Sunlight streamed through the inn's windows, stirring Adrian from his slumber. The room exuded a cozy charm with its simple furnishings, a far cry from the eerie chambers of the wraith-infested mines.

As Adrian's eyes fluttered open, the events of their recent mission rushed back to him.

Wraiths, gemstone mines, and the mind-boggling potential of his Shadow Energy played in his thoughts.

It was an exhilarating mix of emotions, the thrill of newfound power and the realization that his abilities had reached uncharted territory.

He swung his legs out of bed, noticing how surprisingly refreshed he felt.

Those high-quality healing medicines Zelene had scored for the team worked like a charm. Not to mention that the inn's comfy bed played its part in his speedy recovery.

Tavon, on the other hand, seemed to be emerging from his wraith-induced ordeal. He looked rather worn out, and it was evident that his injuries were more severe than Adrian's.

After some uneasy stirring, Tavon finally woke, and his eyes darted around the room. A wave of relief washed over him as the realization set in. They were back in the inn, safe and sound, which meant they had conquered the wraiths.

Zelene, never one to be far from her team, was there by his bedside, a reassuring smile gracing her features. "Hey, you're finally awake, Tavon. We were getting a bit worried there."

Tavon's voice was hoarse as he spoke, "Did we… Did we actually beat those wraiths?"

Zelene nodded, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Yes, we did, but here's the kicker – it wasn't me or anyone else who took down the wraiths. It was Adrian."

Tavon's eyes widened, his disbelief evident. "Adrian? But he was unconscious too, right?"

Zelene shrugged and said, “He probably fought as hard as he could to defeat those Wraiths. When I reached their, all I could sense was high intensity Battle Aura in air.”

Upon hearing those words, gratitude washed over Tavon.

Tavon's words were heartfelt as he spoke, "I owe my life to Adrian. I won't ever underestimate him again."

Zelene nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "That's the spirit. We're a team, after all. We've got to have each other's backs. I'll go let Adrian know that you're up."

As Zelene exited the room to check on Adrian, he was already deep in thought.

His body had mended remarkably, but what truly occupied his mind was the newfound power he had harnessed. An unusual sensation rippled through him. It was as if the Shadow Energy within him had expanded exponentially. The potency surged within him, stronger and more resonant than ever.

This was all because the Shadow Energy had absorbed the wraiths, propelling it to the peak of the Second Order Rank, a remarkable surge in power.

What excited him most was the revelation of a new ability – the capability to store items within his Shadow.

“This is incredible. I didn’t even know something like this was remotely possible without possessing rare Spatial Artifacts.”

Previously, he could only use it to hold the ancient sword from the dungeon. Now, the possibilities were endless. He could wield a versatile arsenal of items directly from his Shadow, making him a formidable and adaptable fighter.

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His Magic Energy had also undergone a profound transformation. From the high stage of the Second Order Rank, it had catapulted to the pinnacle of the Third Order Rank.

Meanwhile, his Battle Aura had remained at the brink of the High Level of the Third Order Rank despite his Shadow Energy absorbing all those Wraiths.

Well, Adrian was still very excited. He knew that he couldn’t afford to be disappointed about something like this.

In a sense, if only ranks were to be considered, then Adrian’s mage version would be considered superior to that of his warrior version.

After he awakened, Adrian decided request to Zelene that he wanted to take a walk around the mine area.

Considering Adrian’s achievements, Zelene didn’t reject his request.

This allowed Adrian to leave the Evercrest City and enter the forest nearby. The city folks had mentioned that the forest nearby was rumored to house all sorts of dangerous beasts, providing the perfect setting for his training.

Within the forest's lush embrace, Adrian began to scout for a concealed location, a perfect setting to set up traps for capturing and vanquishing the forest's inhabitants.

The day ticked by as he ventured deeper into the woods. He marveled at the natural beauty, from the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense foliage to the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chorus of birds.

Soon, Adrian found the perfect location for the traps.

'Alright, let's see if these traps are worth their weight in gold,' he mused, the thrill of experimentation coursing through him.

The 'Caging Grasp' stood ready, a complex piece of work formed from an intricate lattice of enchanted energy. It resembled a shimmering, magical cage. It was a masterpiece of design, and as he observed it, he couldn't help but marvel at its delicate intricacies.

His thoughts danced between the elegant trap he had set and the anticipation of what it could provide. 'If these beasts fall for it, the power it can feed my Shadow Energy is incredible.'

Adrian moved to the next trap, the 'Phantom Snare.' It was trickier to assemble but promised fantastic results. It projected a lifelike illusion of the caster, an entity that lured the curious beasts. The creatures, entangled in the magical threads, would believe they had captured their prey.

'How will they react to the illusion?' Adrian pondered. 'Will they be fooled by its realistic appearance?'

As he fastened the last magical trap, a 'Sonic Imprint,' he couldn't contain his curiosity. This trap was designed to disorient creatures with its high-frequency sound waves, finely tuned to the hearing frequency of the specific beasts in question.

'If these beasts venture close enough, the noise will momentarily incapacitate them. It should be quite the spectacle,' he thought, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Now, the waiting game began. The forest held a quiet energy, rustling leaves and distant bird calls weaving a serene backdrop. Adrian watched attentively, anticipation tingling in the air.

“Alright, beasts. Come to me,” he whispered to himself.

As he watched, it occurred to him that he had another mission to fulfill – the testing of his newfound elemental spells. From the depths of his belongings, he pulled out two stolen spells, the handiwork of Marcus.

The first was "Static Bolt." It was straightforward, allowing the caster to send a quick and direct bolt of lightning toward their target. It promised a zap that could stun and surprise.

'I wonder how the beasts will react to this shock,' he mused. 'Well, I guess I will know only after trying it out.'

Adrian's curiosity was piqued, but the second spell, "Chain Lightning," intrigued him even more. It targeted multiple foes, sending arcing bolts of lightning to strike them down in a fiery rain. It was a spell he was eager to witness in action.

'If things go south and I'm facing a horde, this spell could be my saving grace one day.'

Adrian felt a surge of excitement.

As Adrian continued his wait, the magical traps he had set were poised to unleash their power on whatever unsuspecting creatures crossed their paths. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long.

The first to be ensnared was a massive, reptilian beast known as a Thunderback Serpent. Its scales glistened with a metallic sheen, and sparks of electricity crackled along its spine. The serpent moved with calculated grace, its red eyes narrowing as it sensed the magical lattice of the 'Caging Grasp.' It lunged at the shimmering construct, setting off the intricate trap.

The enchantment sprang to life, encasing the Thunderback Serpent within an elegant, magical cage. The beast thrashed, its electrified scales sparking in protest. Its enraged hisses echoed through the forest, but the trap held firm, and the creature's immense power was now under Adrian's control.

Adrian couldn't help but marvel at his first catch. 'A Third Order Thunderback Serpent. Not too shabby for a day's work.'

Next, the 'Phantom Snare' proved its worth as a deceptively realistic illusion of Adrian lured a trio of creatures known as Gloomfang Wolverines. These creatures were nightmarish in appearance, with razor-sharp fangs and claws, lurking in the darkest corners of the forest. Drawn by the illusion, the wolverines pounced, believing they had their prey within their grasp.

As they lunged at the phantom figure, they found themselves entangled in the magical threads, their menacing growls suddenly silenced. The Gloomfang Wolverines struggled fiercely but were unable to break free. They were trapped, and their ferocious strength now belonged to Adrian.

Adrian observed his latest captives with a mix of awe and trepidation. 'Gloomfang Wolverines, Third Order as well. Nice. These creatures don't mess around. Looks like I managed to get my money’s worth by using Phantom Snare. '

The 'Sonic Imprint' proved equally effective when it incapacitated a pair of creatures known as Stormhowler Panthers. These sleek, obsidian-furred creatures were known for their agility and their ability to conjure gusts of wind with their roars.

Attracted by the high-frequency sound, the Stormhowler Panthers approached cautiously, their ears twitching. They were swift, but not swift enough. The sound waves struck them, rendering them momentarily paralyzed. Adrian seized the opportunity to immobilize the creatures further with his magic.

Adrian couldn't help but be impressed by his latest acquisitions. 'Third Order Stormhowler Panthers. Their agility and control over the wind are no joke. I probably couldn’t have caught them with my speed.'

The forest began to darken as the sun slipped below the horizon, leaving Adrian with a considerable collection of seven captured beasts.

Among them, there was one Thunderback Serpent, two Gloomfang Wolverines, and four Stormhowler Panthers. It was an impressive haul for a day's work.

Now that he had these creatures under his control, the moment seemed right to test his spells on them. After all, it wouldn't be practical to experiment with his new lightning spells on the Thunderback Serpent and Stormhowler Panthers. Those creatures were likely resistant to lightning due to their inherent attributes.

So, he turned his attention to the two Gloomfang Wolverines, wondering how his spells would fare against these ferocious beasts.