Chalu the chimpanzee and Gori the Kingkong, disguised as Eldoans, had successfully integrated themselves among the Eldoan Knight students. Their martial arts prowess quickly made them famous among the knights, who were amazed by their extraordinary skills. To the Eldoans, Chalu and Gori appeared as fellow knights, their disguises effectively concealing their true identities
Chalu resembled a male Eldoan with short brown hair, brown eyes, and brown skin, while Gori had black hair styled in an undercut, black eyes, a sturdy frame, and brown skin. Their appearances were crafted meticulously to blend in seamlessly with Eldoan society, thanks to Raro's fok abilities called shapeshifter. Raro, though not present in the knights' training, had used his powers to disguise Chalu and Gori before he went to pursue his own magical education.
During one of the training sessions, a challenge arose. A 15-year-old girl with short red hair and a scar on her cheek approached Chalu with a determined look in her eyes.
"Let's fight, Chalu. I heard you are strong," she declared.
Chalu tilted his head slightly, curiosity evident in his eyes. "I don't even know your name."
The girl grinned brightly. "My name is Rika!"
Gori, standing confidently beside Chalu, scoffed at Rika's challenge. "Do you honestly think you can beat Chalu?" His smirk was brimming with confidence as he addressed her. "First, you'll have to beat me. And let me make one thing clear: I'm the one who will defeat Chalu. Got it?"
Rika's eyes sparkled with determination. "Then if I beat you, I can fight him."
Gori laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed across the training ground. "Only if you could beat me!" His tone was taunting, laced with confidence. "But let's be honest, there's no 'if' here. You can't beat me!"
Rika's stance shifted, her smile never wavering. "Bring it on!"
As Rika and Gori readied themselves for their impending duel, murmurs and whispers spread like wildfire among the assembled knights. Everyone had heard stories about Rika—tales of her boldness, her fiery spirit, and her habit for challenging even the most seasoned warriors. Some knights admired her for her fearlessness, seeing her as a symbol of courage and determination. Others, however, regarded her actions with a hint of caution and skepticism, wondering if her confidence might be misplaced or if she was simply too reckless for her own good. Despite the differing opinions, there was a shared sense of anticipation in the air as the stage was set for the clash between Rika and Gori.
"I heard Gori is going to face off against Rika, that hot-headed first-year who's bold enough to challenge her seniors—and rumor has it, the seniors end up getting their butts handed to them," remarked one knight with a subtle hint of amusement coloring his voice.
"Yeah, I heard about that. She's got some guts to take on the upperclassmen like that," another knight chimed in, nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, but don't underestimate her," another replied. "Rika may be young, but she's got a bit of magic power. It amplifies her techniques and swordsmanship, making her more formidable than she appears."
The mention of magic sparked envy among some of the knights, who longed for the ability to wield such power. Though they recognized the limitations of Rika's mana, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at her advantage on the battlefield.
"Enough chatter," a stern voice cut through the chatter, instantly grabbing everyone's attention. "Let's call the others. This fight is going to be interesting."
As the knights dispersed to spread the word, two individuals caught their attention. A 15-year-old boy with messy white hair, who always seemed to be half-asleep, perked up at the mention of the upcoming battle. His curiosity piqued, he joined the crowd, eager to witness the clash of the newcomer against the first-year.
Beside him, a 16-year-old boy with a lower tape fade hairstyle and a scar just below his eye watched with equal interest. Though his demeanor was more reserved, there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes as he followed the unfolding events.
.........
[Chalu side]
As Gori and Rika prepared to face off, Chalu watched with a mix of excitement and anticipation. The tension in the air was palpable as the two opponents squared up, each confident in their abilities and determined to emerge victorious.
Gori's training in the aura technique had been rigorous and intensive, honed through countless hours of practice under Chalu's guidance. The technique focused on unlocking the body's inner potential, allowing the user to channel their energy and enhance their physical capabilities to extraordinary levels. Chalu had seen Gori become really good at this technique after putting in a ton of hard work and practice together.
Chalu found Rika's rumored magical abilities fascinating. She had the power to boost her own skills through magic, which was quite different from the aura.
Chalu's understanding of the differences between Rika's magic and Aura Technique was crucial as he analyzed the unfolding duel. In his mind, he likened Rika's magic to a form of amplification, a boost to her natural abilities like enhancing a weapon's sharpness something like that. While effective, it lacked the depth and complexity of Aura.
To Chalu, aura was more than just a power boost; it was a comprehensive system of energy manipulation, akin to a tiered structure in magical circles. Just as magicians grew stronger by mastering higher-tier circles, practitioners of aura unlocked greater potential by opening more gates within their bodies.
In this analogy, each gate represented a threshold of power, with each subsequent gate unlocking access to greater reserves of energy. By mastering aura, Gori had opened 2 gates within himself, granting him access to levels of strength, speed, and endurance far beyond those attainable through simple amplification.
As the duel unfolded, Chalu observed how Gori's mastery of aura allowed him to tap into these deeper reserves of power, his movements flowing seamlessly as he unleashed wave after wave of devastating strikes. In contrast, Rika's amplification magic provided her with a temporary boost, enhancing her abilities for a limited time but lacking the sustained power of aura
Thus, as Chalu analyzed the duel, it became evident that Gori's mastery of aura would likely lead him to victory. An aura user, with their deeper understanding of energy manipulation, held a distinct advantage over a knight relying solely on magic amplification.
...........
Meanwhile Outside the Universe
[Joe Pov]
As I sat there, munching on popcorn and sipping cola, I couldn't shake the anticipation stirring within me. Sure, I already knew the outcome of the duel—Chalu had made that abundantly clear. But there's something about witnessing the clash of two formidable opponents that always draws me in, regardless of foreknowledge.
Chalu's explanation of why Gori would emerge victorious echoed in my mind. His mastery of aura, honed through relentless training provided him with a distinct advantage. But even with this understanding, I found myself intrigued by the prospect of witnessing Rika's magic amplification in action.
Also Gori, who had unlocked the second gate, I couldn't help but be impressed. To think, this gorilla—no, I should call him Kingkong now— after all he had a body larger than that of a typical gorilla. Perhaps it was due to the mutations common among the beastfolk. He stood at 6 feet tall, not quite as taller and bigger as the original Kingkong, but he is still formidable.
However, his origin was indeed that of a gorilla. Kingkong is just a nickname that I've given him, as the narrator and observer of this unfolding story. Hehehehe.
Anyway, back to Gori's Aura I couldn't help but still be impressed, I mean, unlocking that 2nd Gate isn't a walk in the park. Seems like he's dead-set on surpassing Chalu, but let's face it, he's got about as much chance as a snowball in a volcano. Sorry, Gori, but sometimes in life, you gotta accept that there are things you just can't achieve. Kinda like me—I'm still a freaking virgin.
Alright, let's get back to the action! I'm itching to see these epic battles between Gori and Rika.
..........
[Gori side]
As Rika lunged towards Gori, her movements fueled by her amplified legs, Gori met her with a calm and focused demeanor. With a swing of his sword, he effortlessly parried Rika's attack, causing her to stagger backward.
"Aurg!!" Rika exclaimed, momentarily caught off guard.
But instead of faltering, Rika's laughter filled the air. "This is it, this is what I've been waiting for," she declared, a glint of excitement in her eyes.
Gori couldn't help but roll his eyes at her antics. "Weirdo," he muttered under his breath.
Undeterred, Rika announced, "Time to get serious," as she channeled her remaining mana to boost her strength, speed, and swordsmanship to their fullest.
With a confident smile, Rika charged once more, ready to give it her all. But Gori remained unfazed, knowing full well that Rika's enhanced abilities were no match for his own.
"You're not strong enough to beat me," Gori stated matter-of-factly as he tapped into his second gate, unleashing the true extent of his power.
Focusing his aura into his arms, Gori's grip on his sword tightened, imbuing it with a radiant glow. "Parried Strike!!!" he called out, his voice ringing out with determination as he unleashed his attack.
The force of Gori's strike was overwhelming, and despite Rika's best efforts to block it, she was swiftly overcome. As she fell unconscious, the onlookers erupted into a chorus of shock and applause.
"Whoa, amazing!!!" one exclaimed, awe evident in their voice.
"Did you see those light thingy in his sword?" another marveled, pointing towards the radiant aura surrounding Gori's Sword.
"Yeah, I didn't think he also had magic!!!" a third chimed in, their excitement palpable.
Meanwhile, Brando, who had been half asleep moments before, suddenly jolted awake at the display of power before him. "What the hell is that? Is it really magic?" he questioned, his curiosity piqued.
Marlo, equally intrigued, leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. "Damn, he defeated Rika, who had beaten the seniors back then. To think he defeated the infamous Red Ogre," he remarked, marveling at Gori's prowess.
Seeing Gori win in such a controlled and strategic manner filled Chalu with pride. Back in their training days, Gori used to act impulsively and recklessly, but now, he had grown immensely.
Chalu couldn't help but smile to himself, reflecting on Gori's victory. "Looks like he really took all my lessons to heart," he mused quietly. Seeing Gori's growth and discipline brought a sense of fulfillment to Chalu, knowing that his guidance had not been in vain.
As Watching Gori's victory unfold, Chalu couldn't help but notice his friend's determination. "Seems like he's dead set on surpassing me," he noted, a hint of excitement in his voice. "And honestly, that's what I'm hoping for. I want him to get even stronger," he added, eagerly looking forward to seeing how their journey would progress.
......
Meanwhile in Gori side
As the first-year knight students approached Gori, their admiration and praise flowed freely.
"Hey, Gori, your magic is awesome, man!"
"Yeah, it's like watching a veteran knight in action!"
"Sadly, we didn't inherit any magic affinity, but it's still incredible how you took down the Red Ogre."
Amid the murmurs of admiration, Gori's patience wore thin.
"Enough! Stop!" His sharp command silenced the chatter instantly, commanding everyone's attention.
Observing Gori's discomfort, Chalu stepped in, knowing his friend's temperament all too well.
"Guys, guys, Gori's just a bit shy around new people, so let's cut him some slack, eh?" Chalu offered with a gentle smile, subtly trying to ease the tension.
The students exchanged murmurs among themselves, picking up on Gori's unease.
Chalu shot a glance at Gori, recognizing his discomfort. "Don't be too hard on them. They're just trying to be friendly," he said, hoping to defuse the situation.
Gori's response was curt. "Whatever." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Chalu to sigh in resignation at his friend's retreating form.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the conversation, catching Chalu's attention.
As Chalu turned towards the voice calling his name, he was met with the sight of a boy sporting a black lower taper fade hairstyle and a scar just below his eye.
"Hello, Chalu, right?" the boy greeted, his voice carrying a friendly tone.
Chalu acknowledged him with a nod. "Yes, I am. Um, who are you?" he inquired politely, curious about the sudden interaction.
The boy, named Marlo, cleared his throat before extending his hand for a handshake. "Oh, pardon. I'm Marlo," he introduced himself with a small smile.
Accepting the handshake, Chalu returned the smile. "Nice to meet you, Marlo," he replied warmly.
Marlo continued the conversation, his curiosity evident. "I heard about you and your friend. They said you both are recommended by Teacher Colerio. Is that true?"
Chalu chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, we are," he admitted, feeling a bit self-conscious about the attention.
Marlo nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting."
As Marlo and Chalu conversed, their exchange was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Rika, a 15-year-old girl with short red hair and a scar on her cheek. She approached Chalu with an urgent tone in her voice.
"Where is that man?!" Rika demanded, her eyes searching for someone.
Chalu regarded her with a puzzled expression. "Well, um, he's just cooling off," he replied, trying to ease the tension with a light-hearted tone.
Rika's expression softened slightly as she processed the information. It was clear that she was still reeling from her defeat in the recent battle.
Chalu offered her a sympathetic smile, understanding the frustration of defeat all too well. He hoped to reassure her and diffuse any lingering tension.
Meanwhile, a boy with messy white hair, who often seemed half-asleep, joined the conversation, his curiosity piqued.
"Is that really magic?" he asked, his voice lazy but intrigued.
Chalu nodded in response to Marlo's inquiry, maintaining the facade of secrecy around his abilities. "Yes, it is," he confirmed, choosing to present the aura as magic for the time being. He understood the importance of keeping certain truths hidden to maintain harmony between the Eldoans and the Beastfolk. However, deep down, he harbored the hope of revealing the true nature of his powers one day, in pursuit of his vision for unity among their people.
"Um... Who are you?" Chalu inquired, curious about the newcomer.
With a lazy yawn, the boy responded, "Oh, me? I'm Brando." He paused, as if struggling to stave off a yawn before continuing, "Nice to meet you, Chalu."
Chalu chuckled lightly. "Oh, you heard my name anyway. Nice to meet you too, Brando," he replied, acknowledging the encounter with a friendly demeanor.
Little did Chalu realize at that moment that these chance encounters with the Eldoan knights would play a significant role in shaping his character throughout his journey ahead.
To be continued