The data integration process was an extremely complex operation. With the computing power of the Matrix, it would be able to complete even the most complex operations in an instant.

However, besides calculation, the data integration process included the derivation of new spells. Even with the foundation of a large database, a long time was required to complete the process.

One hour, two hours…

Merlin had been looking out for any changes in the Matrix. However, a few hours had passed, yet the Matrix did not change in the slightest. This meant that the data integration process was still ongoing.

"Beep. Task failed. The data in the database is severely lacking. Please continue after the database is populated!"

At last, after five hours, the Matrix produced a result. However, it was a failure. A mere two hundred or so spells were far too few to act as a database.

"It has failed again…"

Merlin shook his head forlornly. Even if he had been expecting this, he was still feeling sorry that it had failed. The Matrix needed its database to be populated with a minimum of more than a thousand spells in order to derive new spells.

Furthermore, this was merely a possibility. At that point, the outcome would differ significantly based on the level, type, and so on, of the newly derived spells. The more powerful a spell was, the larger the database that was needed.

Merlin had come into this world for so long and had used various methods to obtain the spells of roaming Wizards, and some from the Dark Magic Region, in addition to the spells from the Neverending Book. Yet, in total, he had only two hundred or so spells.

It was far too difficult to obtain over a thousand spells. The Resource Tower must have countless spells but it would need to be exchanged with contribution points. Even if Merlin had over ten thousand contribution points each year, using them solely to exchange for spells would be far too costly and extravagant. He would need to stick to beginner spells in order to save on the cost.

Besides, the ability of the Matrix to derive new spells through the data integration process was merely Merlin's assumption. Whether or not it would succeed or could derive new spells, and what would those spells be – questions like these, and more, were still unresolved. As long as the database was not populated, not even Merlin would know the answers.

Merlin did not want to think about the problem of populating the Matrix's database. It was impossible to complete it in a short time. He would slowly accumulate spells, and if there was no other way, Merlin could use his contribution points to exchange for spells in the Resource Tower. This was the worst-case scenario, used only as a last resort. Merlin did not want to use his precious contribution points to exchange for some spells just to populate the Matrix's database.

After he shut down the Matrix, Merlin began to examine his own condition.

The Flame Maxim in his Awareness was still unchanged as it continued to suppress Fiery Collapse.

As for Fiery Collapse, although it was forcibly combined with spells, as of now no aberrations had occurred yet. Conversely, Merlin was very satisfied with its strength.

As he slaughtered his way from Taran City to Fanya City, he was nearly invincible. Even the strongest of them, Wizard Finello, was no match for Merlin.

Merlin's strongest spell was Darkness Heart merged with a Darkness-type spell. However, if his opponent had powerful Mind Power and avoided being caught in the illusion of the Darkness-type spell, he would still need to attack with his formidable Pandora Demon Ability.

Fiery Collapse, when forcibly combined with spells using the Flame Maxim, rapidly grew in might, and was comparable to a powerful Fifth-level spell.

At the moment, Merlin's greatest strength was the spells which had been merged with Fiery Collapse and Darkness Heart. They were almost a match for a powerful Spell Caster at the Fifth-level. If his opponent did not have powerful Mind Power, Merlin would be able to easily kill off a Fifth-level Spell Caster.

This was the unique advantage of Darkness-type Spell Casters. As long as one had insufficient Mind Power, one should never battle with a Darkness-type Spell Caster. Otherwise, one would essentially have no chance of victory.

Of course, each type of Spell Caster had their own unique advantages. For instance, a Spell Caster complemented by a powerful Pandora Demon Ability with an affinity for Earth-type spells would come to no harm even if the Spell Caster was a few levels above them.

Merlin possessed Pandora Demon Ability, Fuse Earth which had been combined with his Earth-type spells. It was difficult for Fifth-level spells to injure Merlin anymore.

This was the aggregate of Merlin's abilities, which was comparable to a Fifth-level Spell Caster. For now, this was Merlin's limit. Lately, he felt that his powers had reached a bottleneck. Without any significant breakthrough, it would be difficult for him to grow stronger.

Regardless of whether it was Fiery Collapse or other Pandora Demon Abilities, Merlin would need to become a Fourth-level Spell Caster to undergo a substantial boost. If Merlin became a Fourth-level Spell Caster, his powers would grow by leaps and bounds.

However, Merlin was only a Second-level Spell Caster now. He was not even a Third-level Spell Caster and had not constructed any Third-level spells. Even if he became a Third-level Spell Caster and merged Darkness Heart with a Third-level spell, his powers would only increase moderately. Perhaps the other spells that could be combined with a Pandora Demon Ability would also be slightly improved.

Still, Merlin had essentially reached a limit. As of now, all he could do was to improve his Mind Power and become a Third-level Spell Caster, preparing for the eventual day he would become a Fourth-level Spell Caster.

The Fourth-level was a watershed level. In the Dark Magic Region, only Fourth-level Spell Casters were able to build their individual towers. Only then were they considered masters.

Furthermore, only Fourth-level spells would allow the cultivation of various Pandora Demon Abilities to their second stage. At that point, a Spell Caster's abilities would undergo an all-around upgrade.

Merlin was somewhat looking forward to the moment he became a Fourth-level Spell Caster and his many Pandora Demon Abilities could be cultivated to the second stage. How terrifying would his powers be?

"It's a shame that Glacial Finger couldn't be merged with any spells. Even if it was cultivated to the second stage, it would be far inferior to Darkness Heart and Fiery Collapse. It can't even compare to Pandora Demon Ability, Fuse Earth!"

Presently, Merlin would rarely make use of Glacial Finger in general. Glacial Finger could not combine with a spell, and its might was not that strong. It could only compare to a Fourth-level spell, which was of not much use to Merlin at the moment.

In the beginning, Glacial Finger had been Merlin's first Pandora Demon Ability and had helped Merlin tremendously. Still, it was innately lacking after all, since it was not very powerful and could not be merged with spells. Now, it was good for nothing.

Unfortunately, Merlin did not know how to get rid of Glacial Finger. Moreover, he did not have a better Pandora Demon Ability that could replace it. Otherwise, he would have removed it long ago.

Currently, Merlin had Fiery Collapse, Darkness Heart, Flash Wind, Fuse Earth, and Glacial Finger – five types of Pandora Demon Abilities. He was only missing one Thunder-type Pandora Demon Ability. Still, Merlin would not force it. The strength of Fiery Collapse was great enough, and it had three stages, meaning it had sufficient attack power.

Among the five types of Pandora Demon Abilities, all of them, besides Glacial Finger, could be merged with spells. This was rather terrifying. In the past, amongst the Spell Casters who had made it to the third obstacle on the Ship of Nikola, there was a Spell Caster who possessed five Pandora Demon Abilities, all of which could be combined with spells.

A Spell Caster like that was known as a freak Wizard and was very powerful. Even the spirit of the Flame Maxim had nothing but praise for him.

Now, Merlin had five Pandora Demon Abilities, four of which could be combined with spells. He would be relatively powerful even if he was in the Spell Casters' most glorious era.

Pandora Demon Abilities that could be merged with spells were not easy to find. In order to have four such Pandora Demon Abilities, Merlin had to go through countless chance encounters and even risk his life just to obtain them.

"Glacial Finger… If I become a Fourth-level Spell Caster, I can hold off cultivating the second stage of Glacial Finger."

Innumerable thoughts flashed across Merlin's mind. The power of Glacial Finger could no longer keep up with Merlin's increase in strength. He could not remove Glacial Finger, but if he was able to find another Pandora Demon Ability which required only a Fourth-level spell for its cultivation, Merlin might even consider cultivating it right away at that point.

As for Glacial Finger, he would not cultivate its second stage. Otherwise, it would take up the space of a precious Fourth-level Ice-type spell, resulting in him being unable to cultivate another Pandora Demon Ability.

However, all of these were still far away in the future. First of all, it was difficult enough to find an Ice-type Pandora Demon Ability which would only need a Fourth-level spell for its cultivation. One that could be merged with spells would be even more difficult to find. As of now, these were all just Merlin's ideas.

He needed to sort out the spells and Pandora Demon Abilities that he had. Merlin had many spells because he was a Six-Elemental Spell Caster. When all this was added to his various types of Pandora Demon Abilities, Merlin was somewhat confused about his own abilities.

Now, having carefully analyze and organize his powers, he had a clear and definite goal in order to improve his capabilities. His current focus was on boosting his Mind Power and constructing a Third-level spell as soon as he could so that he might become a Third-level Spell Caster.

After becoming a Third-level Spell Caster, he would need to prepare to become a Fourth-level Spell Caster. For instance, some Pandora Demon Abilities required some mystical treasures for the cultivation of the second stage. He would need to be ready with these treasures.

Moreover, there was Darkness Eye promised by Wizard Leo. After Merlin had become a Fourth-level Spell Caster, Wizard Leo would consider passing on the cultivation method of Darkness Eye to Merlin.

Although Merlin had learned of the various marvelous traits of Darkness Eye from Wizard Bammou, he would still need to ponder the matter seriously before deciding to cultivate it or not.

After this bout of consideration, Merlin let out a long sigh. With a definite goal in his mind, things were much more manageable.

Improving his Mind Power was Merlin's utmost priority. The Mind Power duplicate within the Bell Space was meditating automatically, so his Mind Power was increasing all the time. Thus, Merlin did not need to worry about that.

What Merlin had to do now was to start preparing the Mokra Potion, given to him by Wizard Howl. He had obtained just enough materials for a hundred sets of Mokra Potion in the Resource Tower, only he did not have time to make it so far.

Now that he was back in Wilson Castle, it was time for him to prepare the Mokra Potion!