The announcement of the tournament ignited a new intensity in their training sessions. The
small, unused training room they had claimed as their own became their sanctuary, a place
where they could hone their abilities and refine their teamwork away from the judging eyes of
the academy's elite. While other teams focused on raw power and flashy displays, Nat's team
concentrated on strategy, synergy, and exploiting their unique strengths.
Lyra pushed the boundaries of her earth manipulation, practicing increasingly complex
formations and faster deployment times. She experimented with imbuing her earth constructs
with different levels of elemental energy, learning to create both sturdy defenses and
surprisingly sharp offensive projectiles. She also began to incorporate more intricate movements
into her control, visualizing the earth as an extension of her own will, flowing and shifting with
her intent.
Zephyr worked on refining his erratic air control, attempting to channel his unpredictable bursts
of wind into more focused and sustained streams. He practiced creating vortexes for both
offensive and defensive purposes, learning to control their speed and direction with greater
precision. He also experimented with using the wind to enhance the movements of his
teammates, creating gusts that could provide a sudden burst of speed or lift them over
obstacles. His training sessions were often chaotic, filled with swirling winds and unexpected
drafts, but slowly, methodically, he began to gain a better understanding of his volatile affinity.
Atlas dedicated himself to increasing the power and versatility of his water elementalism. He
practiced forming intricate water whips that could strike with surprising force and accuracy, and
he honed his ability to create resilient water shields that could withstand significant elemental
attacks. He also explored the potential of manipulating water pressure, learning to create
focused jets capable of cutting through tough materials. His training was characterized by a
quiet intensity, his movements precise and efficient, each drop of water responding perfectly to
his will.
While his friends visibly pushed their elemental limits, Nat's training remained largely unseen by
the outside world. He continued his diligent completion of the system's daily quests, the
experience points slowly accumulating, his level gradually increasing. With each level, his base
stats – Strength, Agility, and Elemental Control – subtly improved. He also began to unlock new
skills through the system, rudimentary at first, but offering glimpses of his latent potential. One of
the first skills he acquired was 'Focused Flame,' which allowed him to concentrate his meager
fire into a more intense, albeit still small, beam of heat.
His private training sessions in his dorm room became more focused and demanding. He
practiced manipulating his small flames with increasing precision, learning to shape them into
various forms – thin needles of heat, small spheres of concentrated energy, even attempting to
create rudimentary illusions by manipulating the light and heat. The system provided him withconstant feedback, quantifying his progress and offering new challenges.
He also began to explore the 'Shop' feature more seriously. While he still lacked the 'System
Points' to purchase any significant upgrades, he meticulously studied the descriptions of various
skills, items, and elemental enhancements, formulating a long-term strategy for his growth. He
realized that his path to strength would likely be different from the others, relying on strategic
application of his abilities and the synergistic potential with his teammates rather than brute
force.
During their joint training sessions, Nat focused on how his improving control could complement
his friends' abilities. He practiced using his small, focused flames to create diversions for Lyra's
earth attacks, to disrupt the airflow for Zephyr's maneuvers, or to create small pockets of steam
to obscure the vision of potential opponents for Atlas. He understood that his role in the team
wouldn't be as the primary powerhouse, but as a strategic support, a catalyst that could
enhance their combined effectiveness.
The academy buzzed with the visible efforts of other teams, their powerful elemental displays
drawing attention and admiration. Nat's team, training quietly in their secluded room, remained
largely unnoticed. But within those four walls, a different kind of strength was being forged – a
strength built on trust, synergy, and the quiet, persistent growth of an underestimated fire
elemental fueled by a hidden system and the unwavering support of his unlikely friends