As he indulged in the Codnix fish, its smooth texture and fresh flavor delighted Locci's senses. Despite his past dislike for sashimi as a human, he now found genuine enjoyment in devouring the raw delicacy.

'Oh, I almost forgot. I'm here to witness their battle.'

Locci leisurely savored the Codnix as he observed the battle unfold. It was akin to enjoying popcorn during a movie at the cinema, adding an extra layer of pleasure to the spectacle before him.

Barbog stretched out its long tongue towards Slidernix, only to find Slidernix's body suddenly slippery, causing the tongue to slide harmlessly past. As Barbog's tongue struck the wall, creating a crack, it quickly retracted, anticipating Slidernix's rapid approach.

Upon closer inspection, Locci noticed that Slidernix's body was covered in small thorns oozing a greenish fluid.

'Oh, that Nix is venomous. It's the first venomous Nix I have seen.'

Sensing the danger, Barbog leaped to evade, landing with a shockwave that pushed Slidernix away.

Slidernix was dragged away by the force of the shockwave. As it attempted to rise, Barbog landed nearby and unleashed another shockwave, sending Slidernix flying once more.

'Barbog has an area attack. While it may not inflict significant damage, it's effective at disrupting movement and has a short cooldown,' Locci analyzed, pondering the potential benefits of adding Barbog's [Shockwave] to his essence slot.

It became evident from the battle that Barbog held the advantage. Just as Slidernix struggled to regain momentum, Barbog swiftly dealt the finishing blow, launching a fireball that sealed Slidernix's fate.

'Ah, a fire element Nix!'

Locci was taken aback by the rarity of such a creature in the frigid region, where ice and water elements predominated. He marveled at its power.

'The [Fireball] ability is formidable. Should I acquire it? Most Nixes here wouldn't dare to absorb elements other than ice, given their elemental affinity. However, being an extra-grade, I am not limited by such constraints. No, not now. I need to prioritize an area attack ability first.'

Barbog seized the burning Slidernix with its tongue and hurled it into the water hole in the middle of the frozen sea.

Once the flames subsided, Barbog retrieved Slidernix and prepared to devour it. However, at that critical moment, Locci materialized by its side, unleashing a relentless flurry of claws upon Barbog. With determination, Locci continued his assault until Barbog succumbed to his relentless onslaught.

Locci wrested Slidernix from Barbog's grasp and proceeded to consume Barbog himself. As he finished his meal, he felt a surge of power as his stats increased.

[Your polish has increased!]

'Finally, a stat increase! Changing hunting grounds was definitely the right choice for my growth.'

Locci was pleased with his progress. However, he was now confronted with another dilemma: whether to consume Slidernix or not.

Despite witnessing Barbog endure the venom and attempt to consume Slidernix, Locci hesitated. After all, his [Heal] ability couldn't remedy abnormal statuses.

'I wish a Nix would come and test it for me.'

As Locci pondered about other Nixes, a trio of Wanderclaws approached him, catching his attention.

"Ah, Wanderclaws! I'm glad to see you. I thought you lot were extinct... or maybe not. This island, Wolfland, seems to be teeming with Wanderclaws. Lucky me.'

Locci swiftly activated [Traceless], disappearing from sight as he observed from the shadows. He allowed the Wanderclaws to approach Slidernix, and without hesitation, they began to consume it.

'So, it's safe to be eaten. Good job, guys. You've done well as poison testers.'

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Locci noticed the three Wanderclaws lined up perfectly and approached from the side. With precision, he unleashed [Frostbite Fury], hitting all three simultaneously. As they stumbled from the force of the attack, Locci seized the opportunity to bite the neck of one Wanderclaw.

Despite the other two Wanderclaws swiftly recovering, their movements were slowed by the ability's effects. This allowed Locci to dispatch their companion without any hindrance.

After dispatching one Wanderclaw, Locci swiftly charged towards the remaining two. Although his [Traceless] ability was ready for use, he saw this as a prime opportunity for self-training.

The Wanderclaws attempted to bite him, but Locci skillfully dodged their attacks and countered with his claws, prolonging the duration of the frostbite.

Employing a hit-and-run strategy, Locci maintained distance, waiting for openings to strike. When the Wanderclaws lunged, he evaded and bided his time until seizing the perfect moment to close in and launch his attack.

Utilizing only [Frost Paw], Locci successfully defeated his adversaries.

'Not bad. My battle experience has grown. I feel more adept at fighting in this body now.'

Following the skirmish, Locci treated himself to a well-deserved meal. The first Wanderclaw's body bolstered his speed stat, while the other two provided him with the opportunity to acquire a new ability.

[Congratulations! You can modify your mouth. You can choose one of the following biting abilities:

1. Frost Fang: Enhances your bite with a chilling frost, slowing down enemies upon contact and reducing their movement speed for a short duration.

2. Venomous Bite: Injects a potent venom into your target upon biting, causing damage over time and weakening their defenses.

3. Thunder Jaws: Empowers your bite with crackling electricity, delivering a shocking jolt to your opponent and stunning them momentarily.]

Locci could anticipate an ice ability among the choices, but the inclusion of venom and lightning types surprised him. He attributed this variety to his extra-grade status and the diverse Nixes consumed by the Wanderclaws.

With a smile, Locci acknowledged the benefits of being an extra grade. "It's starting to show its perks," he thought. "I should opt for a different element ability."

Considering his options, he weighed the benefits of each. [Venomous Bite] offered added damage, while [Thunder Jaws] provided better crowd control. After careful consideration, Locci settled on [Thunder Jaws].

'My attack is already formidable. I need a superior crowd control ability.'

[You have acquired Thunder Jaws!]

[Name: Thunder Jaws

Passive: -

Active: Empowers your bite with crackling electricity, delivering a shocking jolt to your opponent and stunning them momentarily.]

After acquiring the new ability, Locci's stomach rumbled once more, spurred by his progression. Eager to put his newfound skill to the test, he set out in search of Nixes to hunt.

Activating [Traceless], Locci stealthily roamed the area once more. His goal was to identify the habitats of Barbogs and Wanderclaws, as they would serve as his primary sources of sustenance.

After exploring several locations, Locci stumbled upon a promising spot where Barbogs congregated. However, his excitement was dampened by the presence of walrus-like Nixes known as Gigaruses. With their cold, vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings, they stood guard, prepared to fend off any intruders.

It was evident that this area was their territory, and they viewed the Barbogs as their livestock, effectively transforming the spot into an untouchable food paradise.

Gigaruses loomed twice the size of Locci, their massive frames encased in thick fur. Despite their formidable appearance, Locci couldn't shake the feeling that he stood a chance against them.

While undoubtedly stronger than any Nixes he had encountered before, their powers lacked the overwhelming strength to instill despair in him. Trusting his instincts, Locci remained undeterred, confident in his ability to face the formidable Gigaruses.

Locci crept up behind a solitary Gigarus, moving with utmost stealth. Closing in, he seized onto its massive frame and unleashed [Thunder Jaws], sinking his electrified teeth into its fur. The Gigarus convulsed from the sudden electrical surge coursing through its body as Locci's attack took effect.

As the Gigarus reacted to the shock, Locci swiftly dismounted and executed [Frostbite Fury]. To his surprise, the flurry barely budged the imposing creature.

Upon landing, Locci couldn't help but be impressed by the Gigarus's resilience. It was the first Nix to withstand a direct assault from [Frostbite Fury] and emerge unscathed. Yet instead of feeling discouraged, Locci found himself fueled by the challenge of consuming such a formidable opponent.

Ignoring Locci, the Gigarus simply glared at him and made no move to pursue. Instead, it unleashed a powerful water cannon from its gaping maw.

Locci swiftly dodged the incoming attack, but he heard a thunderous crash behind him. The sheer force of the water cannon was evident, and he knew that a direct hit would have been fatal.

As Locci approached, the Gigarus leaped slightly and slammed the ground with its immense weight, unleashing a shockwave that forcefully pushed Locci backward.

"This is Barbog's ability!" Locci realized, though the revelation didn't surprise him. After all, the Gigarus regarded Barbogs as mere livestock, so it was only natural for some of them to gain their abilities.

As Locci prepared to rise once more, he noticed the other Gigaruses locking onto him, their mouths opening as they prepared to unleash their water cannons.

Despite his confidence in his ability to defeat them individually, Locci acknowledged that doing so would drain him. Therefore, he decided to switch to plan B. Evading the incoming water cannons, he swiftly maneuvered past the Gigarus he had been confronting, finding himself now in the midst of the Barbogs.

Locci had initially hoped for safety among the Barbogs, but the merciless Gigaruses showed no hesitation in aiming their water cannons not only at him but also at the unsuspecting Barbogs.