SWNOVELXO Chapter 716 Successful Training
When Kisha and Duke returned to their training, they wasted no time jumping right back into it.
Kisha began explaining the essence of Aura—its origins, how to awaken it, what sets it apart from other energies, and its fundamental principles. She covered everything necessary to understand what truly makes Aura, Aura.
Surprisingly, Duke grasped the core essence of it all with just a single explanation, without even breaking a sweat. Kisha raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback—then it hit her. She had almost forgotten that the man standing before her was a born genius, a monster when it came to growing stronger and mastering concepts effortlessly.
She had gotten too used to his playful antics around her.
When Duke got serious, he exuded an undeniable aura of dominance and strength. Right now, he was the very embodiment of power—his sharp intelligence and deep understanding only amplifying his presence.
For some reason, Kisha found this side of him irresistibly sexy and manly. She loved it.
Without even realizing it, her explanations became increasingly physical. When describing how to keep his aura centered in his core, her fingers instinctively traced along his abs, gliding upward to his chest. She was so absorbed in the moment that she didn't even notice what she was doing.
But to anyone watching, the sultry look on her face would have told an entirely different story.
This time, Duke was completely focused on understanding Aura. Unlike Kisha, who could simply absorb the knowledge from the manual as if it were being downloaded into her mind, Duke had to process everything himself.
From the smallest details to the bigger picture, he needed to use his intellect, comprehension, and insight to piece everything together. He had to keep an open mind and a broad perspective to truly grasp what the manual's creator intended to convey.
Because of this intense concentration, Duke didn't notice Kisha's lingering touches or the way she was looking at him. He was too deep in thought to give meaning to her actions—unknowingly granting her a free pass to explore.
And Kisha? She absolutely loved it.
It wasn't until 008 spoke that reality crashed back in.
"Host, you've been touchy-feely from the very beginning. Are you hoping for something?"
Kisha choked on her own saliva, her fingers freezing mid-touch. "Shut up!" she hissed at 008, her face burning as if her deepest secret had just been exposed.
"What do you know? Kids should stay out of adult matters! Besides, what's wrong with me enjoying my husband's abs and biceps?" she retorted, indignant.
After all, she had never been like this before. She was only now starting to break down the thick walls around her heart. And truth be told, Duke was a god's greatest masterpiece of a man.
Even a stone would be moved by his presence—so how could she, his supposed wife, remain unaffected when she was around this walking embodiment of pure, unfiltered pheromones?
A little look here, a touch there—of course, she should have a free pass! If anything, she should be able to openly drool over her own husband.
Rolling her eyes at 008, Kisha dismissed the teasing voice in her head.
"Host! I'm not a child! Who told you I'm a child? You're a child! Your whole family is a child! Your husband is a child! Hmph!"
008 burst out angrily before retreating into the deepest part of Kisha's consciousness to sulk.
Kisha simply shook her head, amused.
"Wifey, do you need some rest?"
Duke's voice pulled Kisha out of her thoughts. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with concern.
He had just finished absorbing all the information she had given him and was waiting for the next instruction—only to realize that Kisha had suddenly stopped.
In truth, her touches while explaining had actually helped him. They unconsciously guided the energy building up in his body, allowing him to direct it toward the areas she touched, making it easier to focus.
Right now, he was in the midst of merging his mind, body, and soul, attempting to manifest his Aura—but Kisha's silence had caught him off guard.
Realizing that her lapse in focus had also affected Duke, Kisha immediately apologized and restarted from the beginning. This was a crucial part of the training—they couldn't just pick up where they left off, or the results wouldn't be as effective.
Determined to refocus, Kisha resumed her explanation. However, 008's earlier teasing lingered in her mind, making her more conscious of her actions. She toned down the physical guidance, keeping her touches to a minimum.
But to her surprise, Duke requested that she continue. "I actually focus better when you guide me that way," he admitted, his voice earnest. "It helps me direct my energy more efficiently."
Kisha chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. If that was what her husband wanted, who was she to refuse?
Smiling, she happily resumed her hands-on approach.
Meanwhile, Keith was pouting, frustrated that all he could see was Kisha and Duke flirting rather than training.
His irritation only grew, but his grandmother, clearly enjoying the sight, made sure he didn't interrupt the couple. Left with no other choice, Keith turned his focus to cultivating instead.
Surprisingly, this frustration became a driving force—and to his amazement, he actually made noticeable progress. Though small, it was still a step forward. If he kept this up, he could gradually expand his energy pool, bit by bit.
His grandfather, who had also been channeling his irritation into training, saw similar results. Eventually, as both of them calmed down, they fully committed to their training.
Seeing this, Grandma Aldens also joined in, and soon, all of them were immersed in their cultivation.
They remained inside the territory space for the full twenty hours, pushing themselves to their limits.
When they emerged and stepped into the open space where everyone was waiting, Keith and his grandparents felt noticeably rejuvenated. There was a subtle but undeniable shift in their spiritual energy—a result of cultivating near the Crystal, which provided the best conditions for growth.
As they rejoined the group, they exuded a different aura. Those from the hidden base, who had spent significant time with them before, could sense the change. Though they couldn't quite pinpoint what was different about Keith and his family, the shift in their presence was impossible to ignore.
Even Duke, who managed to grasp the essence of aura and awaken it after just ten hours, was visibly different. His body now emitted an aura that hadn't been there before, immediately catching the attention of Sparrow and Vulture, who were clearly intrigued.
However, Kisha couldn't help but feel defeated as she looked at Duke, who had absorbed all the information she had thrown at him without the slightest struggle.
She even heard from 008 that disciples who followed the 'path of the sword—knights who trained in the ways of aura users' typically underwent grueling training from childhood to adulthood before awakening their aura. Those who achieved this feat between the ages of 15 and 17 were already considered geniuses.
Yet, never in history had someone under fifteen, not especially ten awakened their aura. Based on this fact alone, it was clear that awakening aura was supposed to be an incredibly difficult process. And yet, Duke had done it in mere hours.