The morning sun streamed through the Guild's gym windows, illuminating the dust particles suspended in the air like tiny golden fragments of aura. Ryan, drenched in sweat, panted heavily after another sequence of clashes against Ethan and Ryu. The ground shook with every impact, the metallic ring of blades echoing, followed by the grunts of the three young heroes.
But suddenly, Ryan stopped.
He looked at his own hand, fingers still trembling from the last vibration.
"Hey…" he muttered, low but firm enough to catch their attention. "Have you guys ever wondered… what the Primordial Aura really is?"
Ryu frowned, scratching the back of his neck before flashing a smug grin."Isn't that obvious? It's like our ki, right?" he said, striking a pose like a Dragon Ball character, pulling a laugh from Ryan.
Ethan, however, raised an eyebrow. His eyes reflected something beyond the joke. Adjusting his glasses—though he didn't really need them—he replied calmly.
Ryu smirked."Where the hell did you even get those glasses, man?"
But Ethan shot him a sharp look, delivering a dry, cutting line."Shut up, Ryu."
He then continued, sounding like a professor."According to one of my grandfather's books… the Primordial Aura is the original essence of life and power. The energy within the core of every living being. From it, all other powers are born—Chaos, Darkness, Light, Fire, Storm… they're just branches."
Ryan's eyes widened. He pulled out a small, crumpled notebook and began scribbling."I see… but…" He looked up, intrigued. "What's its flow like?"
Ethan smiled faintly, pleased at Ryan's curiosity."You're surprisingly curious today. Alright… I'll try to explain."
Almost without warning, Ethan dragged over a makeshift board leaning against the wall. Ryu burst into laughter."Oh my God, you brought a board?!" He collapsed on the floor, laughing uncontrollably.
"Shut it, idiot, and pay attention." Ethan cleared his throat, holding a piece of chalk like a sage.
Then, he began drawing circles and crooked lines as he explained:
🌌 The Flow of the Primordial Aura
"First, internal origin." He pointed to the central circle."It's born from the vital core of each being—like the first heartbeat or the spark of the soul. It doesn't come from outside sources like sunlight or Chaos energy. It's always been within."
Ryan jotted notes furiously, while Ryu pretended to nap in the corner.
"Second, natural expansion. The aura flows outward in smooth, invisible waves, feeding body, mind, and spirit."
He drew ripples around the circle.
"Third, harmonious rhythm. Aura pulses with breathing, heartbeats—even the rhythm of the universe itself. Those who touch this essence feel like they're breathing with the world."
Ryan's eyes gleamed with fascination."So that's why I felt something different fighting Darius-sensei… his flow felt… conscious."
Ethan nodded."Exactly. Fourth, interconnection." He sketched several lines connecting smaller circles."Every living being has its own aura, but all are connected—like threads of an invisible web."
Ryu yawned."This is starting to sound like philosophy class…"
"Shut up and learn," Ethan shot back without missing a beat."Finally, manifestation. Once mastered, aura can expand to heal, create, protect… or focus into devastating attacks. But at its core, it is always purity and balance."
He dropped the chalk and turned dramatically."In short, the flow of Primordial Aura is like a serene river. Follow the current, and you gain strength and clarity. Fight against it… and you lose yourself."
Ryan slowly closed his notebook, absorbing every word. Then Ethan grew serious, pointing at him.
"But the Reversum is the opposite. Instead of expanding, it contracts. Instead of harmonizing, it denies. That's why it feels like you don't have aura, Ryan. In truth… your aura is Zero. An absolute Zero."
Silence weighed heavy. Ryan clutched his notebook to his chest."I understand…"
Ryu stood, stretching."Alright, enough lecture. Let's get back to training."
But before they could resume sparring, a voice echoed across the gym.
"Hmmm… I see you've finally decided to use more than brute force and tried to understand essence."
Darius entered with firm steps, arms crossed, wearing a confident smile. His gaze carried authority, but also pride.
"Sensei!" Ryu exclaimed, almost blurting out a "Uncle."
"Do you have something to teach us about this?" Ryan asked eagerly.
Darius arched a brow, amused by their excitement."Of course. In fact, it's something I learned from Lorien himself."
"What?!" Ryan and Ryu nearly jumped in excitement.
Ethan only fixed his hair, unimpressed."Pfft… you didn't even invent this. You're just repeating what you heard."
Darius widened his eyes and smirked."Look at you, Ethan… you're more and more like your father, Inavy."
The other two burst out laughing, shattering the tension. But soon Darius grew serious again.
"What I'm about to teach you is the Harmony of the Primordial Aura."
Ethan inhaled deeply."In the U.S., Dante already showed us a glimpse of that… but it was rushed."
Ryu shook his head."No, Ethan. That was only Natural Aura."
Darius smiled in confirmation."Correct. Now, listen carefully."
The Harmony Training
"For you two," he said, pointing to Ethan and Ryu:
Deep Meditation. Silence body and mind until you feel the spark of life.
Core Breathing. Inhale as if breathing with the universe itself.
Pure Emotions. Courage, hope, love, sacrifice—the more genuine, the stronger the link.
Trial of Altruism. Use your essence not for yourself, but to protect someone. Only then can you awaken conscious aura.
Then, his voice grew heavier as he turned to Ryan."But for you… your training will be different."
A chill ran down Ryan's spine."What… do you mean?"
"You must learn to master the Reversive Face."
He paced slowly, explaining:
Silence of the Void. Instead of expanding, you must emit nothing. Accept nothingness as essence.
Control of Negation. Begin by erasing small things—flames, water, opponents' aura.
Mental Balance. The greatest risk is being consumed by emptiness. You must face your traumas head-on.
Trial of Identity. Prove that Reversum is not only destruction… but part of who you are.
Ryan swallowed hard, but lifted his chin, determined."I'll do it."
Training began. Ethan and Ryu sat cross-legged, breathing in rhythm. Slowly, tiny golden sparks flickered around them—embers of life itself.
Meanwhile, Ryan stood before Darius, who unleashed devastating strikes. Each technique was an earthquake, each blow a tidal wave of aura.
"Focus, Ryan! Don't fight it! Just… negate. Nullify. Reverse!"
Ryan raised his hand, canceling each attack. But each time, the void pulled him deeper, whispering darkly in his mind. His eyes trembled, his palms sweated.
Still, he resisted.
"Annie…" he whispered in thought, tears welling. "We're going to save you. I promise."
And in that instant, for the first time, his invisible aura stabilized. The void no longer felt like an enemy… it felt like part of him.
Training had only just begun.
[End of Chapter 100]