The final month of training that Leo had with Ben was easily his favorite of their entire duration together.
All the pieces, all the techniques that he had worked hard to individually master, slowly began to connect, taking a form as he finally birthed a fighting style that he could call his own.
If before, his hunting method was focused on him hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
He now found himself creating his own opportunities to strike as he charged at mountain lions in the open, took on entire packs and still managed to walk out scratchless, as he no longer did he simply rely on one single skill, but learned how to enhance all of his abilities through synergy.
Illusion, Deathly Precision and Untraceability became the backbone of his fighting style, with his hidden ace being the 'Mimic' skill which added a layer of unpredictability to him.
While it was useless against Ben, whose techniques he had already mastered, against new and varied opponents, it could be used as a hidden surprise that was sure to catch every opponent he faced off-guard.
—----
[ Learned Skills ]
• ( Mimic ) ( Unique ) ( Beginner )
• ( Vanish ) ( Legendary )( Beginner)
• ( The Kill Strike ) ( Legendary) (Beginner)
• ( Mirror World ) (Legendary) (Beginner)
• ( empty )
• ( empty )
—-----
Out of the six skill slots available to him, he had one unique skill and three legendary skills, giving him a robust base. However, with two skill-slots still being empty, Leo wondered if it was wise to use one of the system rewards and learn the mysterious semi-legendary skill scroll he had recently received or not?
On one hand, he did not wish to learn unknown skills that could be trash, however, on the other hand, he saw no advantage in keeping two of his skill slots empty, especially when he was heading in towards such a big tournament.
To learn or To not learn?
It was a dilemma that Leo found himself facing, everyday after his training with Ben ended, as while he understood that he was no match for Ben, the constant losing against him made Leo doubt if he was truly as unstoppable as Ben described him to be amongst peers his age.
'There are still fifteen days to go before I leave Mount Faulkner and head off towards the Royal Capital.
No point in worrying about this right now. I'll worry about this when we reach the city' Leo eventually decided, as he did not wish to take the gamble of learning an unknown skill, unless he was absolutely desperate and forced to learn it.
**************
( Meanwhile Lin Mu )
Lin Mu was chosen to be one of the three Night Guild's candidates chosen to participate in the grand tournament as she was fed all sorts of elixirs and forced to undergo hellish training to get stronger.
She was forced to train under inhumane conditions, where her sleep and rest was compromised, supplemented by refreshment potions, as she was forced to keep training for 72 to 100 hours non-stop before being given a slight break.
Because she displayed talent that was a cut above the rest of her peers, she was forcefully subjected to drinking horrendous medicines and underwent atrocious bone strengthening procedures that sapped the soul out of her will to become powerful.
Her eyes lost their usual lusture, her training performance dipped as she became a frustrated test subject rather than the vibrant assassin she once used to be.
" I don't want this…. I don't want to train like a madwoman. Please let me grow at my own pace".
" I want to sleep, I need to sleep…. My mind hurts, my muscles hurt, the refreshment potion won't let me sleep, please don't force me to drink it. Please-"
" It hurts, my bone hurts, why must you do this to me? Am I not enough already? I'm already the best amongst my peers, why subject me to this pain?"
Lin Mu complained relentlessly, however, all her complaints fell on deaf ears as her instructors simply did not care about her well being.
The guildmaster had decided that the next champion of the grand tournament had to be from the Night Guild, the pressure to create the next Ben Faulkner was mounting and unfortunately Lin Mu was the prime candidate.
While her training was nothing less than torture, the training of the other two selected candidates was even worse.
Steroids, performance enhancing drugs, monster blood, life essence burning pills. These were the sort of things that they were forced to consume as even at the cost of personal health and a long healthy lifespan, they were forced to grow stronger in a short time as the night guild groomed them for the grand tournament.
They never wanted these other candidates to become the face of the guild, however, they were being prepared as hidden weapons, who would break the bones off serious opponents, or silently kill other competitors that Dem Paltrow deemed too dangerous to be left alive.
They were simply the convoy that was supposed to clear the road for Lin Mu to win and were treated as the disposable assets that they were.
"This is too cruel ….. you need to stop, I won't take part in this madness anymore. I'll take my own life if you don't stop" Lin Mu said eventually, when she reached a point where she couldn't take it anymore, as that was the day Dem Paltrow showed his true colors and suppressed Lin Mu for once and for all.
Walking upto her, he slapped Lin Mu hard, as he grabbed her chin and stared straight into her eyes with there being not an ounce of mercy within them.
" I've tolerated your whining long enough…. You will not disobey the will of this guild anymore.
Do you even realize the sort of resources we are using to nurture you?
Do you even understand that there are thousands of talents that will kill for this exact same opportunity that you reject?
You have this opportunity because you are the best and because we are nurturing you to become the future of this organization!
But if you want to die, then sure, go ahead, kill yourself.
But know this well, if you die, or if you disobey your instructors anymore, I will personally ensure that the ENTIRE Mu clan, every branch and the main family will join you in the afterlife…" Dem Paltrow said, as he left Lin Mu in her pool of tears with a poisoned daggers, letting her make up her mind for once and for all today.