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Chapter 260 Chapter 60.6 - Phantom\'s Land

\'Again, this feeling…\'

His footsteps echoed softly as he strolled along, the mist swirling around him like ethereal tendrils. The Phantom\'s Land was known for its mysterious and magical phenomena, and Ethan\'s assignment was to observe and document any unusual occurrences.

After the first day of collaborative observation with Lucas and Caleb, the team decided that it might be more efficient for each member to venture out alone.

\'What did Caleb say again? Was it to measure the Temperature and the Humidity?\'

The limited time they had in this peculiar environment urged them to collect as much data as possible, and splitting up seemed like the best approach. And, since Caleb was the best one amongst the trio in terms of theory, they decided to leave him the decisions.

He didn\'t want to admit it, but when it came to the theory, he was not the best. That was how he was. He didn\'t hate studying and was pretty much diligent, but he himself knew he lacked the inherent talent of those academics.

Though he didn\'t mind it, in this world where people were ruled by strength, he couldn\'t mind it at all.

As Ethan continued his solitary walk through the mist-shrouded landscape of the Phantom\'s Land, he found himself surrounded by unusual and magical sights.

Ethan\'s senses were on high alert as he continued his solitary walk, periodically stopping to jot down notes in his observation journal.

\'Again, once again…..\'

But, there was something foreign here.

The air was thick with mystical energy, and the ethereal tendrils of fog seemed to dance in response to the unseen forces that governed this realm. However, different from how he had seen previously, there was something unnatural here.

And the feeling he was getting now was a lot more disturbing than at the start.

\'As if something is preying upon me.\'

That was why he was armed with his spear, ready to strike. However, even after leaving his home, he had yet to encounter anything that would threaten his life.

SCREECH!

Aside from these wandering phantoms.

Ethan swiftly turned in the direction of the sound, his hand instinctively tightening around the shaft of his spear.

Through the mist, he spotted a phantom, a spectral entity with an eerie glow, closing in on him with hostile intent.

\'Another phantom. Today, I have been encountering these more frequently .\'

Without hesitation, Ethan shifted into a defensive stance and confronted the phantom.

SCREECH!

The screeching intensified, echoing through the mist, as the ethereal creature lunged at him. With practiced precision, Ethan parried its attacks, utilizing his spear to keep the phantom at bay.

SWOOSH!

After that, feeling a surge of mana coursing through him, Ethan seized the opportunity. With a swift motion, he coated the tip of his spear with his own mana, imbuing it with a shimmering energy.

PUFF!

The next thrust pierced through the phantom, shattering its spectral form into small, shiny pieces.

\'Just as the professor informed me, this seems to be working.\'

According to Eleanor\'s words, dealing with phantoms was easy. One just needed to apply a mana-infused attack to the shiny cores of the body.

\'But, they are not dead.\'

It was a temporary solution. No matter how many phantoms one killed utilizing this method, in reality, they were just disturbing their manifestation bridge, making those souls return to where they came from.

Well, in any case, he had already gotten used to this feeling, so he didn\'t care. It was quite exhausting to keep one\'s guard up all the time, but that also proved how effective this place was to be used as a training location.

As Ethan ventured deeper, he noticed an array of peculiar trees, their bark adorned with strange patterns that seemed to pulse with magical energy.

-THUMP!

Remembering the task at hand, he approached one of the unique trees, intending to collect the samples required for the observation.

Amidst the leaves and branches, Ethan recalled the small parchment Caleb had given him before they departed. It was enchanted by Caleb, utilizing his unique trait. The parchment could temporarily manifest an artifact-like effect in this magical environment, aiding Ethan in his tasks. In this aspect, Caleb was the perfect teammate for those like him who struggled to understand concepts of magic and mana engineering.

Closing his eyes, Ethan focused on the enchanted parchment supplying it with mana. A soft glow emanated from it, creating a spectral image of a tool specifically designed for collecting samples.

As the magical image materialized, Ethan reached out and found that the spectral tool behaved as if it were a tangible artifact.

\'Caleb\'s enchantments are always impressive.\'

Utilizing the spectral tool, Ethan carefully collected samples from the unique tree, noting its texture and magical resonance. The parchment\'s enchantment made the task efficient, allowing him to gather the necessary data without any issues.

As Ethan carefully collected samples from the unique tree, a sudden sensation of insects crawling upon his skin caused him to flinch.

-SWOOSH!

His instincts kicked in, and he immediately shifted into a combat position, ready to face a potential threat.

However, in an instant, the world around him blurred, and a strange dizziness overcame him. The mist seemed to dance in erratic patterns, and Ethan felt the ground beneath him become unsteady.

\'What is happening?\'

His consciousness wavered, and the mystical energies of the Phantom\'s Land played tricks on his senses. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been altered, and Ethan struggled to maintain his focus.

In the midst of the disorienting experience, Ethan\'s vision dimmed, and he felt a profound exhaustion enveloping him. It was as if the mana in this peculiar realm were draining him of strength.

\'Not a-…\'

With a final effort, Ethan tried to steady himself, but the force that was enveloping him had other plans. In his final moment, before losing consciousness, he was able to catch a glimpse of something materializing in the phantom form.

\'Eyes.\'

Two eyes looked deep into his soul.

********

Irina, still struggling with her conflicting emotions after her unexpected breakthrough and Astron\'s rare acknowledgment, decided to seek confirmation from a more reliable source.

With a determined expression, she stood up and left the bungalow, making her way towards Professor Eldorium\'s residence.

After all, even if she had felt like she was able to do something without getting any feedback and confirming results, she knew she wouldn\'t be able to be sure about it.

The fog outside had taken on an otherworldly glow as the magical lighting in Phantom\'s Land played tricks on perception.

\'This….\'

Irina navigated through the quaint town; her thoughts focused on gathering data to validate her newfound understanding of the mist\'s magic.

\'The data from the previous years should be enough.\'

TOK! TOK! TOK!

Reaching Professor Eldorium\'s residence, a building that held an aura of both wisdom and simpleness, Irina knocked on the door. It was pretty common for scholars to live in such a way, whilst mages tended to be a lot more extravagant with their accommodations.

CREAK!

A few moments later, the door creaked open, and Professor Eldorium stood before her, his intelligent eyes studying her with a knowing gaze.

"Ah, Irina Emberheart, isn\'t it?" he greeted with a warm smile. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Professor Eldorium," Irina began, her voice composed but carrying an undertone of excitement, "I\'ve been working on a theory regarding the mist\'s magic in Phantom\'s Land. I was wondering if you could provide me with some data for comparison. I want to see if my understanding aligns with the known magical phenomena of this place."

Professor Eldorium\'s eyes twinkled with interest. However, one would never be sure if it was because of his innate desire as a scholar or because of his desire to get closer to the heir of the Emberheart family.

Though again, the world worked in such a way, so who were we to judge?

"Ah, delving into the mysteries of Phantom\'s Land, are we? I commend your curiosity and initiative. Please, come in."

He gestured for her to enter, and Irina stepped into the professor\'s study. The room was filled with ancient tomes, magical artifacts, and a subtle aroma of enchantments.

Irina took a seat as Professor Eldorium began to retrieve relevant scrolls and documents.

\'He has no assistant?\'

Though she couldn\'t help but ask herself, after all, this place seemed to be quite untidy and messy.

"Now, my dear," he said, handing her a parchment covered in intricate runes, "Normally, students are encouraged to make their own observations and draw their conclusions from the conditions surrounding them."

"It\'s an integral part of the learning process. However, exceptions can be made for those with a unique understanding, those who need not rely on shared data."

He paused, allowing his words to settle in the air, creating an unspoken understanding that his gesture was exceptional.

"In your case, Irina, I detect a sharp mind and an intuitive grasp of magic without relying on existing information. Sharing this information with you is, indeed, an exception. Consider it a favor extended to a promising mage with a notable lineage."

The subtle implications hung in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the Emberheart family\'s contributions to the magical community and a reminder that such favors were not granted lightly.

This was basically saying, I am doing a favor for you, and I hope that you won\'t forget it in the future.

"Of course, professor. I know such favors are not to be taken lightly. Rest assured, I will always remember this generosity," Irina replied, her voice composed but carrying a tone of sincere gratitude.

She accepted the parchment covered in intricate wards so that the records were protected, feeling the weight of the implied exchange. The dance of favors and expectations was a delicate one, especially within the intricate web of the high society.

And she knew how to navigate through them.

"Then, I won\'t keep you busy any longer, professor. I wish you the best with your research." With a nod of gratitude, she got ready to leave Professor Eldorium\'s study, parchment securely in her possession.

"Student Irina, remember to return those data before 5 P.M.," he advised, his voice carrying a subtle warning. "Those are the documents governed by the Association."

Irina nodded in acknowledgment, her focus undeterred. "I\'ll make sure to return it on time, professor. Thank you again for entrusting me with this valuable information."

And with those words she left.

*******

Irina returned to her room, parchment in hand, excitement still bubbling within her.

The holographic displays and equations that Astron had provided were ready for comparison with the data she had just acquired from Professor Eldorium.

Seated at her desk, surrounded by the magical glow of her holographic apparatus, Irina meticulously compared the two sets of information.

The parchment from Professor Eldorium contained years of recorded data on the mist\'s magical properties in Phantom\'s Land.

"Let\'s see if my theory holds up," Irina muttered to herself, her fingers dancing over the controls.

The holographic displays flickered to life, showcasing the intricate patterns and values she had recorded based on her reverse-engineering concept.

However, as the comparison unfolded, a furrow appeared on Irina\'s brow. The values didn\'t align as expected. It was as if something crucial was missing or, worse, inaccurately interpreted.

"This doesn\'t make sense," Irina murmured, flipping through the parchment and her own notes. She double-checked the equations, ran simulations, and recalibrated the magical circuits. Yet, the discrepancies persisted.

Frustration crept into her expression. It wasn\'t just a matter of small deviations; the entire set of values seemed to be at odds with each other.

It was a puzzle with missing pieces, and Irina couldn\'t fathom what was going wrong.

"Am I missing a step? Did we overlook a factor?" Irina questioned herself, her mind racing through the intricate details of her theory. Doubt clouded her initial certainty, and the frustration grew.

But just as she was thinking about all those things, suddenly she felt like her world started blurring.

\'What is happening?\'

But, before she could even do anything, her world went dark.

-THUD!

As her body fell to the ground.