An arrow whistled through the skies as I let go of the bowstring. The arrow curved through the air and landed straight on the ground next to the flesh rabbit.

Startled, the rabbit lifted its ears. Its eyes met mine, and it started to dash to the side. Even though I was this close, the arrow hadn't hit.

"Why is this thing so difficult to use?" I grumbled and flicked my wrist. As the rabbit jumped to the side, an orb of water peeked out from a tree. The water orb spun rapidly and smashed into the flesh rabbit, killing it in an instant.

[Water Magic: Spinning Orb (Second Circle)]

I had placed one spinning orb on both sides, in case the rabbit ran. And also, because I wanted to be able to use the spells while using my weapons at the same time.

"Another failure..." I grumbled again and snapped my fingers. The unused water orb came to my side, and two more formed above me. The three water orbs spun and floated as I walked ahead. This was magic control training.

First Circle Spells involved summoning an element and maybe giving it a shape. The Fire Arrow I used with ease was an example of just that. From the second circle, more and more properties started to be added to the spells and became far more complex to maintain.

I retrieved the arrow and flipped open the spell book I was carrying. The details and instructions in it were truly of a superior quality compared to the tomes back in the Adventurer's Guild. A lot of those were written by muscle-headed adventurers for muscle-headed adventurers so it wasn't strange for the quality to be questionable at times.

"I have managed to keep the orbs floating around for a while... but I can't be sure of my skills yet."

I was already nearing the end of the first volume I had taken from the mage, it was about time for me to find some new material as well. I had encountered a couple of corpses over the last two days I had spent in the labyrinth. Quite a lot of people had died here and left me quite some interesting things. But there was no way people above a 4th Circle level would die at this depth.

"I would eventually have to explore deeper."

Similar to the nature of craters, the impact was concentrated at the center. That was the only way to move in a labyrinth. Of course, for me who had no qualifications to be in a labyrinth yet, I had to get stronger first.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Should I look for more rabbits?"

***

I returned to the spot where I left all of my luggage after hunting three more rabbits. After a lot of attempts, I had finally caught one alive. The rabbit squirmed in my hands as I held it by its fleshy ears.

The eight bags and dozen weapons were laid next to a tree, hidden by the leaves. I emptied the contents of one and shoved the rabbit inside it instead. With a piece of jerky in one hand and some water in a canteen, I took the rabbit bag and set off.

Sleeping on the ground when I had to was working well for me, but I couldn't be sure when some monster like the bear might find me. It wasn't safe, and with the growing amount of things to carry and practice with a base of operations was important.

Yesterday, I had found exactly that kind of place. The trees were marked with a triangle, and I followed them to my destination. After a short walk, a small cave appeared in front of my eyes. It was hidden behind a dense gathering of trees, was high enough to not let rain come in, its entrance low enough to not attract a low of monsters, and inconspicuous enough to not make people interested in it. I could have slept in the tents and sleeping-bags I had found with the adventurers, but that was no different from sleeping in the open.

Such a cave was perfect.

Most of the damage I had taken from the scorpion had healed as well, I was stronger than before right now. If anything was hiding in there, it was a good time to judge its strength and take it down.

I opened the bag containing the rabbit and grabbed it again. Slowly, I tiptoed over to the cave and tossed the rabbit inward. Relieved at being free again, the rabbit glanced around and rushed into the cave. It might have remembered its burrow.

While backing off, a low growl resounded in the air. It came straight from the cave. A tingle ran down my spine as I jumped to the side. At the same time, a sharp crescent of wind seeped out of the cave and cut down one of the trees that were right outside.

It would have sliced me in half...

A splatter followed as even the blood and flesh of the rabbit were a moment slower than whatever had attacked it. I gulped.

Dying here right now meant losing half the stats I had barely increased. If it was out in the open, maybe I would have fought.

I quickly gathered my breath and left the place. The low growls from the cave subsided as I put some distance.

Only after some distance passed did a sigh leave me. What kind of monsters were in this labyrinth? Maybe sleeping outside was the best option.

After all, there couldn't be many things more dangerous than the Scorpion out here. That thing was enormous, and I had killed it. With that thought in my head, I walked along the path back to the tree when another rumble caught my ears.

"Maybe adventurers?"

It would be a good idea to observe others in battle. I tried to follow the sound, which kept growing every moment. Soon enough, I could make out a battle in the distance. From behind a tree, I peeked out. A scorpion much like the one I had fought was standing in the middle of the forest, and a guttural scream emerged from its mouth.

Standing in front of it was a bear. The same type I had encountered not long ago. The bear swung its paws and ripped off the two claws of the scorpion, then it kicked the scorpion's head and broke its carapace.

I simply closed my eyes and turned around.

Just what kind of monsters were in this labyrinth?