A Wizard’s Secret
chapter-402

The hedgehog was merely a puppet, but in the instant that its eyes flicked open, Merlin could clearly feel a boundless surge of Fire Element fluctuations.

This meant that the powers of this puppet were rather terrifying. After all, during the Spell Casters' most glorious era, even a puppet would be a formidable presence.

There were even puppets which went against the natural order and were evenly matched with Great Wizards! However, those type of puppets had long vanished, and no one was able to obtain such a fearsome puppet anymore.

The full abilities of the hedgehog puppet before his eyes were only equivalent to a Sixth-level Spell Caster.

"Wizard Merlin, be careful. This hedgehog puppet is powerful indeed!"

The flame sprite softly warned Merlin once again, for it had an unparalleled familiarity with the hedgehog puppet. The flame sprite hoped that Merlin would complete this obstacle and obtain the treasures for the cultivation of Fiery Collapse so that it would be set free, but it was unable to command this puppet. Therefore, it was powerless, and could only silently pray for Merlin's success.

"Whoosh."

After it opened its eyes, the hedgehog puppet did not seem to slow down at all, rushing toward Merlin without warning. It was so fast that even Merlin was a little taken aback.

Nevertheless, no matter how fast the hedgehog puppet was, it could not compete with Merlin's Flash Wind.

"Swoosh."

Merlin's figure immediately appeared behind the hedgehog puppet, after which he slammed down with one hand.

"Boom!"

Endless raging flames turned into a sea of fire which covered the hedgehog puppet. These flames contained the power of Fiery Collapse, and its might was extremely frightening.

Furthermore, this was the Fourth-level spell Incinerating Fire. Everything the spell encountered was reduced to ashes. This hedgehog puppet, even if it was transfigured from an extremely extraordinary material, had no way of withstanding the full explosive strength of Merlin's Incinerating Fire which was merged with Fiery Collapse. It became ashes in the blaze.

"It's defeated?"

After the flames had gradually died out, the flame sprite's mouth was agape as if it found it hard to believe. The powerful hedgehog puppet was reduced to ashes with barely a whimper?

However, after having seen Merlin's Incinerating Fire and Fiery Collapse which was combined into the spell, the flame sprite sensed that its own Fire Element seemed to be stirring.

"What a powerful spell! Even the hedgehog puppet could not defend against a single attack!"

Upon seeing that Merlin had defeated the hedgehog puppet, the flame sprite was astounded but it still smiled and said, "Wizard Merlin, you've defeated the hedgehog puppet so you may enter the stone room to cultivate the second form of Fiery Collapse!"

Merlin looked at the room and nodded, following which he came before the stone room.

"Rumble."

After the hedgehog puppet had died, the stone door slowly opened, revealing a cramped room behind. Nonetheless, this small room was filled with precious treasures.

They were all Fire-type treasures. They were different in some aspects from when Merlin had cultivated the first form of Fiery Collapse back then, but mostly they just had a stronger effect.

Cultivating Fiery Collapse using these treasures would allow one to achieve the second form of Fiery Collapse quickly!

After looking through some of these treasures, Merlin bobbed his head. "Yes, I'll be able to cultivate the second form of Fiery Collapse now, but I might need some time."

Merlin looked at the flame sprite as he spoke calmly.

The flame sprite nodded. It knew very well about Fiery Collapse. Cultivation would take a long time. Even putting aside the rest of the process, the assimilation of the treasures alone would take no small amount of time.

Therefore, Merlin shut the stone doors, and patiently cultivated the second form of Fiery Collapse by himself in the stone room. The flame sprite waited outside, and would immediately know if anything happened.

In particular, the flame sprite's eyes revealed its extraordinary longing. It had been trapped in the ancient monument for far too long. Now that it finally had a rare chance to escape, naturally, it would be filled with desire.

One day, two days, three days…

In the blink of an eye, five days had gone by. However, in the stone room, Merlin seemed not to have moved at all. It was extremely quiet in the room, and there was not a single sound.

"What happened? Has the cultivation failed?"

The flame sprite was getting rather anxious. It had been five days but there was not the slightest movement in the stone room.

The flame sprite longed to enter the stone room and take a look, but Wizard Dowland had arranged everything in its place from the start, and the flame sprite had no way of entering the stone room.

Just as the flame sprite was becoming fretful and restless, the entire stone room began to tremble violently. At the same time, wisps of pale white flames emerged, burning from the cracks of the stone room.

"Pale white flames – this is the second form of Fiery Collapse!"

The flame sprite was overjoyed. It was familiar with Fiery Collapse. The first form was white flames whereas the second form consisted of pale white flames.

As for the third form of Fiery Collapse, it would be translucent. Therefore, seeing that pale white flames had appeared within the stone room, one could roughly determine that Merlin had succeeded in his cultivation.

"Rumble."

Indeed, Merlin's figure appeared before the flame sprite after the stone doors were opened. Although Merlin's complexion seemed to be somewhat drained, his eyes burned fervently, and he looked ecstatic.

"Is it a success?"

As soon as the flame sprite saw Merlin, it could not wait to ask.

"It's a success!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Merlin's mouth. Following that, he lightly stretched out a hand. His fingers were entwined with pale white flame – it was the second form of Fiery Collapse.

"You've succeeded indeed. Now we can head to the flame-shaped statue. Using the second form of your Fiery Collapse, activate the passage to leave the ancient monument!"

The flame sprite's voice revealed its irrepressible excitement.

Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly yet he did not follow the flame sprite's orders. Instead, he asked the flame sprite, "I wonder how would I cultivate the third form of Fiery Collapse?"

"The third form? Wizard Dowland did not speak of this back then but he had only mentioned that one could use the second form of Fiery Collapse to access a secret place within the flame-shaped statue. The third form of Fiery Collapse is hidden there."

Upon hearing what the flame sprite had said, Merlin pondered the matter for a long moment. He had not received any clues regarding the third form of Fiery Collapse, and merely knew that he would still have to cultivate the third form in the ancient monument. In other words, the ancient monument might still contain treasures for the cultivation of the third form of Fiery Collapse.

"Let's go to the flame-shaped statue and we'll find out."

The flame sprite could wait no longer and urged Merlin repeatedly.

After a long moment of consideration, Merlin did not have a better plan. His understanding of the ancient monument could never surpass the flame sprite's. Thus, he followed behind the flame sprite as they hurriedly walked toward the flame-shaped statue.

Before the flame-shaped statue, Merlin stood quietly. The flame sprite hovered beside him.

"Channel the full flames of the second form of Fiery Collapse into the flame-shaped statue to open the passage and to obtain the third form of Fiery Collapse. If you don't believe me, here's a Runic Magic Circle which was left behind by Wizard Dowland back then."

The flame sprite's words caused Merlin to look at the flame-shaped statue. There were a few mysterious runes, which true enough, mentioned that the third form of Fiery Collapse was linked to the flame-shaped statue.

Although he still harbored some suspicions, Merlin did not overthink it and began to extend his fair palm. Immediately, pale white flames surged out rapidly from his palm.

The flames burned furiously, containing terrifying might in every wisp. If it was combined with Incinerating Fire, its power would become even more fearsome and would be comparable to the peak of the Seventh-level.

However, even such petrifying flames could not induce any changes in the flame-shaped statue as they burned steadily. This showed that the statue was made of a substantial material.

After a moment, a change finally occurred to the flame-shaped statue. Mysterious runes began to emerge quickly, corresponding with the runes on the flame sprite's body.

"Crack."

Finally, the runes on the flame sprite's body disappeared. It began to bellow with laughter, and its voice was even shaky. Anyone could see that the flame sprite was excited.

"Haha, I've finally escaped. I can leave this d*mn place!"

The blaze on the flame sprite's body flared up countless times over in an instant and it became a Flame Being which was the same size as Merlin. Its body was suspended in mid-air, which was a strange sight.

Merlin had always felt that something was wrong about the flame sprite, but he did not know what it was. In the moment the flame-shaped statue shattered, a beam of light shot toward Merlin.

This was a narrow beam of firelight which combined with Merlin's flames. In that instant, a message materialized in Merlin's mind.

It was this message that caused Merlin's face to change greatly as he turned his gaze toward the flame sprite.

"You need the flame sprite to cultivate the third form of Fiery Collapse!"

This was the message left in Merlin's mind. That trace of flame was obviously left behind by Wizard Dowland, only for some unknown reason, it was contained in the flame-shaped statue.

In fact, Merlin had already faintly guessed that this was all orchestrated by the flame sprite. It only wanted to leave the ancient monument so it had been deceiving Merlin from the start.

It was true that the cultivation method of the third form of Fiery Collapse was hidden in the flame-shaped statue. However, the flame sprite knew what it was long ago. Namely, the flame sprite itself was the price that needed to be paid for the cultivation.

In order to escape its bonds, the flame sprite slipped the message regarding the third form of Fiery Collapse left behind by Wizard Dowland into the flame-shaped statue. The flame-shaped statue was also the place where the flame sprite was trapped. Once it was shattered, the flame sprite would be set free.

This time, Merlin had been duped. In the instant that he broke open the flame-shaped statue, the flame sprite had already opened the passage and rushed outside at its greatest speed.

By the time Merlin learned of the message left behind by Wizard Dowland, it was too late. The flame sprite had already escaped from the ancient monument.

"Trying to escape? I'm afraid it's not that easy!"

Merlin was in a rage. He did not expect that the flame sprite would make a fool of him. In order to cultivate the third form of Fiery Collapse, what he needed was the flame sprite.

It was clear that the flame sprite had been captured by Wizard Dowland on purpose and left behind for future Spell Casters to cultivate the third form of Fiery Collapse.

It was just that the flame sprite had somehow learned of Wizard Dowland's plan and made meticulous preparations. Ultimately, Merlin had fallen for its trick, unwittingly releasing the flame sprite.

"Swish."

Merlin's figure quickly flew through the passage as he gave chase. In terms of speed, he would not lose to anyone. As long as he could still sense the flame sprite's presence, he did not need to worry about losing track of it.

However, the flame sprite was also unbelievably fast. As soon as Merlin had rushed out of the ancient monument, he saw that the flame sprite had flown into the air, fleeing into the distance at top speed.

"Rainbow Wind!"

Merlin narrowed his eyes as his body gradually floated into the air as well, following which he transformed into a rainbow beam, chasing after the flame sprite into the distance.

One was in front, one was behind. The two figures had incredible speed. Merlin was able to lock onto the flame sprite's force. No matter where it fled, it could not escape Merlin's pursuit.

"Go on and run. I'll see how far you can run!"

Merlin was furious. The flame sprite was key to cultivating the third form of Fiery Collapse. Once it was gone, it would be impossible for Merlin to cultivate it.

Having been fooled by the flame sprite, Merlin was incomparably sullen. He did not say a word, only chasing after the flame sprite silently.

"This isn't good. If we keep on flying like this, I'll be caught in the end!"

The flame sprite glanced behind toward Merlin, full of agitation. It had initially thought that after a hard-won escape from the binds of the ancient monument, it could live its life in leisure, resuming its free life once again.

It had now successfully escaped from the binds of the ancient monument and had even left the ancient monument. Nevertheless, it could not obtain true freedom and liberty. Merlin's presence bitterly chasing from behind was enough to make the flame sprite experience a tremendous amount of pressure.

However, the flame sprite could do nothing else but escape, regardless of everything. As for battling against Merlin and chasing him away, the flame sprite had not considered it at all.

Although the flame sprite had great capabilities indeed, it was still lacking much in comparison to Merlin, especially since Merlin had merged Fiery Collapse with Incinerating Fire. Among Fire-type spells, there were very few who had a more powerful spell than Merlin's Fire-type spell.

The flame sprite did not even know that there was also a Flame Maxim in Merlin's Awareness. Overall, Fire-type spells were unlikely to harm Merlin.

The flame sprite no longer seemed to care in which direction it was going. It aimlessly picked a direction and escaped wildly while Merlin followed behind stubbornly. Without realizing it, the flame sprite and Merlin had lost track of where they were flying to.

Suddenly, a team of Spell Casters dressed in strange clothing appeared in the sky before them. Upon seeing the flame sprite, the Spell Casters were slightly shocked.

However, thereafter, one of them seemed to recognize that it was a flame sprite, something precious that one could only encounter by luck and not effort. Therefore, this strange group of Spell Casters instantly got into a peculiar formation, spreading out toward the flame sprite.