Limits.

We left the Dead Forest, and moved towards the east . East was much more dangerous, at least according to Crow . I didn"t intend to go to the Obsidian Mountains straight away, especially with both of my hands steal healing . I just wanted to move as far away from the Vulture Cliffs, as possible .

I was planning to make a camp, after a few "days" of walking, where I could heal up properly and recover my strength . We could then move to the Obsidian Mountains, and check out what that place looked like, as well as, what creatures we could expect there .

We travelled for a long time, until I couldn"t see the Dead Forest . The Sludge Factory, was barely visible as well . "This is a good spot, to camp for a while . When my arms are healed, we can go to the Obsidian Mountains" I thought . The medicine I had with me, allowed me to heal my arms very quickly . I still needed to exercise them slowly, in order for them, to return to the previous peak condition .

I did some light training in the beginning, then increased the pace, until I reach my maximum output . I didn"t know how much time pa.s.sed, but I knew that I had enough food, to last me a bit less than a month . "This much food, might not be enough to survive in the Obsidian Mountains . Although, I only want to check the place out first . If there is nothing edible there, I can always return, and go to Great Forest in order to hunt" I thought .

The weird thing was that, I had no dreams anymore . The Dark Traveller didn"t appear in my dreams, nor did I have any dreams at all . Even if I trained all day, nothing happened during my sleep . "This is just too weird . The Dark Traveller gave me knowledge about the Ancient Language, then the dreams disappear? Just what the h.e.l.l?" I thought to myself . It would be fine, if it was same old dream, but to get none? No amount of training, seemed to change that .

"I had these dreams for years now, yet this never happened . Whenever I trained my body or skills, I would always have those dreams . Did the dreams finish? Maybe they couldn"t go infinitely . I always a.s.sumed, that those dreams will be there, no matter what . What if I was wrong? But then, why would the Dark Traveller say, that this is just the beginning?" I thought, and asked myself many questions .

I didn"t understand . Why would it change so much? It worked the same way, for such a long time . I couldn"t figure it out, but I got an idea how to find out . Frosty already returned to my arm, as a tattoo . I called out "Frosty! Come out" . Frosty transformed quickly and stood in front of me . I asked "When I go to sleep, could you see any black Aura around me? Or some kind of dark mist?", but Frosty shook its head .

"So if I don"t have that Aura, does that mean, I will no longer have those dreams? Then why would the Dark Traveller tell me, it was only the beginning? It doesn"t make sense" I thought . I was lost in my thoughts for a while, and snapped out of it, when Frosty again changed back to the tattoo on my arm .

"There is no point wondering about that now" I thought . The dreams helped me a lot, but I couldn"t seriously hope, that they would last forever . With that in my mind, I moved towards the Obsidian Mountains . According to my map, I still had a long way to go . My destination this time, was twice the distance, compared to the distance from Dead Forest to Vulture Cliffs . Because I had nothing better to do, I decided to train, while on my travels .

I already broke through the Half Step of the Outer Limit . This meant, any exercises I did, should now improve my body . I returned to my routine from the past . Whenever I woke up, I trained using the modified diagram, then trained my skills . I was on a constant move, and food was short, so I didn"t train my strength that much . On the other hand, I made some improvements with my Pressure Dagger skill .

The North was really a wasteland, so finding any opponents, was not easy . There were some Corpse Dogs, once in a while, but those things were not even able to move fast enough . Like this, I started imagining my opponent, and used my skill on thin air . The opponent was Nick, not because I hated him, but because I knew a lot about his skills, and the way he used them . I could always imagine that much better, than a figment of my imagination .

I remembered that Nick, told me about such thing in the past . "Nick once told me, that some experts can imagine their opponent, and train like this . It seems, I"m able to do it as well" I thought . It wasn"t that hard to achieve . I knew Nick very well . Besides, he was the one who taught me most things . With my own improvements and the memories, I could simulate how Nick would move in my head . My attacks missed most of the time . I always found that, Nick would move in a weird manner or disappear, before my attacks could reach him .

With time, I got better at it, but it lacked something . "Although I knew Nick very well, I don"t feel any hatred, evil or rage towards him . Maybe that is where I"m going wrong?" I thought . Nick was not my enemy, but a friend . Sh.e.l.ly was the same . There were no people, who I knew really well . I knew some stronger opponents, especially those, that I felt a lot of hate for . But, I usually didn"t know much about their skills, or ways they fought .

"That woman who severed my arm… I know her skill but not much else . That Eterian… This could work" I thought . The Eterian fought with me, and the fight was still fresh in my memory . I had many interactions and couple of duels with her . I also knew that she would betray, in order to live . "I kind of know her character, and the type of creature she is . I also know, what skills she has . I don"t think that I have to mention the hatred, I feel towards that b.i.t.c.h . This may actually work" I thought .

I decided to give it a try . I imagined the Eterian, standing in front of me, trying to kill me . It was hard . I couldn"t do it whatsoever in the beginning, but the more I tried, the clearer her image became . After a long time, it felt as if I was really fighting against her . My imagination, could"ve never done the same with Nick . "So, it turns out that in order fo this to work, I have to really hate someone, or something . With this, I can practice my skills better" I thought .

But! This was not a solution to everything . It was true I could practice, but there was no diversity . It meant that, if I meet her again, I would be better able to predict, what she was up to, and better able to harm her . But, it wouldn"t work on anyone else . "This type of imaginary training is good, but also bad . I"m imagining only 1 person or creature, as my opponent, while there are many different creatures and people . The same stuff, wouldn"t work on that Sword Woman . The reason is simple, she has different set of skills, and different style" I thought .

The skill to imagine your opponent and improve oneself, seemed like a great idea . This type of training, had a hidden bad side though . When overused, it could actually do more harm than good . "I will do this moderately . Just so, I can increase my proficiency with the skill, and take a more objective look . Learning how to deal with one person or creature, then using that same tactic broadly, will eventually lead me to my own demise" I thought . With that, I headed east and trained, just like in the old days .We left the Dead Forest, and moved towards the east . East was much more dangerous, at least according to Crow . I didnt intend to go to the Obsidian Mountains straight away, especially with both of my hands steal healing . I just wanted to move as far away from the Vulture Cliffs, as possible . I was planning to make a camp, after a few days of walking, where I could heal up properly and recover my strength . We could then move to the Obsidian Mountains, and check out what that place looked like, as well as, what creatures we could expect there . We travelled for a long time, until I couldnt see the Dead Forest . The Sludge Factory, was barely visible as well . This is a good spot, to camp for a while . When my arms are healed, we can go to the Obsidian Mountains I thought . The medicine I had with me, allowed me to heal my arms very quickly . I still needed to exercise them slowly, in order for them, to return to the previous peak condition . I did some light training in the beginning, then increased the pace, until I reach my maximum output . I didnt know how much time pa.s.sed, but I knew that I had enough food, to last me a bit less than a month . This much food, might not be enough to survive in the Obsidian Mountains . Although, I only want to check the place out first . If there is nothing edible there, I can always return, and go to Great Forest in order to hunt I thought . The weird thing was that, I had no dreams anymore . The Dark Traveller didnt appear in my dreams, nor did I have any dreams at all . Even if I trained all day, nothing happened during my sleep . This is just too weird . The Dark Traveller gave me knowledge about the Ancient Language, then the dreams disappear? Just what the h.e.l.l? I thought to myself . It would be fine, if it was same old dream, but to get none? No amount of training, seemed to change that . I had these dreams for years now, yet this never happened . Whenever I trained my body or skills, I would always have those dreams . Did the dreams finish? Maybe they couldnt go infinitely . I always a.s.sumed, that those dreams will be there, no matter what . What if I was wrong? But then, why would the Dark Traveller say, that this is just the beginning? I thought, and asked myself many questions . I didnt understand . Why would it change so much? It worked the same way, for such a long time . I couldnt figure it out, but I got an idea how to find out . Frosty already returned to my arm, as a tattoo . I called out Frosty! Come out . Frosty transformed quickly and stood in front of me . I asked When I go to sleep, could you see any black Aura around me? Or some kind of dark mist?, but Frosty shook its head . So if I dont have that Aura, does that mean, I will no longer have those dreams? Then why would the Dark Traveller tell me, it was only the beginning? It doesnt make sense I thought . I was lost in my thoughts for a while, and snapped out of it, when Frosty again changed back to the tattoo on my arm There is no point wondering about that now I thought . The dreams helped me a lot, but I couldnt seriously hope, that they would last forever . With that in my mind, I moved towards the Obsidian Mountains . According to my map, I still had a long way to go . My destination this time, was twice the distance, compared to the distance from Dead Forest to Vulture Cliffs . Because I had nothing better to do, I decided to train, while on my travels . I already broke through the Half Step of the Outer Limit . This meant, any exercises I did, should now improve my body . I returned to my routine from the past . Whenever I woke up, I trained using the modified diagram, then trained my skills . I was on a constant move, and food was short, so I didnt train my strength that much . On the other hand, I made some improvements with my Pressure Dagger skill . The North was really a wasteland, so finding any opponents, was not easy . There were some Corpse Dogs, once in a while, but those things were not even able to move fast enough . Like this, I started imagining my opponent, and used my skill on thin air . The opponent was Nick, not because I hated him, but because I knew a lot about his skills, and the way he used them . I could always imagine that much better, than a figment of my imagination . I remembered that Nick, told me about such thing in the past . Nick once told me, that some experts can imagine their opponent, and train like this . It seems, Im able to do it as well I thought . It wasnt that hard to achieve . I knew Nick very well . Besides, he was the one who taught me most things . With my own improvements and the memories, I could simulate how Nick would move in my head . My attacks missed most of the time . I always found that, Nick would move in a weird manner or disappear, before my attacks could reach him . With time, I got better at it, but it lacked something . Although I knew Nick very well, I dont feel any hatred, evil or rage towards him . Maybe that is where Im going wrong? I thought . Nick was not my enemy, but a friend . Sh.e.l.ly was the same . There were no people, who I knew really well . I knew some stronger opponents, especially those, that I felt a lot of hate for . But, I usually didnt know much about their skills, or ways they fought . That woman who severed my arm… I know her skill but not much else . That Eterian… This could work I thought . The Eterian fought with me, and the fight was still fresh in my memory . I had many interactions and couple of duels with her . I also knew that she would betray, in order to live . I kind of know her character, and the type of creature she is . I also know, what skills she has . I dont think that I have to mention the hatred, I feel towards that b.i.t.c.h . This may actually work I thought . I decided to give it a try . I imagined the Eterian, standing in front of me, trying to kill me . It was hard . I couldnt do it whatsoever in the beginning, but the more I tried, the clearer her image became . After a long time, it felt as if I was really fighting against her . My imagination, couldve never done the same with Nick . So, it turns out that in order fo this to work, I have to really hate someone, or something . With this, I can practice my skills better I thought . But! This was not a solution to everything . It was true I could practice, but there was no diversity . It meant that, if I meet her again, I would be better able to predict, what she was up to, and better able to harm her . But, it wouldnt work on anyone else . This type of imaginary training is good, but also bad . Im imagining only 1 person or creature, as my opponent, while there are many different creatures and people . The same stuff, wouldnt work on that Sword Woman . The reason is simple, she has different set of skills, and different style I thought . The skill to imagine your opponent and improve oneself, seemed like a great idea . This type of training, had a hidden bad side though . When overused, it could actually do more harm than good . I will do this moderately . Just so, I can increase my proficiency with the skill, and take a more objective look . Learning how to deal with one person or creature, then using that same tactic broadly, will eventually lead me to my own demise I thought . With that, I headed east and trained, just like in the old days .