Chapter 8: Aura Zone
Chapter 8: Aura Zone
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At the end of his long training session, Ren found his way to his student accommodation.
It wasn't anything grand, since the first years were not provided with their own mansions.
He had his own room with all his items and clothing for the school year already arranged.
For the first semester, first years were not provided with uniforms, since they were not inside of any classes yet.
At the end of the first semester, the first years would be streamlined into their classes and have unique uniforms depending on which class they go to.
Then again, in their 4th year, they would have different uniforms. A standard one among the entire grade, since a large batch of the current 900 students would leave the academy after their 3rd year.
As Ren laid down on his bed, he looked to the ceiling of his room with his hands raised into the hair.
His palm which was in contact with the hilt of a great sword the entire time had torn slightly and stinged a little.
Even though Ren was not used to physical exertion, it felt exhilarating.
As Ren closed his eyes and drifted into sleep, he found himself standing somewhere completely different—a vast, endless stretch of grasslands beneath a sky heavy with tension.
'Where the hell am I?' Ren questioned, as he looked down at his hands to see that he didn't seem to have a body in this dream.
He then looked around him, and was shocked at the sights.
On either side of the field stood massive armies, their ranks stretching far beyond his sight, the soldiers bristling with weapons and armored in steel.
The earth trembled beneath the weight of millions, as if the land itself knew that battle was near.
Close by, two warriors faced each other, both clad in ornate, battle-worn armor.
One held a sword, its blade gleaming with an edge sharp enough to slice through steel.
The other wielded a massive greatsword, its sheer size a testament to the strength of its bearer.
Their eyes locked in an intense, wordless exchange, each studying the other, anticipating the first move. Silence settled over the field as even the armies held their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.
Then, with a speed that defied Ren's eyes, both warriors vanished from their spots and reappeared in a furious blur, weapons meeting with a thunderous clash right in front of him.
Sparks exploded from the impact, scattering like stars across the grass, as the two warriors pressed against each other with ferocity and precision.
Their swordsmanship was as mesmerizing as it was lethal.
The swordsman, wielding a standard blade, moved with a quick, controlled elegance. His strikes were precise, each aimed to exploit any subtle opening in his opponent's defense.
He pivoted gracefully, shifting his stance with fluidity, keeping his center low as he circled his adversary. His movements were economical, conserving energy as he struck at the weak points in the greatsword warrior's armor—his joints, the gap between his shoulder and breastplate, and the unarmored space along the thigh. Each attack was intended to disable without overextending, a calculated dance of lethal intention.
In contrast, the warrior with the greatsword fought with a relentless power, each swing carrying an intimidating weight.
His strikes weren't just attacks but calculated demolitions, aimed to shatter defenses rather than slip through them.
He took long, grounded steps, planting his feet firmly before unleashing powerful, sweeping arcs that forced his opponent to either parry with precision or evade entirely.
His greatsword arced in wide, horizontal swings, each strike a crushing blow aimed at battering the swordsman's defenses.
He moved with the deliberate momentum of a storm, using the weight of his weapon to control the rhythm of the fight, forcing his opponent to match his pace or risk being overwhelmed.
As they clashed, their styles complemented and contrasted, turning the duel into a brutal and intricate symphony.
The swordsman dodged and countered with pinpoint strikes, aiming for the weaker areas of the greatsword warrior's defenses.
He would feint high, forcing the greatsword to rise, only to duck and drive his blade toward his opponent's side, testing every possible gap.
But the greatsword warrior countered with his own resilience, using the reach and sheer force of his weapon to keep the swordsman at bay.
When pressed, he would shift his grip and bring the greatsword down in a crushing vertical strike, intent on breaking through the swordsman's guard altogether.
Each clash became a study in tension and release, power versus precision, as they attacked, evaded, and countered in an unyielding struggle.
The swordsman's quick footwork and honed reflexes allowed him to dance around the greatsword's heavy swings, while the greatsword warrior's immense strength and control over his weapon allowed him to dictate the pace, turning even missed attacks into opportunities to shift his stance and regain ground.
The armies roared, each side cheering for their champion, their voices merging into an overwhelming cry that shook Ren to his core. He felt his own pulse quicken, his blood surging with a fierce energy.
As the duel raged on, Ren watched in awe as cracks formed beneath the warriors' feet, the ground splintering under the force of their battle.
A vivid energy—aura—surged around them, wrapping their weapons in a sharp, blinding glow.
Each swing of their swords sent shockwaves through the field, the aura enhancing their strikes and creating trails of light that illuminated the darkening sky.
Suddenly, after a flurry of strikes, one of the champions stepped back, raising his hand. His voice cut through the battlefield like a blade:
"Aura Zone."
Instantly, the air grew dense, and a strange force spread out from the warrior, covering a five-meter radius around him.
Ren felt a sudden, eerie stillness in that space as the aura of the opposing warrior flickered—and then vanished.
Ren could also tell…this…this was his first aspect!
The vibrant energy that had surrounded his opponent's sword dissipated, leaving it dull, almost lifeless.
Despite the chilling effectiveness of "Aura Zone," which blocked his opponent's energy while preserving his own, the swordsman with the standard blade seemed prepared.
The moment he sensed his aura being suppressed, he leaped backward, just outside the radius, maintaining his composure.
His eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation, noting the subtle shift in the atmosphere, the oppressive stillness dissipating bit by bit.
After a few tense seconds, he felt the air revert to its usual state, free of the aura-dampening force.
Sensing that the Aura Zone had ended, he wasted no time. With a swift exhale, he launched himself back into the fray, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
His movements were swift and calculated, each step bringing him closer with an air of control and purpose.
He moved like a predator, his sword poised and ready to strike.
In one smooth motion, he aimed a powerful thrust toward his opponent's chest, forcing the greatsword warrior to step back and raise his weapon defensively.
Anticipating this, the swordsman shifted his stance mid-attack, redirecting his blade in a sharp arc aimed at the shoulder joint.
He struck not with brute force, but with precise angles, aiming to wear down his opponent's defenses.
The greatsword warrior countered with an overhead strike, intending to break the swordsman's rhythm and force him back.
But the swordsman sidestepped with barely a pause, deflecting the heavy blow just enough to avoid its full force.
Using his momentum, he struck low, aiming for the exposed area near his opponent's leg armor, trying to destabilize his footing.
Sparks flew again as their blades met, and the soldiers watching erupted into cheers as the two warriors continued their dance, power clashing against precision in a duel of relentless intensity.
As the fierce battle neared its climax, Ren could feel the tension in the air intensify.
The two warriors, locked in a brutal struggle, prepared for one final, decisive clash.
He watched as both combatants charged up their aura, energy pulsing around their weapons, casting vivid trails of light that illuminated their fierce expressions.
The ground trembled as they dashed towards each other, intent on ending the fight in one unstoppable strike.
But just as they were about to collide, an oppressive force swept over the field—the Aura Zone.
Once again, the greatsword warrior activated his technique, and all aura in the vicinity vanished except his own.
Ren could see the shock in the swordsman's eyes as his aura vanished, his blade now defenseless against the greatsword's empowered strike.
The two closed in, and the final clash seemed inevitable.
Then, suddenly, the scene froze.
Ren felt time warp around him, a strange sensation as if everything were unraveling and flowing backward.
The battlefield, the clash, the shimmering aura—all rewound before his eyes.
The armies faded into the distance, the cracked ground mended itself, and the two warriors returned to their original stances at the beginning of the dream.
When the reversal ended, Ren stood once more at the start of the duel.
He realized he was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding as if he'd been part of the battle himself.
He struggled to catch his breath, feeling the intensity of the warriors' struggle coursing through him.
..
Authors Note:
Hope you guys will enjoy this novel.
If you wish to read more chapter, it will be on my p#treon
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