Chapter 603: Honesty
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Merlin, your Hallucinating spell has gotten much stronger. I'm afraid even I'm no longer your worthy opponent."
It was Alcra who spoke. He had revealed his true form, and imprisoned the Church of Demon's believers. Since those believers were completely unable to break through his binding, he was able to shift his attention to converse with Merlin.
When he saw that Merlin's Hallucinating spell was able to trap even the most zealous believers in an illusion, Alcra's heart was astonished because he knew that Merlin had become more powerful. Even before Merlin's Hallucinating spell was strengthened, it was able to affect him. Now that the Hallucinating spell was strengthened, it would not merely affect him.
This was the fearsomeness of Mind Power Masters. Nevertheless, the number of Mind Power Masters was very few among the Spell Casters, not to mention those who were able to achieve Merlin's level of accomplishment. The third step of Hallucinating spells, according to Merlin's knowledge, was only ever achieved by the Blackfire Lord and Titus. Meanwhile, Titus had achieved the Illusory Heart, and was beginning to consolidate the Illusory World.
Compared to Ossais from before, although he was also a top Mind Power Master, the Nine Hit Strike that he had constructed had deviated from the Mind Power system. Even if he continued to explore further, it would be a dead-end road, and would not be compatible with the system developed by Titus.
As for Merlin's talent in Mind Power, it was not really remarkable. He had a smidge of talent but it was the various opportunities that he had encountered which now allowed him to stand at the peak of almost all other Mind Power Masters.
Upon achieving the third step of Hallucinating spells, Merlin would soon begin to pursue the Illusory Heart so that he could catch up to Titus. It was only upon achieving the Illusory Heart that he could rival a Great Legend, and be considered to have perfected the preliminary stage of the Mind Power system.
Merlin smiled but did not explain. His Hallucinating spell had achieved the third step. In addition, he had become an Eighth-level Spell Caster, so his combined abilities, of course, improved to a new threshold. He was no longer inferior to those mightiest existences below a Legend.
"Merlin, the outcome has been determined. The Church of Demon will no longer be able to cause a storm! However, I still can't control the Dimension Core. Although you've suppressed Demon God Vauna, the Dimension Core is still under his control. Unless he dies, we'll never be able to control the Dimension Core!"
Alcra said with a grave tone. Merlin also knew that they were not Great Legends, so they could not forcibly plunder the Elemental Origin. This dimension was not an Inceptive Dimension.
Therefore, only by killing Demon God Vauna who was controlling the Elemental Origin, they would have a chance of controlling this dimension.
However, after Demon God Vauna had been suppressed in the God-Binding Disc, Merlin did not know what happened. He was prepared to solve the problem which was the Church of Demon first, before carefully inspecting Demon God Vauna in the God-Binding Disc.
With Merlin's Hallucinating spell as well as the countless number of Spell Casters, the one-sided massacre ended very soon. The ones who were gathered here were Demon God Vauna's staunch believers so it was impossible for them to discard their beliefs. Hence, none of them could be spared.
Fortunately, Alcra was there to surround the entire area, so none of the believers were able to escape.
The blood stench of hundreds of thousands of believers wafted into the air. The resulting huge volume of negative energy affected even the Spell Casters with Mind Power. Meanwhile, Darkness Eye in Merlin's palm seemed to have found a delicacy, and was madly absorbing the negative energy.
Although Merlin did not know if and how Darkness Eye could level up to its seventh form, he allowed Darkness Eye to absorb all types of negative energy it wanted. Perhaps, some extraordinary changes would take place.
Soon, after three days, the battle drew to a close. The Spell Casters secured a huge victory, and the numerous Spell Casters returned to Holy City. Due to Merlin and Alcra's special statuses, they were invited by the twenty-three Great Wizards into Holy City's discussion hall.
"Wizard Merlin, you mentioned before that the Great Legend Saitu is dead. What happened? How could it be possible for Legend Saitu to die?"
Upon entering the discussion hall, Teacher Anna could not hold back and ask urgently. All the other Great Wizards present also nodded their head, and fixed their gazes on Merlin. In their perspective, Legend Saitu was an "all-powerful" being. He came from the endless darkness outside, suppressed evil Demon God Vauna, saved them from the Demon's slavery, and even imparted knowledge to enable them to master the same power.
Such emotions could not possibly be comprehended by anyone who had not experienced it themselves. Most of these Great Wizards were the first batch of Wizards who had received knowledge from Legend Saitu after he descended, so they held a deep sense of gratitude toward him.
"This issue is slightly more complicated."
Merlin deliberated for a moment, countless thoughts running through his head. This dimension was a dimension that Wizard Saitu had nurtured for a long time. Just by observing the fact that they had managed to produce twenty-three Great Wizards, showed how deep the foundation had been.
Previously, Merlin had thought of controlling a dimension but he never really considered properly of what would happen after he had controlled it? After he saw the Spell Casters rebelling against destiny, and his Hallucinating spell improved, he now had a new idea. He wanted to use the Saitu Dimension as his foundation, then gradually expand his influence and control more dimensions!
As a master of a dimension, though he would not be able to absorb the power of worship like the gods, if the dimension produced more and more powerful Wizards, the entire dimension would be inconspicuously strengthened and produce a "reverse feeding" phenomenon for the master. The process of consolidating a Maxim, among others, would be easier.
This was the main reason why most of the Great Legends wanted to occupy more dimensions. The plunderers were short-sighted Wizards because they only thought of plundering the Elemental Origins, and quickly consolidate a Maxim in the shortest time possible. However, from a long-term perspective, this was merely a short-term gratification, and would destroy the foundations of the Spell Caster civilization, so it was completely unforgivable.
The "reverse feeding" phenomenon was something that even the Ultimate Arcane Wizards could not understand yet it existed as true as the day is long. In fact, Merlin suspected that the reason he could grasp the Spell Casters' rebellion against destiny so smoothly, and break through his Hallucinating spell was related to the "reverse feeding" of the dimension.
"If I want to nurture this dimension properly and expand it, I have to be honest!"
Immediately, Merlin decided in his heart. Of course, the part about him pretending to be Legend Saitu's disciple was not included. Moreover, when he first received the dimension coordinates from Legend Saitu, it was to some extent, intended to be given to him. So, he could be considered half a disciple.
Merlin did not have to be honest about his identity but he must be honest with them about the outside world and the Spell Caster civilization. This was because in the future, these Great Wizards would leave the dimension. If they had the opportunity to return, they would know the truth.
"Respectable Wizards!"
Merlin raised his head, and swept his gaze across the Great Wizards. Then, he continued slowly. "You may already know that outside this world is endless darkness, and many Great Wizards had left here to enter the endless darkness but never made it back. However, you must know that this world of yours is only a single dimension. In the endless darkness which we call the Void Zone, there are as many dimensions as grains of sand.
"In the Void Zone, we're the powerful Spell Caster civilization, and Legend Saitu was also a member of the Spell Caster civilization. Even for us Spell Casters, we gradually rose up from being enslaved by the gods to exile them, and eventually became a great civilization!"
Merlin explained the concepts of the Void Zone, foreign tribe civilizations, open territory, and many more in detail. For these Spell Casters, this information was eye-opening and astonishing. Back then, Legend Saitu only imparted to them the knowledge of Spell Casters. Perhaps, it was because they were still very weak, so he did not tell them the truth about the Void Zone.
After listening to Merlin's explanation, many Great Wizards were silently digesting the staggering amount of information shared with them.
After some time, Wizard Anna heaved a long sigh. "We've been living under a rock the entire time! We never knew that in the outside world, there's a powerful Spell Caster civilization! Wizard Merlin, I wonder if we're considered a part of the Spell Caster civilization?"
All the Great Wizards in the hall flashed a look of eagerness.
"Haha, of course you're a part of the Spell Caster civilization! Every Spell Caster is a part of the Spell Caster civilization. However, you're situated in the open territory. So, it's more complicated. The Spell Caster civilization's sphere of influence hasn't been able to expand to this region but if there are more dimensions controlled by Spell Casters, then one day, this region would automatically belong to the Spell Caster civilization!"
Merlin said with a smile. The open territory had so many foreign tribe civilizations but in reality, all of them were backed by their respective forces, each trying to seize control over part of or the entire open territory.
"Wizard Merlin, we're truly grateful for your honesty! We have been progressing for nearly two thousand years but never produced a Great Legend. The time that Legend Saitu spent in this dimension was very short, so we don't even know how to cultivate ourselves after becoming a Great Wizard. Will you be leaving soon?"
Merlin and Alcra exchanged a look. With all smiles, he replied, "We won't be leaving for a while. Moreover, I'll slowly develop the Saitu Dimension, and pass on the knowledge of Spell Casters. At least, I'll share with you everything I know about the Great Legends."
Becoming a Great Legend was contingent upon consolidating a Maxim. Although it seemed simple, it had stumped these Great Wizards for countless years. In fact, they almost thought that this was the limit of Spell Casters, and could not be surpassed.
However, following Merlin's arrival, they learned that above the Great Wizards, there were the Great Legends, and that they would have to consolidate a Maxim in order to become a Great Legend. Thus, they did not have to leave the dimension and explore the dangerous open territory anymore. Back then, the reason so many Great Wizards left the dimension was because they felt like they had reached a dead-end and could no longer level-up, so they left the dimension to explore if there were other opportunities.
However, they most probably died under the hands of those foreign tribe armies.
Great Wizard Anna asked Merlin many more questions, and naturally, they accepted Merlin and Alcra. The first step of Merlin's plan was successful.
"Alcra, the first step is successful, we have established our influence in this dimension. Next, we should be able to control the dimension. Nonetheless, we first must get rid of Demon God Vauna!
Merlin flipped his hand and retrieved the God-Binding Disc from his spatial ring. Two hostile gazes glared at the God-Binding Disc concurrently.