Auren focuses on his breathing. He continues to imagine his pores—also called Aura nodes—opening, keeping his attention fixed on his chest, trying to locate that first opening.
He perks up as he hears Lidor speak:
"24, you opened your first pores. The rest of you, listen. When you open your pores, do not panic—even if Aura leaks outside your body. With the same breathing technique, you can close your pores again. There is no reason to panic. Eventually, your body will get used to the process, and you'll be able to open and close them instinctively, like breathing. Once you get used to that feeling, your body will never forget it. For now, take small steps. If you mess up this training, it can cripple or kill you. Never strain yourself or risk losing control!"
24... I need to try harder.
It takes Auren almost an hour, but then—he suddenly feels a warm sensation in his chest. Sweat drips down his face, and something foreign begins to flow out of him. As he sits there, stunned by the feeling, he hears Lidor's voice:
"That is enough for today, you can just con—" He cuts himself off mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing. "Looks like you also took the first step, 23. I can feel a tiny amount of Aura. Close your pores again. Today's training is done."
Auren nods silently, concentrating as he seals his Aura nodes near his chest. Tired but satisfied, he rises.
No. 4 and No. 6 look slightly defeated, their eyes fixed on Auren and 24.
Lidor shakes his head at the two of them. "Stupid! This is not a race. I'm making my decision over six years. What I want to see is consistency and steady progress. We haven't even started the real training yet. Now go to sleep—and don't continue your exercises. I won't be able to help you if you make a mistake."
Auren walks back to his room, his steps light but filled with energy and enthusiasm. Once there, he sits on his bed and resumes meditating.
"23… can you help me?" a voice calls from below.
Ignoring it, Auren continues to focus, pushing to open more Aura nodes. The progress is slow, almost painfully so—but it's progress—visible progress.
Hours pass. Eventually, the Aura nodes of the entire left side of his chest and even parts of his shoulder are open. When he opens his eyes again, he sees that the room is dark and everyone else is already asleep. He's completely lost track of time.
This is so addicting… but I need to pace myself. I can't risk losing sleep and falling behind in other areas.
Exhausted, but content, Auren closes his eyes and quickly falls asleep, still smiling.
To Auren, it feels like he's only just drifted off when the door of their room creaks open and the staff wake them up.
Still yawning, he gets ready quickly, unwilling to miss breakfast.
As he sits down at the table, No. 22 approaches and sits across from him, eyes narrowed in mild irritation.
"23!! You didn't respond to me yesterday! I need help!" he says seriously, looking genuinely frustrated.
"Sure, how can I help you?" Auren asks, his expression calm, almost concerned.
This damn liability… I need to stay friendly with the others though, at least for now. It would hurt me to become a target. I need to avoid drawing too much attention to myself.
"I get most of the training. I think I'm one of the most talented students. I think you, Master, and the others agree," he says with a smug smile.
In your dreams! What a total fool. Why lie to yourself like that?
Auren cuts in, "Right, but you're struggling with the breathing technique, yeah?"
No. 22 nods, suddenly looking embarrassed.
"No problem. I've got this secret. The only reason I managed to succeed this fast is because I used a special method. You know when Master demonstrated his technique? It was way too fast for me. So I wrote down each step and practiced the full process at half speed. Eventually, I improved enough to match the proper speed. You should try it."
He suppresses a grin.
"Really?! Half speed?!" No. 22 exclaims.
"Shhh! Don't spread it around! Are you stupid? I told you in confidence," Auren hisses.
I don't want the others to know I'm making this up.
"Sorry! Of course—our secret. Thanks, 23! I owe you one. When I win and become the Master's successor, I'll make you my second-in-command," No. 22 says, clearly pleased with himself.
This guy… what was his name again? Nero? His personality has completely flipped. Just a month ago he was meek and insecure. What madness filled his head? As far as I can tell, he's average at best. Maybe he's drunk on the small amount of power he has. Someone who's always been belittled, now trying to feel superior the moment he sees others struggle... What a foolish kid.
Auren returns to his schedule, pushing himself to the limit—training, studying, and focusing on opening his remaining Aura nodes whenever he finds a free moment. Even during easy class segments, during breaks, and sometimes deep into the night, Auren is always focusing on this one task.
From time to time, he glances at No. 24, seeing her do the same thing.
It takes exactly twelve days of hard work and meditation for Auren to reach his goal.
Finally, his Aura nodes are open throughout his entire body.
When he opens the nodes in his eyes, something changes. If he keeps them open, he can faintly see the Aura around people. When he looks at Lidor, he sees a steady, dense aura surrounding him—an aura that doesn't flicker or fade. A constant presence.
But as he focuses on his own chest, intending to observe the strange mark, he sees nothing.
Strange… why can't I see any Aura from my chest? Was I wrong?
Maybe I need to use… Gyo! But that ability isn't easy to master. I need to be patient. This contest will go on for years, I have time.
During another meditation class led by Lidor, their master eyes both Auren and 24 with a faint smile. Both of them sit still, their Aura now visibly gushing out from their bodies—fully opened.
"You both finished on the same day. Impressive," Lidor says. "No. 4 and No. 6, I see you're finally making progress as well."
He turns his attention back to Auren and 24. "You two, go into that corner and continue to train. Try to control your Aura. Open your nodes, but don't let your Aura leak away. Try to make it surround your body. I'll join you in a little while—some of the others have finally grasped the basics of the breathing technique. They'll now begin the process you've just completed."
Auren and No. 24 silently move to an empty corner of the dim meditation room and sit down. They focus on their Aura, doing their best to keep it contained.
I already know… this is called Ten. I need to practice it as much as I can.
Thirty minutes pass before Lidor joins them. He sits in front of them and observes quietly. A thin, but stable, layer of Aura surrounds both of them.
"You've both learned it, as expected. 24, you're a prodigy—probably the most skilled Nen student I've ever taught. 23, you're just a step behind her, but your insight surprises me. Your physical strength and combat potential are far greater than hers, and your sword technique is nearly on par. You're both geniuses. Whether one of you, or maybe No. 4 or 6, becomes my successor, you will have a bright future if you continue to study hard."
"Thank you, Master," they both respond.
"The technique you've just learned is called Ten. It means to envelop or shroud. You open your Aura nodes but keep your Aura from escaping, forming a thin layer around your body. It's purely defensive. It protects you from weak Nen-based attacks and even provides basic protection against physical blows. More than that, it slows aging and prevents your body from leaking energy over time. That constant loss, no matter how small, adds up. Your goal now is to maintain Ten for as long as possible. Eventually, you should be able to use it in your sleep. That takes dedication and practice—but it should be your aim. If you reach that point, you have mastered Ten. I feel you are ready for the next step, as your Ten seems good enough for now. Don't slack off, though!"
It should be Zetsu… I like this speed. I didn't think it would be this easy. The mark definitely accelerated things—but still.
"I want you to also begin studying another technique—Zetsu. It means to suppress or nullify your Aura. This might sound obvious, but to use it, you have to fully close all your Aura nodes. Every human leaks a bit of Aura, even when not consciously using Nen. Your nodes are always at least a tiny bit open, and that's why a constant trickle of Aura escapes your body."
He pauses for emphasis.
"This is also why Ten slows aging—because it stops that leak. Now, with Zetsu, your goal is to close every node. Completely. This is harder than you might think. Some rare geniuses master it naturally without knowing anything about Nen—often hunters or people who need to hide their presence, like thieves or assassins. I'd call these people true geniuses, at least in a way they are. You two aren't among them, but you're talented enough to learn it within a few days—enough for me to acknowledge a basic mastery of Zetsu, at least. To completely get rid of your Aura, you need to train for many years."
"However, you need to be aware that shutting off your Aura means you won't be able to see others' Aura anymore. By now, your eyes should be 'open'—you can perceive Aura clearly. If you close those nodes, that ability vanishes. But Zetsu has other benefits. It allows your body to recover energy faster, and it makes you harder to detect. Your presence fades. You'll feel lighter, quieter, almost invisible. Also, to make up for your inability to see Aura, you are more receptive in feeling it. If you really concentrate with Zetsu, you can feel if someone with a strong Aura approaches."
Lidor's tone grows more serious.
"But never fight while using Zetsu. Without any Aura to protect you, your body becomes completely exposed. Against Nen attacks, it's suicide. Even against regular blows, you'll be weaker than a normal person. You'll have no defense at all."
"Yes, Master," both Auren and No. 24 reply.
"Good. You may leave. And as for your reward..." Lidor reaches into his robe and pulls out two small keys. "Private rooms, on the upper floor of the school. You may use them however you like."
Perfect! That's what I wanted! I can train in peace!
"Thank you, Master," Auren says with a grin. 24 simply nods, her expression unreadable—uncertain whether to view the reward with excitement or caution.
Smiling, Auren gathers his belongings—his few books and class materials, and his change of clothes. He climbs the stairs and starts checking doors until he finds his room at the very back of the floor. Carrying everything inside, he sets them down and looks around.
The room is old and dusty, clearly unused for a long time. Auren grabs a broom and begins to clean. It doesn't take long to get it into decent shape.
The room contains a table, a wooden stool, and a bed large enough for an adult and a few other pieces of furniture, more than enough to store his meager possessions. It's not luxurious in any way, but it's more than enough for his needs.
Auren, satisfied with his new room, sits on the bed and begins to practice Ten, keeping his Aura tight around him while thinking about everything.
I wonder why there are so many empty rooms in this large school. Aside from us 24 students, there is no one else around. Why are all of Master's other students at his other training halls? Couldn't a few of his senior students help us with our training? He uses outsiders like Buno and Bunu… why?
Well, Master does leave the school occasionally, but he teaches us quite often. These other training halls… I am interested in them. Well, I need to get stronger. Once I master Zetsu, I can try sneaking out to gather information. Especially now that I have some privacy.
Eventually, Auren stands up, locks the door to his room, and lies down in bed—satisfied with his progress. Before sleeping, he begins his Zetsu practice anew.
I can't stop, this is so addicting. I also remember using Zetsu keeps all the Aura inside my body! It will reduce my need for sleep! That gives me more time for training. I need power… I want power! I will earn that sword!
Auren continues to train until deep in the night, his smile growing larger and larger, almost taking on a hint of madness.