Chapter 1: The Emerald Bones

The emerald water parted gently as the wooden boat glided along its calm surface. Rein pulled gently against the oars, guiding the boat across the lake.

He had failed the annual Rocher admittance exam, having been knocked out cold in the first trial by Sanche Dimitrov, the most talented prodigy that has existed in the past 500 years. Born with the affinity for earth, water, wind, and fire while possessing the ancient frost sprite bloodline that runs in the prestigious Dimitrov family, who could stand on the same stage as Sanche? Rein had been in the group of 40 exam takers who were caught in his sandstorm, a B-tier zone ability, and were eliminated from the competition immediately.

Although Rein possessed the legendary gravity affinity, he was an orphan with no family, his family bloodline had yet to show itself, and training supplemented only by local herbs had hindered his cultivation. Sanche had given him no chance to exhibit any of his powers.

Burning with regret, Rein continued to steer the boat onward while a white fog began to roll over the surface of the lake.

The air flashed green for a millionth of a second and a rumbling thunder shook the air as a slip of jade lightning slivered down to the lake, passing through Rein before he could even process what had just happened. The world went green for an instant, and then darkness filled the space as Rein sunk to the bottom of the virescent lake.

Rein lay restlessly on the ground, his blood excited by the electricity as it coursed through his body. When he came to, he saw the walls of a cave that softly glowed green from the crystals that extruded from its surface. Rein became aware of a pile of emerald bones which lay on the ground beside him.

They shone like jewels, crystal clear without imperfections, and Rein couldn't resist reaching out to touch them.

A tormented cry pierced through the silence as he screamed out in anguish; his bones began to catch fire and shift under his skin. His blood boiled and his veins stretched to their very limit as he lay and writhed on the cold, wet ground. The torture continued for an entire day while Rein struggled to keep his sanity during the entire ordeal.

When his skeleton finally settled, Rein could feel the toughness of his newly forged body. Due to the emerald bones, the toughness of his body had become that of emeralds, comparable with hardened steel; no average warrior could penetrate his dense hide. A cool calm swept over him as he sat and began to meditate.

Within himself he could see not only the black mass that was his gravitational affinity, but now a new affinity unlike any he has ever heard of before: a green lightning. Rein now possessed the legendary gravitational affinity and a mysterious affinity that held a tremendous power and a grin flashed across his face.

He picked himself up and inspected the dim tunnel, excitedly searching for anything that could provide an explanation for the sudden and unexpected turn of events. Who did the remains belong to? How has he received his powers? Rein searched for the answers, but only came across a golden ring engraved with intricate patterns that gave it the air of pricelessness.

Upon feeding it his mana, Rein could access a wide space that was 10 meters long as it was wide and tall. A mountain of glistening gold coins stood still, patiently awaiting his use, and on top rested an aged manuscript.

"Jade Emerald Lightning Foundation" was brushed on its front cover, and the profound teachings of the skill slept within its pages. He read its contents for another day, only reading the first of its thousand pages. The first page revealed the method of purifying and condensing the jade emerald lightning, outlying the most basic of skills: the "first level emerald fist."

Rein couldn't believe his luck, not only are spacial rings extremely rare and expensive, and the quantity of gold within the ring itself enough to live a prestigious life as a noble in the capital, but the ancient manuscript was a priceless treasure that is one of its kind.

Rein believed the deceased owner of the the items to have been someone of Mythical existence, perhaps an ancient master whose name was lost over the millennia. He knew that through his fateful encounter with this ancient one, he would be able to cultivate to a level which not even Sanche could rival in the future.