(Rodova Military Academy, Skill Selection Archive)
Leo thought about every skill option very seriously.
He wasn't the kind to pick based on instinct or flashy descriptions, as every move he made had to fit into the overall puzzle of who he was building himself to become.
The mobility options floated before him again.
[Spectral Pivot Flow] was tempting at first.
The ability to create perception lag, blur his movements, and throw off enemy counters would be invaluable.
But the more Leo considered it, the more doubts surfaced.
'[Thousand Phantom Strikes] already leaves behind afterimages.
Can't I just use it to achieve a similar effect in battle?' he mused, frowning slightly.
He didn't want redundancy.
He wanted evolution.
Not to mention, Spectral Pivot Flow was physically taxing.
Repeated pivots stressed the joints, ankles, and knees far more than traditional footwork.
If he overused it during a prolonged fight, it could backfire horribly.
No...
He needed something that granted positional control without risking cumulative damage to his own body.
Which was why his gaze shifted to [Solar Rift Leap].
Of the three options, Solar Rift Leap was probably the easiest one for him to pass over, as not only did the move have a long activation time, but it also compromised his stealth everytime he used it.
The whole point of him repositioning mid combat, was to gain a positional advantage against his opponent, and to take them on by surprise, however, if a skill compromised on the 'surprise' element of it, it was as good as useless.
Which was why he was left with the final option.
[Stormflash Traverse].
This technique allowed him to make, chained short-range flashes between mental anchor points.
It facilitated instant movement that bypassed linear motion entirely, which was perfect for weaving through enemy lines or closing gaps against long-range attackers.
If mastered, it could even be used aggressively— flashing straight into an enemy's blindspot mid-attack.
Yes, the mana consumption was heavy.
But Leo had already tempered his mana capacity beyond most of his peers.
And overall he felt like it was better to risk high mana consumption than tear muscles and hobble himself mid-fight.
'It's dangerous,' he admitted to himself.
But then again, it was the best option of the bunch, and hence in the end he decided to go with it.
[Please confirm skill selection 'Stormflash Traverse']
[Yes]
[No]
The data slate asked him, as Leo locked in the selection with a firm tap of his thumb, before swiping the slate to bring up the restraint skills.
—----------
The choice for restraint skills was even harder than movement ones, as [Heaven's Chains], [Bone Prison], and [Astral Hook Bind] were all good options, with each offering incredible value depending on the situation.
Heaven's Chains was undoubtedly powerful.
The sheer momentum of celestial chains slamming down could pin fast movers like Yu Shen or Gu Ramos in place for a kill-shot.
But the 1.5-second charge-up time nagged at him.
Against high-speed opponents or in chaotic battles, even a single second of delay was an eternity.
And Leo didn't like skills that left him exposed.
Also, its failure to activate in small rooms without high ceilings was a major drawback, as it was impossible to always be fighting in the open, making it slightly impractical.
In contrast, Bone Prison was better suited against bruisers and heavy melee types.
Its reactive hardening made it a nightmare for berserkers to muscle through.
But… Leo wasn't afraid of brute force fighters to begin with.
With his speed, perception, and precision, it was the swift, slippery enemies that truly endangered him.
Which brought him to Astral Hook Bind.
A gravity-manipulation skill that didn't fully immobilize… but ruined muscle control subtly, cruelly.
It wouldn't matter if the enemy was faster than him.
Once hooked, their fine motor control would deteriorate.
Their dodges would become sluggish.
Their parries would become delayed.
Their attacks would lose sharpness.
And in that gap, Leo would strike.
He read through the cons carefully again.
High targeting precision needed. The hooks must land cleanly on joints for full effect.
And this was one of the cons that made him feel like he could work around.
As having [Absolute Vision] and high fine motor skills, Leo felt confident in his ability to land the hooks.
'I don't need a flashy trap.
I think Astral Hook Suits me better.' Leo thought, as he input his second and final choice into the system.
—-----
As he finalized both selections, Leo felt a small surge of satisfaction bloom in his chest.
[Stormflash Traverse] for instant, unpredictable movement.
[Astral Hook Bind] for silently wrecking enemy balance.
Both risky.
Both (Divine) grade.
Both perfect for him.
He stood up slowly, handing the slate back to the archive assistant.
"These two," he said simply.
As the assistant bowed deeply.
"Understood, Mr. Skyshard. Your scrolls will be retrieved at once."
—--------
(Meanwhile, in Principal Alric's office)
Ladina Horizon personally showed up at Rodova Military Academy, when Principal Alric sent a letter of distress to the Horizon Dominion merchant group.
Ladina, just like Alric, was not at all amused by Leo's decision to leave the academy early, as he was currently the hottest prospect across the cosmos.
Not only was he the best emerging fighter from last year's circuit's, but he was also the child who survived the Evil Cult assault, making him the talk of the town everywhere.
Ladina had big plans for Leo once his semester ended and the gloom surrounding the terrorist attack faded from public consciousness .
As once the gloom faded, Horizon could capitalize on his popularity, and launch a massive ad campaign with his face plastered everywhere, however, his sudden decision to join the Black Serpents put that all in jeopardy.
"What's gotten into the boy? Does he not care for money or fame? Does he not understand how hot of a prospect he is right now?
Everyone will be expecting to see him in the circuits next year, and the anticipation of his return will only make his fanbase follow him that much closer throughout the year.
Very few, if any, first year fighters receive as much attention as that kid, and he wants to just leave it all behind to become a sell-sword?" Ladina vented, as she couldn't believe the level of stupidity behind Leo's decision.
"And for what? To repay some debt of honor?
Who even cares about honor in this day and age?
That kid has a few nuts loose, that's for sure–" Alric added, as he poured himself and Ladina the most expensive glass of wine he had.
*Clink*
*Sip*
The two clinked glasses before taking a sip, as Ladina paced around the room, thinking of a strategy to blackmail Leo onto the right path.
She did have some interesting details on his past that no-one else was privy to, however, she wasn't sure if she wanted to use that card yet.
As far as possible, she wanted to keep things cordial between herself and her newest top star, and not make him feel like the Horizon group was holding him hostage in this relationship.
However, if civil talk failed, she did intend to use his past against him, as she was simply not ready to let Leo destroy his career so early by making wrong life choices.