The Elementals - Part 3

After weeks of rigorous training and intense study, the time for the final elemental exam had arrived. It took place far from the academy, deep in the wilderness, where ten groups of five students, each with a mix of elemental and non-elemental abilities, were divided into two sets.

The challenge was clear: retrieve two flags hidden in perilous locations, one atop a towering mountain, the other submerged beneath the relentless waves of the sea. Only two out of the ten teams would advance to the finals for a chance at the coveted golden flag.

As the exam began, it quickly turned into an epic ordeal. Some groups fell prey to cunning booby traps, while others were disqualified for their excessive aggression. Amidst the daunting obstacles, Jake's team persevered, earning their place in the final showdown against a formidable rival.

Their adversaries mirrored Jake's team with a water user, an earth manipulator, a fire wielder, an air bender, and a non-elemental strategist as their leader. The battle that followed was a seesaw of challenges and counter-challenges, a clash of equals.

In the end, victory smiled upon Jake's team, but their moment of triumph was short-lived. A group of forbidden elemental users appeared, interrupting the celebration. They sought the academy's best students for a challenge, but their true motive was to distract while their cohorts infiltrated the academy to steal the elemental map. This map held the key to the shattered elemental orb pieces scattered across the elemental lands.

The academy's teachers viewed these forbidden elemental users with suspicion, deeming them untrustworthy troublemakers. Jake, however, stepped forward, determined to face this new challenge head-on. He assured his teachers that he and his team were up to the task.

The clash that ensued was a battle of skill and wits, each member of Jake's team squaring off against a member of the forbidden elemental group. 

In the open field of her own encounter, Anya Thai moved with remarkable agility, deftly evading a barrage of surprise attacks conjured by her shadowy opponent. These attacks, initially appearing as eerie bird-like creatures, concealed the true identity of her foe. When he finally revealed himself, he couldn't help but be impressed by Anya's extraordinary skills.

"Not many can elude my surprise assaults. I'm genuinely impressed by your prowess, the water user," acknowledged the forbidden elemental master. "Perhaps you will prove to be an exceptional challenge."

Anya Thai found herself facing off against a formidable adversary, a forbidden summoning elemental adept capable of conjuring creatures and monsters from thin air. Their battle was nothing short of epic. With unwavering determination, Anya managed to overpower and subdue every massive creature summoned to assail her.

Utilizing her mastery of water magic, she gained control over her opponent's body, leaving him no choice but to yield to her power when she threatened him with the absolute freeze of water magic.

Meanwhile, Santa Maguire faced a cunning opponent with the unique ability to sense and mimic abilities, concealing a bag of tricks up his sleeve. As Santa scoured the open field, unaware of his adversary's hidden perch in the treetops, the opponent sensed Santa's affinity for fire and whispered ominous words before unleashing an intense fire attack called "Forbidden Technique, Mimicry Control: Dragon's Breath."

With lightning-fast reflexes, Santa dodged the fiery onslaught and countered with a lightning blast from his fingertips aimed at his hidden foe. Their battle raged on, with both combatants continuously countering each other's attacks. They eventually pulled back for a brief retreat.

Santa Maguire decided to unleash a barrage of lightning strikes, but his opponent masterfully redirected one of them back at him. In a breathtaking display of skill, Santa seized the redirected lightning, transforming it into a searing, magical lightning blaze attack. His opponent, taken by surprise, met his ultimate defeat in the blink of an eye, succumbing to Santa's unmatched speed and power.

On another front, Chi-Chi Taichi confronted a spellcasting forbidden elemental user who proved to be a formidable adversary. Their intense battle unfolded back and forth, each combatant pushing their limits. At one point, Chi-Chi's opponent seized her for a perilous mid-air flight, intending to drop her from great heights in the hopes of her demise.

However, to the astonishment of both her foe and onlookers, Chi-Chi displayed her resilience. She skillfully deployed her air technique, ensuring a safe and graceful descent to the ground, defying all odds and solidifying her reputation as a formidable force to be reckoned with in this elemental showdown.

As her opponent continued to weave intricate spells, she summoned ethereal clones of herself. However, Chi-Chi's overwhelming power manifested in a colossal air blast that disrupted the onslaught of her duplicates.

Undeterred, her adversary vanished into thin air, zipping around Chi-Chi with lightning speed, conjuring a raging tornado. Chi-Chi's demeanor remained unwavering. She shut her eyes briefly, inhaling deeply, allowing her to attune to the world's energies. When her eyes opened, she unleashed her incredible mastery of air magic, culminating in an air shield strike that sent her foe hurtling away. The impact against a nearby tree rendered her opponent unconscious. Chi-Chi approached cautiously, confirming the foe's survival from the forceful impact.

Meanwhile, Jack Prince found himself confronting a formidable elemental user, skilled in forbidden arts encompassing immense strength, resilience, agility, reflexes, endurance, stamina, speed manipulation, flight, hyper motility, energy manipulation, and projection.

Jack's initial strategy involved employing his non-magical elemental earth techniques. To his astonishment, after submerging his adversary beneath the earth's surface, the foe re-emerged, shattering the ground and levitating into the atmosphere.

Frustration welled up within Jack as he muttered to himself, "You've got to be kidding me." His opponent's eyes gleamed with intensity, releasing searing energy beams that Jack barely deflected using his earth elemental techniques, his barricade of earth crumbling under the onslaught. The sheer power of the energy beams sent Jack tumbling to the ground. In a blur, his adversary closed in, aiming to grasp Jack's throat.

Reacting with lightning speed, Jack momentarily melded with the earth, resurfacing at a distant location. His opponent, undeterred, raced toward him, evading and obliterating every obstacle Jack created with his earth manipulation. Just as the foe was about to seize him, Jack acted swiftly, using his earth magic to launch his assailant into the sky. His adversary soared uncontrollably before regaining composure and retaliating with energy blasts from his outstretched hands.

In a heart-pounding sequence, Jack skillfully landed on a sturdy tree branch, employing his earth magic to ward off the relentless attacks. His initial attempts, like the earth wall barrier, proved futile as his opponent effortlessly shattered his defenses. Even the earth burial technique fell short as the opponent swiftly emerged unscathed.

In a climactic showdown, Jack Prince harnessed his earth magic, utilizing gravity suspension to apprehend his relentless opponent, who struggled desperately for freedom. As tension escalated, his enraged adversary unleashed energy blasts indiscriminately from eyes, mouth, hands, and legs. The situation grew dire as the energy built up, threatening to erupt like a nuclear bomb.

However, Jack summoned his earth magic to craft an impenetrable barrier and simultaneously employed earth burial techniques, successfully containing the impending cataclysm. The resulting shockwave devastated the surrounding trees, rendering his foe unconscious, but ultimately sparing a catastrophic explosion.

Meanwhile, across the battleground, Jake Momoa faced a formidable adversary who possessed forbidden elemental abilities. These powers encompassed control over will and fear, telepathy, empathy, telekinesis, teleportation, teleportation control, and soul manipulation. Jake's opponent launched relentless mental assaults, planting illusions and obstacles, forcing Jake to confront his deepest fears and relive haunting memories.

The whispers of voices and unpredictable teleportations added to the torment. However, Jake's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination shielded him from succumbing to his adversary's mind games. Even as his opponent attempted to separate his astral form from his body, an incredible inner power within Jake resisted, thwarting the assailant's efforts.

In a breathtaking moment, Jake's inner strength triumphed, leaving both combatants stunned. With his opponent unconscious, he heard the faint words, "Jake Momoa! I'll never forget that name. It is as powerful as you are," before his adversary succumbed to unconsciousness.

Back at the elemental academy, other forbidden elemental users had successfully defeated the guards and seized the elemental map. Once the intense challenge concluded, the defeated adversaries graciously acknowledged their worthy opponents. The one who had faced Jake couldn't help but ponder the profound prophecy of a new godking rising among the elements.

The forbidden elemental users had clarified that their deeds weren't inherently evil; instead, they sought to gauge the Elemental Academy's strength and might. Their respect for the academy grew as they witnessed its students emerge victorious in the challenge.

Having acquired the elemental map, the forbidden elementals departed the academy, their group satisfied with the successful mission. However, upon their return, the students were met with chaos, leaving both teachers and students in shock. An elemental guard, recovering from a recent ailment, recounted the entire heist orchestrated by the forbidden elementals.

It became apparent that the forbidden elementals had been meticulously planning this heist for a considerable time, and they exploited the final exam as an opportune moment to infiltrate the academy and seize the elemental map. One astute teacher connected the dots, suspecting that the forbidden elementals might have divided into two groups—one for the heist and the other for creating diversions.

With the elemental map now in the hands of the forbidden elementals, the fate of the entire world hung in the balance. The academy's teachers convened to devise a plan and send urgent messages to the four lands, informing them of the forbidden elementals' actions. The stolen elemental map wasn't merely a cartographic artifact; it held profound secrets of great significance.

Amidst this crisis, the teachers also managed to organize the students' graduation ceremony, scheduled for two days hence. The news of the impending elemental graduation spread among the student body.

As the day came to a close, students returned to their respective lands. Jake Momoa, with no destination in mind, chose to take a midnight stroll in the nearby jungle, seeking solace and fresh air. During his walk, he encountered a stranger who hurried past him, locking eyes with Jake. Unaware of the stranger's intentions, Jake dismissed the encounter and returned to the academy for the night.

Meanwhile, in the water land, at Anya Thai's grand family residence, the Thai family was esteemed and held a prominent place in their community. They were even in line for the royalty of the water land. Mae Mae, Anya's elder sister, stood as a prominent figure in the family. Anya, the second-born, had a younger brother named Kyle. Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thai, were known for their benevolent contributions to society and were respected for their mastery of water techniques and water magic.

During a solemn family dinner, a message arrived for the Thai family, delivered by the esteemed royal guards. The missive urgently summoned Mr. and Mrs. Thai to a council meeting convened by the royal family. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as all council members gathered, united by a common purpose—to strategize against an imminent, unforeseen threat.

Mr. Thai, the patriarch, calmly elucidated the situation to his family, who were just as perplexed as they were concerned. With steady reassurance, he mollified his children's fears, emphasizing that there was no need for alarm. The mysterious stolen elemental map, a topic that had been broached by Anya during dinner, now seemed to hold a pivotal significance.

Anya, the Thai family's daughter, rose from her seat to embrace her departing parents, her eyes filled with genuine concern and love. With heartfelt words, she implored them to stay safe before they hurriedly left for the council meeting.

In the realm of Earth Land, the Prince family, led by Mr. King Prince and Mrs. Queen Prince, received a similar urgent message via a messenger hawk dispatched by the elemental academy. With solemnity befitting their royal status, they commenced deliberations with their council to prepare for the impending crisis.

In the fiery dominion of Fire Land, the Maguire family, highly respected and deeply ingrained in their community, received their own summons. Mr. and Mrs. Maguire, parents to Santa and Hailey Maguire, known for their exceptional gifts, were now called to action. The elemental academy's forewarning had ignited the urgency of the situation, prompting the Maguires to join their fellow nobles in the council's preparations.

Across the expansive skies of Air Land, the Taichi family, bearing royal lineage, convened their council members promptly. Mr. and Mrs. Taichi, parents to Chi-Chi and Mei Mei Taichi, took heed of the elemental academy's message, understanding the gravity of the impending doom that loomed on the horizon.

Meanwhile, in the clandestine enclave of the forbidden elemental users, often dubbed the invaders' lair, a daring act unfolded. The forbidden elemental users surreptitiously handed over the elemental map to a group of invaders they served. It was during this covert exchange that one of the forbidden elemental users, who had recently sparred with Jake, discreetly reported the young man's unique and unparalleled abilities to their comrades. This revelation intrigued their weakened leader, reigniting memories of a long-forgotten prophecy involving Jake Momoa, the elemental godking. The tides of fate had shifted, setting the stage for an unprecedented clash of elemental forces.

"We must free the void from its imprisonment; it is our only hope for a better world," the weakened leader of the invaders said in a feeble voice, his breath labored. "It's possible that the myth is true, and the legends live on. We mustn't lower our guard to stop the child of the prophecy. Jake Momoa bears the rune of the elemental orb."

"We must act swiftly to make the world a better place and find the child of prophecy to stop him. He mustn't grasp his powers before they develop. When the four lands least expect it, we'll take them by surprise," he added, his voice determined.

"The elemental map, together with the elemental orb, will be our guiding compass to free the void."

Two days later, the elemental graduation took place at the elemental academy, where all students, both elemental users and non-elemental users, gathered. It was a remarkable ceremony marking the beginning of their journey to explore and gain further enlightenment.

Six weeks passed with no signs of invasion from the forbidden elemental users. All four lands fortified their elemental orbs, preparing for the inevitable. Then, on a fateful day, the unexpected occurred. A group of professional mercenaries, skilled thieves, managed to steal all four pieces of the elemental orbs on the same day the forbidden elementals invaded the four lands to retrieve their orbs.

After fierce battles between the forbidden elemental users and the four lands, both sides realized their orbs had been stolen by these mercenaries. A frantic hunt began as they chased the mercenaries who passed the orbs among themselves before handing them to one of their own. The last surviving mercenary clung to the elemental orb, desperately trying to escape with his life.

He ran into the jungle, and at that very moment, Jake, who had recently left the elemental academy, ventured into the woods that intersected the paths to the four lands. There, Jake stumbled upon the wounded mercenary, who collapsed upon seeing him. Jake rushed to his aid, sensing a strange familiarity about the man.

The mercenary handed Jake the fused elemental orb and revealed they had been watching him. He insisted that Jake needed to learn the truth about his heritage and the first order of the elemental kings. He disclosed why he had stolen the elemental orbs, unveiling the alliance between the forbidden elementals and the invaders. He also warned Jake about the impending great evil known as the void.

"You are the child of the prophecy, and you must forge your own path, find allies, and seek out Sanjo," the mercenary said, his words trailing off as he died in Jake's arms.

With the powers of the elemental orb now coursing through him, Jake could feel its energy radiating within him. The tattoos on his back, resembling the shattered pieces of the elemental orbs, began to reassemble as he made contact with the orb, absorbing its energy. As they fused together, his back bore the glowing symbol of the elemental orb, and his eyes shimmered like the cosmos, shifting through vibrant colors.

A blinding surge of light burst into the atmosphere, visible from every corner of the world, followed by a colossal shockwave that rippled through the air. It was clear to all that this was the power of the elemental orb, but its purpose remained a mystery. The elemental orb vessel disintegrated in Jake's hands as its power merged with him.

Jake then solemnly buried the mercenary, remembering his cryptic words.

In the aftermath, the forbidden elemental users retreated to their lair, and so did the warriors of the four lands. Panic hung in the air as they realized they had no knowledge of who now possessed the elemental orb's power, fearing for the fate of their lands.

The Royals and nobles convened to discuss the looming threat and decided to send a formidable group as their last line of defense against the invaders. They deliberated on the forces bridging the spirit world and the land of the living and the orb pieces that had bound them since the void's imprisonment.

With the elemental orbs reassembled and fused with Jake, the fate of the world seemed uncertain. They also discussed the child of prophecy, a figure some considered mythical, yet rumors persisted that this child was destined to defeat the void and reunite and expand the lands.

An elderly male council member spoke gravely, "The forces are upon us, evil will emerge once again. The elemental orbs are no more, and the powers that held both worlds together have been breached. A hundred years of history will repeat itself."

An elderly female council member added, "We must find this child of prophecy, whether it be rumor or fact, we mustn't lose hope. We are old and weak; our youth are distant. Let the best warriors of the four lands go into battle against the invaders and the forbidden elemental users, and let some warriors stay behind to protect us in case they fail."

After the contributions of each council member, the royals and nobles made their decisive decision and immediately began preparations for their plan.

News of the impending threat spread across the towns, villages, and communities of the four lands. The people heard of the approaching conflict, and the four lands recruited more warriors to bolster their ranks.

Their primary objectives were clear: find the child of prophecy, whose appearance and identity remained a mystery, and prevent the forbidden elemental users and invaders from freeing the void.

Jake Momoa joined the new recruits, uniting with others to confront the looming catastrophe. As the elemental warriors prepared for battle, so did the forbidden elemental users and invaders, setting the stage for an impending clash of elemental forces.