With a huff Nathaniel climbed a tree, a habit he formed ever since Ingerton during his quests to remain safe from potential dangers..
'I should first find a place to rest but unfortunately..'
Guwouh!!!
A loud roar could be heard from the distance with earth shattering steps coming closer and closer
'I'll have to live while moving, can't stay on a spot for too long or I die, this is the rule of the middle layer. Never stagnate.'
With a huff he concentrated his breath to make sure to expend the least amount of stamina possible as he jumped from tree branch to tree branch avoiding danger..
'Dammit.. I can't use mana detection in the middle layer, the mana is so thick here-..:
Nathaniel's thoughts paused, a sudden realization from what he just thought.. If the middle layer was nearly 8 times denser than the outer layer when he just entered..
Would it not be an amazing opportunity to train?
'I can eat up.. This is basically a buffet..'
'Firstly.. Let's come up with a goal.. Due to the limit being only a month I doubt I'd even become 4th circle so just 30% done should be plenty, my main goal should be refining my aura..'
He planned a path for his future training making sute he was constantly in the moves, realizing the harsh training Eulysess put him through was actually worthwhile he couldn't help but smile
'I guess she had a point..'
He sighed softly as he looked at the ground below making sure to take in as much mana as possible per breath to maximize his growth
'Bur of course the best way to train.. Is a trial by fire.. Let the hunt begin.'
Nathaniel smiled, grinning ear to ear as he slowly made his way through tree top to tree top making sure to stay alert
Each second he was sending out a wave of mana not only to search for prey but to also strengthen his own mana
'Let's be rational first.. The density in the mana suggests that there are powerful beasts around.. Which means I'll definetly die if I come unprepared..'
With a sigh he decided to postpone hunting for the meantime instead looking for other opportunities for instantaneous growth..
'Something peculiar about circles.. Each circle, the next becomes 5 times harder to achieve.. So in this profession you'd need immense talent or.. Mana stones. Something only I know of.'
He smirked excotedly as he felt the familiar energy of condensed mana turned into a physical object
'To the left.'
With a new found goal, Nathaniel began to speed up jumping from branch to branch until he got closer and closer and closer to the mana he had sensed prior
Zwuom~!
The soft hum of mana filled his senses, the bright blue glow it let out was captivating to say the least
On instinct Nathaniel lowered his guard slowly letting go of the branch but just before dropping..
'Shit-! Who knows what could be down there..'
He managed to regain his senses just in time as he balanced himself on the tree, yet he wasn't satisfied, this was an opportunity to get a massive boon after all..
With swift steps he hopped to a tree just above the massive crystal to give him the best view incase of any traps laid out by the various beasts in the middle layer
'There aren't any signs.. But then again why would a massive crystal be here without being devoured by a beast? Is it newly formed..'
With a sigh Nathaniel descended and walked up to the crystal, with a soft touch it felt.. Normal..
With a sigh of relief he took a step closer to try and uproot it but then..
Crack~!
Bang!
A gigantic spider erupted from the ground, the crystal? The spider's abdomen.. An elaborate trap to catch prey..
Crystal Spider
A-Rank Monster specialized at ambush hunting, it lays in the ground sticking it's abdomen which does have a massive Mana Stone to lure in unknowing prey..
And when they get close, it strikes with it's massive fangs, either consuming it whole or injecting it with venom immobilizing it..
'Tch.. To think I was stupid enough to run into one.. Well that does explain the lack of beasts around the region.. This bastard probably ate em already..'
Keek!!
The massive spider lunged at Nathenial, fangs poised to crush any unfortunate prey unlucky enough to stumble upon it's trap
Thinking quickly, Nathaniel threw a fireball at his feet to launch him away from the spider creating distance
He narrowed his eyes observing the spider's movements, gaps in it's exoskeleton and any additional weakneses until he ended up with one conclusion..
'Get the limbs.. It should be the most vulnerable part.'
With a target set in mind Nathaniel bursts forward with unprecedented speed shattering the ground beneath him, signs that his training was truly effective
Drawing his blade he aimed for the spider's front right leg aiming at the joint, the most vulnerable and weakest point for any creature
Clank!
A clean and deceisive slash going right through the spider yet..
When he looked back the blade only slid through the spider's armor.. It wasn't even damaged..
' ' What the hell are you smiling for bastard. ' '
Nathaniel spoke with irritation as he raised his blade once again ready for the next clash
To be Continued