After the battle, many had to clean up all the mess, not only lifting the bodies of enemies but also those of allies. They didn't feel much when lifting the corpses of those who fought alongside them, mostly just a sense of helplessness, but they had to keep moving because they had more things to do.
There was no time to mourn the dead because they had to fight for the living, and that was something everyone had understood throughout the war.
"How many allies have died?" Thorian looked at the outcome of this battle with great curiosity to know how many soldiers they had right now and what they could do.
Brad, standing nearby, calculated the numbers and said, "We've lost two thousand soldiers in this battle, captured two thousand enemies, and more than ten thousand have been killed."
The numbers might sound monstrous, but Thorian was not impressed. Later on, they would have to be on larger battlefields where numbers would matter least when it came to fighting.
Thorian swept his gaze and landed on the coach of the forces of this village, the white-bearded elder Pakku. Although thin, his body was something, and there was a fierceness in his face.
"Hey!"
When the elder Pakku saw Thorian standing next to Brad, he walked towards them. "How are your men holding up? Honestly, this battle was very destructive, and its aftermath is what will mark the war you're seeking."
Thorian had to think for a moment for a non-grieving response and said, "We have taken an island in the Narrow Sea that connects the South Pole with the Earth Nation; taking that into account, we have a clear path to land safely on those lands and have a starting point."
It was okay if there was no explanation for this battle, but everything had to be accounted for.
"My fleet will depart tonight; Brad will stay on this island to train everyone with the most advanced waterbending combat techniques, but before that, I will need your leader to kneel before the new reign." Thorian was clear with these words because he had an objective and needed to know if these people would be part of it.
"What? You mean you want to be the ruler of the entire Pole? That's a very delusional dream, utter nonsense."
"Haha, Mr. Pakku, I think you misunderstood me when I wanted to create the new world with you all." Thorian stopped Brad from interfering and pointed, "I see that Princess Yue is a perfect candidate to rule alone; she can be the ruler of both the South and North, so I believe that if you bend the knee to the new world, you will receive the appropriate rewards."
"Thorian, the people of the North will be grateful for your help for eternity, but that world you want to build is too ambitious."
"Live in the new world or die in the old one; I believe your people will perfectly understand the balance I am seeking and hope to achieve in a year."
Thorian's words puzzled Pakku; he didn't know how Thorian wanted to achieve all that in a year, so he asked, "Don't you have more time?"
Brad shook his head and said, "In a year, the Fire Nation plans to take complete control of the world through massive invasions that would end the war, with them as supreme rulers."
"That's..."
"They will leverage the advantage they had when they attacked the Air Nomads; they will harness the power of a meteorite that passes through the world every hundred years. But with the Avatar's support in Thorian's plans and knowing that the entire South and North Poles are united, we only need the approval of the Earth Nation."
After all, this could be possible with the thousands of Earth Nation warriors who have been freed. The protected villages and reinforced settlements are more than enough to seize power by force.
"Is that why you want to keep the enemy prince alive?"
"It's just an option; I heard he has a sister, so I could very well kill everyone in the Fire Nation's royal family and marry that princess, end the war at once, and establish myself as the emperor of the entire world." Thorian's words were devoid of emotions; this was one of the three paths to becoming the ruler of the world.
In each of these paths, Thorian is portrayed as the villain, but this is necessary because there is no other path to take.
"Then there will be no difference between you and those emperors of the Fire Nation." Pakku felt terrified by these dark plans.
But everyone can think what they want; Thorian didn't need to explain anything to anyone. "My father was a former general of the Fire Nation; if everyone recognizes me as the lord of the new world, I can create something much better than all the brainless old rulers who have governed in this world."
"No matter the power, I could very well destroy the entire Fire Nation and kill those who don't want to be part of the new world. That would inevitably lead me to a battle with the Avatar where one of us would have to live. Tell me, what should I choose?"
Pakku shook his head, sweating coldly. "I can't do it; I'm sorry."
Brad smiled coldly and said, "Then if you don't have the conscience to make a decision of this caliber, then just kneel before the emperor of the entire world. Once we win the war, there will be peace; no one will set foot on your lands without authorization, and we will ensure that stability exists for eternity."
After saying these words, Thorian looked at everyone and said, "Gather all the people of this village; I will tell them my plan and await their response."
Assuming they would fight, everyone must now be part of the final battle and create the new world. Everyone must consecrate the path of the new world; everyone must acknowledge the supreme ruler.
Everyone must recognize the white demon.
Years of work can fall due to the smallest mistakes; that's what Thorian should never do.
"Everyone must recognize the new world."