Chapter 19: Train
Ren watched as the avatar's movements became even more dynamic.
Each strike of the sword seemed to carve through the air, the blade glowing faintly with the aura that had taken on a watery hue.
As the avatar slid across the training ground, the water-like aura under its feet formed gentle waves, creating ripples that traveled outward with each fluid motion.
The avatar's movements became more slippery, like a wave that surged forward, quick and unstoppable, before it changed direction in a seamless flow.
Kai smiled slightly as he observed the fluid elegance of the avatar's performance.
"This Battle Art is designed for speed, evasion, and precision. It's about controlling your aura like water—always in motion, never stagnant. The sword becomes an extension of that flow."
Ren could feel his pulse quicken. He had never seen anything like this before.
The way the aura swirled and took shape, transforming into something like water, was fascinating.
He could feel the power it held beneath the surface, how it could be both defensive and offensive at the same time.
"It's time for you to try it," Kai said with a raised eyebrow.
"Focus on channeling your aura like the avatar does, and move with the flow. Remember, your power should feel like it's in constant motion, not forced. Let the sword dance with your aura."
Ren nodded, determination building in his chest.
He raised the sword, ready to attempt this new art—his first step toward mastering his own aura.
Ren took a deep breath, focusing intently on his feet. He tried to mimic the movements of the avatar, applying his aura to the soles of his feet.
Slowly, he felt the energy begin to pulse beneath him, a tingling sensation at first, then more defined as the aura spread across his legs, coating his feet like a thin, slippery layer.
It was as if the very ground beneath him had become slick, ready to move and shift beneath his weight.
His body leaned slightly forward, but as he shifted his weight to take a step, he felt his feet slide out from under him.
The aura beneath him wasn't stable in the way he was used to; it was fluid, slippery, almost like walking on ice. He wobbled, arms flailing briefly, and then his feet slid completely out from under him, sending him tumbling sideways onto the training chamber floor.
The sound of his body hitting the ground echoed in the chamber. Ren groaned slightly, his face flushing with embarrassment.
He hadn't expected it to be so difficult, especially after watching the avatar move with such ease.
Kai, standing at a distance, didn't move to help. Instead, he simply observed Ren with his ever-present calmness, the golden gears in his eyes still turning, analyzing.
After a moment, Kai spoke, his voice clear but patient, "You're going to feel different movements when you try to flow with your aura. It's going to be strange at first. Get used to sliding around before you try to move with purpose."
Ren pushed himself up from the floor, brushing the dust from his clothes, his face set in determination.
He nodded to Kai's advice and steadied himself once more. This wasn't going to be easy, but he could feel that it was essential.
The avatar had moved so fluidly, so effortlessly. He could do the same. He had to.
Taking a deep breath, Ren once again focused on his feet, trying to apply his aura more gently this time, concentrating on the fluidity of it, letting it flow without forcing it.
His feet slid slightly, but he quickly adjusted, using the movement to his advantage.
He allowed his body to shift, gliding across the floor, rather than trying to fight the slip.
The sensation was strange, but he felt something click inside of him, as though he was beginning to understand the rhythm of his own energy.
With each step, Ren felt more comfortable, more natural.
His movements were no longer clumsy but instead became smooth, like the flow of a current through water.
His body seemed to follow the pull of his aura, slipping and sliding with grace, as if he were part of the very flow he was creating.
Kai's sharp gaze never wavered as he observed Ren, his gears still turning. He nodded once, his voice carrying a hint of approval, "Good. You're starting to feel it. Keep practicing, and don't fight the movement. Let it guide you."
Ren's confidence grew with each sliding step, the sensation of the aura beneath his feet becoming more familiar.
He wasn't just walking anymore—he was flowing, gliding, just as the avatar had done.
And though he knew he had a long way to go, the path was starting to feel a little clearer.
As Ren continued to slide across the floor, something began to click within him. The awkwardness that had initially plagued his movements began to fade, replaced by a sense of fluidity.
He allowed his body to follow the natural pull of his aura, no longer fighting against it but instead flowing with it.
His feet slid gracefully across the smooth surface, his steps now more purposeful, like a dancer who had learned to let the rhythm take control.
With each glide, his body seemed to flow seamlessly into the next movement.
He felt lighter, almost weightless, as though his very connection with the ground was no longer a rigid force but something softer, more adaptive.
He was no longer walking—he was moving.
The long sword in his hand followed the flow of his body, as if it were an extension of himself.
With each step, Ren shifted the weight of the blade, keeping it steady in his grasp but allowing it to move with his aura.
His grip loosened just enough to let the sword move as part of the dance, rather than something stiff he had to control.
The more Ren moved, the easier it became to channel his aura, the energy feeling more natural with every step.
He could feel it pulsing beneath him, following the rhythm of his body, as if it was becoming a part of him—like he had finally found the harmony between himself and the energy that flowed through him.
The aura beneath his feet spread higher, around his legs and torso, aligning with his body's motions, making the long sword feel weightless, as if it, too, were part of the flow.
Ren closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting himself become lost in the sensation of movement.
It was almost like a second nature now. The aura was no longer something foreign or difficult to control.
It was a force he could feel in his core, moving with him, guiding him with each fluid step.
The long sword twirled gracefully in his hands, following his lead without resistance, its edge cutting through the air with ease as his body swayed and moved effortlessly.
His movements became faster, more fluid, like a current of water carving its own path through a riverbed.
Every time Ren glided across the floor, he could feel the energy of his aura amplify the fluidity, pushing him to move faster, smoother.
His body was no longer fighting the aura—it was becoming one with it.
The more he moved, the more his control deepened, as if the flow of his aura and his sword were becoming an inseparable force, creating a synergy he had never felt before.
Kai, still watching from the sidelines with his golden gears spinning in his eyes, seemed to sense the change.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, though he remained silent, letting Ren continue on his own. The improvement was clear—Ren was beginning to find his rhythm.