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.
The ground trembled beneath him. The air quaked as the enormous spiral of water tore forward like a cannonball, exploding in all directions. It punched through boulders like paper, and a misty fog followed in its wake, casting a haze over the battlefield.
But the kid didn't flinch.
His wild, unkempt hair fell in his face, shadowing his eyes, but his feet moved with blistering speed. He sprinted forward, leaning into the motion, dodging the attack by a fraction of a second. The water exploded behind him, tearing a crater into the earth and sending chunks of rock and mud hurtling into the sky.
The earth shook. Trees groaned.
Still, the kid moved like a blur, cutting through the mist.
Drake narrowed his eyes. "Good… but not enough!"
Without hesitation, he launched a flurry of strikes—sweeping water whips, surging waves, and sharp jets of pressurized fluid. The ground became a battlefield of elemental force. But the boy weaved through them all, graceful and agile. His movements were honed, practiced.
And then—he vanished upward.
"Gale Surge!"
The wind erupted from his foot, launching him into the air like a cannonball. His body spun with the lift, carried by the boost of wind magic. As he reached the apex of his jump, his hair blew back, revealing sharp, determined eyes.
It was Aries.
He grinned wildly, the sun gleaming off the sweat on his brow. His right fist reeled back, burning with fire.
"Flame Emperor!"
Flames erupted from his hand, a vortex of blazing heat that coiled and pulsed with power. It roared through the sky like a dragon, a comet of destruction heading straight for Drake.
The older man's expression shifted to seriousness. "Tch. You've improved."
He thrust his hands forward.
"Aqua Shield!"
A dome of swirling water formed in front of Drake, shimmering with layers of defense. The fire met the water—and the explosion rocked the valley. Steam hissed into the air. The shield held—for a moment. Then cracks formed in the liquid barrier.
BOOOOM!
The fire burst through, scorching the earth behind it. Drake barely leapt clear as the heat licked at his back, searing the ground where he stood.
Drake landed in a skid, sweat beading down his temple. "I would've been ash if that hit me head-on..."
Up in the air, Aries floated down slowly, his body controlled by the gentle gusts of wind beneath him. He landed softly, his grin wide and cocky.
"How was that, Gramps? You liked it?"
Drake exhaled and rolled his neck. "Not bad," he admitted. "But don't let it go to your head."
In a flash, he was in front of Aries.
"Wha—?"
Drake's fist swung.
But Aries twisted aside, dodging just in time.
"Too slow this time, old man!"
Aries tried to counter, his fist streaking toward Drake's chest. But the older man anticipated it. He spun, using the momentum of the dodge to pivot behind Aries—too fast to track.
"Don't celebrate early, you moron" Drake muttered.
CRACK!
His fist came down on the back of Aries' head.
"AAARRGGHH!!"
Aries fell to one knee, clutching his head. "Every. Single. Time."
Drake crossed his arms. "Better than before. You actually made me dodge this time."
"Do you have to keep smacking me on the head?" Aries snapped, glaring up at him.
"Builds character," Drake replied with a smirk.
Aries stood with a groan, rubbing the bump forming at the crown of his skull. "Are you even listening to me?!."
Drake extended a hand. "You did well."
Aries paused, then took it, letting the older man pull him up.
"You've grown," Drake muttered under his breath. "Didn't even notice."
For a moment, the training ground was quiet.
Grrrrrrowl.
Both their stomachs rumbled in unison.
Drake blinked, then laughed. "So... who's hunting today?"
Aries cracked his knuckles. "Let's settle this with."
I held up hand.
"Rock-paper-scissors."
_____
"Stupid scissor" I took off into the woods at breakneck speed, still salty about losing that stupid game.
The trees flew past me. Leaves swirled in my wake. Birds scattered from the branches, startled by my footfalls. I kicked off tree roots, vaulted over boulders.
My body was fast—crazy fast—but my mind was stormy.
"Why do I keep losing at everything?" I muttered, kicking a loose rock.
Then I sighed.
"Whatever. I'll just find something massive. Let's see Gramps complain when I drag back a bear."
Wind whistled through my hair as I leapt up a cliffside and landed on a ledge overlooking a wide clearing. My eyes narrowed.
And there it was.
A bear. Easily twice my size. Its fur shaggy and matted, foraging peacefully below.
"Perfect."
I sprinted down toward it, heart pounding with excitement.
But fate had other plans.
The rock beneath my foot crumbled.
"Wha—OH CRAP!"
The ground vanished beneath me. I plummeted, arms flailing.
"Come on, think—GALE SURGE!"
Wind roared to life beneath me, catching me just in time. The descent slowed, but not enough.
I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring my bones.
THUD!
"Uuugh…" I groaned, clutching my ribs. "Okay… not doing that again."
My mana was nearly gone from the emergency spell. I panted heavily, trying to catch my breath.
"I'm drained. One good fight and I'm toast."
I staggered to my feet. "Need shelter. Rest first, then hunt later."
That's when I saw it.
A cave, partly hidden behind some brush.
I limped toward it, brushing leaves aside. The cave was cool and dark, a welcome contrast to the heat outside.
But as my eyes adjusted—
I froze.
In the far corner of the cave, a figure sat hunched against the wall. Cloaked in shadows. Covered in blood. Breathing faint and raspy.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Then, the figure stirred.
He looked up.
Blood clung to his jawline, and one eye was swollen shut. But his lips curled into a strange smile.
"Oh… it's just a human kid."