The world is full of many legends, some that live forever and some that only live in passing. Once, there was a great warrior of the Reunion nation that made himself into a legend in the eyes of anyone who watched him in battle. With the command of the four elements, air, earth, fire, and water, he tore into the enemy forces. After years of victories under his belt, he left the battlefield a retired expert.

Bang. Crash.

Jumping out of the way from a smashed boulder, a youth with long brown hair glared at the figure in front of him. The figure was a buff man with similar yellow eyes and brown hair cut short over his eyes. The youth brushed the long hair out of his eyes and spit on the ground as he motioned with his hand to continue.

Not taking any second in between, the man flew through the air, not once touching the ground. Arriving in front of the youth, he raised his fist and sent it towards the fifteen-sixteen year youth. The youth rushed to sidestep the fist while bringing his knee up. In an instant, flames rushed out of the fist to the youth’s face but a gust of wind came up from the knee and sent it over the youth’s head.

“Good. Good,” the man laughed as the youth moved out of the imminent area. Surrounding them was various rocks of all sizes, some cracked and some not. Barely a shred of grass was seen in sight. To normal people, this would not be much of a sight but to individuals who trained in elemental combat this was a great training ground.

Elemental combat is the use of the four elements such as air, water, earth and fire to aid a master in battle. Based on the family, the training in any of the four elements could take 2-3 years or as many as 15 a piece. It is inconceivable for anyone under ten years of age to begin the training in any of the elements due to the body being unable to handle the strain. So for this youth to have already begun the journey and make progress was a feat in itself.

Not surprisingly since this is Greatson Grain, the son of Wellson Grain the legend of the battlefield who retired only so many years ago. The reason being Greatson himself. While Greatson couldn’t begin training in the elements he could still strengthen his body and get in tune to the elements using Wellson’s own techniques. Now years later, Greatson has nearly mastered the four elements.

The mastery of each element goes in stages. First, the Initial mastery where someone can begin utilizing it immediately. It is also known as beginner mastery. Next is Adept, roughly 50% mastery which allows for more control. Then comes the Proficient mastery which equates to 70% and is a highly recommended point for people to start the journey in another element in order to break through the barriers.

And fourth is the Advanced mastery that is roughly 80-90% with higher level skills. The reason is is so unclear is due to the difficulty barrier for each individual. But, the one that no one can refute is 100% is Complete mastery. There is nothing higher or more esteemed than people who have multiple Complete masterys.

Many of those who have Complete mastery over the four elements are regarded as Four-Elementals and are typically commanders in any large scale combat. Wellson was one of those who not only was a Four-Elemental but had also taken the techniques he had to win countless victories and return in one piece. Now, using his skills he has taught his son everything he knew and the boy was a sponge soaking it up.

Jumping in the air, Greatson produced a blaze of flames from the soles of his uncovered feet and sent a axe kick to Wellson. Wellson produced two geysers of water from his arms and slammed them into the oncoming foot. Mist screamed as the fire was instantly neutralized. Greatson then shot his own geyser and shot his other foot forward into Wellson’s face. This caused Wellson to toss up the foot and slam his hands into the ground sending a circle of air swirling around him that sent the oncoming attack into the air.

Landing on his butt, Greatson couldn’t help but groan at the failure of an attack his water kick was. Unlike the other three elements, Greatson only had Proficient mastery in the water element. That wasn’t enough to conquer a Complete air technique.

“You have to get past your leg usage son,” says Wellson sternly.

“I have great legs, can’t help it” Greatson retorts.

Instantly Greatson regrets the reply as a tomb of earth traps his feet. “Not so great now” Wellson scolds.

Knowing what was coming, Greatson holds up his arms and collects the surrounding rubble into arm pads, which he then covers in pillars of fire. Wellson runs up to him and sends a sump kick swirling with water and air into it. The pads break and Greatson is sent bursting out of the shackles onto the ground. They then form once again and thrust him onto his feet where round 2 begins.

From afar, a figure watches from the air with cold predatory eyes.

…………………………

Sitting down in a clutter of items, Greatson examines them one by one. Some were photos of a family of three, while others are miscellaneous things like toothbrushes and books. This has been his ‘room’ for the better of 6-7 years. It was apparent by how worn down everything is.

Opening a book, Greatson goes over the scribbles marked in it. To the untrained eye, these scribbles are only evidence of Greatson’s literary skills but to an elemental, it was unmistakably research into a possible fifth element. Many times over the era has someone attempted to look into a fifth element. For some, darkness must have been the element while to others it was light. For Greatson and a very few like him, it was lightning.

Pouring over the scribble in the book, Greatson held up a hand and examined it. Inside, his blood circulated at an erratic pattern as tiny bursts of electricity are let out one by one causing a pause or outburst in the blood flow. This was Greatson’s secret. He had begun the path to being an Initial lightning elemental!

However, he hasn’t made the jump yet so the sparks are barely taking form and were not apparent in physical form. When he found the jump didn’t succeed, Greatson sighed and stopped to scribble his latest findings in the book. Then a shockwave of energy rocked the area as Greatson and his valuables were covered in a cloud of dust.

Righting himself, Greatson looks into the skies and sees two figures clashing in the sky. One was Wellson and the other was a stranger in a blue robe. As the two exchanged techniques, perfectly canceling each other, the robe seems to float in the air dodging the techniques as it closed in on Wellson.

Before Wellson could make a proper guard against a flaming fist, the robe expanded and caught his body arms and all. The robe emitted a frost like mist as Wellson emitted a blood curdling scream. The next moment however, would be integrated into Greatson’s mind for an eternity as the stranger then produced a ferocious vortex of wind around his arm and shoved it through Wellson’s chest. The scream came to a halt and all was silence.

The stranger gave a snort of disdain and moved to toss Wellson away when Wellson suddenly sprang to life and grabbed the stranger, forcing him to look into Wellson’s eyes. Wellson gave an angry shout as his very essence seemed to turn into a demonic face of flames that exploded in the stranger’s face. The stranger screamed in pain as Wellson’s lifeless body fell to the ground.

Greatson rushed over to his father and felt immeasurable sadness overtake him as tears fell from his face. The stranger brushed off the flames that seemed to have removed the skin from his cheek, revealing cold bone. This was an injury that no level of Elemental could heal. The stranger angrily walked over and kicked Wellson, sending Greatson to the ground.

“Lousy little bastard,” the man snorted before walking away. “There are others more deserving of my time.” With that, he took to the air leaving a broken Greatson on the ground. Hours later, Greatson stirred as blood red eyes shone on his face. Eyes that seemed to not even be a fragment of his rage.

“I WILL KILL YOU!” he bellowed to the heavens as they in turn shown thunderclouds ominously.

………………………………………………………………..

The man would then be known as the “legend butcher” who would go around finding retired experts and killing them in cold blood before disappearing from sight.

As for Greatson, wait for more. Whenever that comes.

(Sorry for the quality of the last paragraph. I did not know when I could get back to that so I closed it a little too simple. If I had time I would make the battle more descriptive but sadly, more stories, more real life, etc. McShot will probably open another door or two and then I might spend more time on an existing door. Wait till then, but don't forget to comment if you wish to. See ya)