I limped back to my cave, my muscles aching from the goblin battle. The healing pill had closed my wounds, but the memory of that crude blade piercing my side lingered. My pawprints left faint traces in the dirt as I made my way through the familiar path.
The cave's cool darkness welcomed me, and I sank onto the smooth stone floor. What a difference from yesterday - from being excited about my first kill of a simple rabbit to taking down six goblins. A weak purr escaped my throat before I caught myself.
"System, show me my status."
The blue screen materialized before my eyes. My mana pool sat at a measly 15/100 - those Ice Spears had drained me more than I'd realized. No wonder my last attacks felt like trying to squeeze water from a rock.
My new skills glowed on the screen: Ice Wall, Ice Spear, and Danger Sense. Not bad for a day's work, but that mana drain would get me killed if I wasn't careful. Each Ice Spear ate up 20 mana points - simple math told me I could only fire five before running dry.
"There has to be a better way." I rolled onto my side, studying the stats more closely. My Intelligence score had jumped after evolution, but maybe I needed more than raw power. Something about efficiency, about making each mana point count.
The system's interface shimmered as I dug deeper into the skill descriptions. Ice Spear's tooltip caught my eye - a note about "mana control" affecting spell costs. Now that was interesting. Perhaps brute forcing my way through fights wasn't the answer.
"System, how do I get better at managing my mana?"
[Mana efficiency requires practice and control. Current waste rate: 47% per spell cast.]
I jerked my head up. "What? Almost half my mana just disappears?"
[Correct. Host's casting resembles attempting to fill a teacup with a fire hose. Precision is required, not raw power.]
"Well, that's just great." I slumped against the cave wall. "How do I fix it?"
[Meditation allows practitioners to sense and control mana flow. Recommendation: Begin with basic breathing exercises.]
I scoffed. "Meditation? Really? I was hoping for something more... active."
[Host prefers inefficient combat that will result in premature death?]
"Point taken." I shifted into a more comfortable position. "Fine. What do I need to do?"
[Close eyes. Focus on breath. Visualize mana as flowing water within core.]
"That's it?"
[Simplicity is effective. Most failures occur from overcomplicating the process.]
I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the hard stone beneath me. My breath echoed in the quiet cave. At first, nothing happened - just darkness and the sound of my own breathing.
[Maintain focus. Sense the energy within.]
Minutes passed. Just as I was about to give up, I felt something - like a cool stream running through my chest. The sensation was faint, but distinct.
"I think I feel it."
[Good. Now attempt to direct the flow. Start with small movements.]
I concentrated on the cool energy, imagining it moving through my body like water in a channel. The stream responded sluggishly, but it moved.
[Host shows adequate initial aptitude. Regular practice will improve control.]
"How long until I see results?"
[Progress depends on dedication. Minimum three daily sessions recommended.]
I closed my eyes again, trying to reconnect with that cool stream of power. The mana flickered like a candle in the wind, refusing to stay steady under my focus.
"This is harder than it looks." My tail twitched in irritation.
[Patience is required. Host's aggressive tendencies interfere with control.]
My claws scraped against stone. The System was right - every time I felt the mana, I wanted to grab it, force it into the shape of an Ice Spear. But that was the problem, wasn't it? Like trying to catch water by smashing it with your paw.
I took another deep breath, letting my muscles relax. The cool stream returned, weaker this time but steadier. Instead of seizing it, I observed its natural flow through my core and into my limbs.
A week passed just like that constantly meditating and hunting when I needed too.
"It's like... like a river network." The realization hit me as I traced the energy paths. "Each spell doesn't need the whole river - just a stream."
[Correct. Efficient casting requires precise channeling, not maximum force.]
I focused on directing a thin thread of mana toward my paw. The energy resisted at first, but slowly responded to my guidance. When I opened my eyes, frost crystals had formed on my claws - using barely any mana at all.
"I did it!" Pride swelled in my chest.
[Minor achievement. Continue practice.]
The System's words dampened my excitement, but I knew it was right. This was just the beginning. I settled back into meditation, searching for that elusive balance between control and power. Each time I found the mana flow, it became a little easier to direct, a little more responsive to my will.
My ears twitched at distant forest sounds, but I forced myself to stay focused. The old me would have rushed out to fight something. The new me needed to master this first. Every bit of efficiency could mean the difference between victory and running dry in the middle of a fight.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp tingle race down my spine, yanking me from my meditation. My Danger Sense flared like an alarm bell in my mind. The cave's silence took on a different quality - heavy, watchful.
I wasn't alone.
My eyes snapped open, adjusting instantly to the dim light. The cave entrance framed the forest beyond, but something blocked part of that view. A shadow, too precise to be natural, too still to be harmless.
The figure moved. Moonlight caught its fur - sleek gray touched with silver. A wolf stepped into my cave, but not like any wolf I'd seen before. Power rolled off it in waves, making my whiskers twitch. Its blue eyes locked onto mine, cold and calculating. Each muscle in its body rippled with barely contained strength as it moved, graceful and deadly.
[Analyzing... Wind Wolf (Rank 1) Level 16]
My heart should have been racing. I should have been terrified. This creature could tear me apart - it was a higher level than me. But instead, excitement bubbled up in my chest. Here was a real challenge, a true test of everything I'd learned.
The wolf's muzzle curled, revealing teeth that gleamed like daggers. Its stance shifted, ready to pounce or dodge. The air around it stirred unnaturally, carrying hints of its wind-based power.
I rose to my feet, my own muscles coiling with anticipation. This wasn't some mindless goblin or simple prey animal. This was a proper predator, a worthy opponent. The mana in my core hummed, responding to my growing excitement