Seabird Town

The tense atmosphere on the battlefield hung heavy for several long minutes, like an invisible weight pressing on everyone's nerves.

The first to crack was the black bear.

With a thunderous roar, purple lightning flashed wildly across its body as it charged toward Father Raphael.

Its massive frame stirred up fierce winds, and the sea trembled under its impact.

The black panther and the vulture silently cursed the bear for its foolishness, but at this point, they had no choice but to follow suit.

In the sky, the vulture spread its enormous wings, and feathers began to fall from its body.

Each feather spun rapidly in mid-air, transforming into countless vulture clones that filled the sky, their piercing screeches seeming to swallow everything around them.

The black panther followed closely behind. Its eyes glowed a blinding red as the crimson markings on its body ignited into flames.

The deep red fire spread from its limbs, radiating intense heat that distorted the air with its deadly energy. 

This fire was fiercer than the fire serpent's, as if it could incinerate the entire battlefield.

"Roar!" the panther growled, its body ablaze, and the sea beneath it instantly evaporated into a thick cloud of white steam.

Father Raphael remained standing calmly on the water's surface, his eyes still closed.

There wasn't a single trace of tension on his face, as if the ferocious assault coming toward him was of no consequence.

The other four priests reacted immediately, conjuring elemental forces into the air.

Father Phillips unfurled a worn parchment, ancient runes lighting up the space around him as magical energy surged, preparing to unleash tremendous power.

But Father Raphael's voice broke through the air, still calm and indifferent, as though the raging battle around him had nothing to do with him.

"Save it.

This doesn't require such effort."

Phillips hesitated, casting a glance at the charging black panther, its fiery form looming closer, then at Father Raphael's serene expression.

With a sigh, he rolled up the parchment.

Raphael stood motionless, hands behind his back, unfazed as the panther and its raging flames drew near. 

Just as the fire seemed poised to consume him, the ocean suddenly surged upward, unleashing a massive wave.

The wave seemed almost sentient, crashing toward the panther's flames in a single sweeping motion.

The panther dodged to the side, its body trembling in fear as it barely avoided being swallowed by the wave.

"Enough games, Aquafang. I've got a lot of paperwork waiting for me," Raphael said softly.

At his command, the entire ocean erupted into a frenzy, waves churning violently as if the water itself had come to life.

At the center of the vortex, a massive orca magic beast—Aquafang—burst from the water, its immense body gleaming in the moonlight.

Its fins were as sharp as blades, and its tail sliced through the air with a deep, resonant roar.

Sensing the lethal intent, the black bear immediately tried to dodge. 

Despite its speed, it couldn't fully escape the orca's lethal strike.

Aquafang's enormous jaws opened wide, and its razor-sharp teeth glinted menacingly under the moonlight. 

With a ferocious snap, the orca tore into the black bear.

A sharp, searing pain shot through the black bear's left shoulder just as it turned its head. 

It felt a brutal, tearing sensation, and when it looked down, its left arm was gone, blood gushing forth.

The severed arm had vanished into the swirling water, torn away by the orca's vicious bite.

The black bear let out a howl of pain, its massive frame staggering as it clutched its wound.

Its once-powerful left arm was gone, leaving a bloody, gaping wound. Blood poured from the injury, staining the water beneath it a deep red.

The orca, like a shadowy leviathan, silently slipped back beneath the waves, sending a great spray of water into the air as it disappeared.

The sea continued to churn and roil.

The vulture and black panther halted their attacks, their eyes filled with wariness.

The sheer speed and strength of the orca had caught them off guard, making them reevaluate their situation.

Even the four priests frowned, shocked by the sudden shift in the battle.

The vulture decided it was time to stop holding back.

A wave of dark magic surged through the air.

The aura around the vulture transformed instantly, its entire being enveloped in powerful dark magic.

Its eyes turned pitch-black, emanating a deathly energy.

With a slight twitch of its massive wings, the air around it began to warp.

A potent wave of magic rippled outward, even disturbing the surface of the ocean as it sent waves crashing in all directions.

Father Raphael's eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze locking onto the swarm of vultures overhead.

Each of the vultures now radiated an overwhelming aura of dark magic.

The immense pressure from the dark magic bore down on everyone, suffocating them under its invisible weight.

Even the four priests felt it, their faces paling as they clutched their chests, struggling to breathe.

Father Raphael's expression grew serious as he realized the gravity of the situation.

The lead vulture let out a shrill screech.

The black panther and black bear immediately understood its intent, shifting their focus away from Raphael and toward the other four priests.

Their goal was clear: hold off the priests while the vulture dealt with Raphael.

Just as Raphael prepared to unleash a light magic, one of the vultures emitted a strange green light that shot directly toward his eyes.

The eerie light carried a palpable darkness with it.

Realizing the danger, Raphael instinctively tried to close his eyes, but it was too late.

The green light pierced his vision, sending a stabbing pain through his mind as if thousands of needles were being driven into his skull.

His vision blurred, and the sounds around him faded, replaced by a deafening hum.

He staggered slightly, his feet unsteady on the water's surface as he took a deep breath and prepared to face the next wave of attacks.

But when he opened his eyes again, the world had changed beyond recognition.

The violent ocean, the fiery black panther, the roaring black bear, the swarm of vultures, and the blood rain and lightning in the sky—all were gone in an instant.

In their place was a familiar town, bathed in the soft glow of a setting sun, the air carrying the gentle scent of the sea breeze.

A small creek flowed through the fields, and seabirds lazily soared across the sky.

The faint sounds of townspeople going about their day could be heard in the distance.

This was his hometown.

Seabird Town.

Father Raphael stood frozen, his heart racing with shock.

He could hardly believe what he was seeing.

His heart pounded in his chest, transporting him back to his carefree childhood days.

Everything here was exactly as he remembered it—his family, his friends, every familiar path filled him with a deep sense of nostalgia.

But his rational mind told him that none of this was real.

"An illusion..."

Raphael muttered, clenching his fist.

He knew full well that this was a soul attack from the vulture, trapping him in a false reality.

His eyes swept across the scene before him, and for a moment, he felt a pang of hesitation.

He had dreamed of returning to his hometown countless times, but now, standing here, he knew it wasn't real.

"Do you really think an illusion can deceive me?" he whispered to himself, his gaze hardening with resolve.

Just as he prepared to break free from the illusion, a familiar voice called out from the distance.

"Raphael, come home for dinner."

His body tensed as he turned abruptly, spotting a familiar figure.

A woman stood there, smiling and waving at him, her voice as gentle as every moment he remembered from his past.