"Huff... huff.. huff.. Unbelievable!" Asura panted. In front of him, a portion of the once lush green forest had been totally decimated, and all that remained were molten stones and ashes. "This Burning Gale... is simply too powerful!" Asura looked at his burnt right hand.

An hour earlier....

"Sanzu, stop!" Asura patted Sanzu on his head. After flying in the skies towards the south for five days and nights, he had become exhausted and thirsty, and had been looking for a water source.

During the last two days, the pair had flown over a desert, thinking that it was only several kilometres long.

Asura had feared that he would die from thirst before reaching a water source, but was extremely relieved when they had finally reached to the end of the desert, and into a marshland.

"Pong!" Sanzu landed heavily onto a stone boulder. Asura quickly got off Sanzu's back and clambered towards the marsh, cupping up some water with his hands and slurped noisily.

"Ahh... So refreshing!" Asura's dried lips were starting to regain some moisture. He then sat down a stone boulder and decided to take a look at the scrolls. Other than the 'Mana Sense' scroll he picked up, he did not know what the contents of the other scrolls were. Taking out the six scrolls he had, he laid them on the boulder.

"Let's see...." Asura picked a scroll at random and quickly unrolled it. Written in it were big black fading ink words "Elemental Synergy". Asura continued reading. "Elemental Synergy is the technique of combining two or more elements, thereby creating a 'Fused Elemental Spell'!

The four elements are, Fire, Water, Earth and Wind.

Fire is strong against Wind, but weak against Water.

Water is strong against Fire, but weak against Earth.

Earth is strong against Water, but weak against Wind.

Wind is strong against Earth, but weak against Fire.

Even though these elements are vastly different from each other, it is possible to synergize them!

For example, a basic 'Fused Elemental Spell: Sandstorm' can be created by manipulating Earth elemental essences into Sand, and Wind elemental essences into a storm, and then combining them together!"

Asura was already thinking of what he could do, as he had not just two elements, but four! He continued reading.

"By converting Water elemental essences into water and Wind elemetal essences into strong winds, it is possible to freeze the water into the 5th element, Ice!" Asura couldn't stop reading for the next hour, before deciding to test it out.

"For starters, I'll use my two favourite elements, Fire and Wind. Convert fire elemental essences into flames while converting wind elemental essences into strong wind at the same time...." Asura mumbled, trying to use two different mana techniques at the same time.

"Arghh... This 'Elemental Synergy' spell sounds really powerful, but it is actually not easy! It's like trying to draw a star with one hand and a hexagon with the other!" After multiple failed attempts, Asura felt that he was getting closer to success.

The difficulty of trying to use two different mana techniques at the same time was getting less and less.

Finally... He could feel the elemental essences of two different mana techniques colliding with each other in his 'Origin of Life', ready to burst forth!

Raising his right palm forwards, he released the mana built up within his 'Origin of Life'....

"RROOOOOAAARRRR!!!" It was as if a mini tsunami of flames spewed out of his palm!

While Asura was engrossed with 'training', Sanzu had already perched himself on a nearby tree and went to sleep. Upon the unleashing of the 'Fused Elemental Spell', Sanzy who had just started to dream woke up with a start, cawing loudly from shock.

"CAWW! CAWW!"

"Crrisppp.... Crracckkleeee...." the trees and grasses affected by the flames were instantly burnt to a crisp, leaving only ashes in its wake.

Even the night skies were slightly lit up from the flaming torrent and the burning marsh.

"Dayum..." Asura's right palm had suffered third degree burns from using this powerful technique. "It's like a double edged sword." Asura realized. Converting mana into water elemental essences, he used a basic water technique 'Healing Water' on his burns.

While Asura was healing his burns, he had not noticed someone sneaking up onto him...

[Author's Note: I know some of you feel that my chapters are really short, but its for a reason! Why? Because...... ITS MY STORY MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Nah, just kidding. It's because when the sitation starts to change, I will promptly end the chapter and start on a new one. I think I have enough time to write another two chapters, look forward to them!]

Chapter 11: The Black Figure