Chapter—The Forms of Aura
The dungeon echoed with the familiar rhythm of battle.
Steel rang against stone. Aura flared and folded in practiced harmony. The air trembled as coordinated attacks struck the monster from multiple angles—no wasted movement, no hesitation.
Aurafiest fought as one.
Liod controlled the flow, his strikes precise and efficient. Shuri's blasts cut through the monster's defenses with refined accuracy. Uno and Chika supported flawlessly, covering openings before they even fully appeared. Marin moved like a blade of living light, her Aura Creator abilities shaping the battlefield itself.
And Luke—
Luke stayed exactly where he needed to be. Not dominant. Not weak. Just enough.
The monster roared once—then collapsed.
Silence followed.
The dungeon core dimmed, its glow fading as the victory registered.
Aurafiest stood united
Wins the dungeon.
For a moment, it felt like before.
Evelyn Cross, who had remained at a distance throughout the fight, clapped once—slowly.
"Efficient," she said. "Disciplined. Predictable."
Marin turned toward her, wiping sweat from her brow.
"If you think it was predictable," Marin said, "why didn't you join the fight?"
Evelyn's expression didn't change.
"I'm not interested in clearing trash," she replied calmly. "I'm interested in strong contenders."
The words settled heavily.
"I'm always interested in Auramaster," Evelyn continued. "So tell me—if you met Auramaster Auron, do you really believe you could defeat him… or even save or capture him?"
No one answered.
The dungeon felt colder.
Liod broke the silence.
"How would we even know?" he asked. "Auramaster sightings are rare. His power can't be predicted or measured."
Evelyn nodded slightly.
"Good," she said. "Then come with me.I show you something."
Luke's chest tightened.
She's testing us, he thought. No—she's testing something else.
They followed her.
---
The Training Ground
They traveled for a long while, exiting the dungeon system and moving across a quiet region far from civilian zones.
Along the way, they encountered Vielbond.
Arika looked between the group and Evelyn.
"What's going on?" she asked Marin. "Where are you all heading?"
Marin hesitated—then replied carefully.
"We're checking our strength."
She introduce Evelyn and tell that she will show us something about our aura.
She didn't mention that it was all for identifying Auramaster as it is secret.
Arika asked whether they can join them,since they can also stength power.
Klare asked"Evelyn I know you dont know us but can we join your training"in very low voice.
Evelyn glanced at Vielbond once.
"They can join," she said. "More people means more practice."
Eventually, they reached a wide, open facility.
Dozens of punching bags stood in rows, each connected to a glowing aura-reading meter.
Evelyn turned to them.
"Release your aura to the puching bag."
One by one, they complied.
The readings appeared—exactly as expected.
Shuri.
Liod.
Uno.
Chika.
Marin.
Luke carefully released his aura—only what an average one-star should emit.
Evelyn observed silently.
Then she spoke.
"What you see here," she said, "is your displayed aura output. Not your true potential."
Everyone looked at her and noded.
"Aura can be increased," Evelyn continued, "without pushing your limits."
Arika frowned. "Without forcing our aura?"
"Yes," Evelyn replied. "Through technique.Its my turn lets me demonstrate."
She stepped forward.
At first, she released her aura normally.
The meter displayed: Average 3-Star.
"As expected," She muttered.
Luke watched closely.
Her control is precise, he realized. She's choosing what to show as he does.
"Now," Evelyn said, "watch again."
She drew her arm back—slowly.
Her palm opened.
Her aura condensed.
Then she thrust her hand forward, as if throwing a ball.
The meter spiked.
Average 5-Star.
Gasps rippled through the group.
Evelyn lowered her arm.
"As you can see I didn't push my limit," she said calmly. "I changed the output method."
She explained,
"Instead of releasing aura outward, I condensed it—then projected it forward. In combat, posture and motion matter,you can see how much difference a technique can make."
Luke's eyes lit up.
They tried.
One by one, they followed her instructions.
The results stunned them.
Each person's reading climbed—far beyond their normal category.
Luke stayed silent.
Thinking.
Aura spheres are usually released with one hand…
What if…
Evelyn noticed.
"Luke," she said. "You've been thinking for a while."
Luke hesitated.
"I'm questioning a tactic," he replied honestly. "I don't know if it will work."
Evelyn gestured forward.
"Try,then you will get to know about yourself more."
Luke stepped up.
He released his aura—still controlling it as average one-star.
Then he raised both hands.
Pulled them back.
Condensed the aura.
And released.
The meter flashed violently.
Average 4-Star.
Everyone froze.
Luke stared at the meter, uneasy.
I didn't increase my aura… then why
That much—
Evelyn clapped.
"That is power of aura," she said, "This is called observation and understanding."
She explained to the group,
"Using both hands doubled the control and direction. But it also doubled the cost and time."
Luke nodded slowly.
"It consumes more aura," he said. "And it's slower."
"Correct," Evelyn replied. "Power always has a price."
She turned to the others.
"Now try."
They did.
Every reading rose—up to four times their usual output.
"Do you see the difference now?" Evelyn asked.
"Aura is not limited to one form. Spheres. Rings. Shields. Barriers. Tactics change everything.
And barrier or aura healing ring can be maked more stronger with more technique"
Marin and Klare both observe a point but Klare feel shy to asked but Marin raised the question.
"You said different tactics can create different forms. What do you mean exactly?"
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"Aura sphere is just one shape,which is easiest," she said.
"Aura flame. Aura ring. Aura shield. All are aura—used differently."
Everyone leaned forward.
Uno exclaimed, "So aura have have mire forms!"
Then asked"Can you show as any one we don't know?"
Evelyn exhaled.
"Only one "
She stepped forward.
Raised one hand.
The other supported her wrist.
She concentrated.
Time stretched.
After nearly a minute—
A blue aura flame burst from the ground and slammed into a punching bag.
The impact shook the field.
Evelyn staggered slightly and took a deep breath.
"This," she said, breathing hard, "is Aura Flame."
"It requires extreme concentration. If an average user attempts it, they may lose their aura for the rest of the day."
Silence followed.
Shuri finally asked,
"Who taught you all this?"
Evelyn ignored the question trying to avoid answer.
"Aura has endless possibilities," she said instead. "You'll discover more as you grow."
She straightened.
"That's enough for today.I am too tired for today"
Klare asked if Vielbond could train there occasionally.
"Yes," Evelyn replied. "Just inform me before."
They left.
---
That night, Luke hovered over the city as Auron.
When he returned home, he asked quietly,
"Auru… Koru… do you think I can use Aura Flame?"
Koru replied.
"You lack method. But potential? Yes."
Auru agreed gently.
"It will take time."
Then words of evelyn linger in his mind.
Try, then you will get to know about yourself more.
Luke tried.
He copied Evelyn's posture.
Held his hand.
Concentrated.
A minute passed.
Nothing.
He sighed .
"I think I need more practice."
Koru said "I said you before Lets go inside I am feeling sleepy."
They returned .
But after he left—
A faint aura flame flickered, then vanished.
Luke never saw it.
But something had changed.
For the first time—
Luke understood.
Aura was not just power.
It was form.
And he had only just begun to learn how to shape it.
End if Chapter.