Kumodesu

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Along with the level-up notification from the system, I also wrapped up today's training session. In total, I caught 34 different types of prey, and their carcasses have been brought back as food reserves.

I checked my status again.

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HP: 150/150

MP: 100/100 (+200)

SP: 180/180 (+35)

My stats had increased.

However, my spare SP bar had decreased quite a bit.

Which means... it's time for a personal buffet.

"It's not that I'm gluttonous, okay? It's just to fully restore my backup SP bar!"

Yes, yes!

I returned to the fifth floor and began prepping for my mealtime. While at it, I also stopped by the trap I set at the entrance of the sixth floor. A few lost ones had gotten caught, so they went straight onto my menu.

Okay, today's menu includes venison, pork, rat meat, meat… all meat…

I want a donut!!

Well, that's just wishful thinking—I didn't leave a single bite of meat behind.

After eating, I moved on to raising proficiency in various other skills—playing with my own Spider Silk, using Flash repeatedly, continuously releasing Poison Mist, activating [Adamantine Body] and ramming into the wall over and over…

Sounds weird? Maybe, but it's the most effective way to level up skills—just spam them, even if there's no clear objective.

If I recall correctly, all those skills are already at pretty high levels, so leveling up from here is really difficult. It requires tireless persistence, and using many skills at once also rapidly drains my SP bar.

But on the flip side, that lets me grind proficiency in skills like [Auto SP Recovery] and [Endurance]. I also don't have to worry about food since I've still got plenty in storage. And even if I run out, I can always go hunt outside.

Might as well work toward obtaining [Soul Chain] too.

This really is a perfect training loop that I came up with myself.

Compared to an average spider, I think I'm quite the diligent one.

…

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Nice.

Already seeing results.

But I think right now I should focus on getting the [Soul Chain] skill, so I decided to head out once more—but this time, with a different thought in mind...

Should I go to the sixth floor...?

I've pretty much encountered all the monsters on the fourth floor already, and it'll take time for them to repopulate. So moving on to the sixth floor seems like the better choice since the monsters there would give me more EXP.

But... what if I run into a mutant variant?

I'm not sure I can beat one right now...

It's not that I lack confidence, but mutant creatures have unique traits that normal ones don't, and their stats are also much higher.

Should I go or not?

Go? Or stay??

Go!

You gotta take risks to get rich.

And so, I entered the sixth floor with my guard at maximum.

The terrain here was still rocky cave systems with branching paths, so I didn't have to pay it too much attention.

Before long, I encountered a group of unfamiliar creatures I had never seen before.

I quickly tried using [Appraisal] on them.

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Nani??

You can fail??

Oh well, that doesn't matter now—they've already noticed me.

Run or fight?

There were only five of them, but with those bulky bodies, I wasn't sure I could handle them.

I'll fight while retreating.

I turned and ran, continuously spewing Poison Mist behind me. The monsters gave chase without hesitation, but thanks to my agility, I maintained a safe distance.

Eventually, I noticed them slowing down. That meant the Poison Mist had taken effect. I turned around and activated [Paralyzing Evil Eye] on one of them.

It only worked for a few seconds, but that was enough.

I launched a barrage of Spider Silk and activated [Heaven's Net] to block their path.

Then, I [Flashed] toward the nearest one and used [Venomous Fangs] to inject venom into it.

It collapsed instantly.

One down. Hehe.

I tied it up with silk, then moved on to the next.

The second one put up more of a fight. Just as I tried to bite it, it caught me and flung me aside.

I quickly used [Paralyzing Evil Eye] to stop its approach, then [Flashed] to a different spot.

Suddenly, another monster attacked me from the side.

Luckily, I had [Adamantine Body] active, so I was only knocked away without taking much damage.

It came at me again with a massive punch.

From which direction...?

I activated [Prediction] to anticipate the strike and dodged to the right, then immediately [Flashed] away again, since another one had been waiting to ambush me from behind.

I needed to take at least one more down—fighting four at once would be too much.

I created a cocoon of silk around myself.

One of the monsters immediately lunged and shattered it with a punch—but that was just bait!

The cocoon was only meant to obscure its vision. While it attacked, I used Flash twice in succession to get behind the farthest one and successfully injected venom into it.

Then I made a bold move—activated [Gluttony] and devoured it whole.

Oh, it really works!

After absorbing it, my stamina and energy were fully restored, and I also gained experience points.

Perfect.

Now only three remain.

The first one I had paralyzed had already died from the poison, so it's no longer a concern.

But rather than end the fight quickly, I had a better idea.

I continued releasing Poison Mist, used [Paralyzing Evil Eye] and Spider Silk to immobilize them, and every time they broke free and charged at me, I would [Flash] away and repeat the sequence.

That's right.

I was using them to grind my skills. Sure, training normally works, but having real targets is way more fun.

While I was at it, I tried using [Appraisal] again, since even a failed attempt would raise the skill's proficiency.

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HP: 147/260

MP: 100/100

SP: 98/200

So that's what they are.

Old man Loyral mentioned them in his stories. Their special ability causes continuous bleeding, but fortunately, none of them had managed to pierce my skin so far.

Then again… maybe I can use that too…

A new idea struck me.

While they were restrained, I purposely stepped in and let myself get hit, triggering the bleeding effect, then immediately backed off.

I didn't heal the wound, leaving it open to grind proficiency for [Auto HP Recovery] and [Vitality]. From time to time, I also dodged their attacks using [Prediction], boosting [Prediction] and [Evasion].

Meanwhile, I kept scanning the surroundings with [Sensing] to make sure no other monsters showed up to interfere.

Just from this one fight, I was able to train tons of my skills.

I really am a genius!

And so, I kept playing with the three monsters for several hours until finally—

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Nice!!

A whole bunch of skills leveled up at once. Others should be close behind too.

Guess I'll keep sparring with them a bit longer.

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I think that's enough for now.

I'd love to keep them as sparring partners for later, but I can only restrain them temporarily, not capture them completely.

So I finished off the remaining three and absorbed their souls.

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Whoa, I didn't expect to level up again.

Originally, I just planned to go hunting today—but I ended up playing around with the Hounds all day. Guess it's time to head back and rest.