Chapter —Winter Hometown and Showdown.
The music resonance incident slowly faded from public discussion, but its effects did not.
As autumn slipped away, winter arrived early across Japan. Cold winds swept through cities and towns alike, covering rooftops in pale frost and forcing schools to announce extended winter vacations. For most students, it was a season of rest.
For Luke, it became a return to a place he hadn't truly visited in years—his hometown.
It was a quiet town compared to the city. Smaller population. Narrow roads. Fewer guild branches. Fewer high-category aura users. Life there still moved slowly, as if the world's rapid transformation had not fully reached it yet.
Luke traveled with his parents on a cold morning train. The familiar scenery outside the window stirred memories he hadn't thought about in a long time. Fields. Old houses. A river cutting through the town like a silver line.
At the station, they were welcomed warmly.
His elder sister stood near the platform, waving with a bright smile. Beside her was her husband, a calm man with a sturdy build, and between them stood their young son, holding his father's finger and staring at the train with wide curiosity.
Luke smiled faintly.
His sister was an average two-star aura user, nothing exceptional, but respected enough in town. Her husband was slightly stronger—a four-star, working part-time with a local guild's logistics division. Their son's aura category hadn't been defined yet. He was still too young.
Standing slightly apart was another familiar face.
Shuri.
Luke's cousin sister.
She stood confidently with her arms crossed, long hair tied neatly, her expression filled with unmistakable pride. Shuri was an Aura Blaster – Category 1, one of the highest-ranked aura users in the entire hometown. In a place where even three-star users were rare, she was practically a local celebrity.
"About time you all arrived," Shuri said with a grin. "The whole station feels smaller when I'm waiting here."
Luke said nothing, offering only a polite nod.
On the way home, packed inside the car, Shuri didn't stop talking.
"You know," she began loudly, "last month I cleared a guild mission solo. Aura density was insane. Even the officers were shocked."
She glanced toward Luke as if expecting admiration.
"I mean, Aura Blaster One isn't something you see every day, especially here. People like us have responsibility, you know?"
Luke stared out the window.
Shuri was the kind of person who truly loved power—not for protection or balance, but for the way it placed her above others. She praised strength, respected rank, and believed aura category defined a person's worth.
Luke understood that mindset far too well.
At home, after a brief rest and a warm lunch, Shuri continued.
"Back in the city, competition must be fierce, right?" she said. "But here, people look up to me. When something happens, they expect me to handle it."
She smiled proudly.
Luke remained quiet.
His stay was short—only two days. To make the most of it, his family planned a small evening picnic by the riverside. It was a local spot, peaceful and open, with cold wind flowing gently over the water.
As dusk settled, the riverside glowed faintly under streetlights. Families gathered. Children played. The atmosphere was calm.
Too calm.
Shuri, unable to resist attention, stepped closer to the river.
"Watch this," she said, raising her hand.
A shimmering aura sphere formed in her palm—controlled, precise. With a flick of her wrist, she threw it into the water. The sphere exploded harmlessly, sending ripples across the surface.
A few people clapped.
Shuri smiled wider.
Then—
A scream.
Sharp. Desperate.
Everyone turned.
From behind the trees near the far end of the riverside, a woman stumbled forward, fear written across her face. A man gripped her hair roughly, pulling her back.
"Come on," he snarled. "Don't make this difficult."
Behind him stood two others—his teammates.
Luke's sister stiffened.
"That man…" she whispered. "He's not from here."
Luke felt it instantly.
Aura Destroyer – Category 3.
The man's aura was aggressive, unstable, and heavy. His teammates weren't much weaker. Compared to the people at the riverside, they were overwhelmingly strong.
The woman struggled.
"Let me go! Someone help!"
The man laughed and tightened his grip.
"No one here can stop me."
Shuri froze.
Her earlier confidence vanished. Aura Blaster One or not, she was outnumbered—and inexperienced in real combat.
People stepped back.
No one moved.
Luke's chest tightened.
Anger surged through him, raw and uncontrollable. His aura stirred instinctively, pressing against his restraints. He could end this in a second.
But—
He had no disguise.
No mask.
No preparation.
If he revealed himself here, everything would change. His family. His normal life. His promise to himself.
He closed his eyes.
What should I do…?
A cold voice echoed within him.
[System Warning]
If you do not act, you will regret this.
You must understand and use your power.]
Luke clenched his fists.
Before he could respond, another voice spoke—calmer, familiar.
"Luke… I understand."
Auru.
"I can help you."
Luke's breath caught.
"I can disguise you," Auru continued. "A temporary manifestation. An outfit formed from aura resonance. Your presence will be concealed."
Luke hesitated only for a moment.
"Can you really do it?" he whispered.
"Yes," Auru replied. "But I will not be visible. I will only guide you."
Luke turned away quietly, slipping into the dense forested area near the river.
"Tell me how," he said.
"Say the words."
Luke inhaled deeply.
"Auru… unify."
The world trembled.
Aura surged around him like a storm, weaving itself into form. Blue energy wrapped around his body, shaping fabric, armor, and a flowing cloak. A mask formed over his face—smooth, featureless, hiding his identity completely.
His eyes glowed a deep, radiant blue.
When Luke stepped out of the shadows, the air itself reacted.
Back at the riverside, the man lost his patience.
"Enough!"
He raised his hand, forming a massive aura sphere.
Suddenly—
A larger, denser aura sphere struck his attack mid-formation, shattering it instantly.
The impact sent him flying backward.
Everyone froze.
All eyes turned toward the direction the attack came from.
A figure walked forward calmly.
Blue eyes. Masked face. A crown-like aura flickering above his head, shifting with the wind. His presence alone pressed down on the area, making even breathing feel heavy.
Tremendous aura.
Unmeasurable.
The man scrambled to his feet, fear replacing arrogance.
"Who… who are you?!"
The masked figure didn't answer.
He stepped between the woman and the attackers.
His voice was cold, steady, absolute.
"Leave her."
Silence followed.
Even the river seemed to pause.
For the first time, Luke stepped forward—not as a student, not as a hidden observer—but as a force the world could not ignore.
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End of Chapter.