Mavis has managed to hunt four more slimes after his two before the glade was fully depleted by him and leveled twice more. He had sustained a little bit of damage when he faced two of the slimes at the same time and had no choice but to use his reserved mana when his main container had run out.

"That could have been dangerous, who knew that they conjoin and separate their bodies naturally like they were one original being." He said while assessing himself for his injuries.

He had a big gash on his right lower rib when he had mistakenly defended himself using only his hardened robes, not knowing that their power had also doubled. Luckily, it was all worth it when the combined slimes dropped an item. Which Mavis had recognized as something very useful for his survival in this strange and unfamiliar environment.

[Slime Jelly]

Description: A common slime's body part that produces and heals wounds over time. Can be used for brewing potions or as is by applying the jelly to a wound.

Mavis did not want to use it right now and decided to keep it in his inventory in case of emergencies. The bruise hurts, but it isn't the paralyzing kind of hurt. He could just put up with it for now and let it heal on its own.

Looking around the glade, Mavis, spotted a safe place he could recover for the rest of the day and possibly at the incoming night. The place has a huge rock in between the trees that could act as a cover for his back and a natural overhanging formation that could be used as a roof for his head. Although the place is still musty and very humid, making it impossible to find dry wood or sticks that he could use as fuel for the fire, so for now, he gathered a bunch of moss that clung around the rock and used it as his bedding to keep him warm.

He could also keep himself warm by casting his "Fire Bolt" spell and purposely not expel it. However, he could only do this until his mana ran out so he could only use it for a few minutes. He had read at the library, that abilities that conjure fire or water, or anything possible of this universe aren't permanent. They were merely temporarily created by the use of aura and mana, and if you had stopped providing them with it, they would cease to exist. That's why he also couldn't drink water that had been conjured by him as this would only cause some unwanted problems, causing him to be damaged by his own spell. However, he could still use some spells to affect his surroundings. For example, his "Fire Bolt" spell could be used to light a fire, "Earth Raise" to reform some land, etc. The same thing applies to skills that were needed to conjure constructs or other things.

Fire, in a dangerous place like this, could also attract some unwanted attention that he didn't want to invite at night while taking a rest, so in the end, he just decided against it. He also had different needs for mana, and that was to defend himself and defeat his opponents to clear this stage. He wouldn't want to explore in the morning and then unexpectedly run into something dangerous only to have a depleted mana. For a Mage like himself, his ability to conjure spells is his only driving force, at least for now. With that in mind, Mavis begrudgingly rested on his makeshift shelter, he filled up his belly with his foraged goods and then lay on his uncomfortable bed.

The place is very quiet for a forest. In a real forest, even if you don't see any animals, you can still hear their cries and movements all over the place as they communicate and interact with each other. This pushed another idea into his head that everything about this place is made, artificially. Even the cycle of day and night seemed so. He had been looking up towards the sky all day long, to try and discern where the light was coming from, but no matter where he looked, he couldn't tell which direction the light source may be, even now, as the darkness slowly crept up in the forest, the ever-present moon that hung above his planet is missing. What replaced it instead is just a sky full of nothingness, as it tries to replace the day with night.

Mavis, noticing that he had been far more exhausted than he had thought, eventually let himself flow into sleep. All his casting and running had not only depleted his physical stamina but his mental stamina as well. So even though he is in an unfamiliar place that lurks with danger everywhere, and lying in the most uncomfortable bed he has ever slept in. He still easily fell asleep.

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Mavis awoke startled when he suddenly heard some rustling in the quiet forest. He immediately sat up and observed his surroundings while he stuck his wooden staff close to his body as the runes in his head were ready to be formed by his mana. The place is still dark, relying only on his adjusted sight and some light that the mosses and some plants naturally emit, to see. Not even a few seconds later, he heard a howl, much like a wolf but a bit more guttural and monstrous, coming from his right side, and then two more howls responded after that. This time from his left.

They were much closer than he would have thought and seemed to be closing in on him now as he got ready. Without giving them time to attack, Mavis formed his runes and fired toward the one on his right. Thinking that it would be easier to deal with one, he squinted his eyes and saw a silhouette of a beast near where his spell landed. The explosion of the "Fire Bolt" gave a little bit more light so he could properly discern what he was dealing with. It was standing on its four legs like a wolf, but its body was larger along with the fangs on its snout. It seemed to be bothered by the light that the small fire was emitting, as it slowly backed away from it.

Mavis takes notice of it and then conjures another spell which prompts the beast to attack him, now threatened by the power its prey is displaying. He waited for it to get closer only then did he shoot it. The beast was a little bit slower than the slime but appeared to be tougher as it charged through his "Fire Bolt". Even though Mavis hit it, the beast didn't stop. And as it leaped toward Mavis, it was met with a thick wall of rock, stunning it in the process. Mavis, naturally erected this rock with the help of his "Earth Raise" spell then he conjured another "Fire Bolt", deciding to finish it before it could go back to its feet. However, two of its companions attack him from behind, forcing Mavis to change the direction of his spell.

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He hit one of them, but much like the stunned beast, this too just ignored its damaged body and just charged at Mavis. It opened its large mouth and then bit Mavis's left arm which had been covered by his robes. The other one behind it also attacked, but this time he didn't have the means to protect himself as it bit his leg.

Mavis's robes could only be hardened some part of it, at a time, which means he could only helplessly let himself be bitten by the monstrous dog. He focused his mind so the pain wouldn't interfere with his casting, then continued to form his runes. He positioned his right hand which was currently grasping his wooden staff then pointed it toward the one biting his leg. A few seconds later a "Fire Bolt" was formed then Mavis angrily fired.

An explosion went off on its head that made the beast let go of his leg, but despite the distance and the power of the attack, the beast still didn't die. The only good thing though is that some of its parts have been blown off, exposing some weakness in its tough body. Before it could regain some sort of power, Mavis conjured an "Earth Raise" spell under its exposed throat, impaling the monstrous dog in the process.

[You have slain a ???. Essence acquired]

Mavis had dealt with that one while still having the other biting his left arm. The stunned dog, on the other, was slowly collecting itself, as it moved towards Mavis.

Not wanting to deal with two at the same time again, Mavis willed his Vambrace to shoot the "Air Sweep" spell which blew the stunned dog away from him so he could have ample time to deal with the other. Meanwhile, the biting dog still clung to him as it tried to scratch his face, succeeding from time to time. Mavis having enough of it, did what he had done with the first one. He fired a spell up-close prompting it to let go, then giving the same treatment as the other.

[You have slain a ???. Essence acquired]

[Level Up]

There weren't even more than five minutes and Mavis was already exhausted again. His right leg currently bleeding from the bite. He inspected it if it was life-threatening, but the wound was only superficial. So instead, he ignored it for now and then focused on the stunned dog, now has the time to properly examine it.

He willed the external essence and then covered the monstrous dog with it.

[Basic Information]

Race: Warg

Essence: 0⭐️( Level 7)

The dogs now named Warg are certainly more powerful than the slimes. They are probably here to eat and hunt some slimes and accidentally found a more meatier prey.

'I bet they were also happier, thinking that they wouldn't have to eat a disgusting slime this time. Too bad though, because the prey that they have thought to be tastier was a lot more dangerous than some mere slimes.' Mavis thought resentfully.

He then carefully walks toward the stunned Warg, the then-confident monster is now backing away with fear. It looked like it was about to attack again when it went down on its front legs, but instead, it turned around and ran full speed away from Mavis.

"Smart move you fucking dog. You better not come back here again!" Mavis said with anger in his tone. He then slumped on his ass, thinking that the encounter was a lot more dangerous this time. He could deal with some slimes after knowing their weaknesses but wargs are different. He truly felt that if he had run out of mana back then he would have probably died. Good thing the level-ups and the constant practice had increased his capacity. He could probably cast 5 more spells if he wanted to, and still have the extra mana from his astral crown.

"I also need a few more spells to deal with some specific scenarios. Maybe a control spell that would let me deal with monsters that fight using their number." He ruminated. Now that he thinks about it, he remembers that he could be granted an ability every 10 levels. He is at 5 now and needs 5 more.

He moved on for now and took out the slime jelly from his inventory. It was cold to the touch and kind of wet. He raised his pants where he had been bitten to expose his wound then applied it directly. He smeared it all over his wound then after that, he went back to his temporary camp. Now that it's been known though that wargs will keep visiting this place every night. He decided to move out of that place and find a better one. For now, though, he lay on his makeshift bed and slept the rest of the night.

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Morning comes and thankfully the wargs didn't return to harass him. He noticed from afar that some slimes had returned though. He didn't know where they came from but the essence they provide will always be welcomed by him, so he satiated his hunger first before going for another slime-killing spree.

They were certainly a lot more easier to deal with now, even though some of them would combine. He would use the "Water Sphere" spell to defend himself which he had learned was another perfect counter for their one way of attack. The combined slimes would bounce from the sphere and with their added weight and strength, would fling them all across the glade, leaving their core exposed after their body would explode from the impact. The only thing Mavis had to do now was to get close to them before they could recollect their bodies, then fire his go-to spell to destroy their core. He repeated this process until the slime went extinct yet again until they came back again the next day, netting him another level.

Mavis not expecting to deal with the slimes faster than he thought, turned to the direction where the warg had run away from. He approached the place and noticed some blood and some very noticeable tracks that the warg had left behind. Thinking that he could probably pinpoint its base and maybe finish it off this time, Mavis proceeded to follow it.

The tracks zigzagged around the tall trees but still a straight way nonetheless. He closely pinpointed where the drops of blood had fallen, and the disturbance of the tall grass made the work of hunting some wounded beast easily. Mavis carefully followed the trail and moments later he felt the system alerting him of a new message.

[You have learned the ability "Tracking"]

Mavis felt ecstatic about the new ability he had received as it immediately improved his senses when it came to noticing details from his surroundings.

[Tracking]

Type: Skill

Rank: Common

Proficiency: Novice

Effect: Gives more efficiency in finding abnormalities in an environment.

Even though it wasn't his intention, the added improvement in his attributes made it easier for him to learn such ability, especially thanks to his perception and intelligence. However, he probably wouldn't be able to increase his proficiency of the ability for a long time as he didn't have the designated characteristics that went with the ability. Because, for a class's ability to increase in proficiency, he had to have a characteristics compatibility of at least 25% to go up past the novice. And this kind of ability is mostly gained by the Rouge class, as the only characteristics in the Mage class that he knows of that can gain such ability are the Diviner characteristics, which he had no plans of picking, at least not until the sixth star creation.

For now, Mavis continued his tracking of the bastard, and with the new improvements, he was able to track the thing much easier now. And this time, he would make sure to kill it and any of its friends that he may encounter.