Chapter 7: Aura

I wasn't sure what Meta was doing, but I watched my body explode with tremendous power in the next second.

"Woah... '

Slowly, I watched as a colorless greyish ghostly hue permeated from my sitting body. I had my eyes close, or at least Meta did, and some mysterious energy began to secret from the pores of my body. As I had my senses perceiving from a unique perception throughout this moment so to say, I watched the entire process that took place on the outside.

That ghostly colourless hue...that was Aura.

I was supposed to only see it, but strangely I felt a vague connection yet with my sperated body. I was currently experiencing a strange form of out of body experience, but I could more or less feel what my physical body felt?

Or maybe it's because of Aura. The energy was just as mystifying as anything I had ever seen.

I watched the strange ghostly hue coalesce around my body, and observed a transient flow of light gather just underneath my navle before suffusing and disappearing.

Only a few seconds after that, I heard Meta's synthetic voice echo in its usual manner.

[It is done], it said, [You will now return to your body.]

Just as the voice said so, I felt my consciousness grow faint and fleeting before getting sucked and pulled in a familiar fashion.

The first thing I saw after returning to my body, while opening my eyes were a string of letters presented on an illusionary interface.

...

[Skill {???}<lvl?? > has been deactivated]

-DING!

[You have leveled up]

...

Then slowly I felt my consciousness settle and control of my body return back to me.

Then I immediately began to explore my body. There was vast wave of euphoria that washed over me. A truly splendid feeling, like after just having a warm bath, it was inexplicable.

I felt a strange transient rush of energy flow through my body, and even my other senses felt a tad bit clearer.

Basking in the euphoric sensation, I exhaled a deep breath, and turbid air flowed from my lips.

-TSSSSS

There was a quiet hissing sound and what resembled colourless steam evaporated out of the pore's of my skin. It was then I realized I felt a bit hot and my body was drenched in shimmering sweat.

"So this is Aura?" I muttered, mesmerized and fully immersed in the feeling.

I quickly got up and walked toward a hung mirror by a wall in my room and gazed at the reflection of my bare chested figure. .

The reflection of an 8 year old boy with slightly wavy brown hair and bright gold eyes, and a body full of sweat stared back a me.

Using my reflection from the mirror surface, I examined my body for any noticeable changes or difference.

'I leveled up too all of a sudden, is that because of what just happened? '

[Affirmative], Meta promptly responded, [Call up your attribute screen].

I didn't linger and simply nodded before summoning a familiar string of letters.

..

[Name: Victor Bright

Level: 4

Rank: Beta (New)

Hp: ???

________

________

<STATS >

Strength:- ???

Speed:- ???

Agility:- ???

Constitution:- ???

Luck:- ???

Aura:- 8/8

Charm:- ???

______

______

<SKILLS >

{Inspect}

Level 1

Rank-: Rare

...

{???} (New)

Level???

Rank-:???

...

____

____

<SUMMARY >

Too little information is known

____

___]

...

'Ooh! There are new additions.' i quickly noticed the changes and differences in my stats.

The Skills had increased by one, and my Aura point isn't empty like before.

The new skill was the one Meta used to switch places with my consciousness, but both its Rank and level are blank?

'More question marks, ' i sighed mentally, 'i suppose my level is still too low for you to tell me what that means? '

[Affirmative]

Sighh.

In any case, I quickly got over the suspicious new skill, which name was blank, and moved on to other matters.

"There's also one other new addition. Rank? Meta, elaborate, " I said and Meta's voice began an apt explanation inside my head.

[You have successfully forced the awakening of the dormant Aura inside your body and have become an Awakened, one who wields the aspects of Aether]

" An Awakened? Don't you mean Hero?" I asked, confused.

[Negative. Hero is the term and classifications used by Humans for an Awakened.], Meta explained.

'Oh, I see. Continue. '

[There are eight known Ranks for an Awakened, and are as follows; Beta, Mortal, Eta, Hero, Quadra, Scribe, Hydra, and Candela, rank in ascending order. The power difference between each rank increases drastically every one rank up. And currently, as a newly Awakened, you are a Beta ranked Awakened] Meta concluded and left me thinking.

Beta, Mortal, Eta, Hero, Quadra, Scribe, Hydra, and Candela ...who the fuck came up with those ridiculous names, and why are they unnecessarily too many ranks?!

They're so over the place and random!

But aside from the kinky naming sense, there were a few necessary piece of information to take into account for the future. With there being eight ranks, I had to reevaluate the initial standards I had placed on this world's power system.

'So this was what you meant by 'Rank up'. I said inwardi, thoughtfully.

Meta had repeatedly said to raise my authorization sequence to certain information, I had to raise my sequence by ranking up. But then I didn't have Aura and misinterpreted 'Rank up' as 'Leveling up'.

The sly system had definitely made that misunderstanding intentionally up until now.

[Affirmative. The corresponding Ranks will be your primary method of gauging you strength and future progression. Do note that the difficulty of each rank up will be drastically increased the higher rank you become.], Meta said.

The explanation made my future prospects clearer now, at least.

And also much harder. It was one thing leveling up, but how was i supposed to raise my Rank?

[By continuing to Master your Aura, and expanding your Core. Correspondingly, by raising your Level to the rank limits and breaking through.]

'I see. That makes sense. ' when i referred back to certain other Webnovels I've read with similar power scaling (systems), and video games it was rather obvious.

'My current Aura level is quite honestly depressing. How do I expand it, and not only that, how do I truly master Aura? ' having such doubts and questions filter into my mind, I felt a string of uncertainty.

[There is no problem], Meta's synthetic voice said in its usual manner, [That's why I'm here]

Ohhh, Meta, you're finally playing your part like a true system... sniff, sniff.

[...]

This is good. As untrustworthy and cryptic as Meta might be, I had no doubts it would be the best teacher for me. Meta had already proven repeatedly to me its vast knowledge and information concerning this world, there was definitely no one better than the System to make me stronger.

In addition, it had no reason to harm me, at least for now, or hasn't shown any overt will to do so. If I truly was a pawn in a much larger game, then Meta was there to make sure I accomplished my purpose. And until then, whenever it was, it had no reason to harm me.

Meanwhile, I would capitalize on this opportunity.

The person behind the system, and most likely behind my transmigration, needs me to become stronger for a different reason, they were only using me to further their goals.

It would be fair if I did the same, wouldn't it?

I'll use the resources provide for me to get stronger, strong enough at least to break my shackles and bitch my fate. This was my second life, my grand redemption. I was going to have it however I want, and not dictated by someone, or something.

In the end, I only had to get stronger; both to brave the calamity, and to raise the middle finger for the one responsible for everything.

'Oi, Meta, what rank would I have to be to get authorization access to the secrets your hiding from me? ' I asked intentionally.

Meta's response came a little later than usual.

[For now only focus on reaching Mortal Rank]

It didn't answer the question, but didn't evade it either, huh...I thought at the deepest corners of my mind.

"Hmmm...so one at a time then, is that what you're saying? '

[There is no other way after all] Meta said, matter of factly, and I nodded, feigning satisfaction.

'Yes, that is true.'

Just as I was about to reach for my clothes on the floor, I heard a small round of soft knocking against my door. As immediately as it ended, a mild feminine voice resounded from the other side.

"... Young master Victor, the Master invites you to have dinner with him and the rest of the family at the main hall in two hours."

A maid, huh.

If Father was asking for a meeting like this with the rest of the family, he probably has an announcement or something to say. Although I probably already have an idea what it might be... my thoughts were fleeting like this as I turned to the door and responded to the messenger.

"Yes. Return to my father and tell him I have received the invite. I will be present in the next two hours." I said curtly, sending the maid off.

Once I could no longer sense the presence of anyone standing by my door anymore, i picked up my clothes and turned back to the mirror.

I stared at my reflection.

Come to think of it, I look completely different from before on Earth. Well that's obvious, I did die and reincarnate into this body.

I was still little, but I could see nice prospects in my features for the future.

Smirking one last times at my looks of this lifetime, I decided to get ready for the family meeting in a couple of hours.

Now I had to not only raise my level but my rank and master Aura, all while still trying to live peacefully for as long as I could until the Calamity. Of course, I had every intention to keep my forceful awakening a secret ti avoid attention from my family.

I had to grow stronger in the shadows, and avoid unnecessary attention in the light, this meant I had to keep a secret my recent awakening for as long as necessary.

For now I'll just rise to Mortal Rank. It was a pain but I had no other choice. After that I'd see from there.

Beta, Mortal, Eta, Hero, Quadra, Scribe, Hydra, and Candela... Come to think of it, I wonder what ranks those 'Monsters' from that illusion were?

Probably Candela, but Meta said in passing that these were only the discovered Ranks.

Chances were, they were something even beyond Candela rank.

And that was the bar I had to reach.