Ch 37 : Results of Training 1

After two months, Auron and his friends gathered at the Combat Tower, noticeably stronger and more refined in their skills.

Alice and Thyra had perfected their defense and evasion spells, seamlessly transitioning between offense, defense, and evasion. Their combat flow was now smooth and efficient, showcasing their growth.

Eliot, on the other hand, focused on support rather than offense. He had mastered the Aqua Jet spell, but his true focus was on learning the binding spell Aqua Net and the healing spell Aqua Mending. Though he had only reached the minor proficiency stage, his progress was impressive for someone who started later than the others. However, his success rate in casting spells during combat was still inconsistent, especially under pressure.

Walter excelled in his hammer combat art. Sir Baldwin even praised him, calling him a genius, though not quite on the same level as Auron. Walter could now lift 25kg weights with ease—remarkable for a Tier 1 Augmenter. His strength allowed him to wield a small round shield, but larger shields still hindered his movement, something he hoped to improve in the future.

Over the past month, Auron had been conducting combat drills with the group. Though their teamwork was rough at first, it gradually improved. They developed a solid formation: Walter served as the frontline tank, engaging and holding off enemies. Alice and Thyra were the main firepower, handling offense while also shielding the team when necessary. Eliot, as the support, controlled the battlefield with his binding spells and offered healing when needed. His shields also provided an extra layer of defense when things got dangerous. This was the foundation of their current strategy, although their reaction times, joint attacks, and formation variations still needed improvement.

Auron, too, had made significant strides. He expanded his spell arsenal, adding offensive, defensive, and binding spells. Thanks to his unique celestial aura, his spells became more potent and refined. He modified his Fireball Toss spell, compressing it into a smaller, more agile form. Though it appeared harmless, the compressed celestial aura made it highly dangerous. His control over his Inferno Lance of Ruin had improved significantly as his understanding of the Primordial Fire Heavenly Rune deepened. He could now cast it ten times before his celestial aura was depleted, and his accuracy had noticeably increased.

In the Combat Tower, Auron tempered himself through constant practice. He had perfected the first stage of the Void Nexus Combat Art, allowing him to switch between techniques with fluidity. He also began experimenting with infusing elemental forces into his combat arts. Though the process was still rough, the potential benefits were clear. For instance, when he infused his Ripple Palm technique with the corruption trait of Primordial Fire, the destructive power was amplified. The technique now burned his opponent's insides, making it far more lethal.

Auron and Xiao Yu had also completed the creation of a new soul cultivation art. Similar to Auron's own cultivation method, it absorbed spirit energy to strengthen the soul without the link to connect with Celestial Codex. The key part of the technique was compressing the soul whenever it swelled from absorbing too much energy. Auron planned to stress this point to his friends, ensuring they didn't rush the process and risk damaging their souls.

Auron had been eager to create a mana circulation art for his friends, but after considering the unknown Heavenly Rune sets that Seraphael intended to gift them, he decided to delay the process. He understood that to make the circulation art fully compatible, he needed to wait until he had a clear understanding of their rune sets. Despite this, Auron felt excited at the prospect, as it would be his first time creating such an art. His plan was to base the circulation technique on his own Celestial Aura Cultivation Art while tailoring it to complement the Heavenly Runes they would eventually receive, ensuring smooth integration of mana with the runes.

In the meantime, Auron's personal cultivation had progressed significantly. His soul cultivation had advanced to the mid-stage of Codex Synchronization, which allowed him to perceive Heavenly Runes for extended periods, offering deeper insights and improving his control over their aspects. Additionally, this advancement had expanded his mana detection range, enabling him to sense fluctuations of energy from greater distances, which could provide a strategic advantage in battle or planning.

His mystical eyes had also evolved. Now, they not only allowed him to see mana flows and patterns more clearly but had begun to resonate with the aura emitted by others. This resonance gave Auron a unique ability to perceive the subtle essence of a person's aura, making his interactions more intuitive and allowing him to read people in ways others couldn't.

"Okay guys, this is the day that you've all been preparing for these past two months. You've trained hard, sparred with me, and done everything possible to get ready. Now, it's time to give it your all. The test will have both individual and group parts. That's all I'll say. Good luck." Auron said confidently, before stepping forward into the Combat Tower.

Alice, Thyra, Eliot, and Walter followed, their determination evident in their expressions. They were ready for the challenge ahead.

The elder guarding the entrance to the tower glanced at them indifferently, scoffing. "A bunch of kids, playing like it's some kind of game," he muttered. He had no way of knowing what happened inside the Combat Tower, as its inner workings were completely shielded from the outside world.

As soon as Auron and his friends entered the tower's white space, they were immediately transported into separate rooms. Each room was spacious, with smooth, white floors that seemed to stretch on forever.

Walter appeared first, alone in his room, gripping his hammer and shield tightly. His stance was firm, his eyes scanning the area as the first guard materialized before him. With a deep breath, he prepared to engage.

In her room, Alice summoned a shield of flames around her, her mind racing with battle strategies. Thyra, on the other hand, instinctively summoned a gust of wind to encircle her, prepared to react to any movement the opponent made. Both conjurers were fully focused on their respective battles.

Eliot, now in his own isolated room, took a deep breath. His hands glowed with the faint blue of water mana as he prepared his Aqua Net binding spell. He knew that his role was to support, not attack, but he was ready to face whatever came his way.

Meanwhile, Auron remained in the central space with Seraphael, who observed silently. Although Auron couldn't see the specific details of what his friends were going through, the connection with the Combat Tower allowed him to feel their efforts and sense the unfolding battles.

"They're ready," Auron said with confidence, though he knew this would be their first real test in isolation. They had trained together for months, but now they had to prove their individual strength before working as a team.

Inside each room, the first wave of guards engaged with Auron's friends. The sounds of magic crackling and weapons clashing echoed through the vast spaces. Each of them had to rely on their training and instincts, pushing themselves to overcome the challenges ahead.