Lore reappeared in the New World in a rush of golden light, standing beside the massive, motionless corpse of the Horned Forest Ravager. The air was cool and thick with the scent of pine and monster musk. Unlike his previous retrieval, this return was intentional, and Lore felt no panic, only a focused, cold determination.
He immediately tested his new reality. His body, restored to peak condition by the unsummon/resummon trick and boosted by the High Human upgrade, felt powerful and responsive. He felt the subtle hum of Master Mana Manipulation coursing through his body, allowing him to perceive the faint, ambient energy of the New World. The constant anxiety that had plagued him before was replaced by a sharp clarity.
"First, a home," Lore muttered, drawing the new Steel Sword.
He turned toward a dense thicket, holding the sword loosely but with the ingrained proficiency granted by Basic Weapon Handling. He didn't need the blade for what came next.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the concepts of Wind Magic now instantly available to him thanks to Magic Compression, the skill that accelerated his understanding of arcane principles. He mentally compressed the airy concepts into force.
"Wind Blade!"
A focused crescent of green energy shot from his hand. It sliced through the dense brush and five-inch diameter saplings with a clean whirring sound. The cut-off wood fell neatly to the ground. He repeated the process, clearing a wide, circular patch of ground on the elevated plateau in minutes. It would have taken hours of grueling axe work before.
Next, the fortifications. He focused on Earth Magic.
"Stone Shaping," he commanded.
The earth beneath his feet rumbled. Lore visualized a four-foot-high, sturdy, square wall around his cleared space. Dirt, stones, and packed clay rose from the ground, solidifying into a simple, effective, and defensible barrier. It wasn't pretty, but it was solid.
[Ding! Skill Practice: Earth Magic Proficiency Increased (Level 1/10)]
He looked at the large Ravager carcass. He needed to dispose of the scent and the evidence.
"Earth Pillar," he said, pointing at the center of the body.
A spike of rock erupted beneath the Ravager's midsection, flipping the several-ton carcass easily. Lore then used Stone Shaping again, rapidly digging a massive, shallow grave. He used the same Earth Magic to push the corpse into the pit and cover it completely, concealing the evidence of his victory.
His mana usage was surprisingly low, thanks to Master Mana Manipulation. The skill reduced the wasteful energy leakage typical of beginners, making his spells significantly cheaper. He felt a slight fatigue, but the energy was already beginning to recover at an accelerated rate.
With the base secured, he moved on to water. He walked toward the edge of the plateau where the creek was just visible below.
"Water Jet," Lore articulated, and a thin, powerful stream of purified water shot from his palm, allowing him to fill a hollowed-out piece of bamboo he'd spotted earlier. The Water Magic cleansed the stream water instantly.
He focused the Water Magic again, this time sending out a wide, low pulse toward the creek bank.
"Tidal Shunt!"
The water near the bank momentarily shifted, pushing a cluster of small, swift-moving fish into a narrow, shallow pool. He quickly used Water Jet to stun the trapped fish, gathering a clean, healthy meal.
[Ding! Skill Practice: Water Magic Proficiency Increased (Level 1/10)]
Lore returned to his fortified camp to practice Fire Magic and the Sword. He laid out the fish on a clean, flat rock.
"Fireflies," he whispered.
Small, glowing balls of orange and yellow light, no larger than marbles, floated above the fish. When one of the fireflies touched the meat, it burst into a quick, hot flash, perfectly cooking the protein without burning it. It was precise, clean, and safe for cooking.
He then decided to test his maximum firepower. He pointed a distance away from his camp.
"Flame Column!"
A concentrated column of pure fire, several feet tall, erupted where he pointed, incinerating a patch of dense foliage instantly before flickering out. Lore felt a sharper drain this time, a deeper pull on his internal reserves.
"That's the limit for now," he assessed, feeling the slight dizziness that signaled exhausted mana. "But the recovery speed is incredible."
He took a break, eating the perfectly cooked fish and contemplating his next move. The Magic Compression skill was proving invaluable, making the spells feel intuitive rather than learned.
After a short rest, Lore picked up the Steel Sword. He performed the drills taught by the Basic Combat and Basic Weapon Handling skills: stance, footwork, balance, thrusts, and cuts. He repeated the motions until his arms ached, not from mana depletion, but from raw physical fatigue.
He finished his practice with Ice Magic, using it for defensive training.
"Ice Shards," he tested, sending several dagger-like spikes flying into a distant tree trunk. The impact was solid.
"Frost Barrier," he then commanded. A thin, semi-transparent sheet of ice materialized in front of him, capable of stopping a light physical attack. It was a perfect contingency defense.
[Ding! Skill Practice: All Magic Proficiencies Increased (Level 2/10)]
[Ding! Skill Practice: Basic Combat Proficiency Increased (Level 1/10)]
Lore was satisfied. In just two hours, he had done more than he had in the entire previous day. He had a solid, defensible base, a fresh water source, clean food, and a complete understanding of his initial skill set. The High Human body and the utility magic made survival nearly trivial now.
He sheathed the Steel Sword and looked out over the dense, wild forest. His gaze was drawn not to the dangers, but to the promise of EXP beyond his walls.
"The time for survival is over," Lore decided, his voice low and confident. "Now, the harvest begins."