Although his professional level isn’t high, Xia Nan has encountered quite a number of elite spellcasters since his transmigration.

On the teammates’ side, there is Wei Rou’er, a mage with a mysterious origin but extreme reliability; on the adversaries’ side, there are demon nobles from Purgatory and fallen priests wielding crystal power...

To a certain extent, these experiences have greatly increased Xia Nan’s regard for the role spellcasters play as a professional identity.

If there are trustworthy spellcaster-type allies, he doesn’t mind centering the team around them for coordinated combat.

However, if there is a powerful spellcaster on the enemy’s side, he would mentally raise their priority to the highest.

Xia Nan has encountered weaker spellcaster-type enemies before, often resolving them with a single sword strike.

But those past encounters with elite spellcasters prevent him from ever underestimating such enemies.

Just like now.

By striking with an arm shield infused with the "Heavy Tide" effect, making the pirate leader Gerry lose balance, he could have seized the opportunity to pursue, expanding his advantage for additional damage.

However, Xia Nan did not do so.

Instead, he resolutely carried out his original plan, rushing towards the Fishman Priest swiftly retreating under the cover of guards.

Facts proved that he made the right choice.

On the Aifala Continent, the spellcaster profession undeniably holds a relatively transcendent status in various fields.

The fundamental reason lies in its relatively scarce number compared to other professions and the comprehensiveness brought by spells.

Of course, at the same time, this type of profession also has notable drawbacks.

One aspect is the low margin of error due to weak defenses and frail bodies, and on the other hand, there are stringent restrictions on spellcasting.

Especially for those spellcasters with lower professional levels, lacking sufficient casting specializations, limited financial resources, and no spell tools to fill in casting gaps and increase the margin of error, it’s hard to maintain a stable high-intensity output when both magic power and spiritual power are quite limited.

As with the formidable enemies Xia Nan encountered before, individuals capable of multi-casting in a single round are indeed few.

The Sha Hua Fishman Priest in front of him had already reached its limit by consecutively casting the "Demon Fire Technique" and the "Human Immobilization Spell," both requiring a focused state, relying solely on talent blessing gained from the sacrificial ceremony to barely perform.

It needed some time to recover.

Because of this, during the exchange between Xia Nan and "Carrion Vulture" Gerry in that round, the opponent did not cast spells from the sidelines in cooperation.

It wasn’t until now that it slightly caught its breath.

Thanks to the Sha Hua Fishman’s strong xenophobic nature, even though its professional level isn’t very high, this Fishman Priest has experienced a wealth of battle experience against enemies from other races.

Now, facing the black-haired human adventurer ahead, draped in a phantom shadow of a Black Wolf, who has smashed its enchanted equipment’s protective shield with one sword and moved at a ridiculously swift speed.

Its face was serious and tense, yet it didn’t appear panicked.

While commanding the guards beside it to step forward and block, its four arms lifted that huge horn again.

Placed to its lips and blew forcefully.

"Dlongng!"

The high-pitched reverberating horn sound spread out with a strong airflow, and magic particles suddenly fluctuated, quickly gathering in the air around the horn’s mouth.

Buzz——

Dark purple magic radiance brewed into form amid the high-frequency vibration of energy sounds.

Transforming into a nearly unavoidable dim phantom, fleetingly flashing in the air.

The next second, it had already fallen onto the Black Wolf fiercely pouncing closer.

——3rd Ring Illusion Fear Technique!

The spell’s effect isn’t difficult to explain, as its name suggests, projecting the recipient’s greatest fears into their mind, causing them to drop their weapons and fall into a panicked state of fleeing.

Yes, perception check.

Under normal circumstances, the Fishman Priest’s decision on the spot was flawless, even outstanding.

Facing the highly mobile, high-damage melee combatant approaching, casting control-type spells could not only buy more breathing and recovery time but also create opportunities for Gerry and its guards.

But the premise is, the spell must take effect.

Due to past secret realms and his professional combat skill framework, Xia Nan’s Perception Attribute was already extremely prominent, surpassing even many high-level professionals in perceptive ability.

This became his basis for resisting the "Fear Technique."

Meanwhile, on the aspect of equipment, the Pink Crystal Dagger named "Miju," though used only as a small tool for cutting loot by Xia Nan in daily use.

It itself possessed the effect of "slightly raising the carrier’s spirit resistance when held," adding yet another layer of insurance for him.

Most crucially, after the spell landed on him, it was his powerful specialty "Gaze into the Abyss," acquired from the Evil Secret Realm.

Spirit control-type magic like "Fear Technique" is entirely encompassed within, granting him a special bonus influenced by the Perception Attribute on his immunity check.

Combining multiple safeguards, Xia Nan felt a sudden chill washing over him, as if a cold wind passed through.

Soon after, that layer of dark purple magic phantom was indeed dissolved like a shadow melting under the moonlight, turning into whiffs of thin smoke and dissipating into the night.

The next moment, the additional effect of "Gaze into the Abyss" triggered—"When you successfully resist a spiritual control effect, the spellcaster must forcibly make an immunity check, and if they fail, they fall into a temporary unconsciousness state and suffer certain spiritual damage."