Ryun: "System, examine for me if I can beat Aetheria with this power."
|The final answer is 2.5% for that action. I suggest you practice and master Aura first.|
Ryun: "Explain it."
|Aura is the reflection of your existence, you can temporarily exchange your power to Ryun's Aura but it won't help you too much, master. Fortunately, Ryun hasn't awakened his true Aura, you can use that reason to explain the change in power for Aetheria and others.|
Ryun: "Sounds great, you're helpful."
|That's my pleasure, master.|
Ryun (curious): "Hey, can you actually help me on something by cheating?"
|No.| - A cold voice evenly clangs inside his mind.
|My existence is set to support you through this realm by guidance. I have no authority to directly interact with fate, reality or canon events to help you.|
Ryun: "I see, but what is the guidance? What is it supposed to be? If you are here to just answer me as a book, I don't think you're helpful enough to be his gift."
His eyes are sharp; he realized that this System worked as an AI which would tell him all the legal information. Exploiting this kind of device is such an easy thing for him, nothing is impossible with a non-human being in a human shape that always tries to survive in any condition for his whole life.
|I can not tell you everything right now due to your level being too low. However, I can give you specific information about what you want to know in the basic ground of this realm, such as mana, aura, runes,...|
Ryun: "Did you say 'runes'?" - He suddenly interrupts the System.
|Yes, I did mention it. With your current authority, you can access the normal spells of humans in this era. It's a lower rank of runes in the previous ages, for more information, you need to unlock mana, aura and master them in basic level to access them.|
Ryun: "Seems like it's going to be fun. How can I unlock mana?"
The reason for this question is very simple, let's come back slightly to the moment that he split the true Ryun into two different parts.
He knows that he has nothing but a decisive strike for the secret mission.
Even though the blessing of the Holy Spirit that Ryun held in his body, the black blade 'he' had been given from Loki could remove all the protection. That's why he could eliminate Ryun within a strike.
To meet those perfect conditions, 'he' had planned this strategy for the previous two days of being a slave himself. He was supposed to kill an outsider for reward, that's why he aimed for a line up of two to three guys for this purpose.
Then acting as a miserable and dutiful slave to raise their self-esteem highly above their sanity. With the limited power, of course he couldn't kill them all at once, that's why he needed a turning point.
After a few days tolerating the torture, Ryun appeared as a hero, as planned. Yes, 'he' even planned who and when that guy would enter his trap with a "hero role" to "rescue" him. Actually he had requested Loki for information about that important piece to make this plan, but it isn't a reason to look down upon this monster.
For the purpose of explaining the next action, 'he' killed Ryun first to absorb his blessing. And from that moment, he could mobilize some mana inside the split corpse, easy work on eliminating the almost dead mage that's lying on the ground.
'He' is really addicted to power, authority and the role in society. He is willing to erase all the roadblocks on his path leading to the final throne, even the Outer Gods.
Ryun: "Tell me about Aura and mana and the way to achieve them."
|You are the weakest outsider in this realm, you contain no specific energy inside your body at all. However, it is the best condition to synchronize to this world's power system.|
|Aura is your own energy, it is created by your own self and only you can mobilize it to attack. Mana is the energy in this world, everyone can access it by their senses and talent.|
Ryun: "So basically I need a talent to be a mage, don't I?"
|That's a direct way to claim this problem. Let's move on, I suggest you unlock all the hidden veins inside your body. Then expand them as much as possible and frequently circulate the energy from your heart into every cell in your body.|
Ryun: "But the problem is I have no energy inside my body."
|I have a solution for that, don't worry.|
|Don't you forget that you have the blessing of the Holy Spirit?|
He smiles weirdly to reply to that quest, "first time, first time."
Ryun: "Wait, where's the energy? Which I stole from them."
|Your veins are blocked totally, and you didn't do anything to save them inside your body. How could it still be there? You just wasted them all.|
Ryun: "Nice supporting, if I could kill you right now, I wouldn't mind using my two hands at once."
His eyes slightly put on the lock icon at the left corner of the System Board, he wonders what it is. By catching a good signal, it instantly gives him a main quest.
|Kill two more outsiders, one player and absorb the System Core to unlock the true System.|
Ryun: "You aren't an official System, right?"
For the first time, the cyan System Board instantly changes itself into a disgusting interface. As an anomaly in horror movies, it blooms a distorted smile stretching from this side to that side, the black aura releases itself outside as if it can dye this world into an eternal night.
|Of course not, I am here, especially for you, master.| - Each word, each word is sent into his mind delicately. No one can understand the world inside a maniac, except another maniac.
The slave, now is Ryun, he also smiles at this situation. Nothing is better than accompanying someone as mad as ourselves until we die together, isn't it?
*Clack* - He grabs the weapon and swings it straight to the opponent.
*Whirr - Clash* - A fast slash is released to negate it in the air, another guy instantly moves himself to face the opponent directly.
*Clash - Bang* - They reflex as if they were the same as each other, both of them attacked with a delicate movement within a second - proving their skills aren't ordinary at all.
Non-stop, the first guy again approaches with the same weapon but with another movement. He swings it faster than last strike, aiming straight to the opponent's head - *Whirr* - that guy delicately moves his right hand to parry the attack and change its trajectory.
Taking that advantage, he moves forward a step, driving a fast strike into the left liver of his opponent - *Clash* - they are both knocked back two steps in different directions, it was a strong strike, wasn't it?
*Whirr* - The three-section staff is thrown straight to him, working as a spinning blade. It can clear all the trees on its way but the grab from Aranta isn't in that list.
Aranta: "Throwing your only weapon at me as a far strike, wasn't it a bad choice, Paragon?"
Paragon: "Fortunately I can no longer access the unstable points, otherwise your hand might get cooked within a small touch."
Aranta: "Oh, who cares about that?"
He jumps forward, driving a kick straight to Paragon to start the second phase of this match.
Paragon: "As you wish."
He dances with Plaz in his hands, moving it around and around his body with an incredible speed as coating a red jacket outside.
Since the match with Osiris, his System hasn't replied to him for a little bit. That's why he can only use one weapon at the present time, in other words, without that System, he is nothing but just a martial artist.
Aranta is different, he starts without nothing in his hands except his experience and his fists. He also knows about the Aura, however he doesn't choose to learn it right now, he needs an enlightenment for his martial arts. He needs something to beat Yujin for the next time.
Paragon: "Have you warmed up yourself enough?"
Aranta: "Perhaps."
*Swish* - A blue line is drawn in the air, instantly blocking the three fast attacks from Paragon while giving him a chance to approach the target two more steps.
In close range combat, two steps are very important, he is now far from Paragon a distance of two meters - an ideal distance for a strike.
*Clash - Smack* - Two fast strikes force him to lose the chance to counter. Following them are two more strikes to break all the intentions of escaping - he has missed a step backward, losing the balance.
Aranta swiftly moves his body and shoulder to land a slam strike from a high angle, pressing Paragon straight into the ground - leaving there a bunch of rocks and smoke.
Aranta: "Stand up, I haven't used my second martial arts yet."
*Clash* - A heavy strike is thrown straight to him, Paragon has stood up as he wishes, however the aura releasing from him is absolutely changed to a darker one weaved into a hundred red lines.
Paragon: "Be humbled, I haven't burst my energy yet."
*Whirr* - Aranta replied with nothing but a fast slash into his face. However, Paragon countered with the same type of attack by swinging Plaz fast in the air.
Paragon: "Are you ready?"
Aranta: "Always."
To mention a martial artist, there's another one in this realm that should be focused on. His name is just a blank, absolute white blank, no one knows where he comes from or who he is. All the information about this outsider lies in his techniques, he is a martial artist, that's all.
He is landing his first steps on this new world, the new journey has just begun.
"What are you seeking for?" - A gentle voice wakes him up from a long dream. She has crimson hair and also the special red eyes, it only takes a look to determine that she is a member of the Krukak Clan.
They are in another continent which is known as a bloody battlefield - Kazan. There's no mercy, everyone whoever chooses to step in this hell on earth must know that their hands will be dipped in blood and bones. They are called "Rankers", their goals are nothing but just getting stronger until "that day."
And her name is Clairis, she is also a ranker and she is a stalker of this guy.
"Why are you here?" - He "curiously" asked.
"I'm just following my husband." - She "cutely" pressed the word husband.
He replies nothing, turns around and goes forward. He was one of the first hundred outsiders appearing in this realm, but the problem was he remained nothing but this body and a special energy flowing inside himself. Even his name, past life nor memories about his daily actions, none of them are staying in his mind.
He felt lost, he knew no one and no one knew him. After a blink, he is there, but he knows it clearly. He knows that he met Claris before on his meaningless journey, however he can not determine how and when, as if his mind is reset after a specific period of time.
Nevertheless, he has no glue for this problem. Even the Grand Mage of Krukak Clan can't figure out the true issue, all the suggestion was writing a diary and getting stronger until he can access the other continents.
"Hey Claris." - His voice suddenly clangs.
Claris: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
"I think I need to start learning about Aura and mana."
Waiting for this desire for a long time, Claris accepts it without any hesitation. She didn't invite this guy just for fun, she saw a great potential, which can even surpass hers in future, inside himself.
She smiles, gently: "Are you sure? I won't help you as a teacher, you will need to survive by yourself."
His eyes also shine with determination, nothing is more important than finding out the truth of himself. And there is nothing more important than getting stronger right now, his hands unleash a white pure aura - this is his own power.
Claris: "In the Krukak Clan, we obey a rule of power. We believe that only experiencing death may give humans a chance to show out all their potential. In two days, I will train you about the basics of Aura. After that, you will be sent to a game of death. Are you ready?"
"Of course I am."
"Are you ready?" - "Of course I am." - The same question, the same answer, but in another place.
In another,... hell…
"Why?" - That guy is using all his potential to run away from something inside the mist.
"Why?" - He boosts himself inside a white aura, speeding himself in this running game.
"Why the f* was I sent to this sh*t?" - "Low your voice down, idiot!" - Another guy instantly approaches him from the left, grabs and brings them to another place.
"I almost died!" - He complains with all his rage. He is in the same situation as Ian, arriving to this world later than the first one hundred outsiders a month.
But after a second, he instantly carves all the details into his mind. They are in a white room with two portals at two sides.
"Space spell?" - Even though he hasn't entered the field of mages for his entire life, he still has enough knowledge to determine and classify over thousands kinds of spells.
He slightly touches the border of the room.
"This hardness, is it spell Room?" - "Yes" - Another guy smiles and answers, it is a joy to talk with knowledgeable people.
"Okay, it's fun to discuss spells, however we have no time for that, you know. My name is Torun, a mage." - He has standard white hair, and his sapphire eyes hide under the black glasses. Torun looks like any kind of potential side character in average novels, obviously handsome.
"Just call me Hazen, I'm a swordsman." - The third one said, his hair blocks all his up half face as if it's hiding a truth.
"Alright, my name is Kura. I prefer using knives and daggers." - This guy uses a blindfold to hide away his two eyes, and he admits that he's a blind guy.
A blind guy works with a knife, that's a potential way to farm aura by the way.
Torun slightly explains to the new guy about their problem. This is an undefined place, as same as a singularity.
Kura: "Okay, and the problem is there are some sh*t hiding in the mist and you can't maintain this spell too long, right?"
*Clap* - "You are smart." Torun said, but it is also a confirmation about their unstable future.
Hazen: "Yes, it isn't good news, you know. For each five minutes, we can enter this place for another two."
Then he takes out a map, it records all the terrain of this misty zone.
Hazen: "I got it from an old chest, up to the present time it works very effectively so we keep following its guidance. Would you like to join us?" - He asks with bright eyes, as if it's just a small game.
But it causes a question to Kura, what if this map is fake. He has no evidence to prove that prediction, but it also leads him to a small action. He takes out two seals and gives each of them to both Hazen and Torun.
Kura: "Keep it carefully, it's our B plan. When you, Torun, deactivate the room spell, I will leave on the ground another seal. If we were in a dead end situation, I would activate these seals to bring us back to this place."
Torun matches this plan with an insane speed, "Then I will let my skill finish its dead period." - "Yes, that's what I mean." Kura confirms his idea.
Hazen: "What are you guys talking about?"
They both look at him as a weirdo, they both say nothing but deactivate the spell - "Run!"
*Whirr* - Hazen: "As predicted."
He rapidly grabs Kura and throws him to the left while parrying the attack, "Go!"
But Kura does the opposite thing, he also grabs back Hazen and throws him too.
Hazen: "Kura?" - He instantly gives him a signal, it seems like he has realized something.
Brain matching, Kura unleashes his white aura on his hands, raising it forward, catching the blood made object before it stabs through his head.
In this mist, they can't expand their zones to load the map, but they can do some tricks. As Kura does, he is now liberating his aura slowly outside, not too clearly but he can determine the shape and movements of any objects inside his aura zone at the present time.
However, its cost is the Aura loss, he is not the same as Ian; his aura isn't that much.
*Smack* - He parries a heavy strike from his left side and counters the monster in its face at the same time.
Kura: "Still enough to beat your *ss, undead."
*Thud* - Another heavy strike is landed, but this time it comes from Kura and blows away its one hand.
To be specific, Kura is 1.87 meters tall, but the undead is 2.57 meters tall and it's also built as an in-fighter as well as a striker.
This kind of duelist is one of the hardest opponents to fight directly. Even if we ignore the far difference between them in their heights, Kura is a grabbler and an out-fighter. He can't rush directly to that living mountain and knock him down. They even have a difference of 175kg in weight, this is such a dead end case for Kura to beat this guy.
Kura: "However, see you later."
*Snap* - When that undead threw him a strike, Kura was instantly replaced by a seal which was crushed to dust beneath the pressure.
Meanwhile, he is shifted right behind Torun who is cutting another undead into pieces.
He whispers to Kura to tell him to stop unleashing aura outside. While our grappler is in his own confusion, something has been shot in the dense mist.
Toru (whispering): "Quick!" - He does it with a low voice in order not to be tracked by that creature.
Kura realizes the same thing, however he concentrates his aura into his finger and shoots it on the ground. Then in the confusion of his two companions, Kura again does the same thing but this time he puts it on the pillar near them.
Realizing his intention, Hazen also does the same thing, respectively the ground, another pillar and two more on the ceiling.
Hazen whispers, "Hey, when you use the seal teleportation, does it unleash any Aura?"
"No." - Kura replies.
And that is the best confirmation they do need right now.
All of them are aware of its mechanism, that creature prefers targeting others by their aura density. So they only need to place some "bombs" around, waiting to explode them respectively to lead it around and around.
"Easy work." - Kura whispers, then he looks at Torun.
Torun: "I have no idea, perhaps we need to go further."
Hazen stays calm on the other side, he is wondering about the benefits and risks. They haven't known anything about this castle yet, the only detail both Torun and Hazen got was half its appearance.
While he is immersing inside his thoughts, Torun instantly grabs his shoulders and drags him while entering deeplier.
Hazen (whispering): "Idiot, we need a plan to escape."
Torun: "Kura has prepared one." - He is very confident about this journey, without any guaranteed details.
Hazen: "That's not enough, we need one more plan to withdraw peacefully."
But, everything has come to the end. It's too late for another plan, because… he is here already.
*Whirr* - An energy wave is instantly released outside, wiping out all the mist surrounding the castle.
From nowhere, an unknown rhythm is performed delicately. Each note is each greeting to the guests from the mansion owner.
Kura: "It's quite catchy I mean."
Hazen: "It's not the problem Kura, we are discovered."
Torun says nothing, he builds up a transparent full shield around them via a medium size magic circle.
"Pray, there is no need for such caution, my uninvited guests." - He hides in the darkness and keeps his fingers dancing on a luxury piano.
His eyes reflect the red light, as a hunter in the night - a bloody moon night.
The melody of Death is played by that earl, the mist is being erased time by time, but the darkness surrounding his face is still there. Faster and faster, his fingers dance delicately on each note as if he's showing himself to the world, to the moon and to the night.
Hazen was a king, but he only grabbed a sword and fought with Outer Worms until his last breath, he had no time for the ceremony. Torun was just a traveler, or a hitman, he used all his life to pursue the empty crown staying on top of his old realm - The Crown of Magic Emperor.
"You will tell me your own story, won't you?" - *Plonk* - He stops his fingers dancing on the piano after a press, this is not an invitation, it is a declaration.
Surprisingly, the first guy moved beneath that pressure was Kura. He has no knowledge about the true ceremony of this culture, but he knows a bit of ancient European ritual.
He steps forward two steps and bows his head while lowering down his back a little bit.
Kura: "It's my pleasure to be invited by you, My Lord."
*Fuhahaha* - It's been a while since the last time that earl heard this kind of honorific.
Observing it, Torun and Hazen respectively do the same thing. They know that they can't do anything beneath that pressure, it was just a second, and they were pinned straight to the floor. Fortunately they had both unlocked the official Aura in this realm, without it they should've smashed to dust; they were aware of the distance between them and that earl.
"Seems like we have no choice", they both came up with the same truth. Within a look at each other, they know what they need to do already.
*Ting ting* - He starts moving his fingers again, in order to finish this melody first.
*Crackle* - At the peak of the performance, there are twelve loops set to weave into each other. And each time the loop passes away is each time an orange flame lightened up.
Their lights spread out the room, the hallway and also the owner of this castle. He has a white skin as a dead person, his eyes surely shine a red light. The black hair slightly hid away half his face, as a predator under the night. With only the pressure of his movement, they are forced to almost down their knees on the floor.
"Welcome to my domain, travelers. I have been told about your existence there, and I also prepared a banquet to entertain you all." - His voice isn't shouted out loud, but it goes all the way, clangs into every angle of the lobby.
*Clap* - A feast full of meat and blood is presented in front of their eyes, of course it's well cooked. It's not as big as what is used in royal family meals, but it's still big enough for three guests and the owner.
He snaps his fingers again, shifting four glasses of wine on the table, obviously it is the best thing to extend the solemn invitation.
Kura knows that if he hesitated, everyone would be killed immediately. He steps forward and gives his companions a look as a signal to accept this feast for respect.
The earl looks at Kura, who has performed very well up to the present time, with the eyes of eulogy, he gives his traveler a precious treasure as a reward.
"Do you like gold?" - He asks with a smile.
"Thanks, no matter what it is, I appreciate your gift after all." - Kura uses a humble demeanor to reply to that question.
"Don't worry, just tell me whatever you want." - The earl replies leisurely. It's obvious that he is forcing him to decide a choice.
Kura looks back at his two companions, still within a look, they've matched each other.
He bows his head a bit forward, while looking at the earl with a specific determination, he comes up with a desire.
Kura: "How about... other ways for us to get stronger?"
He suddenly looks at Kura with curious eyes, he wonders why they are looking for strength and power.
"Can I ask for the reason?" - He asks back a question, but seems like he has accepted that request.
Kura: "I want to find out the truth of my clan."
Torun: "I need power to explore the singularities."
But only Hazen is the one who keeps silent. Observing that, the earl says nothing, he only invites them to the feast and enjoy it under the moonlit clouds.
Then suddenly he looks at Kura, with a smile, he unleashes a deadly aura straight to him.
He knows it, nothing is such a free lunch. He also unleashes his aura outside and concentrates it into his weak spots on the body in order to protect him from the dangers. Unfortunately, in only five seconds, he was sent to the limit.
*Fuhahaha* - "Don't worry, traveler, this is just a first step. On your way to discover the truth of your clan, you will need to face something even stronger than me."
That's not a good news after all, it means that Kura really needs a hard training season to build up the base and stand a chance beneath the pressure from this earl.
"However, I can give you some guidance to improve yourself. May I ask for your clan?"
Taking a deep breath, Kura recalls his Aura and takes off his two contact lenses. His two eyes shine an overwhelming Aura that surprises both Torun and Hazen.
In theory, one person can not have more than one Aura inside their body, unless they have two hearts.
Aura is the inner power created by their bodies, so they need to archive it into their heart due to its capacity and its key position of the inner chart inside them.
Two kinds of Aura inside one heart is a bomb, whenever they accidentally touch each other, their hearts are set to explode after a second.
Torun: "How? It is impossible."
Hazen only observes that detail and drinks some wine, he is actually very chill no matter the situation.
"Wow, that's interesting. I can't believe that one day I can meet a Cylias Clan member again." - The earl gently raises his glass of wine and enjoys it thoroughly. His eyes slightly overflowed with tears, "It's been a while."
Kura silently waits for the explanation, he only knows his Clan is in this realm, but the exact direction and location isn't included. The book of prophecy was fired in the ancient vestige in his old realm already - which means he is stepping on a massive path without any guidance or help.
Then he slightly bows his head forward again, this time he has used all his respect and sincerity.
Kura: "Please, let me know everything about my Clan."
*Fuhahaha* - "You do not need to be like that. After this feast, I will tell you everything."
Receiving the wished gift, Kura bows his head one more time. He has been closer to his destiny one more step, even though the journey might not be easy, he still remains the hope in his hands and heart.
The feast wasn't too bad, even Torun, who has no joy in fancy meals, is addicted to the roasted beef. They were told to take a rest in private rooms, and the next meeting will be tomorrow.
Having no trouble with this decision, the three outsiders both followed their own servants to their rooms.
To be honest, it's quite strange for Hazen, he knows that they're in the special rank singularity - which isn't recorded by Guilds' data. And the problem is that earl is too kind, observing all the actions, Hazen can't determine the final purpose.
Hazen: (Torun, do you see anything wrong?)
Torun replies back in their private mind intersection, (Of course not, I feel no evil intention on him.)
Hazen: (Tch, try to teach Kura this spell, we need to hide from that earl's zone.)
Torun: (I feel no zone here, are you too stressed?)
Hazen: (Idiot, you can't see doesn't mean it's not there. How can you see his zone when you are inside it already?)
That thought works as a hammer drives straight to Torun's brain, he even forgets that option.
Torun: (But chill out, he is nice.)
Hazen: (Shut the * up, we only have one life. You'd better focus on how we can interact with Kura without letting others know.)
They both withdraw from that intersection at the moment they enter their own rooms. Even though he is treated very nicely, Hazen doesn't claim that earl as a good person that soon. There's nothing such a free lunch, refusing to answer his question is also the first step of Hazen to protect himself.
Humans are greedy beings, only God knows what they would do to tempt him.
Hazen enters the mind intersection again, however this time Kura is here too, it's just two minutes.
Hazen: (Wtf? It's just two minutes dude.)
Kura: (Well, perhaps my old realm was closer to Aurorize than yours so it's not impossible for me to achieve the basic spells this fast you know.)
Hazen: (Okay bias, whatever. Where's Torun?)
Kura: (He sleeps already and I'm going to sleep soon you know.)
Hazen instantly quits, he suddenly feels no joy to remind these two guys about the possible dangers. He takes out the clothes and jumps to the bed for a nice dream ahead.
Hazen: (Why am I locked to you guys bruh?)
On the contrary, that earl still sits at the table, without moving, calmly and quietly. As if he is waiting for something to happen, then he smiles, gently.
"Which coincidence sent you here?" - *Vsh* - two silhouettes appear in the darkness and leisurely sit down at the same table as him.
"Elya, I thought you were absent today." - He slightly raises his glass of wine and enjoys it.
As replying, she also throws straight to him a bracelet of sapphires, "How can I miss this chance to have another slave?"
Uruta is the name of the last girl here, she instantly throws two shurikens straight to the stair leading to the private rooms zone for guests.
Hazen *Hah* "Sh*t, I knew it would happen."
He unleashes his aura via his hands and catches those small weapons.
*Vsh* - Uruta rapidly disappears in his sight, this is not good news after all. However, inside a ten-meter zone around himself, he can catch any movement almost instantly.
At least he believes he can.
*Splash* - A 'X' shaped wound landed perfectly on his chest, the blood is even floating in the air - showing her incredible speed.
That earl is still sitting at the table without any intention to stop or participate in this action, seems like he is very confident about her strength.
Hazen: (Good, let's kill her first.)
"He has potential in this field right?", the earl praises.
"Not really, he's cooked already.", Elya slightly replies, she obviously believes nothing on Hazen to win against her companion.
*Crack - Boom* - The walls behind them are broken into pieces, it was Torun's fault, whatever, this is their plan.
He knows that Torun and Kura weren't that dumb, all his secret actions had told them all his plan. He knows that their mind intersection isn't private enough to avoid the observation of the powerful being as that earl.
All planned, Torun materializes a chain and tightens up Uruta from behind then throws her straight to the left side.
*Smack* - A heavy strike was thrown straight to her head, it was full of aura fist by Kura. Non-stop, he keeps activating his well-known combo, left - right - goodnight.
After three strikes, she is knocked to absolutely faint.
But instead of rushing to them and rescuing her companion, Elya only sits there and enjoys wine with the earl, they care not on their actions even just a little bit.
Hazen: "Hey, Kura, Torun, do you guys have the same thought as me?"
Torun throws away Uruta and accumulates fire balls around him, this is truly a disrespect.
Torun shows such a nice expression, "Let's give them some burnt butts."
Kura is calmer, he is surely a delicate person in his own characteristic - a perfect kind of anime husband for other girls. So he just takes out all his aura to aim for their faces directly, he's very nice, isn't he?
"I thought… 10% was enough." - Kura is targeted immediately, he bursts all his aura to the front in order to parry a strike from that assassin. However, it's strong as hell, he can't even believe that an assassin like her can dominate him, a striker and a grappler, in strength.
*Crack* - Even his left arm is broken beneath that pressure, one second, he was forced to step back one step in the clash, two seconds, he was sent flying back.
*Whirr* - The earl rapidly grabs his neck and throws him to another place outside the hall.
Hazen: "Kura!"
*Vsh* - He tries to parry the attack, but his hip is carved a deep bloody line already.
*Kuh*, he groans slightly.
*Vsh* - She disappears again in his sight, this is not good.
Hazen: (Not good at all.)
Under the moonlight, beside the bloody hall of a castle, between the dark oak trees in the forest near that place is where Kura shifted to.
He looks at the earl with a strange look, he wonders what that guy is doing.
"Do you want to know the truth?" - He gently asks Kura.
*Whirr* - His two eyes shine a pure white light, while all his body is surrounded by the same power. All his potential is turned inside out at this moment; he feels it, he feels the second aura of himself.
*Fuhahaha* - The earl laughs iconically, then he takes out his cumbrous black cape - showing all his intention.
"Don't worry, I won't use any aura for this fight." - He smiles.
"So let me take this blessing gratefully." - Kura rushes straight to the earl with his bare fists inside the white aura.
He lands a direct strike into the face - parried.
*Boom* - A massive amount of aura was released after that, knocking back Kura two steps while doing such no damage on that earl, even just a finger.
He clicks his tongue, time to lock in - Kura rushes straight to the earl again with the same technique, however this time he's aiming for the one-and-only heavy strike.
Let's switch to the opponent's perspective, he only sees Kura is moving straight to him with a massive white orb of aura on his right fist. However it's just too diluted, even if the earl stands there and does nothing, Kura won't be able to shake him a little bit.
"Concentrate your power." - He slightly suggests.
Kura is not a kind of nerd who will stand there for the next two minutes and yap inside his mind about the reputation, the demeanor, the behaviors and the characteristics of this guy to decide if he's going to believe in him or not.
He's surely aware that if that earl wanted to kill him, he would die almost hundreds times. Then there is no reason for him to hesitate, he starts focusing on his right fist, trying to accumulate more power.
"You have accumulated enough, try to change its density." - He closes his eyes and focuses on his right fist again.
"Stop wasting time, look at your veins, follow them and mobilize your aura from the heart to the fist." - He is trying, but he feels nothing inside himself, everything is a blank, absolutely a blank.
After a minute, he feels nothing. After two more minutes, he also feels nothing.
"Are you good? Do you see them?" - Replying to nothing, Kura is still trying. He is again and again and again finding out where his veins are.
*Sign* - The earl turns back and walks slightly to the castle, he feels no hope for this guy.
"Potential is still potential…", whispering under the moonlit sky.
*Whirr* - He moves rapidly, raises up his hands to parry the attack from his rear.
There's something sparkled in that moment, he moves his elbow rapidly, forming a slash to parry that fist.
*Crack* - Another time, on the same day, same hour, same minute and the same second, two strikers can reach the concept named "space" and break it into pieces.
*Boom* - That sound even echoes throughout this singularity, different from Ian, Kura does not contain that much Aura inside himself. But his energy output is much larger than that swordsman's.
It means nothing if fighters can't even unleash 1% of their archived energy, an increase in energy output is more important than an increase in total energy.
"How many times can you do the same strike like that?", he smiles after taking all of that strike without any wound.
Kura replies with his two hands, "After these attacks, I can unleash six more."
"Not bad."
*Vsh* - He shifts himself directly in front of Kura, who is still concentrating his power. With a smile, he proudly stands still, waiting for the next performance.
Kura: "What are you aiming for? You show nothing about the intention of killing us."
*Haha* - "As I said, if you want to know the truth, just do all you can.", he replies with another smile.
Observing that, he already knows what he needs to do. Kura enters the mind intersection and drops an announcement, "Do your best, whatever, just do not die beneath them."
Kura: "I do not get your goal, whatever,..."
He moves his hands around to form a dragon, Kura can not concentrate his Aura into a small point, but he can control it on a large scale.
"Seems like you are blessed in the Manipulation element.", he smiles.
Kura: "I'm looking forward to more guidance, thanks."
"As I said, just do your best." - *Thud* - A heavy knee strike lands straight on his chest.
Even though Kura was accumulating his Aura on his two fists, all his body was also covered fully by it. However that strike could break all his protection and force him to spurt his red blood out.
*Whirr* - *Whirr* - Whirr* - More and more Aura is concentrated, there's something just sparkles inside his brain.
Kura: "You mentioned that I was bound with the Manipulation element, what is it?"
"Aura has 6 elements, and you are blessed in the Manipulation. Show me, if you can release it outside."
*Whoosh* - An arrow is shot straight to him, but it just makes no sense.
"Why is it too weak? Haven't you eaten?", he laughs while Kura keeps unleashing more and more Aura.
He feels it, he knows that he's going to be exhausted soon. After all, he is not blessed like the chosen one.
Kura: "Hey, what if I…" - He drags his aura and throws it straight to the moonlit clouds after a rotation. His two legs wobble as a drunkard, seems like he's going to fall down.
Kura: (Not yet, not yet.)
*Vsh* - He appears on the sky, drags that Aura again and throws it straight to the earl, who is standing still on the ground without any intention to dodge or parry, with two shining eyes.
"Wait, is that?" - His eyes open wide, he can't believe it.
That earl witnesses it clearly, he knows that Cylians's (Cylias Clan members) eyes can't reflect that color - the moon light color.
Blessing - The last time a blessing was recorded at Larrast, another continent in this green zone. It is a kind of charm that heaven carved on earth, it is a gift.
*Whirr* - Something is moving really fast in the air, it slashes the wind into two different layers. It shoots straight to the earl with an incredible speed, "however it's still a far range attack", the earl murmurs.
Another element of Aura is Emanation, this kind of Aura user can unleash his power outside in a far range. However their power is set at the start, when it is released, so it means that they can't adjust the power after unleashing.
And this kind of user always prefers releasing many strikes and withdrawing for another chance, in the other words, just approach them frequently, so you can negate all their intentions easy as pie.
Nevertheless, that earl gave Kura time to accumulate enough Aura to strengthen his power, and Kura isn't a kind of archer, that's why he manipulates the attack as throwing a massive object.
It's not a wise choice, no matter what they've been experiencing, while getting blessed in a specific element, they must follow and accept the truth. So basically in his perspective, Kura is just wasting his time, power and potential.
"You are not supposed to use it like that, you know." - He whispers.
That earl raises up his two fingers, there is something overflowing at the finger nails. Blood Manipulation, this is how an Aura user of Manifestation element fights. They temporarily materialize a matter with a specific Aura loss as an exchange cost.
*Whoosh* - But with only that small blood drop, he can make sure that he will destroy all Kura's effort.
But…
"Why are those eyes still shining?", he whispers to himself, unconsciously.
*Crack* - Splash* - That earl didn't aim to harm him, but this was his choice.
By splitting all that strike to small species, Kura had changed all that massive energy into chains before the blood drop was shot straight to his shoulder.
Even though his shoulder was blown away and almost his left arm, Kura still uses those five fingers to connect to those small species.
*Clatter* - Five fingers, five chains, they are all connected to those small fragments, waiting for a command.
*Clatter* - Rising from the dirt and earth, unlimited chains broke the space under the earl and trapped him by tightening up and pressing him straight to the ground.
"Manipulation, Emanation, Manifestation and what are you going to show me right now? You have so much potential!" - he smiles, waiting for the last strike. He cares not about the damage, but he's attracted by those moonlit eyes.
"Hey Kura, haven't you wondered about the difference in your eyes?", an old man asked him a long time ago.
Kura: "Yes I have, but I don't care right now. It just has no use."
*Hahaha* - That old man laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke of his entire life.
Then he stopped, he stood up and walked inside a room - which he had told Kura not to enter until he was allowed.
Kura: "Grandpa?"
"Come here, Kura.", he gently opened the wooden old chest lying on the dirty floor. Perhaps it had been left there for decades.
Kura was curious, he wondered what it was - "The secret of your eyes, Kura. Take it clearly."
"You haven't unlocked it Kura."
"You've achieved it, but it's not enough, where's your fire?"
"Use the advantage of your eyes, do not just look at the surface, dig into its core."
Then one day, they both stopped and looked at each other.
"Why are you looking at me as a weirdo, Kura?" - He laughed.
He hesitated a bit, he knew that his grandfather knew that both of them are going to leave, forever.
Kura: "I don't want to…" - Some tears dropped down from his eye sockets.
That old man smiled, gently, he wanted to cry too, but he couldn't. He must finish his destiny.
"Hey, Kura, let me teach you one more lesson." - He whispered with a low voice, he's very near to the last breath.
"Yes…" - Kura replies with tears in his eyes, 15 years living together, how couldn't he cry?
"Don't cry, Kura, your eyes are the most beautiful gems I've ever seen in my life. You are lucky, different from you, both me and your father didn't inherit that legacy. But you did! So please treasure those unique eyes, Kura, you aren't weird, you are just special."
He coughed heavily, the fire inside his chest was fading, slowly and inevitably.
Then he pointed to his grandson's eyes, then the mirror. He wanted to extend his last thought and more and more things he would like to tell Kura at the last second. But he couldn't, the smile of satisfaction carved deeply into that teenager's brain.
And now, that silhouette is reflected inside his moonlit eyes again.
Eye of Cylias has a passive, it just strengthens all the potential in six elements of Aura up to 120% potential. However, if that Cylian is chosen, they can unleash something that lies beyond the normal ability.
Behold! When the moon rises in the sky, bow your head down!
Special Ability: Reflection.
"Singularity…" - the earl murmurs again. He was hesitant, but now he can make sure that this boy isn't bound in any element. He is a specialist, the one who has reached to the hidden element of the hexagon - Essence element.
He witnesses it clearly, those moonlit eyes, the moonlit sky and the moonlit clouds. Even the moonlight is bent to his spears.
This no longer belongs to Singularity or Manipulation anymore. It stands between all six apexes, in other words, it contains all the identities of all six elements. That's how the Essence element looks like.
Kura: "Hey, my lord, are my eyes special?" - He doesn't know why he asks a weird question like that, but he wants to figure out something, something in his bygone days.
*Fuhahaha* - He laughs, that earl lies on the ground with a smile, "Of course, you are the specialist, into your core!"
The moonlight falls down as a cascade, it contains the original wish of Kura, the pure desire for the truth behind this scene.
Kura: "See you in the next day."
Moonfall: The Sparkling Night Sky - *Boom*
No matter who wins, Kura is surely aware of his up-coming tired sleep.
*Hah…* - "Why does he look so satisfied, Torun?", Hazen asks.
"How do I know? But the problem is these two girls. Have you made some plans?", Torun replies.
"Hell nah, about that assassin, I can 1v1 her. And that green-haired girl, good luck, I have no idea how to beat her at all."
Then he leaps upward to the high roof above their heads, where he left a seal before, and activates it.
At the same time, both him and Uruta moved out of their own positions, he leapt downward and Uruta rushed to the northwest direction - where the weakest point of this cage.
Hazen surely knows nothing about spells or magic, but he can connect his Aura and build up a wall as geometry.
Uruta: (Manifestation, so he would be able to use Alternation and Amplification elements too.)
She knows that her speed outweighs Uruta's, and if there's no variable, she will escape this cage before Hazen can reach her.
Of course, there is now a variable. When she was 2 meters away from that weakest spot, the floor under her feet changed to a slimy matter, it caused her to lose balance while moving with a high speed.
A second, within that second Hazen has reached to her rear without any signal. He materializes a balisong and stabs two times into her neck, taking out some red blood from that cute carotid.
Taking that advantage, Hazen also materializes a milling cutter and stabs it through her right shoulder, at the joint between it and her right arm. Seems like I do not need to explain more, don't I? He cruelly pushes at the handle, cutting down one arm of the assassin in three seconds total.
Elya only sits right there and does nothing, she is such a chill guy in the ever-changing life. Her lips remain the color of wine, her expression, her eyes and her scent are too intense. But Torun also sits there and does nothing too, he is planning and calculating all the possible cases.
Torun: (Mage vs Mage? Should I cast a spell first or dodge first?)
He keeps wondering and pretending the solution for each negative case. They both look at each other, waiting for a turning-point.
However, Torun is absolutely aware of that girl's power via the pressure. Of course she hasn't done anything, but there is something non-stop threatening him about the death as if Torun's facing a superior creature.
Torun: (Is she a vampire? But her skin is not as white as a standard blood-sucking creature. So there must be a case that she'll use blood to kill me. How fast would it be?)
Elya still sits there and looks at Torun with the expectant eyes, she is waiting for Torun.
*Boom* - Hazen instantly flies through their sights and collapses with the cold wall, it was just a kick from Uruta with 20% power unleashed.
Uruta: "Stand up, human."
But no one replies to her, Torun and Elya still sit there as two little stone statues, and Hazen is still lying under those rock fragments and dirt with the blank eyes. Obviously he was knocked unconscious.
Suddenly she witnesses his Aura overbrims outside without any intention to stop, she mobilizes her Aura into her two eyes. For just witnessing his heartbeat slows down through each second.
Uruta: "Hey! Are you still alive?" - Then she remembers about that kick, she released it in the madness, perhaps Hazen's ribcage was crushed and smashed straight to his heart and lungs. If it's true, all the faults would be hers.
After two seconds, she can't wait anymore, Uruta runs straight to him with a worriness inside her chest. That earl mentioned it clearly already, they must not kill anyone of these three potential guys. If he dies here, she will receive the same consequence.
Four meters away, she felt his heartbeat almost reach the silence, two meters away, she's sure that he's in the emergency.
One point two meters away from Hazen, she was truly worried about his condition.
One meter distance, *Splash* - Three rock stakes instantly stab through her lungs, head and heart.
Surely he won't let her withdraw, Hazen instantly materializes a dead end prison for her. His Aura has been accumulated in his two fists already, all his muscles expand as if they're going to be exploded by the inner pressure.
For the next fifteen seconds, Hazen unleashes everything he can to throw a continuous combo straight to Uruta. Her face, her arms and legs, even the lungs and heart, he targets them all. Furthermore, his legs are bound into the ground by his Aura, which means he no longer needs to worry about the balance, all things ahead are punching and punching.
*Bang - Bang* - He moves all his shoulders and arms to maximize all the power while adjusting his two knees. Hazen is now pulling 135% of his potential.
Of course a pair of knuckles are created and equipped by him, they are also enchanted by four spikes, maximizing all the damage.
However, after those 15 seconds, Uruta is still here, her high speed regeneration is just unstoppable. Even though it seems like a lot of damage that Hazen caused on her, the regeneration also negated them all. Each time he swung his fist was each time she healed herself.
Final result: Hazen is defeated without damaging anything on Uruta - Absolutely cooked.
Uruta: "Nice try, but you should concentrate it all into a strike. Madness won't give you any chance."
Then she takes out a key and stabs it through his chest.
"Slave Contract?" - Elya leisurely asked, but Torun was sure about it. She just revealed his outcome after being defeated.
However, they still look at each other and say nothing else.
At the same time, Kura is thrown straight to the hall through the broken windows. His head is dipped in a crimson liquid, obviously getting hurt.
The earl slowly appears behind the bats and shadow, and now you guys would surely know which species he is.
Three of them approach him and stop at the 5 meters distance, their Aura stretches out in the air, shooting straight to him as a threat.
"Time's up Torun." - he slightly reminds the one who is sitting on the ground.
Torun: "Are they all faint?"
Elya: "Of course they are, now it's your tur…"
*Boom* - An explosion blew away her half face, it's fast enough to go through the earl's Aura shield before it got disturbed.
*Kek* - Something is distorted, Elya rushes straight to him with an ice spear in her hands. The smile is distorted creepily, it seems like he just woke up something inside this girl.
Elya smiles, she opens her eyes wide and looks straight to Torun, who just got stabbed through his shoulder and is now lying on the ground.
Elya: "Finally, show me all you got."
As a reply, his two hands slightly raise up and touch her face, gently, "As you wish."
*Boom* - Another explosion blows away her head.
Torun: "My artistry is quite different, blood."
Ten of her blood drops are forced to explode around herself, this time her body is dilapidated as a torn blanket.
"I don't want to play too much, so let's end it fast. It would be complicated if they just woke up and witnessed everything." - He uproots his two fingers and throws them straight to the opponents as birthday gifts.
*Boom - Boom* - He knows that those smoke just make no sense, however, his true purpose is painting this place in his blood.
Of course, as a mage, he obviously needs to take all the advantages to dominate the space surrounding him.
His zone is stopped at 10 meters range, but his blood isn't.
*Boom* - Another explosion just occurred in this hall, buying him time to surpass the earl and Uruta.
*Vsh* - "Nice try" - She disappears and stops him at the front.
"Who is it for?" - When her eyes move down, his hand has already touched her chest, it's no good.
*Boom* - But Elya just instantly replaced her and stabbed her hand through his heart. Dipped in the red blood, however she felt no heartbeat.
He also grabs her hand, "Mine is at the right side."
*Boom* - Another explosion blew away half of her right arm, it seems like Torun can even kill both of them at the 40% power, let alone to these pitiful 20% corpses.
Then he instantly dodges aside, leaving there two girls with five big blood orbs, *Snap - Boom* - The sound of blood colliding to the ground, the sound of explosions blowing away their bodies are just too marvelous.
*Fuhahaha* - "You are strong." - he whispered and approached him from a close distance.
"So let me play with you a bit." - Their eyes face others directly as if there would be a slaughter.
*Smack* - The earl started first, he threw a punch straight to Torun's face, it's just too advantageous for a counter from him. But the earl also moved his hands to parry that strike and countered with a low kick into his left knee, pushing it down to break his balance.
However, Torun didn't move just for a little bit, his Aura is releasing over its peak.
"I don't have time, let's end it fast." - He leaps straight to the roof to take the advantage of the highest position.
He is bound with the Emanation element of Aura, even though it's just a pitifully blessed element, it still reaches 200% potential by itself.
*Whirr* - Five shots are released straight to their heads, they are the pressed bombs which can unleash up to 150% power of the normal one.
*Fuhahaha* - "You maniac." - The earl throws his cape to Kura and Hazen, who are lying on the ground, as a protection.
He mobilizes his Aura into his two hands, "Seems like you know much more than them right?"
"So take this thing." - As soon as that declaration is shouted out, a bunch of blood is also released straight to those bombs and negates them at once.
This is how strong a Dracula is from old age, trying to beat him with only this kind of Torun's power is such an improbable dream.
"Come here! Show me all you got."
"As you wish." - He somehow materializes a blood knife in the air.
The mechanism of Aura potential is each unit the element far from the main/blessed element, each time they are weakened. With the specific function: y = x - n.z.20%
While "x" stands for the total potential of the blessed element and "n" is the coordinate time it is far from the main element. And "z" stands for the total time the blessed element differs from the standard - which means z = x/100
After all, we can determine that Torun has 200% in Emanation; 160% in Amplification and 120% in Manifestation. With all of these potential, Torun is actually sure of winning this fight.
Unless,...
Torun: "Really?"
*Clash* - He throws that blood knife straight to Dracula, however his blood is wiped away easily as pie. This is the difference between awakened Aura users and non-awakened Aura users, of course, Torun hasn't realized the key of that power.
Torun: "How can you…?"
"Don't worry, it's what I'm going to teach you. You've passed, it's no longer necessary to test you more." - The Dracula slightly turns back to the table and his glass of wine.
"But I haven't satisfied." - He raises his hands, unleashes all the Aura accumulated in them to form a tornado shooting straight to the opponent.
This is not a spell which consumes mana as a cost to cast, it is the own power coming from Torun - Aura - so basically no one can take control of it and counter him. In short, with the Aura user of Emanation element, they can do something like casting spells but use their Aura as the cost. It allows them to take control totally of the attack, but only Emanation element users can do that.
Furthermore, it also requires more experience to boost the process, pushing out the inner power is slower than casting spell - mana. Consequently, Emanation element Aura users are rated lower than other kinds such as Amplification and Singularity.
Manifestation, Emanation, Manipulation and Alternation are usually combined with others to form a specific fighting style for Aura users. If they only focus on one of these elements, they might get cooked while dueling with Amplification or Singularity element Aura users or just experienced mages.
"You surely know that it makes no sense beneath my Aura, don't you?" - The Dracula sighs, this is not a wise choice after all.
After a wave, a solid spear or blood has been created in his hand. That earl swings the spear around himself while doing a full rotation, it's not an ultimate or special move, just a normal spear throwing strike.
Torun tries to hold that strike in his hands and his Aura, it's clear that the blood has overflown through his teeth already.
"Hey, how strong are you, old man?" - He uses all his breath to ask a final question.
*Fuhahaha* - "I will let you all experience it instead of telling you directly."
*Crack* - Everything is reset to the origin, Hazen, Torun and Kura are shifted back to their rooms with cured wounds.
"What do you think?"
"Hazen…"
His eyes are forced to close by the weariness, it's a long day, isn't it? Even though he's not willing to, his stamina has reached the bottom, whatever, nice try.
They all fell asleep, nicely, in a dream of moonlight and sparkling clouds