Going For A Hunt.

-Ding!

[You have slain x1 Mangleon, reward +5 Exp points, +3 Evolution points]

-[10x Reward activated]

-[50 Exp points have been rewarded]

-[30 Evolution points have been rewarded]…

Magnus didn't even glance at the system notifications, dismissing them with a flick of his mind. He turned to face the third Mangleon, which was still groggy from the shield bash it had received moments before.

The beast lunged, its sharp horn aimed directly at Magnus' chest. Magnus reacted instantly, his shield slamming against the Mangleon's head, diverting its attack. With practiced ease, he followed up with a swift, powerful strike of his sword, aiming for the thick neck.

His initial blow didn't sever the head completely, so he struck twice more with brutal efficiency, finally sending the creature's head tumbling to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere, coating Magnus's face in a crimson mask. Another notification appeared, but he dismissed it just as quickly, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand, only managing to smear it further.

Robert watched from behind stunned by Magnus's display of skill. Even after reaching the rank of commander, Roberts relationship with Magnus stayed, he had trained regularly with Magnus and knew his capabilities well. This, however, was a level of prowess he had never witnessed before.

'Is this… the result of the God's blessing? A dramatic increase in combat strength?' Robert muttered, furrowing his brows. It was the only explanation that made sense.

Magnus, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought, a crease forming between his eyebrows.

After a moment, he turned to Robert. "Have your men collect these remains. I'm going to investigate the source of this attack," Magnus instructed.

"What? That's too dangerous! We don't even know how many Mangleon are involved," Robert protested.

"That's precisely why I need to go. We need to understand what's happening and why they've suddenly decided to attack our territory," Magnus replied firmly.

"Then I'll go with you," Robert insisted.

"No. You stay here. I can handle this alone," Magnus stated.

"But…" Robert began, only to be cut off.

"Do you think I'm foolish enough to throw my life away? I have my reasons for going, and I'm confident I can handle myself. You coming along would only increase the risk," Magnus explained patiently.

Robert hesitated. Magnus's words carried weight. The God's blessing, the incident in the infirmary… Robert still wasn't sure of the full extent of Magnus's newfound power. He knew Magnus well enough to understand that he wouldn't needlessly endanger himself. He must have a plan, a reason for this confidence.

Finally, Robert relented. "Stay safe," he said, a note of concern in his voice.

Magnus nodded, sheathing his sword and turning towards the East. Robert watched him go, letting out a sigh before turning to the men on the wall. Soon, several soldiers descended and began hauling the three Mangleon carcasses back into the territory. Mangleon were valuable creatures. Their meat was a source of nutritious and delicious food, and their horns were incredibly strong, useful for crafting various tools. They couldn't afford to let these resources go to waste.

---

Meanwhile, Magnus pushed forward, his senses alert as he made his way toward the eastern forest. This vast expanse of trees was the natural habitat of the Mangleon and other creatures, and it was there that Magnus was headed. Before he even reached the edge of the forest, he spotted a group of twelve Mangleon milling about near the entrance. They paced restlessly, radiating an unusual aggression and anger, a stark contrast to their usual behavior.

Just then, he felt a mental nudge from Vorax, the little creature was hungry.

"Vorax, come out," Magnus commanded.

A shimmering portal opened beside him, and Vorax's small, serpentine form slithered out. Its pristine white fur gleamed as it wrapped itself around Magnus's neck like a living scarf, its thoughts flowing into Magnus's mind through their mental link.

"You want to eat them?" Magnus asked, understanding Vorax's silent request.

Vorax nodded its worm-like head.

Magnus frowned in thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. You can, but only if you promise to hand over their cores," he bargained.

Beast cores were a crucial resource for humans. They were a source of energy for those who had passed their first trial and awakened their essence, a vital component in their continued growth and survival.

Although no one in Lancaster Territory had yet achieved that feat, beast cores remained valuable commodities, traded for goods and used in various crafts.

Vorax, however, wasn't thrilled by the prospect of surrendering its hard-earned spoils. It conveyed its displeasure to Magnus through their mental link. Magnus understood. Vorax needed the energy from the cores for sustenance. A beast's energy converged within its core, making it the most crucial part, especially for an energy-consuming entity like Vorax.

Magnus considered this for a moment, then an idea struck him. He produced the Celestial Essence he had acquired earlier, the same essence he'd used in the infirmary. The moment the vial appeared, its potent aura filled the air. Vorax, sensing the essence, thrummed with excitement. Magnus could feel its intense desire through their link.

"How about this," Magnus proposed, "be a good boy, help me gather enough beast cores, and this is yours."

Vorax understood immediately and nodded its agreement. The bargain struck, it sprang into action. Uncoiling from Magnus's neck, it dropped to the ground and charged towards the group of twelve Mangleon in the distance. Its body began to expand as it ran, growing larger with each stride.

By the time it was halfway through Vorax had transformed from a small, three-foot-long, furry worm into a terrifying twenty-five-foot-long monstrosity, its width increasing to three or four feet. Its soft, white fur had been replaced by rotating steel spikes that ground against the earth, leaving deep furrows in their wake.

Most terrifying of all was its mouth, now a churning mass of metallic gears, promising to devour and pulverize anything that crossed its path.

Magnus watched, a mixture of awe and terror washing over him. This wasn't even Vorax's full combat form; it was just a glimpse of its true power. Activating its full Berserk state consumed a significant amount of energy, so Vorax had only partially transformed, just enough to enter combat mode.

Magnus breathed a sigh of relief that this fearsome creature was on his side. He watched as Vorax barreled toward the unsuspecting Mangleon.

The Mangleon, sensing the approaching threat, turned to face Vorax. Panic seized them as they recognized the terrifying creature charging towards them. Vorax, a Celestial beast, exuded a potent aura that instilled primal fear. The Mangleon knew they were outmatched and scattered in a desperate attempt to flee. But it was futile. Vorax was far too swift.

The spikes on Vorax's body began to spin with dizzying speed, grinding into the earth. Suddenly, Vorax dove headfirst into the ground, disappearing beneath the surface. In mere seconds, it traveled hundreds of meters underground, emerging directly in front of the fleeing Mangleon.

Terror gripped the Mangleon as they desperately tried to escape in different directions, but Vorax wasn't about to let its prey escape. A powerful suction force emanated from its gaping maw, dragging a nearby Mangleon into its grinding gears.

-Ding!

-[Your pet has slain x1 Mangleon. You have gained half the reward: +2.5 Exp points, +1.5 Evolution points]

-[10x Reward activated]

-[25 Exp points have been rewarded]

-[15 Evolution points have been rewarded]

Magnus stared at the notification, surprised. His pet's kills counted towards his own progress, granting him rewards. It made sense.

'Does this mean I'll also be rewarded for the actions of summoned troops?' he wondered as the notifications continued to appear.

-[Your pet has slain…]

-[Your pet has slain…]

The messages flashed by in rapid succession as Vorax continued its relentless assault.

-[Congratulations! Your pet has slain x10 Mangleon. Additional reward: +1 Attribute point (half of the original reward)]

-[10x Reward activated]

-[10 Attribute Points have been rewarded]

"So, each ten kill grants me 2 Attribute points," Magnus noted mentally, watching the notifications.

In a short time, all twelve Mangleon were slained, their entire body consumed by Vorax. It hadn't even seemed like a challenge for the powerful creature.

Vorax returned to Magnus, its massive form lumbering towards him excitedly. Magnus nearly jumped out of his skin as he saw the enormous creature approaching from the corner of his eye.

Vorax arrived, opening its mouth to disgorge a pile of gleaming crystals – the beast cores. Magnus counted them, a frown creasing his forehead.

"Um… where are the other two? There were supposed to be twelve," he asked.

Vorax responded through their link, and Magnus's frown deepened.

"This fucker is taxing me…"