[ Null Field Activated ]
Instanly an invisible pulse of energy rippled outward as Raizel at its center.
Before the Phantom Panther could even blink, the Magic Nullification Field engulfed it entirely.
Its reaction was immediate.
The creature's violet eyes widened in sheer terror, and it let out a distressed, guttural growl. Its previous predatory confidence were all gone.
Then Its form began to shrink.
The shadowy aura that once cloaked it vanished, like mist under the morning sun.
Its gleaming, intimidating figure rapidly compressed, its limbs shortened, muscles deflated—
Until, in the span of a second, it was no more than a small, helpless cat.
A normal animal. No longer an unstoppable specter of death, but a mere creature robbed of its power.
Raizel's lips curled into a smirk.
With one fluid motion, he swung his Steel Sword in a clean horizontal slash.
Slice!
The blade cut through effortlessly.
The Phantom Panther's cries ended in an instant.
[ EXP +90 ]
A moment of silence.
The villagers, who had been watching from a distance, stood frozen in disbelief.
Their eyes flicked between the Mage and the lifeless creature.
"T-That's it?!" one of the hunters stammered.
"Phantom Panthers.. are they really that easy to kill?"
The reality before them contradicted everything they knew.
For years, these beasts had been nightmares, creatures that could phase through attacks, evade capture, and tear through warriors like paper.
And now what do they see?
The mage had reduced one to nothing...in seconds.
"Grrrr... Grrrrrrr!"
But their attention shifted ahead as more Phantom Panthers emerged from their hiding places.
They had expected this.
So had Raizel.
He smirked, watching the creatures reveal themselves one by one.
They had yet to step into his Null Field, and he patiently waited for them to fall into the trap.
Slowly, they encircled him from all sides, closing in, cornering him like a lone, helpless prey.
However Raizel stood tall, gripping his sword with both hands, his stance firm.
His smirk barely contained.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
As expected, the Phantom Panthers attacked in perfect sync, their spectral forms blurring as they lunged toward Raizel. Their speed was deadly, their strikes precise.
But the moment they stepped within the 15-meter radius of his Null Field, everything changed.
Their spectral forms flickered—then shattered.
With soft thuds, the once-intangible creatures landed on the ground, now fully solid. Panic filled their eyes as they stared at the man before them, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Raizel's crimson eyes gleamed like those of a demon.
And they—
They were nothing more than lambs for slaughter.
With a devilish smirk, Raizel dove in.
"Swoosh! Swish! Swish!"
His sword flashed left and right, cutting down the now-vulnerable panthers with ease.
Some tried to fight back, their claws swiping desperately at him, but their attacks barely scratched the surface of his jacket. They were no longer the untouchable predators they once were.
Minutes passed in a blur of steel and crimson.
By the time it was over, Raizel stood amidst the carnage, bathed in red.
His sword dripped with blood, his clothes soaked, his snow-white hair streaked with scarlet. He looked as though he had just stepped out of a slaughterhouse.
Seeing the massacre of their keen, the remaining Phantom Panthers finally broke.
Fear gripped them.
With their tails tucked between their legs, they turned and fled, scrambling away as fast as their paws could carry them.
[ EXP: 5850/10000 ]
Raizel's focus remained solely on gathering as many experience points as possible.
But when the Phantom Panthers fled, he didn't bother chasing them.
Instead, he turned to the villagers, waving his arm.
"Come here now, ladies. The coast is clear," he said with a smirk.
Hearing his words, the women and hunters cautiously stepped out of their hiding spots, their hearts still pounding from the massacre they had just witnessed.
This mage was no ordinary mage. He was definitely extraordinary. The way the Phantom Panthers had been forced out of their spectral forms could only be the work of powerful magic. At least, that's what they believed.
Trembling yet relieved, the five women cast Raizel grateful glances before beginning to gather the herbs they had come for.
Meanwhile, the hunters, who were supposed to be protecting them, stood in awkward silence.
They were slightly ashamed.
They had done nothing after all.
As adults, while they had frozen in fear, the young mage had single-handedly slaughtered all the Phantom Panthers.
On the other hand, Raizel focused on the loot dropped by the Phantom Panthers.
[ Spellbook: Phantom Steps (F) ×4 ]
"Four spellbooks? I can definitely sell them for 40,000 dollars... Unfortunately, I can't learn this."
He muttered to himself, disappointed but not disheartened.
Nevertheless, the money he could fetch from them would be a great asset.
As the herb gatherers carefully picked the herbs, Raizel walked over to a tree and sat down, leaning his back against the rough bark. He pulled out another Stamina Recovery Potion and gulped it down in one go.
He had expended a good amount of stamina in that battle. Recovering it was necessary before taking his next step.
With a satisfied sigh, he tilted his head back lazily, watching the women work with expert hands while the men stood nearby, remaining vigilant.
He had to make sure they remained safe. Otherwise, his escort mission would fail, and he wouldn't be able to earn those juicy 3,000 EXP to level up to level 10.
If he could reach level 10, maybe the Guild Tests would be easier—that was what he was hoping for.
Moreover, if he had heard correctly, he would receive a new spell from his class upon reaching level 10.
Something related to attack magic—something he had been anticipating for a while.
Time passed, about ten minutes.
The women finally finished gathering herbs.
They walked back, holding their baskets full of herbs, satisfied smiles gracing their beautiful faces.
One of them fluttered her eyelashes and spoke in a sultry tone.
"Sir Mage, thank you for your help. Because of you, we had such a successful harvest... Do you want something in return? We wouldn't mind~"
Her voice was filled with seduction as she shifted her posture, revealing her toned legs, whether intentionally or not.
Raizel's gaze unconsciously traveled downward, barely stopping himself from staring at the forbidden zone.
Then, he coughed lightly.
"No need, ladies. Your gratitude is enough. If you're done, shall we leave now?"
He kept his tone composed, while cooling down his little brother under his pant.
The woman pouted in disappointment but nodded.
Raizel had already taken the lead as if he was in some kind of hurry.
And why wouldn't he? He was this close to receiving another spell by reaching level 10 after all.
But would his wish be fulfilled, or was something else waiting for him?