Chapter 984: Importance of a Party

A tense silence descended in the common room.

Everyone’s expression shifted between Edward and Merlin several times. They were unable to believe what he had just said.

Edward was widely known as the greatest talent to have ever emerged from the Tower of Daybreak. Despite his coming second-to-last in the First Trial, that belief never diminished.

Even the geniuses from the other Pillars had to acknowledge that Edward was a very powerful Mana Liquefaction Magus. They’ve had plenty of times to spar, after all.

Now, all of a sudden, for him to say that Merlin was stronger than him was quite... astonishing.

Merlin glanced at everyone present, and spoke with a sly smirk, "Why are you guys so surprised? Did you think only the Four Pillars and Baja were capable of producing strong Magi?"

Everyone remained silent. Truth be told, that was exactly what they thought.

Michael Isaac glanced at Merlin in a new light. He had always thought that the copper-red-haired youth was an easygoing fellow based on his conversation with him the last time.

But to know that he was also a very powerful Magus was a wonderful surprise.

While everyone was wrestling with their own thoughts, Michael spoke to him with a brilliant smile, "Merlin, I’m glad you’ll be joining us to challenge the Second Trial."

Merlin glanced at the towering middle-aged man and laughed, "Fafafa, me too, me too!"

He then turned to his side, gazing at Eleieny with a raised eyebrow. "Well then, young lady, you may begin briefing us about the Second Trial."

Eleiney’s lips twitched. "You don’t need to remind me."

Inwardly, she thought:

What a weirdo! Why is he sitting beside me?

She then cleared her throat and scanned the Magi who would be forming two parties for the upcoming trial.

Finally, she began, "The Second Trial will be taking place in the Verdant Valley behind Saratoga. To be more precise, it will take place inside a secret plane."

The Magi from the great factions were already aware of it. And so was Adam... or rather, Merlin.

Michael Isaac, on the other hand, was not. "A secret plane? O, great arcana! I have never been inside one before!"

Eleiney turned to him and solemnly nodded. "Indeed."

She then cast a side glance at Merlin, hoping for him to react the same way. But oddly, he wasn’t.

Damn weirdo,

she thought.

"From the information I’ve gathered, the secret plane was jointly created by the heads of the Four Pillars specifically for this tournament," she added.

Now, this was news to others. They knew that the next trial would be held within a secret plane, but didn’t know that it was actually created by four Mana Core Magi!

"How do you know this?" Charlie Smith, the participant from Coral Cove, asked with slight surprise. "And it took four Mana Core Magi to create one single secret plane? Incredible..."

"Well..." Eleiney’s lips formed a smirk. "My Mentor told me. Needless to say, his information is nothing if not reliable."

Everyone simultaneously nodded, then cast a furtive glance at the coppery-red-haired youth, wondering the same thing:

Let’s hope he’s reliable, too...

"As you already know, the key we’ve obtained from the First Trial will allow us to enter the secret plane," Eleiney continued.

Her tone became grim. "However, unlike the merfolk we’ve had to face in the First Trial, the opponents we’ll challenge in the Second Trial will stop at nothing to mortally harm us. In fact, chances of death are significantly higher."

Everyone’s expression turned solemn. They had learned about this, of course. Moreover, they also knew about the opponents... the horrifying creatures they would have to face. This was the very reason why it was encouraged that contestants form parties.

"Blood beasts," Eleiney spoke in a serious tone. "They are mindless creatures driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh and blood. They exist solely to consume."

She paused for a moment before speaking again, her tone laced with a tinge of relief. "But like I said, they are mindless and move solely on instinct. It will be easier for us to take them out if we fight in a group."

"Oh, and the strongest of these creatures will be at the Mana Liquefaction-level," Arthur chimed in. "At the same time, the secret plane will be infested with countless blood beasts of the Mana Foundation Rank."

"Just to be sure..." Michael Isaac suddenly spoke up. "What happens if a contestant is gravely injured? Say, he’s on the verge of death?"

"Once we enter the secret plane, we cannot exit until the entire duration of the Second Trial, which is seven days," Eleiney said evenly as she looked at Isaac. "Needless to say, during those seven days, no one is going to enter the secret plane as well."

"So we’re all on our own," Isaac said with a bitter smile.

"That is why being in a party is so critical for this trial." Eleiney nodded.

Michael Isaac was silent for a long time, then asked, "And what is the method of evaluation? I’m guessing we have to exterminate these blood beasts?"

Aiden nodded. "Precisely. Not only do we have to kill these creatures, but we also have to collect their blood cores. The participants with the most blood cores will be qualified to enter the third and final trial."

"The blood cores collected by each party will be distributed equally among its members, yes?" Chris Cloud asked as he glanced at everyone.

"Naturally," Kahn answered as he rolled his eyes.

"Huh? What’s so natural about it?" Cloud harrumphed. "Isn’t it natural for the one who kills the blood beast to be entitled to its blood core alone?"

Kahn scoffed. "Then, what’s the point of forming a party?"

"Guys, please." Lisa turned to them with a tired look on her face.

Not just her, everyone else had also gotten tired of the constant banter between Kahn and Cloud.

While everyone discussed each other’s abilities, deciding how they would all be paired up in two separate parties, Merlin had a nonchalant smile on his face.

However, inwardly, he was thinking solemnly,

For seven days, no one will be able to enter or exit the secret plane. This would be a good opportunity for the Cult to make their move...

But that is only if they’ve made prior arrangements within the secret plane. But that seems to be unlikely, considering four Mana Core Magi had come together to create it.

However, that Elder from the Inner Circle of the Cult... what if he was able to secretly make arrangements?

What if there are Cult spies that are participating in the Second Trial?

It’s better not to take any chances—

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when someone called out to him.

It was Edward.

"So what is your specialty then?" he asked with a flat look on his face. "What School of Magic are you proficient in?"

Merlin smiled from ear to ear. "My specialty lies in magic combat. Well, that and..."

He flicked his hand and a deck of playing cards appeared between his fingers, expertly fanned out in a perfect arc.

"...My cards can be pretty lethal, too."