4 YEARS LATER
Drake unleashed a mighty roar as he summoned a colossal amount of water, condensing it into a singular, devastating attack. "Aqua Burst!!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the air as the water exploded forth with incredible force. The attack pierced through the rocks, threatening to engulf the young opponent.
The sheer power of the water was awe-inspiring, sending shockwaves through the ground and creating a misty veil that surrounded the battlefield.
The kid, with his wild, unkempt hair covering his face, sprinted forward with incredible agility, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.
The water slammed into the ground mere inches behind him, sending shards of rock and soil flying in all directions. The force of the impact created a small crater, and the sound of rushing water filled the air.
As the kid continued to run, his movements became a blur, weaving and dodging through the air with an ease that belied his youth.
Drake, undaunted, pressed the attack, unleashing a barrage of swift, precise strikes that seemed to come from all angles at once. The battle raged on, the two combatants exchanging blows and counterattacks in a dizzying display of speed and skill.
The air was filled with the sound of rushing water, the scent of ozone, and the faint tang of smoke. The intensity of the battle was palpable, and the ground shook beneath their feet as they clashed.
And then, in a flash of insight, the kid kicked a rock hard enough to launch himself into the air. "Gale Surge!" he shouted, as wind boosted from his foot, propelling him upward like a human projectile.
As he reached the apex of his jump, the wind resistance caused his wild hair to stream backward, revealing a face that was both familiar and yet utterly unexpected.
It was Aries, his eyes blazing with determination. He grinned, his right fist cocked backward as he prepared to unleash a devastating attack. The air around him seemed to crackle with energy, and his movements were fluid and precise.
"Flame Emperor!" he roared, as a massive, swirling vortex of flames erupted from his fist, shooting forward like a blazing comet.
The flames danced and pulsed, fueled by Aries' elemental energy. The attack was a testament to his mastery of the fire element, and it seemed to embody his wild and untamed spirit.
Drake anticipated the attack and raised his hands to summon a protective barrier. "Aquashield!" he shouted, as a gleaming wall of water coalesced before him.
The surface of the water rippled and churned like a living thing, its translucent surface reflecting the intense flames that threatened to engulf it.
But my attack was too powerful, the flames too intense. The Aquashield held for a moment, but then it began to buckle, the water boiling and steaming as it struggled to contain the inferno.
Drake was forced to stumble backward, his eyes wide with alarm, as the flames washed over the spot where he had stood mere moments before.
The ground itself seemed to shudder and blacken, as if the very earth was being scorched by the intensity of the flames. Drake's thoughts flashed " I would have been incinerated, reduced to nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash." He felt a surge of adrenaline as he narrowly avoided the worst of the attack.
I smiled, feeling a sense of triumph. "How was that, Gramps? You liked it?" I asked, my voice laced with excitement.
Drake's expression was stern, his eyes narrowing as he replied, "Not quite, kid. That was a good attack, but don't think you can take me down that easily."
With a sudden burst of speed, Drake closed the distance between us, his massive fists hurtling towards me with incredible speed. "This trick won't work on me again, Gramps!" I exclaimed, as I dodged to the side, my own fists dashing through the air as I narrowly avoided the blow.
But Drake was a master of deception, "Don't celebrate early just because you dodged me at first," he growled. Using the initial attack as a diversion. He swiftly spun around, his movements a blur.
Before I could react, he landed a devastating blow. His fist came crashing down on the back of my head with tremendous force, sending shockwaves of pain through my skull. "Aaaarrgggh!" I let out a pained shout, The pain radiated through my head.
Do you always have to hit me on the head?" I yelled, my voice shaking with anger and annoyance. Drake murmured to himself, "Hmm, good enough," his eyes gleaming with a mixture of intensity and focus.
"Are you even listening to me?!" I exclaimed, my frustration boiling over. Drake turned to me, a hint of a smile on his face. "Quite good this time, Aries," he said, his voice filled with a warm, approving tone. "This time, you fought better than I expected. Your technique was sharp, and your instincts were on point."
He offered me a hand, and I glared at him, my face twisted in frustration. "But I lost this time too," I muttered, taking his hand, nonetheless. With his help, I steadied myself, feeling a bit more balanced.
Drake's smile broadened, his eyes crinkling as he gazed at me with a mixture of pride and surprise. "He's grown so much, I didn't notice," he thought to himself, a sense of wonder in his eyes.
As we stood there, the silence between us grew, and our stomachs suddenly growled in unison, as if reminding us that we needed to refuel.
Drake chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Now the question is, who will go and hunt for food?" he said, his voice filled with a sense of anticipation.
My eyes sparkled with amusement as I suggested, "Let's decide with rock-paper-scissors!" I grinned, feeling a sense of excitement and playfulness.
___________________________________________________________________
I trudged off into the dense forest, my feet pounding the earth with a rhythmic intensity as I ran with insane speed.
The water in the nearby stream splashed and churned as I dashed past, sending droplets flying in all directions. Birds took to the skies, their startled chirps and trills filling the air as they fled from my path.
As I ran, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and disappointment. "Man, why do I have to lose at everything?" I questioned myself, shaking my head in disgust.
But as I continued to run, my mind began to calm, and my focus shifted. "Huh, what's done is done. Now I need to find something delicious," I thought to myself, a hint of a smile playing on my lips.
The trees blurred together as I sprinted through the forest, my feet barely touching the ground.
I finally reached the highest point, and I stood at the edge of the highest cliff, my eyes scanning the vast expanse below for any sign of my quarry. The wind whipped through my hair, and I squinted against the glare of the sun.
"Today, I'm going to hunt a massive bear for food," I muttered to myself, my voice carried away by the wind. "I need to bring back something substantial for Gramps and me to eat. Something that will fill our bellies and give us the energy, we need to keep training."
After a few moments of searching, I spotted my target - a massive bear roaming freely in the open forest, its shaggy fur blending in with the surroundings as it foraged for berries.
My heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of the bear's powerful frame. Without hesitation, I took off in a sprint, my feet pounding against the rocky terrain.
"I've got it! I've finally found it!" I exclaimed, my excitement and anticipation building with every step.
"Yes! There it is! That bear is going to make for a perfect meal." I thought to myself, a surge of determination and pride driving me forward.
But in my haste, I failed to notice the loose gravel beneath my feet. Before I could react, my feet slipped, "Oh crap!" I grind, and I felt myself falling through the air, the ground rushing up to meet me with alarming speed.
"Fluke! This is bad," I muttered to myself as I felt my feet slipping out from under me. I tried to react, using my knowledge of wind magic to slow my descent.
"Gale Surge," I whispered, concentrating all my mana into the spell.
"Come on! Come on!" I urged, feeling the air resistance push against me as I fell.
The force of the wind buffeted me about, but I managed to maintain control, using the air to cushion my fall. I felt a surge of relief as the wind slowed my descent, but I knew it wouldn't completely eliminate the impact.
"Aaargh!" I growl, landed hard on the rocky ground, the impact sending shockwaves through my body. "oww, ouch" I groaned, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.
"Huhfff.... huhffffff," I panted, the effort of using my wind magic to break my fall having drained my mana, leaving me weakened.
"Man, that was rough, If I didn't use the wind I would have died." I muttered, rubbing my sore spots.
"I didn't expect to take a tumble like that. Now I'm drained and vulnerable." I stumbled to my feet, my legs trembling slightly from the exertion.
"It would be better to hide for some time, as I don't have the mana to fight back if anything attacks," I thought to myself, looking around for a place to take shelter.
I spotted a small cave nearby, partially hidden by the foliage. "This should do," I said, making my way towards it. "Let's just rest here for a bit and hope nothing finds me while I'm in this state." I ducked inside, the cool darkness enveloping me like a shroud. "I need to recover my mana," I thought.
Just then, my eyes widened in shock as I took in my surroundings more clearly. "Wh-what?" I whispered, my voice low and incredulous. A figure, shrouded in shadows, sat in the corner of the cave, covered in blood.
"Ohh its just a Human Kid" He Said.