Ethan was hit hard by the reality of his situation. No matter how much he pondered, every plan seemed to fall short. His initial thought, that perhaps the energy suit could disguise him as a gargoyle, was quickly shot down by both the system and Zark.
"Don't even think of it," Zark echoed grimly.
Ethan sighed in frustration. He had hoped the suit would provide a loophole, some way to blend in with the gargoyles, but it turned out that was impossible. He couldn't fly either, a natural ability of the gargoyles, and trying to sneak past them in broad daylight seemed like a death sentence. He was stuck. Or was he?
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, something that had lingered in the back of his head for a while but that he hadn't explored in full. He had Aura Control. At first, it had seemed like a simple skill, one he hadn't delved into too deeply. But now he was beginning to wonder: what if he could manipulate his aura to mimic that of a gargoyle?
"What if I made my aura resemble theirs? They're intelligent, but not that sharp—an aura might be enough to fool them, right?" he muttered to himself. The idea seemed both bold and absurd. But the alternative—getting stomped to death by a crowd of gargoyles—wasn't exactly appealing either. The thought of dying painfully, only to possibly resurrect back at the start of the island, made him shudder.
Shaking off the creeping dread, Ethan returned to the cave. He needed time to think this through. He munched on some meat as he sat cross-legged, deep in thought. Hours passed. He considered every angle, but each time he came to the same dead end: without a gargoyle's aura nearby to mimic, he would fail. His frustration grew, while Zark's sarcastic chant of "Think! Think! Think!" in the background didn't help.
Ethan began thinking more deeply about the very nature of aura, turning to the system for insight.
[Aura refers to the energy or character that surrounds an individual, differentiating them from others. Over time, groups with similar experiences may develop comparable auras, but there will always be subtle differences. Only those with deep mastery can easily detect these differences.]
He kept pondering, focusing entirely on the concept of aura until, without realizing it, something remarkable began to happen. A soft, greyish-white light enveloped him, blending him seamlessly into the surroundings. His presence slowly faded, becoming indistinguishable from the cave walls and shadows.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ethan snapped out of his trance, startled. He glanced down, but his body was nearly invisible. "What the...?" he muttered, awe-stricken.
[Congratulations! You have gained the ability: *Master of Auras*]
*Master of Auras (Low):* You are now able to control aura as you see fit, not just your own, but others' as well. The only limit is your level of mastery.
Zark was quick to chime in, "Well, well, I underestimated you this time, kid. Haha! Nicely done."
Ethan scratched his chin, feeling both proud and a little overwhelmed. This ability—Master of Auras—was extraordinary. Not only had he gained complete control over his aura, but he also achieved a full enlightenment in his Telekinesis affinity, pushing him to level two. His willpower had undergone a profound transformation too; everything felt lighter, easier.
More importantly, he had figured out the key to his problem: *Anti-Aura.* By erasing his aura and copying the essence of a gargoyle's, he could camouflage himself entirely. With this new ability, Ethan could tweak the aura to fit him perfectly, mimicking a gargoyle without needing to alter his physical appearance. His aura would do the work, projecting the image of a gargoyle to those around him.
Ethan, filled with renewed confidence, left the cave. He scaled the hill once more, peering out over the gargoyle settlement. The entire area was teeming with the creatures, some flying, some walking, their wings folded behind them. The stone huts sprawled out in a simple, straight-line formation, and towering above them all was the ominous white tower he needed to reach. From here, he could clearly sense the strange energy pulling him toward it.
With his plan firmly in mind, Ethan activated his aura manipulation. He erased his own presence completely, then began mimicking the energy signature of the surrounding environment. The effect was immediate—he was practically invisible.
He started slow, jogging down the hill to test his aura manipulation. It worked flawlessly, blending him perfectly with the air around him. His speed increased, and yellow lightning-like energy began to crackle around his legs. His movement was quick, precise, and nearly silent. As his pace picked up, the ground beneath him cracked slightly from the force of his steps. Ethan pushed harder, his speed rising to 50 meters per second.
When he reached the edge of the island, he bent his knees and launched himself into the air.
He shot forward like a bullet, the yellow aura surrounding him acting as thrusters, propelling him towards the settlement at breakneck speed. He controlled his descent carefully, landing on top of a large rocky hut with minimal noise. Still, some gargoyles below turned their heads at the faint disturbance. Ethan quickly altered his aura, mimicking that of a nearby gargoyle. Their suspicions dissipated almost immediately.
Ethan grinned. His aura camouflage was working flawlessly. He jumped from hut to hut, careful to keep his movements smooth and consistent, always maintaining control over his surroundings. The settlement was laid out in a simple, linear pattern, which made his path relatively straightforward. He crossed each section, making calculated stops along the way. Occasionally, he would pause to sip from his water skin, but his focus never wavered. Three hours passed, and after several leaps and calculated movements, he reached the settlement's edge.
Once more, Ethan launched himself into the air. The thrill of his new abilities filled him with excitement. He wanted to stay, to explore the settlement and uncover its secrets, but the quest's ticking clock forced him onward.