I Own the Evolution Domain

[Defeated: E-Tier Shadow Slime (4). Rewards: E-Tier Evolution Crystal (22), Slime Substrate (25), Liquid Shadow (8)]

[Defeated: E-Tier Amber Slime (2). Rewards: E-Tier Evolution Crystal (3), Slime Substrate (7), Malleable Amber (2)]

It wasn’t even a minute that passed since Novus entered the Evolution Domain, and he had already noticed the changes that was brought to him by his continuous improvements throughout the break after the academy exam.

Despite the Slime Beast Wave already coming to pass with his previous "death" inside the Evolution Domain, his presence still alarms the nearby slimes without fail as he just appears in this place without any warning, prompting nearby beasts to attack in the hopes of taking down what they assumed to be a prey.

Even without deploying Sensory Expansion, Novus’ body reacted.

He assumed it might be because he surpassed the thousand points stat threshold, but despite not breaking through the next tier yet, his body’s movement feel lighter than before, his senses sharper as he picked up where the attacks are coming from, his movements smoother as he proceeds to avoid them with motions boasting surgical-level of precision.

With a single breath, mana began wrapping themselves around him as he reinforces his limbs, the mana wrapping around his fist targeting one of his aggressors, a Shadow Slime still obscured under its stealth, and hitting without fail.

Slime matter splattered in a conic shape in front of him as its core explodes, signaling him to move to his next target, the mana surrounding him transforming into a blade as his arm swung to his side, making him feel it passing through a gelatinous object before he felt a clean slice across a solid object inside it.

Another Shadow Slime carcass falls down the ground, its lifeless remain not stopping the young man from taking his next move as he meets the next attack head on.

Having no more time to make a move, he allows some of the attacks to hit him straight, all so he can deal with all the remaining slimes in one fell swoop.

From either of his sides, massive Amber Slimes proceeds to pounce on his being, seemingly intent on crushing his body as they deploy their talent to harden their shell while pressing him between the two of them.

Novus remains unfazed, a faint smile on his face as he felt the last two Shadow Slimes approaching his location as well, prompting him to make a move to deal with all four of them in one swift, smooth motion.

Mana surged around his being, wrapping around his arms.

Said arms then pierced beyond the attacking Amber Slimes’ hard shell as the sharpened blade of mana pierces through them.

He kept his arm’s regeneration minimal as he wants to witness something in action, hence why he lets his bleeding arms linger inside the Amber Slimes for a while before he swung them once more, meeting the attacking Shadow Slimes once more.

The Shadow Slimes’ core was bisected into two as their dead remains fall down the ground, earning a satisfied nod from the young man as he felt like his skills in handling the blade is improving more and more.

’Is it her influence?’ he thought to himself as a familiar, feminine figure flashed on his mind, wondering whether it is thanks to her and her repeated request for sparring that allows him to pick up on her habits as she shows him her blade skills all the time.

While musing those thoughts to himself, he paid attention back to the Amber Slimes he left behind, watching their current movement and action.

’They slowed down...’ seeing the shaky external part of the Amber Slime seemingly about to collapse, Novus also notices that their movements began slowing down, and with the blood he left behind their body now being fully absorbed within their being, he can only attribute such diminished prowess to the effects of his new ability.

Wasting no more time, he willed mana onto his legs, crossing the gap between himself and the trembling Amber Slimes as his fist was coated with mana once more, intending to finish it all in the next move.

The next moment, he was standing between the two Amber Slimes, extending his fist.

Then, not even a moment later, he was the only living being standing in the spot.

The Amber Slimes already weakened from the poison circulating within their being, was completely obliterated by the mana-enhanced punch that Novus sent at their direction, the only remaining thing that falls down the ground are bits and pieces of their shattered core, as well as some drops of slime matters that survived the process.

Then he was met with the notification screen he is reading right now, the rewards from taking down four Shadow Slimes and two Amber Slimes all on the E Tier, a fight that he would’ve struggled with had he still have his combat prowess back when he was in this place for the third time.

"I’ve grown a lot..."

With the fact of how easily he had dealt with a group of E Tier beasts that would’ve gave him quite the run for his life previously now sinking in, he couldn’t help but clench his fist as those words escape from his lips, a faint, satisfied smile appearing on his face as he realized how far he had come within these past few days.

’Though... I still need to grow even more...’

However, despite the satisfied smile, he is hardly, barely, if even satisfied at all, the desire, the longing for ever-improving his strength burning bright as he clenched his fist, Sensory Expansion allowing him to have an idea of what he is about to face as he enters this new zone.

And as he looks over the place he set his eyes on during his previous entry in the domain, it felt to him that the place looks back, the towering trees in the distance seemingly calling to him, whispering promise of greater adversaries and greater growth that comes with it.

It appears to him that all those promises are not false once as his senses can feel them.

Just from the outskirts of the Verdant Forest alone, he can feel them, similar to the infested island that the academy’s exam had taken place, D Tier creatures loitering around like it’s no one’s business.

Different to that infested island’s D Tiers however, these creatures inside the Evolution Domain exudes a palpable pressure apparent even to himself, showing the vast gap between the creatures of this place and the ones outside.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed with dread however, Novus face reveals a manic smile instead as a single thought appears in his mind.

’The stronger the creatures here are, the stronger compared to other mages I will be...’ he reinforced his will with those thoughts, excitement of the upcoming battles, anticipation of the growth he will go through during and after those battles, as well as all other emotions causing him to tremble with each step.

And each step he takes brings him faster forward, not fully prepared, but fully decided on meeting stronger creatures, stronger hunting targets head on as he knew that it is the best way for him to grow.

The shadow of the Verdant Forest looms over him as he approaches.