The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows through the dense forest. The air was thick with the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves, and the soft chirping of crickets began to fill the silence. Sumit sat by a crackling fire, its warmth a stark contrast to the cool evening breeze that rustled the treetops. He stared into the flames, the events of the past few days replaying in his mind like a vivid dream.
Jack, the imposing wolf-man, sat across from him, his golden eyes reflecting the firelight. There was a calm yet fierce aura about him, a presence that commanded respect. His fur bristled slightly as he leaned forward, his deep voice breaking the silence. "That," Jack said, his voice calm but firm, "is what aura can do. It's not just about strength; it's about control, focus, and understanding your own limits. With aura, you can push beyond those limits and achieve things that would be impossible otherwise."
Sumit's heart pounded in his chest as he listened. There was something about Jack's voice—firm yet carrying an undercurrent of something almost primal—that made it impossible to ignore.
"There are three stages of aura mastery," Jack continued, his gaze never leaving Sumit's. "The low stage is where everyone begins. At this stage, you can sense the aura around you and circulate it within your body. It strengthens your muscles, sharpens your senses, and makes you faster, stronger, more resilient."
Sumit nodded, his mind racing. But Jack wasn't finished.
"Then comes the mid stage," Jack said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, as if revealing a secret. "Here, you learn to extend your aura beyond your physical form. Your aura becomes a part of the world around you, and you can apply it to other things you touch"
Sumit's breath hitched slightly. The idea of projecting his aura outward, of reaching beyond the limits of his body, was both thrilling and terrifying.
"But the high stage..." Jack paused, his expression darkening. "That's where the true monsters lie. A high-level aura user can shape their aura according to their will. They can manifest it into claws, tails, or even as full body—whatever they desire. The masters of this stage can slice a mountain in half with their claws"
The image that Jack painted hung in the air between them, heavy and surreal. Sumit swallowed hard; his throat dry. The fire crackled, sending a flurry of sparks into the darkening sky.
"So…does that mean you are a high-level aura user?" Sumit asked, his voice small, almost afraid of the answer. The memory of his extended claws during the fight flashed before his eyes, filling him with fear.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA" Jack's laughter broke the tension, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to resonate through the ground beneath them. "I wish," Jack said, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "It wasn't high-level aura manipulation. I'm a mid-level user, and even I can't shape my aura outsider my body. What you saw were my claws, strengthened by circulating aura within and around them. High-level users... they're on a different level entirely. They don't just fight—they change the very landscape with their power."
Sumit fell silent, the weight of Jack's words settling in his chest like a stone. The idea of someone with such power—someone who could literally shape the world around them—left him both awestruck and uneasy. His imagination ran wild, picturing towering figures cleaving mountains, reshaping the earth with a mere gesture. The reality of how far he had yet to go hit him like a cold splash of water.
Jack noticed the shift in Sumit's demeanour and leaned closer, his eyes narrowing with interest. "But enough talk. Now it's your turn. Show me your aura," he said, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and challenge.
Sumit hesitated, the pressure of Jack's gaze weighing heavily on him. His mind raced for an excuse, any reason to delay what felt like an inevitable disappointment. He finally managed to avoid Jack's piercing eyes and asked, "Before that, can you tell me more about the competition?"
Jack seemed to recognize the diversion but indulged it anyway. He leaned back, his expression softening. "Ah, the competition," he said, his voice taking on a more relaxed tone. "It's not just a test of strength—it's a rite of passage. To even participate, you must be an aura user. The selection process is brutal, weeding out the weak. Only 40 participants will make it through. Once selected, you'll be placed into one of five blocks, each with eight participants. The winner of each block earns the right to face the elders."
"Elders?" Sumit repeated, his curiosity piqued but a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.
Jack nodded, his expression growing serious once more. "The elders are high-level aura users, ancient and powerful. They've honed their skills over centuries, and they are the final hurdle you'll have to overcome if you want to claim victory. But that's not the most dangerous part. In the final round, you'll have to—"
A sudden column of smoke rose from the northern horizon, cutting Jack off mid-sentence. His sharp eyes caught the sight immediately, and he sprang to his feet, his body tensing with urgency. "Looks like my time's up," he muttered, his tone shifting to one of businesslike efficiency.
Sumit watched as Jack quickly gathered his belongings, his movements precise and calculated. "I have to go now, but remember, the selection process begins in three months. Make sure you're there on time, and be prepared, participants have the full right to kill during the matches. Follow the river upstream for five days to reach the site, but whatever you do, don't go downstream. That's where the stronger monsters dwell."
As Jack began to sprint northward, he called back over his shoulder, "Monsters avoid the glowing river!"
Sumit stood there, the gravity of Jack's words sinking in. The wolf-man's figure soon disappeared into the forest, leaving Sumit alone once more. The crackling fire seemed to dim as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. "So that's why I didn't encounter any monsters for three days," he mused, piecing together the mystery of his journey so far.
He turned his gaze back to the river, its surface shimmering in the twilight. With the competition looming on the horizon, he knew his priorities had to be clear. "I have to go upstream to take part in the competition," he said to himself, the determination in his voice hardening. "But first, I need to learn how to control aura if I'm going to survive here. And for that... I need to survive long enough to figure it out."
Meanwhile at Forestia Ferra's capital Ferrodon Stronghold…
The dense forest gave way to the imposing walls of Ferrodon Stronghold, the capital of Forestia Ferra. The city was a fortress, its high walls made of thick, ancient stone, reinforced with iron and guarded by vigilant sentries. The streets within were bustling with life—creatures of all shapes and sizes moved with purpose, their fur, scales, and feathers glistening in the torchlight.
Jack's arrival was met with a flurry of activity. As he passed through the front gate, numerous animals on two legs snapped to attention, saluting him with respect and deference.
"Salute! Welcome back, Captain!" they chorused, their voices echoing off the stone walls.
A dog-headed soldier hurried through the crowd, his uniform slightly disheveled from the rush. He stopped in front of Jack, panting slightly. "Captain! Here!" he managed between breaths.
Jack gave him a curt nod, his demeanor calm but alert. "Relax, soldier. What's the current situation?"
The soldier straightened, his face serious as he reported, "We encountered a Dark-tree just outside the western gate."
The news hit Jack like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened in alarm, and his voice, usually so steady, betrayed a hint of urgency. "What!? How could it grow near us without anyone noticing?"
"We're still investigating, sir," the soldier replied, trying to maintain his composure despite the gravity of the situation.
Jack's mind raced. Dark-trees were no ordinary threat; their presence signaled something deeply wrong, something that could destabilize the entire region. "Forget it," Jack said, shaking off his initial shock. "I'll deal with it personally."
The soldier hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "But, sir... Vice-Captain Leo is handling it right now."
Jack's expression softened slightly, though his resolve remained unshaken. "Is that so? Then he'll need my help. Let's go."
With that, Jack and the soldier moved swiftly toward the western gate, the weight of the impending battle looming over them like a dark cloud.