When it became evident that Raiden had successfully taught his trainees the use of Aura Force before the other instructors, a clear sense of unease rippled through the ranks of his peers. Their initial irritation came from a blend of professional pride and the competitive nature of their roles. The realization that Raiden had achieved such a feat ahead of them was unsettling, particularly because it highlighted his effectiveness and innovation in training despite his age.

However, their concerns quickly shifted when Iri began to emulate Raiden’s methods. The sight of her attentively copying his teaching was a stark reminder of the urgency of the situation. The instructors’ pride, though momentarily bruised, had to be set aside. The pressing need to focus on their own responsibilities and address the immediate challenges at hand left no room for further contemplation or rivalry. The situation demanded their full attention and cooperation, underscoring the importance of prioritizing practical outcomes over personal grievances.

"Even though we have been using Aura Force for many years, we never figured out a way to make people learn it," Iri said when they were returning to the inn. "It is very impressive that you pulled that off."

"My guess is that they never were able to control Aura Force because they don’t fight at close range," Raiden explained. "I am not entirely sure, but getting hurt, exhausted, and still keeping the will to keep going is the most important thing to learn, Aura Force . Naturally, these kids already have experience training, so it was a lot easier for them as well."

Iri nodded. It made sense... the students from the towers of mastery trained, but they never fought, and most of them have to learn how to use Aura Force when they become ten years old... it is rather difficult under these conditions.

Regardless, not many people managed to learn Aura Force that day, but they were expecting a large boom of new trainees pulling that off the next day.

"Come to think of it, I have to write a letter to Father and Mother and report all of your actions as well," Raiden said.

"Report my actions?" Iri furrowed her eyebrows.

"Father’s orders, he also imagined that you would go get carried away surrounded by too many pretty boys," Raiden said.

"That old... I want to read the letter before you send it," Iri said after correcting herself.

"Of course, Father taught me some code words, so it is fine," Raiden smirked.

Iri knew that Raiden was joking about the need to report her actions and the concern about her getting carried away with "pretty boys." Despite her awareness that it was a playful dig, the remark still bothered her a bit. It touched a nerve because, deep down, she was acutely aware of her tendency to get carried away in various situations, especially when surrounded by intriguing people.

Her brother’s comment, though lighthearted, seemed to highlight an aspect of her behavior that she had been working to manage. It was as if Raiden’s jest was a reflection of her ongoing efforts to improve her reputation and demonstrate a more composed side to him and others. She had been mindful of how her actions could be perceived and had been striving to project an image of reliability and focus.

Raiden’s teasing, while not entirely serious, was a reminder of the balance she had been trying to strike between her natural enthusiasm and the image she wanted to maintain. She understood the concern that Raiden’s comment implied, acknowledging that, while she was making progress, there were still moments when her impulsiveness could get the better of her.

"Anyway, are we supposed to teach them techniques as well after a while?" Raiden asked.

"That wasn’t in the agreement," Iri explained. "Still, they will try, so we will have to warn them sternly."

That was good. Raiden would have more time for himself and with his own training that way... but he will have to pass the basics and the risks for those kids since some of them will definitely make mistakes.

In any case, after lunch, Raiden went to his room to meditate and focus on his own training. Little by little, he could tell his senses improving, but he still had no idea how to manipulate the energy on the ambient or on the enemies. He figured out that by keeping his energy low all the time, he eventually would learn the ins and outs or what he wanted, but that was no longer working...

"I need more energy... but perhaps drawing energy from outside forces is too much for me now," Raiden thought. "I can still make the technique focus solely on increasing my Spirit, but I need to change my focus on how to develop this technique."

When Raiden decided to shift his focus on the Manipulation path, a sudden idea came to him. It was an intriguing concept that could potentially be very effective, even if it seemed a bit of overkill against most opponents. The idea was to use his Force not just as a tool for offense or defense but as a means to counteract and neutralize the Force of his opponents.

Raiden envisioned using his Force to disperse or weaken the Force used by his target, effectively disrupting their techniques and strategies. This approach could turn the tables in combat by nullifying or diminishing the effectiveness of his opponent’s powers. It was a strategic maneuver that went beyond mere direct confrontation and could offer a significant tactical advantage.

The notion of manipulating Force to neutralize an opponent’s Force was both innovative and potentially game-changing. While it might be overkill against weaker foes, it held considerable promise for dealing with more powerful adversaries. Raiden was intrigued by the possibilities and the challenge it presented, considering how this new approach could redefine his combat strategy and elevate his capabilities in unexpected ways.

"I guess it can work... but I will need a fine control over my Force," Raiden thought. "That will make it a Spirit focus technique, and that will improve my energy reserves, so it is fine. Well then... how can I approach this?"

As usual, Raiden had to take things in stages and climb the latter one step at a time... The first stage would be to control his Force freely and with enough speed; otherwise, he would never be able to pull it off what he wanted.

Thanks to his experience, he could control his Force a little bit in all parts of his body, but he needed to do that while using the minimal amount of Force and only at a single spot at the same time.

"Well, here I come..." Raiden thought.

Raiden understood that mastering the control of Force would serve as a foundational skill that could benefit his learning across all other paths. Although he recognized that the training process would be challenging and time-consuming, he wasn’t bothered by it. The difficulty of the training was part of the investment he was making in his overall growth and effectiveness.

The detailed control of Force was not just an end in itself but a versatile tool that would enhance his ability to learn and integrate techniques from other paths. By developing a strong control over Force, Raiden could more effectively grasp and utilize the diverse techniques and strategies available in other areas of his training. This made the demanding nature of the training worthwhile, as it would pay dividends in his broader skill set.

Moreover, Raiden had a three-month window to refine and perfect his new technique. This timeframe provided ample opportunity for him to experiment, practice, and adjust his approach as needed. With the luxury of time on his side, he felt confident that he could achieve significant progress and master his new technique, turning the initial difficulty into a valuable and rewarding investment in his future capabilities.

In the end, after one week, Raiden was able to complete the first stage of the training... activating his Force in all parts of his body, like a small sphere of energy in his hand, on his feet, or on his back. So, it was time to take the second step... making the energy move.

"To affect the opponent, I will need to be able to do this much..." Raiden thought. "To make my Force affect others, the energy will have to disrupt their energy in some vital parts of their techniques... making the energy disperse theirs should be the best option... it won’t be easy, but... it is time already, huh?"

Raiden opened his eyes and realized that he had spent the night training again. Since he wasn’t using his body that much, meditating felt like almost proper resting. Still, he was growing, so skipping nights of sleep wasn’t a good idea.

Over the course of the last few days, Raiden taught his trainees a bit about force and gave them some tips, such as only using it when attacking to finish off an enemy or using it in a moment of danger. He also taught them to never try to control it in some areas of their bodies... but it looked like the warning hadn’t been enough.