Rising of the Running God

The Might of the Prince of Explorers

How does one achieve greatness? How does one achieve strength, power, authority?

How does one make themselves known in the world?

One is a Blessing, and as its name suggests, it is bestowed. Even the simplest of men could be granted a Blessing if they are lucky; Only a single Blessing could be granted to a person, and powers will always be random— one would not know what it was until it is yours. But as the saying goes,

'There are no worthless or useless Blessings, only useless people.'

Second is Magic. Unlike a Blessing, one is born with Magic. Either one has it, or not. It is probably the most inflexible among the types of strength one can have. A magician grows stronger by age; their worth, determined at birth by the amount of mana their body could absorb as they breathe through life.

One could try and improve their magic through meditation and proper breathing, but one would never be able to fully surpass those who were born gifted.

And lastly, Aura. One that is determined by hard work, but mostly… talent. An Aura can be learned; hard to gain, harder to train, and almost impossible to master. Akin to a muscle, it grows stronger the more one uses it.

But sadly, if one did not have the proper talent— one could never really grow their Aura.

Vayne tried— that is how he got into books in the first place. But no matter how many books he read, his weak and crippled body was not able to even emit a tinge of Aura; what he gained was just pain, unimaginable pain.

There are perhaps other ways to surpass the limits of normal men, the world of Terrazia was large. Most of it is still unexplored.

But for now, if one wishes to transcend humanity without gifts or without being born for it, training in the way of the Aura is what people strive for. It will allow them to grow beyond the limits of their body; from crushing rocks with their hands to splitting mountains with their feet.

And unlike a Blessing holder and a Magician, one could detect Aura— so much so that one untrained to it would be crushed by the mere presence of its user.

And one of the most powerful Aura users in the world…

…happens to be Valerion Valentine.

"You're fast…

…sadly not fast enough."

"Kh!"

A violent waterfall crashing down on him with vengeance— that is what Vayne was currently feeling right now as his face was planted on the wooden floor of the stage. And with each step of Valerion getting closer and closer, he felt his body being utterly destroyed; his bones, crushed, ground, disintegrated.

But none of those were happening— his body was completely unharmed. Even still, he felt like he was dying over and over again.

"Aside from teamwork, I would like to impart a valuable lesson to all of you here today," Valerion then let out a small chuckle as he stood close to Vayne's head, "Going to the depths of the unknown is an Explorer's duty, it is a noble and glorious purpose. But there is absolutely no noble or glory in jumping into the depths that you already know to be too dangerous for your level…

…that is just stupidity and recklessness."

Valerion continued to his speech as he started walking around the stage— with everyone forced to listen to him as it was really the only thing they could do as they all lie flat on the floor; even those that were on the upper levels could feel Valerion's aura, causing them to just kneel.

"D… damn it… dad," Vale, who was just curious to see if someone was stupid enough to actually challenge his father, could really only curse himself. True, he wanted to see his father in action, but he didn't have to actually also involve the other examinees; Vale could even see one of his groupmates' mouths bubbling.

The ice woman, No.. 262, also seemed to be whispering something— her eyes locked onto Valerion even as the pain clouded the rest of her senses.

But of course, the one that was still the most affected by Valerion's Aura was Vayne.

Mattheus just asked him if he was smart earlier— and it would seem Vayne's answer was correct. He wasn't.

Why would he even try to challenge his father? The one known as the Prince of Explorers?

That sort of title was not just given for show, but earned. Was it perhaps he had already been numb to hearing his accomplishments? Why… why would he even do something like this even fully knowing what would happen?

…No— he knew why.

He was bitter.

16 years, he had been alive… and not once did Valerion even talk to him, or even look at him whenever he passed through the courtyard. Vayne waited and waited for him to look back, but he never did.

That was one of the reasons why he was always smiling— just for that single moment, just for that off-chance that Valerion glances at him… he wouldn't see him as someone who had given up to his fate, that he wouldn't see him as just a useless ghost in the window.

But alas, not once… not even once.

"..." The very first time they ever looked each other in the eyes was the glimpse of a moment before Valerion emitted his Aura.

Vayne was bitter, yes— but even more so…

…he wanted to prove himself.

"Look at him," Valerion then pointed at Vayne as he could not even move a single finger as he lay on the floor,

"That is the No. 1 cause of death of Explorers, overestimating one's—"

"Grah!"

"Hm?"

And before Valerion could continue his speech, Vayne let out a visceral and cracking roar that almost whined in the air.

And as soon as Valerion saw Vayne struggling to get up, a very subtle smile grew on his face.

The boy should be feeling excruciating pain right now— the amount of pain that makes one wish for death…

…and yet he continued to struggle.

Pain?

What is pain?--- Vayne thought as blood started to trail from his lips from having bit his tongue.

His entire life, that is all he had ever known. This kind of… fake pain was nothing.

"This. Is. Nothing!"

And with that roar escaping forcefully being pulled out of his throat, the blood in Vayne's mouth showered out…

…as he managed to lift himself up from the floor.

"..."

"..."

And that was all he needed.

He looked into his father's eyes with his smile as wide as it could be. And for the very first time…

…he was smiling back.

"I… did… it," and with those words escaping his lips. The strings that were seemingly attached to Vayne's back, now severed as he once again dropped to the floor, "I…

…made you look."