It took me a while to calm my raging emotions after confirming the emergence of the new element. Unable to endure it any longer, I retreated into my spiritual realm, seeking tangible proof that fire was now under my command.
For minutes, I couldn't tear my gaze away from my energy sources. At the center, the neutral source glowed like a sun, orbited by the water and fire sources. Truly, the saying that every person carries an entire universe within them holds literal truth for benders. Like with water, some channels in my body shifted to red. Though the fire source and channels weren't as impressive yet, they'd grow in time. Fire would burn brightly in my heart.
Shifting focus to the neutral source, I again wondered what secrets it held. It had clear benefits, but I sensed there was more to uncover.
Now, let's test what it means to be a firebender. Rising from the ground and steadying my breath, I began channeling fire energy through my body. The difference was stark. Water energy soothed, but fire energized, whispering, "Release us, let us burn, burn, burn!" I had to breathe deeply again to calm my restless body, as even warm air began escaping my nostrils. As in the series, firebending demands control—it's largely destructive, and a bender must master it.
"Alright, steady now," I muttered, trying again.
Breathing evenly, I guided the fire energy without letting it dominate. Now, gently releasing it… the energy drained, but no fire appeared. Fine, I'll add chi this time.
"Fire," I whispered, mesmerized by the small flame in my hand. A bender without a fireball isn't truly a bender.
Another theory confirmed. Water, air, and earthbenders draw from their surroundings, but firebenders must create a passage for their bending into the physical world, adding life energy to spark it. That spark, fueled by fire energy, becomes a full flame. Ironically, not all firebenders seem to know this. Like how we use smartphones without understanding their inner workings, firebenders merge with their element so deeply that chi addition becomes unconscious.
Alright, back to hunting dark spirits. With ten hours left, I need to absorb as many fire spirits as possible to reach mid-tier rank. It's more practical than trying to boost my water source all at once.
I'll follow the lava river's edge. With such strong fire energy, I'm sure to find fire spirits.
I wonder how Wong's doing? Maybe I'll run into him—we haven't met in over five years.
After a while, I encountered another spirit group: twelve fire wolves, the largest at mid-tier rank, likely the leader.
Creating a whirlpool of water blades around me—resembling Naruto's Kaiten—I charged. The wolves, noticing me, prepared attacks, firebending gathering in their mouths. In seconds, fireballs flew, detonating on contact with my whirlpool, evaporating my already limited water supply. Damn, I hadn't noticed that during my last fight with salamanders.
Within a minute, my water whirlpool halved, but the wolves were defeated. The battle was grueling, not from the fight itself, but from trying to conserve steam, which evaporated quickly. I had to focus on preserving water, but this time, I should've dodged their attacks sooner. I hadn't found large water sources, only a small stream near the rocks earlier.
I must save some water for my air platform—it'll help me find more water later. For now, I'll focus on one strike, one kill, minimizing water loss.
Let's check my firebending. As the spirits dissipated, their energy flowed into my source. My firebending strengthened significantly—not mid-tier yet, but halfway there.
The remaining water lasted for three more groups of fire spirits. Then, I had to search for water, which wasn't easy. The intense fire energy forced me kilometers away from the lava river to find what I needed.
This back-and-forth continued for five hours. When water ran out mid-battle, I used firebending, improvising by releasing flames with kicks or punches. It wasn't impressive, but for a five-hour-old firebender, it worked. These attacks were weaker than my water techniques but could take down mid-tier spirits in two or three hits.
Reaching mid-tier firebending felt quiet and unspectacular. I was happy, but my pace was too intense. By the fifth hour, I had no energy left for fast-paced fights, only the thought: "Finish quickly, then rest." The joy was muted, but seeing my fire source nearly match my water source brought satisfaction.
After resting for an hour, I headed the other way, hoping to meet water spirits. But I wasn't actively searching—I just wanted to observe, not fight. I walked through the rocky terrain, which gradually turned into a forest.
Suddenly, a girl emerged from behind a tree, humming a familiar tune.
"Pru-ryu-ryu," she sang, walking toward me until she saw me and stopped.
Wait, that melody… Why does she look so human? Her ears are slightly pointed, and her fiery red hair is rare—I've never seen that shade in Avatar, not in my life here or in the series. Still, I've never met such human-like spirits, though… this is the Spirit World. Anything's possible. My mind raced with questions: "Is she really just a girl?" "What kind of growth would allow her to take this form?!"
"It's you! I remember you!" the girl exclaimed, dressed in what looked like leaves. Let's call her Leaf Girl for now. She can speak calmly, so she's at least a high-tier spirit, though she feels like a strange mid-tier. Still, she's dangerous.
"Remember, remember, remember~," she sang, jumping around me. I've definitely seen this somewhere before.
Wait, don't be fooled by her cute appearance. Focus! It's hard when a fantasy version of a dryad or forest elf is staring at you. Ah, stop looking at her ears!
"I'd definitely remember you, girl. Can you remind me where we met?" I asked, smiling as I watched her ears twitch.
"Hmm, I remember you differently. You were a cool little ball I wanted to play with," she said, tapping her chin. "But I definitely remember your scent! I even tried finding you after you went to that bad place. Are you a dog spirit? How do you identify others by scent? Maybe it's her sensory ability to detect energy.
Wait, she threw me off. The "bad place" here in the Spirit World… I went there with a girl, but I only remember the guy who didn't understand what he was doing. Or is it what I think it is?
"Leaf spirit?" I asked doubtfully, but it seemed to work.
"Leaves?" She paused, then punched her palm. "I've always had leaves! Look," she said, pushing her hair aside. I saw two familiar leaves, now orange.
So it's you, Leaf Spirit. I didn't expect to see you again.
"Well, do you recognize me now?" she asked, almost pouting.
"Sorry, you've changed a lot since then," I said, smiling awkwardly.
"It's amazing, all thanks to a big tree," she said proudly. "I even gave myself a name. I was sleeping under the tree, and then—bam!—I woke up as Driya," she finished.
"What did the tree do exactly?" I asked, curious.
"Are you interested too?" she replied. Was she always this talkative, or is it a trait of young high-tier spirits? Wong was like this too.
"I was running through the forest, escaping bad spirits and playing with good ones, when I saw a huge tree," she said, gesturing with her hands. "As soon as I sat by its roots, a voice said, 'Child, can you keep this for me?'" She even mimicked the voice. "Of course, I agreed. It was a glowing acorn, I think? Why did I say it like a question? Anyway, as I reached for it, the voice said, 'Please eat it. It'll be safest in your body.' Is that even normal? The tree asked politely, so I did as it asked. You're both weird, right? As soon as I stored it in my tummy, I got sleepy and fell asleep. By morning, I woke up like this," she finished with a carefree smile.
I realized my hand was on my face as she spoke. Her story didn't explain much.
I had to ask many questions to piece together what happened. It's fascinating—what was that thing?
In my mind, I pictured this: the tree spirit was definitely high-tier and ancient. Such spirits fade away after millennia. Seeing a spirit of similar energy near its roots, it decided to pass on its essence. I'm not sure if that's possible, but it's the only explanation. As Driya said, she tried contacting it, but the tree, though alive, felt empty. Having once been a low-tier spirit, it knew how to detach from others. It seemed too lazy to find a proper excuse. Another fact: up close, I sensed an energy formation in her, constantly giving her energy. The process isn't complete—soon, not only her consciousness but also her strength will match a high-tier spirit.
Listening to her memories, I understood she was a cultivator in this world. She traveled alone, while peaceful spirits usually stay under protection. She wasn't too afraid of dangers, often escaping bad spirits. Her recklessness paid off—she found the future burial site of an ancient master who, even before passing on, found his successor.
She's only now beginning to understand herself and explore the world. I'd love to see her in a few years, when she realizes how reckless she was and how luck favored her.