I decided to test that now; I tried to open 4 gates simultaneously where their exits would be facing towards the tree. But it didn't matter how much I tried I wasn't able to accomplish that feat.
So I chose to open a gate at a time as quickly as possible, I supplemented enough mana to them in order to prolong the time they stay open.
I started by creating a gate behind the tree, then at the front and lastly at the other two open sides. The gates were spaced from each other well enough that I was able to see the tree if I leaned to the side a little bit.
I took a few rocks and threw them at the gates one by one but in a small frame of time.
I heard the sound of the rocks hitting the tree trunk at almost the same time. I started analyzing what happened. But after time, I figured that this strategy won't be effective in real life combat. First of all, it would be very hard to be able to ambush someone in this, almost like, barrier or cage, unless it was a surprise attack. My opponent would probably try to escape just when the second gate appears.
Second of all, even if he gets trapped, he still has a way to escape, either by jumping out of the gates surrounding or by even stepping through the gate itself and that would be even scarier because he'd end up just next to me.
Third and the scariest thing, the gates would limit my field of view of the opposition. If he pulls something I didn't expect then I would be dead.
(hmm, maybe if I try to make the gates smaller in size, that would be helpful in terms of view and the opposition stepping inside the gate. And I would try making the gates, throwing the stones, cancelling the gate really quickly and then making another gate at another place. That would give the factor of unpredictability.) I started practicing that way. I would create a gate throw a stone through it, just when the rock goes out from the exit, I would close the gate and make a new one in another place.
If you were in the backyards, you would see a gate opening every second around a tree, sometimes from behind, sometimes from the sides. The gates would even appear above the tree throwing a rock at it that would hit its upper leaves.
For the day, I continued to make the gates appear at random locations around the tree. By the end of the day, the tree was full of scratches and scars. It took a hard beat down.
For the entire week, all I did was making the gates that way and fortunately I was now able to create the gates instantly. This kind of training helped me familiarize myself with the spell that it almost became natural for me. Even when the picture I had in my mind was very blurry, my intent and will leads the gate to the place I wanted.
I was happy in three weeks I managed to master a spell. One that was really helpful and versatile.
In that week, I changed the way I casted the spell, I would cast it while running, dodging things and changing directions or even traversing through some gates myself while still throwing the rocks.
I think I might be able to defeat some guys if I use this tactic without casting any gate that has great force output.
But my only concern now was the spell that I had to create. The new use of gate can't be considered a new spell, just a variation of its use.
I was thinking of ways to apply space magic, but still I didn't get any new idea.
But something came to my mind. It wasn't some kind of a new spell or something but it's just something used in a different way.
I searched for a way to apply that treadmill function on my body. I hoped that I would be able to improve my physical power that way.
My speed and hitting power would greatly improve. But one thing was worrying me. What if my body can't take the burden of the increase of speed?
I pondered for a while then decided to use it on my left arm but I would be adding a very small of work to my arm's movement.
My arm was covered in a white skin tight glow. It was something that resembled smoke that kept moving around my left arm.
When I confirmed that it was possible to accomplish that, I cancelled the spell.
I looked at the tree and I threw a punch at it. There was nothing visible on it, not even a dent. I pictured my left arm on a treadmill and the white smoke came back again. I threw a punch again, but when it made contact I felt a heavy pain.
I was worried about this. Unlike when you strengthen your body with mana, increasing the damage output with this technique didn't include the increase in physical resistance provided by mana circulation. It was just throwing a stronger punch. So I disregarded increasing my attack damage and instead decided to test the work output on my legs. Would I be able to run faster?
I put that to the test as I did the same thing to my legs, I made a step forward and the found myself almost crashing into the wall. From my previous position to the wall was almost a 20m distance.
One step took me that far and I headed straight to the wall. It hurt me a little bit but not to the point that I would fall unconscious like last time.
I held my head in pain and muttered:
"When I move at such high speeds, my eyes are not able to process all the changes that are occurring in the environment and all I end up seeing is a blur.
Well I think using this spell at the sound breaking barrier isn't an option this time until I can find a way to drastically increase my physical defense and eyes perception." (Ahh, but still I have to find a way to stop myself from colliding with things. It hurts so much) That's when another idea popped in my head. How can I stop my body from colliding with stuff? I just have to stop it from moving. And how can I do that?
I'll freeze myself in space.
I thought about it and tried to figure a way to seal myself or any other object at a specific place making me unable to move in any direction. And most importantly it had to be safe.
At first, a cage seemed good to me but it seemed dangerous to put myself in it.
I tried using it at a rock.
I took a rock and threw it in the air. Then I pictured the rock being trapped inside the cage, and nothing happened.
The rock still went down until it hit the floor. I wondered why nothing happened. I was sure that my picturing of the rock stopping in its place was perfect. I decided to try it once more but the moment I touched the rock, a whitish transparent cage appeared enveloping the rock.
It was a square shape and it resembled a box.
I could still see through the box and the rock was still visible and my hand was on it. I was a little afraid, what if my arm gets stuck there.
I try to get it outside and fortunately it did. I tried putting it back in but I wasn't able to do so. My hand would stop when touching the box.
I cancelled the spell, took the rock and did it again. It was successful. I managed to find a way to seal things in space.
I tried several times and it went as usual. I even tried it at the tree. And surprisingly even its leaves that were rustling in the wind didn't move anymore.
An idea came to my mind and I decided to try it.
I enveloped my hand in mana and pushed it at the barrier sealing the tree. It made it in but I felt like my hand was travelling through a very dense liquid.
Well that was a problem solved.
But the only question remaining now was; would I be able to cast this spells on live people? And if the answer is yes, would there be any kind of harm to them or no?
I was really excited with this new spell it was really helpful.
I continued today's training and practiced more the Space seal spell and the gate spell.
When it was time for dinner, I asked dad if he could get me some live rats. He asked me of the reason and I told him about the spell and the experiments I was going to make.
He was very happy that I made my first spell at this early age and promised me that he'd get me many rats tomorrow.
And just like that I went to sleep with a smile on my face thinking about how life would be from now on.