A farmer works five days to earn five silver coins, yet here Oliver was, earning the same amount with ease.

Being a hunter really pays off!

Oliver felt a surge of excitement, but he also knew not everyone could be a hunter. Without his ability to sense danger, he would have been dead countless times over.

Even this talent didn’t guarantee his safety; it only allowed him to avoid the worst threats while staying near the edge of the forest.

But deeper in the woods were creatures so powerful that even with his senses, escape would be impossible.

He was still too weak—he needed to grow stronger.

Should he designate the weasel as something special?

The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. His first capture had been a regular hunting dog, and this weasel was just another common creature.

No need to get complacent.

If he was going to make the most of his abilities, he needed to aim higher—target something stronger.

With that in mind, Oliver rested briefly before continuing his exploration along the forest’s edge.

Five silver coins would fill his stomach, but he needed more to truly live comfortably.

As he moved silently through the trees, his enhanced stamina kept him from feeling tired at all.

An hour passed, but he hadn’t spotted anything as valuable as the weasel.

He did see a spirit-antlered deer, but after sizing it up, he realized that even if he could take it down, he wouldn't be able to catch it.

He wisely chose not to provoke it.

The deer was too swift; without a decisive blow, it would disappear in an instant.

"If only I had a bow, or even a sword or spear, I might have a chance," Oliver thought.

As it was, his only weapon was a sickle.

It was fine for small game, but against something larger, it lacked the necessary power.

"Hmm? Is that… Mandrake?"

At the base of a towering oak, Oliver spotted a green, serrated-leafed plant. He recognized it immediately—the legendary Mandrake.

It was said that pulling it from the ground would unleash a terrifying scream that could drive a person insane, so one had to cover their ears when harvesting it.

This plant must be worth a small fortune!

He had stumbled upon a piece of magic!

Excited, Oliver stepped forward, eager to claim the Mandrake, but then something caught his attention.

He glanced over at the dark thicket behind the oak.

There, concealed among the shadows, something massive lay in wait. Its body rose and fell with each breath, causing the underbrush to rustle.

With his enhanced night vision, Oliver could see that it was a wild boar—and not just any boar.

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Its size dwarfed any regular boar; it looked like a small mountain.

Though it was asleep, its sheer bulk radiated danger.

What’s more, the boar seemed to be guarding the Mandrake. Was it interested in it too?

Could he sneak in and steal the plant while it slept?

No. The Mandrake would scream once uprooted, and he would surely be discovered.

Should he abandon the precious magical plant?

Oliver hesitated for a moment but quickly pushed the thought aside.

He wasn’t about to give up that easily.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he made up his mind.

If he couldn’t take the Mandrake, he’d take down this wild boar too!

Wild boars were notorious for their ferocity; they were said to be able to take on tigers in direct combat.

But that was under normal circumstances.

This one was asleep—he had the element of surprise on his side.

Oliver knew his sickle wouldn’t be enough to kill the beast in one strike, but he had another option.

He could use the power of his Mana Core to subdue it.

His Mana Core didn’t just allow him to transform—it could also capture magical creatures.

If he could get close enough and press his forehead against the boar, he could channel his mental energy into capturing it.

He couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

If he captured such a mighty beast, his Mana Core would unlock a new form, and his strength would grow exponentially.

Moreover, having the boar as an ally would allow him to venture deeper into the forest, where greater rewards awaited him.

With his plan set, Oliver took a deep breath and approached the massive oak tree where the Mandrake lay.

He climbed the tree, using both hands and feet to ascend silently.

Peering down, he saw the boar below, its body rising and falling with each breath, blissfully unaware of his presence.

Reaching into his waist pouch, Oliver grabbed a heavy stone and searched for the right angle.

Then, with a sudden leap, he dropped from the branches, using the force of his descent to smash the stone onto the boar’s head.

Bang!

The dull thud echoed through the forest.

The boar let out a shriek, blood spraying from its skull.

This creature truly had tough skin; if it had been any other animal, that blow would have crushed its skull. But the boar merely roared and began to rise.

At that moment, Oliver found himself sprawled across its back.

The boar, in a fit of rage, kicked its powerful hind legs, thrashing through the woods, trying to throw him off.

Oliver clung tightly to its bristles, but the surrounding branches whipped like a thousand lashes, tearing at his clothes and skin!

The pain was excruciating!

But Oliver had no intention of letting go.

If he did, he would be trampled and become the boar’s next meal.

Instead, he dug his fingers into the boar’s fur, pressing his forehead firmly against its back.

Time to activate his Mana Core’s innate power: Beast Capture.

Engage!

A wave of energy surged from Oliver’s mind, and for a moment, he felt like he might lose his grip.

The effort drained him, but the boar was struggling too.

Under the influence of the capture spell, its wild charge slowed.

Dizziness overwhelmed it, and it collapsed onto the ground.

But Oliver wasn’t doing much better—his mental energy was almost depleted, and a splitting headache threatened to knock him out.

Fortunately, the boar wasn’t a magical creature. It was just a beast of great size.

It had no magical abilities to resist him.

Finally, a mental link formed between them, and in the boar’s wild gaze, a spark of intelligence appeared.

Oliver’s Mana Core shimmered softly.

[Silver-Maned Boar captured! Evolution available.]

[New form of Mana Core unlocked.]

Oliver’s heart soared with joy—he had captured the boar!

This was exhilarating!