( Leo’s POV )
The next day, as Leo logged back into the game, much of the frustration that he had been feeling over the past few days started to vanish.
It was psychologically easier for him to chase a goal when the finish line was visible, rather than chasing an imaginary target, as although he still had to put some work to achieve (intermediate) mastery in (Shadowbind), with him now having knowledge of what he was supposed to do, he was much more relaxed in his approach.
“Increasing the mastery of (Shadowbind) to intermediate grade will most likely depend on three factors….” Leo talked to himself, as based on the experience of improving the mastery of his other skills, Leo made an educated guess on what he needed to do, in order to improve Shadowbind.
“First, I need to focus on the speed of casting the skill. Right now, it takes me around 0.8 to 0.9 seconds to activate it, but if I keep honing my technique, I can reduce that to half the time,” Leo said thoughtfully, stroking his chin as he considered the first challenge ahead.
“Next, I need to increase the number of chains I can control. Currently, I’m maxed out at three chains, but if I can push that to five or even six, it’ll allow me to bind multiple opponents simultaneously,” Leo muttered, biting his lip as he analyzed the second hurdle he needed to overcome.
“Finally, I have to enhance the strength of each binding chain, making them capable of lifting heavier weights—at least double what I’m managing now,” Leo concluded, convinced that once he successfully met all three criteria, his skill would naturally advance from basic to intermediate grade.
Nodding to himself, Leo felt a sense of clarity as he laid out the three factors he needed to improve.
Since mastering [Shadowbind] at the start of his isolation, Leo had pushed himself relentlessly, practicing multiple skills that had tested and expanded the limits of his mind. His mental capacity, once constrained, had grown far stronger, and the obstacles that would have once slowed him down now felt almost trivial.
Somehow, he had the confidence of raising the proficiency of [Shadowbind] to (Intermediate) grade within 2-3 days of practice, as he confidently got started with the first objective at hand, which was to increase the speed of casting the skill.
Reducing the activation time from nearly a second to half that would have been daunting before, but now, with his sharpened focus and heightened mana control, it was a natural next step.
Compared to a few months ago, where his control over mana was rudimentary and unstable, the mana flowed through him more efficiently now, and with just a few adjustments to his technique, Leo was able to shave-off precious milliseconds from the casting time with his very first attempt.
Within just a few hours of concentrated practice, he had already cut the activation time in half, which was his desired target, as he was able to consistently summon them now in under 0.4-0.5 seconds.
“That was faster than I expected,” he mused with a slight smile. “One down.”
Next came the challenge of increasing the number of chains he could control.
Previously, controlling three chains had been his limit, and even that required deep concentration. But now, his mind had strengthened beyond recognition.
The meditation techniques he had practiced, combined with months of mental fortification, allowed him to maintain focus far more easily than before, which made summoning four chains now feel almost effortless.
Where once he had struggled to balance multiple forms of mana at once, now he controlled the chains with ease, weaving them in perfect synchronization.
With minimal effort, Leo pushed himself further, summoning five, and then six chains, with each one obeying his commands without hesitation.
It was as if his mind had expanded to encompass this new complexity, allowing him to handle what the old Leo never could.
The task that would have taken him weeks before was completed in mere hours and Leo could not be any happier with his progress.
“That’s two,” Leo said, his confidence growing as he marveled at how smoothly the process had gone.
The final task—doubling the strength of the chains—was no longer the daunting challenge it once seemed.
His understanding of mana manipulation had reached new heights, and his ability to infuse mana into the chains with perfect control allowed him to enhance their strength quickly and efficiently.
Drawing from his earlier experiences, Leo infused the mana more densely into the framework of each chain, reinforcing them with precision.
The process felt almost instinctual now, as if his body and mind knew exactly how much power to add without overloading the structure.
Testing the chains’ strength, Leo found that they could now easily lift and restrain objects far heavier than before, without even needing to perform endless trials this time— as his understanding of the process had already been refined through months of diligent practice.
Objects that would have shattered the old version of his chains were now easily held aloft. 10 kilograms. 20 kilograms. 50 kilograms. 100 kilograms. 120 kilograms.
The weights no longer posed a challenge, and Leo effortlessly reinforced the chains further, bringing them to a point where their strength was undeniable.
As he tested the chains, summoning them with perfect control, the familiar system notification soon appeared before him.
[System Notification: Congratulations player ‘TheBoss’ You have successfully raised the mastery of [Shadowbind] to (Intermediate) grade.]
Leo allowed himself a small, satisfied smile as he saw this notification, he had done it, and this time, the journey had felt smoother, more effortless.
His months of isolation and intense training had forged him into something far stronger than the person he had been before, as what once would have been an overwhelming challenge for him was now merely a process that took him under two days to complete.
However, it wasn’t this notification that Leo was searching for, as once the notification about him reaching the (Intermediate) mastery faded, a new one popped up.