The final part to learning [Shadowbind] was the strength test.
The whole point of learning the Shadowbind technique was to immobilize one's enemy and unless the created binding chains were not strong enough to immobilize the enemy, then it did not matter whether the shadow was 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional, as it was simply useless.
Hence, Leo began testing the strength of various types of chains, and after a few initial tests, he quickly noticed that the internal mana skeletal structure he formed within each chain directly influenced its overall strength.
The first day of testing yielded mixed results—he managed to create a chain strong enough to lift a weight of approximately 5 kilograms off the surface and while this was a promising start, it was far from sufficient for the system to acknowledge his mastery of the [Shadowbind] technique.
Determined, Leo spent hours experimenting with different configurations of Mana within the chains. He tried varying the density of the Mana framework, altering the pattern in which the Mana threads were woven, and even adjusting the speed of Mana circulation.
Each variation produced different results, but none were quite what he needed.
One of his early attempts to lift a heavier object ended in particularly spectacular failure.
After managing to lift 7kg off the ground, Leo directly went for a 20kg pull, as he focused his energy on a large stone weighing around 20 kilograms, forming the chains as tightly as possible around it.
With a surge of effort, he attempted to lift it off the ground, and for a moment, it seemed to work—the stone began to shift—but then, with a snapping sound, the shadow chains shattered, causing the stone to drop heavily back to the ground.
The impact reverberated through the area, and Leo felt a wave of frustration wash over him.
"I need to do more," he muttered to himself, realizing that his current approach wasn't enough. The chains had held for only a brief moment before collapsing under the strain, indicating that the structure he'd created wasn't stable or strong enough to handle such a load.
Undeterred, Leo delved deeper into the mechanics of his Mana framework.
Through trial and error, he began to notice patterns—certain configurations allowed the Mana to distribute weight more evenly, reducing the strain on any single point of the chain.
He also discovered that by layering the Mana threads more intricately, he could increase the overall durability of the chains, however, most impressively, he realized all this within the passage of hours and not days, as the progress he made was absolutely rapid.
His mind was sharpening immensely with the passage of time and his critical thinking had reached limits which the old Leo could not even dream off.
If Leo tried to learn Shadowbind before he had started practicing the mind meditation scroll, he would have been unable to master it even under a year, however, with his improved brain function, he could see every flaw, every mistake that he made and not repeat it twice to make rapid improvements.
Nonetheless, either due to miscalculations or because he was pushing the limits of what he could manage, Leo did face failures often, with one particularly frustrating moment occurring when he tried to lift a stack of logs weighing around 15 kilograms.
He carefully formed the chains, reinforcing them with everything he had learned so far, and began to lift, and to his joy the logs even rose a few inches off the ground—only to crash down seconds later as the chains unraveled under the pressure.
However, each failure brought new insights and new direction for Leo to work on as Leo realized that it wasn't just about strength, but also about balance.
The chains had to distribute the weight they were lifting evenly across their entire structure, or else they would fail, and with this in mind, he refined his technique, focusing on creating a more balanced and resilient framework.
Over time, Leo's efforts began to pay off, as the chains he created grew stronger and more capable of lifting increasingly heavier weights without breaking.
He felt a surge of satisfaction when, after a couple days of intense practice, he managed to lift a weight of 25 kilograms and hold it aloft for several seconds before gently lowering it back down.
However, surprisingly even after he managed to lift 25kg convincingly, the system did not acknowledge his mastery over the skill.
In real life, a rope capable of withstanding 25kg of tensile load was already considered pretty strong.
Leo could convincingly believe that if he tied four such ropes around the feet of an opponent, or packed them like a cocoon, nobody would be able to break free from it, however, for the system it did not seem enough.
30 kg…40 kg…50 kg!
No matter how much weight Leo was able to lift, the system refused to acknowledge his mastery, perplexing Leo on what he was missing?
Frustrated, he read and re-read the skill manual to learn Shadowbind, hoping to find answers within it, however, it contained nothing useful.
In the end, he needed to continue refining the strength of his ropes till the 100kg mark, when the system finally acknowledged his mastery over the skill.
[ System Notification:- Congratulations player 'TheBoss' for mastering the skill 'ShadowBind' to (basic) mastery.
Casting this skill will now be easier and the chances of failure will reduce significantly ]
The system notification said, as finally Leo saw a new skill added to his character panel's skill slot.
It took him 45 days to master [Shadowbind] and although during this period he also focused on other tasks, such as building the foundations of the 'Uprising' guild and improving his mastery over his other existing skills, his primary objective remained firmly centered on mastering this technique.
With only 105 days now left in his isolation, Leo knew that he needed to push harder than ever before, as 105 days was a tight timeline to reach the next stage, the fabled realm of 'masters'.