Chapter 199: Hunting With Leo Before heading out on a hunt with Leo, Noah decided to quickly level up his aura skill to level 10. With his mana control at level 10, creating a strong foundation for aura manipulation would be straightforward; the two skills complemented each other naturally. Noah immediately calmed his beating heart from the excitement over the instant coffee and sat down in a meditation position. His high intelligence made the connection between mana control and aura development crystal clear, allowing him to approach the training with a focused mind. Level 8 to level 10. This shouldn’t take long with my current foundation. Drawing upon his mana control, Noah began channelling his internal energy outward, extending his personal aura beyond his body. The technique flowed as naturally as breathing. His aura expanded steadily, growing stronger and more refined with each repetition. The invisible energy field that surrounded his body became denser, more responsive to his will. The outline of mana around his body grew stronger, more condensed as time passed by. Ten minutes later, the familiar system notification appeared in his vision. [Your Aura skill has reached level 10!] Noah stood up from his meditation spot with a satisfied smile. The progression felt natural, a step toward the balanced development he was pursuing. Three skills at level 10 now. Swordsmanship, mana control, and aura. A solid apprentice-rank foundation. It would be perfect if I could level up my Wind manipulation skill, too, but one step at a time. "Are you ready to go on a hunt, Leo?" Noah asked, turning toward his companion with anticipation for their first joint combat experience. Leo’s ears immediately perked up, his tail whipping back and forth with obvious excitement. The young lion had been waiting for this opportunity since awakening with his evolved abilities. "Let’s go, Father! I want to test my new skills against real opponents!" Noah could hear the enthusiasm that Leo was feeling. He could tell that his companion was eager to prove himself in actual combat. Noah led Leo through Esta’s streets toward the same location where Valeria had originally taken him for monster hunting alongside Alissa and Kip. As they approached the hunting grounds, Noah made a strategic decision about their training approach. "We’re not practising against novice-rank monsters," he announced to Leo with confidence in their new abilities. "It would be a waste of time for both of us." Leo nodded his head in agreement. Novice-rank beasts were too weak for even a warmup. As an adept, he could slap a novice-rank beast to death. I’m much stronger than a normal apprentice-rank practitioner now. Leo’s combat potential exceeds normal Adept rank as well. "We’ll warm up against apprentice-rank beasts, then head toward the minotaur area where the adept-rank creatures roam." Leo’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction at the challenging prospect. "Perfect. I want to fight something that can actually make me try." His combat instincts are flaring. Good. The hunting ground opened before them, the same rocky terrain where Noah had fought against his first apprentice-rank beast under Valeria’s guidance. But now he approached as a capable warrior rather than a man in training. ... Two apprentice-rank crimson horn bears emerged from behind the rocks, their massive frames rippling with malevolent energy that made normal humans flee in terror. Each beast stood incredibly tall, their distinctive red-tinted horns gleaming with magical power that could pierce through steel armour. These creatures had once represented serious threats that required him to create a careful strategy and flawless execution to defeat them safely. Now? They were nothing but a warm-up. The crimson horn bears were significantly more dangerous than other apprentice-rank beasts, their combination of raw physical power and magical horn attacks making them feared throughout the territory in which they lived. Their thick hides could deflect most weapons, while their charging attacks had been known to kill many apprentice-rank warriors. "One each," Noah declared, drawing his blade with fluid motion from its scabbard. Leo roared before the young lion’s body began expanding through his size manipulation ability, growing to something approaching a large lion’s size. "Time to hunt!" His body settled at thrice his earlier dog-size, muscles rippling beneath his golden fur that gleamed with mana, creating an ethereal scene to anyone who saw it. The transformation revealed the true majesty that his species was known for. Leo was an apex predator designed for domination. He looks magnificent. It’s hard to believe that he is the same lion that was the size of a cat a few days ago. The crimson horn bears sensed the sudden change before them. His opponent seemed to change his size at will! Their confidence was wavering as they felt the immense power radiating from the lion before them. They were facing enemies who radiated genuine danger rather than vulnerable prey. The larger bear’s horn began glowing with concentrated magical energy, preparing for its signature piercing attack. Before the bear could finish preparing to attack, Noah moved with incredible speed. His natural agility attribute, already 50% greater than that of apprentice-rank practitioners, was further enhanced by his wind manipulation skill and the aura that accelerated his movement and empowered every strike. The first bear charged with earth-shaking force, its horn aimed directly at Noah’s chest with killing intent. The attack that would have been fatal to his previous self now seemed manageable. Swish! Clang! Noah sidestepped the charge with the grace of a master at work, his agility making the bear’s assault appear sluggish. His blade found its spot on the Crimson bear’s hide, slicing through the flesh without any struggle. This feels... easy. Too easy. The bear roared in pain and fury, spinning to face Noah with aggression. But its movements were predictable, its techniques crude compared to the refined combat he’d experienced against human opponents. Brute force without sophistication. Meanwhile, Leo engaged his opponent with fury that showcased his evolved combat abilities. His first attack was a demonstration of raw power that left no doubt about his advancement. [Savage Rift Claw]