"Speech"
'Thoughts'
[Pokemon Speech]
[What are you going to teach me first, Azure?]
"Well, I'm going to start off by saying that the Aura here in this world of yours is far less versatile compared to my world. Including the fact that there are a very limited number of people here who can manipulate it." Azure responded as Riolu watched as the male took out a whiteboard pen. "Your use of Aura is far simpler. Nen, however, is complex."
[Wait, do you mean everyone in your world can use Aura?] Riolu asked with shock very present on his face. Azure responded by shaking his head, confusing the small pokemon as he responded. "Yes and no. Everyone has the potential to use it, just that they don't know how. While in my world there are only a small number of the population who can, it is still significantly higher than here."
The two were now back inside the room that they had booked into at the Pokemon Center as Azure was standing up as Riolu was sitting down on the bed. Azure had requested of Nurse Joy if she had a whiteboard, which she thankfully did and happily lent it to him as it could be seen behind Azure.
"Before I even start, I need to ask you. I want you to answer me with complete honesty." Azure stated with a serious look in his eyes. Riolu noticed the change and gulped slightly as he became serious as well, he could tell Azure wasn't messing around. "If Nen is used by a malicious person, it can become a seriously dangerous weapon. Tell me. Are you the type to exploit such power for personal selfish gain like killing and stealing?"
[What? No! I would never use it for something like that! I just want to better and surpass myself!] Riolu responded back firmly with confidence. Azure stared into Riolu's eyes unblinking as the pokemon stared back with a serious and strong gaze, it was after a few seconds that Azure smiled and nodded.
"Very well. I can sense your sheer determination, I'm glad to see that you are as such." Azure smiled as Riolu grinned in return and wagged his tail side to side. Azure then went over to a small book that was on a small table in their room and ripped out a page. "I should pay for that later. Anyway, I'll say again what I said before. Nen can become a very dangerous weapon under the wrong individuals."
Riolu watched curiously as the paper Azure was holding suddenly straightened itself out as he could feel aura radiating off of it, Azure looked at Riolu for a second before tossing it to the side. Riolu watched as the paper sailed through the room before embedding itself into the wall like a sharp blade. Shocking the pokemon.
[What the...?]
"A simple piece of paper can change into an incredibly dangerous blade." Azure stated as he crossed his arms. Riolu stared at the paper in shock for a bit before turning back to Azure, who smiled as he continued. "Now, I know that you are capable of sensing Aura. But, are you capable of seeing Aura?"
[Mhmm! I can!]
"Good. Then take a look at my aura, explain to me exactly what you can see about it." Riolu blinked before focusing as he stared at Azure. Not too long after, Riolu watched as he could soon see a dense layer of aura surrounding Azure's body as if he was covered by some kind of mucous. Though, he noticed something strange about it too.
[Well, I see that your Aura is kind of sticking to your body like a layer of clothing or something. It's strange, I haven't seen anything like that before.] Riolu commented as he tilted his head. Riolu then decided to ask. [But, how is it that your Aura isn't moving away from you. It's staying with you the entire time.]
"Very good observation. That is thanks to one of the Four Major Principles of Nen." Azure stated. Riolu tilted his head in confusion, the term didn't sound familiar to him at all. Though, considering Azure wasn't from his world, it made sense. "Before we get into that, you know that your Aura is basically your life force. But, as you said before, it slowly leaks away from you."
[Yeah. It basically means your getting older since your life force is slowly going, right?] Riolu asked as Azure nodded his head in response to the question. Though, Riolu still seemed confused about it. [But, how come yours isn't leaking away like everyone else's? Do you not age at all? Are you immortal!]
"No, that would not be the correct term. As I have said, the Four Major Principles, I am utilising one of them that allows me to shroud myself in my aura and prevent it from leaving, it doesn't make me immortal, just prolongs my life beyond normal humans." Azure explained as Riolu seemed in awe by the explanation.
Azure smiled as he then opened up the cap of the pen he was holding before walking to the whiteboard, Riolu watching curiously and intently as the male began to write four different words onto it. Riolu definitely not knowing what they meant, but knew that Azure would end up explaining them, so he stayed silent.
"These are the Four Major Principles of Nen. Each being incredibly important in the use of such a concept." Azure explained. Riolu then watched as Azure capped the pen before using it to point at the word that was at the very top. "The first principle is known as Ten, the ability to contain and build up your life energy."
[Is that what you were using to keep your aura contained?]
"Exactly. It can considerably make your body tougher and also slow down the effects of aging, which I explained before." Azure explained simply as Riolu nodded his head. Riolu, despite being a bit annoying some times, seemed to be a determined learner. He reminded him of Gon, though kind of more towards Killua if he was honest. Azure could only smile as he thought back to his friends, they've been through a lot together.
[Is something wrong, Azure?]
"No, nothing's wrong at all. Let's continue." Azure assured as he shook his head. Azure then tapped the pen he had onto the next word as Riolu looked at it. "The next one on the list is known as Zetsu. Basically, it allows you to shut off the flow of Aura around your body. It is a very useful skill to have."
[Huh? But, wouldn't having your Aura shut off be a disadvantage as you wouldn't be able to use it in a battle?]
"Yes, that would be the case. But, I never said you absolutely needed to use it in a battle, though you can if you can utilise it correctly." Azure responded as he turned to face Riolu directly. "Allow me to explain. Zetsu can be useful both in and outside battle. It allows you to conceal your presence and also to allow you to recover faster from fatigue."
Riolu was amazed when Azure seemed to disappear for a second as if he was a ghost, was that what he meant by concealing your presence? That was awesome! He could also feel that whenever he had used Zetsu, the Aura produced by Azure seemed to completely shut off as if he didn't have it. [That's amazing!]
"Indeed, and thus it brings us to the next principle. This one is known as Ren, the ability to produce even more Aura." Riolu seemed to raise his ears at this, causing Azure to give a small chuckle at the action. "You see, Ren allows you to explode your Aura outwards, it can be considered the offensive version of Ten, which is mainly for defense. Though, Ren also gives you incredible defence."
[So, it basically allows you to become stronger?]
"That would be one way of interpreting it. But, Ren is actually more incredible than you can believe." Azure stated with crossed arms. Riolu blinked before widening his eyes as he felt the aura around Azure increase, and the male barely moved, if not at all. "You can feel that, right? The increase of my Aura?"
[Yeah. It feels like you increased your Aura use in a single split second.]
"While that is the case as it can help improve your physical capabilities, and also raise your defence. It can also be used as a weapon in itself." Azure stated seriously. Riolu seemed confused by this, how is increasing one's power considered a weapon as well? "By releasing your Aura outwards, you can tinge it with hostility. Allowing you to produce bloodlust. Allow me to demonstrate."
[...!] Riolu was going to ask something, but stopped when he noticed Azure closing his eyes as the Aura around him fluctuated. Riolu then widened his eyes to the max as a wave of unending bloodlust suddenly erupted from Azure as the boy opened his eyes with a cold glare present on his features.
Riolu could feel it, the cold sensation that was washing all over him from the glare that Azure had and also from the Aura that was flowing all over him. Is this what Azure meant by allowing the user to release bloodlust? If that was the case, he now understood why it can be a weapon! He couldn't move!
Added to the fact that his species has the ability to read one's emotions from a distance away, it was that more impactful as Riolu couldn't move. Considering that Azure was also very close to him as they were confined to this room, that added more to how much malice he could feel coming from Azure.
"As you can see, it can be very effected against people if you use it in such a way." Azure explained as he stopped releasing his Aura, causing Riolu to sigh deeply in relief as he felt the pressure relieve itself from him. "However, I am forbidding you to use your Aura in such a way until you have mastery over it."
[How come? I felt like it was causing me to freeze up, wouldn't that be useful in a battle?] Riolu seemed majorly confused. It sounded like a really useful secret weapon to use to gain the upper hand in the battle, so why not? Azure shook his head and stared at Riolu with a serious look in his eyes.
"Because, if you can't control that production correctly and release hostility in it. It not only has the potential to cause your opponents to freeze up, but can also be very dangerous against those who don't know how to protect themselves with Aura. You can potentially kill them with that Aura alone."
[Wait, you can kill someone just by using your Aura?] Riolu gasped at the explanation. He understood now why Azure didn't want him using it! He wanted to battle, yes, but not kill his opponent! Riolu then gained a curious look on his face. [Have you seen something like that before, Azure? Someone killing someone with Aura?]
"While I haven't directly seen someone die from bloodlust, I was indeed almost on the receiving end of it. If it hadn't been for a teacher of mine who taught me Nen, then I definitely wouldn't have been here today." Azure answered as Riolu widened his eyes and gulped a lump down his throat.
He definitely wouldn't be using something like that any time soon, probably not ever!
"To be able to protect yourself from someone's Aura, you must use your own to defend against it. Ten, as I explained before, is a good and efficient principle to use as such." Azure explained as he placed his hand against the whiteboard that he had been writing on. "If you don't defend yourself, your body will be shattered completely if you run into a strong enough user."
[Wha-!] Riolu widened his eyes when the whiteboard that Azure had placed his hand on shattered in incredibly small pieces, Riolu could also tell that he merely did that by projecting out his Aura. He didn't even need to throw a punch or anything. [H-H-How did you just do that? Is that Ren?]
"No, this is the last of the Four Major Principles of Nen. It is simply known as Hatsu, used to project one's aura to carry out a certain function." Azure simply explained in the smallest explanation he could. "That was only a small amount I just used. If I were to do it any more, than I could even take down this entire building with a single shockwave."
Riolu could only gape at the explanation as he now understood the immense power that his new trainer had under his hands, and it was staggering! Azure's use of Aura was far beyond anything he had ever seen, and the raw amount he could sense was incredible. Though, he felt as if Azure was definitely holding it back.
But, the more and more he learnt about Nen and its uses brought Riolu more and more eagerness into learning it. He could only grin as he could see that through learning the arts of Nen, he could truly become stronger than he ever could before! Azure noticed this and smirked, he was as eager as he, Killua, and Gon were when they learnt of Nen.
"Anyways, those are the Four Major Principles of Nen. If you are hoping to learn Nen from me, then it would be best that you remember them." Azure stated as Riolu nodded his head in understanding of this. "Now, I want to ask you are question, Riolu. Do you know how Aura is escaping through your body?"
[Eh? What do you mean?]
"Allow me to restate my question in a different way then. How is it possible that you can use your Aura in the first place? Why can't other pokemon and humans as well not use Aura so naturally as you do?" Azure asked with a smile as Riolu blinked in confusion before holding his chin in thought.
[I... don't really know. I have never really considered such a thing before ever, I just use Aura because that's what I have naturally been able to do. Ever since I was born.] Riolu responded as he crossed his arms. [I never really questioned why I can use Aura, along with my species. Just that I can use it.]
"It's not simply that you can just use Aura for no particular reason. It is because your species seems to be able to automatically open their Aura Nodes." Azure explained. Riolu tilted his head as the term was unfamiliar to him, it was so foreign. "Aura Nodes being specific points all over the body that allows access to the control of the flow of Aura."
[So, I can use Aura because these nodes are in me?]
"The Aura Nodes are inside of everyone, so everyone has the potential to use Nen. It seems that for your species, who are naturally gifted with access to it, are born with their nodes open. Well, I can only assume that other Riolu like you only have one Aura Node that is opened naturally upon birth."
[Hold on! One Aura Node? There are more?]
"Exactly. It would seem that all Riolu are born with one Aura Node open, and are stuck as such until they learn to open them, which I doubt any have. I'm also making a guess that Lucario, your evolution, most likely have at least one more node open for them when they go through evolution from a Riolu. Though, that is all a hypothesis."
[Okay, let me understand here. Aura Nodes are what allow me to use Aura? And there are more Aura Nodes that are closed inside me?] Riolu wondered with incredible interest as Azure nodded his head in response. [But, how is it possible for people and pokemon to open up their Aura Nodes? Would it really make a difference?]
"Yes, it would actually make an incredible difference. From what I can sense of your right now, as I have said before, only a single one of your Aura Nodes are open." Azure stated, Riolu feeling like an invisible arrow shot through his chest. "Aura Nodes allow Aura to escape your body. Since only a single node is open in your, you are only able to harness a small portion of the Aura that is lying dormant inside of you."
[Does that mean all of these Aura Nodes that are inside of you are open?] Riolu asked curiously. Azure nodded his head as a response, but didn't say anything as Riolu held a thinking expression as he then asked something with a sad look. [From what I have heard. Does this mean my Aura is limited? Can't it get any stronger?]
"In it's current state, that would be the case. You are truly limiting yourself by having the rest of your nodes closed off. The full extent of your Aura is locked away." Azure replied bluntly. Riolu recoiled back as he felt another arrow pierce through him. "However, If you want, I can open up the rest of your Aura Nodes."
[H-Huh? You can do that!] Riolu asked with excitement quickly coming across to its face as it hopped off the bed and looked up at him with hopeful eyes. If what Azure said was true and he really could unlock the potential of his Aura, then that was great! He didn't like the fact that his Aura was apparently limited, so he couldn't help but get excited over this!
"I can... but, do you trust me enough?"
[Hm? What do you mean?]
"I'll say this bluntly, Riolu. Your Aura is very underdeveloped compared to people from my world, and no doubt others in this world are the same. Your Aura can protect you against weaker physical damage and such..." Azure said with closed eyes before opening them with a slightly cold look. "However, if you can't use it to block stronger attacks like the one before..."
Azure placed his hand on the remainder of the whiteboard before using his Aura to completely shatter the rest, causing Riolu to flinch greatly from the sudden action.
"I could kill you."
[Wh-What?]
"To open up the rest of your Aura Nodes, I would be required to produce and force a portion of my Aura into your body as a way of shocking them so they are forced to open. There is an alternative method, that is training it slowly over time properly so they open, but that could take months, years, even decades, and possibly a lifetime."
Riolu gulped as he wanted to get stronger faster, and he could tell Azure was being serious about everything he was saying right now. Riolu could easily see that Azure had more than enough power to take on much stronger pokemon compared to him, and he would have no chance against the male in front of him.
"I'm telling you all of this because now that you have heard and seen of what my Aura can potentially do to you, are you willing to trust me enough that I will open up your Aura Nodes and not simply end you? I would, of course, force my Aura much gentler compared to before. But, I could have been faking my kindness to you all this time and could kill you outright at any second."
[...] Riolu held a thoughtful expression on his face as Azure stared at the pokemon with an unblinking gaze as he showed no emotions. Riolu had to admit, he was nervous and possibly scared right now. Who wouldn't be? But, he soon smiled up towards Azure. [I trust you. I trust that you won't kill me.]
"Really? How can you be so sure?"
[I'm a pokemon who can use our Aura to sense emotions, and I can feel that you hold no emotion to bring harm to me. Also that through our journey here, you could have killed me at any point and didn't have to deal with any trouble like teaching me Nen. That is why I can safely say that you won't kill me.]
Azure stayed silent as he looked into Riolu's unblinking eyes with his own pair, both of them not saying anything as they both held serious looks on their faces. It was after a few seconds that Azure gave a small smirk before smiling softly down at the pokemon, Riolu was certainly an interesting pokemon indeed.
"Very well, I shall proceed to open up your Aura Nodes then. If you are prepared to do so, then turn and face your back to me." Azure stated. Riolu did so without hesitation as he walked over to Azure before turning around, though you could see that nervousness was present. Would it hurt? He didn't know what it would feel to have them opened up.
Riolu gave a deep breath before he felt that Azure kneeled down behind him before holding his hand an inch away from his back, though he soon felt the pressure of his arms shaking as heat felt like it was pouring from Azure's palm, to which it felt like it was spreading across his entire body as if he was in the desert.
Riolu gulped as he could feel his heart pounding more and more as his nervousness was added onto the pressure he was feeling being placed onto his body, he would be lying if he said he wasn't a bit scared right now. Riolu decided to give another deep breath to calm himself as he gained a hardened look on his face.
"I will no proceed to open your nodes, prepare yourself." Azure then utilised one of the Advanced Techniques, that being Gyo, as Aura went to his eyes as he could now easily see the Aura Nodes that were across Riolu's body. He nodded before closing his eyes as he then projected his aura into Riolu.
Riolu widened his eyes and clenched his teeth and also his fists as his entire body was soon pressured by the foreign mass of Aura! The heat that surrounded his body felt like he was in a fire, he felt as if it was covering his entire being in flames. This continuing on for a bit before Riolu noticed something...
The heat began to fade as it was replaced by another sensation.
Riolu blinked as he felt like he was simply covered by warm steam of sorts, to which he looked down at his body and brought his paws up to his face. Riolu watched his body in awe as it was now releasing powerful streams of white vapour from every part of his body, which it looked like what he was feeling, feeling like steam.
[Is this... my Aura?]
"Exactly. Now that all of your Aura Nodes have been opened, your production of Aura and potential with it have essentially skyrocketed." Azure stated simply as he walked around Riolu before standing in front of the pokemon as Riolu was still admiring the Aura that was being released from it.
It had never felt this much Aura being possible to produce from itself, it never had managed to even come close to this power!
"Alright, Riolu. Listen to me carefully." Azure got the young pokemon's attention as Riolu stopped admiring itself and looking up towards Azure, who was holding a very serious look in his eyes. Riolu returning it so. "I'm going to teach you to contain it, this amount of rushing Aura outwards is dangerous, it is life force after all."
[R-Right!]
"Okay, we are going to concentrate on keeping that flowing Aura inside of you. To do so, I need you to close your eyes and take any stance that you find most comfortable." Azure smirked as Riolu did exactly as told, more so when he noticed the stance that Riolu had decided to take on for this.
Riolu was standing the exact same way that he, Killua, and Gon had done when they were having their Aura Nodes opened up by Master Wing. Riolu had a concentrated look on his face as he waited patiently for Azure to give his next instructions, which Azure did so as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Visualise your Aura flowing like your blood does through your body. Concentrate on the flow in which it goes through the top of your head, to your right shoulder. Then to your hands, before passing through to your legs. Finish it off by letting it go through the left side of your body."
Azure watched as Riolu took a deep breath as a very concentrated look was present on Riolu's face, it was good that Riolu was taking this seriously. Azure watched as the Aura that was surrounding Riolu began to condense and surround the small pokemon's body, though it did seem a bit disturbed as of right now.
"Perfect. I want you to now visualise that Aura beginning to cover your body as if you are being surrounded by a mucous or as if you are wearing a light pair of clothes." Azure further explained as Riolu did just that. Azure smiled as he saw the thin layer of Aura now surrounding Riolu, a thin stable layer of Aura.
'Very impressive, Riolu. It would seem that he has almost as much talent as the three of us did, though the natural talent for utilising Aura might be assisting in that too.' Azure thought with a proud look on his face as he looked at the young pokemon. "Open your eyes, but keep that concentration as you do so."
[Woah...] Riolu muttered in amazement as he looked at his body. The white vapours were no longer shooting out of him like a torrent of water, but was now stable and sticking to him like a thin pair of clothes. Riolu clenched his paw a few times as he felt the strange feeling of it being wrapped around him. [It feels like... I'm wearing clothes, but not at the same time...]
"If you keep practicing with it, you'll eventually also be able to keep this Ten of yours up even while you are sleeping." Azure explained as Riolu nodded his head in understanding, a smile present on the pokemon's face as Azure did the same in return. "You are impressive, Riolu. You almost did it as efficiently as I did when I first did it."
[Does this mean I can do awesome stuff like you do?! Can I also produce flames from my Aura the same way you did!] Riolu asked with excitement. Riolu dropped his ears in disappointment when Azure shook his head with an amused expression on his features, Riolu pouting soon afterwards.
"Not quite yet. I have only taught you the most basic of basics when it comes to Nen, it goes far deeper than what I have taught you as of right now." Riolu widened his eyes at this. If this was the basics of what Nen was, just how complex was it? The statement made him nervous, but also excited at the same time! Just what could he learn from using Nen? "It'll take a long time before you can even think of doing something like this. You might not even be able to."
Azure said before producing blue flames that came off of his two hands, Riolu staring at them in amazement as Azure wasn't being affected by them like a normal person would if their hands were to catch ablaze. The flames soon dispersing as he crossed his arms over his chest again.
"It entirely depends on you, are you willing to learn further into the uses of Nen? Knowing that the extensive information I have taught you thus far is mere basic? Or are you going to be overwhelmed?" Azure asked seriously. Riolu gave a deep breath before looking up towards Azure with determined eyes.
[I'm not stopping yet!]
Azure and Riolu were now seen walking through the streets of the town as Riolu was walking beside Azure as they were now heading towards the place in which the battle tournament was going to take place, Azure easily remembered the place on the map that was displayed on the advertisement.
Riolu had been practicing his Nen as they were walking, Azure helping him out whenever he did as there were parts he didn't understand too much on how to perform the four principles. Azure had to admit, he was impressed by the talent that Riolu was showing with its use over the short time.
True, there were definitely rough edges to it, but still very impressive nonetheless. Riolu could really give him and the other two a run for their money in the fast learning department, he was impressed. Riolu would still need a good bit of time before he actually manages to master them, but he had confidence that the pokemon was talented that he could do it in an impressive time.
"Well, looks like this is the place." Azure voiced as he was now looking up towards a decently large building, it was circular in shape as he could see a number of people walking into the building along with their pokemon. Riolu looked up as well as his coating of Aura was still surrounding him thanks to Ten. "You ready to go?"
[Let's do it!]