Chapter - 16 [ Aura Control ]
Victor watched as students from other sections stepped out of their classrooms, guided by their respective professors. The professors, as expected, led their students with composed authority.
Every ten years, Heaven Academy underwent a major shift—new professors were hired while the oldest ones retired.
This policy was enforced to maintain balance and encourage innovation, ensuring that fresh ideas and methodologies continued shaping future generations.
This year marked the beginning of such a transition.
At the forefront of the procession was Section A, followed by Sections B, C, D, and E, each moving in a structured order.
Leading Section A was a striking young woman who, despite her youthful appearance, carried an air of wisdom and experience.
Victor estimated her height to be around two meters—an impressive stature that only added to her commanding presence.
Curious, Victor glanced behind, scanning the corridor for the remaining professors. Each instructor leading their class had a distinct presence, making them easy to distinguish.
The professor guiding Section C was an elderly yet lean man, standing at approximately 2.3 meters tall.
His brown hair, streaked with white, suggested age and experience. He carried an elegant gold cane in one hand, a symbol of both authority and refinement.
Further back, the instructor of Section D stood out due to her sheer height—she was even taller than the elderly man, exceeding him by half a head.
Long, flowing red hair cascaded down her back, framing a face with sharp features and striking crimson eyes.
Her expression was one of confidence, and her gaze held a piercing intensity that made even the boldest students hesitate.
Finally, the professor leading Section E was a stark contrast to the others. He was noticeably shorter than the first four instructors, standing at a more conventional height of 1.8 meters.
His youthful face was marred by a long scar that stretched from his chin down to his neck—a mark likely left by an encounter with a crawler.
His short green hair gave him a somewhat casual appearance, making him seem more like a student than a professor.
The stark difference in height among the professors was not a coincidence. It was a known fact that exposure to the rifts' radiation had various effects on people, altering their physical attributes in unpredictable ways.
Most individuals who had been exposed to the radiation experienced significant increases in both height and muscle mass.
However, these effects varied, making some taller and stronger while leaving others unaffected or even altered in unexpected ways.
Despite their youthful appearances, the two female professors were well into their early forties, while Sergey was in his fifties.
The eldest of them, the lean old man, looked every bit his age. Meanwhile, the young-looking professor with green hair remained an enigma; his true age was difficult to guess unless he chose to reveal it himself.
Victor walked alongside the other students as they moved toward the training ground.
The area was a vast open field covered in neatly trimmed green grass. It was located directly behind the academy's main building, offering ample space for physical activities.
To the right of the field stood three additional buildings, each serving a specific purpose.
The first was dedicated to Combat Training, where students honed their battle skills under the supervision of skilled instructors.
The second building housed Medical Practices, where students studied healing techniques and first aid.
The third was reserved for Physical Examination, where students' physical capabilities were assessed and recorded.
"Students, gather!"
A commanding voice rang out across the field.
All eyes turned toward the red-haired woman who had led Section D. She stood with her arms crossed, her piercing gaze scanning the assembled students.
The mere presence of her was enough to silence the crowd as the students quickly organized themselves.
The other professors stood alongside her, forming a line in front of the gathered students.
"As we have explained before, we will be conducting a small competition," the red-haired woman announced, her voice clear and firm. "Anyone is allowed to participate—even the special students, if they wish."
Victor noted how some students exchanged glances upon hearing this. The mention of "special students" always brought a shift in the atmosphere.
Those who possessed exceptional talents or came from influential families were often placed in this category, though it wasn't necessarily a guarantee of strength.
"This will not be a combat competition," she continued. "I've seen footage of many of you—both normal and special students—fighting in the Arena. The truth is, every one of you lacks real experience and proper practice."
At this, a collective sigh of relief came from the weaker students. Many of them had worried about being forced into physical confrontations they were unprepared for.
Meanwhile, the stronger students—those confident in their abilities—looked visibly disappointed.
"Instead," she said, pausing for effect, "we will be testing your Aura control."
As she spoke, a group of staff members arrived, driving small vehicles that carried stacks of solid black wooden blocks.
The blocks were neatly arranged, and their sheer density suggested that breaking them would require more than just brute strength.
"Observe closely," the woman continued. "This is what it means to have proper control over your Aura."
She stepped forward, selecting one of the wooden blocks and placing it on the ground in front of her.
She then took a few steps back, ensuring a distance of three meters between herself and the block.
"Let your Aura condense," she instructed, "and channel it in a way that allows it to penetrate through the wooden block. Once inside, release it and make it burst from within."
Without further warning, her Aura flared to life, radiating a brilliant blood-red glow.
Then, in an instant, the energy shot forward.
At first, it seemed as though nothing had happened. The wooden block remained motionless, untouched.
Then—
Boom!
The block exploded into countless fragments, shattered from the inside out. The entire process had taken no more than five seconds.
Students gasped, their eyes wide with awe. This level of precision was unlike the reckless, uncontrolled bursts of Aura they were used to seeing in amateur fights.
"This will be your competition," she declared, turning back to face the students. "We—the professors—will be your judges."
With a wave of her hand, she gestured toward the staff members, who immediately began setting up the wooden blocks for the participants.
"Now," she continued, "everyone, sit down on the ground. If you wish to participate, stand up when your name is called."
A hushed murmur spread among the students as they settled down. Some were eager to prove themselves, while others hesitated, uncertain of their own abilities.
A faint smile appeared on Victor's face. He hadn't imagined that the training he did at home would be used in a competition.
Well, it was true that training in that way had greatly improved his aura control.
---
The professors called the students one after another, asking whether they wanted to participate or not.
Victor wasn't surprised when not a single special student agreed to take part.
Even he shook his head and remained seated on the ground. All he did was offer a few words of encouragement to Morgan and Narmadi, urging them to do their best.
As for their success, that would depend entirely on their own capabilities.
Morgan's turn came. She stepped forward and stood before the wooden block, steadying her breath. The professors' gazes locked onto her figure, scrutinizing every movement.
Bam!
As she released her aura, a faint blue mist seeped from her body, swirling around her like an ethereal tide. The air around her grew dense, the energy shifting in response to her control.
She concentrated, gathering her aura into the shape of a spear, its form flickering like a mirage.
With a sharp thrust, she sent it forward. The moment it connected, the tip of the spear pierced into the wooden block, embedding itself deep within.
The force behind her strike caused the wood to tremble slightly, though it remained intact for a brief moment.
Then, with a controlled burst, the block shattered—not into fine dust, but into large, uneven fragments.
The lingering aura dispersed into the air, a clear sign that she had lacked the necessary density to make a complete internal explosion.
It was more difficult than it seemed. Very few students had managed to penetrate the wood at all.
Most of them unintentionally destroyed it from the outside, failing to meet the competition's criteria.
Through this, they all learned an important lesson— their control over their aura was severely lacking. No amount of theoretical knowledge could substitute for practical experience.
The red-haired female professor nodded in approval, her sharp eyes analyzing the performance.
"Much better than most," she commented. "Your aura density is weak. Focus more on meditation."
Her advice was concise but meaningful. She had given similar suggestions to many students, though most had failed to impress her. This was a common occurrence every year, but she still hoped to see change.
"Next, Narmadi."
Narmadi rose to her feet, walking with steady steps toward the wooden block. A flicker of determination passed through her eyes, but deep down, she had already concluded that she lacked the necessary power.
Even so, she refused to hold back.
She channeled her aura, and a silver glow emerged around her. Compared to Morgan, her aura control was visibly more refined.
Instead of rushing her attack, she carefully guided her energy, weaving it into a concentrated force.
She struck.
A sharp crack echoed as the wooden block split into two clean halves.
Unlike the others who had caused chaotic destruction, her precision was remarkable.
However, it was evident that she lacked the raw power to make the block explode entirely.
"You have good aura control," the professor remarked. "But, like the others, your aura density is insufficient. The academy will provide better meditation techniques in time."
Her final words weren't just for Narmadi but for all the students.
"Next…"
Victor silently observed. From what he had seen, most students couldn't even penetrate the wooden block.
It wasn't surprising—many of them had only recently awakened their aura and had barely begun training.
That was precisely why the Aura Manifestation Institution existed—to help students refine their control and build their strength.
The competition stretched on for hours, with only one student performing at a time. Most results were predictable, with only a few students showing potential.
Then came a name that caught everyone's attention.
"Next, Bahadur Shere."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the students.
The Emperor's youngest son had been called.
No one expected him to accept, but to their surprise, he stepped forward without hesitation.
Victor narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
'This is interesting.'
His gaze followed the young prince as he positioned himself before the students and professors.
Bahadur Shere's movements were calm, his demeanor unshaken. As he faced the wooden block, his body relaxed, his breathing controlled. His dark eyes reflected neither doubt nor nervousness.
Then—
"Ha!"
A soft yet powerful cry escaped his lips.
In an instant, his presence exploded like a burning sun. A thick black smoke coiled around him, twisting like living shadows.
Bright flashes of energy flickered within the darkness, resembling light reflecting off a blade.
Victor's expression shifted slightly. This aura…
Shere Khan raised his left hand, palm facing upward. Without moving his stance, he flicked his index and thumb fingers toward the wooden block.
The air trembled.
A harsh sound—like the roar of a raging hailstorm mixed with distant human cries—filled the training ground.
A black aura lashed out, a force so overwhelming that it seemed as if the wooden block would shatter before the energy even touched it.
Yet, it didn't.
The block remained still, unfazed by the violent energy that surrounded it.
Then, Shere Khan uttered a single word.
"Burn."
His voice rang like the pluck of a taut string, resonating deep within the minds of those present.
The next moment—
The wooden block ignited from within. Black flames, sinister and consuming, devoured it whole. It didn't explode. It didn't break.
It turned to dust.
A deathly silence followed.
As the last traces of the burning block faded, Shere Khan briefly turned his gaze toward Novaria.
A silent message passed between them. His eyes carried a clear warning, and his actions left no room for doubt.
The red-haired female professor, Marin Phoenix, watched with interest. A rare flicker of admiration crossed her features.
"Excellent control and precise power."
Her words were simple, but they carried weight. What Shere Khan had just demonstrated was far more aggressive than her own earlier example.
Yet everyone knew—Marin Phoenix hadn't shown her true strength.
She was a top Second-Tier Aura Grade User, a renowned professor, and a high-ranking member of the Phoenix family.
It was said that she could infuse her aura into a single needle and kill a crawler instantly.
Shere Khan turned toward the professors and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Miss Marin."
Then, without another word, he walked back to his place in Section D.
Despite his display of skill, he knew better than to be arrogant. He still had much to learn, and Marin Phoenix would be their Aura Control instructor for the year.
Her guidance would be invaluable.
The professor's eyes swept across the gathered students. Without missing a beat, she called the next name.
"Next…"