Chapter 48 Speed

As I examined the tattoo on my forearm, the image of a snake with dark scales seemed to writhe and twist beneath my skin.

Suddenly, the serpent appeared to come alive, slithering across my flesh as if it were a living creature. The tattoo rippled and contorted for a few moments before finally settling still.

"..."

Observing it, I noticed something odd about the tattoo's eyes. They glimmered with an eerie light, almost as if they were staring straight into my soul.

I think my guess was correct, the artifact had detected my pain and was reacting to my damaged soul.

As I rose from my seat, preparing to head to the training facility, I caught a glimpse of the snake tattoo on my forearm and froze. The sleeveless shirt I wore revealed the serpent in all its vivid glory, and I knew that it would attract far too much attention.

Quickly grabbing a dark jacket, I slipped it on and laced up my shoes before making my way to the nearest training area. With each step, I felt a strange lightness in my body, as if my rank had suddenly increased.

As I entered the training facility, a small grin tugged at the corners of my lips.

Who would have thought that pain could be so useful?

I made my way to the private rooms, eager to put my newfound speed to the test. Once inside, I locked the door and retrieved my black Katana from the Spatial Ring.

Swish... Whoosh...

Swinging it a few times to loosen up, I scanned the room and let out a deep sigh.

It was time to test my actual speed!

Thud...

I removed the sandbags that were strapped to my arms and legs, feeling the sudden release of pressure as my body became 40 kilograms lighter.

Robin had given me these weights over a week ago, and I was already accustomed to the extra resistance. I also couldn't help, but whistle, since I felt as if I was made out of feathers.

As I gazed at the dummies lined up against the back wall, I shifted my weight and lowered my body, readying myself to make a dash towards them.

Crash...

With a sudden burst of speed, I charged forward, katana in hand. But to my surprise, I couldn't quite control my momentum and ended up colliding face-first with the dummy's chest.

"Ouch!"

I hissed, feeling a sharp pain and a big bump forming on my forehead. Apparently, my speed had increased more than I had anticipated.

Examining the dent left on the dummy's surface, I rose to my feet and began flexing my arms and legs. I needed to get used to this newfound agility before I could proceed with any further movements.

What's good with having incredible speed, if I can't control it?

I made my way to a nearby running track to test out my speed in a more controlled environment. Starting off at a leisurely pace of 6 miles per hour, I steadily increased my speed, monitoring my movements with each stride.

At 15 miles per hour, I began to feel the strain, but I refused to let my newfound speed get the best of me. Instead, I focused on every movement, willing myself to maintain control.

Half an hour later, my stamina began to wane, and I was forced to stop. But not before I had reached my maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.

I took a few minutes to catch my breath before proceeding to do simple movements like swinging my weapon and jumping from place to place.

It was crucial that I get the hang of my newfound abilities before I could use them to their full potential.

"That's it..."

Exhausted and drenched in sweat, I leaned heavily against the nearest pillar. Despite hours of practice, getting the hang of my increased speed was proving to be a greater challenge than I had anticipated.

As I caught my breath, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and muttered to myself.

"Status..."

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As the azure window displaying my status appeared before me, I couldn't help but smirk at the sight of my Agility Attribute.

It had increased by two minor realms!

With a newfound confidence, I rubbed my hands together and slowly rose to my feet, grasping my black katana with a straight posture.

Swish... Swish...

I began practicing my weapon style, gradually increasing my speed while ensuring that my movements remained precise and controlled. The last thing I needed was a sloppy swing that could leave me vulnerable to an enemy attack.

I focused on maintaining fluidity and avoiding any wasteful or backhanded movements. I knew all too well that a single mistake against a real opponent would cost me my life.

Whoosh...

The Blade of my Katana flickered in and out of the shadows, as I continued to practice the Silent Shadow Manual.

I couldn't help but wonder why I had never heard or seen any other students using this Style before. It was incredibly useful, especially for those who were just beginning their path to becoming awakened.

"..."

As I trained, the thought that maybe taking the manual wasn't just an accident began to irk me.

Was it possible that someone had placed it there for me?

These thoughts began to creep into my mind, but I pushed them away and focused on my training.

"So what if it wasn't an accident?! Better for me, now I have a useful weapon style!"

As I continued with my training, my mind cleared of any doubts and focused solely on my progress. My blade flickered faster and my movements became more precise.

It was only when my muscles began to ache, and my stomach growled, did I realize how long I had been training. I glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that it was already evening.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling both satisfied and exhausted at the same time. It was time to head back to my room and get some rest.