlin but possesses strong competitive determination. Although he has only three elements, he is close to becoming a First-level Spellcaster and remains a serious opponent.
• Cecil and Abel: Cecil is established as a powerful Four-Element Spellcaster with one First-Level Spell, while Abel relies heavily on numerous casting tools despite having weaker innate talent.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus advancement: Merlin’s extraordinary six-element talent gives him tremendous power but makes progression far more difficult.
• Ambition and recognition: The contestants are not merely fighting to win; they hope to attract the attention and patronage of the Seventh-level Spellcasters.
• The cost of determination: Mage Leo’s past and Merlin’s current choices suggest that exceptional achievements may require extreme sacrifice and reckless persistence.
• Jealousy versus merit: Neil’s resentment contrasts with Merlin’s genuine ability, showing how ambition can become bitterness when unsupported by talent.
• Uncertainty of destiny: Despite Merlin’s overwhelming strength, his future remains unclear. His rare talent may either lead to greatness or prevent him from advancing at all.

Important Character Interactions

• Merlin and Neil: Their earlier battle leaves Neil humiliated and resentful, while Merlin dismisses him as a minor threat.
• Merlin and the surrounding Spellcasters: Merlin’s admission that he constructed six Spells astonishes everyone and dramatically raises his status.
• Nasha and Leo: Nasha challenges Leo over Merlin’s dangerous path, while Leo defends Merlin’s choice by comparing him to his younger self.
• Merlin and Luo An: The two exchange mutual respect before their match, acknowledging each other’s progress while concealing their determination to win.
• Leo and Merlin: Leo silently watches Merlin through his activated Dark Eye, signaling the importance he places on the battle and on Merlin’s future.

Chapter Summary: “The Final Battle (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin begins the duel against Mage Luo An aggressively, using Gale Spell to close the distance and immediately following with Thunder Web.
• Luo An counters with a Guardian Monument Spell Scroll, an exceptionally powerful defensive earth spell that blocks Merlin’s Thunder Web and repeated Fireballs.
• Merlin escalates by combining ordinary Fireballs with four enhanced Greater Fireballs, but even these fail to destroy the Guardian Monument.
• Luo An traps Merlin in Earth Prison, intending to finish him with his offensive First-Level spell, Brilliant Wind.
• Merlin cleverly casts Greater Freezing Spell to freeze and reinforce the Earth Prison. Brilliant Wind then shatters the frozen prison, unintentionally freeing Merlin instead of harming him.
• Luo An attempts to cast Earth Prison again, but Merlin uses Gale Spell to move behind him too quickly for the spell to target him.
• Merlin envelops the platform in repeated layers of Dark Mist, initially failing to affect Luo An because of his strong mental power.
• Merlin then uses an enhanced version of Dark Mist, overwhelming Luo An’s mental defenses and leaving him dazed.
• While Luo An is incapacitated, Merlin unleashes a combined assault of Fireballs, lightning, and freezing magic, destroying the Guardian Monument.
• Realizing he can no longer defend himself, Luo An admits defeat.
• Merlin immediately leaves the platform to recover his mana and prepare for the final match against the winner of the other battle.

Character Developments

• Merlin demonstrates exceptional tactical intelligence, adaptability, and spell control. Rather than relying only on raw power, he exploits the properties of his spells—especially freezing the Earth Prison and using Luo An’s Brilliant Wind against it.
• Merlin’s use of enhanced Dark Mist reveals it as his most powerful and dangerous technique. Its ability to overwhelm even strong mental defenses confirms its importance in his growing arsenal.
• Merlin also shows greater caution and maturity. Although he possesses a decisive trump card, he waits until the right moment to reveal its full strength.
• Mage Luo An is shown to be a formidable opponent with two constructed First-Level Spells, strong mental power, and access to Spell Scrolls. However, his confidence gradually turns into alarm when Merlin repeatedly escapes his control.
• Luo An remains composed and honorable after losing, accepting that the destruction of his defensive spell leaves him unable to continue.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Merlin wins by combining spells creatively rather than overpowering Luo An directly.
• Adaptability in battle: The fight emphasizes that a powerful Spellcaster must understand how to use spells in unconventional ways.
• Hidden strength and timing: Merlin conceals the true power of his enhanced Dark Mist until Luo An’s defenses are lowered.
• Preparation versus innovation: Luo An relies on established First-Level spells and defensive resources, while Merlin’s flexible use of Zero-Level spells allows him to overcome the advantage.
• The value of complex magic: Dark Mist’s difficult construction, made possible by Merlin’s Matrix, proves crucial to his victory.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and Luo An engage in a direct contest of escalating attacks and counters, with Luo An repeatedly attempting to restrain Merlin and Merlin repeatedly evading or turning those attacks against him.
• Luo An taunts Merlin by claiming that Dark Mist is ineffective, but Merlin’s enhanced version ultimately disproves him.
• Observers Mage Nasha and Mage Leo react to the battle: Nasha initially believes Luo An has secured victory, while Leo shows concern for Merlin. Merlin’s escape from Earth Prison changes Nasha’s assessment, highlighting his ingenuity.
• The duel ends with Luo An acknowledging Merlin’s victory, while Merlin remains focused on recovery and the upcoming final battle.

Chapter Summary: “The Final Battle (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Merlin’s victory over Great Mage Nasha, many lower-level Spellcasters are confused about how he won because they could not see inside his Dark Mist. The more powerful Spellcasters realize that Merlin’s final Dark Mist was unusual, but Great Mage Leo protects Merlin by suggesting he may possess special casting tools.
• Great Mage Leo’s reputation as the strongest Spellcaster below the Seventh Level discourages anyone from questioning or challenging Merlin.
• Merlin is awakened before the final match and learns that Great Mage Abel, not the much stronger Great Mage Cecil, has advanced. Abel defeated Cecil through the use of numerous powerful spell scrolls and other casting tools.
• In the final battle, Merlin immediately uses Dark Mist, but Abel counters it with repeated Wind Tornado spell scrolls. The scrolls dispel the mist before it can affect him.
• Merlin tries multiple attacks, including Thunder Web, Fireball, Greater Fireball, and an enhanced Thunder Web. Abel counters them with a Fourth-Level defensive spell scroll, Extreme Ice Domain, which freezes and destroys any spell entering its area.
• Recognizing that he cannot overcome the Fourth-Level spell with his current abilities, Merlin concedes rather than waste his magic power.
• Abel is declared the winner of the Dark Spirit Domain Gathering.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates strong judgment and restraint. Rather than fight pointlessly, he accepts defeat once he understands the overwhelming advantage provided by Abel’s spell scrolls. He remains more interested in evaluating his opponent’s strength than in reacting emotionally to the loss.
• Great Mage Abel: Initially appears to be an ordinary Four-Element Spellcaster with weak mental power, but his extensive collection of powerful casting tools makes him extraordinarily difficult to defeat. Despite his advantage, he is cautious and visibly relieved when Merlin concedes.
• Great Mage Cecil: His unexpected defeat reveals that raw strength and talent can be overcome by superior resources and preparation.
• Great Mage Leo: Continues protecting Merlin’s secrets and reputation. His immense power and influence ensure that other Spellcasters do not investigate Merlin too aggressively.
• Anliena: Supports Merlin and is frustrated that he loses to someone who relies heavily on external tools, though Merlin himself remains calm.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and resources versus innate ability: Abel wins not because he is a stronger Spellcaster, but because his family supplied him with powerful spell scrolls, including a Fourth-Level defensive spell.
• The limits of current power: Merlin’s Zero- and First-Level Spells are formidable against ordinary opponents, but they cannot overcome a much higher-level spell.
• Pragmatism and acceptance: Merlin recognizes when victory is impossible and chooses to concede intelligently rather than act recklessly.
• Hidden strength and secrets: Merlin’s unusual Dark Mist and Great Leo’s protection reinforce the mystery surrounding Merlin’s abilities and special techniques.
• Talent versus selection criteria: Although Abel wins the match, Merlin understands that the gathering is meant to identify potential and talent, meaning his defeat may not diminish the impression he has made on the powerful Seventh-level Spellcasters.

Character Interactions

• Great Mages Nasha and Leo discuss Merlin’s unusual Dark Mist, with Leo subtly warning others not to pry into his student’s secrets.
• Anliena explains Abel’s victory over Cecil just before Merlin enters the final match.
• Merlin and Abel exchange formal courtesies before fighting.
• During the battle, Merlin repeatedly tests Abel’s defenses, while Abel responds with increasingly powerful spell scrolls.
• After conceding, Merlin asks Abel about Extreme Ice Domain. Abel explains that it is a Fourth-Level spell scroll prepared by his family for self-protection.
• Anliena sympathizes with Merlin afterward, but Merlin accepts the result without resentment and waits to see whether the Seventh-level Spellcasters have chosen him.

Chapter Summary: “Who Caught Their Eye?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Dark Spirit Domain’s exchange meeting, the participating Spellcasters wait to see which Seventh-level Spellcasters will choose students.
• Great Mage Alvis, attendant to Seventh-level Spellcaster Robia, arrives to announce Robia’s selection.
• Despite Merlin’s exceptional performance and rare Six-Element aptitude, Robia chooses Great Mage Cecil instead.
• Cecil is taken to Robia’s tower, confirming that the Seventh-level Spellcasters favor his more stable prospects for advancement.
• The powerful Spellcasters explain that Merlin’s Six-Element constitution, combined with the fact that he has already constructed three Spell Models, makes his advancement to a First-level Spellcaster extremely unlikely. Although his talent is extraordinary, they consider him too risky to accept as a student.
• Alvis acknowledges Merlin’s potential and suggests that, if Merlin succeeds in advancing, the entire Dark Spirit Domain will be shaken—including Robia, who would personally congratulate him.
• The selection process then passes to Sixth-, Fifth-, and Fourth-level Spellcasters.
• Great Mage Sally invites Great Mage Luo An to become his student, emphasizing his expertise in earth-type binding Spells. Luo An politely refuses because he wishes to remain with his current mentor, Great Mage Hoto.
• Sally criticizes Hoto’s teaching specialization, nearly provoking an argument, but Great Mage Leo intervenes and reminds him that students cannot be forced to change mentors.
• Other Spellcasters select various students, with some accepting and others refusing.
• When nearly everyone has been chosen, Merlin remains unclaimed. Great Mage Leo publicly offers to release him if another Spellcaster is willing to teach him.
• The chapter ends in uncomfortable silence, emphasizing that no powerful Spellcaster is prepared to take responsibility for Merlin’s uncertain future.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Experiences disappointment and humiliation after being overlooked despite being the exchange meeting’s most visibly gifted participant. His Six-Element talent, once thought to be his greatest advantage, is revealed to be a major obstacle because it makes advancement extremely difficult. His clenched fists suggest frustration and wounded pride.
• Great Mage Cecil: Gains recognition as a reliable and promising candidate. His four complex Spells and successful construction of a First-level Spell make him attractive to powerful mentors, leading to his selection by Great Mage Robia.
• Great Mage Leo: Demonstrates his high status and authority by intervening in the dispute between Sally and Hoto. He also shows concern for Merlin by publicly attempting to find him a more suitable mentor, despite previously admitting that he lacks patience for teaching.
• Great Mage Alvis: Is shown to be a highly skilled Fourth-level Spellcaster and a respectful servant of Robia. His precise wind magic and sympathetic reaction to Merlin reveal both competence and some regret over Merlin’s rejection.
• Great Mage Luo An: Remains loyal to his current mentor, Hoto, refusing Sally’s offer even though it could benefit his specialization.
• Great Mage Sally and Great Mage Hoto: Their rivalry becomes evident when Sally questions Hoto’s ability to guide Luo An, while Hoto reacts defensively.
• The Seventh-level Spellcasters: Their choices reveal a pragmatic attitude: they prefer students with dependable advancement prospects over extraordinarily talented but uncertain geniuses.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus practical potential: Merlin possesses unprecedented talent, but his unusual constitution makes him a poor investment in the eyes of established masters. The chapter contrasts spectacular ability with the likelihood of reliable growth.
• The burden of exceptionalism: Merlin’s Six-Element aptitude, which should make him desirable, instead isolates him because no one has confidence that he can advance.
• Mentorship and reputation: Becoming the student of a powerful Spellcaster is portrayed as a life-changing opportunity, while being rejected publicly carries significant social and emotional weight.
• Loyalty and personal choice: Luo An’s refusal of Sally’s offer shows that advancement is not the only consideration; loyalty to an existing mentor also matters.
• Power and authority: Leo’s intervention demonstrates the hierarchy among Spellcasters. Even peers such as Sally must respect his judgment and presence.
• Foreshadowing: The repeated acknowledgment that Merlin would shock the Dark Spirit Domain if he advances hints that his apparent rejection may eventually become a source of triumph.

Character Interactions

• Alvis and Leo: Alvis treats Leo with exceptional respect, reflecting Leo’s formidable reputation and the power of his Dark Eye.
• Alvis and Merlin: Though Alvis chooses Cecil, he expresses regret and recognizes Merlin’s extraordinary potential.
• Sally and Luo An: Sally offers Luo An specialized instruction, but Luo An declines out of loyalty to Hoto.
• Sally and Hoto: Their disagreement over Luo An’s education nearly turns into an argument until Leo stops it.
• Leo and Merlin: Leo’s public offer to let Merlin leave shows that, despite his reluctance to teach, he is willing to give Merlin another opportunity.
• The powerful Spellcasters and Merlin: Their silence when Leo asks who wants Merlin underscores their collective fear that his talent will not translate into successful advancement.

Chapter Summary: “Seventh-level Spellcaster”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Merlin’s impressive performance at the exchange meeting, Mage Nasha offers to take him as her student.
• Nasha explains that Merlin’s six Spell Models may make him powerful quickly but could hinder his advancement to First-level Spellcaster. She promises to help him construct suitable Spell Models.
• Merlin respectfully declines, choosing to remain in Mage Leo’s tower. He believes Matrix can solve his Spell Model problems and that what he truly needs is more Spiritual Power and additional Spell Models.
• Anliena and the others are surprised and somewhat regretful that Merlin refused Nasha, especially since the Seventh-level Spellcasters chose Mage Cecil instead of him.
• Merlin realizes that the Seventh-level Spellcasters rejected him because they doubted his ability to become a First-level Spellcaster.
• Back at the tower, Mage Leo summons Merlin and fulfills his promise: he will provide Merlin with every First-level Spell he needs.
• Leo encourages Merlin not to be discouraged by the Seventh-level Spellcasters’ rejection, comparing it to how they once underestimated Leo’s ability to condense the Dark Eye.
• Merlin asks why Leo, despite being an exceptionally powerful Sixth-level Spellcaster, has not advanced to the Seventh level.
• Leo explains that becoming a Seventh-level Spellcaster requires creating a completely original Spell. Existing Seventh-level Spell Models cannot be copied or shared because they have virtually no compatibility with other Spellcasters.
• A Sixth-level Spellcaster must combine all their accumulated knowledge, perform extensive calculations and deductions, and develop a Spell uniquely suited to themselves. Leo has failed to create such a Spell despite condensing the Dark Eye.
• Leo offers Merlin not only First-level Spells but also any other resources that might help him advance.

Character Development

• Merlin: Demonstrates confidence, independence, and clear judgment by refusing Nasha’s offer. He recognizes that her teaching would not address his main needs and resolves to become powerful without relying on the approval of the Seventh-level Spellcasters.
• Mage Nasha: Shows herself to be sincere, perceptive, and generous. Her offer is motivated by Merlin’s talent and concern for his future rather than personal ambition. She accepts his refusal gracefully.
• Mage Leo: Reveals greater depth and vulnerability. Though powerful and outwardly calm, he is burdened by his inability to create a suitable Seventh-level Spell. He nevertheless keeps his promise to Merlin and becomes a strong supporter of his advancement.
• Anliena: Supports Merlin but worries that he may have rejected an excellent opportunity. Her comments also reinforce how highly others regard Nasha’s teaching ability.

Significant Themes

• Independence versus guidance: Merlin chooses to remain with Leo rather than accept a potentially more experienced teacher, trusting his own abilities and Matrix.
• Recognition and self-worth: Although rejected by the most powerful Spellcasters, Merlin refuses to let their judgment define his future.
• The nature of true mastery: Seventh-level Spellcasters are portrayed as genuine innovators who create new knowledge rather than merely learning or reproducing existing Spells.
• The limits of accumulated knowledge: Even Leo’s immense experience and power cannot guarantee advancement; original creation requires insight, experimentation, and personal compatibility.
• Perseverance: Both Merlin and Leo face setbacks but remain determined to continue pursuing greater power.

Character Interactions

• Mage Leo formally presents Nasha’s offer to Merlin and respects Merlin’s decision.
• Nasha speaks encouragingly to Merlin and offers practical assistance, while Merlin responds with gratitude but firmly declines.
• Merlin reassures Anliena and the others after returning from the meeting, concealing his disappointment beneath calm determination.
• Leo and Merlin have a significant mentor-student discussion in which Leo rewards Merlin, explains the secrets of Seventh-level advancement, and offers further support for Merlin’s future.

Chapter Summary: “Advanced Meditation Technique”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin asks Great Mage Leo for two things: a First-Level Spell and an Advanced Mental Meditation Technique.
• Leo explains that Advanced Meditation Techniques normally cost over a thousand Contribution Points, making one nearly impossible for Merlin to obtain.
• He then reveals that he possesses such a technique, taken from a Sixth-level Spellcaster he once killed, and gives it to Merlin.
• Merlin returns to his room, studies the technique, and discovers that it increases his mental power at least ten times faster than his previous Intermediate Meditation Technique.
• Rather than immediately continuing to meditate, Merlin goes to the Tower of Myriad Phenomena to select First-Level Spells for his six elemental systems.
• He begins by examining earth-element defensive spells and ultimately chooses Guardian Monument over Stone Wall and Thick Earth Armor, valuing its strong defense and lower magic consumption.
• As Merlin finishes his selection, another Spellcaster recognizes him and addresses him, setting up the next interaction.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates ambition and practical judgment. He recognizes that his six constructed spells require much greater mental power and actively seeks a superior cultivation method. His success at the Exchange Conference has also made him famous throughout the Dark Spirit Domain, though the attention makes him uncomfortable.
• Great Mage Leo: Shows that he greatly values Merlin and is willing to support his development beyond his formal responsibilities. His private remarks reveal that he intends to help Merlin prove that a Six-Element Spellcaster can succeed, despite the skepticism of other Seventh-level Spellcasters.
• Relationship between Merlin and Leo: Their relationship has become close and trusting. Leo is comfortable joking with Merlin and provides him with a resource of enormous value, while Merlin recognizes and appreciates Leo’s special regard for him.

Significant Themes

• Mentorship and investment: Leo’s actions show the importance of a mentor who believes in an unconventional disciple.
• Defying conventional limits: Merlin’s Six-Element Spellcaster identity is considered impossible or unfavorable by powerful mages, but Leo is determined to support him.
• Cultivation and resources: Advancement depends not only on talent but also on access to rare meditation techniques, spells, and Contribution Points.
• Practical decision-making: Merlin chooses Guardian Monument not because it is the most powerful option, but because it offers the best balance between defense and magic consumption.
• Fame and isolation: Merlin’s achievements bring recognition, but the attention also makes him uneasy and separates him from ordinary Spellcasters.

Character Interactions

• Merlin respectfully negotiates with Leo for the Advanced Meditation Technique.
• Leo first challenges Merlin by pointing out the technique’s enormous cost, then surprises him by offering one from his own collection.
• Leo privately expresses his determination to help Merlin succeed, revealing a deeper personal connection and sense of identification with him.
• In the Tower of Myriad Phenomena, Merlin is watched by many Spellcasters because of his Exchange Conference performance and rejection by the Seventh-level Spellcasters.
• After Merlin selects Guardian Monument, an unidentified Spellcaster recognizes him and begins a conversation.

Chapter Summary: “First-Level Spell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin encounters Spellcaster Riliss in the Tower of Myriad Phenomena while selecting First-Level Spells.
• Riliss is surprised that Merlin is examining First-Level Spells, since most Spellcasters doubt he can successfully advance after constructing six Spells and straining his mental power.
• Riliss reveals that she successfully constructed the First-Level fire Spell Berserk Flame, unlike Holmes, who previously failed. She is now choosing another First-Level Spell.
• Riliss passes along Holmes’s warning that Merlin should beware of Spellcaster Neil, a narrow-minded Novice Spellcaster whose family lacks the strength to challenge Holmes but may target Merlin, who has no powerful background.
• Merlin acknowledges the danger but is not intimidated, viewing Neil as a defeated and relatively weak opponent.
• Merlin reflects on his limited time: he has only two years remaining in the Dark Spirit Domain and must strengthen his mental power before attempting further First-Level Spell construction.
• Using the Tower’s collection, Merlin selects three First-Level Spells:
  • Guardian Monument, an earth-element defensive Spell.
  • Freedom’s Wind, a wind-element movement Spell that greatly improves speed, agility, and directional control.
  • Solidifying Ice, an ice-element binding Spell with powerful frost poison and exceptional killing potential.
• Merlin chooses Solidifying Ice despite its complex Spell Model, high mental-power requirement, and expensive cost of 120 Contribution Points, confident that the Matrix can help him reconstruct it.

Character Developments

• Merlin becomes increasingly aware of the urgency surrounding his advancement. Although he remains confident in the Matrix and his abilities, he recognizes that his excessive number of Spell Models has made mental-power growth his greatest obstacle.
• His judgment as a Spellcaster develops: rather than choosing merely powerful attacks, he deliberately seeks Spells that complement his existing abilities—defense, mobility, and binding.
• Riliss has made meaningful progress by successfully constructing Berserk Flame. Her success contrasts with Holmes’s failure and shows her growing strength.
• Neil is established as a potential future antagonist because of his resentment, narrow-mindedness, and willingness to exploit Merlin’s lack of family backing.
• Holmes is portrayed more favorably: although arrogant, his arrogance comes from upbringing and status rather than petty malice, and he takes precautions to protect Merlin by sending a warning.

Significant Themes

• Pressure of advancement: Merlin’s goal of becoming a First-level Spellcaster is threatened not by lack of talent but by the immense mental-power burden of maintaining six Spell Models.
• Talent versus reputation and support: Despite Merlin’s fame as a Six-Element Spellcaster, powerful Spellcasters still doubt him because he lacks a mentor or influential family.
• Preparation and strategic growth: Merlin chooses Spells according to practical battlefield needs rather than simply selecting the strongest attacks.
• The importance of connections: Riliss and Holmes’s warning demonstrate how alliances and personal relationships can provide protection in the Spellcaster world.
• Confidence backed by unique ability: Merlin remains calm because the Matrix allows him to overcome difficulties that would be impossible for ordinary Spellcasters.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and Riliss share a friendly conversation based on their previous Eastward City mission.
• Riliss congratulates Merlin indirectly by discussing his reputation, while Merlin congratulates her on successfully constructing Berserk Flame.
• Riliss acts as an intermediary for Holmes, warning Merlin about Neil’s possible hostility.
• Merlin responds respectfully to Riliss’s concern but makes clear that he does not consider Neil a serious threat.
• The chapter ends with Merlin alone, focused on selecting and preparing powerful Spells for his future advancement.

Chapter Summary: “Changes in the Dark Spirit Domain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin finishes selecting several First-Level Spells from the Tower of Myriad Phenomena: Guardian Monument, Freedom’s Wind, and Solidifying Ice. He postpones choosing his lightning- and darkness-element Spells because night is approaching.
• After returning to Great Mage Leo’s tower, Merlin reports his choices. Leo approves of the first two but warns that Solidifying Ice has an exceptionally complicated Spell Model and may be impossible to construct within Merlin’s remaining two years.
• Merlin remains determined to choose Solidifying Ice, relying secretly on the Matrix’s assistance. Leo honors his promise and obtains the Spell for him through Runology and the Tower of Myriad Phenomena.
• Merlin returns to his room and begins using the Advanced Mental Meditation Technique to increase his Mind Power before constructing another Spell Model.
• After only half a month of meditation, Merlin’s Mind Power reaches the level of a Second-Level Spellcaster, far exceeding the speed of his previous training.
• Rather than immediately constructing a Spell, Merlin returns to the Tower of Myriad Phenomena to select his remaining elemental Spells.
• There, he encounters Anliena, who introduces him to several nearby female Mages and reveals that many Spellcasters are discussing Merlin’s likely advancement to the First Level.
• Their conversation is interrupted by a mysterious, dazzling white light spreading from the towers of the Seventh-level Spellcasters across the Dark Spirit Domain.
• An authoritative voice orders all Spellcasters to return to their towers. Merlin and Anliena return to Leo’s tower, where numerous normally isolated Spellcasters have gathered.
• Leo appears through the tower’s Rune Formation, visibly furious and radiating immense pressure. The chapter ends before the cause of the crisis is revealed.

Character Developments

• Merlin demonstrates firm determination and confidence by choosing Solidifying Ice despite its difficulty. He is also increasingly methodical, preparing his Mind Power and Spell selections before attempting another Spell Model.
• Merlin’s rapid improvement under the Advanced Mental Meditation Technique marks a major advancement toward becoming a First-Level Spellcaster.
• Leo acts as a strict but reliable mentor. He questions Merlin’s judgment but ultimately honors his promise and provides the difficult Spell. His furious arrival suggests that he is deeply involved in the new crisis.
• Anliena is shown as sociable, energetic, and well-liked, contrasting with Merlin’s reserved personality. She also appears genuinely concerned when the strange phenomenon begins.
• The wider Spellcaster community begins to recognize Merlin’s importance, discussing his impending breakthrough as a major event for the Dark Spirit Domain.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus haste: Merlin refuses to rush his advancement and gathers the necessary Spells and Mind Power before attempting construction.
• Determination and risk: His insistence on choosing Solidifying Ice reflects his willingness to pursue power despite the danger of failure.
• Rapid growth and hidden advantages: Merlin’s extraordinary progress hints at the importance of the Advanced Mental Meditation Technique and his secret reliance on the Matrix.
• Community and recognition: Merlin, previously isolated, becomes a subject of widespread discussion as his potential advancement gains attention.
• Impending crisis: The strange white light and Leo’s anger introduce a major threat or upheaval affecting the entire Dark Spirit Domain.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and Leo discuss the risks of Solidifying Ice, with Leo warning that failure will force Merlin to obtain future Spells through his own Contribution Points.
• Merlin and Anliena interact warmly but humorously, with Anliena dragging the reluctant Merlin into social introductions.
• The gathered Spellcasters collectively react with confusion and fear to the white light, while Leo’s sudden appearance imposes silence and tension on the entire tower.

Chapter Summary: “Osum”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mage Leo announces that all Spellcasters below the fourth level must leave the Dark Spirit Domain within three days because an unprecedented war is imminent.
• He reveals that Klais—the Domain’s most talented Spellcaster and a peak Third-level Five-Element Spellcaster—has betrayed the Dark Spirit Domain and defected to Osum.
• The Spellcasters are shocked because Klais was highly valued, heavily supported, and expected to become a Fourth-level Spellcaster with power comparable to a Sixth-level Spellcaster.
• The evacuation is explained as a protective measure: lower-level Spellcasters cannot participate in the coming conflict, which may become a war between entire Spellcaster Organizations.
• Merlin is instructed to complete his collection of First-Level Spell Models before leaving. He heads to the Tower of Myriad Phenomena to obtain lightning- and darkness-element Spell Models.
• Meanwhile, the Dark Spirit Domain’s Fourth-level and higher Spellcasters gather in a Seventh-level Spellcaster’s tower to discuss Osum’s threat.
• Mage Helsius explains that Osum has also recruited exceptionally talented Spellcasters from Flame City and the Abyssal Fortress, proving that the organization is targeting geniuses across the region.
• Because Osum is too powerful for the Dark Spirit Domain to confront alone, the Domain forms an alliance with Flame City, the Abyssal Fortress, and the Earthflame Domain.
• Preparations begin for a major coordinated attack against Osum.
• Mage Leo privately vows revenge, revealing that Osum’s leader, Leidor, is his younger brother and that he intends to kill Osum’s genius Spellcasters in retaliation for Leidor’s past actions.

Character Developments

• Mage Leo becomes more openly severe and vengeful. Although normally impatient and arrogant, he shows concern for the Domain’s safety and personally takes responsibility for confronting Osum.
• Klais is established as a legendary prodigy whose defection represents a devastating loss and a direct insult to the Dark Spirit Domain.
• Merlin remains focused and practical. Even amid the crisis, he prioritizes completing his Spell Model collection before evacuating.
• Mage Helsius is portrayed as a powerful, rational leader. Despite Leo’s disrespectful interruptions, Helsius remains composed and concentrates on organizing a broader alliance.
• Hall demonstrates loyalty to the Dark Spirit Domain by reminding Leo that contracted members are obligated to share its burdens.
• Leidor, though absent, becomes an important antagonist through Leo’s revelation that he is Leo’s younger brother and the target of Leo’s hatred.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and loyalty: Klais’s defection tests the loyalty of the Dark Spirit Domain’s members and undermines the trust placed in talented individuals.
• The value and danger of genius: Osum recruits only exceptional Spellcasters, turning extraordinary talent into both a resource and a threat to established organizations.
• Institutional conflict: The coming struggle is larger than a personal rivalry; it is a war involving multiple Spellcaster Organizations and their collective survival.
• Preparation versus power: The leaders emphasize gathering forces and planning carefully, suggesting that even great individual Spellcasters cannot defeat Osum alone.
• Revenge and personal conflict: Leo’s desire to avenge his younger brother adds a deeply personal motive to the impending war.
• Uncertainty and displacement: The lower-level Spellcasters are forced to abandon their home, emphasizing the disruptive consequences of conflicts among powerful organizations.

Character Interactions

• Hall respectfully challenges Leo for information, appealing to the contracts binding the Domain’s members.
• Leo informs the lower-level Spellcasters of the danger but maintains an authoritative, emotionally distant manner.
• Leo and Helsius interact as near equals despite Helsius’s seniority. Leo bluntly demands information, even calling him “old man,” while Helsius responds calmly and does not take offense.
• Helsius rallies the senior Spellcasters around a united front against Osum and coordinates cooperation with other organizations.
• Leo’s final exchange with Helsius is largely unspoken: his vengeful expression reveals a personal history that Helsius understands but does not explain, responding only with regret.

Summary of “Darklight Domain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With the Dark Spirit Domain facing an unspecified but serious crisis, Merlin realizes he cannot spend the next three years advancing peacefully as planned. He begins preparing to leave.
• At the Tower of Myriad Phenomena, Merlin exchanges Contribution Points for two First-Level Spells:
  • Lightning Orb, an area-of-effect lightning Spell reconstructed from Thunder Web.
  • Darklight Domain, a powerful dark Spell that distorts light, creates total darkness, and produces intense hallucinations.
• Merlin chooses Darklight Domain despite its unusually complex Spell Model and repeated warnings, trusting Matrix to analyze and reconstruct it. He sees it as a superior and more versatile evolution of Dark Mist, which has previously been highly effective but vulnerable to certain wind Spells.
• Merlin searches for higher-level dark Spells but discovers that the Tower contains no Second- or Third-Level dark Spells. He also notices that light Spells are completely absent, leading him to suspect a connection to hidden Spellcaster secrets or the Light Church.
• On the potion floor, Merlin purchases Purple Stone Powder and its formula for the old black-robed man, whose unstable Spell Model prevents him from advancing. The potion may alleviate the instability, though it cannot fully solve the underlying problem.
• Merlin buys several healing potions for the journey. Unable to afford a defensive casting tool, he spends his remaining Contribution Points on a Vitality Potion for Shirley and Avril.
• Merlin reports his choices to Mentor Leo. Leo confirms that Darklight Domain suits Merlin’s existing affinity for complex Spell Models and tells him that the Dark Spirit Domain’s crisis should likely be resolved within a year, allowing him to return.
• Leo urges Merlin to continue advancing outside the Dark Spirit Domain and return after two years having constructed at least one First-Level Spell.

Character Developments

• Merlin demonstrates careful preparation and strategic thinking. Rather than choosing random powerful Spells, he prioritizes compatibility with his existing Spell Models, especially Thunder Web and Dark Mist.
• His confidence in Matrix has grown considerably; he is no longer intimidated by highly complex Spell Models and even views their complexity as manageable.
• Merlin’s concern for others becomes evident through his purchase of Purple Stone Powder for the black-robed old man and a Vitality Potion for Shirley and Avril.
• He also becomes increasingly curious and suspicious about the scarcity of dark and light Spells, suggesting a growing interest in the broader secrets of Spellcaster society.
• Leo continues to show confidence in Merlin’s abilities. Though he warns Merlin about the difficulty of Darklight Domain and the limited resources outside the Dark Spirit Domain, he clearly expects Merlin to progress rapidly.

Significant Themes

• Preparation in the face of uncertainty: Merlin responds to the crisis by securing offensive Spells, potions, and supplies rather than waiting passively for events to unfold.
• Compatibility and specialization: The chapter emphasizes that successful Spell construction depends not only on power but also on compatibility between existing and new Spell Models.
• Hidden knowledge and scarcity: The absence of advanced dark Spells—and of light Spells altogether—suggests deeper secrets involving Spellcaster history, access to knowledge, or the Light Church.
• Power balanced by complexity: Darklight Domain is exceptionally strong but difficult to construct, reinforcing the idea that greater power carries greater risk and technical demands.
• Loyalty and concern for others: Merlin’s purchases for the old man, Shirley, and Avril reveal that his advancement is connected to his relationships and responsibilities.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and the Tower’s exchange system reflect his practical efforts to prepare for the crisis.
• Merlin’s actions show an ongoing bond with the black-robed old man, whom he attempts to help despite the high cost of the potion and formula.
• His decision to buy the Vitality Potion reveals his affection and consideration for Shirley and Avril.
• In his conversation with Leo, Merlin seeks reassurance about the Dark Spirit Domain’s future. Leo calms him, confirms that the crisis is unlikely to destroy the organization, and encourages him to maintain his ambition.
• Merlin respectfully accepts Leo’s guidance, reinforcing the mentor-student relationship and Leo’s special regard for him.

Chapter Summary: “Kill!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Spellcasters begin evacuating the Dark Spirit Domain, which has become nearly deserted after the recent crisis.
• Merlin decides to leave immediately rather than spend several days constructing a First-Level Spell Model. He plans to attempt it after reaching a safer location.
• Before departing, Merlin encounters Great Mage Anliena. She asks to become his attendant if he eventually advances to the First Level, but Merlin explains that Great Mage Lorinka has already taken that position.
• Anliena accepts the refusal and invites Merlin to visit her family in Floating City, showing that she wishes to maintain a friendly relationship with him.
• Merlin uses a Rune Formation to teleport from the Dark Spirit Domain to Maple Leaf Forest near Ditas Town, the closest available teleportation point to Pujias City.
• Great Mage Neil has secretly arranged an ambush there with a First-level Spellcaster named Vixa. Neil intends to kill Merlin, a rare Six-Element Spellcaster, and profit from his death.
• Merlin immediately recognizes Neil and senses danger from Vixa. Rather than allowing Neil to initiate the attack, Merlin strikes first when they are only a few meters apart.
• Merlin casts Dark Mist, Thunder Web, and multiple Fireballs, trapping Neil in an illusion and killing him in the resulting explosions.
• Vixa remains largely unaffected by Merlin’s attacks and counters with the powerful First-Level wind Spell Brilliant Wind. Merlin barely defends himself with repeated Earth Guardian Spells and an enhanced version of the Spell.
• The chapter ends with Merlin and Vixa directly confronting one another, simultaneously casting Freezing Spell and Brilliant Wind.

2. Character Developments

• Merlin becomes increasingly cautious and decisive. He recognizes the danger surrounding him and demonstrates that he is willing to attack first rather than wait for an enemy’s betrayal.
• His combat ability is shown to be formidable: he kills Great Mage Neil instantly through coordinated use of illusion, lightning, and fire Spells, despite not yet being a First-level Spellcaster.
• Anliena reveals her desire to secure Merlin’s future protection or patronage by asking to become his attendant. Her disappointment at learning that Lorinka already holds that position suggests she views Merlin as someone with exceptional potential.
• Great Mage Neil is exposed as treacherous and opportunistic. He attempts to sell Merlin’s life for personal gain but is killed before he can carry out the ambush.
• Vixa is established as a powerful First-level Spellcaster. He is calm, confident, and capable of resisting or breaking through Merlin’s Dark Mist, making him a far more dangerous opponent than Neil.

3. Significant Themes

• Betrayal and distrust: Neil’s apparent friendliness conceals an assassination attempt, reinforcing the danger Merlin faces from other Spellcasters.
• Survival through initiative: Merlin’s decision to strike first reflects the chapter’s central survival principle: hesitation can be fatal.
• Power and potential: Merlin’s status as a Six-Element Spellcaster makes him valuable and threatening to others, even before he reaches the First Level.
• Political and personal alliances: Anliena’s request and invitation demonstrate how Spellcasters attempt to secure relationships with rising talents.
• The gap between levels of power: Merlin easily defeats Neil but struggles to defend against Vixa’s First-Level Spell, emphasizing the significant difference between ordinary Great Mages and First-level Spellcasters.

4. Character Interactions

• Merlin and Anliena: Their conversation is polite but reveals competing expectations. Anliena seeks a place beside Merlin in the future, while Merlin respectfully refuses because Lorinka is already his attendant.
• Merlin and Neil: Both pretend to be cordial while secretly preparing for conflict. Merlin sees through Neil’s false enthusiasm and attacks before Neil can spring the trap.
• Neil and Vixa: Neil attempts to manipulate Vixa by promising valuable rewards for killing Merlin. Vixa appears more experienced and composed, but ultimately allows Neil to serve as bait.
• Merlin and Vixa: Their encounter quickly becomes a direct battle between a talented multi-element Great Mage and an established First-level Spellcaster, ending on the brink of a major clash.

This is an author's note, not a story chapter. Here's a summary:

Key Points

• The seven-day double voting period is ending soon
• The book's position on the monthly ticket rankings is unstable—rivals behind are close (dozens of votes), while those ahead have pulled away by several hundred votes
• The author (Old Moon) vows not to give up regardless

Themes

• Persistence and fighting to the end
• The importance of reader support (monthly tickets)

Author-Reader Interaction

• Old Moon asks readers to cast all remaining monthly tickets
• Acknowledges the book's data is good except for monthly ticket rankings, possibly due to a slower update pace than other authors
• Promises to do everything possible to update
• Announces a third update will be posted tonight

Chapter Summary: “People of the Same Kind”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin battles a cloaked First-level Spellcaster who uses powerful wind, earth, fire, and ice spells. The opponent’s Brilliant Wind, Earth Wall, Fire Rain, and Ice Pit Spell repeatedly counter Merlin’s attacks.
• Merlin’s enhanced Dark Mist is rendered useless because the cloaked man possesses extraordinarily powerful Mental Power, nearly comparable to that of a Third-level Spellcaster.
• Forced into direct combat, Merlin relies on Thunder Web, Freezing Spell, Fireball, Gale Spell, and Earth Guardian. His enormous reserves of stored mana allow him to continue fighting for an exceptionally long time.
• The battle becomes a contest of endurance. Merlin’s attacks repeatedly wear down the cloaked man’s Earth Walls, while the cloaked man’s attacks steadily drain Merlin’s defensive and offensive spells.
• After roughly an hour, both combatants exhaust nearly all their spell mana. The cloaked man stops attacking and reveals himself as Vixa, proposing that they end the battle and withdraw separately.
• Vixa explains that Great Mage Neil recruited him by promising potion ingredients and Spell Models. Neil’s actual method was to ambush and kill Spellcasters from the Dark Spirit Domain who left on missions.
• Merlin realizes that Neil had arranged the ambush using his knowledge of Dark Spirit Domain Spellcasters. Merlin’s prior warning from Great Mage Riliss was crucial to his survival.
• Merlin and Vixa agree to withdraw cautiously, each secretly using an Elemental Crystal to restore mana. Both notice the other’s deception and recognize their similar caution and opportunism.
• Although they appear to honor their agreement, both suddenly turn around at the same time with hostile intent, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates immense mana reserves, versatility as a Six-Element Spellcaster, and strong tactical awareness. However, he is forced to acknowledge that his greatest weapon, Dark Mist, can be completely countered by sufficiently powerful Mental Power. His distrust and willingness to prepare for betrayal remain central to his survival.
• Great Mage Vixa: Revealed to be a wandering Spellcaster and a First-level Four-Element Spellcaster. He is powerful, adaptable, and experienced in ambushes, but becomes frustrated when Merlin proves far stronger and more enduring than Neil had suggested. Vixa also shows pragmatism by seeking a truce when victory becomes impossible.
• Great Mage Neil: His death exposes his broader scheme: he had been collaborating with wandering Spellcasters to ambush members of the Dark Spirit Domain. His betrayal and manipulation make him a central source of the conflict even after his death.
• Merlin and Vixa: Both are shown to be calculating and distrustful. Each attempts to secretly recover mana during the retreat, leading them to recognize that they are “people of the same kind.”

Significant Themes

• Cunning versus strength: Neither combatant can decisively overpower the other, so endurance, preparation, and deception become as important as spell power.
• Limits of specialization: Merlin’s Dark Mist, usually a decisive advantage, fails against Vixa’s immense Mental Power, forcing Merlin to adapt.
• Mutual distrust: Even after agreeing to peace, neither Merlin nor Vixa believes the other will truly honor the truce.
• Survival and opportunism: Both characters prioritize preserving their lives and future potential over fighting to the death once victory becomes impossible.
• Betrayal within magical society: Neil’s ambush scheme reveals the danger posed not only by open enemies but also by trusted insiders exploiting their knowledge of other Spellcasters.

Character Interactions

• Vixa initially attacks Merlin relentlessly but later acknowledges his strength and proposes cooperation through a temporary withdrawal.
• Merlin challenges Vixa about his partnership with Neil, prompting Vixa to confess the truth about Neil’s ambushes.
• Their negotiations remain tense and strategic rather than trusting. Both secretly restore mana while pretending to retreat.
• Their final simultaneous turn suggests that, despite recognizing their similarities, neither is willing to leave the other alive without first ensuring his own safety.

Chapter Summary: “The Vagabond”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin and the hooded wandering Spellcaster, Vixa, engage in a desperate close-range battle after exhausting their mana.
• Merlin throws a greatsword at Vixa, fatally impaling him. Vixa’s poisoned crossbow bolt strikes Merlin’s leg, however, and the Corrosive Potion on the arrow begins rapidly dissolving his flesh.
• To survive, Merlin uses a dagger to cut away much of the infected flesh from his thigh. He then applies a Blood-Coagulating Potion and licorice-based potions to stop the bleeding and suppress the remaining poison.
• Severely injured and unable to travel, Merlin searches the corpses and takes both Vixa’s and Neil’s storage rings.
• Neil’s ring contains potion materials, Elemental Crystals, and several First-Level Spell models. Vixa’s ring contains numerous unusual items and, most importantly, a rare Mind Power potion formula called the Blueberry Potion.
• Merlin realizes that Vixa’s extraordinary Mind Power—and his ability to resist Merlin’s enhanced Dark Mist—was likely connected to this potion. The potion’s ingredients are relatively accessible, and Vixa’s ring already contains enough blueberries for several batches.
• Merlin burns the bodies of Vixa and Neil to conceal the evidence, then remains beneath a tree in Maple Leaf Forest while slowly restoring his mana and recovering from his wounds.
• A merchant convoy traveling toward Ditas Town stops to admire the red maple forest. The convoy includes Emma, a cheerful young girl, and her parents, Mr. Xialiberi and his wife.
• Guards discover Merlin, dressed in ragged clothing and appearing to be a vagabond. Before the convoy can leave, hundreds of bandits ambush it, overwhelm the guards, and begin killing civilians and taking the women captive.
• When the bandits learn that Merlin is nearby, their leader dismisses him as an insignificant target and sends several men to kill him.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates exceptional physical strength, combat judgment, willpower, and practical survival skills. His willingness to cut away his own flesh shows his ruthlessness and determination to live. He also gains valuable resources and a rare Mind Power potion formula from Vixa.
• Vixa: Revealed to be a highly resourceful and dangerous wandering Spellcaster who relied on poisons, crossbows, potions, and numerous unconventional tools. Even after death, his possessions significantly benefit Merlin.
• Neil: His death provides Merlin with additional Spell models, materials, and Elemental Crystals, increasing Merlin’s wealth and future magical potential.
• Emma: Presented as innocent, energetic, and fascinated by nature. Her desire to admire the maple forest places her near the approaching danger.
• Mr. Xialiberi and his wife: The father is compassionate but somewhat overconfident in the convoy’s security, while the mother is cautious and consistently concerned about bandits and safety.
• The bandits: Established as brutal, organized, and ruthless, treating the convoy’s people as possessions and showing contempt for anyone they consider weak.

Significant Themes

• Survival through sacrifice: Merlin survives only by enduring immense pain and making the drastic choice to remove his own poisoned flesh.
• The dangers of underestimating opponents: The battle shows that even a powerful Spellcaster can be killed by a seemingly mundane weapon such as a poisoned crossbow bolt.
• The gap between magical levels: Merlin reflects that the difference between Zero-Level and First-Level Spells becomes especially dangerous when defensive resources are exhausted.
• Fortune amid danger: Although Merlin nearly dies, Vixa’s death gives him access to rare materials, wealth, and a valuable Mind Power potion formula.
• Appearances and misjudgment: The convoy mistakes Merlin for a worthless vagabond, while the bandits likewise dismiss him as harmless—an error likely to have serious consequences.
• Violence and vulnerability: The peaceful beauty of the maple forest contrasts sharply with the sudden massacre of the convoy, emphasizing how quickly safety can collapse.

Character Interactions

• Merlin and Vixa fight directly, each using their final available weapons after their mana is depleted.
• Merlin later interacts only indirectly with the dead Vixa and Neil by searching their bodies and taking their rings.
• Emma pleads with her parents to let her view the maple leaves; her father agrees, while her mother initially refuses out of concern for bandits.
• The family and guards briefly notice Merlin but choose to avoid him, considering him suspicious or unimportant.
• The bandits attack the convoy, kill its guards, threaten Mr. Xialiberi’s family, and prepare to eliminate Merlin without realizing his true strength.

This is an author’s note rather than a story chapter. It focuses on Old Moon’s mindset:

1. Key plot points/events: Old Moon feels disheartened after being overtaken in monthly votes. He meets a senior author in a group who scolds him, reminding him that he must endure small setbacks to write a long novel. Inspired, Old Moon decides to keep fighting and asks readers for monthly votes, clicks, and support, promising two more updates that night.
2. Character developments: Old Moon shifts from discouragement to renewed determination, vowing not to give up easily this month.
3. Significant themes: Perseverance through setbacks, resilience in long-term goals, and the importance of reader support.
4. Character interactions: Old Moon has a brief but pivotal conversation with a senior author, whose tough advice acts as a wake-up call.

Chapter Summary: “The Situation Was Dire”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three bandits, led by the Eighth Chief, attack Merlin, who is disguised as a vagrant near Maple Leaf Forest.
• Merlin effortlessly freezes the three attackers and their horses, causing them to shatter on impact.
• The bandits report the Eighth Chief’s death to their leader. The Chief investigates and orders a larger group to kill Merlin.
• Merlin casts Dark Mist, trapping many bandits in an illusion, then destroys them with Thunder Web. The surviving bandits flee after realizing he is a powerful spellcaster.
• Merlin reveals that he has been immobilized in the forest for nine days because the poison from the Corrosive Potion is worsening. His physical strength and Blood-Coagulating Potion are no longer enough to suppress it.
• Needing a safe location to prepare an antidote, Merlin turns to the caravan he has saved.
• Merchant Xialiberi, traveling with his daughter Emma and a noblewoman, approaches Merlin to thank him on behalf of the Deckman Lineage.
• Merlin asks to be taken to Ditas Town. When Xialiberi realizes Merlin cannot walk, he arranges for him to be carried into the caravan.
• Xialiberi finds Merlin a quiet courtyard in Ditas Town. Merlin then requests Emma’s presence, alarming her father, who mistakenly suspects Merlin has improper intentions.
• Merlin ignores the misunderstanding because his worsening condition makes preparing the antidote urgent. Emma eventually enters his room.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates overwhelming magical power despite being severely weakened and unable to walk. His calmness and efficiency in eliminating the bandits contrast sharply with the danger posed by his spreading poison. His priorities remain practical: finding shelter and preparing an antidote.
• Xialiberi: Initially frightened of Merlin but becomes respectful and grateful after witnessing his power. He acts generously by arranging transportation and lodging, though he becomes suspicious and protective when Merlin asks for Emma.
• Emma: Introduced as a young, curious girl who is fascinated by the mysterious spellcaster. By the end of the chapter, she cautiously approaches Merlin despite her nervousness.
• The Bandit Chief and his men: Their confidence collapses once they recognize Merlin as a spellcaster. Their brutality and numerical advantage prove useless against his magic.

Significant Themes

• Power and helplessness: Merlin can destroy dozens of enemies effortlessly, yet he is physically helpless because of the poison.
• Fear of the unknown: The bandits panic upon discovering Merlin is a spellcaster, reflecting society’s awe and fear of magical power.
• Appearance versus reality: Merlin looks like a helpless vagrant but is actually an extremely powerful mage. Likewise, Xialiberi misinterprets Merlin’s request for Emma because he lacks knowledge of Merlin’s true condition.
• Urgency and survival: The worsening poison creates immediate tension. Merlin’s need for an antidote drives every decision after the battle.
• Debt and cooperation: After Merlin saves the caravan, Xialiberi repays him by providing transportation and a secure place to recover.

Character Interactions

• The bandits treat Merlin with contempt, but their aggression quickly turns into terror when he defeats them.
• Xialiberi formally thanks Merlin for saving the caravan and offers practical assistance.
• Merlin and Xialiberi negotiate indirectly: Merlin requests shelter, while Xialiberi initially misunderstands the request and later learns how physically incapacitated Merlin is.
• Xialiberi becomes protective of Emma when Merlin asks to see her, creating comic tension based on a misunderstanding.
• The chapter ends with Emma entering Merlin’s room, setting up an important conversation or development involving her assistance.

Chapter Summary: “Reconstructing Once More!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Merlin summons Emma to help prepare Detoxification Potions to counteract the Corrosive Potion toxins spreading through his body.
• He discovers that Emma possesses unusually strong mental strength, suggesting she may have the aptitude to become a Spellcaster and may also have natural talent in Potionology.
• Under Merlin’s instruction and with Matrix calculating the precise ingredient ratios, Emma repeatedly attempts to make the potion. She fails four times but succeeds on her fifth attempt after nearly ten hours of work.
• Merlin drinks the Detoxification Potion and successfully expels the toxins through intense sweating. After taking six doses over several days, the poison is completely removed, though his injured thigh will require roughly two months to heal.
• Merlin gives Emma an Intermediate Mental Meditation Technique. Emma practices it enthusiastically, and her father, Xialiberi, realizes that it may allow her to become a Spellcaster.
• Xialiberi brings Emma to Merlin and asks him to accept her as a student. Merlin refuses, explaining that he is only a Novice Spellcaster and is not currently taking apprentices, but he agrees to answer Emma’s questions while recovering.
• Over the next month or two, Merlin teaches Emma the basics of Spell Models and Spell construction. Her success will ultimately depend on whether she can construct a suitable Spell Model herself.
• Once Merlin’s injury has mostly healed, he decides to construct a powerful First-Level Spell Model. Remembering how vulnerable he was when his existing spells were countered by Great Mage Vixa, he chooses the defensive earth-element spell Guardian Monument rather than Berserk Flame.
• Merlin orders Matrix to begin analyzing the optimal Guardian Monument Spell Model.

Character Developments

• Merlin: Demonstrates both urgency and confidence while treating his poisoning. He recognizes Emma’s latent potential and begins mentoring her informally. His experience fighting Vixa also leads him to reassess his weaknesses and prioritize strengthening his defensive capabilities.
• Emma: Develops from a nervous, inexperienced helper into a highly focused and promising potion-maker. Her strong mental strength allows her to persist through repeated failures. She becomes deeply interested in Meditation Arts and Spellcaster knowledge, showing possible potential as a future Spellcaster.
• Xialiberi: Initially becomes worried by Emma’s withdrawn behavior, but his concern turns into excitement when he learns she may possess Spellcaster aptitude. He aggressively seeks an opportunity for her to study under Merlin.
• Merlin and Emma’s relationship: Their relationship shifts from healer and assistant toward mentor and potential student, although Merlin deliberately avoids formally accepting her as an apprentice.

Significant Themes

• Latent talent and opportunity: Emma’s hidden mental strength suggests that extraordinary abilities can exist unnoticed until the right person recognizes them.
• Persistence and disciplined learning: Emma succeeds not through immediate talent alone but through concentration, repeated practice, and careful adherence to instructions.
• Recovery and reconstruction: Merlin’s physical recovery parallels his effort to rebuild and improve his magical strength after recognizing the limitations of his existing spells.
• Mentorship and personal responsibility: Merlin can provide knowledge and guidance, but Emma must ultimately construct her own Spell Model and determine whether she can become a Spellcaster.
• Preparation and strategic growth: Merlin’s choice of Guardian Monument reflects his realization that versatility and defense are essential, especially when opponents can counter his existing abilities.

Important Character Interactions

• Merlin patiently teaches Emma Potionology while relying on Matrix to ensure accuracy.
• Emma’s persistence earns Merlin’s approval, prompting him to give her the Meditation Technique.
• Xialiberi confronts Emma about her behavior, then excitedly escorts her to Merlin to request an apprenticeship.
• Merlin declines to become Emma’s formal teacher but offers continued instruction during his recovery.
• Merlin’s interaction with Matrix marks the beginning of his next stage of magical development as he prepares to construct Guardian Monument.

Chapter Summary: “Pandora Demon Energy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Matrix completes the reconstruction of over 100,000 Spell Models for Merlin’s Guardian Monument. Merlin evaluates them for compatibility, stability, and power, eventually selecting one with 76% compatibility with the Earth Guardian spell and excellent stability.
• Merlin begins simulating the Guardian Monument Spell Model inside his Sea of Consciousness. Unlike his previous attempt with Berserk Flame, his stronger Mental Power—now at the level of a Second-level Spellcaster and improved through a month of meditation—gives him a better chance of succeeding.
• Meanwhile, Leo, Helsius, and powerful Spellcasters from Dark Spirit Domain prepare to attack an abandoned castle where members of Osum are hiding. They are joined by Geselo, a Seventh-level Spellcaster from Abyssal Fortress.
• The alliance enters the castle and is attacked by dark-type Spells. Leo easily counters the attacks with his earth abilities and the Dark Eye, destroying a powerful Dark Vortex.
• Leo discovers two people inside: Lamas, a genius from Abyssal Fortress who possesses the Dark Heart but has defected to Osum, and a Fourth-level genius Spellcaster from Osum.
• The Osum Spellcaster arrogantly challenges Leo, claiming that Osum’s geniuses can fight above their level. Leo responds by using Dark Eye, Illusion followed by Dark Eye, Destroy, killing both opponents almost instantly.
• The other Spellcasters arrive only after the battle is over and find the two corpses.

Character Developments

• Merlin demonstrates greater confidence and preparation. His increased Mental Power allows him to attempt the Guardian Monument’s Spell Model again after previously failing with Berserk Flame.
• Leo is portrayed as extremely powerful, cold, and decisive. His mastery of the Dark Eye enables him to defeat even gifted opponents without hesitation.
• Helsius remains observant and politically aware, recognizing Leo’s deep hatred of Osum and hoping the attack will help ease his resentment.
• Geselo shows strong curiosity about Leo’s Dark Eye, revealing that even Abyssal Fortress—specialists in dark-type Spells—has never produced someone capable of condensing it.
• Lamas, once considered a genius of Abyssal Fortress, has betrayed his organization for Osum. His pride and belief in Osum’s superiority ultimately lead to his death.
• The Osum Spellcaster embodies arrogant confidence in the organization’s exceptional talents, but his boasting is disproved by Leo’s overwhelming strength.

Significant Themes

• Power and genius: The chapter contrasts ordinary Spellcasters with rare talents such as Leo, Lamas, and Osum’s elite members.
• Preparation versus arrogance: Merlin carefully selects and prepares his Spell Model, while the Osum Spellcaster’s confidence causes him to underestimate Leo.
• Betrayal and loyalty: Lamas’s defection from Abyssal Fortress highlights the divisions and rivalries among major Spellcaster organizations.
• Beyond ordinary magic: The Dark Eye and Dark Heart introduce Pandora Demon Energy, a power created through the fusion of Spellcraft and alchemy that grants abilities surpassing normal Spellcasters.
• Revenge and hatred: Leo’s attack is driven partly by his hatred of Osum, and Helsius suggests that destroying Osum’s forces may help him find some relief.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Geselo: Geselo expresses fascination with Leo’s Dark Eye, while Leo coolly promises that Geselo will see its power after Osum’s forces are defeated.
• Leo and Helsius: Helsius subtly supports Leo’s pursuit of vengeance but remains concerned about the intensity of his hatred.
• Leo and Lamas: Leo identifies Lamas as the wielder of the Dark Heart and confronts him as a traitor. Lamas responds with pride in Osum’s ideals, but Leo kills him without difficulty.
• Leo and the Osum genius: The Fourth-level Spellcaster openly belittles Leo and boasts of Osum’s superiority. Leo answers with a swift and overwhelming attack, reversing the power dynamic.
• Merlin and Matrix: Their interaction reflects Merlin’s reliance on Matrix’s analysis while emphasizing his own judgment in selecting the most suitable Spell Model.

Chapter Summary: “Dark Eye!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Great Mage Leo is revealed to have effortlessly killed two powerful Spellcasters: Sodam, a former genius of Ice and Snow City who defected to Osum, and Lamas, a traitor from Abyssal Fortress. Both die from a single attack by Leo’s Dark Eye.
• Great Mage Geselo recognizes the Dark Eye as legendary Pandora Demon Energy and estimates that, in Leo’s hands, it possesses power comparable to that of a Seventh-level Spellcaster.
• Before the gathered Spellcasters can investigate further, Osius, a terrifying Seventh-level Spellcaster from Osum, attacks the castle with his signature Seventh-Level Spell, Zero-Degree Ice Flame. The strange flame freezes and burns two Sixth-level Spellcasters from Abyssal Fortress to ash.
• Osius appears and reveals his personal history with Leo. He had once encouraged Leo’s younger brother, Leidor, to join Osum, ultimately contributing to the conflict that forced Leo to kill Leidor himself.
• Enraged by Osius’s provocation, Leo attacks with Flame Scorch, but Osius easily extinguishes the flames. The castle collapses, and the two confront one another in the sky.
• Geselo and Helsius join forces against Osius. Their newly constructed Seventh-Level Spells—Frozen Cold Domain and Hand of Sin—are both effortlessly countered by Osius.
• Osius boasts that true genius can only be cultivated in Osum and mocks Leo for supposedly ruining Leidor’s potential.
• Leo finally unleashes the full power of the Dark Eye:
  • Illusion drags Osius into an illusion realm.
  • Disintegration destroys Osius’s Zero-Degree Ice Flame.
  • Pierce penetrates Osius’s defensive Spell and robe, badly injuring his shoulder.
  • Before Leo can use Extinguish, Osius escapes with Gale of Speed.
• Osius admits that he had underestimated Leo and acknowledges that Leo may be the true genius. Leo immediately pursues him, leaving the other Spellcasters stunned by the Dark Eye’s overwhelming power.

2. Character Developments

• Great Mage Leo: His Dark Eye is shown to be vastly more powerful than expected, allowing a Sixth-level Spellcaster to threaten and drive away a renowned Seventh-level Spellcaster. However, his rage over Leidor causes him to lose his usual composure, and repeated use of the Dark Eye visibly exhausts him.
• Osius: Introduced as an exceptionally gifted and confident Seventh-level Spellcaster whose custom Spells overwhelm other Seventh-level mages. Despite his superiority, he becomes genuinely frightened by Leo’s Dark Eye and is forced to flee.
• Great Mage Geselo: Though previously hostile or competitive toward Leo, he recognizes the greater threat posed by Osum and cooperates with Helsius. He becomes fascinated by the Dark Eye’s power.
• Great Mage Helsius: Acts as an observer who understands Leo’s emotional vulnerability regarding Leidor. His own newly created Spell is exposed as inferior to Osius’s magic.
• Sodam and Lamas: Their deaths establish the extreme gap between Leo and other powerful Spellcasters while also emphasizing the consequences of betraying their former organizations.

3. Significant Themes

• Genius versus mediocrity: Osius claims that Osum produces true geniuses, while Leo’s Dark Eye proves that talent and power can emerge outside Osum’s influence.
• The danger of emotional trauma: Leidor’s death remains Leo’s deepest wound. Osius deliberately exploits this grief, but his provocation ultimately unleashes Leo’s greatest strength.
• Power beyond conventional levels: Leo’s Dark Eye allows him to challenge the established hierarchy between Sixth- and Seventh-level Spellcasters, suggesting that rare abilities can transcend normal magical limits.
• Innovation in Spell construction: The chapter emphasizes that Seventh-level power depends on personally created Spells. Osius’s unusual fusion of fire and ice demonstrates his superior understanding, while Leo’s Pandora Demon Energy represents an even more extraordinary path.
• Political conflict and betrayal: The deaths of Sodam and Lamas, along with Leidor’s recruitment by Osum, reinforce the ongoing struggle between magical factions and the severe consequences of defection.

4. Character Interactions

• Leo and Osius: Their confrontation is both magical and deeply personal. Osius taunts Leo about Leidor, while Leo vows to kill every member of Osum in revenge. Their battle establishes them as major rivals.
• Geselo and Helsius: Despite prior friction, they cooperate against Osius, recognizing that Osum is a common enemy. Their combined attack still fails to seriously threaten him.
• Geselo and Leo: Geselo acknowledges the Dark Eye’s legendary status and begins viewing Leo with a mixture of respect, concern, and fascination.
• Osius and the other Spellcasters: Osius treats Geselo and Helsius as mediocre opponents, effortlessly defeating their Spells and reinforcing his arrogance.
• Leo and the memory of Leidor: Although Leidor never appears directly, his death controls the emotional core of Leo’s actions and drives the climactic battle.