Chương 45: Chapter 44 - Alpha (VI)

It worked! Even though he had made the calculations, executing them was a different challenge entirely. There were countless variables at play, and the margin for error was minuscule. He had to perfectly extrapolate each attack's trajectory, calculate the timing difference between them, and then swing his sword so that it passed through both points at the exact moments needed—the delay between the attacks had to be accounted for with precise accuracy. It had been incredibly risky, no doubt.

Any worm that slipped through his defenses could have left a fatal hole in his body. But he trusted the numbers. He had simulated the scenario and had been preparing for this exact situation for a long time, refining his motor skills, his strike speed and angle, and his estimation of the attack points. All of that preparation had led to him developing a near-instinctive slash, precise in both space and time. His calm and serious facade couldn't hold as he smiled in satisfaction.

It felt just like running a big code after making risky modifications, only to have it compile perfectly without any errors. He glanced at his blade. Things were looking good, and he was now certain he was heading in the right direction. He knew he couldn't afford to get conceited, but he allowed himself to savor this small, yet incredibly important victory. It felt nice. It felt really nice. He crouched and absorbed the two orbs.

For some reason, he felt their effect more acutely than usual, even though it was practically insignificant. Maybe it was the satisfaction of a hard-earned reward. He grinned at the thought. Stage 1 - 1. 069% Stage 1 - 1. 070% He glanced up ahead. The dense tropical vegetation remained unchanged, but the challenge was clear: the density of worms was increasing. If they blindly pushed forward... one or two worms were manageable for now, but what about more? What if they were attacked non-stop by swarming worms?

He had a theoretical plan for what to do next, but translating it into reality was a completely different scenario. While two points could be addressed with a straight line, three or more would require a nonlinear path. This meant more variables and more calculations to find the optimal path and achieve the necessary time delays. But... his mental capacity, while currently unmatched compared to anyone back in society, was still lacking for such a complex task.

He reckoned he would need to achieve at least a 2% progress in Stage 1 before even attempting it, and even then, only for a limited number of points. He suddenly shook his head. Thinking about the future offered limited benefit in these trials. What he needed to focus on was the present and addressing the current challenge with the tools he had at his disposal. And those tools consisted of his sword, his EM waves, and... he glanced to his side: Abhijit.

"I… I don't know what to say really," Abhijit looked at him, his face a mix of emotions.

"I guess I got lucky with that strike," Alonso replied with a smile.

"But as we feared, the simultaneous attacks have become a reality, and relying on luck won't get us very far." Abhijit remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor, lost in thought. After a moment, he nodded.

"I think we should head back to the beach."

"Seems we're on the same page," Alonso agreed. If Abhijit hadn't suggested that, it would have raised concerns—either he had ulterior motives or wasn't suited for the challenges ahead. But Alonso knew that anyone who had made it through all the trials in the white rooms had to be resourceful and sharp.

"It's a shame we haven't found any source of food or water besides the coconuts. A fresh river with some fish would be nice," Alonso mused, his mouth watering at the thought.

"Well, a river would be fine. As for fish, well… I'm vegetarian," Abhijit admitted, a hint of awkwardness in his voice.

"Oh… well, yeah, that's fair. So, how about a river surrounded by tasty bushes full of berries, orange trees, and maybe some bananas?" Alonso chuckled, making Abhijit smile and shake his head. Suddenly, Abhijit's senses picked something up, something fast and approaching them. But before he could react, Alonso's sword flashed, severing an incoming worm in half. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Well, I guess this isn't the best place for a warm conversation," Alonso said, picking up the orb.

"Let's head back." Stage 1 - 1. 071% Abhijit took a deep breath. He needed time to practice. While he wasn't a conceited person, the feeling of inferiority didn't sit well with him. That said, he prided himself on being incredibly hard-working, and throughout his life, he had learned to tackle problems with a calm and composed nature, trusting his instincts and relying only on himself.

Right now, his intuition told him that if he didn't get at least as good as Alonso with his mind waves, he wouldn't have a place in the trials ahead.

"All good, Abhijit?" Alonso asked, glancing at him. Abhijit nodded, and they resumed their march back.

Abhijit crouched, picking up one of the orbs after slaying his 30th worm of the day. Even on the way back, they had been attacked their fair share of times.

"By the way, Alonso, I have a general sense of our location and how to get back, but do you have a way to precisely determine the direction we're moving in? Like, is there a way of knowing what's North, East, West, and South?" Alonso gave him a strange look before a smile spread across his face.

"I mean, if you don't want to answer, that's fine. We are strangers after all and—""There is a way," Alonso interrupted with a chuckle. Abhijit looked at him with curiosity as Alonso continued.

"Using our electromagnetic waves, we can actually sense the direction relative to the planet's magnetic field. Think of it like this: the Earth—or whatever planet or recreation of it this is—has a natural magnetic field that aligns roughly with the North and South poles. By sending out a wave and reading how it interacts with the field, you can detect slight variations in the wave's orientation as it returns to you." Abhijit's eyes widened with interest.

"So, it's like having an internal compass?"

"Exactly," Alonso replied, nodding.

"But it's a bit more complex. The sun's position can also help in verifying your direction during the day. By combining these methods, you can not only sense your heading but also adjust it accurately as you move. It's not foolproof, especially in areas with strong electromagnetic interference, but it's reliable enough for navigation in most cases." Abhijit's curiosity deepened.

"How do I actually get a feel for the planet's magnetic field using my mind waves? I've been able to detect objects and movements, but this seems… different." Alonso nodded thoughtfully.

"It is different, but not by much. The key is to focus less on detecting solid objects and more on the subtle background signals that are always present but usually overlooked. The planet's magnetic field is one of those signals. It's faint, but consistent." Abhijit listened intently as Alonso continued.

"Start by sending out a very low-frequency wave, something less focused than what you'd use to detect an object. Let it spread out more naturally, and then just listen—don't try to force anything. What you're looking for is a constant pull, almost like a gentle tug in a specific direction. That's the magnetic field. Once you can sense that, you can start to gauge its orientation relative to your position."

"Sounds subtle," Abhijit said, furrowing his brow.

"How do you know when you've found it?"

"You'll know," Alonso assured him.

"It feels different from everything else—like a steady, unwavering presence in the background. The first time you sense it, it might just feel like a gentle nudge or a soft current. But with practice, you'll start to distinguish the direction it's pulling from. North and South will have slightly different 'feels' to them. Once you get that down, you can orient yourself pretty reliably." Abhijit took in the explanation, nodding slowly.

"I see… I'll have to try it out."

"Don't worry if it takes a little time to get the hang of it," Alonso added.

"It's like tuning into a very quiet station on a radio—once you catch the signal, it becomes easier to lock onto it each time. And with practice, you'll be able to sense the magnetic field without even thinking about it." Abhijit tried to get a feel for the magnetic field, but his focus was suddenly broken by another worm heading his way. He quickly intercepted it, having roughly predicted its line of attack.

"Well, maybe this isn't the best place to practice. Why don't we keep moving? We shouldn't be far now," Alonso said casually, resuming the march. Abhijit crouched to absorb the orb, then stood still for a moment before following behind him. Time to practice? What about you, Alonso? When did you even have time to practice all this? How did you even figure out you could actually do it?

Abhijit considered going back to the beach mainly to practice more, using the insights he had gained from Alonso and the experience of fighting the worms. But he realized that Alonso would also be practicing—and likely at a rate far beyond his own. He silently cursed his career choice. Maybe I should have gone for a full PhD in Applied Physics instead. But he knew he had to work with what he had. Perhaps my skills will shine in another way in the future. Everyone has their strengths, right?

He looked up at the sun through the canopy of trees. It was beginning to set.