Aura Manipulation.
It is the act of refining the aura to enhance one's strength and abilities.
There are only four known phases of aura manipulation.
The first is called aura enhancement. In the first phase, the user manipulates the aura from their centre to strengthen the body from within. Common enhancements include muscle growth, speed and stamina. Most regular people can use this innately to some extent but aura users can strengthen their bodies three times that of a regular person.
Kavi was using the first phase.
The second phase is where the user exerts the aura to cover their body. This aura layer can be used for defence or offence, one at a time. The offence has different properties than the defence but there is no visible difference in the aura. It is called Aura Channeling.
Kori's Iron Blade is a second phase technique.
The third phase is Aura Materialization. Only eight is capable of using it, for the time being…
Kori was face-to-face with eight. Behind him was unconscious Ryuk. To the left was Kavi.
"You guys keep getting younger! Don't tell me a toddler's going to come fight me next."
"Iron Blade - Freeform"
Kori charged in. His fist covered with shining aura that flowed like water, aimed directly for the heart of eight. Eight was caught off-guard as he didn't expect the speed that Kori was moving at.
He tried to dodge by moving backwards but he was met with another attack from the left side.
"Trinity + 10"
Eight blocked the hit with his arm but he took some damage. Kori moved forward and attacked the right arm of eight. The attack landed but the cut was shallow.
"You won't be cutting anything from now on.
GodHand!"
"Thud!!!"
A punch hit Kori. Although he blocked it, the heavy blow launched him back. Forcefully moving his lower body towards the ground, he slowly stopped and quickly ran back towards eight.
"I'm glad you're back young man but I'm done playing games!"
"Thud!"
Kavi was hit by the second punch moments after Kori. Unlike Kori, Kavi couldn't block on time. He was hit directly at his gut with a heavy blow.
Kori returned at the same time, attacking with rotating kicks. Eight moved back.
"That's it! I'm sick of you guys!
Aura Materialization - Hands of God!"
Once again, eight clapped his hands together and giant hands appeared, smashing Kori from both sides in a split second.
Kavi saw this happen from a distance and once again he was reminded of the grave reality he found himself in this wretched morning.
"Now for the other one!"
A sound of clapping echoed in Kavi's ears and he realized it was the end. In that moment, all he felt was regret and frustration.
Much to his surprise, he was safe. In an instant, his feelings of fear soared high as he looked to the right. The second hit was for Ryuk.
"No!!!" Kavi ran towards Ryuk immediately, but the hands had already crushed him.
Or so he thought.
A bright white flash resembling a cut of sword appeared and disappeared in a second. Inside was Kori and unconscious Ryuk who was safe.
"Junior brother!!" said Kavi with happiness and relief.
"Senior brother! Take brother Ryuk and go back to the temple!" said Kori with a serious face looking directly at Kavi.
"But.." Kavi stopped mid sentence as he realized the situation unraveling around him. He was angry that he couldn't do anything but he knew protecting Ryuk was the priority.
His heart was hesitant to leave his junior brother alone but he realized the only person who could possibly defeat this monster was that very junior brother. He picked up Ryuk and ran towards the temple.
"I'll be back!!!" said Kavi as he ran.
He felt relieved. Something gave him strength and assurance that everything was going to be okay no matter what. That something was the smile on the face of Kori. He was smiling, as he was trying to say "Don't worry about me, I'll be alright!"
"Let's do this for real! Number eight!"
"For your information, I have a proper name, you annoying brat!"
"Aura Channeling - Iron Blade!"
"Aura Materialization - Hands of God!"
Kori rushed in as eight started to clap his hands.
The first attack from eight was on point. Kori used his technique to cut through the giant hands. He dashed at full speed.
One by one, the hands kept following Kori as he ran around to find an opening. As his legs started to warm up, the hands became less of a nuisance and he was able to evade them by his speed alone.
He still didn't see an opening and on top of that eight had his defensive barrier on. Trying to cut through that protective barrier would be tough, tougher than the giant hands.
Damn it! I see no opening. These hands keep following me everywhere, so annoying.
"How interesting! You're keeping up with me young boy."
There!
Kori found an opening. His arms and legs moved in perfect sync as he attacked eight with consecutive blows. It was moving eight backwards but Kori was persistent. Behind every blow he was leaving the traces of the slashes that were shinny white and bluish coloured.
Although these slashes were fast, eight wasn't going to just keep on dodging.
"This is the end, young boy."
He saw an opening and attacked Kori with full force of Godhand. It landed right on his gut.
"Thudd!!"
"Ha! What…"
The sound of bones cracking followed as the punch connected but it wasn't Kori who was hurt. At the spot of connection, a liquidy bluish coloured spiral appeared that turned eight's entire arm in a circular motion in an instant.
The force was so aggressive that it minced the entire arm, shattering multiple bones that tore through his skin.
At that point eight realized, the fist didn't connect to Kori's body but his defensive aura layer.
Kori didn't waste any time. He thrust his palm forward, aimed at the heart of eight. It went through his chest.
Damn it. I missed it.
Eight moved slightly to the left and avoided the blow.
I have to.
"Aaahhhh!!!!!!"
Kori moved his arm with full force to the right hoping to slice the heart but he found his arm stuck within eight's body unable to move even slightly.
"Hah! The boy has some tricks up his sleeve! If that's how you wanna play, so be it.
Godhand - Morkishi!"
"Thudd!!!"
A punch from the right side hit Kori in the jaw, it was a direct hit. He suffered the full impact that broke his lower and upper jawbone.
He moved back.
Damn it! I used the force as an assist to free my arm but my face is burning up with pain.
"Hgh… Hgh…"
Fuck! I can't speak clearly.
"What's the matter kid, cat got your tongue or something?"
Eight's right arm healed completely as did the hole inside his chest.
"Thugh!"
With a hand supporting his lower jaw, Kori spit out blood and broken teeth.
Kori took a running stance by lowering the legs and applied force to his ground below.
Severance Technique - Zero…
Kori dashed.
The sound was unnatural yet representative of the force breaking the air in 0.2 of a second.
And hit eight head-on.
His right shoulder rammed into eight's chest where his heart is located. His bones cracked on impact but his defensive aura layer protected the heart.
"Thud!!!"
It felt like the noise of the hit came a fraction later.
What was that? I couldn't see him.
He's gotten faster?
No. More like he…
Teleported?
…Severance Technique - One!
Get a grip, he's just a kid!
Staring directly at eight were the eyes of Kori. Underneath his cold gaze was hiding the well lit fire of persistence and unyielding will.
His left leg, slicing through the air, cut eight's face, slightly.
Eight was growing anxious to regain his footing but Kori moved his body quickly. Moving his left arm backwards and bending the knees, his right fist attacked upwards with a direct punch.
"Thud!!!"
It hit eight under the chin and the force broke his neck.
Eight quickly adjusted his head down. That is when the right palm of Kori sliced his neck clean.
Immediately his left fist hit the head, knocking it on the ground.
There eight was, without his head and his sense of vision and hearing.
He lost his footing and started moving back profusely.
The sound of sliced skin followed as Kori's Iron Blade pierced through his heart. On the other end of eight's body, was Kori's fist, glowing brightly of bluish aura that looked like evaporating fog.
Eight's aura layer jammed Kori's arm shut in the place once again.
He moved both his hands in front of the chest.
"Clap!"
Following the sound, the iron hands appeared and crushed Kori inside.
Kori's left arm cut through one iron palm. On the right side, his defensive aura layer reduced the damage but some of his bones broke with impact.
His right fist was glowing, this time with pure transparent aura. The moment the aura flowed, a dark crystal formed around his fist, shaped like a hexagonal ruby.
Kori pulled his fist out, eight's chest hole started to heal. As did his face.
Within a few seconds, he was back to normal.
Kori smashed the ruby into his left palm that was supercharged with aura. It shattered on impact.
"Hahaha! You split my head and ruptured my heart.
You even managed to break my Key.
This boy, really out did himself."
Eight was laughing loudly as he said those words but his face was showing aggression and furiousness.
Kori was standing still. Tired and injured, his face was down, showing signs of hopelessness. His long hair was covering his eyes.
"Enough!" said eight as his face turned serious.
"Thud!!!"
"Godhand - Fury!"
It hit Kori in the right chest area. The aura layer did react but wasn't able to stop the attack. The blow was so explosive it shattered the bones and mass alike.
All that remained at the point of impact was a giant hole.
Eight finally sighed in relief as his opponent was gone for good…