Chapter 26: The Return

"First, Sorcerer,” Gunthar said as the party continued walking down the stairs, “You’ll need to adequately describe how it is you gain skills in such a manner. Everything. The method, the feeling, the result.”

Just before Rainer was about to answer, he paused for a moment. He never truly explored what he felt as he had just gotten so accustomed to it. And even then he focused more on what he had achieved from it rather than the process. It was beyond what could be called a strange phenomenon.

“It's as if for an instant I can see everything. How to swing a blade, how to adjust my stance, how to achieve a truly perfect level, and then it's brought back down, and I’m left with the knowledge that comes with the level 1 skill.”

“This...is a product of your class?”

“It is. My Arcanist class assists me in learning the first level of any skill.”

Kara now couldn’t help but chime in.

“But how did you learn the second level of my blade skill so quickly as well.”

“Ah...well, I can level skills in my sleep.”

Contrary to expectations Gunthar continued without skipping a beat.

“Good, then I will tailor my explanation on Aura on the premise you need not understand everything about it,” Gunthar responded before he began his explanation.

“Different from mana, we draw in our Aura from the world around us. All life is capable of using aura but whether or not they can learn it within their lifetime is a question of talent and resources available. No different from the Lady of the Fae’s dust there are similar objects for Aura. Though...your attribute gain makes that unnecessary.”

“So I already have Aura?”

“Yes, but different from your idea I don’t imagine you have more than a single kind. Most will have an Aura similar to Little Wolf’s in her Wolfkin form. A colorless aura that is nonetheless capable of much. For you, it may very well be just as strange as your mana. It is merely now a task of learning to meditate and draw in this energy.”

“If that’s all it takes then...?” Rainer asked wondering why some couldn’t learn it.

“It is only merely for you, Sorcerer. To feel and grasp Aura is not something generally learned after an afternoon nap...or during one. It is a practice that even when you have high attributes relating to aura you may still take many years to learn how to meditate and use your aura. Though even then that’s assuming one has a proper teacher.”

“Well then it's good I have the best teacher,” After Rainer had said that he was sure he saw the bones of Gunthar’s face slightly blush. True or not he’d think that’s what he saw.

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“Your meditation must first focus on finding the Aura that is already inside of you. Here you have an advantage already having increased the attributes related to Aura. Even without your effort, your body had naturally drawn in energy from the world, and your own unique Aura is already within you. Though, wielding it beyond a pure energy will take more training, even for you. “

Gunthar took a moment to continue explaining how to look within oneself as they headed further down and into further heat.

--

They finally reached the bottom of the stairs. There was a device only Rainer was familiar with, an elevator. Though of course, it was different from the standard affair. It was a metal cage with a strange magical square in the middle of it.

Rainer was the first to walk in and could now see where exactly the heat they felt originated. Rivers of fire poured down the gaping chasm. The walls were an obsidian black, a realm fitting for a Devil.

Whether it was Kara, Luna or Gunthar, all were startled as Rainer pressed the magical device in the center and the Elevator doors slammed shut before descending.

"Oh!! It moves on its own. Luna is very impressed. Luna has never seen such a thing!"

Kara, while not as vocal with her amazement, couldn't hide the smile on her face.

"This is actually a pretty common thing in my world. Though magic does not operate it."

"You have such amazing devices as commonplace?" It was Kara, not Luna, who grew excited at Rainer's statement. Her face reddened a bit at her realization at how excited she was acting but she still intently stared at Rainer awaiting further explanation. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

"Well, my world is pretty crowded, so people learned to build very tall buildings. But these same individuals were lazy and didn't want to have to climb stairs, so they invented devices like this. "

"But..how tall must your dwellings be to require such a device?"

"Surpassing a thousand feet."

"Such an amazing world...does this one not feel dull in comparison?" She asked noting that Rainer often looked a bit sad whenever he talked about his old world.

"How can they even be compared?"

But contrary to Kara's expectations he was referring to this world as the better.

"You have magic everywhere; you have status screens and monsters, dungeons and enchanted items. Incomparable. My world has none of those things. I was one of the few who had magic. And even if I wanted to leave I would never leave behind the best part of this world."

"The two best parts," Luna said while landing on Rainer's head.

"Yes, yes, the two best parts."

"Rainer...what do you mean by status screens are a benefit of this world? Is your world harder to level up in?" Kara asked not even considering the possibility of a world without status screens.

"There are none. No status screens, no leveling, no classes, no skills."

"What? But then how do you know when you make progress when you become stronger or more knowledgeable in a subject?" Gunthar asked in surprise.

"You just do?" Rainer said a bit confused. He never really considered how people who grew up under a status screen would think about such a matter. They would likely find his world that lacked status screens even stranger than he finds their world with status screens.

Kara, Luna, and even Gunthar looked at him in pity. As if contemplating what a difficult life that would be.

"Alright, go back to marveling at this device. " Rainer said now annoyed with the looks he was receiving.

As the rest of the party looked at the fiery scenery around them, Rainer sat down and tried to gain the skill for [General Aura Meditation]. He thought back to his practice in wielding the Arcane energies from [Arcane Rage] inside of him and tried to utilize his manipulation skill in assisting in sensing his own Aura. He assumed his Aura would as well be mixed in with the strange Arcane Energy that is intermixed in his mana. If it weren't, It wouldn’t be worth diverting any of his time from training magic.

After a few minutes of quick descent, the elevator began gradually slowing down before it finally touched bottom. A vast arena of black rock and a surrounding fiery lake displayed itself before them. In the very center, what this place was sealing stood unmoving. Immediately Rainer appraised the massive devil before them.

[Devil, Male, Devil King lvl 1]

Four large horns arced out from its enormous head and jutted straight up. Its skin was an obsidian even darker than the rock around it. Faint red lines glowed that began increasing in intensity. Chains wrapped its body and tied it to the ground. Two huge but heavily damaged wings were present on it's back; their leathery skin punctured with numerous holes.

Rainer cycled his detection skills while Kara shifted into her Werewolf form given that there was only a single enemy. Gunthar already began moving towards the Devil mobilizing his own Aura.

As if a rhythmic drum the red lines glowed and glowed before a shattering of chain and rock resounded out. Red skin and pitch black eyes revealed themselves as the massive Devil roared out in a fury.

The fires around him resounded as if echoing his call as the surface of the burning lake turned turbulent. The whole mountain seemed to shake.

Rainer already activated a single point of [Arcane Rage] after he felt the Devil’s aura in front of him. The remaining enchanted chains on the Devil still seemed to have some sealing effect, for if they didn’t, Rainer could tell not even 15 of him could win.

Different from before he controlled the [Arcane Rage] and at its current 7% it didn’t cause any harm. He increased it once more to 14% and 21% before finding a level he could maintain for a longer time without significant damage. When the need came, he’d burst out with the full force of Arcane.

For a brief moment, the Devil’s eyes met with Rainer’s before it charged forward. Kara, fully shifted, moved to intercept with Gunthar. Neither held anything back as they mobilized their auras. Luna just finished casting [Gift of Lightning] on both before she zoomed back toward Rainer.

Gunthar was first to rush forward, completely dwarfed by the 20-foot tall devil. A seemingly slow aura filled claw came from the devil as he swung his arm down at Gunthar. Gunthar moved to dodge yet suddenly the speed increased beyond anything he’d ever seen as he rushed to defend himself before the claw slammed into him.

He was sent flying and nearly tumbled into the fiery lake surrounding them.

Just as the Devil’s attention switched next to Kara a [Spear of Holy Arcane-Light] soared from behind her. The Devil covered his hand in Aura and blocked the spell. To the Devil’s surprise, he was pushed back ever so slightly, and black blood slightly bled from his hand. More to the shock of Rainer that his spell had so little effect.

Saving his mana, Rainer began charging [Arcane Bolt]s and increased [Arcane Rage] to 70%, just below his new limit, the energy inside him went out of control, but his training allowed it so he could maintain such an increase longer than before.

The Devil hurried and used Aura to block every single charged [Arcane Bolt] yet while the damage was weaker than the Spear the amount of them and the increased power of [Arcane Rage] prevented him from stopping Kara who landed right in front of him.

With a massive amount of Demonic Aura charged in her right claw she slashed upwards nearly gutting the distracted Devil. Gunthar returned just in time to use his Aura Blade to stab into the side of the Devil. The damage caused the Devil to roar out in pain as blood gushed out from the deadly wound.

Rainer took a step back to convert more mana into Arcane Power while focusing on reducing the damage done by [Arcane Rage] before the situation took a drastic change.

Both Kara and Gunthar were pushed back by an outburst of Aura. Rainer's assault had inadvertently partially damaged the chains sealing a portion of the Devil's power. A foul miasma began pouring out of the Devil and within seconds covered the room. Even in her Werewolf form Kara struggled to move and started coughing.

Gunthar rushed forward to stop the Devil yet this time the Devil spun with a vengeance. It's tail cleaved Gunthar’s legs and armor bisecting him in two.

Rainer could only watch in stunned anger as the miasma stifled his movements. Even the gain of a resistance skill had only provided temporary relief.

[Skill Gained: Miasma Resistance lvl 1/10]

The Devil turned its attention toward a disabled Kara, completely ignoring the blood that flooded out of its wounds.

Rainer pushed his [Arcane Rage] further reaching a bonus of 77%, and it was at this moment his Affinity and Intelligence pushed beyond 100. He did not stop as he felt a powerful surge of his magic and advanced [Arcane Rage] to his limit at 84%.

A [Spear of Holy Arcane-Light] formed in his hand, and he poured more mana and Arcane Power into it. The radiant violet and golden light pushed away the crippling miasma.

Whether it was his control, his power, or his affinity towards the magic, Rainer felt as if he was unstoppable. Just before the Devil could reach out toward Kara the spear erupted from his hand, cleaving the miasma in two.

The Devil reacted instantly blocking the spell and covering himself with a massive amount of Aura. The spear broke through and stabbed into his chest. The Devil staggered, the Arcane energy tearing him apart from the inside. Just as Rainer controlled the spear to unleash its power the Devil had instead wrapped his Aura around it stopping Rainer’s connection to the spell.

Ignoring all else the Devil rushed toward Rainer who had once more been beset upon by miasma.

Rainer kneeled helplessly as the Devil came closer and his [Arcane Rage] began weakening. With his remaining mana Rainer activated [Gravity Domain] just as the Devil reached him and jumped straight into the air.

The Devil’s fist slammed into the place Rainer had just been.

Reaching the peak of his height Rainer formed a mighty [Arcane Blade] and poured all the Arcane Power he could muster before he multiplied the power of Gravity unto himself and plunged straight into the Devil.

The injured Devil still managed to block himself with Aura yet as if cutting through space itself the blade stabbed into the Devil’s horned head.

Rainer felt the bones in his legs snap. Even with the improved constitution from [Arcane Rage] it couldn’t save him from the fall.

The Devil staggered forward into the fiery lake, and Rainer fell back managing to brace his fall, but it was his still improved attributes and [Physical Resistance] that saved him.

His [Arcane Rage] ended leaving his body still covered in faint violet lines that pulsed with pain. But the fight was not over.

Horror filled him as the Devil covered in wounds lifted itself from the flames. One eye was closed, and its head was damaged. It's clawed hand gripped into the ground as it pulled itself forward.

Kara expending the entirety of her Demonic Aura rushed over and slashed at the Devil’s already damaged head. It slid slowly back into the fiery lake, never to return once more.

The messages rushed by Rainer as he lost consciousness. The only way he had been able to stay awake through the Miasma being his increased attributes combined with his gained resistance. Luna struggled to heal Rainer before she too fell to the miasma that still hadn’t completely dissipated.

Luna, Kara, and Rainer all lay unconscious.

Gunthar’s broken legs began reforming with his Aura as he stood up. As fast as he could, he checked on everyone and tried to shake Luna awake given the weakness of Rainer’s pulse.

Luna’s eyes were bloodshot as she jumped up after being woken by Gunthar. Without pause she immediately caused a Faerie Fire to cover Rainer completely once more. She could feel through the familiar bond just how close to death Rainer was, with the damage from his fall compounding it. Ignoring the pain that the miasma caused her as a Fae, she continued focusing only on Rainer until she collapsed once more.

Kara groaned before getting up and immediately rushing over to check on Rainer. Still affected from the miasma she only made it halfway before losing consciousness.

Gunthar did his all to help the group to their next destination.

He struggled through the portal. Only the cracking of Gunthar’s still healing legs could be heard as he carried them through the void, dragging Kara, still transformed, behind him.