Chapter 339: The Sea of Mana (Requesting Monthly Votes)
The only consolation was that Leon remembered: this Demon Lord before him had been severely wounded thousands of years ago. Forced to become the incarnation of the Soul Requiem, it was ultimately claimed by the ancestor of the Charlotte Family. Even now, it was far from regaining its peak strength—at best, it could only muster the power of a top-tier True Spirit artifact...
"Hmm, a human mage?" The twisted face formed from black smoke stared at Leon, its voice echoing as if from the depths of hell. "Let me see... Tsk tsk tsk, I never imagined—a human mage, killing my host at such a young age..."
Leon merely took a cautious step back. The upper-tier Flame Spirit had already been withdrawn; in his hands he gripped the Soulbound Staff and the Death Tome, every sense on high alert.
"Oh, so that's it. I see..." The twisted face stared at Leon for a long moment, then suddenly erupted in a grating laugh. "That gemstone is on you, isn't it, human mage?"
"What gemstone?"
"Human mage, that gemstone is not something you should touch. It will bring disaster to you and your family. Hand it over now, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, when I find you, you and your family will weep in hellfire..."
"I don't know anything about a gemstone..."
"So, human mage, you choose to stand against me..."
"Quit your theatrics!" Leon cut the nonsense, pouring mana directly into the Death Tome. The Chapter of Truth flared with dazzling light.
After a brief rest, Ross Merlin was about to take his leave. But as he stood, he hesitated—he suddenly remembered that after Hanson Charlotte was killed, Marfa (the Cousin) had promised to discuss the map with him...
"Damn it, human mage, you dare attack me!" As the runes appeared, the twisted face let out a thunderous roar—then, suddenly, its rage turned to shock: "Impossible! How could you wield such power?"
But after witnessing the terrifying power of Marfa (the Cousin), Ross Merlin still felt a lingering fear. Just standing before him made Ross nervous, let alone bringing up the topic of the map himself...
The only thing Leon could rely on was the Chapter of Truth.
The power of the Chapter of Truth pierces all illusions and dispels all evil—against such beings, it is a natural nemesis...
As expected...
"Uh..." Ross Merlin hadn't expected Marfa (the Cousin) to go straight for his biggest secret. For a moment, Ross was at a loss...
"Human mage, you will pay for what you've done today. Just wait—three months from now, I will find you. When my true form descends, you and your family will weep and howl in hellfire!"
After the repeated roars, the twisted face of black smoke began to dissipate in the air, and the evil, terrifying magical aura faded away with it.
"Whew..." Only when the last trace of magic vanished did Leon finally let out a long breath.
It might have seemed like Leon had only exchanged a few words and activated the Chapter of Truth, but the pressure he endured was unimaginable to anyone who hadn't experienced it firsthand.
What had just descended was the real deal—a true Demon Lord...
A being capable of killing Heavenly Mages.
Though only a fraction of its power had descended, the suppression from that level was all too real. The gap between them was two full tiers; just standing before it, Leon was forced to endure immense pressure.
Just look at Ross Merlin and William Merlin...
"How are you holding up?" Only after the twisted face had vanished did Ross Merlin and William Merlin dare to approach from a distance. Both were pale and drenched in cold sweat—the pressure from that demonic visage had been terrifying. Even standing dozens of meters away, they felt enveloped by an overwhelming force, as if one wrong move could have consumed them entirely...
That was a power no mortal could hope to withstand...
"It's nothing. Let's head back." Leon shook his head, unwilling to linger. The Demon Lord's power had just descended here, which would soon attract attention from powerful figures. Leon had no desire to be thrust into the spotlight right now.
After a few hurried words, the three of them crossed the ruined street and found another carriage not far away...
Half an hour later, the trio returned to the Merlin Family Manor.
After a brief rest, Ross Merlin was about to take his leave. But as he stood, he hesitated—he suddenly remembered that after Hanson Charlotte was killed, his Marfa cousin had promised to discuss the map with him...
Of course, Ross Merlin had no intention of giving up on that map...
But after witnessing the terrifying power of his Marfa cousin, Ross Merlin still felt a lingering fear. Just standing before him made Ross nervous, let alone bringing up the topic of the map himself...
In the end, Leon glanced at him. "Sit down, let's talk..."
"Y-yes..." Ross Merlin nodded quickly and sat back down.
"First, tell me: what does that map mean to you?"
"Uh..." Ross Merlin hadn't expected his Marfa cousin to go straight for his biggest secret. For a moment, Ross was at a loss...
If it were any other question, Ross Merlin wouldn't have hesitated...
But this...
This was Ross Merlin's greatest secret.
Back then, Ross Merlin was always overshadowed by Stan Watson, watching his rival soar ahead like a nightmare that bred despair. Yet, Ross never gave up hope—because he knew of a map that could let him leap to the top, catch up to Stan Watson and all the other prodigies, and set foot on the path to magical greatness.
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But now, his distant cousin's very first question was to force him to reveal such a major secret—naturally, Ross Merlin hesitated.
It's not that Ross Merlin was overly suspicious...
It's just that this secret was simply too important to him...
It concerned Ross Merlin's future path in magic...
Everyone knew that Ross Merlin was once just a side branch of the Merlin Family, his bloodline so diluted it was barely traceable. Before the age of twenty, he was just an ordinary mage, but after turning twenty, he advanced rapidly—becoming a level-five Magus and even obtaining the Merlin Family's most powerful arcane sigil: Endless Spring.
But only Ross Merlin knew that all of this was thanks to that secret...
Or rather, to a tiny, tiny part of that secret...
Just imagine—even that tiny part made Ross Merlin who he is today. If he obtained the whole secret, what heights could he reach?
"Marfa cousin, it's just..." Ross Merlin opened his mouth, but couldn't decide what to do.
"It's fine. You don't have to say if you don't want to." Leon immediately understood just how important the map was to Ross Merlin.
As for exactly how important, Leon honestly couldn't be bothered to care.
No matter how important it was—could it really surpass the whole era?
"No, no, Marfa cousin, that's not what I meant..." Ross Merlin panicked when Leon shook his head, afraid he'd angered his distant cousin. Flustered, he blurted out, "Marfa cousin, this map is tied to a secret that could transform Endless Spring..."
"Hm?"
Leon was stunned for a moment.
At first, Leon had thought the map might lead Ross Merlin to great wealth, or perhaps some advanced meditation techniques. He never imagined it would be a secret capable of transforming Endless Spring.
Endless Spring was the Merlin Family's most powerful arcane sigil—and in the entire Kingdom of Andalusia, it was considered one of the best.
If it truly transformed, it would become the Sea of Mana—a top-tier arcane sigil.
Wait, that's not right...
The Sea of Mana—wasn't it lost as early as the Third Dynasty?
It wasn't until the peak era in the future that the Sea of Mana reappeared. Back then, when Leon chose his arcane sigil, he considered the Sea of Mana as a candidate, but eventually chose the even more powerful Arcane Armament.
But that doesn't mean the Sea of Mana isn't powerful enough.
Even in the peak era, the Sea of Mana was renowned for its strength—one of the top arcane sigils in the world of Northend. Countless powerful mages chose the path of the Sea of Mana.
It just couldn't compare to the Arcane Armament...
After all, the Arcane Armament was far too unique.
It completely surpassed all arcane sigils—not just the Sea of Mana, but any arcane sigil couldn't compare.
You all know, I was just a side branch of the Merlin Family, my bloodline was so weak—it was nothing like you, William. You were born a magical prodigy, advancing rapidly on the magical path. To be honest, when I was twenty, I was just a level-one mage...
I've heard about that, and I always wondered why you...' William Merlin nodded from the side.
Heh, maybe I was just lucky...' Since the conversation had started, Ross Merlin didn't mind continuing. After a brief smile, he sat down and said, 'Back then, I thought I'd never become a Grand Mage, but when I was twenty, I walked into a dilapidated library near Baradin. I was there to copy spells, but ended up finding a meditation technique in an old magic book...'