CHAPTER 9: Time - 23:28:52

According to the Skill description, I should be able to leap to a distance of 50 times my length, 90 meters.

I didn't overdo it. By mentally activating [Hydraulic Leap], I exerted a little over one-fourth of my legs' capacity by going into a slightly crouching position.

I felt the flow of blood in my legs increase explosively, and the bent legs got straightened with a lot of force and in the next moment; I was already 25 meters in the air, nearly 10 meters above the tree level, and my mind couldn't wholly perceive the speed at which I moved.

For a second, I was floating in the air and because of gravity; I started to fall but when I reached the tree level of 15 meters; I caught onto a branch with my hands, and it broke along with two other branches, and I stopped at the fourth branch with me holding it in a hanging position.

I climbed onto the branch and collected my thoughts of me leaping up to a height of 25 meters in a second.

I was excited for such a helpful Skill that specialise in manoeuvring and escaping.

I quickly wanted to learn how to control the Skill effectively.

So, I jumped from tree to tree, but even after 30 minutes, I didn't get a hold over how to use it without getting hit by the tree branches or even to the tree itself.

While I was trying different ways to jump from tree to tree, I suddenly got an idea to use the ability of [Adhesive Boots] to get a proper grip while landing.

The jumping part was simple as I only had to jump while using [Hydraulic Leap] but aiming for where to land by positioning my legs and body at certain angles was challenging.

However, I could leap to where I wanted, but the even more troublesome part was to land on the tree branch without slipping.

After I used the adhesive function of [Adhesive Boots], I could use the adhesive force to get a grip on wherever I landed on the tree.

This made it possible for me to jump from trunks of one tree to another tree instead of only using tree branches.

After another 30 minutes of leap trials, I became agile as a monkey since my Agility Attribute increased through Safety mode by 1 Stat. Every time I got adjusted to the improved Attribute.

As my Agility Attribute increased, my body muscles' control improved to an extreme amount, and my reflexes became lightning fast.

The problem with using [Hydraulic Leap] was that Stamina's points decreased every time I used it, and that depended on the distance I leapt.

So, whenever I leapt 10 meters, 1 Stamina point got consumed, and similarly, for 20 meters, it was 2 Stamina Points and so on.

But thanks to the new Uncommon Grade Skill, [Passive Stamina Regeneration - I] that I received after reaching 20 Stats in Endurance Attribute, my Stamina could regenerate even while it was being exhausted.

Even then, I had to eat 2 [Lesser Stamina Fruits] to recover Stamina, and I reminded myself to monitor Stamina while using [Hydraulic Leap].

After that, I returned to my tree hideout and sat down to take some rest.

I picked up the [Rusted Short Sword] and looked at its durability.

Durability: 35/100 ➝ 20/100

As the Sword was in a Rusty condition, its Durability reduced while using [Sword Aura] against Poisonous Spiders.

I didn't know of any method to improve the durability of a Spirit Item but to improve my Weapon Mastery; I had to use it even at the expense of losing durability.

So, I left it at that and comprehended more about Lv.11 [Sword Aura] by practising Lv.11 Sword Training Methods while coating [Rusted Short Sword] with [Sword Aura].

Since I had already used [Sword Aura] against Poisonous Spiders, my understanding and control towards it increased. Only after 5 minutes of practice, I could break through to Lv.12 [Minor Sword Mastery].

Congratulations! You have gained Lv.12 [Minor Sword Mastery] by comprehending Lv.11 [Sword Aura].

I deactivated [Sword Aura] and practised the Lv.12 Sword Training methods. Since I had high Stats in Stamina Attribute and [Passive Stamina Regeneration - I], I could practice without taking a break to recover Stamina.

The intense practice continued for 40 minutes and a notification popped up.

Congratulations! You have advanced to Lv.12 [Sword Aura] by comprehending Lv.12 [Minor Sword Mastery].

I continued my practice by using Lv.12 [Sword Aura] upon the Sword. After another 40 minutes, I could reach Lv.13 [Minor Sword Mastery].

Congratulations! You have gained Lv.13 [Minor Sword Mastery] by comprehending Lv.12 [Sword Aura].

After a quick break, I continued practising, and after 50 minutes, a similar notification appeared.

Congratulations! You have advanced to Lv.13 [Sword Aura] by comprehending Lv.13 [Minor Sword Mastery].

Once again, it took 50 minutes to reach Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery].

Congratulations! You have gained Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery] by comprehending Lv.13 [Sword Aura]. Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery]: Lv.14 Sword Training methods will get transferred into your mind. Lv.13 [Sword Aura] advanced to Lv.14 [Sword Aura] by comprehending Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery].

The time required to level up [Minor Sword Mastery] got higher as I reached higher Mastery levels.

It took me 80 minutes to increase Lv.12 [Minor Sword Mastery] to Lv.13 [Minor Sword Mastery] and to increase Lv.13 [Minor Sword Mastery] to Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery]. I had to practice for 100 minutes.

I continued to practice, and after 1 hour, I could advance my [Sword Aura].

Congratulations! You have advanced to Lv.14 [Sword Aura] by comprehending Lv.14 [Minor Sword Mastery]. Lv.14 [Sword Aura]: Damage Output increases by 140% when used on Sword Spirit Item. Cost: 14 Spirit Energy per minute.

As the level of my [Sword Aura] increased, the Cyan coloured aura got brighter and brighter.

Even though I was not completely tired, I felt thirsty and took out the last water bottle and drank the final 3 sips of water.

I had no more water and decided to set out to find some water source. I placed a [Lesser Stamina Fruit] within my track pant pocket and changed my white T-shirt with a Black T-shirt as it was less visible.

I looked at the time within a small transparent notification that always stays in my vision corner.

ALPHA Program Day - 1 Time - 23:28:52

It's only been 23 hours and 28 minutes, not even a day completed, and I already felt like I stayed for an entire week in the Trial zone.