OLD-WORLD EXTRA

The weight of the decision pressed down on him, a weight he hadn't felt in so long.

Emir had assumed himself to be used to such life-altering decisions, but apparently not.

Each ability had its strengths and weaknesses, but none seemed to fit perfectly into the path he was trying to forge.

There had to be something more balanced, something that wouldn't just give him an edge in one or a few specific scenarios but would be versatile enough to adapt to various challenges.

He went through many abilities, their power undeniable, but they lacked the finesse and control he sought.

They didn't align with his vision for the future. Too direct, too straightforward.

AOE abilities were the same, like Falling Threads, which had caught his attention earlier, and for good reason.

Such wide-area attacks would be devastating in large-scale battles, but he had to admit that it would overlap too much with his Gates of Eternity.

The redundancy made it less appealing, and he couldn't afford to waste a spot on something The essentially already had covered.

Basically, it was a valuable ability, just not for him.

Next, two abilities were highlighted in his mind, {Aetheric Ripplle} and {Aetheric Anchor,} but those in turn only highlighted how good Aetheric Domain was.

The latter of the two was undeniably good, an ability that created points of concentrated Aether in the environment, tethering his movements and allowing for rapid repositioning. It was similar to Flash Step but offered more versatility, as the anchors could be set up in advance, creating a network of points he could move between instantly.

The thought of setting traps, creating a web of movement possibilities, was certainly appealing. It would make him even more unpredictable in battle, but it was also situational, requiring setup time that he might not always have.

Aetheric Domain was the same, yet it still lingered in his mind, an ability that could grow with him, evolving into something far greater over time.

It wasn't just about raw power; it was about establishing control, asserting dominance over an area, and making it his own. freeweɓnøvel.com

Like how turning people into puppets using Aether tame was tempting, this idea was even more so, but again, it lacked the immediate impact he would need for the battles to come.

It was more of an investment for the future, but Emir was focused on the present, on surviving the imminent threats.

That immediate impact would be absolved with Celestia's Revolver, but he reached the same conclusion as earlier.

It was useful, but was it truly irreplaceable?

Could he justify using one of his limited slots for something he could potentially replicate through other means?

No, he could not.

"Control... control..."

Emir repeated that word in a whisper like a broken record, thinking of ways he could obtain that in battle.

But then he suddenly stopped.

An idea popped into his head.

Control wasn't always about taking over something but taking away something as well. {Celestial Severance.}

Interestingly enough, this ability was based on Judal's Spell Weaver specialization, void Weaver.

Their ability was called {Void Thread,} which did the same thing, only far slower and far more potent, even affecting same-rank Celestials.

While Celestial Severance was faster, its potency was much weaker.

This was the same as how his Death's Shadow worked only on those two sub-ranks below him.

Emir saw this caveat as natural. It would have been too good otherwise.

The difference in speed was just that great.

It was a growth-type ability that could directly suppress an ability from both Celestial and monster, extinguishing it before it could fully form.

Even though it couldn't nullify same-rank abilities and spells entirely like the Void Weavers, it was possible to disrupt and simply weaken them, diminishing the power behind them. There were two ways to use this ability, either from a distance, chanting Spellbreak, or direct contact chanting Silencing Touch.

When combined with his other abilities, Emir could control the flow of battle by selectively disabling opponents' strengths.

This was undoubtedly the best ability for him, but it didn't take him long to find another on the same level.

It too was based on control, though much slower in application than the last.

{Author's Strings.} Another growth-type ability.

Chanting this would let loose strings of Aether from the user's hands, attaching themselves to the chosen ability of an enemy.

By doing so, the user could seize control of that ability and redirect it against the original wielder.

It would directly work against opponents of the same rank because it had more disadvantages compared to Celestial Severance, mostly the speed of the ability.

Furthermore, the ability would grant the user heightened control over their own Aether, as it would change the body to further suit itself, to better accommodate it.

This would make the real-time path optimization of all his abilities much easier than it already was. It would also help in covering his elemental weakness, as he could use the

elements of others...

'Not bad... Not bad at all...'

Emir leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips.

This wasn't the flashiest ability, nor the most powerful in raw terms, but it was the one that would give him the most control-control over his enemies' abilities, over his Aether, and ultimately, over the battlefield.

In the end, that was what he valued most.

So now that he picked the first potential seventh, he had to consider another that was

essential to his survival.

The problem was clear.

He could pick something that would make him stronger for tomorrow, something that might guarantee the survival of most of his students and his men's lives while ensuring victory.

Or, he could choose the ability that would be required for the disaster that loomed far beyond the horizon, something that might make all the difference when he was deep underwater, facing something far worse than tomorrow's threat.

But in doing so, he would risk everything-his life, his family, the future itself.

The issue was that this ability he needed wasn't a first rank but a second.

{Hydro Breath} was the first rank ability.

As the name implied, it allowed the user to breathe underwater, but that wasn't all, it also increased their swimming speed and gave them sticky hands, which would transform into

fins, as would the feet.

Yes, it transformed the user's four limbs and made their hands sticky... that was what it did.

Though breathing wasn't needed when one becomes a Seraphim, the ability might come in handy when Aether reserves reach extremely low levels deep underwater, even more so with

the increased movement.

But obviously, that wasn't what he was after.

{Octus.} The upgrade was what he needed.

When used, his body would be like water, able to handle all types of extreme pressure in the Deep, while it would also heal minor wounds over time if he stayed submerged.

This ability was essential for surviving down there, especially with where he'd be going, the Deep was the least forgiving place on their Earth after all.

Emir wasn't so wary of the place for no reason.

Back then, even when Oldworldeners explored the entirety of the solar system, Earth's ocean wasn't fully mapped out, so one could only imagine it now, much larger and many hundred

times more dangerous than before.

It was terrifying. And so... with all the cards laid out, which hand should he choose?

The clock was ticking, and he needed to make a decision by the end of the hour.

A family meeting was waiting for him, as were the preparations for tomorrow.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the tension drain from his body.

He knew that whatever ability he chose would course his future as there was no coming back

from this, no matter how much regret the future him might feel.

'Alright.'

With one final exhale, Emir opened his eyes, the decision clear in his mind.

His jaw tightened.

He knew what he had to do.

He reached out, mentally, and chose.

'Author's Strings.'

The decision was made, and now, his path was cemented.

This ability would be the seventh in his arsenal, the one that would bring everything together.

It would ensure he survived, not just tomorrow, but in the days that followed.

Celestial Severance was great too, almost as good, but he could get it later, after Hydrobreath

and its upgrade.

There was no rush.

He rose from the table, the weight of the decision still heavy on his shoulders.

Surviving and besting tomorrow was in his best interests.

There was no need to be too greedy.

It was better to guarantee tomorrow than a future he didn't know would arrive.

After all... the 'novel' had been axed at that point, leaving him with a future unseen.

If he survived till that 'chapter,' which was long after his death, and the tide's arrival, he

would finally reach a time where his life wouldn't revolve around the words of those who shackled him.

...Emir couldn't wait for that day to arrive.

He smiled and headed towards the Archive's exit.