Upon the sound of a horn, a group of men wearing brown fur deels charged into the clearing. They wielded an array of scimitars and spears. The head warrior's rallying cry directed the others to attack the two benders. Some shot their composite bows, all trying their best to overwhelm the acolytes with numerical advantage.
However, Shui and Tu did not hold back. They sent forth hails of ice shards while boulders suppressed the newcomers. Although arrows were easily thwarted, a sudden gust of air disrupted their formation.
Seizing this opportunity, the earlier warrior advanced quickly. He charged at the Earthbender, slamming his sword downward at Tu. Despite the strike, Tu endured, pummeled the ground, and erupted a cluster of earth, forcing the assailant backward. A large boulder was then hurled towards him, which was quickly dodged. One of the charging herdsmen was injured instead.
"Khenbish!" cried the saber-wielding warrior. His friend slammed into a tree trunk, head impacted first. "You will pay!" He again slashed at Tu, this time more successfully, wounding the acolyte's stomach.
Using one hand to cover the bleeding, Tu began to lift the ground, attempting to form a long wall to block off the armed mob. Shui assisted him, bending the water offensively, throwing out ice shards and using a thread of liquid as a whip to fend off the attackers. In the process, anyone without a shield was immediately impaled.
"With the Master, all things are possible!" Tu chanted with vigor.
Shouting zealously, the Earthbender protruded a long earthen wall that was not easily surmounted. The power of faith was often underestimated, empowering a sense of ruthlessness that most would not easily use.
Shui shot a small volume of water towards an advancing warrior before their view was completely obstructed by the rising barrier. The liquid ensnared a man's face, solidifying into ice and stifling the mouth and nose. The lead warrior quickly kicked the ice into pieces, preventing suffocation.
"Thanks, Ganbaatar!"
The men in fur deels collected themselves. Many were injured by Shui's icy shards. Now, with a large earthen wall between them and the enemy, archers ceased firing. The one named Ganbaatar ordered a man to scale the barrier, a young hunter propelling himself seemingly with nothing but the air around him.
As for the others, they needed to wait for more brutish reinforcements.
...
Tu leaned against the wall, slumping to its base. Shui arrived hastily, checking the wound. As Tu groaned in pain, he reiterated the importance of evacuating the prisoners.
"Get the daughters of Akahana and bring them to the Master!" Tu uttered through excruciating groans, he is breathing faster than normal.
Rather than wasting words, Shui decided to comply with this request. She grabbed some rope and headed for the Kyoshi Warriors trapped in ice. The anger and frustration couldn't be concealed, as those who slandered the Master had to be punished immediately.
"I know what you might be thinking, Kyoshi warriors! Those people might be trying to help you, but don't think they will succeed!"
The sisters remained silent. Despite their cautious move, the quietness instead fueled the zealot's suspicion. The older sister was particularly nonchalant, and the acolyte saw a reflection those blue eyes.
Shui spun around and quickly dodged an incoming arrow. A man then jumped down from the wall's height with a swinging saber, fiercely clashing with the Waterbender's icy claws. They were evenly matched. The hunter moved swiftly. Throughout the fight, he kicked one leg, and a forceful swirl of wind unbalanced the acolyte's unprepared body.
Unlike the monks from the Air Temples, his Airbending style was aggressive, sharp, and volatile in its forms. Ultimately, he had no restraints demanding him to adhere to the peaceful nature of traditional monks.
A strong wind forced Shui back. She used both arms to shield her face, but this relentless assault abruptly halted when the hunter's legs were suddenly immobilized. Despite Tu's severe injury, he was still strong enough to bend the earth around their foe, encasing the foot in earth.
Before the lightly armored warrior could react, Shui charged forth and stabbed the man's chest. The brown-colored deel was easily cut through, as fur clothing offers little resistance.
Without much elaboration, the hunter fainted, blood flowing from the wound.
"Airbenders," Shui fumed with a mix of frustration and disgust. "Tu, these people are clearly harboring unclean practitioners, we must eradicate this one too!"
The wounded Earthbender was in too much pain to talk, but he clearly emphasized the importance of their mission. Despite his commitment, they cannot ignore the Master's decree. All faithful servants must obey the order to annihilate all those who cultivated bending without the Eternal Balance in mind.
Shui borrowed Tu's knife. Instead of preparing the two sisters for evacuation, they were preoccupied with killing a man who was granted Airbending without the Master's permission. Satchiko and Mayumi still could not fully comprehend their reasoning and the exact purpose of this strange belief. It seemed these 'acolytes' carried a strong disdain towards Airbenders outside their influence.
A large shadow loomed over the area. The acolytes froze, initially gazing up at the night sky. They saw nothing except the full moon. However, Tu's wall suddenly burst open. The two sisters braced themselves for stray debris. After the dust slowly settled, they laid eyes upon a creature of immense size and strength.
A beast of colossal proportions stood before them. Covered in white shaggy fur and bearing two large horns, the distinctive brown arrow on its forehead was unmistakable. The two acolytes were startled by its imposing stature, and a loud roar further exacerbated their fright. It appeared that Batu wasn't lying about procuring a Sky-Bison.
"Why does it have six legs?" Satchiko couldn't help but notice.
But such trivial matters were not important right now.
Shui assumed a defensive stance, conjuring water to form two long whips. She even combined a few shards of ice to increase their potency.
Several men swung their swords at the Waterbender, but the acolyte's wide sweeping attacks easily tore through their fur clothing. Pummeled by water and stabbed by ice, many of them fell to the ground.
Additionally, Tu also fought despite his injury. The Earthbender launched many clusters of earth at the men in fur deels, inflicting many casualties.
The warrior named Ganbaatar prevented the Sky-Bison from entering the fight, knowing it would only get injured. Instead, he charged in himself, rushing pass the fallen warriors. The two acolytes were forced to fend off this armored warrior while also dodging arrows shot from afar.
Entrapped in ice, Mayumi and Satchiko could only watch the battle unfold. But they noticed that one of the warriors in brown clothing sneaked pass the carnage. A giant muscular brute arrived nearby, intending to rescue Batu.
He spoke in a dialect they couldn't understand, but he carried the unconscious kid on his shoulder. Thankfully, he also plans to help them too.
Mayumi closed her eyes as the imposing man swung a mace with both hands. The block of hardened ice shattered upon impact.
The Kyoshi Warrior was freed, but the loud crack inevitably alerted the two zealots. Before the brute could swing the mace again, a large boulder smashed into his head, knocking him unconscious.
Although the acolyte Tu successfully hindered this rescue attempt, he and Shui were still preoccupied with the mob of warriors surging into the area. Some of the men were trapped in ice, many were whipped and slashed by the madwoman's Waterbending technique. As the casualties increased, Mayumi tried to free Satchiko.
"Mayumi! Save Batu first!" Satchiko cried frantically. "Get him out of here, don't worry about me!"
But the older sister remained silent, desperately trying to chip away at the ice with her sword. It was clear that she intended to ignore Satchiko's plea.
The curved blade couldn't cut through the ice trapping her sister. In a fit of desperation, Mayumi tried to lift the heavy mace on the ground, but it was far too weighty.
"If only Momiji were here!" Mayumi grunted. The mace had tremendous weight, rendering an average individual incapable of even holding it.
As the older sister was preoccupied with this futile endeavor, more heavily armored warriors swarmed into the area. Their better body protection was far more effective than fur deels. Banging their scimitars against round shields, they taunted the two acolytes.
Under Ganbaatar's leadership, they rushed forward, brandishing swords while shielding their armored bodies against impaling shards. Despite being non-benders, their presence couldn't be easily ignored.
"Gah!" Tu cried in pain. An archer managed to shoot his arm, rendering him unable to effectively bend his element.
"Rescue our clansmen!" Ganbaatar bellowed.
Satchiko quietly observed Shui. Initially, she thought the fanatical woman intended to retreat. But who would have thought that the soothing powers of Waterbending could also be twisted to such disturbing lengths.
"I have come to the revelation that my restraint towards you imbeciles was a mistake," Shui declared. Her somewhat tired voice failed to intimidate Ganbaatar and the others, who continued to charge forth. "You think you have the upper hand?"
Tonight is a full moon. Shui stared at it, adapting a malevolent smile and stretching her fingers. Satchiko felt unease upon noticing the strange bending form. It lacked the elegance and smooth style of regular Waterbending she expected. This crude mannerism reminded her of the puppeteers that Mayumi mentioned in the past.
"Let those who do not submit to the Master understand the consequences," Shui said quietly. Her hands faced the armored warriors, moving in various directions.
Mayumi stopped attempting to lift the mace. She and Satchiko noticed the immediate effect. Those warriors froze, akin to stone statues. Even the archers near the tree lines were also locked into stillness, some were still trying to draw arrows from their quivers.
"What did you just do?" Mayumi asked, trying not to stutter with fear. The two sisters stared at the frozen mob with disbelief, unable to comprehend what the acolyte Waterbender had just performed. Those warriors were also frightened by this phenomenon, yet their limbs refused to move.
Shui's hands controlled their bodies like puppets. She toyed with their ignorance. In particular, Ganbaatar suddenly drove the sword into his own leg. He simply grunted in pain, clearly an involuntary act.
The two Kyoshi Warriors were mortified. Satchiko's horizons are truly expanded, but this is not the circumstance she wanted to participate in. Even Mayumi had no prior knowledge to explain Shui's manipulations.
"It was a valiant effort," Shui said in a disturbingly amicable way. "But I am afraid this is where your journey ends. But don't worry, I will make it as painless as possible."
The flesh and bones under her control twisted in various manners. Limbs and heads turned dangerously. The two sisters noticed that the Waterbender's veins thickened, but nothing could quench their fears and inability to understand this unexplained power.
Shui laughed at their pity. Ganbaatar and the others were on the verge of snapping their own necks, turning sideward beyond what was normally allowed.
"Time to say goodbye." Just before Shui could move her hands to kill them all, a golden fan pelted her spine. This strike decisively disrupted her bending, allowing the warriors to fall to the ground.
Mayumi looked at Satchiko, who despite being trapped in ice, could still throw projectiles at the acolytes. But that metal fan was the last one in her hand. Ganbaatar and his warriors were too weak to fight again immediately, leaving them rather defenseless.
"You!" Shui glared at Satchiko with murderous eyes. As Tu sat on the ground to cover his wound, the vengeful Waterbender stormed over to the two sisters.
Mayumi brandished her sword, preparing to defend her sibling at all costs. But this was futile as she felt her own body moving against her will.
"Mayumi!" Satchiko cried. Her concern is quickly turned into horror.
Mayumi involuntarily turned the blade against her own sister's throat, unable to resist this power. Both of them lost their wits. Just as those pirates couldn't comprehend their Chi-Blocking, now they are experiencing the same consequence of ignorance.
They couldn't understand the Waterbender's sorcery. But if that acolyte could somehow manipulate flesh by force, how can Mayumi resist when dozens of Batu's clansmen could not? Now is not the time to decipher this mystery. Obviously, that zealot intended to force Mayumi to kill Satchiko.
Satchiko stared at her sister, who is desperately trying to overcome this invisible hold. Of all the people who might harm her, Mayumi was the last one to be expected.
The Waterbending zealot was pleased by this sight, proclaiming the folly of those who resisted the Master. She then manipulated Mayumi's arms, preparing to swing the blade at Satchiko. The two sisters could only watch helplessly.
With her legs still frozen in ice, Satchiko raised her arms in hope that they might block the sword. But it would certainly be far more terrifying for Mayumi, who does not have control over this matter.
"Heh, pathetic." Shui clasped her hands. With much grimace, Mayumi swung at Satchiko.
The metal blade struck Satchiko's left wrist, slicing through the silk and into the flesh. Satchiko's expression froze, a mixture of fear and pain. But she is still alive.
"B-big sis?"
The blade stopped moving, and blood flowed down to drench the handle. But her sister's weapon hadn't completely severed her left hand.
Mayumi carefully withdrew the blade from Satchiko before collapsing to the ground. She fainted.
Holding onto her wounded left wrist, Satchiko stood helplessly. Just like Batu's clansmen, Mayumi also does not immediately recover from this power. She quickly noticed Shui, who was shot with an arrow, impaling her leg.
The zealot screamed in pain and fury. She quickly scanned the incapacitated warriors and archers, but none are left standing. After covering her wound with ice, she turned to see something that Tu had noticed. It was emerging slowly from the tree line.
A hulking figure marched into their presence. From head to toe, multiple overlapping lamellar were fastened together, almost impervious. Even the face was concealed. A rough description of what he is wearing would be a metal pagoda tower.
"W-who is that?" A severely weakened Tu asked.
Shui wasn't interested in asking questions. But before she could send forward a hail of ice shards, the heavily armored figure swung his saber, conjuring a powerful gust of wind that almost knocked Shui off her feet. It was sudden and forceful. In the grip of a robust gust, the grass and leaves came alive, bowing to the chaotic choreography. They fluttered and quivered, trembling as the air intensified. Some weaker trees became unrooted. Even the plants felt fear.
"Airbender," Shui hissed in disgust.
She tried to intimidate her foe. Yet, the armor's concealment of the wearer's face worked against that. As usual, the acolytes intended to exterminate Airbenders who did not receive their powers from the Master. But the two of them did not possess the same confidence they had moments ago.
Tu was the first to speak.
"Airbender, the Master is loving and forgiving. Turn away from the darkness and-"
"Shut up," the fully armored figure spoke in a deepened voice. Skipping the conversation, he charged without warning, forcing the two acolytes to react.
A hail of ice shards failed to penetrate the layers of metal. Tu reattempted his tactic, raising a wall of earth to halt this brazen attack. No normal human could break through this barrier.
Without any self-preservation, the armored behemoth simply rammed through it like a wooden fence, surprising the acolyte Earthbender.
Tu quickly manipulated the earth below to trap this foe's foot, allowing Shui to attack. But both had underestimated this seasoned warrior.
The man in metal raised the shield to block the strike, shattering the claws. He retaliated with a powerful gust that forced the Waterbender back, allowing himself to also regain a foothold.
Tu raised his arm in a defensive manner, frightened by the blade. "Wait! If you continue to oppose the Master, who is forgiving and merciful, you will truly cut yourself off from the Eternal Balance's blessing!"
The pair of eyes behind that armor are lifeless. Whoever this man might be, he was clearly not interested in the proclamation of the Master or the Eternal Balance.
The scimitar was swung at Tu. Shui slipped a stream of water at the weapon, freezing the blade. But the bulky acolyte couldn't rest. The frozen sword simply smashed its block of ice into his head, inducing a painful concussion.
Shui immediately resorted to her most potent method. She clawed her fingers, aiming at the hulking figure.
"Watch out!" Satchiko cried out to that unidentified warrior. "She can control your body!"
Her concerns are unwarranted. Somehow, Shui's previous power of manipulating flesh is no longer working.
The Waterbender stared at the sky, noticing the full moon was blocked by a cluster of clouds. She reacted with distress, remaining idle as the heavily injured Tu was about to be killed by the warrior's scimitar.
"Tu!" A voice cried from above.
Powerful fire streaked towards the armored man. He blocked it with ease by simply raising the shield. A young woman then landed nearby and quickly pulled her friend away from danger.
It was Huo, the Firebender. After saving Tu from a fatal attack, she regrouped with Shui.
"Where is Feng?"
"He will be here soon," Huo reassured.
The devoted woman looked at the armored figure with defiance. She immediately attempted to dissuade him from fighting, proclaiming her Master's teachings.
"Cease this insolence at once! Put down your murderous weapon and seek the Master's light! The Eternal Balance welcomes anyone who wishes to repent!"
Shui quickly warned the Firebender about the imminent danger. Upon realizing that there are Airbenders here who were not part of the Master's followers, Huo became perplexed. Shui voiced the desire to kill all the Airbenders there, to fulfill the Master's decree and punish all those who attained bending through demonic cultivation. But the Firebender demonstrated immense reluctance.
"Huo! What are you doing?" Shui challenged this inaction. "The Master specifically taught us the danger of such demonic cultivation! Those who obtained bending without his enlightenment must be destroyed!"
The Firebender was torn between two tasks. Either they escape with the two sisters, or they remain there to fight a foe who is too strong.
Tu also chimed in, insisting on imparting retribution upon those who walked a path without their Master's guidance. Hesitantly, Huo agreed to stay, intending to combine all their strength to defeat the heavily armored behemoth in order to remain consistent with the Master's absolute decree. As proud defenders of the Eternal Balance, fleeing from battle would be a great sin.
Huo burned her flames to increase their heat. Tu managed to stand up, and Shui slowly arrived at their side. They would do everything to bring down this Airbending behemoth and further the cause of the Eternal Balance.
"Where is Feng?" Tu asked Huo. "Can we take on that monster without him?"
"We can," Shui stated confidently. "He can't fight all three of us combined."
Huo watched the armored foe intensely. She was deeply angered by any Airbenders who cultivated bending without using the Master's teachings. Such creatures, who did not repent, are testing the Master's benevolence. The two sisters were already subdued, one trapped in ice while the other lay unconscious. With unfaltering courage and belief in their master's divine protection, they could surely overcome everything that stood against them.
"Are you two ready?" Huo asked her companions. "We will not hold back when facing those who challenge the Master's legitimacy in this world!"
Both Tu and Shui are determined. In their eyes are rays of hope and unending faith.
The heavily armored warrior looked at them from a distance, perhaps curious about what they intend to accomplish. In a sudden impulse, all three acolytes quickly parted ways. Shui ran toward the lake, where she can obviously gather a large body of water. As he prepared to move forward to stop that act, a fireball forced him to use the shield to block. Clearly, a diversion.
"Take this!" The black-haired girl yelled. A flame engulfed the heavy suit of lamellar armor. But it would take more to bring down this unstoppable warrior.
He charged toward Huo, swinging the saber at her. The Firebender punched out streaks of fire before evading backward, narrowly saving her head. While the flames did scorch the armor, they failed to penetrate the layers of steel. Regardless, her effort allowed Tu to sink the earth below to trap the man's legs.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Shui poured down a large amount of fluid on the foe and froze it in place.
The three of them could still sense the warrior's resistance, eventually smashing his way out of ice and earth.
"Shui, are you still able to blood bend?" Huo asked quickly.
After realizing that the full moon is no longer concealed by clouds, Shui affirmed her power. All would witness her demonstration. With rigorous concentration and a deep scowl on her face, Shui bent the warrior's body and immobilized him. But to their surprise, the armored behemoth is still capable of moving, albeit slowly. But this sluggish speed gave the Firebender a good opening.
Huo charged at their stationary enemy. The black-haired girl leaped high into the air. With a loud war cry, she sent forth a massive fireball toward her enemy.
"For the Master!" She yelled with absolute zeal. A large potent flame burst out of her palm.
The fire was so bright that Satchiko is blinded by just watching. Despite being positioned further away, she could sense intense heat across her skin. How could anyone survive such a potent attack? She saw the armored warrior raise his shield but was completely enveloped by the scorching force.
The young woman named Huo landed on the ground again. Greatly exhausted, she was prevented from falling over by Tu.
"You did it, Huo," Tu said reassuringly. Huo was on the verge of collapsing, no longer having any stamina left.
"No, we did it together." Huo said with a weak smile. "Our Master and friends will be proud. The Master is with us. By his power, we have defeated a powerful enemy while also bringing back the sisters to him."
"Yes, he will be proud." Tu said.
Before Shui could voice her own thoughts, the sound of metal clanking together was heard. A large shadow stood amongst the burning fire, unfazed by the heat. The three acolytes felt their blood run cold, dumbfounded.
The warrior spun around, swinging the blade to create a powerful swirl of air that dissipated the burning fire. The current also pushed back the wall of heat, forcing them toward the original sender.
"Huo!" Tu said with a worried tone.
Placing her two palms forward, she braved the incoming flames and held off their fierce intensity. Her face is sweating profusely, the skin on her hands started to peel off. She motivated herself by protecting her friends, fueling this endurance.
It took her a great deal of willpower to soldier through the wave of fire. But upon saving her friends from being harmed, the armored warrior is still a threat. Such potent Airbending is too great even for their combined powers.
The behemoth advanced toward them, brandishing a blade akin to one newly forged from fire. He glared at them with sternness, prompting Huo's rebuke.
"Your actions will be the cause of your people's demise!" Huo cursed from her dried mouth. "Never have we failed to accomplish a task set by him, and even if we are defeated, the Master will enact retribution upon your foul kin!"
Without any warning, the warrior slashed his saber at the Firebender. An already weakened Tu used his own body to block the strike. It's remarkable that he is still alive. Judging by his painful expression, suppressing that agony required a bountiful amount of faith and willpower.
Huo cried in worry as her injured friend fought the armored foe. The latter employed his blade, armor, and bending, overwhelming Tu with force. Shui tried to support by throwing countless shards, which bounced off the armor.
After exchanging blows, Tu received a forceful kick, exacerbating the multiple wounds across his chest.
"Master! Bless me with your power!" Tu incanted with emotion. He conjured a huge boulder and chucked it towards the armored man, intending to crush the enemy that impeded the Eternal Balance.
But even this sudden burst of faith did not account for the foe's power. A gust of wind overpowered the boulder's trajectory, sending it straight back to the acolyte. Although the impact did not directly injure the bulky young man, he was unbalanced and quickly ensnared by the armored warrior.
"Let him go!" Huo demanded, despite being unable to stand up herself.
"While I might be a bit insane, I am not completely unreasonable," Shui began. "Release Tu and let us go. If you comply, I will not harm this kid." Shui employed a more underhanded method. She picked up Batu's unconscious body, threatening to kill the boy if the warrior did not release Tu. To the Waterbender's dismay, the other party played the same game, using his own hostage.
But the acolytes failed to account for one factor. All three of them were too preoccupied with the main threat, turning their backs to the Kyoshi Warrior that was trapped in ice. The wave of heat repelled by the powerful Airbender made them temporarily forget their original mission. Even the hardest ice can still melt.
Tu was the first one to notice, but it was too late. A flash of green dashed to Shui's behind, jabbing the arm holding Batu. The Waterbender cried in pain and screamed at the audacious Kyoshi Warrior who dare to challenge the Eternal Balance.
Satchiko dodged multiple shards of ice sent after her. One of those pieces punctured her armor, but thankfully, it did not go through completely. As she bolted back to her sister's location, Huo gave chase. She laid down Batu and fought the weakened Firebender. Lacking both metal fans, she was compensated by the opponent's exhaustion.
Tu is torn between two sides. Shui's bending suddenly ensnared the armored warrior's flesh, slowing him down. The aid of the full moon empowered her. But Huo is more focused on desperately capturing the two sisters. Two goals are both difficult to accomplish. But it seems that the Firebender intends to at least salvage the situation, capturing the sisters and pleasing their Master.
Shui tried her best to hold off the behemoth. Huo's request for assistance further created a dilemma for Tu. But this indecisiveness would be the Earthbender's undoing, as he did not know how to utilize an opportunity that revealed itself. The Master's will must be respected and defended at all costs. But how can he fulfill this decree to annihilate the foul creatures while also accomplishing the mission?
"Tu! What are you doing? Help me!" Shui yelled for reinforcement. With only one unaffected arm, she could only temporarily delay the armored behemoth that is almost unstoppable. But Tu still hesitated. He saw the Firebender engaged in fierce combat with the Kyoshi Warrior, with the latter gaining the upper hand.
The Earthbender sought the Master's guidance, incanting a prayer to obtain an answer. But it was too late. Shui is suddenly impaled by the scimitar. The armored man managed to throw it despite being heavily restrained by the Waterbender's sorcery.
This immediately forced Tu to act. He tried to fight the Airbending monster but was completely outmatched. Not only had he been bested in bending, constant bashing and additional strikes by the weapons shattered his confidence. On the other side of the field, Satchiko managed to subdue the Firebender by jabbing at key pressure points. Seeing this predicament, the Earthbending acolyte received a burst of desperation, fighting with every ounce of his existence to further advance the Eternal Balance. They do not fear death, for there is no greater honor than dying for the Master's glory.
Huo froze. She heard the sound of a loud thrust. Upon turning around, she witnessed a blade protruding out of Tu's spine. She had been so preoccupied with fighting Satchiko that the well-being of her companions had been temporarily forgotten.
Before she can overcome the initial shock, the Firebender's head was pummeled with a shield.