Painful week

"What!?" I exclaim, incredulity evident in my voice. Turning sharply to face Ilka, I raise an eyebrow. "So let me get this straight. You want me to use my nervous system as a pathway?" Is she out of her ethereal mind? Why the hell would I even consider doing that?

Before I can voice another thought, Ilka lands on my head, her weight barely noticeable. "Stop complaining and do it," she orders, her voice dripping with impatience.

Reacting instinctively, I grasp her between my fingers and flick her across the cave. "I'm not using my nervous system as a pathway. The nervous system is directly connected to the brain! And besides, how would I even use it externally?" Tsk. This is going to lead to the mother of all headaches. I've had enough of those, thank you very much.

Ilka, with her uncanny ability to move in mid-air, stands floating in front of me. "Shut up! I am your master. You will do as I say," she retorts. "This isn't just about an aura path. Think about it. You're practically going to upgrade your body's senses. And if you refuse," she narrows her eyes, "I will make your life hell for the next month."

I click my tongue in frustration. Damn it all. "Wait a second," I start, trying to find an excuse to delay this insane training. "How long is this entire process going to take?"

She rubs her chin, seemingly deep in thought. "Based on your talent... maybe a week."

I smirk, a glimmer of hope dawning. "That won't work. This place will only be open for four more days. After that, they'll close the warp gate. There's no way I can extend my stay here."

Ilka rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed by my resistance. "You're not getting out of this, Kael. This needs to happen now. If you progress any further, you won't be able to create a new aura path. Isn't this place owned by that lazy girl's mother? Just ask her or the professor to keep it open over the weekend."

Ugh. Why is everything so complicated? I grumble internally. And why didn't she mention this earlier? "This is so damn bothersome," I mutter, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

Rubbing my temples to quell the growing frustration, I begin to formulate a plan. There's someone I can call. She's bound to have a solution, especially since she approved this ridiculously early field week in the first place. Grinning at the sudden epiphany, I sprint out of the cave, passing through the Barrier without a second thought.

Hastily, I tap my watch, bringing forth a holographic screen. This should work... the Warp gate would let mana pass through, allowing the connection. After a few seconds, the screen blips to life. The name 'Raelle' glows brightly. Raelle, always reliable in a pinch.

Once the connection establishes, my grin widens. "Yo Miss President, can you do me a favor?"

Raelle, looking as impeccable as always despite the clear signs of fatigue around her eyes, observes my surroundings. "Hey, V. Need some help? I have a meeting soon, so make it snappy."

Does she ever take a break? She seems like she's on the brink of exhaustion. "Can you extend field week to the end of the weekend? I've got something urgent to tackle, and I'll need about a week," I explain, hoping she'd catch my drift.

She pauses, rubbing her forehead in thought, and for a fleeting moment, she looks like her head might just explode from stress. Suppressing my amusement, I quickly add, "You can get Biana's signature for approval. She owes me one. And if that doesn't cut it, Professor Ayla is also on board. She'll sign off on it."

Raelle lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank the goddess. With both their endorsements, it should sail through. Anything else, V?"

I nod and send her a digital file via the holographic interface. "This might be of interest to you. Let's just say a couple of familiar faces will be visiting the council soon." Without waiting for her reply, I disconnect the call. Liam and Aira are definitely going to try and pull one over on her. But as long as I'm around, they won't even come close to taking over the student council.

-

"Alright! Alright, Ilka! I get it," I groan, exasperated with the whole situation. Breathing deeply, I try to muster some semblance of courage. Okay, a minor concussion here and there isn't the end of the world. You can handle this. Yet, doubt creeps in, making me voice out my concern, "H-hey, Ilka, are you absolutely certain about this?"

She rolls her eyes, clearly tired of my dramatics. Yet there's a hint of mischief in her gaze, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, making me feel like a mouse caught in a cat's game. "Goddammit, Kael, what happened to 'I am the GOAT'? Changed your mind? Decided that livestock wasn't so glamorous after all?"

Damn her and her twisted sense of humor. "This is going to hurt exponentially more than when Zeke did it," I think back to that excruciating experience. Mana is one thing — it's natural, the body recognizes it. But aura? Aura is hard-won, an energy you have to grind for. And the brain isn't built to directly handle such intense energy.

Taking a moment, I reassure myself. "I've got this. I told Ayla to ensure the other professors remain clear of the forest and to find some excuse for everyone else. No one should stumble upon me in... this state." Oh fuck, this is going to hurt... Ugh, why can't I have an easy life? 

Resigned to my fate, I gingerly stick my fingers up my nose, grimacing at the discomfort. Direct neuronal access — the nose is the quickest route. Taking a deep breath, I focus all my concentration and channel a beam of aura, directing it to push its way through my nervous system.

The sensation is immediate. Intense, searing pain courses through my body, as though I've been set alight from the inside out. My vision blurs, and I grit my teeth, trying to push through the agony.

-

"FUCK!" The raw scream pierces the cave, echoing off its walls. Kael's face contorts in agonizing pain, every fiber of his being consumed by the torment coursing through him. "SHIT! DAMN IT!" Each curse word erupts from him like a violent spasm, a reflexive response to the relentless torment ravaging his body.

The aura surges, attacking his nervous system with relentless ferocity. Waves of unimaginable pain spread outwards, a maelstrom of agony threatening to tear him apart from the inside out.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Every scream is punctuated by a desperate punch to the ground. Unbeknownst to him, a volatile blend of his mana and the second aura path begins to coalesce around him, reacting to the sheer intensity of his emotions.

Ilka, floating with an air of triumphant amusement, can't contain her laughter. "Hahahaha!" Her ethereal form trembles with glee, not at Kael's suffering, but at the utter chaos he's about to unleash. "That's right, Kael! Let it all out! Decimate this forest to the ground!"

By now, the aura's onslaught has reached Kael's brain, rendering him senseless, a vessel of pure pain and fury. In a frenzied haze, he grasps Ilka out of the air, attempting to land a punch on her. But as his fist connects, it merely passes through her incorporeal form and crashes into the wall behind her. The impact causes the cave's structure to tremble, threatening to crumble.

Ilka continues her riotous laughter, enjoying every moment of the spectacle. "Hahahaha! Are you angry at me, Kael?" she taunts. "Blaming me for this torment? I bet you can't even hear me now, can you? You're probably completely oblivious to what you're doing."

Unresponsive to her words, Kael, in his pain-induced rage, unleashes another furious blow, this time breaking through the cave wall entirely. The once solid structure gives way, and a massive cascade of rock and debris descends upon them.

As the dust settles, the cavern is transformed into a scene of devastation, with Kael at its epicenter, still consumed by his own anguish and fury. The cave collapses and breaks down to a deeper level.

Ilka's mischievous grin broadens as she gracefully perches atop Kael's head, firmly gripping his hair. Her ethereal laughter rings through the cave, mixing with Kael's screams of pain. "Hahahahaha! Come on, Goat! Let's see what havoc you wreak next! I haven't felt such exhilaration since I squared off with the Elven King in the glory days."

On the cave floor, Kael continues to writhe in agony, his every scream echoing throughout the vast expanse. "AHHHH! DAMN IT!" Each cry is a testament to the unyielding torment he's experiencing.

The commotion draws the attention of various creatures residing within the cave's depths. Curious, they emerge from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a mix of confusion and intrigue.

However, Kael remains unaware of their presence, too consumed by the relentless pain. "FUCK! IT BURNS!" Another gut-wrenching scream tears from his lips.

Tilting her head slightly, Ilka narrows her eyes, her previous amusement turning to impatience. "Now, for the grand opening! Go, my Goat, and consume them!" But Kael remains motionless, save for the continued screams that punctuate the air. "AAAAARGHHH!"

With a playful huff, Ilka yanks at his hair, trying to spur him into action. "Come on... move already." Yet her prodding yields no response.

But then, a chilling, rhythmic clicking echoes through the cavern — the unmistakable sound of a predatory beast. In Ilka's mind, she paints a vivid picture of the approaching menace: Massive, clawed feet, each step deliberate and menacing. Its eyes, dark and hollow, emitting a sinister glow. Jagged, razor-sharp teeth protrude from its grotesque maw, dripping with anticipation.

Without warning, the beast lunges, landing a powerful kick that sends Kael sprawling across the floor. This sudden assault awakens something primal within Kael. Gone are the screams of pain, replaced now with roars of fury. Reacting with a speed and ferocity that's almost unnatural, Kael retaliates.

In a frenzy of raw, primal fury, Kael becomes a whirlwind of destruction. With each beast that lunges at him, he meets their aggression with unmatched savagery. His fists, powered by both his mana and aura, become lethal weapons, tearing through flesh and bone with alarming ease. He grabs one of the creatures by the throat, lifting it off the ground, and with a brutal twist, snaps its neck. Another beast attempts to ambush him from behind, but Kael reacts instinctively, sinking his teeth into its limb and tearing it off, blood splattering his face.

The cavern becomes an arena of chaos, with Kael in the center, an unstoppable force. His every movement is calculated but fueled by sheer pain and rage. It's a sight that's both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

From her perch atop Kael's head, Ilka is getting the show of a lifetime. As Kael rips apart another creature, she can't help but burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Oh, Kael! You're truly living up to the 'GOAT' title now!" Her voice is laced with a mix of amusement and admiration.

Watching the carnage unfold, Ilka's thoughts are a delightful blend of excitement and awe. This is beyond anything I imagined. His raw power, his sheer tenacity... it's mesmerizing. Her laughter continues to ring out, echoing in the now blood-soaked cave. "You're damn amazing Kael. Even in this state, your body is using the foundations I taught you... I don't say it because I don't want you to become arrogant but you're a genius. I'd say you can rival that girl Isadora if it wasn't for that damn curse you have. Hmmmm... you don't know how good it feels to see you grow, it reminds me of my childhood. Now come on and kill all these bastards!" she marvels, witnessing Kael's relentless onslaught.

Another beast, larger and more menacing than the others, steps forward, its massive claws clicking ominously on the cave floor. It charges at Kael with unparalleled speed. But Kael, despite his pain-clouded mind, senses the danger and meets the creature head-on. Their collision shakes the very foundation of the cave, sending shockwaves throughout. With a fierce roar, Kael drives his fist deep into the creature's chest, tearing out its heart. The once-mighty beast falls lifeless at his feet.

The remaining creatures, sensing the undeniable strength of this seemingly unkillable human, begin to retreat, their roars of defiance now replaced with whimpers of fear.