Chapter 542: Dire Straits

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the endless depths of the subspace, Merlin fell pitifully through space.

Merlin’s face was ashen. At first, he thought this was a great stroke of luck but it had turned out to be his doom. That Legend Zado was totally unreasonable as if unconcerned about the rules of Arcane City. If Merlin died in this subspace, he would have died for nothing.

However, there was no point in complaining now. Even the black cat Didimoss was unable to contend against the Legend Zado as he was caught in his grasp. If Merlin wanted to leave the subspace alive, he would have to be cautious, and do things according to the Legend Zado’s “rules”.

“I know that this subspace is constructed based on the Legend Zado’s Maxim. How come there’s nothing strange?”

Merlin carefully extended his Mind Power in all directions but did not seem to sense any Maxim. This was just a subspace, not a dimension. Even a Great Honored Legend would only be able to create subspace but not a dimension. Only the three Ultimate Arcane Wizards could form a dimension!

However, though this was just a subspace, it was endlessly vast. Merlin’s Mind Power was unable to detect its end.

“Hehe, young fellow, are you ready? If you are, then first enjoy the Flame Subspace...”

The Legend Zado’s voice reverberated across the endless void. After he spoke, Merlin felt that his surroundings were quickly transforming.

“Boom.”

Merlin’s world was transformed, and he was transported to a subspace filled completely with flames. The raging flames burned on the ground and in the air. The entire space was brimming with a terrifying blaze.

From these flames, Merlin discerned the force of a Maxim. He had previously obtained a Flame Maxim as well, so naturally, he was able to tell that these were very powerful Flame Maxims.

“Hoo...”

Merlin drew in a hot breath of air as if the flames were absorbed into his body. The surrounding temperature was alarming, and his Enervating Halo would not hold on much longer.

Nonetheless, at this point, Merlin calmed down. He thought back carefully to the Legend Zado’s words, who had mentioned that after Merlin was sent into the Maxim Subspace, he would have to rely on his own strength to survive.

In fact, Merlin had come across a subspace constructed from a Maxim before. Back then, Wizard Bammou had survived in the Flame Prison on the Ship of Nikola. Moreover, he had gleaned the Essence of Fire-type spells from the flames of the Flame Prison which contained the force of the Maxim. In that manner, he had constructed a new Eighth-level spell, and used that to withstand the scorching of the Flame Prison.

Nonetheless, it was a bitter and arduous process, and Wizard Bammou was nearly unable to hold on at the end.

“To comprehend the Essence of Fire... Perhaps that’s the only way, and this might be the Legend Zado’s intention.”

Merlin eyed the ferocious flames, and countless thoughts occurred to him. The Legend Zado surely had not targeted Merlin without reason. By taking the trouble to hurl Merlin into the Maxim Subspace, he must wish for Merlin to get something out of it.

The road to becoming a Legend was challenging. Even if Merlin had the Matrix, and even if he had constructed Six-Elemental spells, it was of utmost difficulty to become a Great Wizard, let alone a Great Legend. Therefore, understanding the Essence of Elements would increase his chances of becoming a Great Legend in the future.

This was the Legend Zado’s true purpose!

Still, it was too extreme to just instantly throw Merlin into the Maxim Subspace. A moment of carelessness might just cause Merlin to be burned to ashes by the flames.

“Endless Flame!”

Merlin cast the Sixth-level spell Endless Flame. The Spell Model of Endless Flame was practically perfect, though this was only thanks to the function of the Matrix.

What Merlin had to do now was to understand the Essence of the Elements, particularly Fire Element. Before this, because Merlin had acquired the Flame Maxim before the rest, he had been immersed in Fire Element for a long time. Thus, he had the deepest understanding of Fire Element and Darkness Element.

Nevertheless, in the face of the surging, spitting Flame Maxims, Merlin’s Endless Flame was of no use at all. The moment the soaring Endless Flame appeared, it was immediately suppressed and absorbed by the Flame Maxims, following which it vanished completely.

“The Flame Maxims are too strong. I have no way of blocking them, so my spell must approach the Flame Maxims, hopefully reaching their level.”

Merlin’s entire being was immersed in his understanding of the Flame Maxims. Although these Flame Maxims were blazing stormily, the strange thing was it did not sweep across Merlin. It was as if in the entire Flame Subspace, only the place where Merlin stood was a safe spot.

...

In the grand, sumptuous hall of the castle, the tall and sturdy Wizard Zado was holding a black cat in his lap, his hands stroking it lightly.

The black cat was like a person, with a “face” that revealed its dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, faced with Wizard Zado, the black cat Didimoss was powerless. It looked like this Great Legend had not reached the level of an Honored Legend yet, he was definitely a preeminent Great Legend below Honored Legends.

Despite the black cat Didimoss’ strength, he was unable to withstand even a blow from the Legend Zado. After all, Didimoss was at best comparable to a Legend with one Maxim. The disparity was far too great.

“It’s been ten days. Little fellow, do you think Merlin is able to hold on?”

The Legend Zado asked the black cat in his lap with a humorless smile.

The black cat Didimoss looked at the suspended image in the hall. It showed Merlin who was painstakingly hanging on in the Flame Subspace. Ten days was the amount of time in which the Legend Zado had expressly allowed Merlin to gain understanding. Otherwise, Merlin would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

Even so, the black cat Didimoss was quite pessimistic and said, “Though Wizard Merlin is a prodigy, Legend Zado, I’m afraid that no Spell Caster would be able to succeed in such extreme measures.”

“Is that so? Even you, an extraordinary being who goes against the natural order by transforming into a living entity, can appear by Merlin’s side. I’m curious as to whether Merlin would die so easily. A genius like this, no matter his circumstances, will always find a way out of a predicament... In my long life, I was like this as well. No matter what predicament it was, I would always discover something previously unimaginable and obtain incredible benefits in that way. The disciple that I take on must naturally be just like me, and Merlin is really too similar to me.”

The Legend Zado glanced at the black cat Didimoss. He was filled with curiosity about how the black cat Didimoss had transformed from a half-spirit into a living state. In the past few days, he had been astutely researching the black cat Didimoss.

Turning into a living form was something not even the Ultimate Arcane Wizards could achieve because this involved the natural order! Not even the Ultimate Arcane Wizards were able to control the power of the natural order for it was the foundation on which the millions of dimensions, and even the Void Zone, existed.

“Your ability is swallowing, and you’ll gain a portion of strength from what you swallowed. Although it’s a minute portion, by accumulating over decades, centuries or even a millennium, you’ll certainly grow rapidly to an inconceivable level... Since you’re a lucky one who can reverse the natural order, you can’t be predicted based on conventional reasoning. Not even the Arcane Wizards can forecast your future.”

The Legend Zado seemed to be highly interested in the black cat Didimoss. With a great swipe of his hand, he retrieved a colossal monster from an unknown subspace. The monster was covered all over in crimson eyes, with a height of dozens of meters, exuding a wild and ferocious force.

“Heh heh, this is a Thousand-Eye Beast that I’ve captured. It’s comparable to some of the top Great Wizards. I’ve planned on researching it but I’m almost done with it. Here’s a gift for you. Swallow it.”

When the black cat Didimoss saw the Thousand-Eye Beast before him, his eyes immediately glinted with a green light. It was a look of greed. Just as the Legend Zado had said, the black cat Didimoss, in fact, could still advance further. His ability was to swallow. Only by constantly swallowing powerful forces could Didimoss gradually evolve.

“Swoosh.”

The great mouth of the black cat Didimoss immediately became a gigantic pit which gobbled the Thousand-Eye Beast into his stomach in one gulp. Just as it was with the Rock Giant, the black cat Didimoss sprawled across the Legend Zado’s shoulder in satisfaction, beginning to close his eyes as he slowly digested. He seemed to have forgotten about Merlin.

Wizard Zado smiled, and paid no more attention to the black cat Didimoss. Looking at Merlin’s serene expression in the image, the Legend Zado waved abruptly with one hand, mumbling softly, “You should have gained most of the understanding by now. If you still can’t withstand it, then you’re not the disciple I want...”

At this point, Wizard Zado’s eyes were cold and detached.

...

“Hmm?”

In the Flame Subspace, Merlin was comprehending the Essence of Fire. In truth, over the past ten days, he had already gained much. He was even confident that if given one or two more months, he would surely understand even more, and might be able to forcibly contend against the Flame Maxims.

However, the surrounding Flame Maxims suddenly flared up, and waves of heat rolled toward him furiously. He instantly knew that the Legend Zado must not be “protecting” him anymore.

Over the ten days, the Flame Maxims had been of no threat to Merlin. He guessed that this was the Legend Zado’s help. However, the Legend Zado seemed to think that he had sufficient time by now, and was no longer aiding Merlin, allowing the Flame Maxims to sweep across him.

The true test is only coming now!

“Boom!”

Boundless flames wrapped around Merlin instantly. Merlin had Enervating Halo as well as Endless Flame. This time around, Endless Flame would not be suppressed and absorbed so easily, but when faced with the Flame Maxims, it still could not put up any effective resistance.

Merlin was crying out in his heart, “Give me more time, I’ll surely succeed...”

Nonetheless, the Legend Zado would not give him any more time. Merlin was in a tight situation.

Traces of the Flame Maxims began to burrow into Merlin’s body, turning him into ashes from the outside. Even Merlin’s Thunder Maxim was powerless when confronted with numerous Flame Maxims.

Ten days were totally insufficient for Merlin to understand the Essence of Fire, to say nothing of coming up with an effective defense.

At this point, Merlin was in dire straits. In moments like this, some people would fall silent, while some would erupt without inhibitions. Merlin was evidently the latter.

“I don’t care. Since the Matrix can absorb the power of Maxims to derive spells, it can surely absorb the endless Flame Maxims that fill up this place! It must!”

With anticipation burning in his eyes, Merlin, in this most deadly situation as if at the end of the rope, immediately activated the Matrix!