Ishita slowed her pace, glancing at Rehan with hesitation.
"My house is here… but I still want to know more. Will you come with me to a café?"
Rehan studied the curiosity burning in her eyes. After a brief pause, he nodded calmly.
"Alright."
---
Café Scene
A small café near Borivali station carried the calm of the night. Outside, autos and bikes rushed past, but inside soft music floated under dim lights. The air was thick with roasted coffee beans and quiet conversations.
They chose a corner table. Ishita ordered cappuccino, while Rehan settled for a simple black coffee.
"Okay," Ishita leaned forward, her voice sharp with curiosity, "tell me. Who exactly are these Aura Wielders?"
Rehan lifted his cup, took a measured sip, and replied slowly.
"Aura Wielders… are those born with a rare spiritual energy. Every human has a spark of aura, but Wielders… they're different. If an ordinary person is a candle flame, then a Wielder burns like a solar flare."
Ishita's eyes widened.
"So… they're stronger than humans?"
"Exactly," Rehan said. "And even among Wielders, there are classes. Types."
He placed his hand on the table, channeled his energy, and a faint blue glow shimmered at his fingertips. The café's other customers noticed nothing—his aura moved like an invisible current, hidden from the untrained eye.
"Three major types exist," Rehan explained.
---
Types of Aura Wielders
1. Elemental Wielders
"They master a single element—fire, water, wind, earth. Their aura bends to nature's laws. A high-level elemental wielder could burn an entire city… or summon a tidal wave to erase it."
2. Weapon Wielders
"They merge their aura with weapons—swords, spears, bows. Under aura's influence, even a simple blade becomes divine. A small dagger, in the hands of a high-ranked wielder, could split mountains."
3. Soul Wielders
"The rarest. Their aura awakens inside their very soul. Their bodies themselves become weapons. They're the most dangerous to face—nearly unstoppable."
Rehan's voice lowered. "And I…"
Ishita leaned closer, eyes burning with curiosity.
"And you?"
Rehan met her gaze, unblinking.
"I'm an all-rounder. I can wield every type of aura."
---
Blood Street Massacre (Parallel Scene)
Meanwhile, in a narrow alley not far from the café, the night turned crimson. Commuters heading home never saw it coming.
Two shadows emerged from the dark.
1. Demon Karnal{12th low rank} – The Flesh Eater
Ability: Body Expansion. His arms could stretch into grotesque blades, stabbing through bodies, absorbing flesh, and feeding on aura.
2. Demon Shyra{11th low rank} – The Screamer
Ability: Echo Slash. Her screams shattered air itself, rupturing organs and splitting bone with waves of destructive sound.
Karnal's skull-like grin widened as he eyed the pedestrians.
"Hahaha… such easy prey. Reap their aura, Shyra!"
In seconds, blood painted the walls. Karnal's blade-like arm sliced through a man from hip to chest, his body collapsing in two halves. Shyra unleashed a scream—its resonance split a woman's skull from the inside, her cry cut short in gory silence.
The alley was drenched in blood. A fitting name was born that night—Blood Street.
Karnal crouched over a corpse, plunging his hand inside. A dim glow rose from the body, aura being ripped out, and vanished into his form.
"Pathetic… weak aura. But once we gather more, our army will grow unstoppable."
Shyra bared her teeth, her voice echoing in the darkness.
"It's almost time to please Lord Ghost Demon…"
And so the slaughter continued.
---
Back at the Café
Ishita's cup trembled in her hands.
"You… you can wield all types of aura? That means your strength—"
Rehan cut her off with a shadowed look.
"It's immense. But every time I draw on it… my body pays the price. My power is both a blessing and a curse."
Her lips pressed together, unease filling her eyes.
"If the Lord Ghost Demon awakens… could you fight him?"
Rehan's expression darkened.
"I have no choice. If I don't, humanity is finished."
A sudden draft swept through the café, rattling the front door though no one had touched it. A waiter rushed to close it, but Rehan's eyes narrowed.
Ishita noticed his shift.
"What happened?"
Rehan calmly drained the last sip of his coffee, his tone sharp.
"Demons. They're close."
The cup slipped from Ishita's fingers, but Rehan caught it effortlessly without looking—like he had predicted it.
"Relax," he said softly. "We still have time."
Her voice cracked, fragile.
"Rehan… who are you? Why do I feel like you're someone who can control everything?"
Rehan didn't answer directly. He simply checked his watch, whispering under his breath.
"When the time comes… you'll understand."
---
Blood Street – The Hunt Begins
Karnal and Shyra stepped out from the bloody alley, their massacre complete.
Shyra sniffed the night air, then smirked.
"Do you feel it? A powerful aura… not far from here."
Karnal's grin widened into a monstrous leer.
"Lord's target… the girl. She's close."
Their steps pounded against the ground, leaving behind dark, blood-soaked footprints.
Their destination—the café.