In one of the forests of the Great Fire Kingdom,
Infernus:
"Listen carefully, Rio. You already possess all the sub-elements, but you haven't used your core element yet."
Rio:
"And what of it?"
Infernus:
"Well, you need to learn your core element. How about a fight? Come on, attack me!"
Rio summoned his sword and took a combat stance.
Rio:
"Are you sure?"
Infernus smiled confidently.
"Go ahead!"
Rio launched an attack with his fire element, but Infernus extinguished it with a snap of his fingers.
Rio (worried):
"What?"
Rio stepped back a few paces, only to find Infernus already waiting behind him.
He turned and unleashed flames again, but Infernus looked at them and extinguished them once more!
Rio:
"What are you doing? How can you put out fire? I haven't even used anything yet!"
Infernus:
"This is the core element. I possess the Sun element. The sun is the original source of all fire in existence—be it flame, regular fire, or hellfire. Therefore, I can extinguish any fire, no matter what! Fire is me, and I am fire!"
Rio smiled wearily.
"Interesting… then how do I discover my core element?"
Infernus:
"To discover your element, you must first understand that elements are not mere techniques you use—they come from within you."
Rio:
"Yes, I know that. The System told me that elements come from emotions!"
Infernus raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"If you already know they come from your emotions, why can't you use magic? As far as I know, anyone who truly understands elements and realizes they come from within—"
He was interrupted by Rin before he could continue.
Rin:
"Rio, you've already reached the next stage!"
Rio:
"I don't think so."
Rin:
"Rio, do you remember the village that was destroyed five years ago?"
Rio clenched his fists and looked at the ground.
"Yes… I remember!"
Rin:
"At that moment, how did you feel?"
Rio:
"I was angry, sad, confused. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to destroy everything!"
Rin:
"The last time you were that angry, you struck the ground, and a massive crater formed. In truth, that crater wasn't made by your strength—it was the earth responding to your rage. In that moment, your mind partially realized that elements are a part of you, not just some external technique."
Rio:
"So, how do I do it again?"
Rin:
"Rio, every time you fight, your mind subconsciously merges with the elements. Remember 'Fusion'? That's actually an unknown element—a new element that you yourself created."
Infernus and Rio were stunned.
"So, Rio really has reached the next stage. But why doesn't he understand it?"
Rin smiled.
"That's the question I was waiting for. From my memories, there exists a core element called the 'Lost Element.' It is the opposite of the three main elements:
It's not like the Sun that burns with rage,
Nor like Water that flows with complete calm and peace,
Nor like Void that hides all sound and everything else, as if in emptiness.
It's an element that unites them all!"
Infernus:
"That's impossible! How can you combine calm and rage?"
Rin:
"It does seem impossible, but you can balance them. I noticed that when Rio fought several times, he was calm yet angry at the same time. His mind and heart acted separately, as if they were two different beings. His consciousness, heart, and self each had different emotions, but none dominated the others. Instead, he balanced them. It's like having two people—one angry, one calm—and you have to balance both!"
Rio closed his eyes and whispered hopelessly.
"That's… so hard! Why is my core element this difficult?"
When Rio opened his eyes, he found himself in emptiness.
Rio:
"Huh? Where am I?"
Himiko:
"In your mind!"
Rio:
"What do you want?"
Himiko circled around him.
"Have you ever asked who I am?"
Rio:
"I know… you're my energy."
Himiko:
"Correct, I'm your energy—but I'm also your mind, your consciousness, and your self."
Rio:
"What do you mean? That's impossible! How can the mind be embodied? Consciousness and self too? I'm already separate from you! How can I exist if you're as you say?"
Himiko laughed softly.
"Then, can you explain how you use your energy?"
Rio was puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
Himiko:
"We both know I'm a separate entity, yet I live inside you because, until now, you weren't strong enough to control your full energy. So, I sealed part of your power. But I'm also separate, and yet you can still use your energy."
Rio:
"You mean I can use my mind, my consciousness, and my self, even though they are separate from me?"
Himiko:
"Rio, I didn't choose to separate myself from you. You did it yourself, unknowingly."
Rio:
"So… can I understand your purpose in all this?"
Himiko stepped closer.
"I want to tell you that you cannot use your core element unless we merge again. You, unknowingly, separated everything inside yourself. Now we must merge once more."
Rio:
"And how do I do that?"
Himiko:
"You must understand and see me as your mind, as one with you. When you realize this, your emotions will scatter, and nearly all of them will manifest as entities. You must control them and balance them all."
Rio sat down and said,
"Then… let's begin now!"
Himiko:
"Now? You're in a hurry!"