The allure of the newly unlocked "Draconic Combat Arts (Tier 1 – Shadow Scale)" was a potent draw for Kai. The day after his level-up, he found himself back in the secluded training sublevel of Sub-Station Epsilon, the System's interface for this new skill tree glowing in his vision. It was less a tree and more a constellation of nascent abilities, linked to his Shadow Scale Draconic Anima. Most were still dormant, requiring higher Anima Affinity, specific evolutionary triggers, or more skill points.
However, a few initial Tier 1 "Arts" were available for unlocking with his single remaining skill point:
[Shadow-Coil Strike (Basic):] Cost: 1 Skill Point. A swift, deceptive Anima-infused strike that utilizes principles of draconic agility and misdirection. Minor shadow energy wreathes the attacking limb, slightly obscuring its true trajectory and adding minor impact force.
[Scaled Guard (Reactive):] Cost: 1 Skill Point. Enhances the instinctual defensive properties of Dermal Plating, allowing for faster, more energy-efficient partial scale manifestation in response to an imminent blow. Reduces Anima cost for reactive blocking.
[Draconic Momentum (Passive):] Cost: 1 Skill Point. Improves balance and momentum control during rapid movement or complex maneuvers, drawing on inherent draconic physiology. Reduces stamina cost for acrobatic actions.
Kai considered them carefully. "Scaled Guard" would complement his "Dermal Plating Manifestation" skill. "Draconic Momentum" would enhance his already impressive agility. But "Shadow-Coil Strike"… that sounded like a true offensive technique, something that went beyond his current brawling style, something uniquely draconic. It also mentioned "shadow energy," the first hint of an elemental aspect to his Anima beyond just physical transformation.
'System, allocate 1 Skill Point to Shadow-Coil Strike (Basic).' [Skill Point Allocated. New Draconic Combat Art Acquired: Shadow-Coil Strike (Basic – Rank 1/3).] [Shadow-Coil Strike (Basic – Rank 1): Upon activation, the next unarmed strike (fist, elbow, kick) is infused with unstable shadow Anima. This manifests as a thin, distorting aura around the striking limb, making its exact path harder to discern by opponents with standard visual perception. Impact deals an additional 5% Anima damage (Shadow Type). Anima Core Cost: Low. Cooldown: 3 seconds.]
A new understanding, a set of intricate muscle memory pathways, seemed to download directly into his mind and body. He could feel how to execute the strike, how to channel the Anima, how to let the nascent shadow energy flow. It was exhilarating and deeply unsettling.
He spent the next hour practicing the "Shadow-Coil Strike" against the battered training drone Roric had provided. At first, his attempts were clumsy. He'd strike, and a faint wisp of something like dark smoke would trail from his fist, but the misdirection aspect was minimal. The drone, with its simple optical sensors, still tracked his movements easily.
[System Feedback: Shadow-Coil Strike – Inefficient Anima Channeling. Misdirection ineffective against non-biological sensor suite. Focus on fluidity and the 'coiling' aspect of the strike's initiation.]
"Coiling aspect," Kai muttered, frustrated. He tried again, focusing not just on the strike itself, but on the wind-up, the subtle shift of weight, the way a striking serpent or dragon might gather its power. This time, as his fist shot out, the shadowy aura around it seemed to flicker just before impact, creating a momentary visual stutter. The drone's targeting laser wavered for a fraction of a second before readjusting.
Better. He practiced relentlessly, the low Anima cost allowing for repeated attempts. Slowly, he began to get a feel for it, the way the shadow energy needed to be an extension of his intent, not just a flashy add-on. His Anima Core Stability dipped to 85% by the time he finished, the constant channeling taking a toll despite the "Anima Channeling Efficiency" skill.
School that day was a trial in patience. His mind was still replaying the "Shadow-Coil Strike," analyzing its mechanics. Leo tried to engage him in a debate about the latest MBL upsets, but Kai's responses were monosyllabic. Sera Kaelen was present, her quiet, observant gaze occasionally sweeping across the classroom. Once, during a lull in Mr. Harken's lecture, their eyes met briefly. She held his gaze for a beat longer than usual, a faint, unreadable expression on her face, before turning back to her notes. Kai felt an odd jolt, the System helpfully noting: [Physiological Response: Minor adrenaline spike. Subject Sera Kaelen's prolonged eye contact registered as potential social dominance challenge or expression of heightened interest. Data inconclusive.] He mentally told the System to shut up.
His Daily Quest was "Advanced Sensory Discrimination," requiring him to identify three specific, faint chemical traces in the school's notoriously polluted air. His enhanced Perception, now further boosted by his attribute point allocation, made the task surprisingly easy, earning him +40 EXP and a "Neutralizing Agent (Trace Contaminants)" consumable.
That evening, as Umbra, he prepared for another hunt. Roric had identified a small-time shakedown crew called the "Rust Ravens" who had been aggressively targeting unlicensed street vendors near the District 6 border. They were known for their gratuitous violence. A perfect target to test his new Draconic Combat Art.
He donned the mask, the dark cloak. The persona of Umbra settled over him, a familiar weight. Tonight, the shadows wouldn't just conceal him; they would become part of his strike.