He'd allowed himself to be wilful for two years and train to master this unity state, but he could not make it last long enough to be very effective. One technique Marcei left behind would allow him to circumvent that, and its name was the Aura Burning State.
.
..
…
|DxD|- Chapter 81- The Aura Burning State
…
..
.
What did it mean to burn your aura, to use your very blood as a dowry for power? In the decades succeeding the Tower of Babel, they were the hardest times Ariya and his people faced. As the last tribe of blessed humans, it prompted more than a few races to vanquish them.
In the days when dragons roamed the skies and giants were found across the vast plains, many races who survived the flood were determined to trample humanity beneath their heel. For the tribe of Ariya to face the world with their meagre numbers, a technique was created. It granted absolute power, but shaved years off a life as penance.
"The Aura Burning State."
Igor muttered the title beneath his breath. The book had a cover made of thick hide. His thumb glided over the golden script. It was real metal, and through touch, he could see and feel the rage of the one who scripted this cover in Adamic language, as if he were looking through his ancestor's eyes.
"Sigh…"
His heavy breath echoed through the library. He was alone amidst the company of many millennia of history. Some days, it was surreal to wake up and realise that a clan, an entire nation, was reduced to him alone. It was…heavy.
"Ahh. Son of my son. I only hope you open this book out of curiosity and not desperation."
Tallus's insight formed the moment Igor opened the first chapter. It hovered next to him like a loyal companion.
"Grandfather. It has been a while since I heard from you."
Igor pulled the ball a little closer. He nuzzled it into the crook of his neck and continued reading. He read through the first page in silence and turned to the next.
"You have read the reason it was created. This technique was devised by a vitality wielder. But it does not mean users of mana cannot use it as well. I will show you how you must channel your mana, so please do pay close attention, Igor."
Igor chuckled. It was to be expected. Tallus and Marcei had prepared for a him who would use mana, not vitality. Most of the books he read were the same.
"The main principle of the Aura Burning State is 'Ignition'. Your lifeforce…"
Lifeforce was blood itself, blood essence particularly. The aura burning state relied on treating blood essence like firewood and igniting it to attain a temporary power boost.
"If you burned lifeforce on its own, a twenty-percent increase in power is the observed maximum. To gain the best outcome, the lifeforce has to be channelled, and this is where the technique comes in."
Igor read through the book and listened to Tallus's instructions and analogies. Blood essence was like ice. Over the course of time, it would melt as vapour. That 'vapour' was what vitality wielders weaponised.
For the Aura Burning State, it meant taking an ice-block that would melt after several years, and melting it so quickly it released all its energy in a powerful burst.
"Once your blood essence is ignited, it becomes no different from a burst pipe. You have to use your mana to guide that force of energy through your mana network. You have to be extremely careful and have very high mana-control, Igor. The energy cannot spill into your body."
It was different for vitality users. They had no energy network to speak of. Vital energy was born from blood essence and was strengthened by the cells. The moment they ignited their essence, it would turn the body into an endless well of energy.
"The aura burning state is a technique specifically tailored for vitality, so its efficacy will not be the same for a mana wielder, even with modifications. But don't you worry about that. As long as you endeavour fully in your study of mana, you will not lack any means."
Igor closed the book, and Tallus's wisp of mana disappeared. The aura burning state was a surprisingly simple technique. But it's precisely because of its simplicity that the price was so terrifying.
"It's always in twos."
Igor smiled wryly. It didn't matter if he took a year's worth or ten year's worth of blood essence. To prevent his body from exploding or breaking apart from the intense energy output, an equal measure of blood essence was needed to stabilise and heal his body.
"If I improve my healing capability, it should decrease the cost, should it not?"
He stood up with a pondering expression. He admitted he'd neglected improving his healing capability. Rather than drive his focus further into that unity state, it was better to improve his all-round combat capability.
"No time like the present, Igor."
.
..
…
|DxD|
…
..
.
Vitality was like two sides of a coin. It was best at restoration and destruction. Lacking in versatility, it made up for it with these two capabilities.
Igor browsed the library for books. Ever since he reached high-class, many nameless books that were blank finally had titles and characters on the pages.
Most books he found were unfortunately more for mana wielders. But he found a few on vitality and took them with him outside. He left the cabin and jumped onto the hourglass. He sat down with the books and began reading them.
For the next coming days, Marcei's and Tallus's insights appeared with each book he read. He read to understand and absorb the knowledge from these few books. The theory wasn't too difficult, but it wasn't easy either.
Igor went without sleep and spent the next coming weeks engrossed in the texts. There were still three years left, and he knew he'd have to practice to get his healing up to snuff. It wasn't exaggerated as regenerating a limb, but if he mastered the art, then he wouldn't need to fear poison or sword…hopefully…maybe?
Chapter 81
END