My Bugged System Made Me Too OP!-Chapter 38: Enjoying it

He could also sell some of their corpses.

All parts of a mana such as the hide, flesh and even fangs, had value and could be traded.

He exhaled slowly and straightened fully, gripping the mouth of the bag in one hand as he walked deeper into the forest.

The atmosphere shifted the further he went.

The trees grew thicker, the air also growing cooler.

Minutes passed.

His senses remained spread outward in a steady radius, monitoring shifts in air pressure, faint mana pulses, irregular breathing patterns.

Then—

He stopped.

Ahead, partially obscured by a cluster of thick roots and low shrubs, stood a large creature.

It resembled a dog.

But far larger than any normal one.

Its body was muscular and lean, covered in dark grey fur that seemed slightly metallic under the dim light. Two sharp bone-like spikes protruded from its back, angled backward like natural spears.

Noah’s eyes widened instantly.

Without thinking, he moved.

He darted silently behind the nearest thick tree trunk, pressing his back against the bark as he slowed his breathing.

’A Spike Dog...’ he thought, pulse steady but alert.

’That’s an advanced-grade.’

Advanced-grade.

His jaw tightened slightly.

He hadn’t expected to encounter one this early.

And now he fully understood why villagers spoke of the deeper forest in fearful tones.

Mutated beasts were already dangerous enough for normal humans.

Advanced beasts were lethal to anyone below Core Magus.

The Spike Dog’s muscles shifted powerfully as it lowered its head.

It was busy munching on another beast—a smaller creature already long dead, blood darkened and soaked into the soil beneath it.

Its jaws tore through flesh with casual strength.

Crunch.

Snap.

Bone breaking effortlessly between its teeth.

Noah observed quietly. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The beast was distracted by its feeding, and its guard was lowered as a result.

A faint smirk formed on his lips.

’This is good,’ he thought. ’Easy kill.’

He slowly extended his right hand from behind the tree, palm aimed at the dog’s legs.

He didn’t want to risk a frontal lightning attack immediately.

Advanced-grade beasts had higher mana density. They could react fast.

"Ice Hold."

The words echoed silently in his mind.

Mana surged downward through his veins and into the ground beneath the Spike Dog.

Without warning—

Thick ice burst upward from the soil around its limbs.

Sharp crystalline frost shot up around its four legs, encasing them instantly in dense, solid ice. The cold spread rapidly, freezing dirt and roots together into a hardened prison.

The Spike Dog reacted instantly.

It barked loudly, a deep, thunderous sound that echoed through the forest.

It thrashed violently, muscles bulging as it tried to yank its legs free.

Cracks formed in the ice.

But the ice remained firm.

The dog snarled, baring sharp fangs as it twisted its body, spikes on its back scraping against nearby branches.

It pulled harder..

The ice groaned.

But it didn’t shatter.

The beast grew more agitated by the second, barking furiously as it struggled against the frozen trap.

Its strength was impressive.

But for now—

It was restrained.

Noah chuckled softly as the Spike Dog continued thrashing against the frozen prison.

Then he stepped out from behind the tree.

Leaves crunched faintly beneath his boots as he revealed himself fully, no longer hiding.

His posture was relaxed, almost casual, as though he weren’t standing before an advanced-grade mana beast capable of tearing apart most Adept Magi.

The Spike Dog’s eyes snapped toward him instantly.

It barked again—louder this time, clearly angry also.

Noah lifted his hand slightly.

He waved his fingers gently through the air, and the temperature around him dropped several degrees.

Moisture in the air condensed rapidly.

A long, thick spear of ice began to form in front of him.

It materialized quickly—solidifying from translucent mist into a crystalline weapon. The spear was nearly as tall as he was, its surface smooth yet ridged with jagged frost patterns. Light refracted faintly through its body, giving it a deadly, polished sheen.

Noah’s lips curled upward.

"Glacial spear..." he thought.

"How cool."

The sensation of conjuring something so tangible, so lethal, from nothing but mana—

It was intoxicating.

He didn’t hesitate.

With a casual forward motion of his hand—

The ice spear shot forward.

It tore through the air in a sharp streak of white, cutting through leaves and wind alike.

The Spike Dog roared, muscles straining as it attempted to wrench free.

But it couldn’t move fast enough.

The spear slammed directly into its chest.

A sickening crack echoed as the ice pierced through fur, flesh, and muscle.

The force drove the beast backward slightly, the ice embedding deep within its torso.

For a moment—

Silence.

Then frost began spreading outward from the wound.

Ice crawled across its chest like living veins, rapidly freezing tissue around the impact point. Cold vapor seeped from its mouth and nose, smoke-like mist rising as internal heat clashed with invading frost.

The Spike Dog growled weakly.

Its movements slowed.

The thrashing weakened.

The ice encasing its limbs thickened as its body temperature dropped rapidly.

Noah tilted his head slightly, observing.

"You’re pretty sturdy," he muttered.

Then he chuckled.

He couldn’t deny that he was enjoying this.

For years, he had imagined this.

Him standing proudly against mana beasts or any opponent, launching powerful spells, and being able to actually control his elements.

He had watched academy magi demonstrate techniques from the sides, envy twisting in his chest as he imagined himself in their place.

Now—

He wasn’t just casting spells.

He was doing it far better also!

He lifted his hand again.

Lightning crackled instantly around his palm.

Mana condensed faster this time, more obediently.

A long arrow made entirely of lightning formed in front of him.

White-blue arcs danced along its surface, snapping and hissing violently.

The forest floor beneath it sizzled faintly.

Noah’s eyes sharpened as he aimed at the Spike Dog’s skull.

"For the finisher..." he murmured calmly.

"Lightning Arrow."

The arrow hummed violently, the sparks around it dancing violently, like they can’t wait to stab into the mana beast’s flesh.