"Harma? Well, it was about time his illness became noticeable to the public eye," he remarked with indifference. Hanz Choff, the CEO of Harma Producer Co., was a significant entrepreneur in the industry. His company, specializing in Artificial Artifact development, had amassed profits in the billions.
"Since he was fighting the poison in his body for quite some time, but as his age took its effects on him, his resistance towards it also reduced significantly. After battling for a few years on the ventilator, he lost, as there was no cure for it," he explained.
Hanz wasn't too old; in fact, he had turned sixty this year. However, his body was already weakened. He fought against Trage dea poison, which translated to "Slow death." It was a cruel poison, not causing immediate death but progressing slowly and painfully. It first attacked the immune system, weakened it, increased the intensity of pain receptors, and then gradually rotted the victim's organs, leading them towards a slow demise.
"Whatever happens to him isn't that important, but it will cause an uproar in the company since he is the pillar of it. Not only in the company, but it will also make a dent in the stock market. The market would be in an uproar right now if I check it," he said, predicting the future based on the novel's prophecy.
He himself didn't care much since it wasn't a major event in the novel, but it would be helpful for Daven to earn money through it, as it was for Lloyd. He couldn't help but smile greedily with an evil grin, imagining the amount of money that would flow into his account.
"I want to buy their stocks right now, but I will hold off from acting on impulse. The stocks have fallen a solid 10% down, but I gotta wait for the right opportunity to act upon," he said, resisting the temptation of immediate action.
The stock price of Harma Productions was at its ten-year low, but that was only the beginning. As time passed and people, along with investors, confirmed that he wouldn't be able to get out of the ventilator, that would be the moment to buy the stocks. At that time, the valuation of the company would be halved.
"Let's just wait and watch the show, let the story unfold by itself," he said.
With that thought, he turned off the TV and went to sleep.
-----
Another fifteen days passed, and he was now very close to ascending to being a 2-star aurar.
"You will ascend today, so sit in the lotus position and focus on scattering your aura, letting it exude naturally," Alaya instructed him as he was about to ascend at any moment.
He sat down in the lotus position, cross-legged with his feet placed on the opposing thighs, and his spine straight. He breathed evenly and focused on his aura, letting it circulate naturally.
'Boy ohh boy! Two stars now, that's certainly quick. It might have taken about a year if it weren't for Naya and Alaya,' he credited his growth to the rightful people.
Both Naya and Alaya had played equally important roles. If Alaya wasn't there to teach him from scratch and create a sustainable training plan for gradual growth, he wouldn't have reached 2 stars in just half a year. And if Naya wasn't there providing the best kind of assistance, he wouldn't be ready to attend the next day of gruelling training.
The aura he suppressed was now emanating into the atmosphere, spreading throughout the training ground. A yellow hue formed around him due to the high concentration of aura in the air.
"Just keep going calmly like this, empty your reserve. Last time was a miscalculation and bad luck, but it won't happen again..." She said sternly, preparing him for the ascension.
The process of ascension involved meditating and emptying out all of the stored aura. In Lloyd's case, what happened last time was simply bad luck, and they managed to make him progress smoothly. If something had gone wrong and he didn't make it in time, he would have died instantly.
The reason behind emptying his reserve was to ensure the beastial aura wouldn't expand his aura heart and make it burst due to being pushed out by the beastial aura.
'Well, I don't want to go through that either; I can still feel the sensation as if it happened yesterday...' He thought to himself.
Now, as he completely exhausted his reserve, he meditated and waited for the aura burst to occur and expel it from his body.
The position he was in right now might be the most vulnerable since he exhausted his aura and didn't have much strength in himself to do anything else, so Alaya watched over him.
"Focus on your Di's; see the map of Di spreading the aura throughout your body," she instructed.
Just as ordered, he did and observed his Di's pathway spreading throughout him. Although it wasn't directly related to ascension, it was to familiarize himself with his pathways.
He kept on meditating. Hours had passed by, and there wasn't the slightest change in anything. Everything remained the same.
"Umm? Are we sure that it's gonna happen today? It's already night outside, I assume," his face showed an expression mixed with confusion and concern.
"Don't worry, just keep on going." She patted his back, addressing his thoughts and helping console his concerns.
'Well...Seriously, I was all hyped up and excited like a dog seeing its owner wagging its tail but now.... I'm losing all hope for today,' his mood was pretty much ruined, and he didn't have any more hope. His face showed obvious signs of disappointment.
"Don't be in a sour mood now. It's bound to happen, if not today, then tomorrow," she cheered him up, noticing the frown on his face.
A few more hours passed, and just as he was losing hope for today, he felt it! He felt the sensation—a burning and raging feeling within him.
*****
Thanks, ImSadge for giving an honest review. I didn't threaten him I only put the barrel of my gun inside his mouth playfully.
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