[Statistics: 3 rivals defeated]

[Killing grants a 2x multiplier]

[Received: 1200 Merit Points]

“What’s next?” I said.

Merlin gave a small “ah,” before explaining the next trial.

Similar to the last time, the surroundings shook as the two on the wall morphed into a three.

—Merlin’s PoV—

Did I see that correctly? That wasn’t sword intent, but something much more destructive. Did this kid actually comprehend air manipulation and fire manipulation? More importantly, did he combine the two?

Each of the cardinal manipulation techniques are tightly guarded secrets of the fairy clans.

‘Just who is this kid?’

Even then, mastering a single manipulation technique required decades of diligent practice and here in front of me was a child who not only performed two manipulation techniques, but figured out a way to combine them.

The only other person I knew who ever mastered two manipulation techniques was Hero Arthur himself. This kid was really something. He will surely be at the top of the world one day and I was certain of it.

‘If I made him my successor... Then wouldn’t my prestige increase ever more? No, what am I thinking. What is the point of recognition when I am already dead.’

“What’s Next.” Said the kid, bringing me back to reality.

Now that I thought of it, what was his name?

Anyway, I started explaining the third trial. “The third trial will be how well you can fare against a single powerful opponent. Just like the last time but you can use whatever method you want including magic.”

With the snap of my fingers, the gargoyle statue in front of the kid came to life. This should be a relatively hard fight since gargoyles could fly and sustain a lot of damage while he couldn’t. Although flight magic was a thing, I doubt he could use it since it was an advanced spell.

He performed the same slashing air manipulation move like last time combined with fire manipulation. A rather straightforward move which obviously would not work on a gargoyle. The only reason it worked on the level 3 golems were because golems are naturally slow creatures whereas gargoyles, not only possessing the ability of flight, were also very agile.

Noticing the strength behind that single attack, the gargoyle flew high up in the air to avoid his attacks. Following suit, the kid spread two pairs of gorgeous white wings.

‘Wings? Was he partly angel? No, angels only had a single pair of wings. Although the appearance was similar, I was certain that he was no angel. So what in the world was he?’

Seeing the kid catching up, the gargoyle started its onslaught of acidic spit. The kid who was unperturbed by the spit, went straight up to it and pierced his spear forward utilizing air manipulation and fire manipulation once again.

A large hole was left in the gargoyle and just as it thought it could survive; it started to fracture into hundreds of pieces as it was blasted by a Fire Ball.

As he came down to the ground while retracting his wings, I heard him mumbling, “1000 points, not bad.”

Was he giving a score to the gargoyle? How pitiful.

But the peculiarity grew bigger as I assessed him. I thought I set the formation in the rock so that only the mana of humans could activate it. This kid was not a human. So what was he? Unless humans have somehow evolved to have retractable wings, I was completely clueless which I hated. I hated this darned feeling of stupidity. I was the 9th Circle Wizard Merlin, the wisest of the wise. My knowledge should be second to the gods, yet this child who was not even an adult made me question my knowledge.

The kid turned to me and as he reached the ground.

“The fourth trial will test how well you can eliminate hundreds of enemies with only magic. Weapons and physical fighting are prohibited.” I said.

Hearing that he could only use magic, he threw the spear in the air and it disappeared. Literally. It vanished. That was it. The more I thought of how he did that, the more stupid I felt.

Taking a deep breath to stop thinking about it, I slammed my old wooden stick on the ground which turned the dungeon chamber into a large arena.

Using a flight spell, I flew up.

“You can’t fly as well.” I meant this test for humans and since this kid was not one, I would have to adjust the rules a bit.

I wonder how he will handle this trial that was meant for a magician at the Beginner Sage realm. I designed this trial in a way that tested how well the participant could manage his mana usage and use the right spells to provide the greatest damage output.

The solution to pass this trial was to use high level spells that could be inflicted upon multiple enemies in a specific area, thereby wiping all the enemies in one fell swoop. The kid was not even at the Arch-mage realm so he should at most have access to level 4 spells which were just not powerful enough against a horde of enemies.

‘He will fail this trial.’

With a snap of my hand, the trial started. Hordes of wild goblins, boars, orcs, you name it, appeared in the arena. They all surrounded the kid who was at the very center of the arena.

No matter how I saw it, I didn’t see a way for the kid to win.

“Start!” I announced.

At that moment, the kid started casting level 4 Fire Blasts at every direction. A smart move on his part since it dealt damage over a large area and fire could spread. But it was not enough.

Why? That would be because of the mana limitations. He could have wiped all of them out with two level 8 spells that dealt damage over a large area, but alas, he was limited to level 4 spells. Who knew how many level 4 spells it took to equate to the amount of damage a single level 8 spell could cause. Not to mention that more spells would only result in a greater mana loss.

It was an inevitable situation for him since he could not cast higher leveled spells. That was it. He will lose. No amount of talent could triumph over the level barrier between spells. Or that was what I had thought until now.

He kept casting and casting away with no end. Just when I had thought he would be out of mana, he would somehow be filled with mana to the brim again and start casting away again, and again, and again, all until every single creature on the arena was burned to ashes.

It was inconceivable. He just did something not even I could have done. It wasn’t just once either.

‘How did he do it?’ This time I couldn’t help it. Just how. Or rather, ‘How did I not know it?’

“How did you do it?” I finally asked the question that had been haunting me since I met the fellow.

“Do what?” He responded as if mocking me.

“The thing you just did before.” I said, squinting my eyes.

“And what exactly did I just do that caught the oh so great Merlin’s eyes?”

‘This darned bastard.’

“YOUR MANA! HOW DID IT NOT RUN OUT?” I shouted.

“Mana? Do you mean casting spells? Can’t you do it too? You are the one and only 9th Circle Wizard, aren’t you?”

‘This piece of ***(Censored to your liking).’