Chapter 361: The World Within

"Let me explain how it works," Vaika waved her hand on noticing Jyorta's confusion, "Aura Induction is basically something you induce in an individual using aura, as simple as that. But, once we induce a change, the target's aura will morph as we wish."

"It is what you witnessed in the Crimson Desert when the Meka Clan Shaman engraved the tattoo," Vaika said, "The essence of the Fire-Tailed Snail was a condensation of its presence in liquid form. The shaman used it to engrave on the warrior's back, subtly affecting his presence with the presence in it. Eventually, she created the tattoo, using which the warrior was able to summon the Fire-Tailed Snail to battle."

"That is the principle behind Aura Induction," Vaika smiled, "We induce the desired effect in the aura of the target, and determine when we want to activate it. Until then, it is like a tattoo within the target's aura, something he/she cannot sense."

Vaika pointed at Jyorta, "Hallucination, Betrayal, and Insignificance; those are the three aura personifications you are developing."

Seeing Jyorta nod, she continued, "Suppose you induced insignificance into a Frenzy Beast. Then, its entire presence would be…"

"…Insignificant." Jyorta's heart thumped as cold sweat covered his limbs. Vaika nodded on seeing his reaction, "Yes, the Frenzy Beast might have had a dominant and confident character before. But now, whatever it does, it would always feel a sense of insignificance, since the feeling originates from its aura, its presence in the truest sense. As a result, it would begin to lose confidence in itself and fall prey to a vicious cycle. And, as long as its body contains aura, this effect would continue to affect it."

"This is overpowered," Jyorta sighed, gazing at his hands to see them shiver, partly from excitement but mostly from fear. It was the same feeling as when a normal person held a gun. They would feel excitement at possessing a powerful weapon to save themselves or defend against any attackers.

But at the same time, they would feel fear when holding it. After all, only when a person held a gun would they realise, the moment the trigger was pressed, a life would be reaped. Jyorta's fear was the same.

"This is similar to Skills, but there is a stark difference between the two," Vaika nodded at his words, "Even Observers have Skills; Skills range from Tier 1 to Tier 6. Meaning, even those who only ventured into the Parasite path possess Skills. But, Aura Induction is different from them."

Her expression was serious, "Aura Induction is a product of development resulted from the peak of the Aura Path. Unless the opponent's understanding of aura exceeds you, they wouldn't be able to defend against it."

Jyorta was able to understand, but at the same time was a bit confused. Vaika sighed, "It is like a Tier 1 being confronting the effect of a Tier 6 Skill. Tier 6 Skills are at the peak of the Parasite path; only a Tier 6 Skill can contend against another Tier 6 Skill. In the Aura path, Aura Induction is equivalent to a Tier 6 Skill."

She shook her head, seeing Jyorta's face of exclamation, "But, it would be wrong to call Aura Induction equivalent to a Tier 6 Skill. Any Skill's power is based on the magnitude of energy behind it and the potency of its effect. As for Aura Induction, its potency is on Tier 6 level, but its magnitude depends on the caster."

She looked at Jyorta, "When you activate it, Aura Induction's magnitude would only be at Tier 3 level. When your aura becomes stronger, its strength would also raise. When you are at Tier 6…"

Her eyes shimmered, "…Aura Induction would become equivalent to a Tier 6 Skill."

"Suppose I were to use it on a Shifter, how will my success rate be?" Jyorta inquired.

"Hmm," Vaika thought, "Your understanding is based on what I imparted to you. Potency-wise alone, it is quasi-Tier 6. But, it is also dependent on the tattoo you create to use on the Shifter. So, if you were to use it on him, to break free from its effects, the Shifter would have to rile up his aura to such an extent the tattoo you engraved on him breaks. If you use the aura personification of Insignificance, he would break it the moment he activates a Tier 2 Skill. After all, any powerful being possesses an arrogance and confidence in their ability."

"As for the aura personification of betrayal," She frowned, "It varies from person to person. If the Shifter had a personality untrusting of others, then he wouldn't ever be able to break free from it."

"And," She pointed at her forehead, smiling, "If the scene of the induced hallucination is something they wish to experience, then they would forever be trapped in it. That is why aura personifications are so scary. They tread on the domain on the mind through their effects."

"So, as long as I can get them, I can even defeat Tier 4 Frenzy Beasts in my present condition?" Jyorta muttered.

"It's not that easy as I make it seem." Vaika shook her head, "Remember the tattoo of your face I showed just now?"

Seeing Jyorta nod, she spoke, "I have unleashed my aura on you many times when you visited me. When I healed your injuries, I got a good grasp of the makeup of your aura. Through these encounters, I understood your presence completely."

"I am not overwhelming you through the sheer force of my aura but am subtly influencing you using your own aura. So, that means I have to first understand your aura enough." Vaika said, "Then, I have to think up a tattoo form that complements your aura makeup with respect to the aura personification or effect I wish to induce into you."

She raised her index finger, "Only then can I act. To engrave the tattoo on you, I have to unleash my aura and weave parts of your aura that my aura comes into contact with, and then seep it into you. I should also ensure the areas I weave the aura conform to the tattoo design. Only then would the effect be potent enough."

"It is complicated," Jyorta muttered, looking at Vaika, "Ma'am, how can I make such a tattoo? I know next to nothing about tattoos or how they conform to various aura effects."

"Haha," Vaika laughed, "That is only true for now. Remember that you experienced a headache in the Crimson Desert twice? Didn't a surge of memories gush into you that felt familiar but at the same time unfamiliar?"

Jyorta's eyes widened in realisation as Vaika nodded, "All the basics, everything that you need to create tattoos, the various process to engrave them, what each stroke meant, the effect they conform to, etc. everything is with you. Once you return to reality, you'll know what to do."

Seeing Jyorta bow in gratitude, Vaika smiled, patting his head, "Through Aura Induction, I can impart life experiences, knowledge, insights, etc. into people using the aura personification of hallucination. And…"

She laughed, "Aura Induction and hallucination go hand in hand. Through imagination, I created a scene, adding bits and pieces of details in it over time before making it stable enough to become a dream-like world. When I unleash my hallucination, I pull my targets into this world. And, because of its realism, they wouldn't be able to differentiate it from reality. They would think I used some effect or ability or Skill to transport them to another world."

Her smile became frightening, "Like Rhachis Ancestor Space. In her journey to the top, she teleported anyone she faced into the most dangerous of environments, easily killing them."

"Even the Ancestors pale in comparison to the might of mother nature," Vaika said as the meadow morphed into rocky land, the backdrop containing a volcano gushing out lava. "Beneath the crust is the mantle. When her teleporting range became sufficient, she just teleported her enemies into the mantle and melted them. As simple as that. Buried that deep under the earth, and surrounded by lava, you are guaranteed death."

"So, when I pull my targets into my realistic hallucination, they would recall such examples from Rhachis Ancestor Space's time," Vaika said as the air behind her shimmered. Fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning, all five elements converged and created a massive landscape, of a sprawling desert.

The projection of a vast desert from a bird's point of view hovered behind her as Vaika smiled, "I took such a hallucination, created a tattoo for it, and engraved it on me. It became a stable world, possessing a passage of time in accordance with the flow of my aura. As the characters of the hallucinations deepened through my inputs, they began to act sentient. Over time, the world gained its autonomy. And, I named it…"

Vaika's voice resounded in the area, "The Crimson Desert."

"No wonder," Jyorta shuddered, thinking of how he was pulled into it and had lost himself within a couple of seconds, even after the blue soul had taken action. The identities of Jyorta and Kaushik had been erased, and he truly thought, behaved, and lived as the Shishya, a denizen of the Crimson Desert.

This was considering he was a Psychic Parasite, possessing the advantages of the Soul path with him. Just this fact alone displayed how frightening Crimson Desert was. There, his strength as an Esper and his abilities as a Psychic Parasite mattered naught. Any being, irrespective of their strength, when swallowed by the Crimson Desert would have to follow the laws governing it.

"Aura Induction is not just a means of an attack," Vaika said, "I hope you remember my example."

Jyorta bowed again, touching Vaika's feet as a show of respect, "Everything that you have imparted me, I vow to never forget it. As long as I, Jyorta Bone live, I would respect and revere you as my…"

"Guru!"

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