“Mira!”

Atlas’s heart raced as he scanned the area, slipping slightly on the slick rocks. Finally, he spotted her—clinging upside-down to the cliff wall, her legs splayed awkwardly as if she were some kind of overenthusiastic lizard.

Her face, however, was lit with excitement. “Hahaha! My Lord, this is fun!” she said, laughing gleefully before promptly losing her grip and tumbling forward.

Atlas sprinted over to make sure the girl was truly unharmed—including her head, which had hit the cliff wall.

Well, as for what was inside her head… that wasn’t something to worry about. It didn’t seem like it had been in a normal state to begin with.

Before he could say more, another massive wave loomed, surging toward them. Atlas pulled Mira behind a large boulder, knowing it would provide some cover.

The wave crashed, water roaring around them. He spotted Lyrassa rushing toward them. But the wave struck faster than she could reach them.

Atlas felt himself thrown by the force of the water, slamming into Mira and pinning her against the cliff wall.

“Is she okay?!” He thought.

To his shock, even amidst the chaos and the overwhelming surge of water, her face broke into a wide grin. She laughed hysterically as if she were on the ride of her life.

“Is she seriously okay?!”

The wave’s retreat dragged them both back toward the boulder, where they collided heavily.

“My Lord, this is fun! Hahaha! I love it!” she giggled, gripping him tightly.

Atlas barely had time to catch his breath as another wave began to form. If they couldn’t hold onto the boulder, the ocean’s pull might drag them out into the depths, leaving them at the mercy of the current—or worse, lost entirely.

Kurogasa appeared nearby, attempting to explain something, but his voice was drowned out by the deafening roar of the wave.

The next moment, the water smashed into them again, and Atlas was hurled backward, his body slamming against the cliff.

Eugh! His back felt like it had been shattered into a hundred pieces.

Then, something soft collided with him from the front.

Dazed, Atlas realized it was Mira, who had been thrown directly into him. As the wave receded, they were flung once more toward the boulder, landing heavily.

Eugh!

Atlas groaned, his lungs burning as he struggled for air. He had to figure out a way to secure them before the next wave hit—or they might not be able to stay on land for much longer.

Between each retreat of the massive waves, Kurogasa continued explaining. Atlas did his best to focus on Kurogasa’s words while enduring the relentless assault. Lyrassa, thankfully, had secured both him and Mira to the ground with vines, preventing them from being swept out to sea.

“My Lord, let me explain exactly how you managed to survive that monster of a wave.”

Another wave smashed into them, hurling Atlas face-first into the cliff. Blood trickled from his nose as he groaned in pain.

Mira? Still laughing and having the time of her life.

“First off,” Kurogasa began, “your Water Affinity is what will guide you to master the wave. When it hits, don’t try to fight it. Instead, let the force of the water flow around you. The protective barrier you’ve conjured will soften the impact, giving you just enough space to take action.”

“Then, there was your Earth Affinity. Right before the wave slammed into you, I noticed how you instinctively anchored yourself in the sand. Smart thinking. That connection to the ground gave you the stability you needed to hold your position.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Atlas tightened his grip on his spear, using it to brace himself as another wave began to build. Holding onto the weapon was becoming increasingly difficult as the relentless water battered him. His entire body felt like it had been beaten down, bruised and cut from head to toe.

“And lastly,” Kurogasa added, “your Ironclad Will. It kept your head clear when panic might’ve made you freeze. Most people would’ve lost their wits staring down a wave of that size, but not you. That resolve is why you’re still here, My Lord.”

Another massive wave roared toward them, and Atlas braced himself, gripping his spear tightly as he prepared to endure yet another assault.

“Great… now I just need to survive one more lecture and not drown in the process,” he muttered to himself.

Atlas steeled himself, spinning his spear as he focused intently on drawing elemental particles around him for protection.

“Strengthen your footing—water! Let it flow around you!” he thought, grounding himself firmly as the massive wave surged forward.

He let the energy of the water course through his body, attempting to move with the force rather than against it.

“Split the wave!”

With a determined shout, Atlas swung his spear in an overhead strike, aiming to cut through the incoming wall of water.

And then—

WHAM!

The wave slammed into him with relentless force, sending him hurtling backward. His body collided violently with the cliff wall, and sharp rocks dug into his back.

“Eugh!” he groaned.

I’m dead. This is how I die.

Nearby, Mira clung effortlessly to a large rock. “My Lord, I know you can do it! Let’s go, My Lord!”

Lyrassa, standing behind her protective vines, called out. “My Lord, you’re doing wonderfully.”

Kurogasa gave a respectful bow toward Atlas.

“Thanks. I always knew you enjoyed watching me suffer like this.”

Lyrassa chuckled softly. “I’ll always celebrate your successes, My Lord.”

Another massive wave approached, roaring louder than the one before. Atlas braced himself again, fortifying his body with the elemental particles he had gathered.

The wave hit.

No!

Atlas was flung backward once more, tumbling through the chaotic water. This time, his mouth filled with seawater as he choked down a hefty gulp.

Eugh!

Great. If the waves don’t kill me, I’ll probably drown from drinking half the ocean.

Atlas released Zefyros, his spirit beast, who immediately leapt into the sand, crackling with electricity. However, Zefyros’s enthusiasm sent stray bolts of lightning shooting out, one of which struck Mira.

“Zefyros! Stop with the big sparks!” Mira shouted.

Zefyros zipped toward the incoming wave, diving headfirst into the ocean and vanishing beneath the surface.

Atlas steadied himself once more, gripping his spear tightly as the next massive wave crashed down. It sent him hurtling back into the cliff wall yet again, his muscles screaming in protest. He clung to his spear with all his strength, refusing to let go.

This cycle repeated for hours. Wave after wave, Atlas endured the brutal impact, struggling to channel the elemental particles and hoping for even the slightest breakthrough.

But with each punishing hit, he began to notice something. The flow of the waves, their rhythm, and the way they surged and receded—he could feel it now. He started to anticipate when the wave would throw him back and how its force would pull him forward.

Atlas adjusted his footing, bracing himself with newfound awareness.

I can do this, he thought, determination flaring within him. I can finish this training.

“Let’s go, My Lord!” Mira cheered from a distance, her forehead bleeding.

“You can do it, My Lord,” Lyrassa called.

Focusing deeply, Atlas let the elemental water surround him, feeling its energy resonate within him. He spun his spear, preparing for the next massive wave as it approached.

The wave loomed higher, roaring as it crashed toward him. At the perfect moment, Atlas swung his spear in an overhead strike.

Split the wave!

The wave cleaved in two, parting momentarily before closing again and crashing into him. Atlas was flung backward, but this time he landed on his feet, planting his spear firmly into the sand.

Digging in with all his strength, he held his ground against the powerful pull of the water, his body leaning forward as if in defiance of the wave’s might.

He focused on staying calm, letting his body align with the flow of the water rather than resisting it. As the wave retreated back into the ocean, Atlas remained standing, only inches away from the cliff wall.

For the first time, he had managed to endure the wave without being thrown completely off balance. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.

As he looked around, he noticed the sky had begun to darken. The day was nearing its end, but he knew he had made a breakthrough!