In the town of Oupa, under a clear, cloudless sky, a gentle wind carried the roar of a crowd welcoming the Ace Warriors (Authorised Combat Elite Warriors). As the Warriors took center stage, Asher Pierce, their leader, stepped forward. "My name is Asher Pierce, head of the Authorised Combat Elite Warriors," he announced. The crowd erupted in cheers. "We are here to introduce our new rookies. As is tradition, new members join our ranks every year, so let the introductions begin."
The ACE Warriors, the continent's elite fighters, are organized into four divisions, each led by a commander reporting to Asher Pierce.
**ACE Warrior Divisions:**
1. **EmberGuard:** Fire elemental specialists, overwhelming enemies with intense heat and flames. Leader: Kaelin Darkfire, Second-in-Command: Ayla Flameforged.
2. **TerraForge:** Earth elemental experts, manipulating terrain and seismic forces to crush opponents. Leader: Thorne Stonebrooke, Second-in-Command: Gideon Rockwell.
3. **StormBringers:** Lightning elemental masters, unleashing electrifying attacks and harnessing storms. Leader: Lysander Stormsurge, Second-in-Command: Zara Thunderbolt.
4. **HydroStrike:** Water elemental specialists, wielding icy blasts, waves, and aquatic forces. Leader: Caspian Nightshade, Second-in-Command: Luna Tidesong.
(Prince Zane of Iginitia formerly served as EmberGuard's second-in-command but has since returned to Ignisia.)
Asher, adjusting his glasses, presented two recruits: "Today, we welcome Fabio Blackwood, a 19-year-old prodigy who excelled in all qualifying examinations, to the StormBringers." The crowd erupted in applause. "Also joining us is Lee Velvet, also 19, who won the Young Elemental Tournament and will join Terraforge." The crowd cheered enthusiastically.
"Rookies, step forward." Fabio and Lee saluted in unison.
Meanwhile, in the Greenlands, Mole, having finished his conversation with Emeralok, attempted to leave, only to be blocked by trees.
"I'm sorry, my child," Emeralok said, placing Terri behind him.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Mole demanded.
"You must prove Terri is in good hands. Defeat me!" Emeralok declared.
Mole took a fighting stance. "I worked hard to become Terri's friend, and I won't let a tree take her! Prepare yourself!" Mole's expression hardened.
Suddenly, a human-sized wooden construct identical to Emeralok emerged from the ground. Mole charged, striking the construct with a powerful punch, sending it flying into Emeralok, shattering upon impact.
"Is that all you have?" Mole challenged.
"For a child, you possess great strength. I shall now reveal a fraction of my power."
The same figure reappeared, now accompanied by an army of wooden soldiers. Mole, his face tense, charged towards them. The initial construct stomped, unleashing a barrage of vines. Mole dodged, but a wooden clone punched him, sending him flying. ("Their numbers are overwhelming.") Vines attacked again. Mole, mid-air, adjusted his trajectory with a pressure kick, avoiding the vines. A wooden clone countered. ("Not this time!") Mole dodged, punched it to the ground, and landed atop the vines. ("They break with one punch. Then...") He avoided the advancing clones and prepared to strike. A thorn grazed him. ("What?") He saw a lone wooden clone standing back while the others attacked. ("That must be the leader.") Before he could land, a barrage of thorns struck him. "Haaaaah!" Mole cried out in pain. The other clones swarmed him. "Get off me!" Mole struggled, punching them one by one, but their numbers were too great.
"You cannot withstand even a fraction of my power. You are unworthy," Emeralok boomed.
"Worthy? I don't care about being worthy! Terri is my friend, and I *will* defeat you!" Mole grabbed a wooden clone, spinning it to clear a space around him. He glared at the final clone. ("The long-range attacker. I'll force my way through!") Mole took a fighting stance. "Total concentration." The clone fired a volley of thorns.
Mole roared, "Total concentration, Body Rush!" He charged through the thorns, shattering them without being touched, and seized the final clone by the head, smashing it into the ground, leaving a crater.
"Emeralok! You're next!" Mole charged.
Emeralok's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying as Mole approached. Tension crackled in the air.
"This challenge will test your limits. Only I can judge when you are worthy to take Terri," Emeralok's voice thundered, shaking the ground.
Mole, unwavering, replied, "I won't back down! I'll get Terri back, no matter what!"
With a ferocious cry, Mole launched himself at Emeralok, his fists glowing with energy. Emeralok casually raised a massive wooden hand to swat him aside.
Emeralok: "Compared to me, you are an insect."
But Mole was too fast. He dodged Emeralok's attack and countered with a powerful punch, fueled by his Total Concentration technique. ("He's slow. I might have a chance.")
Emeralok shuddered from the immense impact, but its Wooden Fortitude swiftly healed the damage. Mole, momentarily distracted by the rapid recovery, was snapped back to attention by Emeralok's shout: "Root rush!"
A wave of roots surged toward Mole, who focused his energy, creating a pressure point to kick them aside. He realized, "Long-range attacks like his clones. I need to close the distance."
The battle intensified, Mole's agility challenging Emeralok's brute strength and nature manipulation. The Greenlands themselves seemed to respond, trees creaking and the air thick with floral scents and distant thunder. The outcome remained uncertain.
Mole deflected a large volley of roots, but Emeralok persisted, "I've only begun!" A maelstrom of thorns rained down.
"This is bad," Mole thought, raising his arms. His Total Concentration maintained a protective barrier against the thorns. "A gamble that worked!"
Emeralok, however, stomped the ground, creating a massive shockwave that sent Mole flying. "Relentless roots..." Before Mole could recover, Emeralok swung its wooden arm.
The impact made Mole's weight vest glow, but he still felt the force. Staggering, Mole cried, "I won't let you win!" Emeralok raised its foot for the final blow. "It's over."
Just before impact, Mole ripped off his vest. "Sorry, Zephyr. Total Concentration: Body rush!" Emeralok's foot came down, kicking up a cloud of dust. A voice emerged, "Hand over my friend." As the dust cleared, Mole stood, glaring.
"You are a stubborn..." Emeralok began before collapsing. Mole launched himself into the air. "I will make you give Terri up! Astro kick!" The kick landed, destroying half of Emeralok's body.
"HAAA HAA, Terrifying, but not enough." Roots snaked from the forest floor, repairing Emeralok. "Let's proceed, Haaahuuhaaa."
The battle continued, Mole's Total Concentration barely keeping pace with Emeralok's assault, its Wooden Fortitude proving incredibly resilient.
Mole unleashed a flurry of blows, but Emeralok absorbed them, its body glowing emerald.
Emeralok countered with a torrent of razor leaves. Mole dodged and weaved, avoiding the brunt of the attack.
Undaunted, Emeralok summoned another thorn storm. Mole evaded them before creating a barrier.
The thorns hammered the shield, but Mole held firm. Emeralok stomped again, creating a shockwave. "Not again!" Mole vanished, reappearing at Emeralok's feet and destroying one leg. A wooden clone then slammed him from behind with a tree trunk. Mole crashed down. "Give up, child. I won't let you take Terri. The prophecy depends on all born and living here."
Mole struggled to rise. "I was born with no elemental power, but I didn't give up. I won't give up now!" Emeralok struck him again, sending him flying through the trees. "You are a warrior, but lack the strength to defeat me."
Lying defeated, Mole could barely move his fingers. Sensing Emeralok's approach, he forced his eyes open and struggled to his feet. He dropped to his knees, bleeding and exhausted. He saw Terri.
Remembering his mentor's words – "Use their strength against them" – a green energy flowed into his hands. "What is this feeling? Total Concentration: Energy blast!" Mole aimed not at Emeralok, but at its roots.
The blast struck, causing Emeralok to shudder and stumble.
"HOW dare you, Mole!"
Victory remained uncertain.
4 days till the king's summit
TO BE CONTINUED...