The sun was already nearing its peak, casting bright light over the landscape. The trees and plants weren't as dense, allowing the sunlight to filter through easily.
From what Victor could see, they were heading deeper into Lockwood Forest. That meant more monsters and magical plants would soon be upon them, ready to attack at any moment.
Kierra was on high alert, and so was Victor.
They walked across the grassy land, feeling the moisture of nature beneath their feet. There were already a strange scent of danger in the air.
As they continued, the surroundings shifted abruptly. Dense canopies and towering trees loomed ahead, their presence marking the transition into a more dangerous area. More importantly, magical plant monsters came into view.
[ Fire-Spitting Cactus - Level 5 ]
[ HP: 180 ]
[ Danger Level: Low ]
__
[ Venomous Vines - Level 6 ]
[ HP: 200 ]
[ Danger Level: Medium ]
__
The plant monsters seemed almost alive as they were rooted in the ground in massive numbers, forming a thick, almost impenetrable wall that seemed to reject any unexpected guests from entering its domain.
Kierra and Victor paused a little distance away, staying just out of reach of the dangerous vines.
"Can you take them on?" Victor asked, pointing toward the Venomous Vines on the left side.
Kierra glanced at him before raising an eyebrow. "Why? Do you want to handle the Cactuses by yourself?"
Victor gave a firm nod.
"Yeah, I can deal with them. But I need the Venomous Vines out of the way. I don't want them interfering while I fight."
The Monkey Cubs clinging to their shoulders trembled violently, their tiny bodies tense with fear. Even at their young age, their instincts screamed that these creatures were lethal.
"Now now, don't be afraid, Lulu. We will get rid of these ugly plants soon enough," Kierra said gently, caressing its golden fluffy fur.
Kierra had already given a name to the Monkey Cub she now owned, while Victor had yet to decide on one for his.
Victor's eyes remained locked onto the Fire-Spitting Cactuses. Their thick, thorn-covered bodies radiated heat, and the fiery tips of their spines looked ready to shoot out at any moment.
He tightened his grip on his Steel sword, knowing that one wrong move could turn this fight into a disaster.
Both enemies posed a serious threat. One could incinerate them with scorching flames, while the other could strangle and poison them within seconds.
Kierra studied Victor for a moment before nodding. She knew he was strong and formidable, but this would be the first real test of his abilities.
"Alright, Raizel. If the vines so much as twitch toward you, I'll take care of them," Kierra said, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she patted her chest. "Just don't mess up, alright?"
"I won't. You just do your part right, Kierra. I'm placing my trust in you," Victor said nonchalantly before stepping forward, his steel sword gleaming under the sunlight.
His pet was naturally left on Kierra's side.
Kierra looked at it, then at Raizel's back. "Trust huh?" she murmured as if recalling something from the past.
In front of her, Victor took a deep breath, going over his strategy one last time.
'I just somehow need to get close to them. Once I'm within range, their magical abilities won't work anymore. But I'll also need cover from the cactuses that would be out of my null field.'
His grip on the steel sword tightened as he advanced, ready to put his plan into action.
"Tut, tut, tut!"
The moment Victor stepped forward, the Fire-Spitting Cactus reacted. Several fiery spines shot toward him with deadly precision.
Anticipating the attack, Victor twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the first wave.
But that was just one cactus.
The real danger came from the dozens of them surrounding him.
He had to be more cautious.
"Whoosh!"
Without hesitation, Victor dashed forward at full speed.
As expected, an onslaught of scorching-hot spines rained down on him, each as sharp as a dagger and burning with intense heat.
The first volley barely missed; but they were adapting.
Slowing down wasn't an option.
[ You have been attacked. Health -2 ]
[ You have been attacked. Health -1 ]
More spines grazed his arms and legs, leaving stinging burns.
The pain was sharp, but Victor clenched his jaw, ignoring it. He had endured worse.
His eyes remained locked on his target.
'Just a few more meters...'
[ Null Field Activated ]
The moment he stepped within five meters of the nearest Cactus Monster, he triggered his Antimagic Spell.
And just like that; everything changed.
The surrounding cactuses froze mid-attack.
Their bodies twitched as they attempted to fire more spines, but their magical energy had been cut off.
Using the disabled cactuses as cover, Victor ducked behind one, shielding himself from the still-active ones outside his Null Field.
He exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from his forehead.
It worked.
Null Field's 5-meter radius had neutralized their magic, turning their once-deadly flaming spines into harmless projectiles.
Grinning, Victor steadied his grip on his sword.
Now..... it was his turn.
"Swooo-oosh!"
Victor's steel sword sliced through the air, striking the Cactus Monster in front of him with full force.
(17 + 10 = 27 Damage!)
With a single slash, he carved deep into its thick body.
It had only around 123 HP left—meaning just five more strikes would finish it off.
The Cactus Monster was completely defenseless.
Its primary method of attack—its fire-spitting ability—was completely rendered useless within his Null Field after all.
Now, it was nothing more than a fish on chopping board.
[ -26 ]
[ -29 ]
[ -25 ]
Victor's attacks landed one after another, carving away its remaining health. He didn't stop until it was dead.
[You have killed Fire-Spitting Cactus! ]
[ Gained +50 EXP ]
Seeing the confirmation message, Victor didn't waste time.
He moved onto the next target, using the now-lifeless cactus as a shield just like before.
The moment he stepped out of his Null Field, more flaming thorns shot toward him.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The burning projectiles grazed past both sides of his body, missing by inches.
But within his 5-meter radius—
There was no fire.
No magic.
The moment he closed the distance, the next Cactus Monster also became powerless.
Meanwhile, Kierra, who had been keeping the Venomous Vines at bay with her Fire Arrows, finally noticedsomething odd.
She frowned, and her eyes narrowed.
"Wait… Why aren't the closer Fire-Spitting Cactuses attacking him?"
She was dumbfounded.
From her vantage point, it looked as if the moment Victor got too close—The monsters simply stopped fighting.
What kind of Spell was this?