(Meanwhile, within the Time Stilled World, Moltherak’s Floating Island, Leo’s POV)
Although only a couple days had passed in the outside universe, a couple hundred days had passed for Leo within the Time Stilled World, as his aura shield training progressed by leaps and bounds, the once impossible concept now slowly beginning to bend to his will as repetition carved understanding deeper into his bones.
What had once seemed like an unsolvable puzzle to him, now became something he could finally grasp, maybe not flawlessly yet, but enough for him to feel the shield taking shape around him in a way that resembled what Moltherak had demonstrated so long ago.
He had spent the past two hundred days dissolving every misconception he held about his own aura, peeling away instinctual habits that valued aggression over control, while forcing himself again and again to smooth the roughness in his killing intent until it obeyed him rather than resisting every command like a feral beast unwilling to be tamed.
"Alright... let’s do this once more," he whispered to himself as he widened his stance, raising his hands slightly before allowing the aura inside him to unfold.
*Whooom*
A deep crimson fog expanded outward from his body as the air thickened instantly, spreading across the chamber like a living storm, the killing intent rolling out in wide arcs until it touched every wall, pressing lightly against the stone as if testing its limits.
*Shake*
Leo watched the crimson haze ripple, then exhaled as he began the second part of the process, which was to force the aura to retreat, as he pulled it back inward, strand by strand, tightening it carefully with a precision that had taken him months to acquire.
The crimson fog thinned as it coiled around him, while faint cracks of resistance flickered within the flow, yet this time Leo pushed through them, letting instinct guide him where brute strength could not, as the aura folded around his shoulders first, then wrapped down across his ribs, then gathered at his legs, forming soft overlapping layers like a thick blanket being tucked into place.
*Bzzzzt*
The shield solidified with a muffled hum, settling tightly around his skin as if it had always belonged there.
As from his position near the edge of the chamber, Moltherak watched with narrowed eyes, his gaze heavy with quiet approval as he observed every step with unblinking focus.
’The boy definitely has extremely high comprehension,’ Moltherak noted, his ancient thoughts nearly impressed despite centuries of restraint. ’He has mastered in a few months what takes most warriors years. His control has evolved far beyond what I anticipated.’
Leo finished the final compression, letting the aura lock around him with a subtle pulse as he straightened his back, waiting for Moltherak’s usual critique, expecting a correction or a lecture about finesse or density or stability.
However, instead of scolding, Moltherak slowly lifted his head in approval.
"That looks good enough...."
The old dragon said, as Leo blinked in confusion as the dragon’s soul body began to brighten.
"Uh... old dragon? What are you—"
He began, however, Moltherak did not answer.
*WHOOM—*
Moltherak’s aura erupted all at once, unfolding like a cataclysm of ancient force as the entire chamber was drowned in a suffocating red mist, the pressure slamming into Leo like a falling mountain as the floating island trembled from its core to its edges.
*BOOM*
*CRACK*
The stone beneath Leo’s feet split slightly as he gasped, instinct forcing him down onto one knee while the crushing divine pressure pushed against the aura shield from every direction, testing every layer Leo had spent months learning to form.
’The fuck?’
He wondered, as his vision blurred for a moment, his breath hitched, and his skull throbbed as if a hammer struck behind his eyes.
But despite all these problems, he somehow still remained conscious, could still breathe, and was still lucid.
*Grind*
Leo grit his teeth hard as the shield around him pulsed violently, absorbing the brunt of the dragon’s force even as cracks of pain shot through his muscles.
"What? Are you crazy, old dragon? Have you completely lost your marbles?" Leo shouted, his voice strained yet unmistakably alive despite the crushing weight threatening to flatten him into the ground.
As Moltherak grinned ear to ear listening to his words.
"Boy, if you can survive my pressure, then you can survive any pressure," Moltherak replied as he slowly withdrew the oppressive aura, allowing the chamber to return to its natural calm.
"You did not falter. You did not lose consciousness. You did not crumble. That is enough proof that your aura shield is as strong as it needs to be."
Moltherak said as he folded his tail behind his back as the last of his divine aura settled around him like faint embers.
"You have successfully completed the first phase of your training."
He declared, as Leo remained on one knee for a moment, panting softly as the weight lifted off his bones, before finally letting out a shaky slew of curses.
"Fucking old monsters, I swear they all have a few marbles loose!
I can already envision it.
If Moltherak wrote a meditation manual, it would be no less irritating than those written by the Timeless Assassin and family."
Leo cursed, before standing up, as Moltherak made a long face towards him.
"Boy, usually when a student completes a difficult phase of training they thank their teacher for it.
I do not expect you to kowtow to me in respect.
However, a little appreciation would go a long way...."
Moltherak said, as Leo felt his left eye flicker at the Dragon’s demands.
"A little warning..... about these kinds of stunts that can potentially snuff out my life, will also go a looong way....."
He countered, as Moltherak burst into laughter at his antics.
Never in his life had he ever met a kid as brash and talented as Leo, as usually, the young Dragons he did guide in his youth were usually extremely respectful of him since he was the Dragon King.
Which made this dynamic he had with Leo now, completely unique and refreshing.
"Alright then, that’s fair. You can thank me after we complete the second phase of your training...."
He began, as he prepared for the demonstration of the next phase.