To cast the Large Fireball spell, Merlin needed to cast three regular Fireballs in succession. In his room, he quickly released three standard Fireballs, watching as the gray bar in his consciousness turned red. Merlin then focused his mental energy on the Bale Pendant and activated the red bar.
"Large Fireball!"
Immediately, a wave of intense heat surged, but Merlin had already aimed the Bale Pendant at the massive fireball. With a strong pull, the pendant's enchantment absorbed the giant fireball into one of its compartments.
Relieved, Merlin examined the pendant with his mental energy, finding the fireball securely contained within one of the compartments. With just a mental nudge, he could release the powerful spell instantly.
"It worked! The Bale Pendant can store the Large Fireball spell!"
Merlin was overjoyed. With 18 usable compartments left in the pendant, he could theoretically store 18 Large Fireballs. This capacity meant he could unleash a chain of devastating attacks whenever needed.
With excitement, Merlin spent the rest of the night casting and storing Large Fireballs into the pendant, despite the considerable drain on his magical energy. He continued until all 18 compartments were filled, making full use of the quiet hours.
***
Meanwhile, in an abandoned pasture, three men dressed in white robes with silver armor sat around a fire, discussing plans. Each wore a golden mask, concealing their identities. One of the men, slightly shorter than the others, threw a stick into the flames and sneered, "Finally, it's time to act. But do we really need all three of us to handle a mere Wilson, a second-level Flame Swordsman?"
"Quero, Wilson alone might not be a concern, but this mission is crucial to the church. We can't afford mistakes," replied another.
"I'll deal with Wilson myself when the time comes," said the third man, who was larger. "Let's see how long a minor noble from Blackwater City can last against me."
"Enough, both of you," said the last man, who appeared to be their leader. "It's not just Wilson or Blackwater City the church is concerned with. Blackwater, Glen City to the east, and Root City to the west form a strong defensive triangle. We must secure these cities to counter any opportunistic attacks from the Darkmoon Kingdom during our operation."
The leader's commanding presence silenced the others.
"Angus, Bishop has put you in charge. Tell us the plan," one of them said respectfully.
Looking up at the dark sky, Angus replied in a low voice, "Jason will handle things within Blackwater City. Our task is outside, ensuring no disruptions. Most surrounding towns are weak and pose no threat, but Wilson's territory is different. He commands a unit of heavy-armored knights. If they reach Blackwater, they could complicate Jason's control over the city."
"That's why we've been ordered to keep Wilson in his territory, permanently. The Light will protect us. The God of Light is with us!"
Angus's voice was cold, exuding a murderous intent. The other two men stood in reverence, chanting, "The God of Light is with us!"
***
At dawn, Merlin's door was knocked on.
"Master Merlin, the baron requests you come out. It's time to depart for Blackwater City," called a maid from outside.
"Understood," Merlin replied.
Inside, Merlin looked pale from fatigue, but his eyes gleamed with excitement. He'd spent the entire night casting fire spells, exhausting his magic, resting, and then casting again. It had been a long night, but he finally managed to fill all 18 compartments in the Bale Pendant with Large Fireballs. Now, he could unleash powerful spells with just his mental energy.
Merlin tied the pendant around his neck with a thin cord to keep it discreet yet accessible.
"Setting off so early?" he murmured as he went downstairs. Outside, a large gathering of knights was waiting, including about 200 heavy-armored knights, Wilson's elite force that he had trained himself.
Baron Wilson, clad in black armor, stood at the castle steps. He glanced at Merlin and frowned slightly. "Didn't sleep well?"
Merlin shook his head with a smile. "Just not used to sleeping in the castle, that's all. Are you bringing all the knights from the territory?"
"No, only the heavy-armored knights. The others will stay to guard the territory against bandit attacks," Wilson replied, shaking his head.
At that moment, a loud noise broke the silence—a chaotic clatter of hooves, followed by plumes of dust in the distance.
"Something's wrong. It's the bandits! All knights, prepare for battle!" Wilson shouted, his face darkening.
The knights outside the castle quickly drew their swords and formed a defensive formation, their eyes fixed on the approaching enemy.