Aura Affinity II

This was one of the differences that Mana and Aura had.

Besides being omnipresent in the world, mana wasn't restricted by affinity. It could turn to fire, water, or any element.

The only thing that restricted it was the formula of a magic spell.

On the other hand, aura couldn't freeky turn into any kind of element. However, it could awaken the attributes of an element the individual has affinity to.

This meant that if a swordsman was innately close to fire, then there was a high chance that his aura would awaken the attributes of fire.

***

"Splendid! To think that you can still defend against my powerful magic spell…!"

Count Orpheus's hideous voice resounded in the area as he let out a laugh. He couldn't help but be amused by the sight before him.

Currently, the massive magic circle in the sky was continuously spurting out fireballs.

The rain of flames that dyed the surroundings red burned the grassy field, turning the once abundant greenery to a charred wasteland.

"Tsk!"

Regis clicked his tongue as he continued swinging his dual swords.

'This is getting nowhere…!!!'

It had already been tens of minutes since the torrent of fireballs started.

He was already starting to get tired, yet the rain of flames showed no signs of weakening or slowing down.

Instead, it even became faster and stronger as time passed by.

No, it wasn't just that.

He was also starting to get slower and weaker.

This situation lasted for a long while before Regis could feel his consciousness slipping away.

'I can't give up just yet…!!!'

He shouted in his heart, but the situation didn't change even by a little bit.

The rain of flames required his full focus in order to prevent his friends behind him from being burnt to crisp.

Meanwhile, the demonic Count Orpheus stayed far away from them, still protected by his barrier.

No matter how one looked at it, there was just no way for him to resolve the situation.

The chances of winning were zero.

Not even the slightest, slim chance. Just an absolute zero.

Nevertheless, giving up had never been an option for him.

Heck, it didn't even cross his mind.

"Faster… I just need to go faster…"

Dazed mutterings could be vaguely heard from him.

If one looked closely, they could see that his eyes were starting to lose focus. But what followed after was strange.

Despite the loss of his focus, his body continued moving.

As if his body went in autopilot mode.

'Faster… just a bit faster…'

These were the only thoughts that circulated in his mind.

His body continued to tirelessly swing his dual swords, not letting even a wisp of flame get past him.

This lasted for a few more moments before his eyes fully closed.

It was at this moment that something happened, shocking both Pandora and Count Orpheus.

They thought that once his eyes gave in to exhaustion and closed, it would be the end.

However, the contrary happened instead.

Instead of collapsing on the ground like what they thought, his body sped up instead.

The act of pushing himself past his limits resonated with his life force itself and in turn, his aura.

Woosh— Woosh— Woosh—

Fwooooooooooooooooooo—

It started at this moment, when three fireballs dissipated with just one stroke of his sword.

No, it wasn't one- it was three strikes compressed in the normal time it takes one to perform a single strike with a sword.

That's right, instead of stopping, his slashes began to climb in speed.

Swoosh— Swoosh— Swoosh—

Three strikes in one second…

Four strikes in one second…

Six strikes in one second…

Eight strikes in one second…

Ten strikes in one second…

His arms turned into a blur as the two swords in his hands produced gusts of wind with every strike.

"What is happening…!?"

Count Orpheus's eyes widened in alarm at the abnormality that was happening.

Without wasting a single second, he raised his hand and pointed at Regis before saying a chant.

[High Rank Magic: Ice Beam]

Crinkkkk—!!!

A light blue beam shot out from his finger and arrived at the unconscious Regis in less than a second.

This happened while he was still maintaining the huge magic circle in the sky.

Although he wouldn't normally be able to multicast two high rank magic spells, his current state allowed for it.

Joy began to spread on his face as he saw that the Ice Beam was about to pierce Regis's neck.

However, before his wish could be granted, another blue beam of light intercepted it.

Count Orpheus looked behind Regis with a shocked expression only to see Pandora bleeding in all her orifices.

"What!? A One Star managed to cast a high rank magic spell!?"

His shock was apparent in his trembling voice as his eyes widened in disbelief.

"B-Brother…"

Pandora could only helplessly call out as she collapsed on the ground.

She could clearly feel that any disturbance would be detrimental to Regis, so she did all that she could in order to protect him.

Even if this meant disabling the barrier that once protected them.

Right now, both her and Killian were defenseless. This meant that even if one fireball got past Regis, then they would be burnt to death.

Nevertheless, her eyes shone with the light of hope as she stared at the back of Regis.

'Shit… I still can't move!'

Killian thought in frustration as he bore witness to the events before him.

He tried moving, but the pain that assaulted his body whenever he tried to do so almost drove him crazy.

His eyes remained fixed on Regis as his eyes slowly became filled with surprise.

'What kind of element is he awakening? That kind of speed… is something that not even my lightning could achieve right after awakening…!!!'

Killian was the most talented of the Gladius Family. He also prided himself for being the fastest among those of the same realm.

He was sure that no one in the One Star Realm was faster than him.

However, he was stupefied at what he was currently seeing, 'His speed is already this terrifying just after awakening!?'

'I can also tell that he's not using any sort of aura art, so this could only mean one thing…'

The speed Regis was demonstrating right now was the raw and passive enhancement brought upon by the element of his aura.

In other words, this was his starting point.

'B-But what kind of element could possibly achieve this!? A speed not inferior to when I used Lightning God's Descent!?!'

Killian was practically shouting in his mind right at this moment.

However, what happened next further shocked him.

A streak of light flashed.

After he recovered, Killian looked ahead, only to see that Regis's body had disappeared.

Persevering through the pain, he moved his head with difficulty and found that Regis was already in front of Count Orpheus.

This made him remember something about a story that his parents had once told him.

Killian's eyes widened once again, 'D-don't tell me that the element his aura awakened is…'

'…Light!?'