Tolu returned to the guild and headed straight for the notice board.
He scanned through the parchment pinned across it.
Small requests.
Gathering herbs.
Clearing slimes.
Delivering supplies.
Hunting weak creatures.
Nothing that caught his attention.
He walked over to the counter.
"Hello, Tobi."
Tobi looked up and smiled.
"Back already?"
Tolu nodded.
"How do novice adventurers actually level up if these are the only tasks available?"
Tobi chuckled.
"There are two ways."
He raised a finger.
"First, cultivation."
Then he raised another.
"Second, the examination."
"The examination?"
"It’s held in another city. A much larger one."
Tobi leaned against the counter.
"This town is relatively safe. Most of the creatures around here are Level One, so there isn’t much for novices to worry about."
He paused.
"The city where the examination is held is different. It’s located near the border."
Tolu’s expression became serious.
"Border?"
"Yes. Stronger creatures occasionally wander into the region. Level Five creatures appearing is rare..."
Tobi smiled.
"But it does happen."
Tolu swallowed.
Level Five.
A creature on the level of a Grandmaster.
The thought alone made his stomach tighten.
Tobi noticed his expression but continued calmly.
"For now, you should keep doing these tasks."
"Until when?"
"Until you can fight a Mirefang effortlessly."
Tobi’s smile faded slightly.
"I mean it. When you can kill one without anyone in your group suffering a serious injury, then you can start thinking about moving up."
Tolu nodded slowly.
"So there are no Level Two creatures around here?"
"There are."
Tolu looked at him.
"Not many. They rule their own territories, so most adventurers know better than to wander into them."
Tobi raised an eyebrow.
"But why are you asking? You can’t fight one. Not even with your entire team."
Tolu was silent for a moment.
"What if I wasn’t planning to fight it directly?"
Tobi’s expression changed.
Tolu continued.
"What if I studied its movement patterns and used a trap?"
For several seconds, Tobi simply stared at him.
Then he smiled.
"That’s a long shot."
Tolu waited.
"But it could work."
Tobi reached beneath the counter.
"If the trap is strong enough to hold it..."
He placed a small, worn notebook on the counter.
"And if you’re capable of predicting its movements accurately enough."
Tobi pushed the notebook toward him.
"You might actually have a chance."
Tolu picked it up.
He glanced at the cover.
"What’s this?"
"Something that might help."
Tobi lowered his voice.
"Read it before you head out. Then return it to me."
Tolu nodded.
Tobi’s expression became serious.
"Don’t die."
Tolu looked up.
"You’re smart, but some creatures are just as cunning. Sometimes more so."
He tapped the notebook.
"Never underestimate them."
Tolu nodded again and slipped the notebook into his clothes.
Tobi’s serious expression suddenly disappeared.
"If you actually succeed, I’ll buy you a drink."
Tolu smiled.
"Don’t worry. I’ll come back."
He turned toward the guild entrance.
"Make sure the drink is ready when I do."
Tobi laughed as Tolu walked away.
"Arrogant kid."
Tolu stepped outside.
The notebook felt heavier than it should have beneath his clothes.
He had a lot of reading to do.
Tolu returned home and immediately placed Tobi’s notebook on the table.
He opened it and began reading.
The first few pages contained information about the Level Two creatures inhabiting the surrounding territories.
Unlike the Mirefangs, these creatures weren’t scattered randomly throughout the region.
They were territorial.
Each controlled a particular area, and entering one of those territories without preparation was considered extremely dangerous for novice adventurers.
Tolu turned the page.
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LEVEL TWO CREATURES
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1. IRONFANG WOLF
The Ironfang Wolf was a large wolf-like creature with dark grey fur and unusually dense teeth.
Unlike ordinary wolves, Ironfangs rarely wandered alone.
A mature Ironfang usually led a pack of ten to thirty wolves, with the strongest members guarding its territory.
Its greatest advantage was its coordination.
The leader could direct the pack with frightening precision, forcing prey into positions where escape became difficult.
Tolu paused.
"So fighting one means fighting the entire pack."
He continued reading.
The notebook warned that an Ironfang Wolf’s territory could stretch several kilometers through dense forest.
Novice parties were strongly advised to avoid it.
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2. BLOODCOIL SERPENT
The Bloodcoil Serpent was a large snake-like creature that preferred caves, rocky valleys and areas with dense vegetation.
Its body could grow several meters long.
Its venom wasn’t immediately fatal, but even a small amount could weaken an adventurer enough for the creature to finish them.
Unlike the Ironfang Wolf, the Bloodcoil was solitary.
It rarely left its territory unless food became scarce.
Tolu read the next line carefully.
**The Bloodcoil is highly sensitive to vibrations.**
He stopped.
"Vibrations..."
He continued.
The creature could detect footsteps through the ground from considerable distances.
It was also known for ambushing prey rather than pursuing it.
Tolu nodded slowly.
That would make approaching one difficult.
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3. STONEHIDE BOAR
The Stonehide Boar inhabited forests and rocky plains.
It was enormous compared to an ordinary boar, with thick hide capable of resisting most novice weapons.
Its tusks were its most obvious weapon.
But the notebook warned that its charge was far more dangerous.
Once it began running, stopping it was extremely difficult.
The creature was also extremely territorial.
It wouldn’t chase prey far beyond its territory.
Tolu stared at that sentence for a moment.
"Interesting."
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4. THORNBACK BEAR
The Thornback Bear was a massive creature covered in thick brown fur and several hardened growths along its back.
It was usually solitary.
Unlike the Bloodcoil, however, it wasn’t particularly stealthy.
The danger came from its strength.
A single swipe could break bones.
Its territory usually contained caves or sheltered areas where it slept.
The notebook advised adventurers to avoid fighting one unless they had a reliable method of restraining it.
Tolu frowned.
"Another one that’s difficult to fight directly."
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5. ASHEN TALON
The Ashen Talon was a large predatory bird that occupied high cliffs and mountain regions.
Its wings were powerful enough to carry away smaller creatures.
Its talons could pierce leather armor with ease.
The greatest danger wasn’t its strength.
It was the creature’s ability to attack from the air.
The notebook recommended staying beneath cover when entering its territory.
Tolu leaned back.
"Flying."
That presented an entirely different problem.
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Tolu turned several more pages.
There were descriptions of smaller Level Two creatures as well.
Some lived in groups.
Some were solitary.
Some relied on brute strength.
Others relied on poison, speed or ambushes.
But one thing appeared repeatedly throughout the notebook.
**Level Two creatures weren’t simply stronger Level One creatures.**
They were more intelligent.
They understood their territory.
They knew how to hunt.
And many of them had developed instincts that made them extremely difficult to predict.
Tolu closed the notebook.
He stared at the cover.
A direct fight was probably impossible.
But Tobi had given him the notebook for a reason.
Tolu smiled faintly.
"If I can’t beat them..."
He tapped the notebook.
"...I’ll have to make the environment beat them for me."