Alexander and Hakuri stood facing each other. -For a red aura, yours has quite a bit of potential. Dedicate some time and it will turn orange faster than you think, so hurry up.- Said the Tengu. -Now let's train the use of your aura. First, focus your aura on your legs.- Shura's aura was the same, agitated and as strong as blood. He heard Hakuri but didn't understand, or rather, he couldn't do what was asked. He tried to force the muscles in his legs to channel his aura to the lower part of his body, but it wasn't working; his aura continued to behave the same way, frantic like flames fed by gasoline.
-I see you're not able to do what I instructed.- Said Hakuri. -You awakened your aura just a few days ago fighting those demons, and it already shows strength, but you can't manipulate it yet. It's like a baby standing but unable to walk.- -I thought that by forcing the muscles in my legs, I could manage it like when I was trying to awaken my aura, but it seems that's not how it works.- Alexander replied. -Why don't you show me how it's done in practice?- Hakuri laughed a loud and strong laugh. -Unfortunately, young Shura, I can't reveal my aura to you.- He said. -Come on, Mr. Hakuri, I want to see the true power of a Tengu.- He said in a challenging tone. -Show me the strength you are so proud of.- The tengu laughed even more. -I know what you're trying to do, young Shura, but know that I won't fall for your provocation. What I will do is a demonstration.- He straightened his posture. -But I want you to know that I won't be responsible if you end up shitting your pants.- The air had changed; it was evident to Alexander. The feeling of nervousness he felt, similar to when he saw the ogre demon's aura, the sensation that he was much weaker, like comparing a raindrop to an ocean. A faint aura began to emerge from Hakuri's body, blue flames like those of a gas stove, which seemed so weak they were akin to smoke. -An aura... blue?- Alexander looked at it almost in disbelief. Hakuri took a deep breath. -This is the power... of a tengu!- Hakuri shouted forcefully. His aura intensified instantly, now growing like a true unrivaled inferno. The pressure it emitted was very powerful, strong enough to create a gust of wind that violently shook the treetops. Just being in the presence of such an aura was difficult; the same feeling he had when he encountered the ogre demon returned, the survival instinct, the sensation of all the cells in his body trembling with fear and wanting to run. Even without the bloodthirst that the ogre demon had, it was much more frightening, as if his body would shatter at any moment. After a few seconds, Hakuri dissipated his aura. He approached Shura, who was standing but trembling uncontrollably. -Incredible...- He said in a shaky voice. Hakuri placed his hand on Alexander's shoulder. -Take this as a lesson, young Shura. Be careful whom you challenge.- Explained the tengu. -But I don't understand one thing, your aura was blue, one of the most powerful colors. When I was still injured in my village, a healer from a neighboring town came to heal me, his aura was green, a color below yours, but it was nothing like yours, it didn't even come close.- Said Alexander. Hakuri stepped back a bit. -I understand your doubt, but I also see your lack of knowledge about the power of auras. The difference in power between each color of the aura is different and only increases. You have a red aura, which is the first aura color for everyone; it is weak and unstable. Over time, it will strengthen, become more malleable, and turn orange, showing that the impurities are slowly leaving your aura. It will then turn yellow like gold, showing the growth of your spirit. With more effort and cultivating more power, it turns green like a tree leaf, showing the ascent of your soul's strength. Now we enter the final stages: when your aura turns blue, you will truly be on another level of strength, very few mortals have achieved this feat, showing that not only your spirit but also your body is unique in this world, a power that equals that of a Tengu, a true battle demon.- He explained to the young elf, but he still seemed to have doubts about something. -And the purple aura?- He asked. -The purple aura is truly incredible, even for us tengus. We can't reach that level due to the limit of our spiritual bodies. The only beings capable of possessing such strength are truly powerful; the only spirits with such a color in their aura are dragons and demons.- -Are there dragons? Well, I imagined so, but I thought when it came to aura, you could evolve endlessly, so there's a limitation even for spirits.- -Celestial dragons are the generals of the great gods; they command their armies of spirits. They were molded by the Jade Emperor himself to serve him. They are indeed unparalleled beings.- Explained Hakuri. -You said that some demons can also reach the purple aura. So they are not ordinary demons, are they?- -As you already know, there are four great gods in the sky and the lesser gods who follow them. In the underworld, it is no different, but there is only one great evil god. While the Jade Emperor and the other gods represent creation and the things that exist in the world, this god represents destruction, death, suffering, and the end of the life cycle.- Hakuri's voice changed; now it did not sound like a master explaining the rules of the world to his student, but like a man reporting a catastrophe. -He reigns supreme in the underworld, at the top of a black mountain adorned with thousands of skulls. Infernal flames burn the lost souls that go there while his demons war and kill each other just for their master's amusement. Just as the dragons were created by the Jade Emperor himself, there are seven great demons in the underworld, the great generals of the underworld king. They, like the dragons, are capable of using the purple aura.- -So it's like yin and yang after all. But why do demons come to the mortal world?- -Lesser demons like those you faced can materialize easily in the world, attracted by the carnage and suffering of wars. And as you can see, in this era, war is not lacking. They come to take souls to the underworld, to feed their lord as the worldly servants they are. To combat this, lesser spirits come into the world to help mortals and fight the demons. Any more questions, young Shura?- -Just one. You said that spirits come into the world to help mortals. Is that your mission here?- Once again, Hakuri laughed. -Not, young Shura, I came here to train you; this is not a task for a lesser spirit.- He explained, now the tengu pointed his sword at Alexander. -Now enough questions, young Shura, I came here to train you, and that's what I'll do. The best way to train the aura is by using it. The longer it stays active, the more it will rid itself of the body's impurities.- The tengu activated his bluish aura once again, but it wasn't frantic, extending only a few centimeters from his body. -I will attack you again and again until you can keep up with me. You will stay here for hours, days, and weeks if necessary.- Alexander assumed a comfortable but stable stance, pointing his blade at the Tengu. He called his aura once again, a powerful and frantic red. -But fighting with you for days is not on my schedule. The march to Urazaki continues at dawn, and I can't miss it.- Alexander replied, a challenging smile filling his face. -There is no need to worry about that. Haven't you noticed that since the moment you stepped on this rocky ground, you haven't heard any owl singing at night?- Said Hakuri, which made Alexander widen his eyes. Indeed, he hadn't heard any sound from an owl or any noise in the forest that night illuminated by the moon. -Even with your hearing sharpened by the system, you haven't heard anything until now except my voice. This place we are in is isolated from the external world; here time passes differently. Your marching companions are still asleep and will sleep until I decide you are ready. Here your body doesn't feel hunger exhaustion, or injuries, but it feels the pain and wear of evolution. In short, here we are free to train and fight as much as we want.- They were difficult words to swallow easily, but he understood. He understood the Tengu's purpose for being in front of him and the reason for all this. It was so simple. -I must become strong.- Said Alexander. He took a deep breath, staring the Tengu in the eyes. -This will be interesting.-
-Now come, Shura! - Hakuri shouted, and the elven boy heard him. Charging swiftly at the Tengu, Alexander unleashed his fierce attacks one after another. Right, left, up, down, one after another, each with more strength and speed than the previous. -Right, left, up, down, very good. - Hakuri said, dodging each blow Alexander dealt. In a quick movement, he punched Alexander in the stomach, as fast as a bullet and with enough force to push him back a few meters. Alexander groaned in pain on the ground but quickly got up. -Pay attention, you are right-handed. When fighting with a katana, you hold it with your dominant hand at the top of the hilt, with the thumb behind the hilt. You will use your dominant hand to aim the blows, place your non-dominant hand at the base of the hilt, it will be the force behind your strikes. Hold it this way.- Alexander did as instructed, right hand at the top of the hilt with the thumb behind, left hand holding the base, just like Hakuri. He also looked at the Tengu's legs, mimicking his stance. -Very good, now come.- Alexander took a deep breath and charged once more. The blows now landed with more precision and force, the red aura now extending to the blade of the sword, covering it entirely. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the place, movements that for a few moments became much faster in seconds. Even though the attacks were one-sided, little by little Hakuri dealt one or two strikes, attacks that repeated with increasing frequency. Right, left, thrust, frontal slash, overhead slash, a true fight. -That's it, young Shura, you're getting the hang of it! - Hakuri praised enthusiastically. -Now stop.- Alexander did so, taking the opportunity to catch his breath after the minutes of combat. Hakuri's stance seemed to have changed, instead of his legs being together in a stable base, they were more spread apart as if he was about to start running. -What stance is that? - Alexander asked. -Just imitate me. - Hakuri said. He then started doing something strange, hopping from one leg to the other, as if playing hopscotch. A really strange movement, but Alexander imitated him without question, repeating the same stance at first and then hopping from leg to leg. -Why do I have to do this? - He asked. -This is to start detaching from the ground, do you know what we are going to do now?- -Please tell me we're not going to fight while hopping like idiots.- Hakuri started laughing. -Come on.- So he did, advancing with those strange movements. The Tengu attacked him and the elf defended, then attacked, trying to put force or at least trying to balance to strike. -In time, you'll get used to it, and before you know it, you'll be fighting like a Tengu!- -I hope so.-