I stand in Leo's backyard, the trees casting shadows that envelop us in a cool embrace. Leo clears his throat, his voice resonating with authority. "Listen up, everyone. I'm about to teach you the three fundamental principles of aura. These will be your foundation for the future."
The first technique, Harding, is explained. Leo emphasizes the importance of using a refined method when covering body parts with aura to enhance strength. He clarifies that the principle is similar, but there's a crucial difference. Leo's version is akin to wearing a gauntlet of aura, while the correct approach is to reinforce the body. The aura should penetrate every pore, blood vessel, bone, and muscle.
Next, Leo introduces condensation. This technique involves condensing aura reserves within oneself. Over time, it gradually improves the quality of aura, making attacks more potent and requiring less energy.
Finally, Leo presents the most challenging technique: the voice of all things. It demands complete mental clarity, relaxation, and an open aura to the world. By achieving this state, one merges with nature, becoming aware of surroundings, dodging attacks without looking, and sensing everything within a certain radius. Rumors suggest that advancing this technique can even allow one to sense emotions, and mastering it enables hearing the thoughts of others.
Despite their foundational nature, these techniques are not easy to master. They require time, patience, and unwavering dedication. Leo poses a question, challenging us to assess our readiness. Will we push ourselves to the limit daily, overcoming obstacles and pushing beyond our limits? With a determined look in his eyes, I respond with a resounding "Yes!" My heart fills with resolve. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to learn from Leo.
Grinning, Leo continues, "You'll be waking up at six every morning, and I expect you to be outside at six thirty." We're going to embark on a three-mile jog, followed by a grueling session of one thousand push-ups and two thousand crunches. Then, you'll attempt to master the art of hardening at the designated time of one-tell-three. During this phase, you'll switch to condensing your aura. At the signal of six, you'll take a break for the day. But there's more to this training regimen. We'll also focus on honing the voice of all things. You'll begin to understand the significance of this when you can successfully perform Harding for five minutes and only then can you condense your aura. I nod in agreement. Leo stands up and says, "Well, let's start training in the morning. I suggest you explore the village and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. I have a meeting to attend to. I'll return around nine. I nod and watch him walk away before grabbing my poke balls and bringing out my Pokémon. With a swift and dazzling flash of red light, Monferno, Dreepy, and Ditto materialize. "Hey guys, they all rush over excitedly. I chuckle and pat their heads. "I know, I miss you. That was a close call, so let's train diligently to ensure that never happens again. They nod in agreement, and a determined gleam fills their eyes. "Alright, guys, let's create a new training schedule. Monferno, I want you to channel all your focus into training your body. When Leo returns, I'll ask him to procure some weighted clothing for you. Dreepy, I want you to concentrate on honing your confusion ray, sucker punch, and speed. I'll also get you weighted clothing. Don't worry about it. And Ditto, I want you to try to work on that idea we had a while back about transforming your body into a more rubber-like substance and expanding the range of your stretching. They nod in determination and head off to train. "Wait, I grin. All that being said, let's go celebrate first. Their eyes widen in surprise and excitement. I chuckle and pick them up. "Let's go. I step out of the backyard and head into the village, awed by the sight of a village being governed by Pokémon. I take a moment to explore. Before I spot a food stall run by a Rattata wearing a chef's hat, I approach and hand over the money Leo gave me. I buy four servings of grilled chicken and divide them equally among all of us." I take a bite and savor the juicy flavor that explodes in my mouth. Wow, that's incredible! I relish the taste and stroll down the street, passing by game stalls where Pokémon are playing. I spot Monferno eyeing a game suspiciously, as if asking, "Want to play, like whack a mole?" He nods excitedly, and I approach him, buying a round of the game. I hand him the hammer and watch him go to town, his score rapidly increasing before the game concludes. He approaches me, basking in his victory. I chuckle and pat him on the back. "What should we do next?" I notice Ditto pointing to a stand filled with enticing-looking berries. "Want one?" he nods eagerly, and I buy one, handing it to him. I watch him munch on it contentedly. What about you, Dreepy? If you're up for something now, it's the perfect time. Dreepy looks around and points at a stall selling sunglasses. "You want one?" he nods, and I purchase a pair for him, placing it on his face. "You look great!" I admire his new look. I spot a Smeargle painting people's portraits nearby. "What do you think, guys?" The others nod in agreement, and we line up to pay. The Smeargle gets to work painting rapidly, and with a flourish, he shows us a group portrait of all of us, each with a smile on our faces. "Wow, it looks so lifelike!" I exclaim in awe. Dreepy nods in agreement. I take the painting and we begin our walk as the sun starts to set, casting a dull golden light over the street. Alright, guys, you better be ready because we're going to train as hard as we can. So, let's get it, are we the best? They cheer in agreement, basking in the golden light of the setting sun.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and had a fantastic weekend.