Location: Deep Forest – Hunting Zone.
Time: Day 13 (Morning).The horn sounded. The first round began. The objective: collect the highest number of mana crystals from Rank E and D monsters.The team moved toward the depths. Lirion signaled for them to hold back slightly. "I want to try something."Three Shadow Wolves emerged from between the trees. Their eyes glowed red, their breath forming white vapor in the cold air.Garek charged with his sword, cleaving one wolf in two. Elara fired a fire arrow that struck the second.The third remained, lunging toward Rowan.Lirion moved. He didn't run; he slid on his left foot, raising his right hand.In a fraction of a second, he mentally drew the First Circuit. It didn't appear as large, glowing lines, but as a small, dense circle hovering above his fingertips."Condensed Ice Spear," he whispered.A thin blue beam shot out, faster than an ordinary arrow. It pierced the wolf's forehead, instantly freezing the blood to prevent any escape reflex. The wolf fell dead before it even hit the ground.Garek fell silent for a moment, then clapped slowly. "That... wasn't a standard Level 1 spell. The density was far higher.""Stability," Lirion said, picking up the crystal. "A stable circuit is stronger than a large, trembling one."[Quest Progress: 3/10 Monsters. Note: Mana concentration in the area is normal.]They continued hunting. Lirion conserved his physical movement, relying on precise mana calculations. He was like a surgeon, not a butcher.