[Name: Lucas Valen


    Age: 17


    Grimoire Grade: Unranked


    Rank: Iron Star 3 (155.47/338)


    Spiritual Energy: 37/62


    Beasts: Gentle Dog]


    All in all, Lucas was satisfied with his progress today. It was already nearing night, though, so Lucas pondered if he should stop or take a breather and go to a low-ranking area like the decaying grass field to hunt lower-grade beasts.


    However, upon thinking about it, with how Spot could kill an Iron Grade-Iron Star 4 Clip w Spider with one sh, wasn''t this area also considered a low level for the two of them?


    Lucas shrugged his shoulders and decided to stay and just hunt here instead. He heard that Clip w Spiders were very active during the night, though. He took note of that detail as he and Spot continued to move forward.


    And if Clip w Spiders goes out actively, it would also mean that Lucas and Spot will have an easier time finding them. This also meant that their time spent searching for each beast would be drastically reduced, increasing their hunting efficiency once again.


    If all goes well, there was a high chance that Lucas would rank up to Iron Star 4.


    Just the thought of it made Lucas smile like a fool.


    And hence, the grindmenced once more.


    ***


    Swoosh!


    AClip w Spider screeched, lunging forward with one of its wed legs.


    A long and ghastly w mark was on the abdomen of the Clip w Spider. Its blood spilled out as it ferociously attacked Spot.


    Spot kept on leaping to the side, dodging the spider''s attack just in time. His movements were quick, but a hint of exhaustion and fatigue could be seen as he moved around.


    "Shit! Spot, circle left, and attack it from the side. Don''t let it pin you down!"


    Standing a safe distance away, Lucas narrowed his eyes and ordered Spot ording to the situation. The injuries in his back ached as he looked at Spot fighting the Clip w Spider ahead.


    A hint of nervousness was in Lucas'' eyes as he continuously looked around warily.


    At this time, Lucas must admit that he had underestimated the number of Clip w Spiders that go out during the night to hunt.


    Previously, they could only find a Clip w Spider in less than fifteen minutes. However, the Clip w Spider that Spot was fighting was already the seventh.


    This was already the second time that this happened after he decided to stay here and hunt.


    The first time, a total of ten Clip w Spider assaulted them one by one before stopping. Spot ultimately killed all of them, but he ended up needing to rest and recuperate inside his grimoire to heal the minor wounds he sustained and, at the same time, to recover some of his energy.


    After they rested, Lucas had already nned to retreat, as he was taken aback by the sheer number of them.


    If Spot''s stamina and Hellhound Manifestation had no limits, Lucas would have rejoiced at the thought of the prey willingly offering themselves as experience points.


    Unfortunately, such a thing does not exist.


    Now, Spot has been fighting continuously, with no time to rest, and he was already nearing his limits once more. His stamina was not endless after all.


    If Spot fought them at the same time, the situation might not have be as unpleasant.


    It was just that every time Spot killed one, a new Clip w Spider, attracted by themotion, would arrive and assault them in turn. Spot had no time to rest, and he was now nearing his Hellhound Manifestation form limit.


    Fortunately, Spot was as stable as usual. He might be exhausted, but his attacks were still lethal. Enjoy new tales from empire


    With another strike, the seventh Clip w Spider finally fell and disintegrated into particles of light. The surroundings glowed, but Lucas had no time to admire the scene as another Clip w Spider had arrived once again to assault them.


    "Spot, attack it first. Don''t let it take the initiative."


    With a growl, Spot charged forward, aiming low. His ws shed across the spider''s underbelly, where its exoskeleton was thinner. His strength was overwhelming. His w scraped the spider''s stone-like shell.


    The Clip w Spider screeched in pain, stumbling forward with a step. It retaliated with a swing of its deadly ws, but Spot had already moved to another location.


    "Finish it!" Lucas yelled.


    Spot''s ws glowed and extended forward. Using the Sharp w skill, his paw swiped toward the Clip w Spider''s spinnerets. The Clip w Spider died as quickly as it appeared.


    With the quick death of thatst Clip w Spider, Lucas and Spot finally have the time to take a breather.


    However, lowering their guard down was thest thing they must do in this kind of situation. Lucas knew it firsthand, and so he ordered Spot to revert to his normal form and jump toward his head.


    The moment Lucas felt the weight on his head, he sprinted away from the scene as quickly as possible.


    "It''s time to retreat!"


    ***


    [Name: Lucas Valen


    Age: 17


    Grimoire Grade: Unranked


    Rank: Iron Star 3 (258.07/338)


    Spiritual Energy: 24/62


    Beasts: Gentle Dog]


    Hidden inside a cave-like structure beneath the White Stone Cliff, Lucas looked at his profile page with an incredulous look in his face.


    Just an hour ago, his experience points were only 155.47. Now, just an hourter, it had already turned to 258.07.


    ''Ridiculous!''


    An increase of almost a hundred experience points in a single hour was indeed a little overboard. Especially for an Unranked Grade Grimoire user like him.


    Howughable that he was still happy about his progress of having gained a hundred experience points before dusk earlier, and now he almost achieved the same feat within an hour.


    Was he actually cking earlier, or was he just very conservative about his approach?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In truth, even Lucas himself did not know anymore.


    Spot was indeed an anomaly with the Hellhound Manifestation skill.


    Of all the Unranked Grade Beasts that existed, Spot might hold the record for ying the most beasts. Suddenly, the feat of learning another skill was no longer as mind-boggling. For a beast like Spot, such a reward and feat was actually undermining what it had already achieved.


    Lucas needed to rethink his choices as he felt that he was wasting Spot''s potential that was granted by the System.


    He had already wasted enough of their potential with his low-rank grimoire, and if he continued to hold back with cautious and restrained tactics, he would feel like he wasn''t doing justice to Spot or the System.


    ''Fuck! What am I even doing all this time? ''


    Hidden inside the dark cave, Lucas cursed himself for being a fool.


    How ironic that he called Hector a wastrel, and here he was, wasting even more.


    Shaking his head, Lucas calmed his thoughts as he considered what should be the right approach given his situation.


    Now that he had tasted the fruit of going all out and earning almost a hundred experience points within an hour, Lucas did not want to continue with being overly cautious anymore.


    It just so happened that he also wanted to get stronger quickly to not get swept by the unknown currents.


    The situation with the Clip w Spider earlier might be unpleasant, but it at least allowed him to see a new world he had not considered before. One could even say that it was a blessing in disguise.


    ''Alright, let''s do that. But for now, I should recover my Spiritual Energy and let Spot recuperate inside the grimoire.''


    Grrrowl!


    However, just as Lucas was about to close his eyes and meditate, a low growl suddenly resonated within the cave, sending shivers down his spine.