That is getting a bit ahead of myself though, there is still a lot of hard work I need to put in to learn and master these forms. My main problem now is boredom, just practicing the sword all day every day is going to drive me mad. But if I do other things then it will take longer to get out of here.

If I completely focus I think I can get out of here in a year, the question is will I still be sane by the end of the year. But if I do other things so I'm not as bored it could take as long as two years. Also the more bored I am the more loneliness will be an issue.

In my past life I would go days or weeks without talking to anyone but that was when I had manga to read. Also I was very lazy and never really exercised, this is the complete opposite. Doing nothing but exercise and being bored the whole time, I don't think I can do it.

Krenocia and Seronia said they would try to show up if I open the soulscape. That would help with the loneliness, and I do have questions I still want to ask. Like why the drake didn't have a mana core, I spent hours searching for one. Does that mean it isn't a mana beast, if so then what is it?

Yet it has only been a few hours outside, I can't bother them again yet. I should wait at least a month before I open another soulscape. That way enough time will have passed outside for Leyla to have received the message and medallion.

It would probably be better for my training if I just temporarily forget about everything in the outside world. The more I can focus the faster I can escape and rejoin my friends. Yeah, for now I should focus completely on mastering pierce, when I can't stand it anymore I will carve bones.

Two weeks later...

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Supreme Swordsmanship has progressed to level 2!

Supreme Swordsmanship

Level: 2

Pierce: A blinding fast thrust with maximum power.

Slash: The power to cut through almost anything.

More attacks will unlock as level increases.

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'Finally!! I mastered it!'

Without even looking at the new form I walk away from the barrier and don't even think about a sword for two days. Using the pierce form more than ten thousand times a day for two weeks has left me mentally exhausted. I have even started having dreams of using pierce endlessly.

After two days resting and doing a little scrimshaw I am finally relaxed enough to pull up the information for the slash form. Studying the instructions I learn that it isn't a simple maneuver like the name suggests. It is actually two cuts in an X pattern that are so fast it looks like one swing.

This is far more difficult than the pierce form and will take a lot longer to even learn let alone master. I can't help but wonder just how difficult the remaining forms are going to be. If the difficulty keeps increasing at this rate it might take me ten years to master everything.

Then again humans have spent entire lifetimes to become a master of a martial art or weapon skill so I shouldn't be surprised. I am starting to think that mastering the sword is a bit too ambitious for my current situation. I decide to sit down and eat and think through all my options again and pick the one that seems fastest.

After thinking for a while I start to think raising my rank might be best, after all the gods were killed by demons. That should mean that demons are able to match gods in power somewhat. So if I increase my power base the strength of my swordsmanship will increase as well.

The next rank should be easy enough to get, after all thanks to the shadow demons I only need seventeen percent more. That will be my next goal, once I see how hard it will be to get rank three I will reconsider. So the next morning I wake up and start my new routine.

First I practice the slash form for a few hours, then after I eat I use all my demonic power to zap the barrier. Then I meditate until my demonic power is full and then use all of it to work on my core, then I meditate to refill again and then start the process over.

Core Upgrade Progress: 90% +10 DP

Then the next day..

Core Upgrade Progress: 100% +100 DP

Congratulations! You have progressed to rank 2!!

+20 to all stats!

New Ability: Demonic Body!

Demonic Body

Level: Max

End +20 HP +100 Physical Resist +10 Magic Resist +5

'Well, that is awesome. Too bad it's all defensive, but still pretty awesome. It doesn't really help me with my current situation, but it will make me much harder to kill once I get out of here.'

Then I try working on my core again, except nothing happens. I completely deplete my demonic power but my core progress remains at zero. I will keep trying after I rest, but maybe rank two is as high as meditation can take me.

I was so sure I would be able to go further and build up my power this way. If I can't progress to the next rank at least then I am going to have to count on swordsmanship. That means spending at least ten years in here to master the sword, which means months at least will pass outside.

If I am not around will everyone be able to survive for months? Will they even be able to escape the soldiers? Can they make it to the rebels in the forest without me?

No way! I can't let them be hurt! I have to figure out a way to raise my rank at least one more time!