Burst

A young man was sitting on his dusty coach, lost in thought as he stared at the old book in his hands.

A variety of emotions flickered across his face, however, one emotion stood out the most - satisfaction.

~~~ Burst { G } ~~~

A skill that allows its user to temporarily boost their speed and agility by a minor realm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Channeling Mana through his fingertips, he directed the energy into the book, watching as it slowly illuminated with a soft, otherworldly glow and became light particles that scattered through the air.

A small frown spread across his face as the pain of knowledge being imprinted onto his consciousness washed over him.

In this world, there is only one way to learn a skill - acquire it through a skill book. Of course, instantly getting the desired skill through the book was convenient, but it also came with a twist - the pain of absorbing massive amounts of information in a small period of time was unavoidable.

The skills also had no mastery levels like Weapon Arts did which meant that once a skill was acquired, it would work at its full potential immediately.

"Mhmmm... The preparations are complete."

Leaning against the couch I let out a sigh of relief.

More than a few days had passed since we had our first club meeting and tomorrow we would finally be going on our club outing.

I was a little nervous since I'd ordered the 'Burst' skill and it hadn't arrived until now, but finally, the skill book was in my possession.

With this, I believe that I am ready for the first major event of the novel.

During the last few days I also bought a new sword because my old one's blade had become dull and it was time for an upgrade.

All that could be done was done.

However, it didn't mean that I would sit around and relax

"I should go test out my new skill."

Rising from the couch, I stretched my limbs and walked out of my apartment, going straight toward my private training spot in the northern courtyard.

As I moved through the campus, many students were present, most of them doing things that teenagers typically do. It was quite a funny scene, especially when I know that most of them would most-likely die in the future.

The first war with Demons was approaching and none of the people knew that. If they knew the impending danger that awaited them, would they live their lives differently?

'Probably.'

Staring at the youth engrossed in their own little worlds, I shook my head and pushed that thought aside.

Soon enough, I reached the courtyard.

The air was crisp and there was a slight breeze rustling through the trees. The place was bathed in the soft, golden hues of the evening sun, casting long shadows across the grass. It was the perfect setting for a practice session.

With a deep breath, I focused my mind, letting the mana within me surge and flow through my veins.

As I invoked the 'Burst' skill, an electrifying sensation surged through my body, a surge of power that seemed to surge from within. Suddenly, the world around me slowed down, the rustling leaves suspended in midair, and the distant chatter of students muted to a faint buzz.

I felt lighter, swifter, as if my very being had been infused with the essence of speed itself. A surge of adrenaline pumped through my veins, and a grin spread across my face.

Swish...

With newfound agility, I dashed across the courtyard, each step a blur as I weaved effortlessly between the trees and benches. The wind whipped past my face, tousling my hair as I pushed the limits of my enhanced speed.

However, amidst the exhilaration, I maintained focus, honing control over this newfound ability. I practiced sharp turns, sudden stops, and rapid maneuvers, aiming to master the art of swift movement without losing precision.

Moments later, as the effects of the 'Burst' skill began to wane, I slowed to a stop, my chest heaving with exhilaration.

"It's not bad..."

I muttered to myself, brushing my hair away from my sweaty forehead. Having speed, almost a whole rank above my G+ Rank was something that I could definitely utilize in the upcoming battle against the Demons.

Although it consumed a significant amount of Mana and had a limited duration, the skill had the potential to turn the tide of a battle in our favor.

"However, I need more practice."

Channeling my Mana once again, I activated the skill for the second time and resumed my training, pushing myself to go faster and refine my movements.

This time, I also took out my sword, swinging it as I darted through the courtyard, practicing my swordplay in tandem with my enhanced speed.

I had to ensure that I could seamlessly integrate my newfound speed with my combat skills, maximizing the advantages it offered in battle.

Even a second of hesitation could be the difference between death and victory in the real battle.

And I was willing to put in the extra time and effort to make sure that I could harness this newfound speed effectively.

Some might say I am a hard worker, however, I disagree.

I just want to survive and this was the only way to do it.

Get strong.