Chapter 153: Becoming an Elemental Lord

After an unknown amount of time had passed, the sea gradually began to churn despite Orion Cross continuously directing the seismic energy into the depths.

The sand, soil, and rocks beneath Orion Cross and Zhao Hailun’s feet had all been shaken into the tiniest particles.

If Orion Cross had not been using his abilities to hold them up, this patch of sand would have long since sunk into the sea.

"Orion! I can’t hold on anymore!!!"

Skye’s exhausted voice came from within the beam of light.

Hearing her voice, a trace of confusion appeared in Zhao Hailun’s eyes as she clung tightly to Orion Cross.

With seismic waves filling the surroundings, how was Skye’s voice coming through so clearly?

"Disperse!"

Hearing Skye’s cry, Orion Cross waved his right hand toward the solar disk.

The dazzling structure instantly weathered away, turning into dust that scattered into the wind.

After destroying the solar disk, Orion Cross finally dispelled the enhancement from the Star of Apocalypse.

"It’s over. You can come down now."

Orion Cross lowered his head and patted Zhao Hailun, who was still hugging his waist.

"It’s over?"

Zhao Hailun released Orion Cross and looked toward Skye.

"What ability did she gain? The ability to summon earthquakes?"

"We don’t know yet."

Orion Cross shook his head slightly and walked directly toward Skye.

At the center of the energy bombardment, Skye sat on the ground looking somewhat exhausted. Her clothes had long since disappeared.

"Hmm?"

Orion Cross’s footsteps paused slightly.

When Skye noticed him approaching and realized her current state, she instinctively manipulated the sand on the ground into clothing around herself.

This ability...

"Did I succeed?"

Skye grabbed Orion Cross’s hand and stood up. She looked around at the unchanged surroundings and asked.

"You succeeded. Can’t you feel it?"

Orion Cross smiled at her.

"It just feels somewhat unreal."

Skye looked toward the sea and raised her hand. A seismic wave shot out, blasting a spray of water into the air.

"No. Your ability is more than this."

Orion Cross looked into Skye’s eyes.

The moment he had held Skye’s hand, he had obtained the template of her Ascended form.

Feeling the power copied from Skye within his own body, Orion Cross glanced at the island behind him.

"Try it."

"Try what?"

Skye followed his gaze but did not understand.

"Lift this island."

"You’re joking, right?"

Skye froze and looked at Orion Cross seriously.

"How could I possibly do that? The abilities I gained are nothing more than releasing seismic waves and controlling dust and sand..."

As she spoke, Skye waved her arm toward the sea.

A massive boulder roughly the size of an airplane rose from the seabed and landed on the beach.

"That’s the extent of my power."

Skye bit her lip and looked at Orion Cross.

"Did I disappoint you?"

"No. You probably just aren’t familiar with it yet."

Orion Cross shook his head.

After all, it had taken Mystique some time to discover the full extent of her abilities as well.

Although Nina had directly obtained the ability to control conceptual birds, she still could not perfectly control the Phoenix Force.

When Orion Cross and Nina had hypnotized the Phoenix Force together, Nina had only been able to use less than thirty percent of its power.

The main reason was that Orion Cross’s energy could be freely converted. Under equivalent conditions, it was naturally inferior to the original wielder of an ability.

But that could lead to a qualitative change.

Just like now...

"Skye, watch carefully. This is your true ability."

Orion Cross extended one hand and plunged it into the ground.

Under the shocked gazes of Skye and Zhao Hailun, the sea level began rapidly dropping.

No.

The entire island was being lifted into the air.

It was exactly what Orion Cross had previously asked Skye to try.

"What... what kind of ability is this?"

Skye stared blankly at Orion Cross.

She had this kind of power?

Why had she never sensed it herself?

She had always felt that she could only release seismic waves and exert some control over inorganic matter such as soil, dust, and sand.

"I can’t fully explain what your ability is yet."

Orion Cross pulled his arm out of the ground and stood up.

Yet the island did not fall.

From a distance, it would appear that the island was not actually floating. Four massive pillars of rock supported it from beneath.

"But if you really want to understand it, you first need to know about the elements that constitute the world in certain fields."

Orion Cross explained seriously.

"The elements that constitute the world? Do you mean the six stones?"

Skye remembered the six gems representing the forces of different aspects of the universe that Orion Cross had told her about before.

"No. I mean other fields. Do you know Aristotle? Or have you read fantasy novels?"

"The four fundamental elements that make up the world: water, fire, air, and earth."

An eternal flame appeared in Orion Cross’s hand. Combined with the seawater, sand, and air around them, the four elements were now all present.

"I know this. The four elements were first proposed by Empedocles."

Zhao Hailun walked over and spoke.

"Modern scientists believe the four elements can be interpreted as representing the four states of matter. Earth corresponds to solids, water to liquids, air to gases, and fire to plasma."

"Forcing scientific concepts onto it doesn’t necessarily make the conclusion correct."

Orion Cross glanced at Zhao Hailun in warning before turning his attention back to Skye.

"Right now, you can only control seismic waves and some soil and dust. Your true power is still waiting for you to develop and utilize it."

"So what exactly is my ability?"

Skye still did not understand what Orion Cross meant by the four elements.

"If I had to give your ability a name, I’d call it ’Elemental Lord.’"

"Elemental Lord?"

Skye froze slightly.

"You mean I can control the earth element?"

"Exactly. In another fantasy world, there are also four Elemental Lords: Ragnaros the Firelord, Al’Akir the Windlord, Neptulon the Tidehunter, and Therazane the Stonemother."

"Of course, that Stonemother is quite ugly. You’re much prettier than her, and your potential is far greater."

As Orion Cross spoke, four miniature Elemental Lords with different appearances materialized before them.

Although Skye’s initial ability now seemed similar to Orion Cross’s sand manipulation in his Desert Emperor form, he knew there was a fundamental difference.

Apocalypse’s sand manipulation was a form of matter transformation, used to construct the pyramid for the purpose of taking over another body.

Orion Cross’s sand manipulation in his Desert Emperor form existed to construct the solar disk and perform Ascension Ceremonies for other mortals.

The two appeared similar on the surface, but their purposes were completely opposite.

Skye’s newly acquired "Elemental Lord" ability, however, allowed for pure control rather than being a derivative ability created for the Ascension Ceremony like Orion Cross’s.

That was also why Orion Cross had previously discovered that he could no longer completely suppress the vibrations of the sand beneath his feet.