SS Chapter 28

Ch. 28 How to Increase Your Aura

TL: Warriormonk

Editor: Isleidir

Kurotan had become an official knight of the Sith Empire. Of course, had Luke not stepped in, the knighthood would have gone to Hagun, who had made it to the final round.

The Earl, in an effort to appease Luke, had even awarded Luke and Kurotan a hefty sum of gold as well. Normally, choosing the path of a free knight meant that you had to forego all financial awards, but the Earl had been adamant.

“We sincerely thank you for your generosity, my lord.”

Ignoring the Earl’s insistence that they stay at his castle for a couple of days, Luke and Kurotan left the Jabel Earldom without hesitation.

Kurotan exclaimed as soon as the castle was out of sight.

“Very impressive.”

“What is?”

“How you had Earl Jabel hanging on to your every word.”

Luke shook his head a little bitterly.

“No, I screwed up. My calculations for the situation were off.”

“Didn’t we accomplish our goal since I received knighthood?”

“It’s a half-way success. We revealed too many of our trump cards.”

Kurotan stared into Luke’s face with a confused expression for a while before shaking his head in bemusement.

“I have no idea what’s going on, but I trust that you’ll be able to take care of it.”

“The nobles of the Sith Empire seem to be a little bit different from the nobles of our Hansel Kingdom. Of course, it could just be Earl Jabel.”

“What’s so different about them?”

“They value practicality over their honor. If we were in Hansel Kingdom, the Earl would not have reversed his decision in order to save face.”

“…”

“I have to keep that in mind as we go forward in dealing with these nobles.”

Luke gripped his fists suddenly.

“And I must get stronger. It’s hard to appeal to these nobles who value strength and practicality with my current level of strength.”

Luke remembered clearly. The condescending look that the knight Cooper had given him.

“I have to at least rise to the level of an aura expert, in order to have some footing to deal with nobles of the Sith Empire.”

Right then, Kurotan looked seriously at Luke.

“There is a way to increase your strength.”

Luke was startled out of his thoughts at Kurotan’s words.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Right now, you are not fully utilizing the power of aura. At most, you can only sharpen your senses.”

“I know that. What am I supposed to do more than training, like I am right now?”

“To be honest, you have cultivated more aura than me. The problem lies in your ability to control that aura.”

Luke frowned. To be exact, Kurotan’s aura only amounted to about half of Luke’s aura.

Kurotan, however, was able to wield his aura with maximum efficiency. This was why he was able to use his aura to bolster his strength and speed.

“There is a tradition that’s been passed down through the generations within my tribe. If we use that method, we can increase the amount of your aura and your ability to control that aura.”

Luke stared stupidly at Kurotan.

“Then why haven’t you told me of this tradition before?”

“It’s because it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. The tribal method of increasing your aura and control is more likely to fail than succeed.”

Kurotan proceeded to say that the success rate of the tribal method of increasing your aura was less than ten percent. In other words, only one orc out of ten orcs would succeed if they tried this method.

“Are you crazy? You’re telling me to use a tribal method that kills nine out of ten orcs, even with the insane self-healing traits orcs have?”

“I’m telling you because I’ve found a way to overcome that problem.”

Kurotan took out an empty glass bottle. It was the bottle that had held the healing potion that Luke had made Kurotan drink before the final round of the tournament.

“Healing potion?”

“Without this potion, I would not have recommended that you try the tribal method. However, the healing potion increases the success rate of the tribal method immensely.”

“Really?”

Luke’s face began to become brighter. If it had been a couple of months ago, Luke would not have considered the dangerous tribal method at all.

However, considering the situation, Luke couldn’t help but perk up at the idea of a method that could increase his strength in a short amount of time.

‘Well, I’ve already adjusted my aura cultivation technique with the help of an orc…”

Luke looked at Kurotan seriously.

“You’re sure, right?”

“Of course. The amount of your aura, as well as your control of it will be increased by a large margin. If the tribal method succeeds, you’ll be able to strengthen your physical capabilities with aura with no problem.”

“All right. I’ll trust you and try this method.”

“We will need a lot of healing potions.”

Kurotan ran his hand over the empty glass in his grasp.

“Is this the best kind?”

“No. That was a low level healing potion made with a troll’s blood. A mid-level healing potion imbued with holy power is a lot more expensive than that.”

“We need high quality potions, even if it is expensive. A lot, at that…”

Luke nodded his head silently.

“All right. Let’s go back to the Jabel Earldom to purchase healing potions. We even have the prize money that the Earl gave us so we are financially in good shape.”

A mid-level potion was incredibly more expensive than a low-level potion. After purchasing ten mid-level healing potions that an alchemist had created with the help of a priest, Luke’s pockets were empty.

“Maybe it’s because in the country side, but the price of these potions were too high.”

“Forget it. You’re able to become stronger in exchange.”

“That’s true.”

Luke and Kurotan left the Jabel Earldom once again, eventually arriving at a forested area with no signs of humans.

Luke’s eyes were shining as he tied up his horse to a tree.

“There’s no one around. Do you sense any monsters around?”

“There aren’t any monsters around. Shall we?”

Kurotan motioned for Luke to take off the metal plates he was wearing.

“Just leave the leather armor on, but the metal plates must come off.”

“What? Why do I have to take off my armor?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, just take it off.”

“Uh, I’m not entirely comfortable with this.”

Luke unlatched his metal armor. Kurotan dragged Luke to a tree and tied him up. Luke’s face paled as he asked in confusion.

“Wa-Wait, isn’t this a little strange?”

“It’s not strange at all. This is the tribal method passed down to us from generation to generation.”

“Wait. Wait.”

Kurotan ignored Luke’s cries as he secured the knots tying Luke to the tree. Luke rolled his eyes frantically as his body remained immobile.

Luke’s discomfort reached a critical level when Kurotan grabbed the metal mace he had purchased back in the Jabel Earldom.

“You aren’t trying to beat me up with that mace, are you?”

Kurotan finally smiled.

“That’s exactly right.”

Luke couldn’t help but raise his voice into a shout.

“You crazy bastard, how does this make any sense to you?”

“It makes sense.”

Kurotan swung his mace through the air a few times, weighing it in his hands.

“If you are beaten within an inch of your life, your aura will feel danger. That’s because if you, the host, die, the aura will return to its natural state as well.”

Luke’s face only continued to pale as Kurotan approached him slowly, swinging around the mace.

“I’m not that smart, so it’s hard to explain eloquently. Ah, well. You’ll understand once you experience it.”

“No, No, wait…. Don’t! Keeup.”

Kurotan was smiling happily as he gagged Luke.

“I have had a lot of experience in giving out beatings from my days as an orc, to my subordinates. Don’t worry, I have come to understand the exact limits of the human body through our training.”

“Eup, Euuupp.”

“Then, I’ll begin.”

Luke felt a terrible pain in his shoulder the second Kurotan finished speaking. Kurotan had struck his shoulder without mercy.

Puuuk.

Luke’s vision turned white as his eyes became bloodshot. The beating that followed was enough to send Luke’s consciousness to somewhere far away.

“Keuk…”

Luke’s lips cracked open as a groan escaped from his mouth. His eyes opened weakly, still unfocused. He was lying on the ground as he drew in his breathe weakly.

“Are you awake?”

Luke’s body shook as he heard a familiar voice. His eyes suddenly gleamed with a murderous aura as they focused.

“The tribal method has succeeded.”

“You…. Devil like…. Bastard. Keuk.”

Kurotan looked at the limp Luke as he lifted a water canteen to Luke’s lips. The water wet his throat enough that Luke was able to speak more comfortably.

“The effect of the healing potion was better than I had expected.
Luke ground his teeth as he raised his head to glare at Kurotan. His body was numb from the beating Kurotan had given him.

Luke’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Kurotan. No one could look kindly at the person that had beaten them within an inch of their lives.

“I’m gonna kill you, you bastard.”

“Don’t be so angry, just examine your body for now.”

Kurotan’s words only infuriated Luke further. It had been the most severe beating he had received since he had been born.

“Everything was for you. It was hard for me as well.”

“Keeuk.”

Luke strained to turn his head away, and focused on his body’s current state. It wasn’t long before Luke’s eyes widened.

“Wh-What the hell?”

Surprisingly, the amount of his aura had increased substantially. It had roughly tripled since before Kurotan had given him the beating. Luke’s face was incredulous as he exclaimed.

“How is this possible?”

The response of the aura was different as well. Whereas the aura had defied his attempts to control it previously, it was now as relaxed as a fat cat who had eaten its fill.

“How is it? It’s changed, hasn’t it?”

“What the hell happened?”

“I told you. Your control of aura will increase substantially… I don’t know the exact reason behind this change.”

“You’re saying that if the body is driven to extreme circumstances, the quality of the aura changes?”

“Yeah, that’s probably right. The aura probably does not want to return to its natural state.”

“I don’t believe it.”

Luke ignored the pain shooting his body as he dragged himself up into a seated lotus position. The beating had been so severe that not even the healing potion had fully healed him.

“Keeu, I think I’m going to die.”

“You should be able to control your aura now. Try it, carefully.”

“Shut the hell up, Kurotan.”

Luke spit bitterly before doing exactly what Kurotan had suggested. He was trying to move aura with his will. Kurotan spoke an additional warning.

“Don’t try to force it.”

“Shut your mouth, Kurotan.”

Luke’s aura was beginning to slowly respond to Luke’s incessant poking. Just as Kurotan had said, his aura was responding to Luke’s careful mental pokes.

When that happened, Luke was able to get a taste of a whole new world.

He willed the aura to his head, and felt his senses sharpen dramatically. His vision and hearing sharpened. He began to smell things that he had never previously smelled before.

An aura user would have senses roughly twice as sharp as a normal human. However, the aura expert, able to direct aura at will could sharpen his senses to roughly ten times the sensitivity of a normal human’s. Luke couldn’t help but exclaim.

“This is awesome!”

Luke continued to move around his aura happily. It still felt as if the aura was reluctant to listen to him, but the results were definite. Luke drew his sword while concentrating aura into his shoulder and arms.

“Haaht!”

He slashed at a sword with a battle cry, cutting cleanly and silently through the trunk of a tree as wide as a human waist. Luke stared blankly at his blade.

“As strong as an ogre…”

Luke concentrated his aura into his legs and kicked the ground, rising almost two meters in the air.

“Uh-Uhht!”

Unable to control this new strength, Luke ended up sprawled on the ground as he landed. Luke dusted himself off as he remarked about the difference he now felt.

“It’s unbelievable. This is why aura experts are so overwhelming.”

Senses that were five times better than an aura user’s, as well as increased muscular power.

“I feel like a god.”

“Wake up, Luke. You are a chick who has just hatched. Bone grinding training is needed in order for you to be able to control aura freely.

Despite Kurotan’s words, Luke was unable to calm his excitement.

“This is awesome. I didn’t know that aura could do such things.”

“I was the one who made this possible, so you should be thankful towards me.”

Luke shot a dirty look at Kurotan at his last words. He was extremely happy to have become an aura expert, but if Luke were honest with himself, he did not feel grateful towards Kurotan at all. The memory of being beaten within an inch of his life had been ingrained into his very bones.

“I suppose I will need to train, as you said. How about it, shall we duel?”

Kurotan shook his head.

“Not now.”

“What? It’s a surprise, you refusing to train.”

“I wish to become stronger as well. I wish to undergo the very beating I just gave you.”

Kurotan began to unlatch the clips of his metal plate as he talked. Luke’s face seemed to flush with excitement.

“You’re… asking me to carry out the tribal method?”

“Yes. If I can just increase the amount of my aura, I will be able to regain my old strength.”

“Hahaha. You can leave it to me.”

Luke let out a strange laughter as he grabbed Kurotan’s mace eagerly. Dried blood and pieces of flesh littered the surface of the mace.

“I will be sure to give you a proper beating. Better than the one you gave me.”

Kurotan frowned nervously at the killing intent Luke was emanating.

“It’s not simply a brutal beating. You have to keep in mind my body’s limits.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve personally experienced the beating that’s just sufficient.”

“We-We only have about seven healing potions left.”

“Too much talking.”

Luke quickly gagged Kurotan before tying him up securely to a tree.

“Eeup. Eeup!”

Kurotan continued to make attempts to speak to Luke, but Luke did not even pretend to listen. A smile graced Luke’s face as he lifted the mace.

“Shall we begin?”

Kurotan’s eyes widened in panic.

SS Chapter 28

Ch. 28 How to Increase Your Aura

TL: Warriormonk

Editor: Isleidir

Kurotan had become an official knight of the Sith Empire. Of course, had Luke not stepped in, the knighthood would have gone to Hagun, who had made it to the final round.

The Earl, in an effort to appease Luke, had even awarded Luke and Kurotan a hefty sum of gold as well. Normally, choosing the path of a free knight meant that you had to forego all financial awards, but the Earl had been adamant.

“We sincerely thank you for your generosity, my lord.”

Ignoring the Earl’s insistence that they stay at his castle for a couple of days, Luke and Kurotan left the Jabel Earldom without hesitation.

Kurotan exclaimed as soon as the castle was out of sight.

“Very impressive.”

“What is?”

“How you had Earl Jabel hanging on to your every word.”

Luke shook his head a little bitterly.

“No, I screwed up. My calculations for the situation were off.”

“Didn’t we accomplish our goal since I received knighthood?”

“It’s a half-way success. We revealed too many of our trump cards.”

Kurotan stared into Luke’s face with a confused expression for a while before shaking his head in bemusement.

“I have no idea what’s going on, but I trust that you’ll be able to take care of it.”

“The nobles of the Sith Empire seem to be a little bit different from the nobles of our Hansel Kingdom. Of course, it could just be Earl Jabel.”

“What’s so different about them?”

“They value practicality over their honor. If we were in Hansel Kingdom, the Earl would not have reversed his decision in order to save face.”

“…”

“I have to keep that in mind as we go forward in dealing with these nobles.”

Luke gripped his fists suddenly.

“And I must get stronger. It’s hard to appeal to these nobles who value strength and practicality with my current level of strength.”

Luke remembered clearly. The condescending look that the knight Cooper had given him.

“I have to at least rise to the level of an aura expert, in order to have some footing to deal with nobles of the Sith Empire.”

Right then, Kurotan looked seriously at Luke.

“There is a way to increase your strength.”

Luke was startled out of his thoughts at Kurotan’s words.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Right now, you are not fully utilizing the power of aura. At most, you can only sharpen your senses.”

“I know that. What am I supposed to do more than training, like I am right now?”

“To be honest, you have cultivated more aura than me. The problem lies in your ability to control that aura.”

Luke frowned. To be exact, Kurotan’s aura only amounted to about half of Luke’s aura.

Kurotan, however, was able to wield his aura with maximum efficiency. This was why he was able to use his aura to bolster his strength and speed.

“There is a tradition that’s been passed down through the generations within my tribe. If we use that method, we can increase the amount of your aura and your ability to control that aura.”

Luke stared stupidly at Kurotan.

“Then why haven’t you told me of this tradition before?”

“It’s because it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yes. The tribal method of increasing your aura and control is more likely to fail than succeed.”

Kurotan proceeded to say that the success rate of the tribal method of increasing your aura was less than ten percent. In other words, only one orc out of ten orcs would succeed if they tried this method.

“Are you crazy? You’re telling me to use a tribal method that kills nine out of ten orcs, even with the insane self-healing traits orcs have?”

“I’m telling you because I’ve found a way to overcome that problem.”

Kurotan took out an empty glass bottle. It was the bottle that had held the healing potion that Luke had made Kurotan drink before the final round of the tournament.

“Healing potion?”

“Without this potion, I would not have recommended that you try the tribal method. However, the healing potion increases the success rate of the tribal method immensely.”

“Really?”

Luke’s face began to become brighter. If it had been a couple of months ago, Luke would not have considered the dangerous tribal method at all.

However, considering the situation, Luke couldn’t help but perk up at the idea of a method that could increase his strength in a short amount of time.

‘Well, I’ve already adjusted my aura cultivation technique with the help of an orc…”

Luke looked at Kurotan seriously.

“You’re sure, right?”

“Of course. The amount of your aura, as well as your control of it will be increased by a large margin. If the tribal method succeeds, you’ll be able to strengthen your physical capabilities with aura with no problem.”

“All right. I’ll trust you and try this method.”

“We will need a lot of healing potions.”

Kurotan ran his hand over the empty glass in his grasp.

“Is this the best kind?”

“No. That was a low level healing potion made with a troll’s blood. A mid-level healing potion imbued with holy power is a lot more expensive than that.”

“We need high quality potions, even if it is expensive. A lot, at that…”

Luke nodded his head silently.

“All right. Let’s go back to the Jabel Earldom to purchase healing potions. We even have the prize money that the Earl gave us so we are financially in good shape.”

A mid-level potion was incredibly more expensive than a low-level potion. After purchasing ten mid-level healing potions that an alchemist had created with the help of a priest, Luke’s pockets were empty.

“Maybe it’s because in the country side, but the price of these potions were too high.”

“Forget it. You’re able to become stronger in exchange.”

“That’s true.”

Luke and Kurotan left the Jabel Earldom once again, eventually arriving at a forested area with no signs of humans.

Luke’s eyes were shining as he tied up his horse to a tree.

“There’s no one around. Do you sense any monsters around?”

“There aren’t any monsters around. Shall we?”

Kurotan motioned for Luke to take off the metal plates he was wearing.

“Just leave the leather armor on, but the metal plates must come off.”

“What? Why do I have to take off my armor?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, just take it off.”

“Uh, I’m not entirely comfortable with this.”

Luke unlatched his metal armor. Kurotan dragged Luke to a tree and tied him up. Luke’s face paled as he asked in confusion.

“Wa-Wait, isn’t this a little strange?”

“It’s not strange at all. This is the tribal method passed down to us from generation to generation.”

“Wait. Wait.”

Kurotan ignored Luke’s cries as he secured the knots tying Luke to the tree. Luke rolled his eyes frantically as his body remained immobile.

Luke’s discomfort reached a critical level when Kurotan grabbed the metal mace he had purchased back in the Jabel Earldom.

“You aren’t trying to beat me up with that mace, are you?”

Kurotan finally smiled.

“That’s exactly right.”

Luke couldn’t help but raise his voice into a shout.

“You crazy bastard, how does this make any sense to you?”

“It makes sense.”

Kurotan swung his mace through the air a few times, weighing it in his hands.

“If you are beaten within an inch of your life, your aura will feel danger. That’s because if you, the host, die, the aura will return to its natural state as well.”

Luke’s face only continued to pale as Kurotan approached him slowly, swinging around the mace.

“I’m not that smart, so it’s hard to explain eloquently. Ah, well. You’ll understand once you experience it.”

“No, No, wait…. Don’t! Keeup.”

Kurotan was smiling happily as he gagged Luke.

“I have had a lot of experience in giving out beatings from my days as an orc, to my subordinates. Don’t worry, I have come to understand the exact limits of the human body through our training.”

“Eup, Euuupp.”

“Then, I’ll begin.”

Luke felt a terrible pain in his shoulder the second Kurotan finished speaking. Kurotan had struck his shoulder without mercy.

Puuuk.

Luke’s vision turned white as his eyes became bloodshot. The beating that followed was enough to send Luke’s consciousness to somewhere far away.

“Keuk…”

Luke’s lips cracked open as a groan escaped from his mouth. His eyes opened weakly, still unfocused. He was lying on the ground as he drew in his breathe weakly.

“Are you awake?”

Luke’s body shook as he heard a familiar voice. His eyes suddenly gleamed with a murderous aura as they focused.

“The tribal method has succeeded.”

“You…. Devil like…. Bastard. Keuk.”

Kurotan looked at the limp Luke as he lifted a water canteen to Luke’s lips. The water wet his throat enough that Luke was able to speak more comfortably.

“The effect of the healing potion was better than I had expected.Luke ground his teeth as he raised his head to glare at Kurotan. His body was numb from the beating Kurotan had given him.

Luke’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Kurotan. No one could look kindly at the person that had beaten them within an inch of their lives.

“I’m gonna kill you, you bastard.”

“Don’t be so angry, just examine your body for now.”

Kurotan’s words only infuriated Luke further. It had been the most severe beating he had received since he had been born.

“Everything was for you. It was hard for me as well.”

“Keeuk.”

Luke strained to turn his head away, and focused on his body’s current state. It wasn’t long before Luke’s eyes widened.

“Wh-What the hell?”

Surprisingly, the amount of his aura had increased substantially. It had roughly tripled since before Kurotan had given him the beating. Luke’s face was incredulous as he exclaimed.

“How is this possible?”

The response of the aura was different as well. Whereas the aura had defied his attempts to control it previously, it was now as relaxed as a fat cat who had eaten its fill.

“How is it? It’s changed, hasn’t it?”

“What the hell happened?”

“I told you. Your control of aura will increase substantially… I don’t know the exact reason behind this change.”

“You’re saying that if the body is driven to extreme circumstances, the quality of the aura changes?”

“Yeah, that’s probably right. The aura probably does not want to return to its natural state.”

“I don’t believe it.”

Luke ignored the pain shooting his body as he dragged himself up into a seated lotus position. The beating had been so severe that not even the healing potion had fully healed him.

“Keeu, I think I’m going to die.”

“You should be able to control your aura now. Try it, carefully.”

“Shut the hell up, Kurotan.”

Luke spit bitterly before doing exactly what Kurotan had suggested. He was trying to move aura with his will. Kurotan spoke an additional warning.

“Don’t try to force it.”

“Shut your mouth, Kurotan.”

Luke’s aura was beginning to slowly respond to Luke’s incessant poking. Just as Kurotan had said, his aura was responding to Luke’s careful mental pokes.

When that happened, Luke was able to get a taste of a whole new world.

He willed the aura to his head, and felt his senses sharpen dramatically. His vision and hearing sharpened. He began to smell things that he had never previously smelled before.

An aura user would have senses roughly twice as sharp as a normal human. However, the aura expert, able to direct aura at will could sharpen his senses to roughly ten times the sensitivity of a normal human’s. Luke couldn’t help but exclaim.

“This is awesome!”

Luke continued to move around his aura happily. It still felt as if the aura was reluctant to listen to him, but the results were definite. Luke drew his sword while concentrating aura into his shoulder and arms.

“Haaht!”

He slashed at a sword with a battle cry, cutting cleanly and silently through the trunk of a tree as wide as a human waist. Luke stared blankly at his blade.

“As strong as an ogre…”

Luke concentrated his aura into his legs and kicked the ground, rising almost two meters in the air.

“Uh-Uhht!”

Unable to control this new strength, Luke ended up sprawled on the ground as he landed. Luke dusted himself off as he remarked about the difference he now felt.

“It’s unbelievable. This is why aura experts are so overwhelming.”

Senses that were five times better than an aura user’s, as well as increased muscular power.

“I feel like a god.”

“Wake up, Luke. You are a chick who has just hatched. Bone grinding training is needed in order for you to be able to control aura freely.

Despite Kurotan’s words, Luke was unable to calm his excitement.

“This is awesome. I didn’t know that aura could do such things.”

“I was the one who made this possible, so you should be thankful towards me.”

Luke shot a dirty look at Kurotan at his last words. He was extremely happy to have become an aura expert, but if Luke were honest with himself, he did not feel grateful towards Kurotan at all. The memory of being beaten within an inch of his life had been ingrained into his very bones.

“I suppose I will need to train, as you said. How about it, shall we duel?”

Kurotan shook his head.

“Not now.”

“What? It’s a surprise, you refusing to train.”

“I wish to become stronger as well. I wish to undergo the very beating I just gave you.”

Kurotan began to unlatch the clips of his metal plate as he talked. Luke’s face seemed to flush with excitement.

“You’re… asking me to carry out the tribal method?”

“Yes. If I can just increase the amount of my aura, I will be able to regain my old strength.”

“Hahaha. You can leave it to me.”

Luke let out a strange laughter as he grabbed Kurotan’s mace eagerly. Dried blood and pieces of flesh littered the surface of the mace.

“I will be sure to give you a proper beating. Better than the one you gave me.”

Kurotan frowned nervously at the killing intent Luke was emanating.

“It’s not simply a brutal beating. You have to keep in mind my body’s limits.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve personally experienced the beating that’s just sufficient.”

“We-We only have about seven healing potions left.”

“Too much talking.”

Luke quickly gagged Kurotan before tying him up securely to a tree.

“Eeup. Eeup!”

Kurotan continued to make attempts to speak to Luke, but Luke did not even pretend to listen. A smile graced Luke’s face as he lifted the mace.

“Shall we begin?”

Kurotan’s eyes widened in panic.