The Transmigrated Author

{Rel's POV}

[Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée - Top floor - Room: 2# - Bedrooms]

[Friday, 5:54 PM]

haah...

I settled onto the bed with a determined sigh.

I guess it was time to get this over with.

"System, upgrade my Sixth Sense please," I said, focusing my thoughts on the ability.

FWANG!

A screen materialized before my eyes, detailing the proposed upgrade and its cost.

[The Following Ability Will Be Upgraded:]

[Special Ability: Sixth Sense [Grade 9] >>> [Grade 6] - (Cost: 6800 BP) - ]

[Please Confirm.]

Without hesitation, an option appeared saying 'yes'.

Click!

A brief tingling sensation washed through my body, and a moment later, another screen flashed before me:

FWANG!

[The Following Ability Has Been Upgraded!]

[Special Ability: Sixth Sense [Grade 9] >>> [Grade 6] - [Cost: 6800 BP] -]

[Current Balance: 800 BP (-6,800 BP)]

My BP balance dropped accordingly. A sizable chunk, but hopefully a worthwhile investment.

Sixth Sense was one of my most reliable abilities.

Heck, I probably would have been dead without it from the get-go.

Thankfully, skilled aura users weren't likely to pop up this early in the story.

Jan still struggled to grasp the difference between aura and qi, and it would take time for him to master most aura techniques, even with a proper instructor.

But along his journey of learning aura, Jan would slowly begin to understand its core techniques: Flow and Enhancement, Sensory, and Dominance.

Each of these techniques taps into the unique power of aura.

Flow and Enhancement focus on using aura to amplify a person's physical impact.

By channeling aura through their muscles, users can strike with far greater force than their bodies would normally allow.

Sensory Technique refines and amplifies a person's natural senses by channeling aura into their nervous system.

Aura acts as a conduit, enhancing perception of the environment and the intentions of others.

In some extremely skilled users, Sensory Technique can even grant a glimpse of the future, allowing them to predict their opponent's next move.

Dominance aura is a rare ability that lets a user project their willpower through their aura.

This overwhelms their opponent's spirit, potentially swaying their actions or even crushing them completely.

The sheer force of Dominance creates immense pressure, capable of knocking out the weak-willed or eroding an opponent's resolve through intimidation, internal strain, or mental assault.

Individuals capable of wielding Dominance possess a unique combination of qualities – an unbreakable spirit, absolute conviction, or an overwhelming force of nature.

It's rare for one person to have all three, but those who do will undoubtedly become the most strongest of Dominance users.

Well, my current substitute for aura... let's just say it's unique.

FWANG!

[Standard Ability: Projectile Disarm [Grade 3] Has Been Activated!]

As I lifted my right hand, I focused. My aura was still black, no longer the frantic burst from moments of danger, but a steady, inky flow.

But even with that strange book Merk had given me, it allowed me to use aura reflexively, but the color still baffled me.

Black was supposed to represent the absolute pinnacle of aura, a perfect inner balance so pure it shouldn't even be visible.

I wasn't exactly an expert in the mechanics of aura. A friend had given me a few tips for the sake of my writing, but that was the extent of my knowledge.

Still, something about this just felt... wrong.

knock...knock...knock...

"Rel?"

"...!"

[Standard Ability: Projectile Disarm [Grade 3] Has Been Deactivated!]

I got up from the bed, noticing Jan's head peeking through the slightly open door.

"What?"

"I heard our hotel has buffets – morning, lunch, and dinner,"

Jan said, his voice tinged with excitement.

"So?"

"Well, I was wondering if you wanna come eat with us? You seem like you're doing nothing, figured it might be more fun together."

I heard Athénée has dinner open until 9pm, and it's only 6pm right now.

The thought of sharing a table with Jan made me cringe.

Who knows what kind of nonsense he'd say especially him getting those misunderstandings between Valencia and I.

It's probably better to eat alone...

"I think I'll pass-"

*rumble...*

A loud, traitorous growl from my stomach echoed in the room.

pfft...

Jan choked back a laugh and my frown deepened.

"You sure about that?" he asked, covering his mouth.

*haah...*

"I'll come."

...

...

...

[Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée - Grand Dining Hall]

I followed Jan towards the main dining hall, trying to quell the fluttering nerves in my stomach. When the enormous doors swung open, a wave of warm, tantalizing scents washed over me, mingled with the murmur of refined conversation.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a warm glow, and my eyes were instantly drawn to the extravagant buffet spread.

But it was the people who made me pause.

Most of the Histories Breakfast Club members were already seated around a long, polished table.

To my surprise, Lan, Louise, Noah, and Miya seemed to be getting along.

Louise, despite his arrogance and nobility, was at least making an effort.

Good for him – character development was essential here, especially since he was destined as Jan's main rival.

To my right, an even more unexpected cluster caught my attention.

Jae, Alice, Valencia, Lyra, and Camila were all gathered together.

Seeing Jae and Alice conversing with Valencia's circle was... surprising.

I would have thought their personalities would clash rather than mesh. But hey, maybe I was wrong.

I trailed after Jan as he navigated the buffet with the practised ease of someone who'd done this a time or two before.

He piled his plate high with coq au vin, a selection of cheeses, and what looked like an entire miniature quiche.

"Too bad we can't snag a spot with the others,"

Jan said, eyeing the table where Valencia and Camila had managed to stake a claim.

"Lyra wants to get to know the other girls in the club, you know."

He nudged me with a grin. "Don't worry, though," he whispered secretly, "You'll get your chance soon."

haah...

I sighed inwardly, a frown pulling at my lips.

Coming here felt like a chore.

Sure, I knew these people – they were my creations, after all.

But that didn't make the prospect of small talk any more appealing.

__________

Authors Notes:

- Rel eats the right amount of protein to gain the correct mass for his muscle growth.