While fighting the Wendigos was fast paced, it did help with my combat reflexes. I didn't become an overnight Sword Saint, like in those old fantasy tales, but I could handle the sword more easily. Not everything came naturally, but I could discern a direction to train on.

For now, I decided to focus on my grid perception to increase my sword accuracy. The steel sword, patterned with the grid from Spatial Perception, gave me unprecedented details about the edge of the blade and the movement of each swing.

With the area marked on the tree on all sides, I prepared to strike. Selecting the left shoulder, I observed the trunk with intent, allowing the grid to expand across its surface. The lines appeared, intersecting in a complex pattern that offered countless possibilities. I honed in on one of these lines, a thin, unbroken path just above the tree's left shoulder. My target. The mental image solidified as I imagined the blade's edge connecting seamlessly with that precise point.

Now I just needed to align the edge of my blade with the target I had selected, My muscles coiled like springs, ready to release the stored energy in a single, fluid motion. The path the sword would take formed clearly in my mind—a precise angle, a fluid motion that would carry the steel through the air and into the tree. Adapt my body to follow my Spatial Perception.

The ground felt firm beneath my feet, grounding me in the present moment, as I adjusted my stance, shifting my weight to ensure the perfect balance. I inhaled deeply, drawing in the forest’s damp, earthy scent, and let the breath out slowly, releasing any lingering tension.

Inserting more force along the sword, I swung with controlled power. It cut through the air with a soft whisper, the steel gleaming as it caught the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The impact was swift, the blade biting into Sir Twistopher’s trunk with a muted crunch.

I watched closely as the blade carved a deep groove into the wood, just a few millimeters off from the line I had intended. Close, but not close enough.

While it was near the line and the angle was quite good, almost in the same area, I knew it would just take practice, to strike where I wanted. Not a hairbreadth up or down.

[ Mana: 121 / 130 ]

The mana was being consumed a little faster now, thanks to the updated spatial perception, but I reassured myself that this would likely decrease with level-ups. It was a trade-off I was willing to make for the increased precision and awareness.

I withdrew the sword, the cool steel sliding free from the wood with a faint hiss. The new cut was visible on the grid, a new line that marked my miscalculation.

My gaze flickered to the spot just above the cut, where the target line had been. Adjusting for the next strike, I narrowed my focus, letting the grid’s pattern settle into place.

Once more, I pictured the perfect strike, the exact angle, the precise moment when the blade would connect with the wood. My mind mapped out the motion, and my body responded, muscles tensing, adjusting, and readying for the swing. The sword sliced through the air again, a clean, efficient motion that culminated in a solid hit. The blade met the tree with a sharp, decisive impact, carving a new groove that aligned almost perfectly with the previous one. Almost.

The cuts on Sir Twistopher’s trunk began to form a pattern, each strike leaving a mark that was slightly closer to the target. My movements became more fluid, more instinctive, as I honed in on the smallest details—the subtle shift in weight, the slight adjustment of the wrist, the precise angle of the blade.

The grid overlay offered a specific understanding of where my sword blade should strike, allowing me to make adjustments during the motion.

The rhythmic sound of steel against wood echoed through the forest, as I repeated the exercise with multiple attack patterns, each strike guided by the grid overlay. Head, Right Shoulder, Right Side, Right Leg, Chest, Left Leg, Left Side, and Left Shoulder.

With each repetition, my precision increased. My mind fixated on the tiniest of adjustments—how to subtly shift my weight, how to rotate my wrist just right, how to angle the blade to maximize the impact.

The more I practiced, the more my body and mind synced with the grid’s feedback. The cuts on Sir Twistopher’s trunk were more precise now, the lines closer to where I wanted them to be.

[ Mana: 107 / 130 ]

I allowed myself a brief moment of satisfaction before diving back into practice. You’re putting up a good fight today, Sir Twistopher. The scent that had once been so off-putting was still there, but my nose had grown accustomed to it. It no longer made me scrunch up in discomfort. Only the trunk got gradually sturdier as I started to cut more deep.

After what felt like the hundredth swing, I finally struck true, the edge of my blade slicing along the line I had carefully mapped out with the grid. The sword cut through the wood with ease, easily slicing quite deep after my practice.

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Sword Mastery Lvl. 8 -> 9

Yes! There was something incredibly satisfying about seeing that progress after so long. Finally, I could rest a bit.

I paused to examine the blade, noticing how the once sharp edge had dulled slightly from the repeated strikes. Holding the sword in front of me, I channeled a thin thread of mana into the blade, feeling the energy pulse through the steel as I carefully tried to follow the mana.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I followed it more easily. There was still a long way to go, but this small improvement filled me with satisfaction.

Wiping the sweat from my brow and taking a long drink of water. The cool water I drank was a welcome relief, refreshing my tired body. As I wiped my mouth, something caught my attention—the mana in the air seemed denser than before.

There was more mana in the surroundings than before, a noticeable thickness that hadn’t been present earlier. The change took me by surprise, and I blinked, trying to figure out what might have caused it.

For a good five minutes, I scanned the area, searching for any clues. The trees, the underbrush, everything looked the same as it had when I first arrived. Nothing seemed out of place, no hidden traps or lurking dangers.

Even the quest was still the same. No new increase in rewards for the last three hours.

Finale Rush: Get 2X Rewards for the killing in the last 4 hours.

Ends in 02:18:12 Hours.

For a brief moment, I considered moving to a different spot, thinking maybe something was off here. But then I remembered where I was—right at the edge of the forest, near one of the safest training spots I could find. It was about as low-risk as it got, hardly the place for anything dangerous or strange. I shrugged, pushing it to the back of my mind as I checked my mana reserves.

[ Mana: 68 / 130 ]

One of the major hurdle that I had to clear, especially with the updated spatial perception using mana fast. I didn’t even have time to catch my breath in my fight, let alone devote time to filter mana.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, focusing inward. The familiar image of the abyss formed in my mind—a vast, bottomless pit shrouded in darkness. Above it, the Mana Filter began to take shape, a delicate intricate construct that cleansed the ambient mana around me. I focused on the abyss, imagining it deepening, drawing in mana to be filtered.

I could feel the mana reacting, being sucked into the filter, swirling and condensing as it passed through.

For a few moments, I felt a sense of progress. The Mana Filter was doing its job, refining the ambient mana, while a slight pressure started to develop on it. As I tried to understand the details of the process, the clarity I wanted to observe was definitely lacking. There was only a subtle weakening of Mana Filter, much less severe than when I fought with the Wendigos, but more noticeable than in my practice sessions.

[ Mana: 71 / 130 ]

A part of me had secretly hoped for some kind of breakthrough after the battle, some new insight or upgrade to my skills. Instead, all the mana manipulation level ups did was make forming my mana threads and maintaining the filter a little easier. Cheapstake Way of the World. Couldn't it at least offer some kind of cheat upgrade?

What I really wanted to understand was why my mana filter had failed during the fight. Was it because I had been under attack? Was the filter too weak?

Trying to test out my thoughts, I focused even more on the abyss, making it deeper in my mind, drawing in more mana, and increasing the flow through the filter.

[ Mana: 82 / 130 ]

The pressure on the filter intensified, and I could feel it starting to buckle under the strain as my mana reserves filled up quickly. It was on the verge of collapsing, but somehow, it held together—barely.

[ Mana: 98 / 130 ]

Seeing this, I realized that my low level of mana manipulation was only part of the problem. The speed of absorbing mana was quite fast, so something else should be stopping me from replenishing my mana efficiently during the fight.

Was it due to the environment? I glanced deeper into the forest, where the light couldn't penetrate, and only darkness remained.

Maybe the answer wasn’t in focusing on just one skill. Practicing Spatial Perception, Sword Mastery, and Mana Manipulation together might reveal the clues I needed.

[ Mana: 122 / 130 ]

With the mana absorbing out of the way, I decided to shelve the next experiment and incorporate subtle adjustments to my posture and grip, aiming for smoother, more fluid movements.

Patience and precision. With every swing, I focused on maintaining these qualities. Reflecting on every mistake and understanding the reasons behind each chip and breakage, while using the mana threads to easily repair the sword.

I focused on the alignment of my feet, ensuring they were firmly planted and my stance was stable. The forest floor was uneven, but I adapted, finding my footing despite the natural obstacles. A slight bend in my knees lowered my center of gravity, providing greater stability and allowing me to generate more power with each swing.

As I continued, I experimented with my grip, tightening and loosening my hold on the hilt. A firm but flexible grip seemed to work best, allowing for both control and fluidity. It also helped absorb the rebound force as the blade made contact and met resistance.

I practiced rotating my wrist subtly at the point of contact, enhancing the slicing motion of the blade. The resistance from the tree bark varied, but with each cut, I felt the technique becoming more natural.

To further refine my skills and increase the mana consumption, I started incorporating footwork into my practice. Moving in a circular pattern around the tree, I adjusted my angle of attack with every step. The combination of movement and precise cuts added a dynamic element to the training.

My Spatial Perception helped me navigate, providing a detailed awareness of my surroundings and preventing missteps. As I moved faster, I pushed myself to incorporate these skills as second nature, aiming for the seamless integration of speed and precision. Time passed in a blur as I practiced, the minutes slipping away unnoticed.

[ Mana: 67 / 130 ]