Aura.

The ultimate realm that can only be attained by those who have reached the pinnacle of Martial Arts.

A mad product given to those who have relentlessly practiced Martial Arts while retaining their human form, eventually surpassing human limitations.

It was the result of some Warlords who, having sensed the mana in the air, controlled it and accepted it into their bodies, thus sublimating it into a light of absolute destruction.

This power is extraordinary, not because one was born with the innate ability to sense and manipulate mana, but because, after practicing Martial Arts, they became capable of accepting a part of the world and communicating with it.

Warlords who practice Martial Arts can eventually feel the mana floating in the atmosphere and learn to control it, but there exists a limitation.

This is because, excluding a very few exceptions, humans are not inherently compatible with mana, and a significant loss of power occurs during the process of converting the atmospheric mana into the ‘mana’ that humans can wield.

However, if one were to not merely adjust the mana but realize and utilize the Aura, the narrative changes.

As the physical body comes to fully accept the very forces of nature and can wield them directly, one gains a force far beyond that of an ordinary Warlord.

Thus, in the world, those who have realized the Aura are revered and called Sword Masters (검주), or Masters when they are not using swords.

Officially, there are no more than twenty individuals in the entire continent who have reached the Master level. Though the continent is vast and many people practice Martial Arts, one could say that reaching the level of realizing Aura is akin to one in ten thousand—or even one in a hundred thousand.

Currently, in the Empire, there are a total of eight Aura Users. It is simply because they possess only eight that the Empire can reign as the strongest power on the continent.

The combat power of an Aura User is said to be capable of facing a hundred, if not a thousand opponents. The ways to counter an Aura User are limited to engaging with another Aura User, summoning a magician, or using sheer numbers until the Aura User exhausts their stamina.

The existence of just one individual can sway the tide of battle and shake the very foundation of the continent; these are the Aura Users.

And now, Jin was quietly witnessing the birth of another Aura User right before his eyes.

Buzz—

A flash erupted from the training sword that Altina held. Though still faint and weak, the destructive energy clinging to the sword was unmistakably Aura.

“Oh my God.”

In that moment, Jin could hardly contain his astonishment.

As far as he knew, Altina had awakened her Aura in her early twenties. Even that had earned her immense praise as a genius unparalleled in the history of the Empire.

Yet currently, Altina was just a teenager in her late teens. How could it be that she was already awakening her Aura? Was this even reasonable?

– …This is absurd. To awaken Aura at such a young age. No matter how expansive the world and how many geniuses there may be, I never expected there to be another with talent like mine.

Erekaya, too, seemed taken aback, muttering in disbelief.

…Wait a moment. Was there something that had just been said that he couldn’t ignore?

‘Talent like yours? Did you also awaken Aura in your teens?’

– Indeed. For an unparalleled genius like me, awakening Aura in my teens is only natural, wouldn’t you agree? Admittedly, awakening in the teens may seem a bit late. However, I was such a humble person that I chose not to boast about it publicly.
‘…..’

It was no longer surprising. Jin found himself fully prepared to not be shocked even if Erekaya revealed that he could use magic as well.

That said, what truly astonished Jin was not so much the fact that Altina had awakened her Aura at such a young age, but rather the fact that she had awakened it at this very moment.

‘Is this something that could really bend history?’

It wasn’t the first time Jin’s actions, through multiple regressions, had twisted the course of the world’s history.

Without needing to invoke grand theories like the butterfly effect or chaos theory, it was bizarre that as he rushed around the continent each time, vowing to prevent the apocalypse, history somehow remained unchanged.

Yet, no matter how hard Jin tried, there were historical facts that could not be altered.

For instance, the impending doom of humanity in ten years, the fact that Lisithea von Edelstein would remain quietly performing her duties as the chairwoman in Nineveh until the apocalypse arrived, or that the Seven Heroes currently vanished somewhere would not reveal themselves until the end came… all of these were crucial elements that assisted in smoothing out the conclusion of the world ending.

These unnatural and artificial factors were what Jin referred to as ‘immutable history.’

Moreover, Altina awakening her Aura in her early twenties had remained unchanged across all nine of his previous regressions.

But now that had changed. History had been upended, and Altina awakened her Aura in her teens. How was this possible?

‘It’s because of me.’

There was only one variable. What else could it be but Jin’s reckless counsel to Altina just yesterday that triggered this change?

He realized that even immutable history could be altered if specific factors and situations overlapped. However, what truly mattered wasn’t that fact at this moment.

‘…Damn it.’

Though Jin had offered advice to Altina yesterday, he hadn’t attached any significant meaning to it.

It was merely a trivial suggestion to adjust her stance slightly. He had thought that, in the near future, Altina would come to recognize this minor flaw through her own efforts.

Jin had merely hoped that his advice would serve as a breakthrough to help Altina overcome the wall in front of her. He would never have imagined that it would lead to her awakening Aura.

‘And I’ve yet to awaken it even after a hundred years!’

Some had spent over a hundred grueling years training without ever catching a glimpse of Aura, while others merely adjusted their foot position slightly and awakened it. How could this be reasonable?

Honestly, from a broader perspective, it was undoubtedly a celebratory moment. But with old flames and other emotions swirling, Jin’s heart was boiling with jealousy.

– How pitiful. I can sense something sticky and dense within your heart.

‘Shut up.’

At the moment when Jin was desperately trying to suppress the scowl of jealousy creeping onto his face, Altina withdrew the Aura from her training sword and asked him seriously,

“Who are you, really?”

The same question as before. However, it was easy to surmise that the implications held within were different this time.

…Hmm. So what should he answer?

The simplest answer to that question would be to reveal that he was a regressor, that this was his tenth iteration, and that he had a romantic history with her in the past.
‘Of course, I have no intention of answering that way.’

However, he chose not to say it.

There was no guarantee that Altina would easily accept the truth about the regressions, and if someone were to find out he was a regressor from the early stages, the uncontrollable variables would grow too vast.

But the most significant reason was the anxiety that Altina might refuse to acknowledge all the actions she had taken before the regressions upon learning the truth.

…For example, the fact that she had been in a romantic relationship with Jin and that they had loved each other.

It was entirely possible that Altina herself would completely deny it.

That thought was unwelcome. It felt unpleasant just thinking about it. So, for now, he would deflect the question.

Neither revealing the truth nor telling lies, he would leave enough room for Altina to indulge in her imagination.

“Who am I? I’m just a classmate in the same class as you.”

As Jin shrugged his shoulders, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible, Altina’s piercing gaze narrowed even further.

“…I see, so you’re not planning on easily divulging that. I expected as much. And, honestly, I didn’t really have a strong desire to find out either.”

“Why not?”

“Regardless of the reason, I was able to realize my Aura thanks to your advice. That means, in a sense, I owe you a debt that I can’t easily repay. It wouldn’t be polite to carelessly dig into the background of someone who has been my benefactor, right?”

Altina spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Jin found himself staring blankly at her.

No unilateral debts or grievances remain. Favor is returned tenfold, and resentment a hundredfold.

She was not someone who randomly liked or disliked others, but rather a woman who changes herself like a mirror reflecting the clear water on the surface, depending on others’ actions.

‘Altina,’

You shine brightly as ever, just as you did back then. You are so beautiful that I can’t even dare to look at you casually.

“I will definitely repay this debt one day. And, and—”

Altina hesitated, seeming to struggle to find the words, unable to continue.

Jin tilted his head slightly, prompted by her behavior.

“What’s wrong? Why are you stalling if you want to say something grand?”

“…Thank you.”

“What? I can’t hear you; could you speak a bit louder?”

Her voice was so quiet that he barely caught it. If she wanted to say something to someone, why was she dragging it out?

“Ah, I said thank you! Thank you! Is that enough now?”

Suddenly, she shouted these words and then abruptly turned away from Jin, flustered.

And with that, she left the training hall without looking back, leaving Jin behind.

“…What was that sudden outburst about?”

Unable to comprehend Altina’s actions, Jin muttered under his breath. That was when Erekaya, who had been silent all along, clicked his tongue and reproached him.

– Tsk, how foolish. Now I see why you’ve never been successful in romance.

“Why are you picking a fight now?”