Training from then on was simply experiment with what can be and can't be compressed.
"Earth, check." [Adam]
From his experiments, Adam could take a large chunk of earth and turn it into a rock harder than steel. With that, he can compress air behind it to fire it like a bullet.
"Water, check." [Adam]
The principles were the same as earth. Compression of water turns it almost solid. Adam found that it's much easier to manipulate its shape than with earth so he developed a habit of creating water needles for more penetration.
"Air, I don't even need to check that." [Adam]
Air was his usual go to. Instead of focusing on offensive power, Adam tested various methods to use it. The most useful one was creating a temporary blast of air to defend himself from projectiles. If he focused the air in a single spot, it could also defend against a single melee attack.
"Fire… still a bit iffy." [Adam]
Unlike the other elements, fire did not have a very solid form. If he compressed it too much, the flame would go out. If too little, Adam wouldn't be able to control the flame.
("How can I make it stronger without extinguishing it?") [Adam]
"Fortis, do you know any methods?" [Adam]
Fortis raised a brow.
"Fuhahaha! I am happy that you are asking me for guidance! But! If I told you, you won't gain any experience! Trial and error it is!" [Fortis]
Adam sighed.
"Back to the drawing board…" [Adam]
Sitting by the campfire, Adam continued to pull a bit of fire into his palm to control it.
("What if I'm thinking about it wrong? What if I tried copying someone else?") [Adam]
The question was who did he know that could control fire.
("...Jessica?") [Adam]
He recalled a female classmate of his, but she wasn't her for him to ask. From what Adam could remember all she did was summon flame and throw it around.
("That won't work for me. I can't summon fire at will. Who else…?") [Adam]
As he searched through his memory, a sudden thought struck him.
("What about… Typhon?") [Adam]
A formidable foe that had killed him numerous times. Adam could visualize Typhon's flaming figure clearly with just a thought.
("This might be the key.") [Adam]
Closing his eyes, Adam relived the innumerable deathmatches he had with Typhon. He could feel the heat, pain, and sensation of combat. As terrible the experience of dying was, Adam could not deny that he had learned a lot.
("Let's focus on how he used fire. Eliminate anything else.") [Adam]
He removed the sensation of pain, the visuals of his own lightning clashing, and the burning smell of charred stone. What was left was Typhon's flames and the sheer power behind it.
("Typhon somehow managed to turn fire into snakes with minds of their own. I know I won't be able to recreate that, but maybe just the control.") [Adam]
Using his compression, Adam tried to mold the flame.
("Ugh… This is really difficult…!") [Adam]
As the flame began to give shape, it slipped out of his compression and vanished.
"Damn!" [Adam]
("No, I can try again.") [Adam]
Taking a bit of flame, he attempted to shape fire. It felt like trying to shape a clay pot, except the material was water instead of clay.
("Uh oh.") [Adam]
Instead of gently molding it, Adam tried to force the fire into a shape. Thus, causing it to explode in his face.
"Fuhahaha! You look silly!" [Fortis]
"Urgh…" [Adam]
Adam's clothes were a bit singed, but there was no major damage.
"Adam, let me." [Brat]
Brat, the Cyderian, approached Adam and wiped his face with a handkerchief.
"Maybe you should take a break." [Brat]
"That sounds nice right now." [Adam]
"How about eating fruit for now-?" [Brat]
"Actually, I'll take my break after I get this down." [Adam]
After staying for a few days in the jungle, Adam built an aversion to its fruits for certain reasons.
"What? Don't feel like soiling your pants?" [Krino]
("Tell me if you find someone who enjoys it.") [Adam]
"I'm more afraid that there's a chance someone actually does." [Krino]
Adam put aside Krino's distractive words and continued his training. Of course, failing with each attempt. It felt like he was close to discovering a new skill, but it was simply out of reach.
("Why doesn't it work?! What else is there?!") [Adam]
He tried to recall his memory of Typhon once again.
("All I can feel is the burning wind!") [Adam]
That's when it clicked.
("Wait, wind?") [Adam]
Quickly before he lost his inspiration, Adam collected a small flame. He compressed it to mold the flame into a snake, causing it to slowly dissipate. However, he decided to allow some air to flow inside the designated compressed area. This allowed the flame to continue to burn.
("I… I did it!") [Adam]
It was simple. Adam's compression only allowed the flame to remain. The problem with it was that it also blocked outside oxygen to keep the flame burning. Now that was resolved, the only problem was increasing the flame's strength.
("Fire becomes bigger the more you feed it. I can't just feed it wood or something mid-battle right?") [Adam]
He returned to Typhon's memory.
("How did he make so much fire?") [Adam]
Was it something in Typhon's armor? Nay. Was it his ability like Jessica's? Nay. Was it the ability of his Soul Weapon? Nay. It was something far simpler than that.
"Mana…!" [Adam]
Just like how Adam feeds Krino with his own mana to create lightning, Typhon fed the flames with his own. With that thought in mind, Adam channeled his enormous mana pool into the flame and compressed it.
"Oh… You've done it." [Fortis]
There it was. Adam was holding a snake-like flame that shone as bright as the sun.
"Now that you've figured out how to use your ability, how about we spar? Same rules as before." [Fortis]
Adam smiled.
"Pew." [Adam]
Without a moment's notice, Adam launched the burning snake at Fortis.
"Oh my." [Fortis]
With an amused expression, Fortis snatched the snake out of the air and crushed it.
"I'll take that as a yes." [Fortis]