The day before the elimination round arrived.
Lemurian Hunter Academy was a madhouse. Students packed every training ground and practice arena. Steel rang nonstop. Instructors shouted corrections while freshmen drilled until their arms shook. Tomorrow would sort the winners from the rest.
Aaron had left campus before sunrise.
He cut through the Lemuria Hunter Market, eyes moving over the stalls. Merchants yelled over each other, voices raw. Fresh cores. Leather armor. Magic scrolls. The smell of hot metal and grilled meat hung thick in the air.
He wasn't after weapons. The Abyssfang Blade already hung at his hip. He needed skills.
A movement technique. Something fast enough to close distance or create it in a heartbeat. And a way to recover spirit energy mid-fight. His Spirit stat was still too low. Run dry at the wrong second and it was over.
Stall after stall gave him the same answer.
"Flash Step book? Too rich for you, kid."
Aaron kept walking.
Twenty minutes later a voice stopped him.
"Aaron?"
He turned.
Luna stood a few steps back. Simple combat gear. Hair tied tight. Her eyes held that steady look she always wore, but something sharper sat underneath today.
"Didn't think I'd run into you here," she said.
Aaron nodded. "Needed a couple things."
Luna stepped closer. "Gear?"
"Skill books."
She raised an eyebrow. "Today? With elimination tomorrow?"
"Preparation never hurts."
A merchant's voice cut in from the next stall.
"Young hunters! Skill books! Cheap and ready!"
They both turned.
The merchant was thin, middle-aged, sharp-eyed, smile too wide. A stack of worn books sat on his table.
Aaron walked up. "What've you got?"
The man grabbed two books fast and laid them out. "Just came in yesterday. Perfect timing."
He tapped the first. "Minor Flash Step Technique."
Then the second. "Basic Spirit Recovery Meditation."
Aaron's gaze sharpened. These were exactly what he needed.
Luna leaned in and scanned the pages. Her brow creased. "These are low-level."
The merchant waved his hands. "High-grade stuff costs a fortune. These are beginner versions. Good for academy kids like you."
Aaron flipped open the Flash Step book. Simple instructions. Channel spirit through the legs for short bursts. Nothing special on paper. But once the system touched it, that would change.
He closed the book. "I'll take both."
The merchant grinned. "Smart pick."
He started wrapping them. Then his eyes slid to Luna. They lit up.
"Oh… young lady. I didn't notice you properly before." His voice dropped, oily. "You're quite beautiful."
Luna's face went cold.
The merchant leaned in, winking at Aaron. "You know… I've also got a special stamina skill book. Real useful for couples. Keeps things going longer, if you catch my meaning."
Luna's hand came down hard on the table. The books jumped.
"Watch your mouth."
The merchant jerked back, laughing nervously, palms up. "Just joking. Just joking. No harm meant."
Aaron dropped the coins on the table without a word. The merchant handed over the wrapped books quick, still forcing a smile.
"Pleasure doing business."
Aaron tucked them into his inventory. He looked at Luna. "I'm done."
She nodded. They started walking out of the market. The crowd bumped around them, voices loud.
Luna glanced at him after a few steps. "New skills the day before the tournament. Bold move."
Aaron kept his pace steady. "Small upgrades can decide everything."
She was quiet a moment. Then her voice came lower. "Most people just drill what they already know. You're still hunting for edges."
Aaron didn't answer right away. The market noise faded as they turned onto a quieter street.
Luna stopped at the corner. Her fingers tightened on her bag strap. "You're different, Aaron. I saw it in the qualifiers. And now I'm starting to get why."
His eyes met hers. "Different doesn't keep you alive."
A small smile touched her lips, but it stayed cold. "No. It doesn't." She adjusted the strap, buying herself half a second. "Good luck tomorrow. Try not to surprise the whole academy at once."
Aaron gave a small nod. "You too."
She turned and walked toward the west district. Aaron watched her go for a moment, then headed back to the dorms. The two skill books sat heavy in his inventory. Tomorrow the bracket would drop. Zheng Luic at the top. Kang Yue right behind. Everyone else scrambling.
He rested his hand on the hilt of the Abyssfang Blade.
Two new skills.
One tournament.
The system would handle the rest.
And when the arena lights came on, the entire academy would finally see what those edges could do.