<h4>Chapter 266: Fort Udon</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>EndlessFantasy Trantion <strong>Editor: </strong>EndlessFantasy Trantion


    “Oh? You have an idea?”


    Merlin turned around. He narrowed his eyes, staring closely at Wizard Gerson.


    Wizard Gerson had met many strong Spell Casters before but that kind of stare Merlin gave him made him feel ufortable. He dared not look Merlin in the eyes, so he responded with his head held down. “Wizard Merlin, Lava Soil is indeed found at the volcanoes on the Kurdman Inds, but the volcanoes are extremely dangerous. asionally, some of them will erupt, so they are unpredictable. Even a Seventh-level Spell Caster will not set foot into the volcanoes without caution.


    “However, once you’ve joined Fort Udon, you’ll be able to purchase a map for a lesser amount of elemental crystal stones. In this map, you’ll find the records of all thirty-six thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine volcanoes on the Kurdman Inds. It’ll include information regarding which volcanoes are still active or inactive, how many times they’ve erupted, and even the chronological pattern of their eruptions, all of which are meticulously analyzed and recorded.


    “With such a map, I believe you’ll not be put in any danger when you venture into the volcanoes in search of Lava Soil. Fort Udon used many resources, personnel, and up to decades of hard work toplete this map bit by bit, which is why it’s only avable for Fort Udon’s very own Spell Casters. Outsiders don’t get to buy this map.”


    Merlin listened to every word of Wizard Gerson’s exnation attentively, and he was indeed somewhat attracted. If this map was really like what Wizard Gerson had described and contained such extensive records, Merlin would then have no reason to worry about his safety when he looked for Lava Soil. Otherwise, even with powers like his, if he had entered an active volcano and it erupted, he would be reduced to ashes by the scorchingva.


    Therefore, after a long thought, Merlin finally nodded and agreed. “Very well, Wizard Gerson, I’ll need you to recruit me then.”


    Upon hearing Merlin’s agreement to join Fort Udon, Wizard Gerson let out a long sigh of relief, a smile etching across his face.


    This time, with Merlin’s recruitment into Fort Udon, Wizard Gerson would be entitled to lots of rewards. That was also the most essential reason why Gerson was so insistent on persuading Merlin to join Fort Udon.


    “Haha, good, good. With your strength, Wizard Merlin, in Fort Udon, you could even be a gray-robed Wizard.”


    When Wizard Gerson mentioned the term gray-robed Wizard, a look of admiration shed on his face.


    “Hmm, what’s a gray-robed Wizard?”


    Merlin asked directly. Since he was going to join Fort Udon, he might as well inquire about the basic information on the organization.


    Thus, Gerson started giving Merlin a detailed exnation.


    It turned out that in Fort Udon, there was a strict differentiation between Spell Casters. An Entrance-level Spell Caster would not even have the chance to join Fort Udon. Therefore, the weakest Spell Casters in Fort Udon were all First-level Spell Casters.


    First to Third-level Spell Casters were ck-robed Spell Casters, while Fourth to Sixth-level Spell Casters were gray-robed Spell Casters. For Seventh to Ninth-level Spell Casters, the outer rim of their gray robes would be lined with gold, making them quite eye-catching.


    Depending on each Spell Caster’s level, their entitled rights and allocated resources would definitely differ too.


    After Merlin finished hearing Gerson’s boration, he furrowed his eyebrows in silence. Even though he had the capability and power of annihting a Fourth-level Spell Caster, still, he was not truly a Fourth-level Spell Caster himself.


    Merlin had only just constructed his first Second-level Magic Power model, hence he was merely a First-level Spell Caster. At the very most, he could only be considered half a Second-level Spell Caster.


    If his status was to be determined based on which level of Spell Caster he was, he could only be a ck-robe Wizard.


    “Wizard Merlin, we’re here!”


    Wizard Gerson brought Merlin to a considerably spacious ce surrounded by many giant castles. These castles had the strangest architectural designs and were starkly different to those in the Kingdom of ckmoon or the Kingdom of Light.


    Moreover, around those castles, Merlin could sense the aura of runes, which indicated that they were all warded by Rune Magic Circles, somewhat simr to the towers in the Dark Magic Region.


    Along the way, Merlin met a few Spell Casters as well. All of them had ck robes, so they seemed like First to Third-level Spell Casters. Those with gray robes or gold-lined gray robes remained to be unseen.


    After all, at Fort Udon, Spell Casters with gray robes or better were not amon sight.


    Wizard Gerson led Merlin all the way to the front of a giant castle with white walls and a dome roof. Then, he muttered under his breath, “Wizard Merlin, there’s where Fort Udon is tasked to evaluate your skill sets, strength, and status. Remember, in Fort Udon, a higher status will grant you vastly more influence and resources. Therefore, you don’t need to hide your abilities, just show them the best that you’ve got.”


    Merlin nodded and pushed open the big castle door. He then stepped inside.


    “Creak”.


    Behind the door was a grandiose,vishly decorated lounge, but there was nobody there. There were only several gray-robed Spell Casters who werezing around, resting their eyes.


    “Hmm? Somebody’s here?”


    “Finally, there’s somebody. I wonder if this one’s a ck or gray-robed Wizard? Let me recall, thest time a gray-robed Wizard joined us at Fort Udon, was like three years ago?”


    “The number of Spell Casters who came from outside of the Kurdman Inds gradually lessened, strong Spell Casters even more so. It was so different from a few years back. Back then, we had limitless supplies for cultivation, attracting arge number of Spell Casters to the Kurdman Inds.”


    “True, recently those sea beasts’ activities have be more frequent,unching several wide-ranged attacks, inflicting massive losses on the Kurdman Inds. As a result, those Spell Casters who came from afar would carefully reconsider their decision after witnessing such urrences. Some Spell Casters even chose to leave right away.”


    These gray-robed Spell Casters felt rejuvenated upon seeing a stranger walked in. They fixed their sights on Merlin, scrutinizing him closely.


    Merlin too was staring at these gray-robed Spell Casters. The fact that they were donned in gray robes revealed their status. They were gray-robed Spell Casters of Fort Udon and were at least Fourth-level Spell Casters.


    Merlin walked to the front of these gray-robed Spell Casters and greeted them calmly, “My fellow Wizards, I’ve just arrived on the Kurdman Inds from a ce far away. I’ve heard that Fort Udon was decent, which is why I’m interested to join!”


    “Dear Wizard, how may I address you?”


    One of the gray-robed Wizards asked in a peaceful tone.


    “Merlin!”


    “Wizard Merlin, you’re a Spell Caster of which level?”


    Merlin paused for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth and answered, “First-level Spell Caster!”


    “First-level Spell Caster?”


    These gray-robed Wizards who were still enthusiastic not long ago suddenly froze their expressions. Shortly after, one by one, they shook their heads and went back to resting their eyes, leaving only one gray-robed Wizard asking Merlin questions.


    This gray-robed Wizard expressed a somewhat disappointed too, but he continued his conversation with Merlin. “Wizard Merlin, due to the fact that you’re a First-level Spell Caster, we can only grant you the status of a ck-robed Wizard. Even so, you can still enjoy the various forms of benefits offered by Fort Udon...”


    The gray-robed Spell Caster continued exining all the benefits of Fort Udon passionately, only pointing toward one corner of the lounge in the end. It was a see-through room which was built with zed tiles.


    The zed tiles may look fragile, but they were filled with mysterious runes which covered the entire room. In the color ss room, there were a number of sturdy-looking Alchemy Creatures that wore masks.


    “These are all our Fort Udon’s Alchemy Creatures – a First, Second, and Third-level respectively. If you can beat them, we’ll then be able to grant you your corresponding status and position. Defeating a First-level Alchemy Creature will make you a Novice ck-robed Wizard. If you can beat a Second-level Alchemy Creature, you’ll be a Middle ck-robed Wizard. Let’s say you triumph over the Third-level Alchemy Creature, you’ll then be an Expert ck-robed Wizard. All three yields the same oue of bing a ck-robed Wizard, but there are huge differences between Novice, Middle, and Expert ck-robed Wizards. So, which Alchemy Creature will you choose?”


    The gray-robed Wizard set his eyes on Merlin the moment he had finished talking.


    Merlin, on the other hand, thought for a moment. He then gently scanned his eyes over those Alchemy Creatures in the psychedelically translucent room, and muttered, “I can pick any one of those Alchemy Creatures?”


    “Of course. As long as you’re confident, you get to choose any Alchemy Creature. After all, we at Fort Udon don’t look at one’s Spell Caster level alone. If you have formidable strength and are able to defeat a Second-level Alchemy Creature, we would then give you the privileges of a Middle ck-robed Wizard. However, I’d like to warn you that all these Alchemy Creatures are extremely ruthless. If you don’t have the confidence, we’d rmend you to pick the First-level Alchemy Creature. Otherwise, you’ll be killed by an Alchemy Creature, and that’ll be quite a pity.”


    After hearing the gray-robed Wizard’s thorough exnation, Merlin shook his head gently. Instead, he said, “I don’t need these three Alchemy Creatures. Give me an Alchemy Creature that’s stronger, like that one over there!”


    Merlin’s sights were set on thest translucent room. There was an extremely burly creature which looked like a tiny giant and had a body full of greenish spikes. It looked terrifying.


    At one nce, this Alchemy Creature looked a whole lot stronger than the three Alchemy Creatures that the gray-robed Wizard had introduced earlier.


    “Hmm? You’d like to challenge a Fourth-level Alchemy Creature?”


    Watching Merlin point at that Herculean Alchemy Creature which looked like a tiny giant, the gray-robed Wizard looked somewhat astonished, expressing a doubtful look in his eyes.


    “Correct, the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature!”


    Merlin replied calmly. A great deal of confidence seeping from within his words.


    “Challenge the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature?”


    “Interesting, I thought you’re only an ordinary First-level Spell Caster, but I didn’t expect that you’d dare challenge a Fourth-level Alchemy Creature. Thest time somebody took on a fourth-level Alchemy Creature was like what, ten years back?”


    “It seems that we’re in for a good show then. Wizard Merlin looks very confident, and I’m intrigued to see how a First-level Spell Caster can beat a Fourth-level Alchemy Creature. If he wins, I’m afraid another evil prodigy will emerge from Fort Udon.”


    Upon hearing Merlin’s wishes to challenge the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature, one after another, those gray-robed Wizards who werezing around began staring wide-eyed at Merlin, looking at him in awe.


    “Alright then, since you insist on challenging the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature, I shall fulfill your wish!”


    The gray-robed Wizard did not try telling Merlin off either. Instead, he stood up and led Merlin to the room with the Fourth-level Alchemy Creature inside.