Masters

Chapter 11

"Okay, visualize the point at the center of your body." "Hm... Got it." "Now picture that point being a container full of Aura using the sensations and image you get when utilizing your Powers." "Sparkly... Warm... And tingly." "Now picture that container swelling, the pressure of the Aura increasing and the sensations growing more intense" "So tingly... Like pins and needles." "Now once the force within the container becomes uncomfortable or painful, picture all of the Aura bursting out at once and flowing throughout your body!" Yohan yelled as his body enveloped in a flame-like vapor of light while a slight invisible pressure began emitting from his body. "Hold it Yohan!" Twenty seconds later, Yohan started breathing harder. "Hold it!" Forty seconds later he started sweating profusely and looking like he was struggling. "Hold... It!" After precisely one minute, Yohan heavily exhaled and doubled over as the glow around him dispersed. "Great! With that technique, you should be able to increase your maximum number of pellets per day, at least for a brief moment. Your base number of pellets should increase as you raise the mass of your Aura." "Thanks... Just... Givemeaminute..."

Nick and Yohan were currently in their room training their Auras. After slaying the iron rook, Nick had finally developed the ability to intensify his Aura and had successfully taught Yohan how to use it for himself. First, he had learned how to trigger it in a meditative position, then while standing up, then while running in a straight line, then while moving around erratically. This time he had learned how to sustain his intensified Aura for over a minute. Ideally, one should sustain their intensified Aura for a few moments at a time, but it never hurts to accumulate a large amount of Aura for one powerful or specialized attack.

The total profit of HCs from their prize was indeed one thousand two hundred as Citro had said, but the number of HCs they had earned from the remains of the monsters they slew was nine thousand six hundred. Once divided between themselves, the total number of HCs had come to six thousand two hundred for Nick and five thousand eight hundred seventy-five for Yohan. He insisted on letting Nick take all the HCs, feeling he barely did anything, but Nick wouldn't hear any of it.

After accumulating so many HCs at one time, they decided to take it easy for a while and focus on refining their PK. In their free time, they explored Helgram and had so far discovered sections with their own microclimates that were essentially small beaches, jungles, mountain ranges, and a weird one that had a building made up of terraces with their own localized gravitational pulls built in all manner of angles, all over the span of five months.

Nick sat down on his bed. "So, what do you want to do today, explore some more?" "Nah." "Go back into the underground? I'm always up for expanding my arsenal. Plus, you could use the practical experience." "Nodefinatelynot." "Take on another contract? We could always just take a bunch of simple low-risk jobs." "Hm... Maybe."

Suddenly, a heavy knocking came from their door, startling them both. "Uh... I got it." Yohan walked over to the door and opened it. He yelped as he fell on his back and scurried to the other side of the room before cowering.

Nick looked at the doorway and saw Alzolami standing at the threshold, startling him. Her eyes glowed with a soft light. "May I come in?" "Depends, do you mean us harm?" "Not unless I have to, or if you peeve me off." "Fair enough. You may enter."

Alzolami entered their room while Yohan stared at Nick, muttering incoherently under his breath. "So... What brings the daughter of the headmaster to our very humble abode?" Alzolami paused for a bit as the light from her eyes flashed before saying, "To keep it simple, I'm thinking about teaming up with you two lumps." Nick's eyes widened in astonishment as Yohan heavily gasped in his corner.

Nick tried to keep a poker face as he said, "What... Brought on this decision?" "I said I was thinking about teaming up! What you two did in months takes most students years. I've been here more than half my life and I've never seen anyone rise as fast as you guys. Plus my Dad is always pestering me about how ′mortals are always stronger together, being stubborn never got anything done, pride was considered a sin for a good reason′ so now here I am." Nick was silent for a moment, mostly due to the fact that Alzolami had perfectly mimicked Mr. Ender's imposing voice.