After killing and roasting the Simok Bull, Lucas continued with his journey and only stopped when it was already dark.
He encountered another beast along the way, but Spot was able to kill it effortlessly. Its rank and grade were only Iron Grade-Iron Star 5.
The kill only gives him 19 experience points—not a lot, but not few either.
Lucas did not bother to take the at of that beast, as he still has a lot of at coming from the Simok Bull they previously killed.
And just like that, three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Up until now, with the combined effort of the Mirage Worm and Spot, Lucas has gained more than two thousand experience points. So of the experience points he gained ca from IronStar 9 beasts, while the others ca from low-ranking beasts that Spot could kill effortlessly.
Most of the at and the materials were also left behind, with Lucas not bothering to collect all of them, afraid that they would beco a heavy burden once a situation arose.
Still, his leather bag was already brimming with materials he has collected so far, with so of them fairly suitable for daily use, such as the claws of a tiger beast that could be used as knives. The tiger beast was also an Iron Grade-Iron Star 9 beast, and after a bit of stalking, Spot killed it with the help of the Mirage Worm's Unhindered Stealth.
Three days had passed, and his water problem was still not solved yet.
At this mont, though, Lucas stared at the vine coiling the trunk of a huge tree.
After more than a week of traversing out of Twilight City, he has finally recognized a plant that could help with his current situation.
'It's a Sponge Vine!'
His eyes lit up in joy upon seeing the arm-thick vines coiling the tree like a snake.
The Sponge Vine was a special vine that mutated after the dungeons began their first descent a hundred years ago.
When humanity began with their retreat, the Sponge Vines were so of the plants that allowed them to not exhaust their water reserves quickly.
This was because Sponge Vines were able to absorb liquids and store them in their bodies. This liquid was later verified as drinkable and very safe for consumption.
According to the data, the thicker the Sponge Vines, the more drinkable liquid it holds.
With arm-thick Sponge Vines like this, Lucas reckoned that he would be able to harvest a liter of liquid with just a ter-long vine.
Summoning Spot, Lucas ordered him to survey the area to determine if there was any danger.
After he confird that there was not, he went in front of the Sponge Vine and cut one of the vines cleanly using the tiger's claws.
Liquid began to ooze out of the wound almost in an instant. The dripping liquid fell to the ground like a barely closed faucet.
Though he has already verified that this was indeed a Sponge Vine, Lucas still adhered to his principles of wanting to be safe rather than sorry.
Instead of harvesting the liquid directly, he observed Spot's reaction to it first.
If the liquid turned out to be harmful, Spot would surely not dare consu it.
Fortunately, Spot licked the dripping liquid from the vine's wounds, indicating that it was indeed drinkable.
A smile blossod on Lucas' face.
Without a thought, Lucas took his water canteen and finished all the water that remained inside of it. He then cut another Spong Vine before he placed the now empty container right below it to collect the liquid dripping out of the Sponge Vines.
The rhythmic sound of the droplets echoed in his ears. The sound of such has never been as pleasant as they were today in Lucas' ears.
With its current pace, Lucas determined that the water canteen will be filled to the brim after half an hour at most.
Looking around, he thought that the area was relatively safe. The sun had already begun its descent over the west, and Lucas planned to stay and camp here for the night.
Having determined that, Lucas dropped the heavy leather bag he was carrying and began to stretch his muscles.
Walking for so long with such a heavy bag also took a little toll on him. Fortunately, all of his injuries were already healed, and his body has already returned to its peak and even stronger after it received enhancents from the grimoire.
The leather bag, mostly filled with items, though heavy, was still bearable for him.
Still, Lucas was reluctant to leave behind what he had collected so far. He knew that sooner or later, as long as he survived, he would eventually et with other humans. The items he has been collecting, Lucas prepared to trade them when the ti cos.
After stretching his body, Lucas inspected the dried at strips he had made a few days ago. After seeing that it was only enough for today and only enough to satisfy his stomach, he turned to look at Spot and told him to survey the area and hunt for beasts to eat.
Lucas summoned the Mirage Worm and allowed it to accompany Spot as well. Its Unhindered Stealth ability was very useful for sneaking up on enemies.
The Mirage Worm was clearly stressed after it realized that it was summoned to the real world. It was dissatisfied for a bit but still went with Spot to hunt.
Lucas did not mind it. The Mirage Worm was always like this every ti he summoned it.
From their connection through the contract, Lucas knew that it was only like that because it liked staying inside the grimoire as it was very safe there. Even with its Unhindered Stealth, the Mirage Worm still does not feel safe in the real world.
Before leaving, it took a few sips from the Sponge Vines.
With that action, Lucas nodded his head, confirming that this liquid was indeed drinkable.
After the two left, Lucas sat near the water container and his leather bag. He pulled out his grimoire and then looked at his progress these past few days.
[Na: Lucas Valen
Age: 17
Grimoire Grade: Iron
Grimoire Talent: Reduction
Rank: Iron Star 9 (3198.09/7000)
Spiritual Energy: 154/199
Beasts: Gentle Dog, Mirage Worm
Skills: Gentle Gaze]
His experience points were now halfway through their limit.
This progress was achieved after a few days of effort.
His rank was already considerably higher, but instead of slowing down, his degree of accumulating experience points seed to have beco even faster.
Part of the reason was because of the grimoire's recent evolution. With an increase of 4% allocation from the experience points, the amount he received was not significantly higher than before.
Aside from that, the efficiency of their recent hunts was also very satisfactory. With the help of the Mirage Worm's Unhindered Stealth skill, it could be said that they were invincible in Silver Grade-Bronze Star 4 and below now.
Speaking of Spot and the Mirage Worm, Lucas flipped the page of the grimoire and read the information of his contract.
There were no changes in Spot this ti around. However, after participating in fights way above its level, the Mirage Worm has already advanced to Iron Star 4. With that, the duration of its Unhindered Stealth skill has beco longer, and it could now maintain it for a longer period of ti.
That was also the reason why Lucas dared to let the two of them venture out to hunt. It was also the reason why the Mirage Worm, although afraid, still dared to go and hunt with Spot.
While he was viewing their information, Lucas suddenly sensed sothing, so he hurriedly flipped back to the first page only to see a new log appearing at the bottom of his grimoire page.
"So soon?"
It has only been a few minutes since the two ventured out. He did not even hear any battle commotion; hence, it was surprising that the two of them had already managed to hunt a ga.
[You have killed an Iron Grade-Iron Star 7, Iron Horned Stag (100%): You gained 66.21 XP]
After a while, Lucas hears heavy footsteps coming from the direction where Spot and the Mirage Worm left earlier.
A mont later, Lucas saw Spot, in his Hellhound Manifestation form, carrying a huge and bloody deer over.
The Iron Horned Stag was almost as big as Spot. With a glance, Lucas was able to tell that it was quite heavy and might even weigh more than two tons. However, Spot carried it over effortlessly, dropping it with a loud thud a few ters away from Lucas.
Spot looked at Lucas, as if wanting to receive praise.
"Good boy!"
Lucas smiled and gave his summon the well-deserved complint.
As for the Mirage Worm, the biggest complint it wanted was to return inside the grimoire as soon as possible. Lucas gave in to its demand as well, allowing it to stay inside the grimoire. The Mirage Worm disliked eating at anyway.
Lucas proceeds to clean the stag. He first ordered Spot to move it to another location so that he wouldn't sar the 'camp site' with the sll of blood. Like usual, he drained it of its blood first before removing its guts.
On the side, Spot was already waiting for the guts to be delivered to him. Lucas handed it to him without a problem.
He then flayed the skin or hide of the stag skillfully, planning to use it as another makeshift bag like the last one he had lost.
His clothes were also torn, so he thought of creating a new drip out of this flayed skin.
After almost two hours of work, Lucas was finally done. The ats were already separated, and the flayed skin was already hanging in a nearby tree.
Taking out so at, Lucas returned to the previous location and began to light up fire using the Fla-Mane Lion's mane and tail.
When the aroma of at wafted in the air, it was already very dark.
And at that mont, Lucas and Spot suddenly turned their heads simultaneously in a particular direction.
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