If thinking about revenge is what it takes to make it through this then so be it. I am not going to give up, even if I have to swing this sword until my arms fall off! Ah, my demonic power is full, time to work on my core again.

Core Upgrade Progress: 90% +10 DP

'Finally! Only ten percent left to go!'

Immediately I jump to my feet and start practicing the slash form and trying to meditate while I do it. Again comes the feeling I am getting close to something, so I focus a bit more on my meditation. It is a struggle to calm my mind while making sure I swing Blitz in the proper way for the form.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the mental skill Void!

Void

Level: 1

Wis +2 Willpower +1 Weapon Speed +1

The mentality of a great swordsman.

'Woah! Awesome! This is just like it's from a manga!'

It takes awhile for my excitement to fade enough for me to get back to training. I quickly notice that when I am in the void state my demonic power recovers like I am meditating. Since that means fifty demonic power per hour it only takes twelve hours for my power to be fully recharged.

This allows me to work on my core more often, which is good considering how much my progress has slowed down. It now takes me several sessions just to get one percent. However, two weeks later it all becomes worth it.

Core Upgrade Progress: 100% +100 DP

*DING*

Core Upgrade Complete! You have reached Rank Three!

Rank Three: Str +50 Hellfire Resist +10

New Ability: Demonic Assault

Demonic Assault

DP Cost: 50

For the next 5 attacks, attack power is doubled.

Cooldown: 1 hour

'Wow! They weren't kidding when they said rank three was offensive!'

Of course I have to try it right away, so I rush out to the barrier and activate it. Then I use slash on the barrier, sure enough the size of the ripples has doubled. And for a fraction of a second at the point where the two slashes overlap the barrier opens a tiny amount.

Even better, the slash form only counts as one attack even though it is two cuts. So I can use slash form five times when I activate demonic assault. Although that means using my demonic power, since I am rank three now that isn't as much of an issue.

Out of curiosity I activate assault again an hour later and then use slash five times as fast as I can. As I hoped they overlap, meaning I can use slash again before the ripples in the barrier fade from the last one. By the fifth attack I am able to create an opening in the barrier about the size of my fist for about a second.

Currently, I have a little over seven hundred demonic power, that means I could use demonic assault fourteen times if not for the cooldown. That would be seventy consecutive slashes at double power, if not for the cooldown I might open a hole big enough to jump through. I can't even level it up and hope to lower the cooldown, so I will just have to make those five slashes stronger.

However, I don't think I should rush things too much, after all, time fields seem to be very rare. I should make use of this one while I can and only leave when I'm fully prepared. But I will keep it in mind just in case I get to the point that I can't take it in here any more.

For now I will return to splitting my time between training slash form and working on my core. With longer breaks to work on scrimshaw, since that is fairly relaxing for me. It takes me another month before I finish Myria's new bow and start working on carving the skeleton.

Core Upgrade Progress: 10% +10 DP

Willpower has increased by +1!

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Sword Basics has progressed to level 8!

Sword Basics

Level 8

Str +8

You do 40% extra damage with swords.

'Over a month just to get to ten percent, this really isn't working very well anymore.'

Mastering slash form is at least showing progress, I don't fail anymore. Although I achieve a perfect slash only one out of every hundred or so. I decide to give up on working on my core, I will just leave that to eating demons from now on.

After all, I can't afford to spend years just to get to rank four and improve my defenses. Now I split my time between practicing the sword and working on scrimshaw. I think about leveling up my leatherworking but decide against it since I only have one average core left.

If I am only able to evolve one skill it should be one that helps me get out of here. Since I am only going to be using swords from now on I would really like to evolve sword basics to see what is next. That however is a worry for later, before that I need to get the skill to max.

With as long as each level takes I may be out of here before it even hits level nine. I may not completely understand the skill leveling system but I know for sure that nine and ten take as much as three times as long as eight. That is fairly standard though, the higher the level the more it takes.

I want to max out sword basics and evolve it but I don't really plan on staying underground that long if I can help it. I have had enough of caves to last me several lifetimes, no way am I staying down here for years. How long has it been now anyway, three months, four?

As I think back and count the days I am shocked to find out it has been almost five months since I fell into the trials. From my calculations that means it has been two or three days outside, a quick check shows Drog much further west. At least they got away from the soldiers safely and are heading towards the forest.

Once I get out of here I should be able to catch up to them easily, although I'm sure Ruby is going to be mad at me. But it's fine even if she hits me, it will still be good to see her. Then again once I am back with them I will have to deal with the weird situation of her and Myria teasing me again.

Now is not the time to worry about that though, now is the time to work. I need to master slash and finish the skeleton, then I can think about leaving. Two more weeks pass before I finish the skeleton, now I am ready to try doing the ritual to complete it.