My Magic Has No Upper Limit

"Then we ran into a mutated Crystal Cluster Giant Spider with a certain degree of magic immunity, three Jackal Wolf Barbarian Soldiers, and a large Demon encampment with over forty Gnolls..."

Wait a minute...

At first, it was fine, but the more they listened, the stranger the expressions on Harrison and Philip’s faces became.

How did things get so wild?

Compared to Giant Rock Golems, Crystal Cluster Giant Spiders, and large Gnoll encampments, their own haul of goblins, Slimes, and Kobolds sounded downright pathetic.

Along the way, Instructor Marvin had taught Philip and Harrison a lot from the Monster Atlas.

They were well aware that although the Giant Beast Dogman and the Giant Rock Golem were both [Difficulty] rated Demons, the two were barely comparable. In terms of loot drops or the challenge of subduing them, they weren’t in the same league at all.

And that was to say nothing of the Crystal Cluster Giant Spider with magic immunity. The very idea of it was terrifying.

Besides, if it had magic immunity, how could a Mage possibly kill it?

"And finally, we took down a One-Eyed Giant," Lena concluded her list.

Upon hearing "One-Eyed Giant," both Harrison and Philip were too stunned to even eat the meat dangling from their lips.

’If I remember correctly... isn’t that a [Challenge] rated Demon?’

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait..."

Instructor Marvin quickly waved his hands. "I meant which Demons the squad eliminated, not which ones you instructors took care of."

"But it *was* Zelir’s squad that eliminated them." Seeing Marvin’s reaction, Lena couldn’t help but smile smugly.

"Zelir’s squad eliminated them? A Giant Rock Golem, I could maybe believe. But a magic-immune Crystal Cluster Giant Spider? There’s no way a squad could handle that!"

Marvin looked at Zelir in surprise. "How did you do it?"

"Oh... I know a little hand-to-hand combat, so I just split the Crystal Cluster Giant Spider with a sword," Zelir answered modestly.

"Split it with a sword?"

Marvin’s brows knitted together tightly. He glanced at the Fine Steel Longsword at Zelir’s side.

’Since when can Mages do that?’

"Then what about the One-Eyed Giant?" Marvin asked again.

"I can’t take credit for that one."

Zelir said earnestly, "It was mainly because Instructor Manlin provided a powerful group Gain. Otherwise, we would never have dared take such a risk."

"I knew you wouldn’t believe it." Seeing Marvin’s skeptical expression, Instructor Lena, who was standing to the side, simply swiped a finger across her Storage Pouch.

The Heart of Giant Eye, taken from the One-Eyed Giant, appeared in her hand.

At the sight of it, the last shred of doubt in Instructor Marvin’s mind vanished.

As a Golden Level Adventurer, Instructor Marvin knew exactly how tough a One-Eyed Giant was to deal with.

Even with Manlin providing Gains from the back line, the courage and skill required to challenge and kill a One-Eyed Giant were still exceptionally impressive.

Philip silently put away the Giant Beast Dogman skull. He said nothing more, simply lowering his head and tearing into his roasted meat.

’One day... I’m going to hunt a One-Eyed Giant too!’

Soon, everyone had eaten their fill and was satisfied.

"Are we heading back to Black Stone Town first thing tomorrow morning?" Zelir asked.

"No, not so fast. Before we go back, we have one more thing to do," Marvin said.

’Something else to do...?’ Zelir looked quizzically at the three instructors.

"You’ll find out tomorrow." Marvin just smiled, saying no more.

...

「Early morning.」

Zelir yawned as he stepped out of the encampment. The biting mountain wind instantly sobered him.

He spotted a few familiar figures he hadn’t seen in a while.

Upper Level Swordsman Yisi leaned against a giant rock, her eyes closed as she rested her spirit. Two Longswords hung at her sides.

Meanwhile, Upper Level Vanguard Hank stood like an iron tower, silently positioned on the highest ground nearby.

During the Monster Hunting days, these two had remained hidden to allow the trainees a better opportunity to train, never once revealing themselves.

Additionally, the two Upper Level Class Adventurers who had been with Instructor Marvin also revealed themselves.

They were Upper Level Swordsman Timothy, and another Upper Level Vanguard, Mackenzie.

’Four Upper Level Warriors... What are they about to do?’

A sense of premonition welled up inside Zelir.

He glanced to one side and saw that the three instructors—Marvin, Lena, and Manlin—were already awake.

They were gathered around a map, discussing something in low voices. The atmosphere was different from the past few days, somewhat grave.

"What are the instructors up to?" Philip sidled up to Zelir, his own confusion evident.

"’Hard to say...’ Zelir shook his head, though a suspicion was already forming in his mind."

Soon, everyone was summoned, and the party was ready to move out.

However, they weren’t heading back down the mountain. Instead, they marched deeper into the mountain range, pressing onward!

"Let’s go." Instructor Marvin waved his hand, signaling for everyone to follow.

The party now included seven Upper Level Professionals, three of whom were Upper Level Mages.

Such a lineup was nothing short of terrifying.

"Where is Instructor Marvin taking us...?" Bev asked in a small, uncertain voice.

"I don’t know..." Yanni shook her head, her own face a mask of confusion.

When the party passed through a narrow defile formed by giant stone pillars, everyone came to a halt.

They had come to the edge of a ring-shaped valley.

The valley was immense. Looking down from their vantage point, they saw its floor was shrouded in a layer of black miasma.

The miasma writhed slowly, like the breathing of a slumbering behemoth.

A powerful stench of decay wafted up from the valley floor, causing all the trainees to wrinkle their brows.

"Next, we and the four Adventurers are going to eliminate a Demon. We brought you here to let you observe and broaden your horizons."

At this point, Instructor Marvin finally spoke. "This is so you’ll know, at the very least, what the truly powerful Demons of this world are like."

"What... kind of Demon is it?" Philip mustered his courage and asked.

"A [Cruelty] rated Demon, the Abyssal Evil Vine," Instructor Marvin said slowly.

[Cruelty]...

A hush fell over the squad.

[Simple], [Difficulty], [Challenge], [Cruelty], [Bloody], [Catastrophe], [Nightmare].

With each tier, a Demon’s strength increased dramatically.

The terrifying One-Eyed Giant from the other day was only rated [Challenge], and that had been shocking enough.

’And now Instructor Marvin and the others were going to personally take on and eliminate a [Cruelty] rated Demon?’

The expressions of the Upper Level Adventurers remained unchanged; clearly, they already knew what the final target of this Monster Hunt would be.

Zelir’s breathing grew soft.

He wasn’t afraid. On the contrary, he felt a thrill of excitement.

’A chance to witness three Upper Level Mages in combat, and against a [Cruelty] rated Demon, no less!’

His Technique Celestial Calculation was already stirring, eager to begin.

"So, this was the real destination of the Monster Hunt all along?" Bev asked, beginning to understand.

"More or less."

Instructor Marvin nodded slightly.

"If this were a typical [Cruelty] rated Demon, we wouldn’t bother coming all this way to exterminate it, so long as it didn’t threaten any human settlements."

"But the Abyssal Evil Vine is different. The nature of this Demon is unique. Its core seed is buried deep underground, and its Life Energy is incredibly potent."

"The tendrils that grow from its core seed can spread endlessly, siphoning the energy and essence from all surrounding life to enhance its own power. It’s a rare, evolving type of Demon."

"It’s manageable here in the Hengduan Mountain Range, where there isn’t much vegetation for it to absorb. But if its roots were to spread as far as the Gray Wood Forest..."

Instructor Marvin lowered his voice.

"Then, in a few years, we might be facing a [Bloody] rated Demon..."

"At that point, it would no longer be the Abyssal Evil Vine. It would evolve into the Master of the Shadow Forest Sea, and that would be a truly massive problem."

’Master of the Shadow Forest Sea...’

The name alone carried an intense, oppressive weight.

"Alright, that’s all that needs to be said. You are all to stay here and watch from a safe distance."

After Marvin finished, he exchanged a look with Lena and Manlin. The three Mages drew their Magic Wands.

Then, leading the four Upper Level Class Adventurers, they took a gentle, downward path and began their descent into the miasma-shrouded Valley of Death.

This time, the party composition included no Ranger.

In any case, with an Upper Level Arcane Mage and an Upper Level Elemental Mage providing firepower, adding an Upper Level Ranger would have been redundant.

Their formation was very tight. As Upper Level Vanguards, Hank and Mackenzie were positioned at the front-left and front-right respectively.

The Tower Shields and Warhammers in their hands radiated a heavy glow of Fighting Qi, establishing the party’s sturdiest front line.

Dual Sword Swordsman Yisi and the other Swordsman, Timothy, guarded the party’s flanks.

Their gazes were hawklike, vigilantly scanning every surrounding shadow.

And at the very center, encircled by these four, stood the three Mages.

Marvin and Lena stood side-by-side, while Manlin occupied the safest position at the core of the formation.

The moment she stepped into the black miasma, she immediately raised her Magic Wand.

A complex Magic took shape in her hands.

A soft, emerald-green aura radiated out from her, instantly enveloping the entire seven-person team.

The miasma, thick with the stench of decay, sizzled upon contact with the aura. Its toxic effects were completely neutralized, unable to corrode their bodies.

A new task appeared under Technique Celestial Calculation.

Purification Aura, Analysis Progress: 1%

After Casting, Manlin took out a Source Energy Crystal Stone of the highest quality, holding it in her hand, ready for a Magic Refill at a moment’s notice.

In this seven-person team, Manlin would undoubtedly consume the most Magic Power.

As the party’s most crucial support and healer, she had to constantly monitor everyone’s status, ready to apply timely Gains, remove negative effects, and provide healing.

As the elite squad ventured deeper, the horrifying environment of the valley floor was laid bare before them.

There were no living plants here. The ground was covered in withered, twisted vines that resembled black blood vessels, letting out a brittle CRUNCH when stepped on.

The putrid stench of decay in the air grew stronger, so potent that even the rocks had been corroded to an ominous, grayish-black.