Chapter 149:
Chapter 149:
Chapter 149:
What Im going to teach you today is how to take your aura to the next level.
As he finishes speaking, the aura spread across his hand converges on his index finger and slowly begins to pale.
And when its completely reduced to the size of his pinky.
!!!
A piercing, high-pitched shriek began to echo through the air around us.
Eugene, do you know what happens when you compress ice?
You mean iceIm not sure.
It becomes transparent. As if to prove that theres nothing inside. And this also applies to aura.
With that, Mr. Kwak flicks his wrist, and the aura on his fingertip flies to the ground like a splash of water.
At the same time.
Ddddddddddddd!
A deep hole was dug in the ground, and cracks began to form around it.
He watched the scene indifferently before turning his gaze back to me.
The Ice Qing Jade Crystal. Its a technique that can be said to be fundamental to the applied stage of the Aura style, and its the technique youll learn today.
One of his signature techniques had just been demonstrated before my eyes.
You mean Im learning this today?
Yes. Its the midterms, right?
I had no idea he could teach this skill so easily.
For a brief moment, I remember all the hardships I went through to learn this skill.
Youre an idiot, you want me to teach you the Aura Formula? Go sweep the yard, you idiot!
With that kind of skill, you wont be able to use it even if I teach you! Get lost!
Do you expect me to teach you a skill for free? Youll never get it!
But I cant believe how easy it is.
Eugene?
Oh, its nothing, Im just admiring your technique.
Haha! Its certainly a beautiful technique. Lets start with the basics.
As they say, its all in the blood.
First, we need to focus the aura in one place, right?
Yes.
The idea of gathering the Aura in one place wasnt that difficult.
I usually focused my aura in one place when I was in battle and when I used my bloodline power.
I concentrated all the aura in my body into my right hand, and as usual, red aura began to bloom in his fist.
Kwak Chun-sin watched me carefully.
More.
More?
More compression.
Normally, I would have to force the overflowing power to increase its purity, but in this calm, it wouldnt be easy.
I begin to feel the remaining aura in my body, and slowly push it into my arms.
It feels like Im forcing the inside of a full trash can to compress further.
I push, and it swells back up, and I push, and it swells back up again, and its back to its original state.
Didnt work?
Yep. It feels like its trying to tell me it has nowhere to go.
Then why dont you try changing the image.
image?
I wonder what he means by change the image.
UmmThats right, this is what it looks like.
As if reading my expression, he opened his palm and began to make some sort of shape with the aura.
In an instant, an aura in the shape of a drill formed in his hand.
Like this. You dont just throw aura, you drill it. Its like piercing a blood vessel, and then pouring out more aura.
Is he suggesting that I hold the image differently because Im not skilled enough yet?
Surely his explanation would make it a little easier to hold the image.
Let me try.
I imagine the aura at the blockage and picture the drill slowly rotating.
Then I see the red aura slowly begin to fade.
The color began to fade and transform into a translucent red that reminded me of a gemstone.
Thats how much I compressed it.
I think thats it.
It was dripping, like water droplets on the surface, but it wasnt floating.
Well, its still the first day, so you should be satisfied with this. If youre so good at it, why are the other kids frowning at the difficulty of even making a heat plate.
Kwak Chun-sik frowns for a moment, then looks at me again and smiles.
Alright then, lets proceed with the light duel as it is, with a back-and-forth format. Ill set the pace, so youll have to take it slow.
Yes. If youll excuse me, then.
I compressed my aura as much as I could, as I had been taught, and charged toward Kwak Chun-sik.
This was a special lesson from the mentors for the midterms.
Huh? Wait. I could use this.
* * *
~That evening~
Its a late call, but the kids are all gathered in the club.
Special lesson for midterms?
They all had different looks on their faces as they listened to me.
So what youre saying is that we should invite our mentors to the club to help us with our weaknesses. Is that it?
Se-ah looks up in surprise at Jin-woos serious expression.
You understood that?
Im not an idiot, how could I not understand?
Young-jae and Se-ah nod in agreement, while Choi Yeon stares at me blankly, as if she doesnt understand.
Grandpa said learning from a strong man is a good thing, I agree.
Still, she raises her hand and nods, as if she understands the essence of the story.
Im in favor, too. Then why dont we invite Ms. Han Yeo-eun?
Why would you invite that crazy bitch?
I told you what Id do if you insulted our goddess, do you want to look it up?!
As soon as the idea of inviting Han Yeo-eun, Jin-woos mentor, was mentioned, the room turned into a scene of screaming and violence.
Sighing at the scene, I tapped my fingers on the table and released the power of the Ancient Berserkers Ring.
At the same time, a black aura spreads from me to the surroundings and the children stare at me in astonishment.
Be a little more careful.
Ah, Im sorry.
Sorry. Boss.
This quieted them down a bit.
To continue, I actually have an idea of who Id like you to meet. The important thing is that you get to meet them now.
The Academys midterms are three days long.
With such a vast array of subjects to be tested, I chose people I thought would be helpful for the rest of the semester.
There are two people I would like to invite. One is Sword Saint.
Huh, my grandfather?
As soon as the word Sword Saint is mentioned, Choi Yeon reacts.
Master Sword Saint knows how to use most weapons, and hes been cultivating talents for many years, so I thought he might be of great help. Choi Yeon, can you convince him?
Choi Yeon seemed to ponder my question for a moment, then she nodded.
Yeah. My grandfather seemed to be very interested in the club, so I think he would listen if I asked him.
Thats great. And the next person Id like to ask is Guild Leader Han Yeo-eun of the Artemis Guild.
Boss, Id rather you killed me!
The goddess is descending on our club!
The two had opposite reactions.
Boss, do you really intend to invite that crazy woman, do you want us to die!
Jin-woo is shaking in his boots, while Se-ah, who silenced him, looked in my direction and smiled.
You really dont think Mr. Eugene would want to invite Guild Leader Han Yeo-eun for no reason, do you?
Youre right. Guild Leader Han Yeo-eun may be an assassin or a rogue, but shes actually more of an all-rounder, and learning things like her weapon techniques and situational judgment would definitely help us.
After all, it was Han Yeo-eun who founded the giant guild Artemis with those skills alone.
Im also going to ask Master Kwak Chun-sik and Instructor Ji-hyun for guidance, as theyre world-class in auras and mana control, and theyve been training students for a long time.
There were two things I wanted to accomplish with this opportunity: to make connections with other mentors and to quickly fill in the gaps where I was lacking right now.
Of course, the process would be painful and difficult, but I couldnt pass up the opportunity to customize the lineup of the worlds strongest teachers.
In fact, when Master Kwak Chun-sik heard of my plan, he thought it was a great idea.
If this were a game, I could say that I had taken the cultivation hell route, but this was definitely an operation that would make our club stronger.
So, boss, when are we supposed to contact the mentors? Its a little late today, isnt it?
Jin-woo, who has moved to sit next to Young-jae, asks cautiously.
Right now, of course.
What? Right now? But thats crazy- our mentors must be pretty busy right now, right?
No matter how busy they are, I doubt theyll refuse a disciples request for help, so why dont we try for now?
Its not like I dont know Han Yeo-euns personality, but I doubt that excuse would work.
Hearing my gentle tone, Jin-woo took out his cell phone as if he had given up.
With a few swipes of his finger, his cell phone beeped and a moment later.
-Hello.
A female voice came from Jin-woos cell phone.
Ah. Uh mentor? I have a question for you.
-You have a question? You?
Uh, yeah. Its.
Jin-woo glanced over at me so I moved my mouth, urging him on once more.
Is that right?
Jin-woo narrows his eyes as if hes been successful in reading my mouth shape.
Uh, look. I know its a little late, but I was wondering if, just in case, you might be able to help me with my clubs midterms. I mean, if not, Id appreciate it?
-.
A moment of silence.
-Im on my way.
Oh. Youre busy, arent you? Youre busy What? Youre coming now?
-Why? You asked for help.
No, its not that, its just that youre busy this week.
-Its okay, Im coming to the academy now.
And then, with a bang, the call was disconnected.
Jin-woo, who had been staring blankly at the now blackened screen, slowly lifted his head and raised a trembling hand, giving a thumbs-up.
Its solvedright?
His voice was trembling and transparent tears were rolling down his cheeks at the same time.
I heard a voice behind me say, No, really. I thought you said you were busy! I walked over to Jin-woo and patted him on the shoulder.
Yeah, it was hard.
I dont know why the hell youre calling Han Yeo-eun, boss. Im sure I got stronger because of her, but I dont know what youre calling her for.
For some reason, Jin-woo is asking the right questions.
The other kids were all looking at me, wondering if that was what he was asking too.
No, I didnt mean to ask for anything too big. I just wanted to ask her to share some skills that could help everyone. By the way, Jin-woo, youre probably good at this now.
Huh? What do you mean?
How to get hit without getting hurt.
Lets start with how to get hit without getting hurt.
It was the first lesson in Ms. Hans cramming curriculum.