Varian used the same tactics at different locations and only targeted Low Level 4 Lightning Beasts.
He also made sure that the battle was in a remote location.
Day 1:
After hunting the thunder rabbit, Varian proceeded to hunt the Crazed Spider. With his increased lightning mana, he was able to finish it off quickly.
However, the thunder webs injured him significantly, and he had to rest for a while.
The good news was that both his Body and Lightning Path progressed.
[+10 Xp
+20 Xp]
[Body Path Level 3: 320/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 62/200]
Every time his blood, muscle and skin were torn down by the lightnings, they were rebuilt and the chi in his body integrated with them more and more.
Interacting with a Level 4 lightning, his lightning mana also quickly grew.
For Varian, it was the duality of pleasure and pain.
Eating the meat also continued to give him + 2 Xp.
Day 2:
Varian was about to hunt a golden-striped fox. However, a fight started in the distance and scared away the fox.
He was able to find a giant green frog and hunted it down.
It was a terrible hunt. Despite its structure, the frog used its lightning to create a cage and tried to imprison Varian.
Fortunately, he was able to break the cage and kill the frog.
But he was severely injured and was nearly paralyzed. He rested for the entire day.
[+10 Xp
+20 Xp]
[Body Path Level 3: 330/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 84/200]
The progress of Space Path stagnated. Varian put it on hold for some time and focused on his lightning path.
Since all the magic beats he fought were of lightning path, a Level 3 Lightning Path would be way more useful than a Level 3 Space Path.
Day 3:
It was a bad day.
Varian found the golden-striped fox again. It seemed stronger than last time. He tried to follow it but it joined its group. He could only leave it be.
Later that day, he almost failed to injure his hunt, Azure Deer. It nearly escaped his ambush.
He barely managed to kill it.
[+10 Xp
+20 Xp]
[Body Path Level 3: 340/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 106/200]
Day 4:
His progress was finally showing results. The injuries he had were substantially less severe.
He was able to hunt down three thunder pigs in a single day.
[+10 Xp
+20 Xp]
[Body Path Level 3: 350/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 128/200]
Varian saw Level 4 Body Path waving at him in the distance. He was very excited that day and ignored one thing.
He would only realize it the next day.
Day 5:
His progress was slowing down. For the same progress, he needed to fight more.
There were two reasons. One, as he progressed further, it would turn more difficult to gain Xp.
Two, as he got stronger, the duration of each battle and his injuries decreased. This meant his progress was also cut off.
[+5 Xp
+8 Xp]
Day 8:
Varian didn't choose mid-Level 4 Beasts. It wasn't that they were incomparably stronger.
But because his success in hunting an early Level 4 Beast depended on injuring it first.
He wouldn't be able to ambush a mid-Level 4 Beast.
He hunted down five Level 4 hyenas and called it a day.
[+5 Xp
+8 Xp]
The rate of progress for each fight was still slowing.
Day 12:
Varian hunted eight Level 4 rabbits.
[Body Path Level 3: 390/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 200/200]
His absolute overall strength increased, but didn't experience a dramatic shift over the past 12 days.
However, with his lightning path progressing, he was able to endure more and more damage.
This reduced his injuries and enabled him to fight more.
Day 13:
"I should be able to do it." Varian decided to stop hunting and start fighting.
He spotted a thunder rabbit.
'You are my first prey. Perfect for comparison.' He grinned and walked towards it.
"Ki!" The thunder rabbit's lightning sense noticed him.
Varian's body was taut and the next moment, he shot towards the thunder rabbit like a bullet.
Zap!
A lightning wall materialized in front of Varian and four lightning swords shot at him from all directions.
All these attacks were much stronger than the ones he faced till now.
This time, his preys weren't injured. Their fragile bodies weren't bleeding. Their combat power didn't decrease by at least 40%.
But, he too wasn't the same.
"Ha!" Varian didn't stop and kicked the lightning wall.
Zap!
Zap!
The lightning coursed through his body, threatening to shut down his nervous system and paralyse him.
At the same, its sheer hotness threatened to evaporate his blood and leave him with only bones.
However, his mana warded off the lightning and decreased the damage substantially.
Boom!
Varian broke through the lightning wall with only light injuries.
"Ki!!" The thunder rabbit was surprised and anxious.
It hurled lightning bolts at Varian and used a lighting board to distance itself from him.
It was similar to his first hunt, but this time, Varian wasn't able to dodge all the lightning bolts.
A Level 4's lightning bolt's speed was essentially higher than him.
Zap!
As he rushed towards the thunder rabbit, a lightning bolt reached his right arm.
Varian didn't panic and instead blocked the space around the lightning.
Creak!
Creak!
Creak!
The lightning broke three consecutive space blocks and hit his lightning mana protection.
Zap!
After some resistance, it passed through the lightning mana and struck his arm.
"Fuck!" Varian couldn't feel his left arm anymore. But his peripheral vision caught it flapping.
'Time to end this.'
He caught up to the thunder rabbit and aimed for its head.
The lightning barrier was the only thing in between them.
Zap!
Boom!
His fist broke the insane lightning barrier and crushed the rabbit's skull.
Then, he couldn't feel his right arm as well.
But…
[+10 Xp]
[Body Path Level 3: 400/400
Space Path Level 2: 100/200
Lightning Path Level 2: 200/200]
"Yes!" Varian returned to his hideout and rested.
'I am so close to getting to Level 4. This feels like a dream.' He couldn't stop grinning.
He was only a Level 2 when he entered the academy.
The true 1st year elites were all Level 3.
He couldn't win them. Even his position as the number one on Silver List was ridiculed.
But now, he was confident to be the strongest in the First Year.
However, his sights weren't on first year. His target was… Charles Xander.
'Level 6. Will break to Level 7.' He took a deep breath and shook his head.
He was getting ahead of himself.
The priority had always been to get out of the Dungeon.
After a few hours, Varian searched for his second target.
He found the golden-striped fox again. He could recognize it was the same fox he encountered on Day 2 and Day 3.
'Why do I keep running into it?' He shrugged and was about to approach it when the fox slowed down.
'I'm sure it is stronger… What the hell?' He was certain. The fox was only barely low Level 4 when he first saw it. But now, it was at least halfway to mid-Level 4.
The golden-striped fox patrolled the surroundings of a mountain, searched for other magic beasts, and finally jumped into a bush.
Then there was no movement.
'Why is it hiding?' He wondered.
After an hour, it returned, and Varian noticed a jump in its aura.
'What's in the bush?' He waited until the fox left and approached the bush.
He stepped into it and—