Merlin kicked off the frozen sea and glided across the ice. Though the surface of the ice was slippery, Merlin was able to gain footing as if it were solid ground, and arrived in front of Heinkel in no time.

Crackle!!

Sparks flew as Merlin’s right hand, still glowing blue, collided with Heinkel’s magic barrier. The barrier was like an iron wall. Merlin could immediately tell that Heinkel had spent a lot of time and magic power to create it. Merlin also noticed that the source of the magic barrier was the bracelet that Heinkel wore on his arm.

‘Artifact?’

“How foolish. I still don’t understand how you were able to cast a wide area-of-effect spell, but did you really think you could contend against me in close combat?”

Heinkel sneered from behind the barrier as dark magic began to rise from his left hand. The amount of magic power Heinkel was using was easily more than Merlin’s total capacity. However, at that moment, Merlin’s hand, which was still pressed against Heinkel’s barrier, started glowing brighter.

Woong!

The magic barrier rippled like waves. Seeing this, Heinkel’s eyes...