Extra Survival Guide to Overpowering Hero and Villain-Chapter 237: Fight III

Fenric held the core carefully.

It was warm.

It pulsed slowly, like a heart.

He could feel energy inside it—calm, flowing, and heavy at the same time.

Seraphina stood up and looked around the camp.

"We won’t refine it here," she said. "This place still smells of blood and mana. It’s not safe."

Fenric nodded. "So... what’s next?"

"We return to the village," Seraphina replied. "Aura Circle Refinement requires a stable place and full focus. One mistake near the heart can kill you."

Fenric stiffened. "...That serious?"

"Yes," she said plainly. "That’s why most people fear refining Aura early."

They left the camp quietly.

No orcs followed. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

None were left alive.

Back at the training grounds, Seraphina cleared the area and drew a simple circle on the ground.

"Sit," she ordered.

Fenric sat cross-legged inside the circle.

She placed the High-grade Water Core in front of him.

"Listen carefully," Seraphina said. "I will explain once. If you don’t focus, stop me and ask."

Fenric nodded.

"This core will become your first Aura Refining Circle," she continued.

"You will not absorb it like mana.

You will bind it."

Fenric frowned. "Bind... how?"

"By creating an Aura Circle near your heart," she said.

"Think of it as building a wheel. The core is the center. Your Aura shapes the ring."

She tapped her chest lightly.

"You must guide your Aura slowly. No forcing. No rushing."

Fenric closed his eyes.

He focused inward.

He felt it—faint, warm energy inside his body.

"Good," Seraphina said when she saw his breathing change. "Now guide it toward your chest."

Fenric did.

His Aura moved slowly, like liquid metal.

As it reached his heart, the Water Core trembled.

Blue light spread.

"Now," Seraphina said, calm but firm, "form a circle. Not big. Not small. Just stable."

Fenric imagined a ring.

Not sharp.

Not tight.

Smooth.

The core reacted.

Blue light wrapped around his chest.

Fenric gasped.

It didn’t hurt—but it felt heavy, like pressure from inside.

"Don’t panic," Seraphina said immediately. "That’s normal."

The pressure increased.

Then—

Click.

Something settled.

A faint blue ring appeared beneath Fenric’s skin, slowly rotating near his heart.

Fenric’s breathing steadied.

The pressure faded.

"...Did it work?" he asked.

Seraphina stared.

Then nodded slowly.

"Yes. You formed your first Aura Refining Circle."

Liana leaned forward. "That’s it? He didn’t scream or explode?"

Seraphina ignored her.

She focused on Fenric.

"Tell me what you feel."

Fenric opened his eyes.

"...My Aura feels smoother," he said.

"Like it flows instead of pushing."

Seraphina nodded.

"That’s the Fluidity property from the Water Core.

It fixes the rigidity of your metal affinity."

Fenric swallowed. "So... what’s my Aura quality now?"

Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment, sensing carefully.

"...High Bronze," she said.

"Very close to Silver."

Fenric’s eyes widened. "Already?"

"Yes," she replied calmly.

"That core was almost perfect.

And your growth speed is abnormal."

She looked at him seriously.

"From now on, your training becomes more dangerous.

Your Aura will grow faster.

Your body must keep up."

Fenric nodded firmly.

"I understand."

Seraphina stood up.

"Rest today. No training."

"Tomorrow—we test your Aura in combat."

Fenric leaned back, exhausted but excited.

Fenric lay on the grass, staring up at the sky.

His chest felt warm.

Not painful.

Just... full.

He could feel the Aura Circle turning slowly near his heart, steady and calm.

Spunky walked over and sniffed his chest, then barked once.

"I know," Fenric said weakly. "Feels weird, right?"

Liana sat down beside him.

"You realize what you just did, right?" she said. "Most people would faint just trying that."

Fenric shrugged. "I just followed instructions."

Seraphina watched him quietly for a moment.

"That’s exactly the problem," she said. "You follow them too well."

Fenric looked at her. "Is that bad?"

"It’s dangerous," she replied honestly. "People will notice. And not all attention is good."

Fenric nodded. He already felt that truth.

After some time, Seraphina spoke again.

"Stand up."

Fenric pushed himself to his feet. He expected dizziness.

There was none.

Instead, his body felt balanced. Lighter. Smoother.

"Walk," she ordered.

He took a step.

Then another.

Each movement felt natural, like his body knew exactly how much force to use.

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Good. The Fluidity property is already working."

She picked up a wooden training sword and tossed it to him.

"Swing."

Fenric caught it and swung.

The blade cut cleanly through the air with no resistance.

No shaking.

No stiffness.

Fenric blinked. "That felt... easy."

"It should," Seraphina said. "Your Aura is no longer fighting your body."

She turned and began walking toward the weapon racks.

"Tomorrow, we test your Aura under stress.

Real movement.

Real combat."

Fenric swallowed. "Against who?"

Seraphina looked over her shoulder.

"Against me."

Liana nearly fell over.

"Against YOU?! He just got his first Aura Circle!"

Seraphina’s voice was calm.

"I will not use my full power.

But if he cannot handle pressure from a real Aura user now, he will break later."

Fenric took a deep breath.

"...Okay."

Seraphina stopped in front of him.

"One more thing," she said. "From now on, you stop hiding your Aura from me during training."

Fenric froze for half a second.

Then nodded. "Understood."

Seraphina turned away.

"Rest well. Eat well. Sleep early."

Seraphina paused at the doorway and added one last thing.

"Tomorrow starts at dawn."

Then she left.

Liana stared at Fenric for a long moment.

"...You’re really going to fight her."

Fenric lay back down on the grass. "Yeah."

"You know she can knock out trained soldiers with one hit, right?"

"I noticed," Fenric said dryly.

Liana sighed and stood up. "I’ll make sure you eat something decent tonight. Dying on an empty stomach would be stupid."

Spunky barked in agreement.

That night was quiet.

Fenric ate more than usual.

His body seemed to want it.

When he lay down to sleep, he could still feel the Aura Circle turning near his heart. It didn’t keep him awake—but it made him aware of every breath.

Slow.

Steady.

Calm.

For the first time since coming to this world, he slept without fear.

Before sunrise, Seraphina woke him.

They met at the training grounds while the sky was still dark blue.

No spectators.

No Liana.

Just Seraphina and Fenric.

She stood ten steps away from him, holding a wooden staff.

"Today is not about winning," she said. "It is about control."

Fenric nodded.

"Release your Aura," she ordered.

Fenric focused and let it flow.

A faint golden-blue shimmer spread around his body.

Seraphina felt it immediately.

"...Good," she said. "Stable. Smooth. No leaks."