"Hum.. Raizel, you haven't left yet?" Philip said with mild surprise.

Raizel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked calmly, "What are you doing, Philip? These people are just innocent villagers."

Hearing Raizel's voice, the subdued Village Chief glanced at him from the corner of his eye. A flicker of hope returned to his lifeless expression.

"Save the vi—"

Before he could finish, the Shadow Wolf tore his head off in one swift motion.

Philip smirked, watching without a hint of remorse.

"Why you ask?" He spread his arms mockingly. "Because... it's so easy to level up by killing these weaklings. So why should I waste my time on quests for some measly experience points?"

His condescending sneer deepened. "I'm not a fool like you two. This is just a game, Raizel. I can do whatever I want. They're just NPCs."

Philip leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a feigned regretful tone. "Alas, I didn't want to reveal this side of myself to anyone yet. But now that you've seen me..." He let out an exaggerated sigh. "I have no choice but to kill you too. Such a shame. We could have been good friends."

But despite his words, there was no pity, no kindness, no sympathy in his eyes.

The Philip standing before Raizel was a completely different person. A different persona he was hiding all this while.

Raizel's lips curled in mockery.

"Good friends? With a snake like you? I would never do that in my lifetime," he said disdainfully.

Philip's eyes narrowed. "Then you have to die, Raizel. Because I don't like to keep my enemies alive."

"Oh..." Raizel sneered. "So overconfident?"

Philip smiled. "It's not overconfidence. I know you don't have any magic. You're just another ordinary player who got lucky enough to survive all this time. Or should I say, you were a pet for Kierra, who kept you safe?"

"But now that you've been abandoned, what will you do, Raizel? Do you want to be my dog?"

"I have no magic? Why are you so sure?" Raizel muttered with amusement, not angry in the slightest.

Seeing the composure of Raizel despite throwing all the insults, Phillip was surprised.

Still, he replied confidently, "I am sure. I have never seen you wielding any magic."

"I see… So you've been keeping an eye on the village all this time. And when Kierra left, you decided to attack. You're nothing but a coward who's afraid of showing his face to the world. Am I right?" Raizel shot back sharply.

Philip's smirk twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Coward? No, Raizel, I'm just smart. I wait for the right moment to strike. Unlike you, who just stumbles around with dumb luck," Philip sneered.

Raizel chuckled, shaking his head. "Smart? You mean preying on the weak? That's not smart, Philip. That's just pathetic."

Philip's expression darkened, but he still maintained his air of superiority. "Say whatever you want. In the end, power is what all matters. And right now, I have more of it than you do."

Raizel gripped his sword tightly, his crimson eyes glowing under the flickering flames of the burning village. "Then why don't you prove it?"

Philip's grin widened. "Gladly."

With a snap of his fingers, the Shadow lightning Wolf beside him let out a menacing growl, its body crackling with lightning.

"Buzz! Crackle, crackle!"

The Shadow Lightning Wolf unleashed a terrifying lightning bolt, aiming to turn Raizel to ashes at its master's command.

Philip's eyes were fixed downward, eager to witness Raizel's demise with his own eyes.

But the next moment, he was speechless, his mouth hanging open in shock.

The lightning bolt had been effortlessly reflected back to the Shadow Lightning Wolf with just a casual swing of the sword in Raizel's hand.

"H-How?

Impossible!"

"What is that sword?"

Only then did he notice the extraordinariness of the broadsword. It was crimson red, gleaming faintly even under the dim light.

This sword was not normal. Otherwise, how could it reflect a magical attack so effortlessly?

"A legendary treasure... Yes, it must be it!"

Philip's eyes instantly shone with greed. He had to obtain that sword at all costs.

Seeing the greed in Philip's eyes, Raizel remained unfazed, resting the broadsword on his shoulder in a domineering stance.

Though he didn't know exactly how much stronger Philip had become, Raizel was confident in his ability to defend himself with his increased power.

With Anti-Magic by his side, he had no reason to fear a magical beast tamer like Philip.

However, if Philip's beasts had been physically stronger instead of relying on magic, then perhaps Raizel would have taken him more seriously.

Raizel didn't wait for Philip to attack this time. Now that they were enemies, he wanted to kill Philip as well.

[ Red Berserker ]

As the Red Berserker activated, Raizel dashed forward, broadsword lifted high.

His form began to expand, his muscles swelling with power. Philip's eyes widened in shock as Raizel transformed into a towering red muscle-bound warrior.

"What the hell? What kind of spell is that?"

Before Philip could process it, Raizel had already leaped high into the air, aiming directly for his head.

Philip's heart froze in terror. He was simply too shocked to react in time.

But at the last moment, the little spirit, Philo, cast a magic shield, barely managing to protect its master.

However, Philo quickly realized the shield wasn't enough. The blade was effortlessly cleaving through it, as if slicing through paper.

In an instant, Philip and Philo were teleported away from the top of the massive Shadow Lightning Wolf.

As such, the target of the overwhelming sword slash naturally became the wolf itself.

"Slash!"

With a clean downward strike to the neck, the beast was slain instantly.

There was no blood, no flesh—just a despairing growl before it vanished completely.

Raizel landed on the ground on his feet, his gaze locking onto Philip and Philo, now standing a short distance away.

A playful smirk stretched across his lips.

"Why aren't you smiling anymore?"

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