His medium of expertise now built and named, Alec then went with Myr to the lower floor to test it.

Getting to the third floor, he then unfolded the rope and first construct a staircase out of it. Though it looked mostly like an outline of one, Alec could easily take steps on it.

The main limitation to it was that half of the rope had to be on the ground for this staircase to work. Next, the thing that Alec tested was that how much weight could he lift with the usage of this rope. In order to do this he asked the help of Myr, asking the keeper to make three items with the reference to his own weight.

First of which was half of his own weight, that Alec easily lifted with the help of the rope.

Second one weighed exactly the same as him, that last Alec remembered a week ago checking his weight in his appartment. It being close to around 75 kilos or 165 in pounds. He lifted it with slightly greater effort than before, but still enough to not be a great strain on him.

The third and last one weighed twice as much as he did. That with great strain Alec lifted with the rope, setting it after a few seconds of doing so.

Wiping the beads of sweat forming on his head, Alec then said.

"Hey Myr. Can you please make it one and a half times my weight this time?"

Responding to Alec's request with action another stone weight was created. Weighing exactly how he asked it to be, that Alec then proceeded to lift with the rope. It being at a range he felt like he had to put a bit of effort, but not enough to strain him as much as it did in twice his weight.

Controlling the rope to set it down, Alec then began thinking of ways to better use.

'Lever and pulley system would help me carry even more weights. Problem is to find any such thing out in an open field, or worse in the sea outside.'

Other than that Alec wondered if the limit of his strength to pull was whether or not his own weight. Even if not Alec felt like he needed to put on some more muscles. Thinking in this respect, he wanted to split his excercise into swimming and the gym excercises he used to do.

A number of which he could try to replicate with the help of this rope he named Gordian. This would both serve as a great way for him to excercise, while increasing his usage as well as proficiency in using the rope.

Describing a few of the equipment which Myr simultaneously draws into the ground. That Alec corrected a couple things to match how he remembered. Using those designs a number of machines were given shape, with each except a few lacking a certain part or two. Those were meant to be replaced by Alec using his new tool.

He did so at once, starting with the latest pulldown machine. Connecting the rope with the segmented weights then tensing it with the help of invocation, Alec finally got satisfied with the working of the equipment.

Doing two sets of ten reps each, Alec fine-tuned some of the tensile strength of the rope. After which he felt the equipment to be working optimum.

Shifting over to the other machines one by one, he used the rope such as in leg press. In that machine he used the rope in place of the platform for his feet to apply pressure with. Next, he went with the cable crossover machine, in which it was easy for him fit the rope in place of the supposed cable.

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Doing three sets of then repetitions here as well Alec then tested a couple of the machines that did not require the rope at all. Which included the eleptical trainer and the still bike, that he tested before suggesting the changes he found to Myr. For example the height of the seat that needed to be adjustable, handles to be wider and in a long u-shape.

After that Alec finally got to the barbell and dumbells which right as he was about to pick up and idea struck him. Implementing that as quickly as possible, he unfastened the weights from the rod, and threaded the rope between them. Doing so he said.

"Firm."

Following Alec's invocation the rope connecting between the two weights became solid as the rod that was in between it just now. Using it to perform two sets of bench press Alec finally felt like he was finished with the excercise today.

*****

His following week continued in a similar manner. Waking up early and finishing the necessary morning activities, he went to the kitchen and learned more and more about cooking, especially ones with the help of seafood. Then after a light jog in the track and getting a good amount of stretches done he goes for a swim.

In that he performs freestyle and butterfly the most. All the while the flow of the water moved against him, no matter which side of the pool he swims to.

The last moments of his swim ending with a usage of self invocation, that by the end of the week allows him to swim unrestricted. Him only stopping when it reaches the limit of his ability, not due to some mishap as he used to earlier.

Taking a break in order to recover from the swim, for both his body and the ability. That when exhausted feels much like any other muscle to him, which he needs to give appropriate rest in order to recover.

Usually after recovering, he would do the excercises related to a muscle group in his body. Today he does not perform any of them, because he was waiting to go outside to hunt in order to hunt. Under the guided supervision of the spire's keeper of course.

Wearing a poncho he then ties the rope to his waist there. After that following Myr they head together to go outside, and in the process Alec sees the entry door opening for the first time.

Heaving a deep breath to calm his nerves Alec steps out of the door, and sees the storm that he had nearly forgot how it felt like.

A light splash of water to his face and the wind that followed, made Alec remember how he nearly died in this storm. Clenching his fists, he vowed to never let that happen to him again.

Walking forward in the path that the spire's keeper created, they headed close to the sea floor and walked forward. Soon they crossed the thousand step mark, stopping right there a larger platform was created by Myr.

Stepping on top of it Alec unfurls his rope and waits patiently until he hears a sound of splashing comes form next to him. Looking in which Alec saw a creature that was a bipedal fish heard creature with jagged teeth. The creature turning it's ugly head it him, and prepares to lunge in his direction.

In a split second decision Alec uses the rope to bind the creature, successfully doing so he lifts it up and swing it around in the air. Creating enough momentum he then smashes it to the stone platform itself. Averting his eyes to look at the grotesque mess Alec then looks at Myr to learn how to dispose of it. Myr creates a sort of stone and dirt coffin, trapping the remains of the dead monster. Then throwing it into the sea where it had come from.

Done with the demonstration Alec then makes a v-sign at Myr who responds with a thumbs up. With that they head back to the spire's direction, and Alec spoke first as soon as they entered. With a mix of jest and slight longing his voice.

"If only I could raise the ground like you do. It would make the chances of my survival to be so much higher."

To which the spire's keeper said.

"The stones that I raise are directly connected to the spire itself. My range or control goes nowhere beyond that. But your reaction time and control over the rope has improved lot too."

Heading furhter to the first floor, and after carefully washing his hands Alec prepares the entire meal himself. Carefully suiting his taste, and being at the requirement level for his body's dietary needs.

Eating in the dining table and saying good night to Myr Alec then heads to the room. Where he starts to brainstorm about various ideas in order to how he can improve the lethality with the help of the rope.

With a couple ideas and drawings on the small clay notebook Alec then falls asleep.

*****

Next morning after breakfast Alec finds himself in the second floor, tying a sharp knife to the one end of the rope. That he guides in the straight line, launching itself into a practice board and hitting bullseye in it.

Next he ties a hammer to, with it being slightly more heavier than himself. Lifting it up in the air with the help of the rope, while not showing as much strain that he did a week earlier, and then crashing it down on the ground. This creates a large dent that repairs all by itself.

Doing the same experiment with a couple more items, Alec then stops and curls rope setting it down as well. Then walking towards Myr he asks.

"Can you-no. Please make a sparring dummy for me, one around my own size and weight. The level of skill you can decide for it, just don't let me win too easily."

This was him correcting his habit of wrapping his requests in the form of a question. Especially a request that he knew the other party would easily fulfill.

Accepting the request a sparring dummy comes out of the ground, and stands in ready position. As if standing there waiting for Alec to start the flight. That he does, throwing the first punch which the dummy dodges. Launching one at Alec which he had to use both his arm to block.

Then it does a sweeping kick that nearly broke his balance. In response Alec does a twist kick that the dummy blocks, holding it tight before throwing and locks Alec on the ground.

Making Alec to finally tap on the ground thrice and say.

"Fine, fine!"

After the dummy releasing him, Alec gets up and push the dirt off himself a little.

"Maybe it's fighting skill should slightly better toned down a notch. And how can I do that sweeping kick?"