Beasts

Neo's training continued relentlessly day after day, with his mother teaching him about magic and his father training him in swordsmanship. However, despite his hard work and dedication, he found himself struggling to break through to the next level of skill.

In his spare time, Neo would wander the library, studying the beasts that roamed around in the wilds. He would learn their behavior, their habits, and contemplate how best to defeat them. His fascination with these creatures only grew as he learned more about them.

After weeks of training, Neo felt like he had hit a wall. His swordsmanship and magic had improved, but the progress was slow and unsatisfactory. He felt like he needed more practical experience to truly hone his skills.

One day, while reading a book about beasts that roam in the nearby forests, Neo had an idea. He wanted to go out and hunt the weaker beasts to gain experience and accelerate his progress. It was a risky idea, but Neo was determined to do it.

He discussed his plan with his parents, who were initially hesitant, but eventually agreed after seeing how determined their son was. Neo spent the next few days gathering his gear and preparing for the journey.

On the day of his departure, his father pulled him aside and gave him some advice. "Remember, Neo, the beasts you will encounter are not mindless creatures. They are living beings with instincts and intelligence. Be sure to respect them and only hunt what you need. And most importantly, come back home safely."

With his father's words echoing in his mind, Neo embarked on his journey to hunt weak beasts and gain experience. Over the past few weeks, he had immersed himself in learning about the different types of beasts that roamed the land.

According to his research, beasts were ranked according to their power, ranging from first rank to twelve rank. Neo had also discovered that beasts had a natural ability to strengthen their bodies, which was even stronger than the training methods used by knights. Scholars believed that knights' training had been inspired by observing the behavior of beasts. While some beasts possessed magical abilities, it was rare, and they could never learn a dao as their comprehension was not sufficient.

Neo set his sights on hunting a Lael Lake Deer, a first rank deer commonly found near lakes. It was known for its antlers made out of water, which could change shape and harden at will. Despite its unique abilities, it was considered one of the weaker beasts in the area surrounding his father's land as it possessed no other attacking abilities and average strength.

Neo rode on horseback towards Mirror Lake, which was located around four hundred kilometers to the north of his father's estate. The estate itself was situated on the western side of human territory, close to the Orc Empire. Mirror Lake derived its name from the fact that its surface reflected the sky, creating an incredible view that was truly breathtaking.

As he arrived at the area near the lake, Neo set up camp far away from the water source, knowing that many beasts came to drink from it. He found a suitable spot under a tree and started a fire, intending to cook his dinner. He had learned the basics of hunting and camping during his training, and felt confident in his abilities.

After half an hour of searching, he finally caught a rabbit and quickly killed it. Skinning and cooking the rabbit was a familiar process to him, and he completed the task with ease. He remembered that Old Max had given him a potion that would mask the scent of the cooked meat, preventing other animals and beasts from being attracted to the area. He poured the potion over the rabbit, feeling satisfied with his preparations for the night.

The night was cold and full of terrors. Neo couldn't get a ounce of sleep because of the howling of the worlves and roaring of some beasts. It was probably Neo's longest night. Finally relief xame with sunlight and he went to find something to eat. After filling his needs and preparing for the hunt he came close to the lake.

The mirror lake spanned almost a hundred thousand square kilometers, which was relatively small in Neo's new world but still larger than the second biggest lake on earth. Lael Lake Deer were known to prefer sitting in the water with only their neck and head out, so Neo began his search there. However, after several hours of fruitless searching, he decided to call it a day and head back to his camp. On the way, he stumbled upon a massive bear, bigger than any he had seen before but it was no beast, so Neo decided to hunt it.

Neo drew his sword as he faced the massive bear. He knew he had to be careful, as the bear was the first animal he was fighting.

As the bear charged towards him, Neo tried to stand his ground and parry the attack, but the bear's sheer force knocked him off balance. Neo quickly rolled away, barely dodging the bear's claws.

Neo realized he couldn't fight the bear the same way he would fight a human. He had to use his wits and take advantage of the bear's instinctual movements. Neo moved quickly, using his speed to evade the bear's attacks while looking for an opening to strike.

After several minutes of dodging and blocking the bear's attacks, Neo finally saw his chance. He saw the bear move its paw in a particular way before it lunged, and he realized it was the perfect opportunity to strike.

Neo charged towards the bear, dodging its swipe and sliced his sword across its back. The bear howled in pain and stumbled, but it didn't stop fighting. Neo kept his focus and continued to move quickly, delivering several quick strikes to the bear's legs and side.

Finally, after a few more strikes, the bear fell to the ground, defeated. Neo was panting and sweating, realizing how close he had come to losing his life. He knew he still had a lot to learn about fighting beasts.