I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 147: 147:Space Slash.

’There.’

Silver opened his eyes.

"Three," he quietly said, gesturing with his eyes.

Ravenna followed his line of sight.

"The garage?"

He nodded.

"One inside with two behind the collapsed wall; they haven’t noticed us yet and seem distracted."

She nodded, her guard increasing.

"Okay, let’s confirm them."

They approached cautiously. Neither rushed into the open. The lessons from both Shawn and their recent spar remained fresh in Silver’s mind.

The two of them moved along the edge of the parking area, using abandoned vehicles and broken concrete barriers as cover.

As they closed the distance, a low growl echoed from within the ruined garage. A moment later, a wolf-like beast slowly emerged.

Its gray fur was patchy and scarred, exposing thick muscles beneath weathered skin. Jagged fangs protruded from its mouth as yellow eyes fixed upon the approaching contractors. Another stepped out behind it, then a third.

Silver immediately recognized them.

Tier One fang Wolves.

Smaller than the pack they had encountered previously, but still dangerous in close combat. Ravenna rested her hand on her sword.

"I’ll take the one on the right."

Silver shook his head slightly.

"Leave them to me."

She looked at him.

"You want to train; I want to improve that one skill."

She immediately understood.

"Space Slash."

Silver nodded.

"If I want to increase my rank, I’ll have to use it frequently; if I don’t completely focus on it now... It’ll take longer to level it up."

Ravenna gave a small smile.

"Then I’ll support you. If you need any help, then tell me."

The wolves didn’t wait any longer. With synchronized snarls, all three charged.

Silver inhaled deeply. Space gathered instinctively around his blade. A faint distortion appeared before him.

[Space Slash Lv1 activated.]

An invisible blade compressed the surrounding space before slicing forward.

The nearest wolf barely had time to react. The attack passed cleanly across its shoulder, carving a deep wound before continuing into the cracked wall behind it. The beast stumbled sideways with a pained howl, badly injured.

Silver immediately stepped forward before the second wolf reached him. This time he met it with his sword. The wolf’s claws scraped harmlessly against the flat of his blade before he redirected its momentum and kicked it away.

Behind him, Ravenna intercepted the third wolf before it could exploit the opening. She didn’t attack immediately; instead, she simply blocked its charge and redirected it several meters away, giving Silver the room he wanted.

"Thanks."

"Focus."

Silver nodded. He wasn’t trying to finish them quickly but trying to use Space Slash as often as reasonably possible. The familiar distortion appeared.

[Space Slash Lv1]

The injured wolf collapsed this time as the compressed blade struck its neck.

A translucent notification appeared.

[Space Slash Lv1]

{Proficiency Increased.}

Silver barely glanced at it; instead, he shifted toward the next beast. He activated another Space Slash; this one grazed the charging wolf’s flank. The beast recovered almost instantly.

Silver frowned.

’My aim was off. It seems moving targets are slightly different’

He adjusted his stance. The next attack landed much cleaner, slicing the wolf in half. The wolf collapsed moments later when its momentum ran out.

Only the last remained. It circled cautiously; unlike the others, this one had begun treating the invisible attacks with caution. Even beasts learned.

Silver deliberately lowered his sword. The wolf lunged, thinking it was an opening. At the last possible instant...

[Space Slash Lv1]

The invisible blade met it head-on, passing cleanly through the body before it could even react. The beast’s momentum carried it directly into the attack before collapsing several meters away.

Silver slowly exhaled. He had used five Space Slashes, including the partial hits. His head already felt slightly heavier.

Ravenna noticed immediately.

"You’ve used it several times already."

"I’m alright."

"You sure?"

He nodded.

"So far."

Together they collected the three beast cores before continuing deeper into the abandoned facility.

The garage itself was mostly empty. Broken tools littered the floor while rusted vehicle frames remained where mechanics had abandoned them years ago. Nature had slowly invaded through holes in the roof. Small plants now grew between cracked concrete.

Silver extended his Spatial Sense again.

[Spatial Sense Lv2 Activated.]

His breathing slowed. The familiar pressure settled behind his eyes.

"There are more."

"How many?"

"...Five."

Ravenna quietly unsheathed her sword once more.

"They’re spread out."

Silver pointed toward several different sections of the building.

"Two upstairs, one behind that office, and the others outside."

She looked impressed.

"Your perception has improved."

"I’ve been practicing."

The two carefully advanced. This time the beasts attacked separately rather than together. The first rushed from behind a doorway.

[Space Slash Lv1]

The invisible blade struck cleanly across its chest; it collapsed almost immediately.

[Space Slash]

{Proficiency Increased.}

The notification disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Silver moved without stopping. Another beast emerged from a broken window.

[Spatial Slash Lv1]

The compressed attack severed a supporting beam instead of striking cleanly. The beast avoided the worst of it. Silver immediately followed with his sword, finishing it before it could recover.

"...Still not precise enough."

He clicked his tongue. His control wasn’t consistent. That was exactly why he had chosen this mission. He needed repeated practice, correction, and improvement.

More movement echoed overhead. The remaining beasts finally emerged together. Three Tier One wolves, followed by something larger.

A broad-shouldered beast stepped from the upper floor before dropping heavily onto the cracked concrete below. Unlike the wolves, this creature possessed thick armored scales covering its forearms and shoulders.

Tier Two.

Silver recognized it immediately.

An Iron Lizard.

It released a low hiss before charging.

Silver smiled.

"Perfect."

Ravenna glanced toward him.

"You actually sound excited."

"I need the experience."

Without waiting another moment, Silver gathered space around his blade once again. The distortion surrounding the weapon felt smoother than before.

[Space Slash Lv1]

The compressed blade crossed the distance instantly. This time, the attack struck directly across the creature’s reinforced shoulder. Instead of stopping completely, the invisible blade carved halfway through the scales before finally dissipating.

The Iron Lizard roared in pain.

Silver’s eyes lit up.

"It penetrated further."

He had adjusted the angle to reduce wasted movement, compressing the attack slightly more efficiently. It was working. The wolves reached them first.

Ravenna stepped forward, her sword flashing in a graceful arc as she intercepted one before calmly redirecting another away from Silver, buying him time exactly as they’d discussed.

Silver unleashed another Space Slash, then another. The repeated strain gradually built behind his eyes. His breathing grew heavier, sweat formed along his forehead despite the cool afternoon air.

Another notification appeared.

[Space Slash]

Proficiency Increased.

Followed only moments later by another.

[Mental Capacity]

Proficiency Increased.

+2

Silver smiled despite the growing fatigue. His repeated use was paying off. The fifth consecutive use left him momentarily unsteady, his vision blurring for the briefest instant.

The notification immediately appeared.

[Warning.]

[Mental Energy Consumption Exceeding Recommended Levels.]

[Continued Use May Result in Mental Exhaustion.]

Silver dismissed it almost immediately.

"...One more."

Ravenna noticed the brief hesitation.

"Silver."

"I’m alright."

"You don’t look alright."

"I can still fight."

Before she could respond, the wounded Iron Lizard lunged once more. Silver steadied his breathing, focusing entirely on the space before him.

[Space Slash Lv1]

This time, the invisible blade cut cleanly through the beast’s already weakened defenses, copping it’s head off. The Iron Lizard staggered forward another two steps before collapsing heavily onto the broken concrete.

Silver lowered his sword. His breathing had become noticeably heavier now. The pressure inside his head refused to fade. Even so... A faint smile appeared across his face.

He could feel it. Space Slash was becoming more natural. He wasn’t there yet, but with every battle he was getting closer to the next breakthrough.