What are soul arts? And why were they considered more powerful than regular aura training?
Of course, soul arts offered some unique techniques that a person could never learn while training in aura normally. But was that all the difference?
The answer is no.
One of the prime reasons why soul arts are considered more powerful than regular techniques was because, when a human reaches elemental rank, they could choose to have a core just like Pokemon.
Yes, a human could have a core inside their body, too.
But what kind of core could a human have? Fire-type core? Water-type core or psychic-type core?
The answer was any one of them. Unlike Pokemon, humans didn't have a specific type. They were jack of all but master of none. Of course, even by having a core, a human could never become as powerful as a Pokemon in the same rank.
But by having a core, humans could become extremely more durable and powerful. With each increase in the mastery of their core, their ability to manipulate infinity energy increases just like Pokemon.
So, when Bisharp told Axel to reach elemental rank, it didn't mean that he would have to rank up. He had already ranked up to elemental rank a while ago. What he needed to do now was complete his core.
One might think that it was cool to have a fire-type core or an electric-type core. But Axel chose aura to be his core.
There were two reasons for it. First of all, he had never trained in other types of energy except for aura. He didn't even know if it was possible to have a type core if he wanted to. As per the books and theory, it was possible, but he didn't know how to do it.
Secondly, he believed that if he had aura as his core, he would be able to expertly manipulate aura in the future, and this might even give him a chance to learn 'grand energy' that the first Pokemon master had created by himself.
So, for the past months, he had been training in aura core and was trying to complete it. Of course, it was very hard for him to do it. Unlike other Pokemon that could increase the mastery of their core by eating the flesh and core of other dead Pokemon that had the same core, Axel could not do it.
None of the Pokemon had aura core as per his knowledge, and he also felt that this was a sort of limitation for humans.
So, he had been trying his best to complete his core for the past months. The completeness of the core was already at 99% and he just needed a little push. That was why he was so excited.
But for some unexplainable reason, he felt a barrier. He was checking the system status page, but it was not reaching 100%. The core was getting fuller and fuller and even denser too. But it was not yet complete.
Currently, Axel was in the middle of the forest. There was a fast-flowing river just across him, and he had his eyes closed in a meditative position.
He opened his eyes and stood up. Meditating for hours had started to become uncomfortable. He stretched his body and tried to calm his mind. Now, he was only thinking of aura and how amazing it was, and its various applications.
Axel believed that one needed to have full concentration on something. After half an hour, he closed his eyes again in a meditative position.
And suddenly, he felt different as if a part of something that had been missing his whole life had become full. It was an unexplainable feeling. Something he could not describe. Energy rushed towards his body, and he just could not sit still.
So, he started to train with his sword for half an hour. His eyes were closed while he was swinging his sword. He was trying to feel the aura inside his body. For the longest time, he had to use the aura in the surroundings and store it inside his body, and then use it. But the amount he could store inside his body was minuscule.
It was an automatic process. He had tried to store more aura inside his body, but he just could not do it. But now, his core was complete. So, he was trying to use the aura inside the core in his sword swings.
But unfortunately, he was not successful, yet.
But something was happening inside his body. He could feel it. He felt as if all the veins and vessels in his body were connecting with the new core. The core was just at the navel of his body. It was just a feeling. He was not too advanced to feel every cell of his body.
After training for 30 more minutes, Axel gave up. He could feel that his body was slowly changing, but he could not tell what changes were being made. Yet the question still remained. Why could he not use the aura core inside his body?
For Pokemon, it was quite simple. When they form a complete core, they would be able to use it instantly. That was why elemental rank Pokemon were far stronger than a rare rank Pokemon.
So, he decided to share his thoughts with Oni. It was the closest one who may have any idea about it, but he was disappointed with the answer.
"I don't know how a human body works. You are the first human that I have ever seen. But I think you should continue to train and give yourself some time. You will figure out something eventually."
After thinking for a long time, Axel felt that he should master a new soul art.
'Maybe if I master a new soul art, I can use the core energy.', he thought.
"Have you thought about what I have asked you before?", asked Oni.
When it reached master rank, Oni wanted to return to the place where its tribe had initially been. Before, it was only a king rank Pokemon, and it didn't have enough power to go there and return alive. It didn't even know how hostile the place was.
But now, it was a master rank Pokemon. It was far stronger than ever before. So, it felt confident to go there. In the past, Oni had said that there should at least be a Pokemon that was good at aura detection and aura concealment. Also, one Pokemon would also have to deal with poisons and acid in that place, and both of these Pokemon should at least be at pseudo-champion rank.
But sheer strength triumphs over conditions. So, Oni wanted to go there. It knew that Axel also wanted to contact his home, so it had asked him for advice.
"I think that we are still not ready to go there. That place is under a different god, and that god doesn't like you. So, I think it is better if we are prepared. Lucario is already training in its aura detection and concealment. Meanwhile, I still have Weezing, who could deal with poisons and acids, but it is still very weak. We can find a replacement if it doesn't reach the required standard, but I believe that we should take some time.
You have already waited for so long. So, what is the hurry for waiting a couple more years?"
Oni was tempted to go there, but it also knew that Axel made a lot of sense. So, it agreed to wait for some time. It had already lost a lot in the past, and it didn't want to lose it again.
###
A funny thing that happened was that even Lairon started to train with Oni and Jishnu. It was also a steel-type Pokemon, and even though it didn't have swords on its body and it was not humanoid, Oni could still teach it some basic steel-type moves.
Oni was especially interested in its passive move 'Greater shield'. It had two passive moves, which were extremely rare for any Pokemon.
So, it started to train, concentrating on its passive move. As per Oni, since it was a purely defensive type Pokemon, it should focus on moves like 'Iron defense'. But since 'Iron defense' was a status move, it was difficult to level up.
While training on its status move, it had yet to give up on grass type move. Since grass-type move had the most progress, it wanted to concentrate on it, which was really not normal.
A fire-type Pokemon would naturally be more interested in fire-type move. It was not only in their nature but also inside every cell of their bodies.
So, even though Axel and Oni had told it not to train in grass-type move right now, but it would secretly train its grass-type moves at night when everyone was sleeping. Of course, Axel knew about this since he could see its progress in its status page, but he didn't say anything.
###
Pokemon POV starts.
Lairon looked to the left and then to the right. There was no one except for the Primeape guards who were at the gate. Then it looked up and down, even though down meant its own body, but it just wanted to be sure.
Seeing that no one was watching, it silently started to move towards the training ground. It did its best not to make any sounds, but its heavy body failed to comply.
Lairon was on the brink of its evolution. A Larion would need a lot of minerals and resources to evolve towards Aggron, but since they were in this magical realm, resources were not a problem for it.
But this did increase its weight. It was already over 200 kg, which was way over its normal weight. So, whenever it stepped on the ground, the ground shook lightly.
So, it had to be very vigilant. Slowly, it reached towards the training ground, far from the residential area, and it sighed in relief.
"Let's eat first.",
It could not be trained on an empty stomach. So, first, it started to eat some minerals and rocks. It chose its favorite today. After eating until it could not even walk properly, it decided to train on its grass-type moves.
Currently, it wanted to learn the move 'Leech Seed'. It was obviously going to be the tank of the team in the future. So, 'Leech seed' would help it a lot.
"Hehe, no one will know that I am training here in grass type move. I will be the most powerful grass type Pokemon in the team in the future. Hahaha!!!"
"You are so delusional that you think that you will be the most powerful grass-type Pokemon of the team in the future. Have you seen how powerful Venusaur really is?"
When it heard that sound, it instantly turned back. At first, it thought that it was an enemy, and it was ready to strike back, but then it realized that such a thing was not possible. This place was heavily guarded.
But the entity far worse than its enemy had arrived.
It was Gandiva, the Staraptor.
"Fuck, I am busted.", it said in a low voice.
Staraptor did a quick turn while flying and settled its feet on the training ground, looking at Lairon.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Don't you have to sleep?", asked Staraptor.
'Ok, Lairon. You just have to lie to Gandiva and you will be all okay.', thought Lairon to itself, motivating it. It took a deep breath and said,
"Oh, I just wanted to become strong, so I was pulling some extra training."
"Oh, what were you training on?"
"I was trying to learn a new grass-type move.", said Lairon. It had to say the truth on this because it had already trained on a few grass-type moves before. Staraptor could clearly see the remnants of its moves.
"Oh, really? I thought Axel told you not to train on those moves right now. So, what are you doing?"