As they continued ahead, Raizel always took the lead, eagerly cutting down monsters before the others could even react.
And why not?
This was a perfect opportunity for more EXP without the need to split it with teammates.
Though the hunters assisted, they didn't land the finishing blows, meaning all the experience belonged solely to him.
[ EXP: 4,300 / 10,000 ]
Just 3,000 more, and once he escorted them back safely, reaching Level 10 would be guaranteed.
Suddenly, a new notification flashed in vibrant green, catching his attention.
[ Congratulations! Your Spell: Magic Nullification Field has been upgraded to Rank E ]
[ Effective Range: 5m → 15m ]
Raizel's smile widened instantly.
His constant effort to level up this ability had finally paid off.
Before, the spell's range was only 5 meters, severely limiting its effectiveness in battle. But now?
A full 15-meter radius.
With this, he could counter magical creatures far more efficiently, negating their abilities before they even got close.
The forest ahead held stronger foes.
And now, he was more than ready.
"Sire, is something wrong?"
A woman, who had just finished picking a batch of herbs, noticed the gleeful expression on Raizel's face.
Raizel quickly cleared his throat, composing himself. "Ahem, nothing."
His expression returned to its usual calm and composed demeanor.
"Are you done gathering the herbs?" he asked.
The woman shook her head. "Not yet, Sire. We still need to go deeper... near the Phantom Panthers' den."
A hint of fear flickered in her eyes. "That place is dangerous."
Raizel raised a brow. "Phantom Panthers?"
One of the hunters stepped forward, nodding grimly.
"Yes. Phantom Panthers. They're incredibly difficult to deal with." His voice held a note of caution.
"They possess a magical phantom form, making them nearly impossible to hit with physical weapons."
Raizel's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "A magical phantom form? That actually sounds… fun."
"Fun?!" The hunter gawked at him. "Sire, are you serious? These creatures are deadly! But.. of course, you're a mage, so it might not be as difficult for you."
Another hunter, resting an axe on his shoulder, added, "Yes, magic works well against their phantom form. Physical attacks are useless, but magical attacks can harm them."
Raizel smirked, his excitement barely concealed.
This was getting interesting.
As an Anti-Mage, the thought of facing pure magical creatures sent a thrill through Raizel's veins.
"Alright then, what are we waiting for?" he declared, a confident smirk on his face. "You don't need to fear as long as I'm here."
His unshakable confidence made the villagers exchange hesitant glances before placing their trust in him.
Silently, they followed behind him like shadows, keeping their guards up as they advanced.
After thirty minutes, they finally reached their destination.
Before them lay a vast open field, blanketed in strange blue flowers that swayed gently in the wind.
Despite the breathtaking view under the bright sun, the air was tainted by a foul scent drifting from the blossoms.
It was a sight of beauty and danger intertwined.
The hunters and herb gatherers crouched behind bushes and trees, their eyes alert as if standing before a great enemy.
Yet, despite the threat, those blue flowers were essential.
A woman, her voice low with caution, whispered, "Sire, if we try to gather those herbs, the Phantom Panthers will attack from all sides."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pointed toward the field of blue.
"Their numbers are overwhelming, making it nearly impossible to dodge their ambush."
She swallowed hard before adding, "But… these herbs are crucial for crafting Stamina Potions. We can't leave without them."
Her plea was clear—the village depended on these herbs.
Now, it was up to Raizel to decide how they would get past the predators lurking in the shadows.
"Alright, you all stay here. Just give me a few Stamina Potions," Raizel said casually, extending his hand.
Though confused, the villagers quickly handed him four Stamina Potions.
Without hesitation, Raizel uncorked one and downed it in a single gulp.
[ Your Stamina regeneration speed has increased by 2x ]
[ Stamina: 27/29 ]
Feeling the invigorating energy surge through him, he stepped forward, heading straight toward the herb field.
His Steel Sword, already bearing the marks of countless battles, rested firmly in his grip. Despite its wear and tear, an unshakable confidence radiated from him.
The villagers held their breath, their eyes glued to his every movement.
Each second felt like an eternity, the tension was thick enough to cut with a blade.
Then—
"Grrrrrr…!"
A bone-chilling roar echoed from the distance, a clear warning to the intruder.
The hunters stiffened, gripping their weapons tightly.
But Raizel didn't stop.
The air grew thick with tension as Raizel took another step into the forbidden field.
Whoosh!
Suddenly A dark blur streaked across the field, moving faster than the eye could follow.
Raizel's instincts alerted.
Before he could react, a chilling wind brushed past his neck, followed by the sharp sound of claws slashing through the air.
"Tch!"
He pivoted on his heel, barely dodging as a massive beast materialized before him—
A Phantom Panther.
Its form flickered, shifting between reality and illusion, as if it existed in both the physical and spectral realms at once.
Its waivy fur was jet black, absorbing the sunlight instead of reflecting it, making it look like a living shadow.
Two piercing violet eyes gleamed with predatory hunger, locking onto Raizel.
It didn't snarl or growl.
It simply stared, its tail flicking from side to side, calculating its next move.
Then the next moment, It vanished.
Not a blur. Not a dash.
It simply ceased to exist, swallowed by the very air itself.
Raizel's grip tightened on his sword.
His heart pounded, but his lips curled into a thrilled smirk.
"Heh… interesting."
A whisper of movement—
Above!
Raizel threw himself sideways, just as razor-sharp claws slashed through the spot he had just stood.
The Phantom Panther reappeared mid-air, its claws humming with ethereal energy, before landing with unnatural grace.
Its violet eyes narrowed.
It had missed.
Raizel rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders.
"You might be a phantom, but let's see how you handle… my magic-nullifying field."
"Null Field!"