An Incomplete Green-Alphabet Power
It had been five hours; finally, the elder started talking again. Merlin was irritated but he began to understand the old man’s situation.
Even though this elder was powerful, he was caged. The way he talked and his existence was like an immortal. If he had been here for a long time, surely his power would be weaker. The way he talked slowly and inconsistently might be connected to the fact that there was not so much magical power left in his body.
Realizing that, Merlin became calmer. If talking required a lot of energy, the way he paused for a while might be him accumulating his power.
Merlin sat down and paid attention to what he was about to say. Not long after, the old-timer started,
“Is *** The Key of Solomon ***” He sighed heavily then continued.
“You have to bring it to me.” Suddenly, the old man’s eyes were unwavering.
Although he seemed fragile, his voice was still powerful.
As soon as Merlin heard the word “Solomon,” he was keen. Because his identity now was involved with Solomon’s possessions. He noticed that when the old man talked about Solomon, he became furious without any reason. Perhaps the great emperor Solomon was the one who imprisoned him.
“The Key of Solomon…where do I find the Key of Solomon?” Staring at the elder, Merlin asked.
Because this key had to be connected to Solomon’s possessions, he was truly interested so he asked eagerly.
“That is your business!” The elder’s eyes opened up and he became aggressive.
This old man was suddenly furious out of the blue; Merlin could not predict his mood.
When he yelled out those words, they were filled with mysterious energy.
Just by saying a few words, the elder could make Merlin’s body fly out and hit the barrier.
If Merlin had not achieved the stem-building stage, that yelling just before would have injured him.
Merlin tried to keep his discontentment inside; he toned his temper down then said,
“Elder, this key must be precious and powerful. If you do not know where to find it, how could a person like me be able to find it for you? Let alone the search. With my power now, it is possible I will not be able to even touch it. Although I am an alphabet user, I am barely at the blue level and a top-end magic practitioner.”
The boy paused then continued,
“You are an immortal, you can probably live as long as you want. But I am just a human with an insignificant amount of power; one day I will die. Maybe with all my power, I won’t be able to find you the key even if it takes a lifetime.”
After Merlin said that, the old man made an ugly countenance and shouted aggressively.
“You bastard, don’t you try to give me a quibble! I have lived long enough to know all your thoughts when you open your mouth. You are not a pure, innocent child. Barely that eye and the spear have already given you enough power. Do not kid me.”
The boy pretended to smile and said,
“It is true that I have Solomon’s eye and spear. But unfortunately, with my skills right now, I still cannot use them because I do not know how. I can only unseal some of the eye’s power. I became an alphabet user because of some help from this eye.” Merlin explained with a sad face then continued,
“See it yourself. The power of a top-end magic practitioner and a blue-alphabet user. With my quality right now, do you think I can get you the Key of Solomon?”
Merlin put on an act to look pitiable in front of the elder.
Although the old man seemed displeased, checking the boy’s quality, he found that everything this kid said was true. They were facts that he could not deny.
“Hmm…This is infuriating. Why is the possessor of that guy’s treasure someone like you? Why not someone with better qualifications? Why does it have to be a worm, a louse that possessed them?”
The elder closed his eyes with sympathy; after a while, he opened his eyes again and said,
“Alright, alright…let’s say I succor you.”
Having said that, the old man summoned the thirty-fifth floor’s magical-seal stone that Merlin had obtained. He made it fly to stop in front of him.
Even though this old man’s whole body was bound, he could still use this strange energy. He was able to use his power as he wished without even moving.
There appeared in front of the old-timer a palm-sized, strange-looking stone. It looked like a crystal. That magical-seal stone was softly shining out a red-mixed-with-blue color. This color showed the characteristic of its owner, which was Merlin.
Merlin was now a magic practitioner; his aura was red, and so was the magical-seal stone.
Suddenly, the elder controlled the stone and moved it into his forehead; it went into the old man’s forehead like an illusion.
His movement stopped.
After almost half an hour, the elder started moving again.
The magical-seal stone on his forehead slowly pierced through.
Its characteristic was changed; it did not look the same.
The magical-seal stone floating in the air right now was still red; the difference was that the blue-colored glow mixed in there became green instead. That green light was moving like it was alive.
When the old man opened his eyes, the stone flew back to its previous owner.
The elder’s face looked noticeably weary, but his eyes were filled with mystical power. He stared at Merlin and then said,
“Alright, I have just advanced your alphabet level. From now on, you are a green-alphabet user.”
He paused then continued,
“However… with your power right now, you cannot completely be a green-alphabet user. So that makes you a semi-complete green-alphabet user; it means you can be a green-alphabet user only temporarily. After using it once, you will have to wait until you can use it again. As long as you have not reached the level of wizard warrior, you will not completely be a green-alphabet user. This is its condition.”
Hearing that made Merlin so happy. It was like luck fell on him again.
The elder had given him a precious gift.
Becoming a green-alphabet user this easily would envy everyone in the realm. It was possible that the reason the old man was so generous in leveling Merlin up was that he was not aware of how rare the green-alphabet users were in the world outside.
Merlin almost could not keep his joy. Being a green-alphabet user would make his life more secure. Although it was still not perfect, it was enough for him to be happy getting it. He just had to continue his cultivation to reach the zone of wizard-warrior level; then, he would completely become a green-alphabet user.
Merlin withheld his joy and got back to the old man’s request.
“Old-timer, how can I know that it is the key you are looking for? Can you please tell me its characteristics?” Asked Merlin.
Hearing that, the elder showed dissatisfaction and said,
“Did you forget that you own Solomon’s possessions? It will not be difficult to find another belonging of that bastard. When there is another piece nearby, they will call out for each other; you will be able to sense it. You can try it now. Concentrate your focus on those possessions and check the senses around you. Try it now and see if it goes the way I said or not.”
Merlin listened to his advice and immediately tried it out.
Merlin concentrated all his focus on his soul; suddenly his magical power was transferred to his right eye. With his powerful concentration, he sensed something quickly.
This sense was very light. It was possible that the magical pressure was interrupting him, Nevertheless, he could feel it.
Yes! This place had another Solomon’s possession. From the direction he was sensing, perhaps, it was at the top of the Great Magic Tower.
“You learned that there was another Solomon’s belonging here right?” Said the old man emotionlessly.
Merlin knotted his brows for a second then smiled.
“You already knew that there was another treasure up there. Why don’t you open the way and let me go up to get it? It might be what you are looking for.”
The kid could not hide greed in his eyes.
The old man groaned in his throat and said,
“Hmm…that is not the key I want. It is not the thing that could get me out of that bastard’s imprisonment.”
The elder locked his aggressive eyes on Merlin.
“You little bastard, although I don’t have much power now, it is still enough to easily turn you into dust. Remember. If you betray me, I will use the power of my alphabet to demolish you. Get out now and bring the key back to me.”
The elder’s moods were unstable; he could turn up and down like a stream.
Merlin did not mind because he had gained a lot from this old-timer. He smiled and said,
“One more question.”
Merlin was brave enough to ask another question. Although the old man was not in a good mood, he would not kill Merlin. And there was no need to mention the reason because other than Merlin, who else would be able to find the old man what he wanted?
“What now!” He answered in an annoyed voice.
Because Merlin had disobeyed his order, the old man was mad. His shout was able to build energy waves that shook the whole tower.
However, Merlin was not even slightly afraid. He was now the old man’s only hope; surely, the old man would never harm him. It was just a wave of momentary anger; he was fine with that.
The child smiled and said,
“For you and I have a business to do together, my name is Merlin. How can I call you? Just so we can call each other correctly the next time.”
Hearing that, the elder seemed pacified. His moods calmed down again.
“Normally, I would never let anyone who talks back to me live to take another breath. A person like you would never be in my eyes. My exhale could erase your existence. But because you will be in use for me, I will show you compassion. Little bastard, write in your head that my name is **** Jǫrmungandr****”
With that name being said, the air around was twisted. The aura of darkness spread out all over the place. The whole tower was wildly shaking without any cause.
Only the name of this elder could quake this tower. He did not want to think about what his former self was capable of in the past.
The fact that this old man called Solomon a bastard meant that his past had to be somewhat glorious to be so fearless cursing Solomon.
This old man named Jǫrmungandr seemed to be a dangerous figure.
“After I have found the Key of Solomon, will I still be safe then? Will this old one butcher the donkey after it finishes his job on the mill?” Merlin contemplated; he was uncertain on the inside. When he sensed Jǫrmungandr’s power, he was stuck in the flow of his thoughts. After a while, he stopped overthinking.
“Leave it for the future for now,” Merlin thought and acted calmly.
“Go now, you little bastard. Don’t make me any more furious.” Jǫrmungandr’s yell made Merlin literally stop thinking.
“I will leave now.” Merlin seemed meeker now compared to before. He had realized Jǫrmungandr’s real power. This old man’s threat was not an overstatement at all. He was genuinely capable.
After Merlin had said that, Jǫrmungandr closed his eyes and became pacified again.
Hold on! He forgot one important thing!
“Wait! Jǫrmungandr! …. Do not sleep yet... how can I get out of here when you still haven’t taken down the barrier for me?... Jǫrmungandr… Jǫrmungandr…crazy old Jǫrmungandr!”
It was too late… Jǫrmungandr was now staying still.
It seemed like no matter how hard Merlin was scolding, he could not wake the old man up.
“Do I really have to wait again!?”
Merlin’s face now was twisted like he had just swallowed a bitter pill.