Bloodcurdling screeches woke Riba from his pleasant slumber, causing him to jolt upright and look around frantically. Mr. Toruga was already out of bed and was slipping on his gear.
"What's going on?!" Korra shouted, who also was shaken awake by the sudden commotion.
Mr. Toruga turned and motioned for everyone to get up, maintaining a straight face despite the current panic.
"The city is under attack. Let's move."
I-I didn't think we'd leap into action so soon!" Riba blurted, sliding out of bed and looking to Mr. Toruga nervously.
"You'll be fine, I've seen you in action before and can assure you that all three of you are more than capable of holding your own in a fight."
This sudden encouragement sparked a flame of courage inside the two of them, Gareth was still sound asleep like a log. Riba had to drag him out of bed, ignoring his groggy questions.
"W-What's going on...?" He yawned.
The scene outside was horrifying. Building's and homes were burning, people retreating from them, screaming in terror and running for their lives. The source of all the chaos seemed to be originating from the southern part of the city, considering how many people were drawing back from there. The murderous Swift Terrors cackled as they produced explosions from their hands and looted without remorse.
"Stay here! I'll take care of this." Mr. Toruga said to them and sprinted into the smoke.
He didn't come back. It felt like an eternity, as they stood surrounded by chaos, waiting for his return. Explosions and screams continued to cleft through the night sky, and the feeling of dread infested the young warriors like a contagion.
"It's been too long! We have to go after him!" Riba finally shouted.
"We can't! He said to stay put!" Korra snapped at him.
"But what if he's in trouble?!"
"Riba's right! He might need our help!" Gareth notioned.
"He's an elite! He doesn't need our help! You two are acting like fools!"
Gareth perked up and whipped his head in her direction.
"Wait...me too?"
Riba groaned and grabbed Gareth by the arm, and dragged him into the smoke. They ran through at high speed, covering their faces and coughing as the intoxicating smoke penetrated their lungs. But they were assured that they had escaped from their clouded prison when the smoke began to clear and the road ahead was observable. Mr. Toruga could be distinguished fending off one of the Swift Terrors. They both exchanged blows, and blocked them expertly. Mr. Toruga slid and flipped off of ice ramps to avoid blades being administered by his opponent coming towards him. The Swift Terror fighting him seemed off. Something about him made him different from the others. Whether it was the number of blades he owned or the way he fought, he appeared to be the leader. Mr. Toruga grunted angrily and swiftly dodged another flurry of swings and kicks. It appeared he was having trouble. But how could someone of his stature be struggling so much? This event could only mean that his adversary matched his dexterity. Mr. Toruga dashed at his opponent once more. He dragged his arm across the floor and swung upward once he got in his proximity, which created an ice ramp. He sprinted up, somersaulted, landed behind the leader, and swung his leg hard.
PAP!
Was the noise fabricated as the leader spun and blocked the strike, leaving Mr. Toruga in revelation as to how his opponent was so quick. With a grunt, the leader gripped Mr. Toruga's leg tight and with the oscillation of his arm, sent him across the battlefield and crashing into a building.
"Mr. Toruga!" Riba shouted, alerting the Swift Terror Leader.
He whipped his head and eyed Riba down.
"A kid..." He muttered.
Without hesitation, Riba yelled and charged at him.
"...a foolish kid."
With fury, he pulled back and was ready to swing, but was struck in the stomach and sent backward by the leader effortlessly. But it would take more than that. Riba got up and charged again, this time using Gust Speed. The leader's eyes widened in shock as Riba advanced at a speed so fast that he practically disappeared. In an instant, he was behind the leader, who swung his sword the moment he was alerted to Riba's presence. Riba dodged by jumping above his head, and everything slowed down. Riba had successfully evaded and caught the leader off guard. He clenched his fist as he slowly moved over his head, and swung hard
"TAKE THIS!!!" He bellowed.
But the odds were not in his favor. The powerful Swift Terror easily dodged Riba's effort filled swing and slammed his own fist into Riba's side. Riba exclaimed in agony and soared across the field until meeting the ground with a hard and pitiful slam.
"Using Gust Speed and discovering my blind spot. Clever. Had your movements been less sloppy you might have had me there." He mumbled with a subtle grin, flicking his wrist as a result of the blows he administered.
Riba trembled as he got up slowly, but could only stay on his knees, his hair drooping in front of his face. With labored breathing, he coughed and looked up. Korra had emerged from the smoke and looked around frantically.
It was faint, but the leader darted his eyes toward Korra, and materialized in front of her in seconds. The reaction time of everyone was too slow, the Swift Terror's sword already drawn.
"GYAH!" She yelped and braced herself.
Riba's eyes widened, visions of Korra's gruesome death flashed in his mind repeatedly. Everything moved in slow motion once more. It was as if Riba's body moved on its own, but he felt his legs push himself off the ground, and straight between Korra and her attacker. His right hand burned up and erupted into a powerful inferno, as it had once before.
"GET AWAY!!!!!!!!" He cried.
An explosion filled the area. Smoke and flames descended from the sky like leaves until vanishing into the air. When the smog had cleared, Riba and Korra were safe, and the leader lay a couple of feet opposite them, quivering on the floor. The attack had hit, but Riba's right arm was broken again, however, he managed to resist the urge to pass out.
"Riba!" Korra exclaimed as he sighed and collapsed to his knees.
"Are you ok?!" He asked.
She nodded, a concerned expression covering her face.
"Good..." He coughed, attempting to stand while his arm hung limply at his side, "We need to get Mr. Toruga and get out of here.."
"Don't move! You're hurt!" She demanded and held him back.
THEA!" came Mr. Toruga's voice, who stumbled out of a pile of rubble that was once a piece of someone's home.
The leader turned HER head and stared.
"Koono Toruga..." She growled, her brows furrowing in anger.
"Why do you terrorize this village?!
The leader, "Thea", turned to her comrades and waved her hand.
"Retreat!"
They nodded and ran off.
'I have no choice but to retreat...' she thought to herself, 'If we continue this relentless attack in our current state, we'll fail and be captured..'
Mr. Toruga ran over to his students and stood in front to protect them, while Thea coughed and wobbled to her feet.
"MY reasoning is none of your concern." She nodded and outstretched her hands, "But know this. The next time we meet, I'll have decided to kill you."
She swung her hands and disappeared, leaving everyone alone with the sound of fire crackling around them.