Chapter 1214
Several Sky Rank orcs had never met Leon before, nor had they accompanied him to the Sacred Mountain. But that didn’t mean they were fools. Even Kros had taken the initiative to show goodwill—naturally, they had to follow suit.
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"That human is far more complicated than you think. To put it simply, his personal strength is only at the peak of Title Archmage, but in terms of actual power, he’s already on par with a Sky Rank Level 2.
And I can sense that his foundations are terrifyingly solid—far beyond any mage I’ve ever seen. No, beyond any mage I’ve even heard of. I even faintly sensed a trace of god-demon aura from him. No, not exactly god-demon, but something indescribably powerful.
He could break through to Sky Rank at any moment. I’ve already sent people to gather information on Leon Merlin, and his rate of progress is downright monstrous. I believe it won’t take more than ten years for him to reach my level.
If he were merely a terrifying prodigy, I wouldn’t care. But I’ve noticed something: no one who’s crossed him has ever come out ahead. In the end, they all fell.
This time, among those who entered the Sacred Mountain and died unexpectedly in the Abyss, most were his enemies. Those without grudges, those on good terms with him, are all thriving now.
See those newly ascended human Sky Ranks? Every single one has a good relationship with Leon Merlin.
That’s what makes him truly terrifying. His personal strength alone is enough to make me take notice, because I know—until he’s strong enough to kill me, he won’t fall.
More importantly, you haven’t been to Ironhold. You have no idea how bustling it is. During the war, it was practically a neutral zone for both humans and orcs—anyone who tried to stir up trouble there was met with iron-fisted suppression.
Leon Merlin himself fought in the war, but even his involvement didn’t disrupt Ironhold. That’s the truly frightening part. The wealth gathered there—Ironhold itself—is the best way for us orcs to advance.
Honestly, before humans arrived, we orcs wasted so many resources in the Blazeforge Realm. Humans, on the other hand, have pushed resource utilization to its absolute limit.
Over a hundred Merlin disciples—at minimum, all at Archmage rank—stood respectfully behind Hofland. Many of the younger ones looked at Leon with fanatical eyes.
In Ironhold, nobody dares to pull any tricks. Leon Merlin’s legions alone could wipe out any orc force—including us, the Golden Orcs!
That colossal warship is said to have once belonged to a god-demon, and those three races once followed the god-demons as well.
At times like this, peace is the best outcome. Leon Merlin and his Ironhold are the strongest link between humans and orcs…"
Kros spoke at length. Many orcs below didn’t fully grasp it, but they understood one thing: if orcs want to develop, Ironhold is the fastest and best way. But it’s clear brute force won’t work, so honest trade is the only option.
Leon returned to Ironhold to make his final arrangements. The Blazeforge Realm was finally stabilizing, so he no longer needed to oversee things personally. Ironhold’s defenses were reinforced with rare materials and now included a massive Magic Reaction Core. Even a Sky Rank Level 3 assault couldn’t breach its walls.
Even the city’s foundations had been deepened to over ten meters, all built with magic iron. Hidden below was a vast alchemical array—if unrest broke out, it would activate, suppressing every force within Ironhold. Only those alchemical golems marked with secret runes during construction, and any being recognized by Ironhold, could function normally.
Even Sky Rank mages could be suppressed down to Title Archmage level. And if a Title Archmage dared to make trouble in Ironhold, the best outcome would be being torn to shreds by a swarm of alchemical golems within thirty seconds.
Meanwhile, the Dauntless warship was hidden in the sky, with the three great races guarding the Basin Mountains. If anyone tried to attack Ironhold, Dauntless could bombard their territory with magic crystal cannons before they even breached Ironhold’s defenses. With a steady energy source, Dauntless’s terrifying power was gradually being revealed.
Lord Leon was already an Archmage in his teens… By twenty, he’d reached Title Archmage. How could any of you justify slacking off?
At its peak, a single strike from the Hand of Destruction could annihilate a small realm, shattering its land and sky in an instant.
After arranging everything in the Blazeforge Realm, Leon quietly left.
At that moment, Joseph personally came to Ironhold, ceding a stretch of land bordering the Four Seasons Plain and the Shadow Tower territory to Leon, with a river as the boundary.
As for the other territories under Merlin family control, smaller families mysteriously withdrew their people, not daring to covet Merlin lands any longer.
At least in the Blazeforge Realm, no one dared provoke Leon anymore. When both humans and orcs sent a Sky Rank Level 3 to visit Ironhold, everyone knew what that meant—unless their brains had been kicked by a pig-beast.
The moment Leon left the Blazeforge Realm via the planar path, the guards stationed nearby immediately notified the Merlin family.
The Hofland family personally led a delegation to welcome Leon’s return.
Although he’d already learned much about what happened in the Blazeforge Realm through intelligence reports, Hofland couldn’t help but show a trace of shock the moment he saw Leon.
Peak Ninth-Rank Title Archmage—no, it should be perfection at Ninth-Rank Title Archmage. That flawless feeling seemed only to exist in Sandon Merlin, that monster.
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A terrifying fellow indeed. Originally, I just wanted him to get some experience in the Blazeforge Realm, hoping it might ease the Merlin family’s predicament. But I never expected things to escalate this far.
The Horn of Plenty, rich in resources; the Four Seasons Plain, with mineral wealth ranking among the top three in Blazeforge; and the Basin Mountains—all now under Lord Leon’s control…
He sends chills down my spine…
Within the Blazeforge Realm, the Merlin family was considered weak. Even among the powers of the Andalusia Kingdom, they weren’t strong—let alone compared to the Odin Kingdom, which treated Andalusia like a backwater.
Those people didn’t even necessarily respect the Cloudspire Tower or the Black Tower, yet now several factions from the Odin Kingdom seemed to have good relations with Leon…
My judgment really is far superior to those old council members. I’ve found such an outstanding family member for the Merlins—no, he’s a monster, even more terrifying than Sandon Merlin.
Hofland’s expression was complicated. Watching Leon approach, he couldn’t help but step forward and give him a hug.
"Welcome home, Lord Leon Merlin."
With that simple phrase, every member of the Merlin family behind Hofland gave Leon a solemn mage’s salute.
"Welcome home, Lord Leon Merlin."
Over a hundred Merlin disciples—at minimum, all at Magus rank—stood respectfully behind Hofland. Many of the younger ones looked at Leon with fanatical eyes.
"So this is Lord Leon Merlin… He looks so young. Why don’t I sense any magical fluctuations from him?"
"Idiot. That’s because you’re too weak. Lord Leon’s power is so vast, we don’t even qualify to sense his magic."
"Exactly! I heard Lord Leon isn’t even thirty yet, and he’s already a peak Ninth-Rank Title Archmage. Lord William said he could advance to Sky Rank at any moment!"
"Heavens, a Sky Rank powerhouse under thirty? That’s terrifying—even scarier than ancestor Sandon Merlin!"
"Sky Rank is nothing. Lord William said—and everyone knows—Lord Leon has killed more than a dozen Sky Rank powerhouses. When he unleashes his full aura, even Sky Rank magic beasts cower and submit."
"Lord Ross told me just days ago, there was an ancient god-demon revived in the Blazeforge Realm, but Lord Leon defeated it…"
Even while Leon was still in the Blazeforge Realm, stories about him had already spread throughout the Merlin family. Some even dug up old tales, exaggerating them further.
Now, Leon was a legend in the Merlin family—an idol to the younger generation. The family’s instructors used his story as an example when teaching the children.
Lord Leon was already a Grand Mage in his teens… By twenty, he’d reached Title Archmage. How could any of you justify slacking off?
Lord Leon used to spend over a dozen hours a day studying alchemy—now he’s a master creator. If he hadn’t spent so much time on alchemy, he’d have become a Title Archmage at your age…
Such stories spread through the Merlin family like gospel. At least, every child and apprentice believed them. Even many who knew Leon’s history thought they were only slightly exaggerated.
Some people truly defy common sense. If not for his obsession with alchemy, how could he have been just an apprentice when the family was bankrupt?
They say his magical talent was terrible—practically trash. But now, he’s about to break through to Sky Rank before thirty. If that’s ‘bad talent,’ what counts as good?
And his alchemy—if he hadn’t invested all that time, would he have reached such mastery?
So, the legend must be true…
Leon had no idea he’d become a legendary figure in the Merlin family. Seeing such a grand scene, he was genuinely startled.
Behind Leon, Xuban hefted a massive slaughter blade, grinning—though he looked terrifying no matter how you saw it.
Lena wore a cold expression, forbidding anyone to approach. There was no frost in the air, but everyone nearby felt as if their minds were freezing.
Other than these two following Leon, no one else was present. The rest had been left behind to guard the Blazeforge Realm.
Hofland sidled up to Leon, beaming, and whispered.
"Lord Leon, these are the juniors of the Merlin family. Say hello to them. You’re their role model now—this wasn’t my idea, they insisted on welcoming you themselves…"
With Hofland saying that, what could Leon do? He raised his hand and waved to the crowd behind Hofland.
In an instant, the boys erupted in wild cheers and the girls' shrieks burst forth like fireworks—pure pandemonium.
"Did you see? Lord Leon just waved at me—he was looking at me! I knew my talent would catch his eye…"
"Lord Leon is so kind. The instructor lied to us, said he was strict and scary…"
"Lord Leon is so strong. Just a casual wave, and I felt the elements around me cheering—they’re welcoming him…"
With such a warm welcome from the Merlin juniors, Leon felt awkward coming empty-handed. He’d just returned from the Blazeforge Realm, loaded with resources he couldn’t possibly use up himself…
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After a moment’s thought, Leon waved his hand. Refined precious ores and potions appeared in midair, flying to the hands of each young Merlin family member as if they had wings.
Everyone received something different, but without exception, each gift was something these youngsters could never have obtained on their own at this stage.
Some got tempered magical metal ores, others received expertly crafted alchemical potions—almost no two gifts were alike.
Soon, the young Merlin disciples erupted in cheers.
"My god, this is a True Spirit potion! It boosts spell resonance—I heard you can’t buy these in any alchemy shop, only get one if a master craftsman prepares it personally."
"Mine’s dragon blood—if I forge it into a magic item, it’ll perfectly match my runes…"
"I got a genuine gem. If I set it in my staff, it’ll fix its flaws…"
Amid the cheers, someone finally realized: every gift Leon personally handed out was perfectly suited to each recipient, and all were frighteningly valuable. Even Title Archmages would have to scrimp and save for years to afford such things…
"Lord Leon is amazing—just one glance and he knew exactly what each of us needed most…"
"Of course! Lord Leon is a master creator—alchemy, potions, magic items, golems, arrays—he’s mastered them all. It’s no wonder he can see through us so easily."
The Merlin juniors, raised on tales of legend, suddenly found themselves face-to-face with their mythic idol—and he was handing out gifts. The excitement nearly drove them mad.
A glint of shock flickered in Hofland’s eyes, though he said nothing. The juniors didn’t realize how difficult Leon’s feat was, but as a powerful Title Archmage, Hofland knew all too well…
Leon was getting stronger—no, not just stronger. He really was like a reincarnated god-demon. He couldn’t possibly know any of these Merlin juniors, had never even met them.
Yet just by glancing at them, their secrets were laid bare to him. Every gift was perfectly suited to each recipient.
If it were just one or two, maybe it’d be easier to explain. But there were hundreds of them—how did he do it?
In just a few seconds, he grasped all their secrets. No, he understood them better than they understood themselves.
Damn it, how does Leon do it?
Hofland’s gaze swept over the treasures in the juniors’ hands—hundreds of items, the lowest grade potions at True Spirit level. Even the harder-to-make ones surpassed ordinary True Spirit potions. These were things you simply couldn’t buy.
And those materials—all refined, each one a potential magic item embryo. Many were already inscribed with runes; with a few auxiliary materials, some could be made into True Spirit magic item embryos.
Even the magic gems were rare—none could be bought on the market, and most only appeared at auctions, if at all.
Some could even serve as the keystones for alchemical arrays—exactly what these youngsters needed most.
Hofland’s eyelids twitched. The Merlin family could produce these things, but normally only Title Archmages or planar commanders might get them—and even then, they might not be suitable.
Handing out so many treasures would strain the Merlin family’s finances for a year. Many of these items, even the family couldn’t supply.
So many treasures—their value was simply beyond estimation…