CHAPTER 68: ANOTHER TECHNIQUE

Nero walked over and laid down a mat before settling onto it. He didn’t rush into what he had come to do; instead, he took a moment to gaze at the moonlight glittering on the surface of the river.

The night was serene, the air crisp and cool, and the moon hung high in the sky, a silvery beacon that bathed everything in its gentle glow. The river sparkled like a bed of diamonds, each ripple catching the light and reflecting it in a dance of shimmering brilliance. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant croaking of frogs created a symphony of nature that enveloped him, enhancing the tranquility of the moment.

For a brief while, Nero lost himself in the beauty of the scenery—the way the moonlight painted the landscape with ethereal strokes, the peacefulness of the night wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. It was a moment of stillness, a reminder of the simple yet profound beauty that existed in the world, and he savored it, allowing the serenity to wash over him before he turned his thoughts back to the task at hand.

Nero’s aim tonight was both simple and complex. He wished to develop his sixth sense, enabling him to detect monsters or anything that emitted hostility toward him. To begin this journey, he knew he had to control and refine his senses, blending them together to unlock the door to his sixth sense.

He started with breathing exercises, focusing on his inhalations and exhalations, intentionally slowing his heartbeat. With each deep breath, he could feel the tension in his body dissipate, allowing him to enter a state of heightened awareness. As his heartbeat slowed, he concentrated on sharpening his hearing, letting the world around him fade into the background.

Next, he spread his Prana throughout his body, visualizing it coursing through him like a gentle stream. He paid particular attention to the nerves around his ears, envisioning them as delicate antennas attuned to the subtle vibrations of the environment. As he concentrated, he began to hear distinct sounds that had previously gone unnoticed. At first, the auditory landscape was a chaotic mess of noise—leaves rustling, distant animal calls, and the murmur of the river—each sound competing for his attention.

But as he focused more intently, those chaotic noises began to clarify. The sounds transformed into a symphony of nature, each note distinct and recognizable. He could hear the rhythmic chirping of a cricket, its sound punctuating the night air like a metronome. The faint whir of mosquitoes flying nearby became evident, their tiny wings buzzing softly against his heightened awareness.

As he honed in on these sounds, he felt an exhilarating sense of control. He imagined that if he concentrated even further, he could pinpoint their exact locations, visualizing the crickets hiding among the grass and the mosquitoes flitting through the air. With each passing moment, his connection to the environment deepened, and the world around him transformed into a rich tapestry of sounds, each thread contributing to his growing awareness of the unseen dangers that might lurk in the shadows. This practice was not merely about enhancing his perception; it was about forging a deeper bond with the world, sharpening his instincts to detect any threats that may arise.

Next, Nero shifted his focus to his sense of smell. He concentrated on moving his Prana around the sensory receptors in his nose, amplifying his already sensitive olfactory abilities. With deliberate intention, he visualized the Prana swirling and enveloping the tiny receptors, coursing through the delicate pathways that carried scents to his brain.

As he directed his energy, he felt a surge of awareness flooding his nostrils. The world around him transformed as he began to distinguish smells with vivid clarity. He could identify the earthy aroma of damp soil, the faint sweetness of blooming flowers, and the smoky scent of the extinguished bonfire lingering in the air. Each smell painted a mental picture in his mind, allowing him to visualize their sources.

Nero took a moment to breathe deeply, drawing in the rich tapestry of scents. He could even pick up the subtle notes of the river—a mixture of freshness and wet stones—alongside the crisp fragrance of the surrounding trees. With each inhale, he refined his ability to discern different layers of odors, recognizing how they intertwined and interacted.

This heightened awareness was exhilarating; he felt as if he could track the path of a nearby animal by following its scent or detect the faint traces of danger lurking in the air. With each passing second, his connection to the world deepened, and he embraced the gift of enhanced perception, ready to harness it to protect himself from any lurking threats.

Suddenly, an epiphany struck him.

"What if, instead of spreading my Prana inward to enhance my senses, I spread it outward?"

He immediately embraced the idea. By extending his primordial energy within a certain range, it could function like sonar, detecting anything that entered its perimeter. It was important to remember that Nero possessed two cores; while one was fully developed, he could only tap into a fraction of it. In response, he had created a second core within his heart—a super-compressed core that provided him with an extraordinary advantage. This dual-core system allowed him to wield more Prana than his peers, making his energy levels comparable to those of a Level Red Knight.

With renewed determination, Nero focused on spreading his Prana outward. The first five attempts resulted in failure, but each setback only fueled his resolve. He envisioned his energy radiating from him in waves, cascading outwards like ripples in a pond. Finally, on his sixth attempt, he felt a surge of success as his Prana expanded outward at remarkable speed.

As it spread, he measured the distance and was astonished to find that it reached nearly 200 meters. This meant he had a detection radius of 170 meters around him, enabling him to pinpoint any movement or presence within that range. The sensation was exhilarating; he felt as if he had opened a window to the world around him, allowing him to sense even the faintest disturbances in the air.

With his heightened senses already activated, this newly developed technique combined seamlessly with his Prana expansion. He realized he had just created something truly remarkable—a technique that should not be underestimated. He named it "Divine Sense," a fitting title for the ability that allowed him to perceive the unseen and respond with agility and precision. This fusion of sensory awareness and external detection gave him a powerful edge, transforming the way he interacted with his environment and deepening his connection to the world around him.