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Each step carried the wisdom and experiences of the legendary Hero Emperor of the North, and more than that, a fragment of his very soul had been embedded within the manual to pass down the technique in its purest form to the next generation.

But there was a problem.

Kisha wasn't part of his bloodline, and her compatibility with the technique was only 68%. And in mastering Aura, compatibility was everything.

The battle raging within her body wasn't simply a clash of three opposing energies. She had just discovered that aura, unlike mana and spiritual energy, wasn't an external force but rather a direct manifestation of one's will—originating from the soul itself.

Because of this, aura could be used alongside mana and spiritual energy, even serving as a stabilizing force to contain, merge, or separate them at will.

This revelation meant that mastering aura wasn't just about power but about understanding, awakening, and enlightenment.

Unlike mages who harness mana from their surroundings and store it in their mana hearts, awakening one's aura was an even greater challenge—demanding intense training and a deep connection to one's own will.

For an aura user, achieving mastery required uniting their physical and mental being as one, awakening their soul, and attaining enlightenment to unlock their aura.

However, opening one's aura was only the beginning. From there, they had to undergo rigorous mental and physical training, much like knights do.

Unlike mages, who focused solely on increasing their mana while leaving their physical bodies vulnerable, aura users had to maintain a delicate balance between mind and body.

Neglecting either aspect could disrupt the flow of their aura. The body acted as the vessel through which aura flowed, while the mind functioned as the engine that kept it connected to the soul.

Because of this, aura users were revered as the greatest knights, capable of going toe-to-toe with archmages—who were known for their formidable power and ability to tame dragons.

In fact, aura users were often considered the natural adversaries of mages, standing as their greatest rivals in battle.

If mages were known for taming dragons and archmages could rival a dragon's firepower, then aura users were famed for their ability to bring down and slay dragons.

Unlike ordinary beings, they were not as easily affected by mana, making them formidable opponents.

However, this didn't mean they were invincible—mages, especially those more powerful than them, could still pose a lethal threat.

Now that Kisha understood this, she realized she didn't need to rely on accessories to amplify her aura to match her mana and spiritual energy. Even though her aura was weaker in comparison, it wouldn't be an issue as long as her body could contain all three energies.

Fortunately, her body was strong enough to serve as a vessel. After moments of nervousness and concern, Duke noticed her breathing gradually steadying and the tension in her face easing.

That was when he knew—Kisha had successfully integrated her aura with her mana and spiritual energy.

Kisha's breathing remained steady yet powerful as she delved deep into her soul, aligning her body, mind, and spirit into perfect harmony.

Gradually, a golden light began to emanate from her, growing in intensity until it became a radiant, blinding glow. Duke watched in awe, mesmerized by the sight of her entire body bathed in shimmering gold.

It was breathtaking—warm and soothing, like the gentle embrace of sunlight. Moments later, as the glow began to fade, Kisha slowly opened her eyes, which still glowed with a golden hue. Then, she exhaled deeply, releasing a thick, dark smoke that billowed from her mouth like soot from a chimney.

"Are you okay?" Duke asked worriedly.

Kisha remained in a daze as she tried to assess her body. She felt lighter, almost weightless, and the energy within her flowed effortlessly. It was as if the channels carrying her mana and spiritual energy had expanded, allowing them to circulate freely without clashing.

Before, the two energies had constantly fought for dominance, creating internal turmoil. But now, they moved in harmony, coexisting without obstruction.

Beyond that, she could feel a profound change in her body—physically, she was stronger, as if she had ascended to an entirely new level of power.

But then, Kisha felt something sticky on her skin, and a foul odor reached her nose, making her scrunch it in disgust. She sniffed again, trying to pinpoint the source of the stench, only to realize—it was coming from her own body.

Upon awakening her aura, a deep cleansing process had occurred. Her aura had purged her system of built-up impurities, expelling toxins from her bones, organs, and blood.

This meant her body had rid itself of anything that could lead to sickness or disease, leaving her in a state of pure physical refinement. However, the result wasn't exactly pleasant. Her skin was now coated in a thick layer of oily black residue, reeking like used engine oil.

Kisha instinctively glanced at Duke, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The realization that he was right in front of her—close enough to catch the awful stench coming from her body—made her want to run and hide.

But then, doubt crept in. Despite the overwhelming odor, Duke hadn't moved an inch.

He remained seated, his expression calm, his gaze filled only with relief.

It was as if the stench didn't bother him at all—because what truly mattered to him was that she hadn't suffered the same agony she once did when accumulating mana in her body.

She had no idea when these impurities had started seeping out of her body or how long she had been reeking of this awful stench.

All she knew was that during the process of awakening her aura, she had been so deeply focused on her inner self that she remained completely unaware of what was happening to her body.

Despite Duke acting as if nothing was wrong, Kisha couldn't shake off her insecurity and embarrassment.

Instinctively, she dashed away—only to realize that her agility and strength had increased significantly.

When she glanced back, she was stunned to see deep footprints embedded in the soil where she had stepped.

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, she met Duke's gaze, and his expression mirrored her amazement.

In that instant, excitement flickered in his eyes as he grasped the true potential of aura.

If simply awakening it could result in such drastic changes, what more could they achieve once they began refining their bodies and souls through rigorous aura training?

Feeling a renewed sense of optimism, Kisha continued running, exhilarated by her newfound abilities.

Before long, she reached a secluded spot near the lake, where she quickly set up a makeshift open bath, using thick trees for cover and draping a tarp around to cover her and the bathtub to ensure privacy.

Kisha extended her telekinesis toward the lake, attempting to lift the water into the air and guide it into her bathtub. However, controlling the water proved to be more challenging than she had anticipated.

Unlike solid objects, water was shapeless and constantly shifting, making it difficult to grasp. Each time she tried to manipulate it, the liquid would slip through her hold, spilling to one side before she could properly direct it.