6 MONTHS LATER
Jacob's training in controlling water has gone smoothly, too smoothly. As Aqua is looking on at a slightly taller Jacob who's dressed in black shorts that cover a little over his knees, currently shirtless showing off his incredible physique and has wild unkempt hair is manipulating the water from the lake by forming it into different shapes and sizes.
'This kid's learning ability is simply incredible, So much progress in such little time, it's simply....outstanding.'
"Hey Aqua, can we wrap this up?" Jacob asks as he the water he was controlling flows back into the lake.
"Umm sure." April replies as Jacob walks back to her.
"So, how did I do?" Jacob asks as he grins at Aqua.
"I guess we can finally say that your skills have grown along with your body." Aqua grins back.
"But I gotta say just what kind of crazy training did Nicholas give you."
"The kind that sometimes gives you nightmares, but other than that the outcomes are pretty amazing."
Aqua smiles and then asks "Tell me Jacob what do you know about the ranking system?"
"I mean not much really, since I'm manaless I never really wanted to know, but what I figure is that it's based of mana quantity and the higher the mana, the higher the rank."
"True, but that's only part of it. There are other ways to get high ranks."
"Really? how?"
"Mana capacity is a considerable factor, but mana control is an even greater factor."
"What do you mean?"
"Who do you think would win? An S rank talent with a tremendous amount of mana or an F rank talent with incredible mana control?"
"Obviously an S rank."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"Why would you say that?"
"Obviously the S rank has a larger mana pool but the F rank has more precision of his mana an can use it efficiently."
"What's your point?"
"What I'm trying to say is, having immense raw power is good and all but if you don't have the necessary resolve and training it becomes nothing more than a waste of talent."
"I see, just because you are born powerful doesn't necessarily make you powerful and just because you were born weak doesn't mean you have to remain weak."
"Exactly, Jacob I can see that even though you've gained immense strength you are still sad, why is that, is it because you were born manaless?"
Jacob smiles bitterly "I mean I'm grateful for all this training and realizing my true potential...."
"But?"
*sighs* ".....But if I wasn't manaless my family wouldn't have cut off ties with my mom and me."
"That may be so but you've also gained another family, no, I mean ever since last year whenever Nicholas is not talking about you, he usually speaks of your sister... what was her name again?"
"Lucy."
"Right, Lucy. I'm just saying don't focus only on the negatives because there are also positives that came with you being manaless."
"Thanks Aqua, I really needed that." Jacob says this with a gentle smile.
"You're welcome kid." Aqua replies with a smile of her own.
"What are the other ways?"
"hmm?"
"The other ways to get a high rank."
"oh that? you can get a high rank by having a rare ability or combat ability that can equate to a given rank."
"I see."
"You know I had a student once."
"You did? what were they like?"
"An extraordinary talent with a much higher water affinity than you."
"Really? that's amazing."
"It is." Aqua then remains silent for a while before continuing.
"Look Jacob I'm only here to teach you the necessary basics, the rest you will have to learn and formulate on your own. Because in order to become a true master, you must have your own unique flow, okay?"
"Right. By the way, who is this student of yours?"
"I'm sure you'll find out someday."
"Okay. So when we sparring again?" The moment Jacob asked the question, the cheery mood suddenly dampened.
"Excuse you? spar with whom? me?"
"Yeah we haven't sparred in a while."
"No why would I want to fight you?"
"It's just sparring."
"Just sparring, just sparring, Jacob the first time we "sparred" you blew away the nearby surroundings with one punch. ONE PUNCH!! Jacob."
"Yeah but you are super strong, no."
"Strong not stupid."
"but.."
"Jacob, you can easily carry over 10 billion tonnes and can run at speeds of up to 200km/s. Not to mention you've had months of combat training with Nicholas. I think you'll be fine for a little while without sparring."
"Fine" he says this as he pouts.
"What's that look for, you are being a child."
"I am a child."
"Point. Fine, I didn't want to do this early but I guess it's better now than pointlessly keeping you here."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry we'll see each other soon." Aqua says this as a light blue crest appears on her palm.
She then faces the palm towards Jacob.
"Goodbye you crazy freak of nature."
"What are you-"
Jacob is cut off and disappears completely. Jacob then falls in another area which is very rocky. and doesn't seem to be anywhere near grass or water.
"Where exactly am I?"
Jacob then hears a loud thud which causes him to look up and see a bulky topless man wearing brown trousers,towering over seven feet tall with a huge grin plastered on his face. The man has Blonde hair, sea green eyes and a tan complexion.
.......
"Who....are you?"
"Aaron, and you must be Jacob."
"Yeah, that's me."
As Jacob gets up. 'Man this dude is big as hell'.
"Alright kid, you wanna master earth?"
"uhh, yeah."
"Then pay attention, for I will only say this once." He says this while doing a goofy pose.
'At least he is energetic.' Jacob thinks as he silently looks on at Aaron.
"You must have a solid and immovable foundation."
"That's really all there is to it?"
"Indeed. Now that you're up to speed on what to learn..."
He then launches a punch at Jacob's head which Jacob narrowly dodges.
"...Show me what you got!"
Aaron's punch leaves a hole in the ground.
"Are you crazy, what if I didn't dodge?" 'is he trying to kill me.'
"You wouldn't be here if you couldn't dodge that, but the thing is..this isn't a dodging lesson but the quickest way to building a proper foundation."
'You kidding me, there is nothing "proper" about any of this. ugh, are ally teachers sadists, do they get pleasure out of beating me up.'
"Prepare yourself kid, the next one won't be so gentle." Aaron says this and readies his fist, emitting an aura that just screams death.
'Oh hell no.' Jacob then runs away.
"Come on kid, don't run, FIGHT!!!!"
Aaron instantly appears in front of Jacob.
'What!?'
Aaron then sends a punch Jacob's way. Jacob leans dodging the punch in the process.
'tch, looks like I won't be able to outrun him.'
Jacob then narrowly dodges Aaron's onslaught of attacks. He then retaliates with a punch of his own but to no avail as it has no effect on Aaron.
'Damn.'
"aww, poor thing, allow me to teach you how to throw a punch." He then unleashes another punch which Jacob evades. the ground then cracks due to the force of impact.
Aaron then looks at Jacob. "Look kid the sooner you fight, the sooner you can leave."
Aaron then exhales deeply. He punches the air in Jacob's direction which creates a shockwave that propels him 10 meters away.
As Jacob crashes. 'Just what kind of strength does he possess to blow me away like that, I didn't even sense any mana enhancements.
Jacob notices a shadow covering him. As he looks up he sees Aaron descending upon him with a maniacal grin plastered on his face.
Jacob runs away screaming. 'When I told Aqua I wanted a fight, I didn't mean this.'
This game of cat and mouse between Aaron and Jacob respectively continued for 30 minutes.
'What the hell, he's still going on strong, doesn't he get tired.'
"Come on Jacob, let's have some real fun."
Aaron then does a sumo step which causes a tremor that disrupts Jacob's balance causing him to fall.
"Look Jacob, I'm a very impatient man especially....when it comes to a fight." Aaron then suddenly appears in front of Jacob and punches him in the abdomen. This causes Jacob to cough out blood.
'Looks like I have no choice but to fight.' Jacob thinks this as he holds on to his abs.
'Yes that look, you must learn, sometimes you have to face challenges head on.'
'Sage mode X100' Jacob's hair rises as a thin layer of colourless energy envelops him. Jacob vanishes and reappears behind Aaron while holding his sword.
Aaron looks behind him 'A sword?, where was he hiding it?'
Aaron grabs the sword "No swords, Jacob". Aaron then throws it away leaving Jacob dumbfounded.
"They'll just ruin the fun. Come on Jacob, trust your power, I myself have felt it and it's glorious, that's why I'm so excited to fight you, let us see if you are deserving of this power."
Jacob readies himself into a fighting stance.
"Alright then" 'Sage mode X200'
Jacob's aura spikes as he then attacks Aaron with a ferocious onslaught of punches at Aaron's chest but to no avail as Aaron stands there unfazed.
'No dice, huh?' Jacob backflips away and lands in a squatting position. 'X300'
Jacob attacks Aaron again but this time Aaron reacts as he blocks all of Jacob's attacks with one arm. Jacob leaps back once again.
'X400.' Jacob rushes at Aaron with incredible speed, he then punches Aaron in the abdomen, which causes Aaron to grunt in pain pushing him back in the process.
'Thanks to the water training I received over the last few months, I'm able to control the flow of my energy more efficiently throughout my body, as a result I can increase the damage of my attacks to my opponents with less energy while minimizing the damage to the surroundings.'
Aaron grins "Now that's more like it, my turn." Aaron then proceeds to punch Jacob in the face but then Jacob responds with one of his own punches and throws even a few hicks into the mix but Aaron blocks all of them.
Aaron raises his fist and a ground like spike emerges from the ground. As Jacob dodges, Aaron steps on the ground resulting in a few boulders rising, he then kicks them in Jacob's direction, to which Jacob expertly dodges.
'Sage art: Rhythmic Appraisal' Jacob then looks on at the mana flow in Aaron as he manipulates the earth.
'I see, although the process is the same as water, the mindset and concept are completely different. While Water is versatile and ever changing, Earth is unchanging and stubborn so rather than manipulating it, I must work on influencing it.'
"Thank you, Aaron. Because of you, I already have what it takes to master earth."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Absolute willpower"
Jacob exhales deeply. 'Alright, maximum effort.'
Jacob punches the ground and causes pillars to rise which in the process lifts Aaron up.
'It actually worked.'
As Aaron is still midair Jacob stumps the ground causing a few large rocks to rise in the air. Jacob then controls the rocks with his palms and directs them at Aaron.
Aaron then laughs as he falls vertically.
"Respect!" Shouts Aaron in the air as he then destroys the rocks with nothing more than a glare.
"Alright, the next attack won't be so easy."
After Aaron lands "You know, it's kinda boring that you got the hang it by watching me just once."
.......
'He is right, My learning ability is quite monstrous. However that is due to my deep connection with aether, if it wasn't for that I'd be none the wiser as to how to manipulate the elements.'
Jacob notices Aaron's sad expression.
"What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing.".
'Nothing huh? it must be due to abrupt end of the fight. What a child!'
"Sage mode X500!" Jacob's aura rages exerting pressure in the form of wind to the surroundings.
"I may have gotten the gist of it but I still got a long way before getting the true hang of it. Besides I also feel extremely energetic , we might as well just fight it out.
Aaron's mood does a complete 180 as his body gets enveloped light brown aura.
Jacob and Aaron rush towards one another. As their fists collide, they cause a rippling shockwave which rages across the land.
As they exchange blows, their speed increases to the point their figures become nothing more than blurry silhouettes causing a few ripples in the air due to the impact of the clashes.
This exchange goes on for hours as they hurl rocks at each other completely devastating the surroundings. The "fight" lasts till evening.
Both were exhausted and panting while lying with their backs to the ground.
"I needed that."
"Me too."
"It was awesome....even though you were holding back."
"Oh you noticed did you?"
"Yeah I kinda figured that if you or Aqua were actually serious, I would've died in less than a minute."
"That is some incredible insight you have, Jacob."
"Anyways where's my sword?"
"Can't you just resummon it?"
"How did you know that, I never mentioned it?"
"Just guessing."
As Jacob gets up and observes the surroundings he notices that his sword was planted on a nearby hill which was amazing given that everything else was completely destroyed.
"That's... interesting."
"How is that even possible?"
"Maybe it has a protective shield?"
"A sword has a protective shield? really Aaron?"
"What? It's not my sword, in fact I should be asking you."
Jacob just frowns.
Aaron laughs "Anyways that was a good way to blow off some steam, let's do it again sometime."
"Yeah and next time I'm gonna definitely beat you."
"Dream on kid."
"..."
"..."
An overwhelming silence swallows them as other than the love of fighting they have nothing else in common.
After a long while.
"What now?"
"Not sure. Wanna grab a bite?"
"Where exactly? There's nothing else here?"
"My place of course."
"You have a house?"
"Of course I have a house? Didn't you sleep at Aqua's place during your water training."
"I did, I'm just surprised you have a place of your own, you don't seem like the responsible type."
"How dare you? I'll show you just responsible I am."
As they arrived at Aaron's place, the house looked rather modest and aside from the brown painting, the house's structure reminded Jacob of Aqua's house.
As they entered, Jacob noticed that the whole house was a mess, dirty plates, torn sofas and dirty clothes everywhere.
Jacob just looked at Aaron with a disappointed expression.
"In my defense, I have been busy and it's been a while since I've been here."
Jacob then notices the kitchen is clean and on the counter lies a package of food with a note on it.
Jacob picks up the note and reads out loud.
"Dear Jacob, if you're reading this then it means you have had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing this sad excuse of a house. But not to worry, I'll send you food and beverages everyday, so no need to worry about eating from that lazy pig, I've also cleaned up your room and brought you a pair of clothes as I remembered I teleported you here while you were still shirtless. So take care, sending you all my love, Aqua."
"Why are you the only one that gets food?"
"I don't know,? I guess Aqua took a liking to me."
Jacob flips the note and notices Aqua's handwriting.
"PS If Aaron tries to touch your food, I will tell Ivy about the "incident" that occured a few years back."
Aaron freezes as he was definitely planning on stealing Jacob's food. Jacob notices that Aaron's hands were already on the package.
"....."
"..."
Aaron calmly leaves the package and heads for the door.
"You going to vent out your fraustrations?"
Aaron winces but continues walking.
Jacob sighs 'What a child.'
Jacob takes the wrapped package and heads upstairs to what he assumes is his room as it's the only clean one.
Jacob eats his food and goes to sleep while occasionally hearing a few explosions in a distant place.