Free Web NovelChapter 11: Just Add Mana
Alex stared at the messages in surprise. His Spell had gained two entire levels at once, which meant the improvement was much greater than he had initially realized.
The System itself was acknowledging the significance of his discovery.
Curious, Alex activated the Spell again. Almost immediately, he noticed that the fine control which had required intense concentration earlier now felt significantly easier. He still needed to make adjustments, but the process felt smoother and more natural than before.
That realization helped him understand one of the benefits of leveling Spells. The mastery itself came from him through practice, experimentation, and understanding.
However, once a Spell leveled up, the System seemed to optimize part of that mastery and make the Spell easier to use.
In a way, the System rewarded genuine understanding rather than replacing it. Alex liked that idea far more than simply receiving power for free. It meant his own efforts still mattered.
After testing the Spell a few more times, he finally deactivated it. The moment his enhanced concentration disappeared, exhaustion hit him like a wave. His breathing became heavy, his clothes were soaked with sweat, and his mana reserves felt almost completely empty.
The higher-level Spell clearly consumed much more mana than before. Even so, Alex couldn’t stop the faint smile from appearing on his face. Watching himself improve in real time was strangely addictive.
Every discovery made him stronger. Every experiment taught him something useful. Unlike before the Tutorial, where he studied for hours, unable to know if he was improving, his progress now was visible and measurable.
Now that he had found a way to use Body Reinforcement Spell without damaging his muscles, there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
[Mana: 5 → 7]
The two free stat points vanished immediately. Alex felt a slight increase in his mana pool, and some of the discomfort from his empty reserves eased.
A feeling of fullness appeared in his heart. Afterward, he sat quietly for a moment while his breathing gradually returned to normal.
As he rested, another thought entered his mind.
’I wonder why my Mind didn’t increase.’
He had spent a considerable amount of time training his concentration and mana control. The improvement felt real enough that he could clearly notice the difference. Yet despite that, his Mind stat remained unchanged.
’Maybe improvements from training are too small to be reflected immediately. Or maybe I simply haven’t trained enough yet.’
He just hoped the System didn’t make free stat points the only way to grow the stats. If that were the case, then all the effort people put into training would eventually become meaningless.
There wasn’t enough information to draw a conclusion. Eventually, he put the matter aside and looked toward Emma, only to discover that she had already been watching him.
"Is it just me, or did your punch become faster and stronger than before? The last time you used that ability, your arm looked badly damaged afterward. This time you seem completely fine," she said.
Alex was surprised by her observation. Back when they had fought the Netherclaw Prowler together, Emma had nearly died. Despite that, she had still managed to notice details about his condition and fighting style.
’Is that because of her Class?’ Alex wondered.
He knew almost nothing about Rogues. Since the Class likely didn’t rely on Spells, it probably possessed different strengths. Enhanced observation wouldn’t be impossible.
Rather than answer her question, Alex simply shrugged. Emma watched him for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh, clearly understanding that he wasn’t willing to reveal anything.
She couldn’t really complain. After all, she hadn’t revealed much about her own abilities either. While they trusted each other to some extent, they were still strangers trapped in a deadly Tutorial.
For now, they were working together because it was necessary. Cooperation increased their chances of survival, but that didn’t mean either of them could fully trust the other. Keeping a few secrets was only natural under the circumstances.
Neither of them pushed the topic any further. After resting briefly, the two resumed their journey through the ruins.
The sun had reached its peak, and the heat radiating from the stone structures made the air feel heavy and hot. Fortunately, scattered trees and ruined sections of the castle provided enough shade to keep the temperature manageable.
Unfortunately, those same shadows also created countless places where monsters could hide.
Both Alex and Emma remained cautious as they advanced through the ruins.
Roughly twenty minutes later, they discovered another group of Netherclaw Prowlers.
There were five of them gathered inside an open structure surrounded by four damaged castle walls. Although numerous gaps connected the area to the outside, much of the roof remained intact, leaving the interior dimly lit.
Alex immediately noticed something unusual. These Netherclaw Prowlers seemed larger than the ones he had encountered previously. The difference wasn’t enormous, but it was obvious enough that he couldn’t ignore it.
Then his attention shifted to the creature resting at the center of the group.
That one was definitely different.
The monster was nearly twenty percent larger than the others and covered in several bleeding wounds. The injuries appeared fresh, suggesting that it had recently survived a difficult battle.
All five monsters seemed to be eating something.
Alex’s expression hardened as he spotted a human leg through a gap in their formation. The clothing looked unfamiliar, but that didn’t mean much anymore since Reward Boxes could provide all kinds of equipment.
Emma noticed it as well, and her face immediately paled.
Neither of them needed to say anything. The conclusion was obvious.
The monsters were eating a person.
Someone who had likely arrived in the Land of Origin just like they had.
A heavy silence settled between them as they observed the scene. Five Netherclaw Prowlers were already dangerous enough, and the larger one in the center was clearly much stronger than the others.
Alex’s gaze briefly shifted toward Emma’s spear.
’I might be able to fight them if I had a proper weapon,’ he thought.
Of course, he already knew she wouldn’t give him the spear. It was her only reliable weapon, and asking for it would be ridiculous.
His attention returned to the monsters as he studied the layout of the ruined structure. Multiple entrances, broken walls, and scattered debris offered several possible approaches.
’Should we try luring them out one at a time?’ Alex wondered.
The idea had barely formed in his mind when the largest Netherclaw Prowler suddenly lifted its head.
Its eyes locked directly onto their hiding place, and a low growl escaped its throat as it bared its bloodstained teeth.
The other Netherclaw Prowlers immediately reacted, raising their heads from the corpse they had been feeding on.
For a brief moment, the entire group stared toward Alex and Emma.
Then the larger Netherclaw Prowler let out a sharp shriek that echoed through the ruins, and the four smaller monsters instantly broke into a sprint as if they had received an order. Dust rose behind them as they charged across the ruined courtyard.
Alex and Emma froze for only a fraction of a second. There was no way they could fight four Netherclaw Prowlers at the same time, especially with another stronger monster hanging back.
If they had managed to separate them beforehand, they might have won, but now they had no time to prepare.
Their instincts overrode their fear and adrenaline rushed through their bodies. Both of their minds moved at quick speed, trying to find a solution.
Alex flooded his head with mana. The familiar sensation spread through his brain, sharpening his thoughts and pushing his focus to a higher level.
His vision became clearer, his hearing more sensitive, and even the smell of blood carried by the wind became easier to detect.
Emma ran towards the side instantly.
"Catch!" she shouted as she threw her spear toward him.
Alex caught it almost automatically. His body reacted before his mind fully understood her intention. She knew he was stronger than her, which meant he had the best chance of killing multiple monsters quickly.
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