Chapter 20: Something different
Chapter 20: Something different
Ren's steps grew more confident, his sword slicing through the air with more precision, a reflection of his growing mastery.
His body, once hesitant, was now gliding with purpose. He could feel the aura moving around him, shaping his every movement, as though it were an inseparable part of his own flow.
For the first time, Ren felt like he was no longer just controlling his aura; he was becoming it. The rhythm of his movements had transformed into something beyond simple practice—it was an extension of himself, a new layer to his being.
And in that moment, he knew this was only the beginning.
A week passed in what felt like a blur. Ren's days were a constant cycle of rigorous training and focused practice, all centered around Tidal Fusion.
He spent hours each day in the training chamber, refining the fluid movements that were now becoming second nature to him.
The art itself, the graceful fusion of his body with the flowing aura beneath his feet, had begun to feel almost instinctual, as though the elements themselves were guiding him.
Alongside the practice of the art, Kai had designed a specialized workout regime for Ren—one that focused not only on strengthening his body but also on conditioning it to endure the intense demands of Tidal Fusion and the continuous flow of aura.
The workouts weren't easy. They pushed Ren's limits in ways he had never experienced before, forcing him to train both his physical strength and his ability to harness and control his aura simultaneously. It wasn't just about improving his form; it was about building a body strong enough to house the vast amounts of aura he needed to wield.
The more Ren pushed himself, the clearer the connection between his body and his aura became.
He could feel the subtle shifts in his muscles and bones as they grew stronger, becoming more resilient to the weight of the energy flowing through him. Each drop of sweat, every muscle ache, was a reminder that his body was adapting, evolving into something more than it had been before.
The key to improving his aura, Kai had explained, lay in strengthening his body. As the vessel grew stronger, it would be able to hold more aura.
With each session of practice and workout, Ren felt his aura becoming more potent, expanding with each breath. The cycle was simple, yet profound: as his body strengthened, the aura it contained nourished his muscles and tissues, making them more durable, allowing them to hold even more aura.
This created a feedback loop of continuous growth—one that would only intensify as he pushed further.
Every time Ren absorbed more aura from the environment, he could feel it settling inside him, filling his body, seeping into the core of his being.
It wasn't just a matter of containing the aura; it was about becoming the aura. With each passing day, he could feel his energy flowing in greater volume, coursing through him, saturating his very being.
It was like a cycle of renewal: his body would grow stronger, and in turn, the aura would nourish him further.
Each moment of practice, each training session, brought him closer to mastering not only Tidal Fusion but the very essence of the energy he wielded. Ren could now feel the raw power within him, subtly shifting with each movement, like the tide that had once felt foreign to him.
In the beginning, his body had resisted the demands of the aura, but now, it was beginning to synchronize with it.
The feedback loop was working, and Ren could see the results in his growing strength, his fluid movements, and the increasing sense of control he had over the Tidal Fusion art. The elements felt more natural now, more in tune with him. T
he long sword he wielded no longer felt like a burden but an extension of his own will, an ally in the flow.
"Today, we're going to do something a little different for our training," Kai said, his voice carrying an air of excitement. "Follow me."
Ren nodded, curious, as he trailed behind Kai through the corridors of the academy.
As they walked, Ren couldn't help but notice how little he had explored since arriving.
He had been so focused on his training and honing his skills that he hadn't taken the time to truly appreciate the grandeur of the academy.
The marble floors gleamed beneath their feet, intricate carvings adorned the walls, and towering windows let in the soft glow of the sun, casting vibrant patterns of light across the stone.
The architecture was impressive, blending old-world craftsmanship with modern designs, making it clear that this place had seen centuries of history.
Eventually, they arrived at a large, circular room, the walls lined with shelves of glowing crystals and strange artifacts.
At the center of the room, standing on a pedestal, was a massive, glowing blue orb. It pulsed softly with an inner light, as if alive, and Ren couldn't help but be drawn to it.
Kai gestured to the orb.
"This is a teleportation room. It'll take us to the other side of the academy in an instant. The campus is far too large to walk across in a reasonable amount of time, so these rooms are scattered throughout the academy for convenience."
Ren nodded, a small smile crossing his face.
He had encountered teleportation magic before, though he hadn't used it much in recent years.
He was familiar with its mechanics—how the energy was woven through the air to create portals to distant locations.
But seeing the teleportation orb in person still filled him with a sense of wonder.
Kai placed his hand on the surface of the orb, and after a moment's pause, the orb began to hum.
The soft glow of blue light intensified, swirling like liquid light before it condensed into a swirling vortex at the center.
Ren stepped forward, watching with awe as Kai looked over his shoulder and said, "You ready?"
Ren nodded again, feeling a slight excitement building within him. "Let's go."
With that, they both stepped into the orb's glowing light, and in an instant, the world around them vanished, replaced by a new, unfamiliar scene.
Kai's voice broke through Ren's focus as he stood before the massive gate that separated them from the Live Training Area: Lot 4.
"This is a special area I rented out for today," Kai explained, nodding toward the gate that loomed before them.
"I realized you haven't had much practice with proper terrain, and it would be more beneficial than simulating everything inside the training room."
Ren raised an eyebrow, impressed by the amount of effort Kai had put into this.
The room they had been training in for the past week had been impressive, but this was something entirely different. Kai handed him a file, and Ren took it eagerly.
Inside the file, Ren found several documents detailing 50 different types of monsters.
The creatures were classified by danger level, habitat, and fighting characteristics.
Each monster had its own page, with notes on behavior, weaknesses, and strengths.
Kai continued speaking, his tone shifting slightly to one of seriousness.
"I believe it's time for you to have a real battle, with proper terrain and live opponents. This is part of your growth, Ren. Combat isn't just about technique. You need to learn how to think, adapt, and respond in a constantly changing environment."
Ren flipped through the list of monsters, his mind working quickly as he processed the details of each creature.
Some were familiar to him, but others were entirely new. His rare intelligence rank allowed him to absorb the information quickly, so he memorized the basic details of each monster without much trouble.
Kai's voice cut through his concentration again.
"Your objective is simple. Find the monsters in the forest, and kill them. I won't tell you which types you'll encounter, as this is a test of your ability to think on your feet."
Ren nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and determination.
As he read through the papers more thoroughly, taking in the information, he realized this wasn't just about raw strength. Kai wanted to see how he would handle himself in a real combat scenario—how he would utilize his skills, strategy, and the terrain to overcome threats.
Taking a deep breath, Ren closed the file and tucked it under his arm.
The adrenaline began to rise within him. His training had prepared him for many things, but this felt different. This was going to be a real test of everything he had learned so far.
"Understood," Ren said, his voice steady and focused. "I'm ready."
Kai gave him a sharp nod, his expression unreadable. "Good. Then let's see what you've got."
With that, he opened the massive gate, revealing a sprawling forest beyond.
The air was thick with the scent of pine, and the sounds of distant creatures echoed faintly from within.
The forest stretched out before Ren, filled with unknown dangers. He couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation.
This was the kind of challenge he had been waiting for.
Ren's grip tightened on the hilt of his greatsword as he approached the edge of the dense forest, his senses alert and every nerve on edge.
The towering trees and thick underbrush of the Live Training Area: Lot 4 gave him the impression of an untouched wilderness, a stark contrast to the controlled environment of the academy. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and the distant calls of unknown creatures echoed through the canopy.
He moved carefully, each step deliberate as he surveyed the terrain, his eyes scanning for any movement.
His senses were heightened now, not just from the training he had endured under Kai, but from the knowledge that this was no longer a controlled sparring match—this was the real deal.
As Ren walked deeper into the forest, he instinctively moved behind a large tree, peering around its trunk to assess the situation.
He could see it clearly—a beast unlike anything he had encountered before. A creature that matched the description in the file, one of the Aura Beasts.
This particular one resembled a massive wolf, but there was something distinctly unnerving about it.
Two heads. Each head, large and menacing, was scanning the area with an almost intelligent precision, their glowing eyes shifting from side to side.
The creature's fur was dark, like the night, and its body rippled with raw muscle—built for speed and strength. But what truly set this creature apart was the aura that seemed to swirl around it, an ethereal presence that radiated from its body like a shroud.
Ren knew the legend of the Aura Beasts.
These creatures were not mere animals—they were part beast, part elemental force. Some of them could manipulate aura, mana, or spirit, depending on their type.
This one seemed to be a hybrid, its dual heads scanning the surroundings with a sharpness that suggested it was aware of its environment, aware that it might be being watched.
Ren's fingers tightened on the grip of his sword, but he remained still, analyzing the beast's movements.
He could sense the aura leaking from the wolf-like creature—it was powerful, brimming with raw energy, but also unpredictable.
It wasn't just its physical strength that made it dangerous; it was the aura it wielded with such ease.
The two-headed wolf's noses twitched as it sniffed the air, its bodies shifting slightly in Ren's direction, as if it sensed something.
Ren froze, not daring to make a sound, his aura carefully contained so as not to give away his position. The creature's eyes flicked toward him, and for a moment, time seemed to slow as they locked onto each other.
Ren's heart raced.
It knows I'm here.
This was no ordinary creature.
The file had warned him that these beasts were unpredictable, often able to react to an opponent's aura and movements with alarming precision. Ren took a slow, steadying breath, focusing on his own aura.
He needed to remain calm and think clearly—he had trained for this moment.
He weighed his options carefully. Do I engage now, or wait for it to make the first move?