Aura-bearers introduction

The clock struck 6:30 pm and the apartment was quiet, with only Kayden present. "Looks like Anna and the rest are out, maybe working overtime?" he thought to himself as he glanced around the empty living room. Suddenly, the doorbell rang multiple times, pulling Kayden out of his thoughts. He quickly made his way to the front door, shrugging on his coat as he went. As he opened the door, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe when he saw Hannah standing before him. She looked dazzling, like a real-life bachelor.

Hannah's face flushed at Kayden's compliment. "You're so dressed up tonight," she said shyly.

"I can't let you shine alone, now can I?" Kayden teased, taking in her beauty as she wore a beautiful cocktail shirt. With a smile exchanged between them, they got into a red Maserati and hit the road.

As they drove towards their destination, Kayden couldn't help but wonder. "So, anyone I should be cautious of?"

"Well, there's my first cousin Tyler, a first-grade special ops member. Then there's my other cousin who is known for his brutality in the field. And Dwayne, my uncle's only son who has quite the reputation as a naughty prince."

Kayden raised an eyebrow at Hannah's hesitation before mentioning the last person. "And who might that be?"

"My older girl cousin Juniper. She may seem pretty and calm on the outside, but inside she hides a demon," Hannah replied with a sigh.

"Your family sounds quite interesting," Kayden remarked with a chuckle. 

After a couple of minutes of driving, they arrived at the 5-star hotel. It had a charming countryside theme, with lush greenery and quaint wooden architecture scattered throughout the grounds. As they pulled up to the entrance, they saw a parade of other sports cars arriving, each one carrying elegantly dressed couples, their arms linked as they stepped out onto the red carpet. "We've made it," Kayden said with a smile as he helped Hannah out of their car. Their striking appearance turned heads and drew whispers from the other guests. Hannah's ethereal beauty perfectly complemented Kayden's strong and handsome appearance. His presence alone seemed to leave the women around him flustered and entranced. "Who is that man beside her?" one woman whispered to her friend. "He's positively dreamy." Blushing at the attention, Hannah and Kayden made their way to the entrance, where they checked in before entering the main hall. As they walked through the grand doors, Kayden couldn't help but sense someone watching him, someone who seemed to possess powers similar to his own but had chosen not to use them. "Interesting," a man muttered to himself before heading back up to the second floor.

As Hannah and Kayden ascended the grand staircase to the 2nd floor ballroom hall, they were greeted with a sight of opulence and luxury. The spacious room was filled with finely dressed upper class families, socializing and clinking glasses of champagne. Among them stood a middle-aged man and woman, making their way towards Hannah and Kayden. "Mother, father," Hannah said with a smile as she embraced her parents.

Kayden observed the approaching figures with curiosity and slight apprehension. The man, Mr. Vargas, stood at an impressive 6'2" with sharp features and a dignified air about him. Next to him stood a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Hannah, wearing a stunning gown that accentuated her beauty. "Hannah, this is...?" Mrs. Vargas trailed off.

"Mother, father, this is my friend Kayden," Hannah introduced.

Kayden gave a courteous bow as he greeted them. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Vargas."

Mr. Vargas chuckled as he patted Kayden on the back. "Well done, brat. My daughter has been telling us stories about you. Thank you for taking good care of her."

Hannah blushed at her father's words. "Mom, dad..."

"Ah, young love," Mrs. Vargas cooed before excusing themselves to join the other guests.

Hannah turned to Kayden with an embarrassed expression. "Kayden, it's not like that..."

Kayden let out a soft laugh. "No need to explain, my dear friend. Shall we go find something to eat?"

He took her hand in his and led her towards the food area as she blushed once again at their close proximity and the murmurs from other guests around them.

As they continue walking, a towering man approaches them with an intimidating aura. "You must be the guy my cousin won't stop talking about," he says in a deep voice. Standing at 6'7 tall with a muscular build, this man was undoubtedly Tyler - a special ops soldier.

"I hope you don't make my cousin cry..." he warns before walking away.

"Don't take his words seriously," Hannah tries to brush it off with a laugh. But Kayden can see the fear in her eyes.

"Hannah, I promise I will never make you cry," he reassures her, his grip on her hand tightening.

Meanwhile, inside a room, two men are discussing something important surrounded by several others.

"You say this man named Kayden possesses aura?" the older man questions in disbelief. If Hannah were here, she would easily recognize him as her grandfather, the head of the powerful Vargas family.

The other man, sipping coffee calmly, confirms, "Yes, I tested him myself. He was able to suppress my aura. You know how valuable people with aura are in our generation - people like us are as rare as diamonds."

The older man chuckles, "My daughter struck gold this time. May I ask what extent has his aura evolved?"

Sipping another drink casually, the man explains, "As you know, aura matches strength and every evolution sharpens a certain attribute of the person. This makes us different from normal people."

He continues, "Auras are classified into nine different tiers..."

Novice - "The individual experiences a sudden, overwhelming surge of strength and their body grows approximately 8 inches taller. Simultaneously, their body initiates a process known as self-recovery that puts even the most advanced medical technology to shame."

Expert - "The person now possesses full control over their aura, and their heightened senses allow them to detect even the slightest changes in their surroundings. They can also utilize their aura to suppress other humans or aura-bearers. Their strength has reached an unfathomable level, easily surpassing the capabilities of any ordinary human at a minimum of 1500 kg. I have reached this realm."

Master - "Legends within our organization claim that master aura-bearers have unlocked the ability to fly, and their minds have evolved to a level where their IQs surpass 200. This grants them the power to learn anything effortlessly. Furthermore, they have gained the incredible ability to regenerate lost body parts."

Grandpa Vargas and the other soldiers couldn't help but break into a sweat.

"My goodness, I never could have imagined such beings existed in our world..." 

The young man looked at him with a mixture of awe and fear. "I may appear strong, but compared to the other aura-bearers who have reached the veteran realm and beyond, I am afraid that I am lacking," he stated humbly. "You see, Veteran is only one of the beginning stages. There exist other realms higher than the veteran realm."

Lord - His voice was filled with respect and reverence as he spoke of this elusive realm. "My organization has uncovered stories of Lord realm aura-bearers attaining the ability to create space and directly transport from one area to another. Their powers are also said to be equivalent to 100 nuclear bombs. And their auras have evolved to the point where they can read one's thoughts and even kill those under the lord realm with their thoughts alone."

King - The mere mention of this realm sent shivers down the young man's spine. "Legends state that King's aura bearers are capable of annihilating an entire country by themselves. Their power is unmatched and feared by all."

Emperor - One of the highest realm, rumored to be inhabited by only a select few chosen ones. "This realm is said to have the capability to kill a king with his thoughts or aura alone. It is believed that once someone reaches this realm, they can create their own domain, ruling over it with absolute power."

Grandpa Vargas leaned in, his eyes shining with curiosity. "And what of those above the emperor?" he asked eagerly.

The man took another sip of his coffee before answering. "Those other realms are beyond our understanding," he replied cryptically. "But I do have some knowledge about them."

Ancestor - "Their senses have achieved perfection, and their aura alone can shake the core of this planet. Dealing with ten emperors would be a simple task for them."

Saint - "In this realm, age is just a number. It's said that people can live up to 500 years here. Rumor has it that the founder of the Santiago family, one of the nine aristocratic families, was once an ancestor. However, his whereabouts remain unknown. At this stage, their aura alone can cause catastrophic earthquakes, floods, and typhoons."

Exalted - "This stage is a mystery. Some believe it is the final stage of cultivation, while others say it's only the beginning. No one has ever reached the final gap, but it's said that the ultimate level can easily defeat an ancestor."

As Grandpa Vargas sat in his chair, his expression was a mix of excitement and fear. He knew better than most the incredible power that aura-bearers possessed. His grandson Tyler, a beginner aura bearer, had been taken by the government and their family was now held in high regard because of it. Grandpa Vargas himself used to be an advanced aura bearer, with a reputation that preceded him in the government. Though he had since retired, his name still carried weight and respect among those who knew of his abilities.