By midday, Oliver and James were ready for lunch. Having opted for the lowest tuition tier, they weren't provided meals at the academy, so they left the campus in search of something affordable.

Nearby, a few restaurants caught their eye, but they were a bit too upscale for their budget. So, they ventured further down the road, hoping to find cheaper options.

Meanwhile, the academy’s dining hall was buzzing with activity.

"That smells amazing... Oliver, look! They're eating hamburgers, and those burgers even have a hint of magical essence..." James said, his eyes shining with envy as his stomach growled.

It was clear that the academy's meals were far from ordinary. Every dish contained a hint of magical herbs—though in small amounts—infusing the food with not only mouth-watering aromas but also the potential to gradually enhance strength or mana over time.

After lunch, Oliver returned to his training, spending the afternoon honing his magic.

By evening, he had made considerable progress with the Fireball spell, his success rate nearing 50%. It was an encouraging start, but mastering a red-tier spell like Fireball wasn’t just about casting it reliably—it required control over potency, speed, and mana efficiency.

Currently, Oliver's Fireball was operating at about 30% of the Novice level. Once he reached full Mastery, its power would be four times that of Novice.

For a beginner, such progress would take a considerable amount of time. Yet, Oliver's remarkable pace was a result of his mana core—something typically reserved for formal mages—which gave him a significant edge and accelerated his growth.

As nightfall approached, they began the long trek back to their village. It was over an hour's walk, and although it was tiring, their thirst for knowledge made every step worthwhile.

Days passed in a blur of study and practice. In just one week, Oliver had mastered the seven basic spells, excelling at Stone Bullet, which he had already advanced to the Novice level. Meanwhile, James was still struggling with Fireball.

"Your potential is extraordinary, Oliver. If Professor Arcanus were here, he'd definitely take notice," Hector, an upperclassman, commented, admiring Oliver's progress. He also noted a few areas for improvement: some minor inaccuracies in Oliver's pronunciation and a slight delay when channeling mana.

"Senior, why does my Fireball have such low power? How can I make it stronger?" James asked, recalling the upperclassmen on the training grounds casting impressive Fireballs. His own spell, by comparison, barely resembled a fireball at all.

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"Don't worry about it for now. Some of them have mana cores, which significantly boost their spells," Hector explained.

A mana core. Oliver realized that this was the key to boosting spell strength. Though he had one, he hadn't fully unlocked its potential yet.

"What does it take to obtain a mana core?" James asked, eager to know.

"You'll need magical potions to stimulate a mana core," Hector replied. "But for now, focus on mastering your basic spells and connecting with the elements. Awakening a core is still a distant goal."

Hector chuckled, but inwardly, he doubted either Oliver or James would ever awaken a core. For Hector, obtaining his own mana core had been a long, costly journey—one filled with failure and countless potions that cost a small fortune. Coming from a minor noble family, his family had sacrificed much for him to reach this point.

For Oliver and James, becoming full-fledged mages seemed almost impossible. Even just reaching apprentice mage status would elevate them far above the life they’d known on the farm.

Later that day, after a morning of spell practice, Oliver made an unusual decision. He requested leave and departed the academy early—not to slack off, but in response to a message from his spirit-linked companion, the large tiger. It had detected the presence of another magical creature.

The tiger had proven itself invaluable before, having led him to the fiery slime. Now, it seemed to have located another magical beast just days later. If Oliver could keep finding these creatures, his path to greatness would become almost certain.

Quickly returning to the village, Oliver made his way into the nearby forest.

Reaching a familiar thicket, he whistled, and the ground trembled as two large beasts emerged from the bushes. The wild boar, like a loyal dog, nuzzled him, while the tiger playfully circled him, flopping onto its back and exposing its belly.

Oliver gave the boar a friendly pat on the head and rubbed the tiger’s belly before they set off towards their quarry.

By a stream, he spotted the magical creature: an Aqua Bubble.

[Aqua Bubble: A low-level magical entity with limited intelligence, brimming with water-element mana. It lacks sufficient intellect and spirit, rendering it unsuitable for capture.]

Despite its low tier, the Aqua Bubble held more mana than a slime and was known to frequent water sources, using water-based attacks for defense.

While capturing it could fetch a good price—several times more than a slime—its fragility posed a problem. Without proper containment, it could easily dissolve if mishandled.

Although it wasn’t suitable for capture in his mana core due to its low intellect, Oliver was still keen to confront it. After all, it was a magical creature with strength, and that made it worth engaging.

“A bit more aggressive than the slime, but I should be able to handle it now,” Oliver mused, checking his status panel.

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Oliver Stark

[Life Essence: 0]

[Forest Favorability: 0]

Mana Cores:

- [Mana Core 1] – Elysian Nexus Core – Red – Current Form: Wild Boar

Captured Creatures:

- Silver-Maned Wild Boar (Red), Fusion Level: 70%

- Unknown Hound (Red), Fusion Level: 15%

- Striped Giant Tiger (Red), Fusion Level: 15%

Current Inherent Talent:

- Silver-Maned Wild Boar (Red): Current fusion level low; enhances strength significantly (140kg).

Special Skills:

- Super Adrenaline—Triples strength temporarily, ignoring pain.

- Bloodlust Tracking—Allows the sensing of blood within a range and tracking its source.

Bloodline:

[Beastmaster’s Lineage] – Grants control over creatures, enhancing their growth and abilities.

----------------------------------------

Although he hadn’t used magical herbs to boost his life essence lately, Oliver’s mana core fusion levels had increased by 5%. This was likely due to his consistent practice with magic and mana control.

This gradual fusion had added 20 kg to his strength. The surge of power felt incredible, and with his ability to cast basic magic, he was undoubtedly stronger than before.

This mana core was a powerful tool.

Though his captured creatures were still relatively common, his strength had increased dramatically. What might happen as he captured more powerful creatures? With every step, Oliver's future seemed brighter and more full of possibility.