The dense forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird cries. A soft breeze flowed through, carrying the earthy scent of damp soil and wood.
Rehan finally returned, stretching his arms lazily as he approached the tree where Zaydan was sitting cross-legged.Zaydan's eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady—almost as if he was meditating.
"Yo, sleepyhead! Done daydreaming about girls?" Rehan smirked mischievously.
Zaydan opened one eye lazily. "No. Just thinking about something way cooler. Like how to become a god."
Rehan burst out laughing. "Pfft! You? A god? Bro, you can't even beat me yet!"
Zaydan grinned. "Wanna bet?"
Rehan waved his hand. "Later, later. First, let's finish your lessons." He cracked his knuckles. "I'll teach you the remaining elements: Wind, Water, and Earth."
Zaydan nodded seriously. "I'm ready."
The Elemental Training
Rehan stepped back and took a deep breath.
"First," he began, "Wind is about lightness, speed, and movement. Feel the air around you, become a part of it, and then command it."
As Rehan spoke, Zaydan activated his Bookwyrm skill. Mysterious golden letters appeared before his eyes, correcting and refining Rehan's explanations.
Zaydan whispered under his breath, reading the corrections:
"Wind is not just movement; it's the spirit of freedom. Control comes not from force but from dancing with it."
Zaydan smiled. "Got it."
Extending his hand, Zaydan remembered the feeling of the breeze brushing against his skin. Within seconds, a soft current formed, swirling and growing until it howled like a mini-tornado.
Rehan whistled. "Show-off."
Next was Water.Rehan explained, "Water is about adaptability and patience. It's gentle but can carve mountains over time."
Again, the Bookwyrm skill corrected:
"Water is not only patience; it is the memory of the world itself—shaping, carrying, destroying, and healing."
Zaydan conjured a swirling mass of crystal-clear water, shaping it effortlessly into whips and spears.
Finally, Earth.
"Earth is about stability and strength," Rehan said, stomping his foot. A small rock lifted from the ground.
Zaydan's mind again received refined knowledge:
"Earth is the bone of the planet, the immovable will that stands against the storm."
Zaydan focused and summoned thick vines of stone that slithered like living creatures.
Special Elemental Awakening
But then something incredible happened.
Just like with Fire—where he unlocked Rainbow Fire (Creation Flame) and Black Fire (Destruction Flame)—each element split into two forms:
Wind evolved into:
Silver Wind (Creation Wind): Carries life and rejuvenates.
Void Tempest (Destruction Wind): Cuts through space itself.
Water evolved into:
Sacred Water (Creation Water): Heals and blesses.
Abyss Flood (Destruction Water): Drowns even souls.
Earth evolved into:
Verdant Earth (Creation Earth): Grows forests and life.
Crimson Stone (Destruction Earth): Erodes and collapses everything.
Rehan stared at him as if seeing a monster.
"Bro... you're not human. You're a walking natural disaster!"
Zaydan laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Guess I'm just built different."
Rehan sighed. "Then there's only one thing left to do."
Zaydan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Mock Battle!" Rehan declared, grinning wildly.
The air between them vibrated with raw energy.
"Ready to lose?" Rehan teased, gathering a sphere of compressed wind in his palm.
Zaydan smirked. "You wish."
In a heartbeat, the battle began.
Rehan moved first, hurling a Wind Lance that sliced the air itself.Zaydan sidestepped, barely missing the deadly blade, and retaliated by raising his hand.A whip of Rainbow Fire surged forward, brilliant and blinding.
BOOM!
The ground exploded where the fire struck, sending dirt and rocks into the sky.
Rehan spun in midair, weaving a Shield of Sacred Water that blocked the fire, the impact creating a mist that blanketed the field.
"Not bad," Zaydan muttered.
Suddenly, Rehan shot out from the mist, his fist wrapped in Crimson Stone Armor, aiming straight for Zaydan's face.
Zaydan instinctively called forth Verdant Earth. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Rehan's arm and dragging him down.
"Tch! Cheater!" Rehan grunted, snapping the vines with a pulse of Void Tempest — the black wind slicing them like paper.
Before Zaydan could react, Abyss Flood — a massive dark tidal wave — surged toward him.
Zaydan gritted his teeth, feeling the overwhelming pressure.
"Let's test this!" he yelled.
He thrust both hands forward, conjuring Sacred Water — not to block, but to merge and control Rehan's Abyss Flood.The two waters clashed violently, spinning into a giant vortex that lifted both of them into the air.
"THIS IS CRAZY!" Rehan laughed as they floated inside the spinning waters.
Suddenly, Rehan yelled, "Eat this!"He summoned Silver Wind, a shining, pure gale, slicing through the vortex and launching shards of spinning wind blades at Zaydan.
Zaydan crossed his arms defensively and whispered, "Mana Breathing."
A golden aura enveloped him.The shards shattered harmlessly against the barrier.
Zaydan smiled dangerously. "My turn."
He clenched his fist, combining Rainbow Fire and Silver Wind into a swirling Stormfire Sphere — a ball of rainbow flames spinning at sonic speed.
He hurled it at Rehan like a comet.
Rehan's eyes widened."OH SH—"
KABOOOOOM!
The blast turned the entire clearing into a crater. Trees hundreds of meters away were flattened by the shockwave.The very ground cracked like broken glass.
Even soldiers stationed 10 km away felt the earth tremble and looked up at the sky, which momentarily turned rainbow-colored.
"Earthquake?! No, it's... an attack!""Gather the knights! NOW!"
Back at the battlefield, both Zaydan and Rehan were on their knees, coughing and laughing.
"You insane bastard," Rehan said, wiping blood from his lip."You started it," Zaydan grinned, holding his side.
Their clothes were in tatters. Their hair was dusty. And their energy was drained almost completely.
Suddenly, a figure in white robes approached.With a flick of his hand, soothing green light wrapped around their battered bodies, closing wounds and restoring strength.
Zaydan opened one eye and muttered, "Did... did we die?"
Rehan groaned, "If we did... hell's healers are overpowered."
They looked around and realized they were inside a modest wooden room surrounded by tall palisade walls.
As they stumbled outside, a soldier nearby shouted at them.
"Oi! You two! Captain wants to meet you. And… he's not happy."
Zaydan and Rehan exchanged nervous glances.
"Bro," Zaydan whispered, "how much damage did we do?"
Rehan scratched his head. "Uh... given that we created a new lake and flattened half the forest... probably a little."
They both laughed awkwardly as they followed the soldier toward their next adventure.