SSS SKILL: DUPLICATE

Chapter 8: Aura

"A long time ago, practicing aura was difficult, so it was rare to see a person who is both a master of aura and a high-level magician. They discovered that practicing aura was a lot easier with rhythmic body movement and breathing supplemented by medicinal plants and meat from magic beasts. As time passed, practicing aura got a lot easier, and aura users have more time to practice magic, so it is no longer surprising to see a lot of high-level aura users with high attainments in magic.

Aura is everywhere. It is life energy. Aside from mana in the air, there is also aura. We absorb it through breathing and eating. Normal breathing cannot fully utilize aura. Breathing and movement techniques help direct the aura to strengthen our body. They are also our way of keeping the aura within our body. There are four levels of aura." Marco stands in front of Luke then starts mobilizing his aura.

"The first level is surrounding your body with an aura. Your physical strength will multiply, and your whole body's defense will also increase even without using magic." Marco's whole body is surrounded by a red energy, or aura. He unsheathes his sword and slashes his arm, but no blood appears. The slash was blocked by the aura that surrounded his arm.

"The second level is the will control of the aura. At this level, you can easily move aura anywhere in your body. You can put more aura into your fist to make it stronger, your feet to make it step faster, or your sword to make it tougher or stronger. The will control of aura can strengthen the speed, offense, and defense of aura users." Marco is freely moving his aura from his fist, feet, body, and sword. It is as easy as breathing for him.

"Aura users also combined their magic skills with their martial arts to create more force on their magic skills." Marco took a sword stance. He swung his sword, and the fireblade quickly flew. He sheathed his sword and stretched his left hand. A magic circle appeared, and a fireblade flew, but a lot slower than the fireblade earlier.

"Did you see the difference? Fireblade became a lot more powerful when combined with the force from my sword. A simple magic skill will multiply in power if combined with martial arts."

"Third level is releasing an aura like the energy blade that I showed you before. A long time ago, only weapons could release powerful aura attacks. As martial arts develop, applications of aura evolve. Aura masters can shape their aura that matches their martial arts.Weapons are no longer required for every aura user to release powerful aura attacks." Marco demonstrated fist art that releases aura.

"Peak third level. It is still third level, but the difference in ability to control aura is quite big. Those at this level have absolute control of their aura. When they clad their body with aura, no aura will leak, the aura becomes compact, the aura is steady, and the power is concentrated. Their defense is scary and their attacks are stronger. Look, when I clad my fist, the aura looks like waving up. Aura leaks when it is waving." Marco clad his fist with aura and showed the waving aura to Edgar.

"The fourth level is conceptualization. It is based on the comprehension of aura users on their martial art. The gap of strength between 4th and 3rd level is very wide. Multiple peaks at 3rd level working together can only defend against a fourth level. There are currently two aura masters at fourth level in the central continent. They are marshals of the Maginev empire and Morowind empire that are currently at war." Marco sighs that he is still far from the fourth level. He did not even reach the peak of third level yet.

"The closest to the fourth level in our kingdom is the marshal of our army, Marshal Frey. He is a spear master. When you reach the third level, you can ask for his advice. Van, you can definitely surpass me later, but you must first train for so many years!" Marco does not believe that Van could reach his level quickly. He started when he was a child. Van is already twenty years old but did not even start training aura before. Marco does not know that Edgar is the current Van. Edgar lives on Earth, where there is an explosion of information. The clash of ideas in Edgar's mind will help shape his sword art. Marco will definitely be shocked by Edgar later.

"Our sacred art has breathing and movement techniques for aura. It has 24 movements. Completing these movements will allow aura to reach every part of the body. You must not let go of the sword. Breathing and movement must be in the same rhythm. These movements are also a form of training for executing four skills of our sacred art." Marco demonstrates breathing and body movements while holding a sword.

"It's your turn. It will be painful but rewarding." Marco grins at Edgar.