DEATH REALM
Nakid and his companions finally welcomed Yoreru's sister.
Her name was Yorelei.
From the moment she arrived, silence imposed itself.
This was not a mere presence… it was pressure.
Yorelei was an eminent figure of this world, capable of sensing auras, discerning their shape, nature, and—most importantly—their future potential. Someone like her was extremely sought after by clan leaders, as her knowledge could guarantee the survival of entire groups.
Unlike her brother.
She wore immaculate silver armor, a jewel-adorned dagger at her waist, and a small pouch hanging from her right side. Her charisma—or perhaps her aura—forced even the prodigy children into silence.
Yoreru almost dropped to his knees.
— YOUR MAJESTY!!!
— Shut it, damn it, Yorelei snapped. Why did you contact me through a blue ladybug?
The blue ladybug was a rare means of communication: two people, each owning one, could communicate at a distance by infusing it with their aura. As long as the flow remained active, the connection persisted—no matter the distance.
— You have to help these kids, Yoreru insisted. With your knowledge of aura, it'll be easy. They were attacked. And… you owe me, don't you?
Yorelei sighed.
— Fine. What do they need?
— Explain aura to them. And this world.
Nakid stepped forward immediately.
— You can study me as much as you want… but please help us. I have to save my mother.
His aura manifested instinctively.
A pure green glow enveloped his entire body.
Yorelei's eyes lit up.
— Interesting… A green aura, drop-shaped. It covers your entire body. That's rare. Many people, even after several hundred years, can only awaken aura in a single part of their body.
She pointed at Louis.
— Him, for example. His aura only covers his eyes. The rest is vulnerable.
Then she turned back to Nakid.
— You have great potential. But don't get your hopes up. In this world, that's not enough to defeat a calamity or a clan leader. You would need millennia to master the true essence of your power. As for your friend… tens of thousands of years.
Nakid clenched his fists.
— Be proud, she added calmly. You won't die anytime soon.
Ysabella frowned.
— And me? I don't have an aura. What does that mean?
Yorelei stared at her for a long moment.
— You are aura-less. Surviving here will be extremely difficult. If you never awaken an aura, you'll have weapons… and your instincts.
She paused.
— Or you could try to obtain one of the Fifty Supreme Weapons.
The children held their breath.
Supreme Weapons possessed their own aura—and their own will. Millions had tried to wield them… and had been devoured by their power, deemed too weak. Only a handful of chosen ones had succeeded. Some had never even been found.
— The calamities… Louis asked. What exactly are they?
Yorelei's expression hardened.
— Entities beyond comprehension. They can kill you just by looking at you. They prevent the dead from resting and leave nothing but ruin and desolation behind.
She continued, relentless:
— There are one hundred of them, ranked from 100 to 0. One hundred is the weakest. Zero… the strongest. Their ranks can change—except for the top ten. That has never happened in millions of years.
She listed the danger levels:
Calamity — Mythic Glory — Chimera — Cataclysm — Legend — Monstrosity — Ferocious — Oppressor — Neutral — Gentle — Harmless
— You are all… harmless for the moment.
Ryan snapped.
With a roar of rage, he unleashed his full aura and charged at Yorelei.
— NO, RYAN, STOP! Miya screamed.
— Here we go… Ysabella sighed.
Yorelei dodged the attack with a simple leap and knocked Ryan out with a clean strike.
— Your strength is decent, she said. But you don't cover your head with aura. Your weakness is massive. You're at the same level as an aura-less.
Ryan collapsed.
Yorelei resumed calmly.
— Aura is the materialization of the mind. Its color reflects your personality. Its shape, your talent. Perfect shapes are the circle, triangle, and square.
She looked at Nakid.
— Your shape is a hybrid. Rare. Your parents must have been exceptional. But remember this: an ugly aura can crush everyone if its bearer is smarter… or stronger.
She gave a cold smile.
— Never underestimate anyone. Not even my brother.
— Hey! Yoreru protested.
But no one laughed.
One thing was clear:
Their survival in this world had only just begun.