Basic Swordsmanship, Tier Two!

Time passed second by second, and the proficiency on the panel steadily climbed: 1000, 2000, 3000...

The drowsiness of late night washed over her like a tide, only to be forcibly held back by something.

Molly practiced until the latter half of the night, yet she did not feel sleepy at all. Instead, she became more and more excited.

She simply gave up on the idea of sleeping and decided to practice through the night.

There she was, in the dark room, repeating the four basic movements—chopping, slashing, lifting, and thrusting—over and over.

Sweat soaked through her dress, dried from her body heat, then soaked through again, repeating in an endless cycle.

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter, while her movements became increasingly precise and fluid.

Eventually, she no longer needed to watch the video. Even with her eyes closed, she could complete every movement accurately.

Her sword swung faster and faster, with greater and greater force. Occasionally, she could hear the sword tip cutting through the air with a "whoosh."

The proficiency on the panel shot upward as if it had been strapped to a rocket: 4000, 5000...

The eastern sky gradually lightened. A ray of dawn slipped through a gap in the curtains, shining into the room and falling on Molly's sweat-covered face.

She suddenly brought her sword down in a chop. Her movement flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, and when she withdrew the sword, her arm stopped steadily in midair.

Panting heavily, she looked at the panel.

[Basic Swordsmanship: Tier One 5461/10000]

"Over five thousand!" The corners of Molly's lips could not help but rise, and the excitement in her heart was beyond words.

At this rate, she could max out Basic Swordsmanship after practicing for another half day!

What would happen after she maxed it out?

Molly's heart was filled with anticipation.

She glanced at her phone. It was six thirty in the morning, and since it was Saturday, she did not have to go to school.

She canceled her transformation, changed into clean clothes, and left her room.

The living room was quiet. Moyan's bedroom door was shut tight, so she was probably still asleep.

Molly quietly entered the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.

After making breakfast, she knocked on Moyan's door.

"Get up and have breakfast."

A rustling sound came from inside. A few minutes later, Moyan emerged while rubbing her eyes, her hair a mess and her expression still drowsy from sleep.

"Breakfast is ready. Eat up." Molly pushed the milk toward her.

"Mm."

Moyan glanced at the breakfast on the table but said nothing. She simply sat down, picked up a piece of toast, and slowly began eating.

Molly hurriedly finished breakfast, then impatiently returned to her room.

She shut the door, drew the curtains, transformed, gripped her sword, and continued practicing.

With the foundation from last night, today's practice went even more smoothly.

Her movements became faster and more precise. The four movements—chopping, slashing, lifting, and thrusting—flowed together as one.

Sword wind howled through the room, carrying a sharp, fierce aura.

The proficiency value rose at a pace visible to the naked eye.

5500, 6000, 7000... 8000, 9000...

By afternoon, sunlight streamed through gaps in the curtains, casting mottled patches of light across the floor.

Molly's sword swings had become so fast that faint afterimages appeared. Every chop carried the sound of air tearing apart, sharp and swift.

Her gaze was focused and keen. Sweat slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the blade with a soft "drip."

Finally, when she delivered another standard chop, the proficiency value on the panel jumped to 10000.

[Basic Swordsmanship: Tier One 10000/10000]

[Proficiency full. Advancement conditions met.]

[Basic Swordsmanship: Tier Two 3/10000]

At the very moment of advancement, a warm current suddenly surged from her dantian and spread throughout her body, more intense than ever before.

The soreness in her muscles vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedented sense of strength.

She could clearly feel that the strength in her arms had increased by at least three times. Her sword swings were faster, and her endurance had grown stronger as well.

Molly fiercely chopped at the air. The blade sliced through it with a crisp "whoosh," several times louder than before.

She stood with her sword in hand, feeling the power surging through her body. A brilliant smile rose to her lips.

This feeling of growing stronger was simply too good!

She had a feeling that her current self could defeat five of yesterday's selves!

Before her joy had even faded, a fierce "grrrumble" came from her stomach. Hunger crashed over her like a tsunami, ten times stronger than last night.

Her stomach was completely empty, as though it had been hollowed out. Even standing made her feel weak.

"I'm starving, I'm starving!"

Molly quickly canceled her transformation and rushed toward the kitchen like a gust of wind.

She opened the refrigerator and cleared out everything edible inside: dried fruit, jerky, milk, and bread.

Only after wolfing it all down did the hunger in her stomach finally ease somewhat.

Tier Two Basic Swordsmanship was only the beginning.

She looked at the dark blue ring around her wrist, her gaze resolute and a faint smile on her lips.

"Just Tier Two Basic Swordsmanship has increased my strength so much. What about Tier Three? Tier Four? Or even Tier Ten? If there is no upper limit, then as long as I practice long enough... even the legendary gods could be slain with a single stroke of my sword, couldn't they?"