Chapter 18: Tidal Fusion
Chapter 18: Tidal Fusion
As Ren sat submerged in the water, he could feel the subtle shifts in the air around him, a connection beginning to form between his aura and the elemental energy.
But just as he focused more deeply, he noticed a shift in the atmosphere.
Kai's eyes began to glow, the faint gleam of light intensifying as golden gears seemed to materialize in his irises.
Slowly, they started to rotate, the intricate cogs turning with a smooth precision that was almost hypnotic.
The movement was almost imperceptible at first, but soon the gears accelerated, each rotation more pronounced than the last.
The golden light from his eyes flickered like the glow of a forge, casting strange reflections on the walls of the chamber, as if the air itself was bending around the power Kai was channeling.
Ren could feel it.
The very essence of the elements in the room seemed to react to Kai's gaze, resonating with something deeper in the chamber, as if the world itself was being adjusted by the movement of the gears in his eyes.
The water around Ren seemed to ripple in response, flowing more actively, as if stirred by an unseen hand.
The pressure and weight of the liquid increased, yet it was gentle, almost like a soft caress. It was as if Kai had unlocked a deeper understanding of the elements themselves, able to control them with the mere turning of those golden gears.
Ren, still immersed in the water, felt a strange surge within himself, the sensation of being both weightless and yet full of energy. He opened his eyes slightly, catching the gleam of Kai's glowing irises.
The sensation was almost... unnerving, but also awe-inspiring.
Kai's gaze shifted towards Ren, the gears in his eyes spinning faster for a moment before slowly coming to a stop.
The light dimmed, and the glow faded as the gears ground to a halt.
"Focus, Ren," Kai's voice cut through the stillness, calm and steady, though there was an underlying intensity.
"Feel the connection. Let it guide you."
Ren closed his eyes once more, his heart beating in rhythm with the subtle hum of the elements.
The strange sense of control over the water began to deepen, and he could sense the faint pulse of elemental energy, faint but growing stronger.
As Ren closed his eyes, focusing intently on the elemental energy swirling around him, something shifted within him.
His aura, which had been calm and still, suddenly stirred, reacting to the water like a deep, instinctual force awakening within him.
The water around Ren, which had been gently cradling him, began to ripple.
A soft glow emanated from the silver strands of his hair as his aura seemed to merge with the surrounding liquid.
The once passive water now seemed alive, swirling with faint, luminous patterns, almost as if the water itself was breathing in sync with Ren's aura.
Kai, watching carefully, observed the water's subtle but undeniable reaction to Ren's aura. The elements were responding to him.
This is it, he thought. The faint tremor of realization echoed through the training room.
Seeing the change, Kai acted quickly. He raised his hand, his voice low but firm.
"Enough."
In an instant, the water surrounding Ren began to retreat, flowing swiftly and purposefully towards the edges of the chamber.
It drained away in an almost unnatural way, vanishing into the air as if the water had never been there at all.
The pressure lifted, and Ren, now free from the encroaching water, opened his eyes slowly.
He felt… different. There was an undeniable sense of power within him, something deeply connected to the flow of nature.
He could almost sense the rhythm of the world around him, a subtle thread of life woven into everything.
His aura pulsed, ebbing and flowing like the very water that had surrounded him moments before.
Kai studied him intently, his eyes now calm, though the earlier glow of his golden gears had faded.
The atmosphere around them was still, but a quiet tension filled the air.
"That's it," Kai murmured, almost to himself. "You're beginning to feel it. The connection."
Ren, still trying to process the experience, nodded, his heart racing with the thrill of what he had just felt.
There was no denying it now—his aura had reacted to the elements. Water… he thought, a surge of understanding blooming in his chest.
It was as if the water had become an extension of his own power, something he could control, shape, and bend with his will.
Kai smirked, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes.
"Good. Now we move on."
Kai passed a long sword to Ren, its weight balanced and steady in his hands.
As Ren accepted it, Kai pressed a few buttons on a small device, and an avatar—identical to Ren—appeared before them in the training chamber, ready for combat.
"I stayed up late and grabbed a few Battle Arts from the academy for us," Kai said casually, not giving Ren a chance to speak before continuing.
I figured it would save time, rather than us both making a trip to the exclusive Rankers' Library."
Ren took the sword and observed the avatar before him, his mind working quickly.
Battle Arts—the techniques used by aura users to harness and channel their energy into physical combat.
Every aura user had the potential to learn a variety of arts, depending on their affinity. Mages, on the other hand, wielded spells powered by their mana, while Spirit Essence users practiced Spirit Arts, techniques centered around their connection with the spirits.
Kai had purchased one of each element beforehand just in case.
Ren looked up, curiosity piqued. "What's a Ranker?"
Kai's eyes flickered for a moment before he shrugged, his tone nonchalant.
"Ah, right, I keep forgetting that's restricted info." He waved a hand dismissively, as if the topic wasn't of much importance.
"A Ranker is someone who has earned a title within the academy. It comes with certain privileges—access to restricted libraries, special training areas, that sort of thing."
There was something Kai wasn't saying, something Ren could sense beneath his casual words.
Kai downplayed it, but Ren knew better. Rankers weren't just students with titles; they held power, influence, and a kind of respect that few could rival in the academy.
Their strength was enough to grant them the privilege of bypassing normal rules, giving them access to knowledge and resources reserved for only the most elite.
But Ren didn't press the issue. He was used to Kai's indirect way of speaking. Instead, he focused on what mattered right now—the Battle Arts.
"Let's get started then," Ren said, his grip tightening on the sword as he prepared himself for whatever came next.
Kai watched as Ren gripped the sword, preparing himself.
"Now then, this is one of the best Rare Rank Battle Arts I could find," he said, his tone a mix of instruction and expectation.
"You probably know this already, considering your father is a Saint, but Heroic Rank Battle Arts have specific restrictions. You won't be able to use one of those until you reach the Heroic Rank yourself. For now, this is what you've got."
With a flick of his wrist, Kai tapped a bracelet on his arm, activating the avatar that appeared before them.
Ren's eyes widened slightly as he saw the avatar begin to move. It was a perfect copy of him—down to the smallest detail—but there was something else.
The avatar was coated in a visible aura, the energy shimmering like a thin, translucent skin around its body.
At the bottom of its feet, the aura began to shift, pooling around its legs and then trailing outward. It was almost like liquid energy—fluid and malleable—transforming into the shape of water as it rippled around the avatar's movements.
The avatar's movements were smooth, graceful, and almost effortless as it began to flow across the training chamber.
It wasn't like a human walking; it was more like the avatar was gliding, moving with a fluidity that reminded Ren of water itself.
The long sword it wielded moved in unison, slicing through the air in elegant arcs as if the blade was an extension of the avatar's very will.
"This is the Rare Rank Battle Art," Kai said, his voice calm, "It's called Tidal Fusion."