Oliver carefully placed the unconscious Shatterbeast cub into the care of the large boar before turning his attention to the adult Shatterbeast’s carcass.

Its shell was incredibly tough, but beneath it, the flesh was surprisingly tender, almost like the meat of an oversized Boston lobster. As he began carving into it, Oliver could already taste the deliciousness in his mind.

Of course, he had to be cautious. The shell of the Shatterbeast was a rare material, highly sought after for crafting exquisite gear. A single mistake could result in a significant loss.

Soon, Oliver was sweating from the effort. Processing the spoils of battle was no easy task. Meanwhile, the big cat and the boar lay nearby, occasionally rolling on the ground and watching him with lazy eyes, clearly enjoying their break.

The Shatterbeast was massive—about the size of two or three large bison—and there was no way Oliver could finish it all by himself. The flesh of magical beasts lost its potency over time, and without special preservation methods, selling it in town wouldn’t bring much profit. It needed to be consumed quickly to retain its value.

Every now and then, he tossed a piece of the Shatterbeast’s organs to his companions. As magical creatures, every part of the Shatterbeast had value. Sharing it with the big cat and boar seemed like the best option, especially since it was too much for him to consume alone.

Before long, the smell of roasting meat filled the air. The fatty white chunks sizzled over the fire, turning golden as juices dripped out. Oliver even poured a little of his precious honey over the meat, adding a touch of sweetness to the already mouthwatering aroma.

The big cat and the boar were transfixed, staring at the fire with eager eyes. The boar’s drool dripped onto the ground as it waited impatiently.

After hours of battling and working, Oliver was famished. He quickly grabbed a juicy leg of meat and took a big bite. The layers of fat and lean meat exploded with flavor, and waves of magic surged through his body. It was as if he’d been transported to paradise.

[Life Essence +1]

[Life Essence +1]

...

His Life Essence was rising rapidly, and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction flooded him.

He didn’t forget his two loyal companions, tossing them large chunks of meat. The big cat and boar dug in eagerly, devouring the food with gusto.

After a few bites of raw meat, the big cat seemed unsatisfied. It picked up a piece, carried it to the fire, and looked up at Oliver with a pleading gaze.

“Haha, so you want to try it cooked?” Oliver chuckled, tossing a skewer of roasted meat toward the cat.

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By the time Oliver had eaten enough to feel like his stomach might burst, he was onto his second drumstick. The enjoyment of the meal had faded, and now he was eating for the Life Essence and magic it provided, forcing himself to continue.

Still, even he wasn’t a bottomless pit. After finishing two more drumsticks, he lay back on the grass, completely stuffed.

As for the big cat and the boar, they had eaten so much that only bones remained. Their appetites far outstripped his.

“I’ve gained 20 Life Essence already, and I haven’t even fully digested the meat!” Oliver estimated. By the time he was done, he’d probably gain 50 points or more. The magic within him felt invigorating. He jumped to his feet, chanting incantations to help process the magic and expand his capacity.

After all, the meat was just the least valuable part of the Shatterbeast. The real treasure was its red mana core!

As Oliver digested the magic, his mental strength began to return. “Time to try capturing this cub.”

Excitement built in his chest as he took a deep breath.

The Shatterbeast cub was tiny, no bigger than the palm of his hand. It felt like holding a tough little crab. Pressing his forehead against the cub’s shell, he activated his capture skill.

A surge of mental energy radiated from him, completely enveloping the tiny Shatterbeast.

Vrrrrm!

The cub’s body stiffened, and a wave of resistance surged from it, attacking Oliver’s soul with incredible force. A sharp pain shot through his mind, but he gritted his teeth and held on. Impressive. Even as a cub, the magical backlash was twice as strong as what he had experienced with the tiger!

If he had tried this earlier, he might have been in real danger. But his mental strength had steadily improved through his magical studies. The flesh of the adult Shatterbeast had also given him a significant boost. With those enhancements, he was able to withstand the force.

Pop!

In his mind, he felt a soft "click" as the spiritual link was formed. Oliver had successfully captured his first magical creature!

At the same time, his mana core surged, feeling near to overflowing. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to capture a fourth creature anytime soon—unless he could strengthen or evolve his core.

[Shatterbeast Cub successfully captured. Evolution available.]

[Consume 500 Life Essence to evolve into Shatterdrake.]

A system prompt echoed in his mind. The little creature in his hands opened its eyes, gazing up at Oliver with curiosity and affection. From now on, this cub would no longer just be a Shatterbeast but his loyal companion. Its evolutionary path even hinted at draconic traits—perhaps the ability to fly or breathe fire!

The adult Shatterbeast he’d slain was just a larger version of the cub, with no real difference in nature. But this little one had the potential to evolve into a Shatterdrake, a creature with incredible power.

However, the Life Essence cost for this evolution was staggering—500 points! That was more than three times the amount needed for the big cat and boar to evolve!

Oliver checked his system panel, and more information appeared.

[Core Form Unlocked: Shatterbeast Form, available for switching.]

[Shatterbeast (Red): Fusion Level: 10%]

Special Skills:

[Devour (Orange): Absorb forest miasma, converting it into small amounts of mana.]

[Stone Armor (Orange): Summon a temporary stone shield to absorb magical damage.]

Incredible! He had gained two orange-tier skills right away, and "Devour" was especially powerful. Until now, Oliver had only ventured along the edges of the forest. The deeper parts were far more dangerous, filled with deadly creatures and thick miasma that poisoned anyone who stayed too long.

But now, with this skill, he could explore those forbidden zones. Deeper in the forest, the concentration of magical creatures and plants would be much higher, offering greater rewards—but also much greater risks.