The black cat strolled about in midair, waving its thick and short tail about gently. For some unknown reason, Merlin felt that this strange black cat was moving very elegantly.

'A cat? Moving very elegantly?'

Merlin was even beginning to wonder if he had gone crazy.

"Young Spell Caster, don't look at me like that, I'm the great spirit of the stone tablet, personally carved by the Great Wizard Fidel, the great guardian of the Dark Magic Region, the great Sir Didimoss!"

Merlin felt speechless at the black cat's string of "greats". This weird, lofty black cat which spoke a human language was a being that Merlin could not fathom. He would be able to ask about the Dark Magic Region as they seemed to be connected.

Therefore, Merlin gave a slight bow toward the black cat and spoke in a respectful manner, "Great Sir Didimoss, I possess a token of the Dark Magic Region. I've come here to seek Sir Didimoss' guidance into the Dark Magic Region."

The black cat was evidently very satisfied with Merlin's respectful tone of voice. It continued, "Young Spell Caster, if you wish to enter the Dark Magic Region, should you not dedicate some elemental crystal stones to the great Sir Didimoss?"

"Elemental crystal stones?"

This was Merlin's first time hearing about it. He felt rather mystified.

However, this black cat had become somewhat displeased. Its voice turned shrill. "Young Spell Caster, please take note that this is the great Sir Didimoss before you now! Elemental crystal stones might be precious but you should not be stingy. No matter what type the elemental crystal stones are – ice type, fire type, and earth type – they are all okay. Of course, the taste of ice type elemental crystal stones is the best. The great Sir Didimoss will like it very much but if you don't have ice type elemental crystal stones, then earth types are fine as well..."

Seeing how the black cat spoke about various types of elemental crystals with such familiarity, Merlin shook his head gently and said, "I'm really sorry, the great Sir Didimoss, this is my first time hearing about elemental crystal stones, I don't have any elemental crystal stones with me now!"

"Uh..."

The black cat's movements became slightly stiff. That pair of red and white eyes emitted a hint of dusky glow.

"So, you turn out to be a newbie Wizard! Damn it, the great Sir Didimoss has spoken so much in front of a newbie Wizard..."

The black cat's tone of voice changed greatly; its voice gradually became more and more shrill, causing Merlin to feel that it was very ear-piercing.

"Newbie Wizard, the great Sir Didimoss is really angry now, the consequences will be very grave..."

Watching the black cat, which was about to flip out, Merlin shook his head helplessly. To think that he had just been spurned by a cat. Although this black cat did not look like an ordinary cat, he still felt somewhat dispirited to be labeled a newbie Wizard.

The body shape of the black cat began to fade gradually. In the blink of an eye, it had turned into a cluster of shadows again. Then, an incomparably shrill and sharp voice, unbearable for anyone, erupted from the shadows.

"Foolish Little Bobo, come out quick to greet the guest..."

As the black cat's shrill voice died down, Merlin could clearly see thin and dense ripples beginning to appear on the seemingly vast and empty space behind the stone tablet. They were spreading, circle by circle.

"Swoosh!"

A figure walked out from the midst of the ripples. It was an old man in a black robe. There was no expression on his old face; he seemed to be afflicted with facial paralysis.

After this old man appeared, the black cat turned into a cluster of shadows and darted back into the stone tablet.

"Receive the guest..."

Seeing this old man, who had slight facial paralysis, and looking back at the stone tablet in front of him, Merlin felt a strange chill.

"Young Spell Caster, follow me."

The old man, who seemed to have facial paralysis, merely gave Merlin a cold glance. Following which, he spoke to Merlin in a calm voice.

"Oh? We don't have to check the token? Mage, sir!"

Giving Merlin a look, the old man said, "You may call me Wizard Haribo!"

After a pause, Wizard Haribo continued, "Without the Dark Magic ring, you wouldn't have been able to activate the Runic Magic Circle. The ring is your identity so remember not to lose it. Otherwise, you won't be able to enter the Dark Magic Region anymore."

Merlin nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that this ring was the key to his entry into the Dark Magic Region. Even if Spell Casters arrive in the Kurdish Mountains, they would not be able to activate those Runic Magic Circles without a ring, not to mention entering the Dark Magic Region.

Wizard Haribo lifted his finger gently. On his finger was an ink black ring, which looked the same as Merlin's.

"Use your Mind Power to stimulate the Runic Magic Circle on the ring. This is the only way to gain entrance into the Dark Magic Region!" Wizard Haribo spoke coldly.

Merlin nodded and used his Mind Power to stimulate the mysterious runes on the ring.

"Swoosh!"

Suddenly, a dazzling light appeared. Merlin immediately saw Wizard Haribo, who had been in front of him, taking a few steps forward. His figure quickly vanished.

Merlin hurriedly walked forward a couple of steps as well. Suddenly, his vision turned blurry. By the time it went back to normal, the small, empty island he had seen earlier had completely changed.

There was a gigantic tower, reaching into the clouds where a dim glow was emitting from above. Merlin lifted his head but he was unable to see the top of the tower, and neither did he know how tall this tower was.

"I'm no longer on the island? I didn't see such a magnificent tower earlier..."

Merlin could not help but question. If he were still on the island, it would have been impossible for him not to have seen such a spectacular, tall tower.

Wizard Haribo, who was in front of him, answered without turning around, "On the island, naturally. Just that a Runic Magic Circle has enveloped the entire Dark Magic Region, so outside of the small island, one wouldn't be able to see the true Dark Magic Region. Only Spell Casters wearing the Dark Magic ring can see the true Dark Magic Region after stimulating the runes on the ring."

Merlin nodded but he was still in a great shock to think that such a gigantic island had been covered by a Runic Magic Circle. Without the Dark Magic ring, he would have no way to find the Dark Magic Region.

A Spell Caster who could arrange such a mystical Runic Magic Circle must be an unimaginably powerful Spell Caster.

"Which Wizard arranged such a gigantic and mystical Magic Circle?"

As expressionless as always, Wizard Haribo replied, "The founder of the Dark Magic Region, the mighty Great Wizard Fidel. Sir Didimoss, who's in the stone tablet outside, is the spirit of the Runic Magic Circle that the Great Wizard Fidel had inscribed back then. The inscribed Runic Magic Circle can, unexpectedly, give birth to a conscious spirit! The Great Wizard Fidel's accomplishments in runology are absolutely incredible!"

Although Wizard Haribo was still expressionless, his admiration toward the Great Wizard Fidel was still evident from his tone of voice.

"The Great Wizard Fidel?"

The founder of the Dark Magic Region. Merlin secretly committed the name to his memory. The arrangement of the Runic Magic Circle was such that it could cover such a huge island; perhaps even the Runic Magic Circles in the Kurdish Mountains had been set by the hands of this Great Wizard Fidel.

"Alright, there'll be people inside to arrange an identity and lodging for you as well as the tutor you shall follow in the Dark Magic Region."

The expressionless Wizard Haribo brought Merlin to a flight of stone steps, before turning around and leaving immediately.

Looking at the two great doors in front of the stone steps, Merlin took a deep breath and slowly walked up.