Chapter—Auramaster beneath night shadow.
That night , the city was under a calm sky, but the tension of yesterday lingered in the air. News reporters had gathered near the site of the crack, cameras rolling, microphones raised, their voices overlapping in questions and speculation. Kaizen stood at the center, composed yet aware of the scrutiny surrounding him.
"Sir Kaizen, what exactly happened at the site yesterday?" a reporter asked, notebook ready.
Kaizen's gaze swept across the crowd, taking a slow breath. "It was… a natural event," he said firmly, though his eyes betrayed the weight of what he truly knew.
Another reporter pressed forward. "But there are rumors… aura draining inside the crack? And something emerging from it?"
Kaizen's jaw tightened. He paused, then spoke carefully. "After the System changed the world, natural fluctuations of aura within the earth have created phenomena like dungeons. This crack is part of that flow. Beyond that… we are still researching. There is nothing more I can confirm."
The reporters tried to follow him as he moved away, their shouts trailing behind. But Kaizen vanished into the crowd, leaving them frustrated.
Meanwhile, high above the city, hidden in the shadows of his own thoughts, Luke observed everything quietly. His mind raced, connecting events, calculating risks, and planning his next move. Only we know the truth, he thought. The world must not know. And I… I cannot stay in one place. Not after this.
He paused, thinking of a plan. I need to disguise myself… travel to other countries… help people without revealing my true location. No one can find me here.
That night, Luke quietly left his home. Shadows stretched along the quiet streets, lanterns flickering softly in the winter breeze. He unified himself with his aura, wrapping it around his body like an invisible cloak, rendering himself undetectable to casual eyes.
"Where first, Auru?" he whispered, speaking to the floating presence beside him.
"Let's move randomly at first," Auru replied, its soft glow illuminating the alley just enough to show Luke's path. "Help people across the world without drawing attention."
Luke nodded and moved silently. They first found a lost man wandering through a desert, disoriented and confused. Luke guided him back to safety, ensuring no one else noticed.
Next, they came across a dungeon entrance in a distant city, where several inexperienced explorers had ventured and failed to return. Luke entered briefly, his aura masking their presence, and rescued the trapped group. By the time anyone outside could notice, he was gone.
By midnight, Luke return home he slowly and silently enter the house and then in his bedroom.
Lying on the bed he ask Auru.
"Is this enough for today?" Luke asked, his voice low. "Do you think it's impossible for anyone to locate me now?"
Auru's glow pulsed thoughtfully. "For now, yes. You've taken a strong first step. But the results will show over time. Consistency is key."
Luke nodded, laying back and closing his eyes. Tomorrow, I'll do more. People won't know where I am. I'll keep moving…
The next day, as expected, news outlets reported the mysterious appearance of an auramaster.
"Auramaster spotted in this city… Auramaster helps dungeon victims in that country…"
Luke observed the reports from afar, noting carefully that the articles mentioned no identifiable images. Only fleeting glimpses had been caught.
My plan is working, he thought. If I keep helping and moving, no one will know my true location.
He began adapting his methods further. Sometimes he would unify his aura, sometimes he wouldn't. He wore mismatched clothing, hats pulled low, scarves covering his face. No consistent pattern.
Days passed in a blur of movement: during the day, he attended school, trained with the guild, entered dungeons. By night, he became a shadow guardian, helping those lost or endangered by rogue creatures, mysterious dungeon events, and natural disasters tied to corrupted aura.
Across the world, faint reports trickled in:
Auramaster spotted in Brazil… Auramaster spotted in Egypt… Auramaster helps victims in France…
No one could pin down his exact location. He became a ghost of the night, visible only to those he helped.
Meanwhile, far from Luke's roaming path, Kaizen Ryuga stood in a towering conference room at the Guild Association headquarters, facing the top leaders of worldwide guilds association.
"Kaizen Ryuga, Auramaster of Japan," a voice intoned from the council seat. "As you know, the unique Auramaster is still untraceable."
Kaizen inclined his head respectfully. "Yes."
"You've taken responsibility to identify him in Japan," the voice continued. "But now… he's being spotted worldwide."
Kaizen remained silent, listening.
"Do you think we should mobilize all Auramasters globally to track him down?" another voice asked.
Kaizen nodded slowly. "It's logical. But we must be careful. The Auramaster's identity is delicate. We cannot force disclosure without consent. Otherwise… it could be catastrophic."
"Yes," the first voice said. "Kaizen, you must be extra vigilant. The two-year period is approaching. We cannot let any error occur. If the Auramaster is not located in time…"
Kaizen clenched his fists, feeling the weight of responsibility press on him. "I understand. Since he appeared first in Japan twice, there's a high chance he's a citizen. I will do everything to identify him."
The council murmured in approval.
But another council said"We will dispatch all auramaster of all country find him but Kaizen you are main focus."All Council agreed.
Kaizen bowed and left the room, the weight of duty settling heavily on his shoulders.
Outside, he clenched his fists again. "I will find you… and I will succeed."
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Luke, in a faraway city, had no idea Kaizen's resolve. He only focused on helping people, moving night after night, always a few steps ahead of detection. He knew the world was watching but couldn't trace him. Every act of aid, every rescued person, every dungeon cleared, only strengthened his invisible presence.
As he drifted into sleep that night, Auru hovered above, softly glowing.
"Tomorrow," Luke whispered, "we do even more. No one will find me. Not now, not ever. Also we are helping people ."
Auru's voice was calm but firm. "Then we continue. The world is in your hands.We will help the world and also disquised ourselfs"
Luke nodded, a quiet resolve settling into him. The moonlight reflected in his eyes, full of determination, planning the next moves in a world unaware of the true Auramaster roaming its nights.
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End of Chapter.