The following days passed in a blur, as Leo quickly adjusted to his new routine.
Now a member of the Rodova Circuit Team, he was exempt from attending regular classes until the tournament concluded, leaving him with nothing but relentless combat practice during the day, and hours of tape analysis with the team each night.
Since both he and Su Yang were newcomers to the circuit world, they had an overwhelming backlog of footage to review — recordings of previous matches, friendly spars, and countless encounters gathered over the past year, showcasing the techniques, habits, and quirks of every major opponent they might face in the upcoming circuits.
There was no denying the value such tapes provided, as there were countless moves to catalogue, fighting styles to dissect, and technical patterns to memorize.
Yet, despite understanding the strategic edge this information could offer, Leo couldn't help but find Rodova's almost religious dependence on it unsettling.
"You see that move, Skyshard?" Enzo, the team's weakest member, pointed out enthusiastically as he replayed a particular clip for the third time. "That's called [Double Jump]. It lets the caster turn their second step into a mid-air leap after activation. The key is to watch for the blue glow beneath the soles—it's always the giveaway."
He leaned in, eyes serious. "If you ever face Matilda, be wary. She's ended dozens of fights by baiting opponents into misreading it, following up with an overhead slash to the skull."
Leo simply shook his head, unimpressed.
"What if she uses a secondary skill to simulate the blue glow? Or worse—uses an illusion technique to hide it altogether?" Leo replied, tone calm but sharp. "Yes, this information is valuable—but placing too much faith in it is no different than handing your opponent the script to your downfall."
His eyes lingered on the paused frame of the footage.
"Information is like a dagger," he continued. "Sharp when used properly, but in the hands of an amateur—it'll only end up cutting the one holding it."
Leo warned, as the other team members apart from Yu Shen and Su Yang scoffed at his words.
"We have the second coming of Captain Shen in these first years.
They don't understand the importance of tactical data!"
"Just memorize the tapes Skyshard, you'll thank us after it helps you win one of your fights—"
"You must grasp every advantage you can before a fight of this magnitude, this is more important than even the studies you do in class—"
The other team members said, as Leo let out a deep sigh but kept his mouth shut.
He was not debating the usefulness of the tapes here.
He knew they were useful himself.
However, what he was trying to warn the team about was their over-reliance on it.
As while discussing the tapes they did not even seem to be willing to discuss the various different angles where this prior information could be turned against them.
Out of the corner of his eye, Leo briefly caught Su Yang glancing at him with a subtle smirk, while Yu Shen silently nodded to himself, both clearly understanding the deeper point Leo was trying to make — even if the others were too caught up in data worship to notice.
—------
Just like that, the final day before the Rodova Military Academy Circuit Team's departure arrived, marking the beginning of their final preparations.
And on this day, as mandated not only by Captain Yu Shen but also by every instructor and staff member involved with the academy, the entire team was strictly forbidden from engaging in any form of combat practice or physical strain, as they were instead ushered toward the academy's famed massage and recovery wing for a full-body recharge, aimed at resetting them to their absolute peak.
From morning until late afternoon, each team member underwent a meticulous series of treatments, starting with a mana-infused deep tissue massage performed by specialized therapists, whose expert hands worked in tandem with mana circulation techniques to loosen even the most stubborn knots buried deep within their muscles.
Tensions they hadn't even realized they were carrying were released, as their bodies gradually unwound, leaving them feeling lighter with every passing hour.
Following the massages, the team was led into the nourishment baths — massive stone pools filled with rare herbs, monster essences, and alchemical solutions designed to rejuvenate strained muscles and replenish inner vitality. The warm liquid seeped into every pore, soaking away the residual fatigue that months of hard training had left behind.
Finally, once they were fully relaxed, the team was guided into the final phase — where professional healers carefully administered potion-based healing, followed by precise deep-tissue energy manipulation, smoothing over internal scars and micro-damage that would otherwise linger beneath the surface.
By the time Leo stood up from the last treatment, he felt as though every inch of his body had been repaired, and reforged into something brand new.
As for the first time in as long as he could remember, there was not a single muscle that felt sore, no stiffness in his joints, no lingering aches dulling his senses — only lightness, as though he could sprint across the entire academy without feeling the slightest burn.
It was as if his body had undergone a full-body servicing, leaving him sharper, cleaner, and more prepared than ever.
"Remember to sleep for at least eight good hours tonight. Sleep is crucial, and while you might feel physically relaxed after today, let me assure you—your mind is not," Yu Shen instructed firmly near the evening, as the team members dispersed toward their dorms for one final night of rest before departing for the circuits at dawn.
His words were heeded well by most, as the team, lulled by the day's recovery treatments, drifted into deep, peaceful slumbers.
However, unfortunately for Leo, peaceful sleep was a luxury he would not enjoy tonight.
That night, instead of eight hours of well-earned rest, he found himself trapped once more within a 'Ghost Sleep.'
Dragged helplessly into the fragmented memories of the past, Leo watched yet again as one of his ancestors was relentlessly hunted by a group of unknown pursuers.
Yet, this time, it wasn't the familiar silhouette of a male warrior fighting for survival.
As for a change—it was a woman who seemed to be the main character of this episode.