That not so important character turned out to be important

Shaun stood in the middle of the spacious training hall on the fourth floor of the mansion, eyes narrowed in concentration as he lifted the heavy weights. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored the discomfort, focusing instead on the rhythm of his breath and the weight in his hands.

This floor, a product of the previous Shaun's desire for strength, was a far cry from the lush gardens and rooms of the rest of the mansion. The fourth floor was utilitarian—designed for one purpose: training. It wasn't the prettiest place, but it was efficient. And efficiency, Shaun had learned, was all that mattered.

"Strength makes the world more beautiful, huh?" he muttered to himself, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The original Shaun had thought so, pouring every last coin into outfitting the place with all the necessary tools and equipment. A few glances around told him that the setup, while crude, was effective. Wooden practice dummies, padded mats, a variety of weapons neatly arranged against the walls, and most importantly, a range of aura-enhancing devices that helped him focus and strengthen his abilities.

"Well, no point in wasting it," Shaun continued, finishing his set and letting the weights fall with a dull thud. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing at a nearby sword on the rack. Training, he'd come to understand, wasn't just about brute strength—it was about control. And control was the key to winning any battle, especially when dealing with the complexities of this world.

Picking up the sword, he swung it in a few slow, controlled arcs, testing its balance. The fluid movements felt natural now, but it wasn't just the sword he needed to master. His aura control was just as important. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused on the energy within. A faint glow flickered around his body as he manipulated the aura, pushing it through his limbs as he practiced a series of rapid sword strikes, each one powered by his growing aura. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but the raw potential was there.

"Not bad," he murmured, sheathing the sword. This was the one part of the original Shaun's life he had no problem with. Strength was power, and power was freedom. While the previous Shaun may have wanted to build his strength for other reasons—perhaps the typical isekai hero fantasies of world-saving and glory—Shaun had no such naive dreams. He just wanted control. In this world, that was all that mattered.

As Shaun moved through the sword practice, each swing fluid and precise, his mind wandered, not to the blade in his hand but to the vast potential of the energy swirling within him. Novels Shaun had been a water element user, blessed and limited by his affinity to water. A power based on simple, predictable rules, no deeper complexity. Original Shaun, on the other hand, had taken the time to craft one powerful technique—a combination of magic, aura manipulation, physical enhancement, and contracts with lesser spirits. It was a masterful creation, designed to make him a true force to be reckoned with, but it was still only one technique. Even though it was a powerful ability, it was a product of learning and borrowing from various fields. Shaun could recognize the effort, but the truth was, it was still incomplete. He hadn't mastered it.

Shaun's gaze hardened as he blocked a strike, his sword vibrating with the force of the impact. His muscles burned, but his focus remained unwavering. "And then I happened," he muttered to himself, the words bitter on his tongue. The original Shaun had relied on magic and external techniques to make up for his limitations, but this Shaun's path was different. i didn't need to rely on complicated systems or borrowed power.

Aura, that was where his focus lay.

"Aura can be used to strengthen the body, enhance normal attacks, and even magic," he thought, adjusting his stance and executing a flawless spin. "But its true power lies in the soul. With it, I could manipulate not just the body, but the very essence of a person." He paused mid-swing, the tip of his sword hovering inches above the floor. Aura users are rare in this world, he knew. Many could use aura, but true masters—those who could truly control it—were few and far between. Novel Shaun and Original Shaun had both used aura, but their level of control was vastly different. Novel Shaun was a simple, average user—no more skilled than anyone else, really. Original Shaun had achieved a moderate level of control, maybe a 30 out of 100, but even his abilities were just that—normal for someone with aura training.

But ... I am different, i am not boasting btw just stating the obvious.

"I'm not here to be just another aura user," he mused, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smirk. "I can already feel it. The more I use it, the stronger my body gets. And it's not just physical—it's magic, abilities, everything. Aura isn't just a tool; it's a conduit to unlock potential across the board. The more I use, the more my body adapts and strengthens, and my reach extends into new powers."

His eyes narrowed as his sword swung again with precision. Current Shaun had the potential to become a true master of aura, something the original could only dream of. His detachment, his focus, the very nature of his being—these were the traits that allowed him to progress beyond the limits the others faced. He didn't need flashy spells or elaborate techniques. He just needed to keep using aura until it became second nature.

His power wouldn't just be limited to the physical. It would seep into every facet of existence—he would control it all. True aura mastery wasn't about efficiency or reliance on external sources. It was about mastering the soul. And once he did that, nothing would be able to stand against him.

The sword cut through the air again, a flash of steel and strength. Shaun's heart beat in time with the rhythm, his focus sharp. He wasn't just learning a new technique. He was becoming something far greater than anything Original Shaun could have imagined. His power was going to be something... unmatched.

shaun:"now lets move to the main event of today"

Shaun's muscles were screaming from the strain, but he refused to let go. His body was soaked with sweat, his breath coming in heavy gasps, but his focus never wavered. His left hand burned with the intense concentration of his most lethal aura, while his right hand manipulated the raw energy surrounding him, shaping it, forcing it into a form that would serve him in the most dangerous of ways. Every ounce of power he could summon was being poured into this one act—into creating a weapon, a tool, an extension of his will.

The energy around him twisted and fought back, resisting as if trying to escape the force of his grasp. It clawed at his hands, each pulse of resistance tearing at him, pushing against him with a force that threatened to tear his fingers apart. But Shaun held on. Teeth gritted, sweat dripping down his face, he ignored the pain, focused solely on his goal.

The raw energy was like a living thing, struggling to break free, but Shaun's will was stronger. With a deep breath, he pushed harder, feeling the immense weight of his effort bearing down on him. His hands were on the verge of being torn apart by the sheer force, but still, he held firm.

Minutes passed like hours, and his control over the energy was slipping and surging with every second. It was a battle of will, a war between Shaun and the raw power he commanded. But his resolve did not break. Not now, not when he was so close.

After what felt like an eternity, Shaun finally forced his will onto the energy, merging it with the aura he had summoned. There was a moment of stillness in the air—a brief, almost eerie silence—as the two powers came together, shaping into something new, something dangerous.

Shaun's hands trembled from the exertion, but before him, there it was—the weapon he had designed, just as he wanted. A crimson-black bracelet, its surface flowing with an eerie, crackling energy, surrounded by a faint aura of power. It pulsed with the energy he had summoned, a perfect manifestation of his creation.

Shaun let out a slow breath, his eyes gleaming coldly as he stared at the bracelet. His expression was calm, but there was an underlying satisfaction in his gaze. This was his weapon, his tool. He had crafted it with precision, and now it would serve its purpose.

Shaun felt a surge of power course through him the moment the bracelet clasped around his left wrist. It seemed as if it had fused with his skin, a permanent part of him now. He flexed his fingers, a subtle thrill running through him as he tested the bond.

"Let's see if this works as I imagined," Shaun murmured, his voice cold as always.

His thoughts sharpened, focusing on the image of a sword—sleek, powerful, and crimson black in hue. Almost instantly, the aura around him responded. A sword materialized in his hand, its blade glowing with the same crimson-black energy, radiating with power that seemed capable of cutting through anything in its path.

Shaun's lips curved slightly. It was perfect.

Without hesitation, he shifted his focus. it became a dagger, just as he had envisioned. A perfect change, seamless, without a hint of resistance. He was pleased.

"Now for something more complex," he said, and as if in response, a gun appeared in his hand, its cold metallic surface gleaming under the dim light of the training room. It felt heavy in his hand, but its power thrummed with potential.

"Successful. Perfect," Shaun remarked, inspecting the weapon in his palm. "Let's see how well it shoots."

He aimed the gun at a nearby training dummy, his grip firm but steady. With a sharp, controlled motion, he fired. The shot rang out, followed by a powerful explosion of energy, and the dummy was obliterated in an instant. The air around the impact zone shimmered from the intensity of the blast, leaving nothing but a pile of smoldering remnants.

Shaun exhaled slowly, his satisfaction evident but measured.

"Now, let's test it at lower power," he muttered, resetting the gun to its previous state. He aimed once again at another dummy, this time releasing a smaller, more controlled blast. The shot still pierced through the target, leaving a sizable hole, but it was far less destructive than before.

"Good," he nodded to himself, "now let's see if I can add attributes to it."

His thoughts shifted again, focusing on the image of fire. Flames danced in his mind, and with a subtle mental push, the aura surrounding the gun shifted, morphing into a stream of fire. The gun shot a continuous flame, engulfing the dummy in a burning inferno until nothing remained but ash.

"Perfect," Shaun muttered, but then his curiosity grew. "Let's see how it reacts to water."

He jar of water at the fire, but to his surprise, it did nothing. The flames remained unrelenting. However, when he focused on the area where the fire was, releasing a pulse of aura, the flames instantly vanished.

Shaun smirked, impressed by his creation. "So it responds to aura, not just elements. Interesting."

This was a weapon unlike anything he'd ever seen—one that bent and shifted at his will, with a flexibility that opened endless possibilities.

"Count Heron, enjoy your last few months," Shaun muttered, a sinister smile tugging at his lips.

"One thing down from the list of necessity," he muttered to himself, nodding slowly. "Now, onto the second."