I was but fifteen when I left my friends,
For distant climes to fight our Country's foe.
And now I'm eighty, back for the first time,
To see the home, I left so long ago.
Where is the house? I should be near it now,
Yet possibly I may have gone astray.
Long years abroad have blurred the youthful brain,
I'll ask this countryman to point the way.
The house is yonder, midst those grassy mounds,
Beneath the shade of fir and cypress trees.
And there lie buried all the kith and kin,
Of former tillers of these fallow leas.
The veteran sighed and wandered to the house,
And found it overgrown and desolate.
A startled hare fled through the kennel's hole,
And pheasants flew from ceiling beams ornate.
Exhausted by the journey and his grief,
The old man plucked some grain from patches wild,
And mallows from around the courtyard well,
As in the days when but a little child.
But when the homely fare was cooked and spread,
And not a friend to cheer the lonely place.
He rose, and going out to eastward gazed,
While tears flowed down his worn and furrowed face.
Donned in a full suit of mountain pattern armor crafted from overlapping plates, the figure gleamed beneath the sun's rays, his equipment catching the light in a dazzling display. Each plate of the metal suit is a testament to skilled craftsmanship, adorned with intricate designs of gold and silver that adorned the ornate torso plates. But it was the Lion Turtle pauldrons that truly set him apart. It is a symbol of honor and distinction reserved for those who had risen to the rank of an Earth Kingdom general.
Yet, despite the prestige of his attire, there is an undeniable audacity in the design of the figure's appearance. The armor was fashioned in a flamboyant style, its lines and curves hinting at a personality that dared to defy convention. A fully green cape billowed behind him, a symbol of his elevated status above that of a mere soldier. And though every inch of his body was encased in steel, not a single patch of skin remained exposed.
But it was the helmet that truly captured the eyes. It is a domed steel helm with folded neck flaps, adorned with a golden mask that obscured his true expression. Instead, the mask bore the visage of unchecked rage, a silent testament to the fury frozen to the flesh.
Indeed, the figure seemed to embody the very essence of a deity brought to life, a living embodiment of the stone statues that adorned the Earth Kingdom temples dedicated to spirits and folk heroes.
Silent and imposing, the heavily armored figure strode forward, each step resonating with the weight of his purpose. As he moved, the crunch of the steel boots squashing the skull of the fallen jawless soldier echoed through the frozen air, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. The Xiao Zhong cavalrymen, their spears aimed at him, hesitated to attack, backing away as he entered their midst. The mysterious figure is intent on retrieving the mighty glaive, the wide crescent blade itself soaked in crimson.
Satchiko watched in fearful anticipation as the heavily armored figure drew nearer, uncertainty shrouding his intentions. With a practiced motion, he pulled the glaive from the ground, using his cape to wipe away the blood before sharpening the weapon with a nearby rock. All the while, An Qing'en seethed with rage, demanding to know the identity of this intruder who dared to interrupt him.
"Who are you?" An Qing'en bellowed. "You dare attack me?"
The figure remained silent, unperturbed by An Qing'en's threats, his focus solely on sharpening the weapon. Frustrated by the lack of response, An Qing'en ordered his soldiers to attack, but chose to distance himself with the newly arrived.
Ten dismounted cavalrymen surrounded the figure with their spears poised for the kill. Upon hearing the signal, they simultaneously stabbed.
Mayumi witnessed it all. The stone used for sharpening is first dropped to the ground, and its user grasped the metal shaft with both hands. In a swift and fluid motion, the figure seized the glaive and swung it with tremendous force. Despite its apparent heft, the massive blade cleaved through the air in a deadly arc, shattering the spears and rending through the heavy armor of the soldiers with ease. Shock and horror gripped the onlookers as the cavalrymen were gruesomely cleaved into pieces with a single sweep of the glaive, bodies torn asunder with terrifying ease. Heads rolled and limbs scattered, crimson staining the sand as the glaive drank deeply of blood once more. The sheer force behind the swing rendered even the heaviest armor useless against its deadly trajectory.
Nearby Xiao Zhong cavalrymen grimaced in fear, knowing their own equipment offered little defense against the unstoppable force of the glaive. An Qing'en, infuriated by their cowardice, resolved to confront the meddler himself. But before he could once again harness the power of his metal monstrosity, General Li Zhu'er rode forward, his voice cutting through the chaos like a thunderclap.
"Stop this! Stop this asinine game at once!" Li Zhu'er's command rang out, arriving on his ostrich horse. The urgency palpable as he urged An Qing'en to cease the reckless pursuit. The Xiao Zhong general pleaded with the arrogant childe of Xiao Zhong to retreat, to reconsider his actions before it was too late.
But the youthful lord, fueled by pride and arrogance, refused to back down. His resolve unyielding in the face of opposition. With a defiant glare, he dismissed Li Zhu'er's pleas, unwilling to show weakness in front of his own men, especially not in the presence of his personal cavalrymen.
"I am Lord An Qing'en!" he declared boldly to the masked general, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Nephew of the undefeatable warrior An Lushan, and scourge of those Jian Xin dogs. If you have any semblance of honor, I suggest you kneel and beg for mercy. Unlike my men, I will not show leniency."
But the ornate figure behind the metal mask remained silent, simply holding glaive steady, the angry gaze fixed upon An Qing'en.
"That is no ordinary soldier!" Li Zhu'er interjected urgently, his voice tinged with fear. "He is the one who laid waste to the Western Air Temple!"
The revelation sent a chill through the air, surprising even Zaoju, who was accustomed to his superior's composed demeanor.
Undeterred by the ominous warning, An Qing'en pressed on, rallying his personal guards to his side. With a contemptuous sneer, he dismissed the warrior before him, intent on asserting his dominance over anyone who dared to challenge his authority.
"A mere upstart from Ba Sing Se is unworthy of facing me," An Qing'en proclaimed haughtily. "No matter how revered he may be among peasants, he is no match for the might of Xiao Zhong. I shall enjoy watching him being sundered by the hands of nameless people." With a wave of his hand, An Qing'en offered a hefty reward to his elite cavalrymen, tempting them with the promise of titles and lands should they succeed in bringing down the enigmatic warrior before them. It was a brazen display of arrogance, which has made him forgotten the original goal of capturing engineer Su Song. "First one who kills the Judge of Honghai shall be elevated to the rank of a marquess! I will personally grant him a fief worth ten thousand households!"
Those words did not only reach the ears of An Qing'en's personal soldiers. As the promise of wealth and power spread through the ranks of the Xiao Zhong army, stirring ambition and greed, chaos threatened to consume their ranks. General Li Zhu'er, recognizing the danger of the situation, swiftly issued orders to maintain discipline among his troops. Zaoju and the disciplined cavalrymen under his personal command were tasked with ensuring order, with the threat of execution looming over any who dared to violate Ba Sing Se's borders.
However, despite Li Zhu'er's efforts, the allure of the reward proved too tempting for many. Ignoring the warnings and consequences, a group of soldiers, driven by greed and desperation, lunged at the masked warrior like a pack of ravenous beasts. Numbered in hundreds, they are confident that their numbers can overwhelm all the peerless warriors under heaven.
"Judge of Honghai, give me your head!"
Among them, a lone spearmen charged blindly at the masked figure, his mind consumed by the promise of riches. But before his spear could find its mark, the glaive swung with precision, shattering the wooden shaft and leaving him defenseless. With a swift and decisive motion, the masked warrior seized him by the neck, a right-handed iron grip ensnaring the soldier aloft.
For a moment, the soldier's painful expression halted the advancing horde of opportunists, their greed momentarily subdued by the sight of their fallen comrade.
"S-stop!" the Xiao Zhong soldier struggled futilely as the grip tightened around his throat.
The Judge of Honghai regarded the man with unyielding anger, his gaze unwavering as blood spilled from the soldier's skin, staining the armored hand.
With a swift and decisive motion, the masked warrior drove the glaive through the soldier's abdomen, the blade slicing effortlessly through flesh and bone. With a single swing, he flung the lifeless corpse into the midst of the oncoming horde, a grim warning of the fate that awaited those who dared to challenge him.
But even as the fallen soldier's body struck down five of his comrades, the remaining Xiao Zhong troops surged forward, their lust for the promised reward overpowering their fear of death. Like a swarm of locusts, they descended upon the lone warrior, polearms raised high in a desperate attempt to overwhelm him.
As the glaive continued its deadly dance amidst the encircling enemy forces, the masked warrior remained steadfast, allowing the three hundred footmen to close in around him. Despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, not a single inch of the mighty weapon remained clean, its hefty blade carving through armor and flesh alike with ruthless efficiency. With each cumbersome swing, a symphony of agonized cries echoed across the battlefield as bodies were torn asunder by the unstoppable polearm.
Every motion of the glaive tore apart at least five Xiao Zhong soldiers, their blood staining the sand as they futilely attempted to pierce the ornate armor of their foe. Yet, the masked warrior wielded his weapon with to full potential, blocking countless strikes while delivering devastating counterattacks.
There was a simplicity to his approach, a raw force that defied the complexities of battle. With each swing, the glaive cleaved through shields and armor as though they are mere obstacles in its path. The shields wielded by the Xiao Zhong soldiers offered little resistance against the sheer force behind each blow, their attempts to defend themselves ultimately proving futile in the face of such overwhelming strength.
Meanwhile, the cavalrymen under the command of An Qing'en watched from a distance, choosing not to intervene in the conflict. Their reluctance drew much contempt from the madman within the giant metal humanoid, who had hoped they would join the fray. Instead, they remained on the sidelines, allowing their less professional counterparts to bear the brunt of the masked warrior's rage. Even if these expendable conscripts cannot exhaust the Ba Sing Se general, it would at least offer some knowledge of his polearm usage.
Their hesitations proved fatal as the glaive continued its relentless onslaught, cleaving through the audacious conscripts who dared to challenge the masked warrior. Heads and limbs rolled across the battlefield in a grim testament to the weapon's merciless efficiency, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake. As the last man stood defiant against the masked warrior, his effort was met with a swift and brutal end. With a mighty swing, the glaive slammed into his conical helmet with devastating blow, the impact causing his eyes to explode from their sockets in a gruesome display of violence. In an instant, his life was extinguished, his body joining the countless others who had fallen before him in the wake of the unstoppable glaive.
Despite the littered field strewn with the fallen, An Qing'en's cavalrymen remained motionless until their leader's fury ignited them into action. With a savage display of power, the metal humanoid seized one of his own, rending them asunder with a single swipe of his claw, a gruesome reminder of the consequences incurred by disobedience.
"Those who emulate my strength shall be rewarded," An Qing'en's voice boomed. "But those who dishonor my name shall be torn apart! For those cowards who fear a mere non-bender, I shall adorn my mecha-tank with your heads!"
Spurred on by this terrifying threat, the elite cavalrymen surged forward on their ostrich horses, their weapons brandished as they closed in on the Ba Sing Se general from all sides, swinging and stabbing at the glistening suit of armor.
Undeterred, the glaive-wielding warrior stood his ground, mighty swings cleaving through the charging cavalrymen with brutal efficiency. Bodies tumbled from their mounts as the heavy blade crashed into them, shattering heavy armor and bone alike. Despite the heavy lamellar, blunt force easily passed through the layers of steel.
As for the ones who survived the initial strike, the dismounted cavalrymen pressed on, their eyes fixed on the Ba Sing Se warrior encased in steel. Determined to claim the coveted title of marquess, they charged forward with reckless abandon.
Among them, a particularly bold warrior from Xiao Zhong emerged, his bravado evident as he taunted the Ba Sing Se sentinel with a cruel display. Using a ring of fingers and a menacing grin, he swung a massive changdao blade with deadly intent, aiming to sever the head of the Judge of Honghai and secure his place of honor among the elite.
The Judge of Honghai effortlessly deflected the elongated sword with the mountain pattern scales on his pauldron, exploiting the opening to drive the glaive through his audacious foe's chest. Lamellar scales splintered under the force of the hefty weapon's thrust, as the masked soldier proceeded to gruesomely tear open the Xiao Zhong cavalryman's torso. Horror gripped all who witnessed as he ripped apart ribs, extracting the spine after tearing out a beating heart.
This spectacle sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Xiao Zhong soldiers, instilling fear even in the two Kyoshi Warriors who wondered if they would emerge unscathed from the ordeal. With chilling finality, the Judge then stomped on his opponent's head, crushing the skull utterly. Moving swiftly to the next target, he drove the bony spine into another man's eye, cursing those who were unfortunate enough to witness it.
Even An Qing'en was momentarily stunned by the gruesome display, failing to notice the changdao hurtling at his direction. Like a javelin, the blade that is intended for cutting the legs of ostrich horses, punctured a vital part of the metal monstrosity. It impaled the arm that was ensnaring the brown-haired woman, causing a brief malfunction in its fully metallic flesh, granting the Kyoshi Warrior a small window for escape. With the metal claw slightly loosened, Mayumi wasted no time. After landing on the ground, she immediately pulled Satchiko away from the fray, not even attempting to retrieve her sister's last metal fan.
However, the entire area was sealed off by thousands of Xiao Zhong soldiers, forming thick layers of infantry that made escape seem impossible. Fortunately, their attention was not focused on the sisters. Thinking quickly, the duo positioned themselves in the center of the encirclement, aiming to seize another opportunity as the Judge of Honghai became the primary target.
They watched as the Ba Sing Se general continued to cut down any cavalrymen who tried to claim his life. After ensnaring another victim, he even reveled in their suffering by pressing his armored hands into the Xiao Zhong soldier's eyes, inflicting unbearable agony that shattered the spirits of An Qing'en's personal guards.
"That is enough!" Li Zhu'er's command sliced through the chaos as he reined his ostrich horse to An Qing'en's flank. "You will get us all killed! Lord An Lushan's edict was crystal clear, do not engage Ba Sing Se's forces, especially with this man!"
An Qing'en's retinue bore witness to the carnage as more of his personal guards fell, maimed or worse, by the relentless onslaught of the massive glaive. Blood and limbs painted a gruesome tableau across the expanse, a stark testament to the dire consequences of their folly.
Humiliated and incensed by this costly setback, An Qing'en's resolve hardened, his gaze burning with defiance as he rallied his remaining forces. With a thunderous bellow, he summoned the most formidable subordinates into the fray. Five towering Earthbenders, clad in imposing armor and wielding hammers that could crush men into mesh, answered the call.
"Those who can defeat the Judge of Honghai will etch their names in history," An Qing'en declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "I shall carve my legacy into the annals of history as the unrivaled champion of this era!"
The Earthbenders charged forth with mighty war cries, their steps resonating with the earth itself as they wrought massive chunks of terrain to assail their foe. Their hammers swung in a cacophony of destruction, heedless of the chaos surrounding them as they pursued their blood-soaked quarry. In their leader's unwavering thirst for glory, they found kindred spirits, willing to march into the abyss in pursuit of immortality.
Yet, despite their fervent assault and the needless sacrifice of many in their ranks, the lone warrior wielding the glaive seemed undisturbed. Standing his ground, the masked sentinel effortlessly shattering incoming boulders with the mighty polearm, before meeting the five berserkers in lethal melee.
The Judge of Honghai deftly parried a strike with the shaft of his glaive, standing resolute against the onslaught, refusing to retreat from the first brute that tried to smite the metal mask. To the astonishment of the Xiao Zhong leadership, the lone general not only held his ground but also managed to overpower his towering adversary, who loomed larger than life amidst the chaos. With a mighty chop that cleaved through the hulking waist, followed by a swift uppercut through the jaw, he dispatched the first of the five elite champions. The formidable lamellar armor offering little defense against the slow but lethal blows of the glaive.
The brutal efficiency of the Judge's strikes was evident as he systematically dismantled the remaining champions, their imposing stature no match for the merciless brute force of his weapon. Despite their towering sizes, flesh is still flesh, which can be easily torn apart.
An Qing'en seethed with impotent rage, his bloodshot eyes bearing witness to the swift demise of three more of his most prized warriors, their bodies mutilated by the masked figure's relentless assault.
The final champion put up a valiant fight, landing a blow on the Judge of Honghai's pauldron and prolonging the duel by constantly slamming the ground with the hammer, sending barrages of earthen shockwaves. Yet, even as the two warriors clashed with equal ferocity, the Judge's superior skill and strength prevailed. The glaive tearing through the thick armor like parchment, tearing apart the innards. Despite the grievous wounds inflicted upon him, the Xiao Zhong warrior refused to yield, prompting his adversary to unleash two consecutive swings with unrelenting force.
The first swing forward shattered the shaft of the champion's hammer, leaving him defenseless against the relentless momentum. With a single fluid motion, the glaive's second swing cleaved through the center of the champion's body, leaving him sprawled upon the ground. With grim determination, the Judge of Honghai raised his glaive high, poised to deliver the final, decisive blow upon his fallen foe's chest. Being close retainers to the bloodthirsty An Qing'en, their necklaces made from human ears did not go unnoticed.
The Xiao Zhong man raised his arm in a futile attempt to block the impending doom, but the Ba Sing Se soldier abruptly halted. The blade hung suspended, frozen in its deadly trajectory. A lone butterfly, its delicate wings kissed by the crimson hue of blood, alighted gently upon the stained steel, seemingly the sole reason for this inexplicable pause.
As the ephemeral visitor fluttered away, the glaive resumed its descent with unrelenting force, crashing down with a seismic tremor that obliterated the last of An Qing'en's elite guards.
With the glaive now bathed in the crimson testament of its ferocity, the Ba Sing Se soldier silently issued a personal challenge to An Qing'en. This message was underscored as he callously stepped upon the hand of a crawling Xiao Zhong cavalryman, who tried to escape after losing the lower part of his body.
The man's anguished cry pierced the heavens before the glaive's edge swiftly silenced it, severing skull from spine in a grim display of retribution. To compound the punishment, the Judge of Honghai casually trod upon the fallen banner of Xiao Zhong, his iron boots desecrating the dark green rectangular flag emblazoned with the symbol of 燕.
An Qing'en's fury finally erupted like a tempest unleashed. With his personal guards now strewn upon the blood-soaked earth, victims of the relentless onslaught of one man, he disregarded General Li Zhu'er's counsel of retreat. Instead, consumed by madness and vengeance, he charged headlong at his adversary. The madman's screams echoed across the battlefield as he swung the metal claws of his giant suit, aiming to crush his foe beneath the unstoppable wheels of his rage-fueled assault.
Standing firm in the path of the humanoid machine, the man behind the metallic mask made no move to evade. Instead, he readied the glaive as An Qing'en finally closed in, both warriors swinging their respective weapons with deadly intent. The clash resounding in a thunderous cacophony that reverberated through the air.
The polearm's blade met the claws head-on, a parry defying the laws of mortal capability. An Qing'en's astonishment was palpable, yet the shame of being unable to swiftly dispatch what he presumed to be a non-bender fueled his determination to rectify this perceived humiliation.
Amidst the throng of onlookers, a mixture of fear and awe gripped their hearts as the Judge of Honghai single-handedly deflected and parried the onslaught of the giant claws. The duel between man and machine unleashed seismic shockwaves that rippled through the ground, unsettling even the steadfast ostrich horses.
Though the Ba Sing Se sentinel showed no signs of exhaustion in this otherwise lethal encounter, An Qing'en's desperation mounted with each passing moment. The scion of the Xiao Zhong warlord teetered on the brink of madness, grappling with the agonizing sensation of powerlessness in the face of an adversary devoid of bending prowess.
"Meet your end!" An Qing'en roared, his maneuvers growing increasingly reckless as he sought to bring an end to the duel and salvage his dwindling prestige. With a forceful thrust, he aimed to impale the Judge of Honghai, but the masked warrior deftly sidestepped, allowing the claw to embed itself deep into the sand, a testament to the futility of An Qing'en's vendetta.
An Qing'en's panic surged as he struggled in vain to extricate the metallic limb from the unforgiving grasp of the earth. Seizing the opportunity, the glaive descended with calculated precision, cleaving through the weakest point of the giant humanoid and severing the limb from its metal torso. Shock coursed through An Qing'en as he attempted to retaliate, desperation driving him to futilely pummel his adversary with the remaining arm of the giant suit, only to meet the same fate as before, but impaled by the glaive.
The Judge of Honghai, ever astute, exploited An Qing'en's arrogance, ripping apart the suit's final claw with brute force, leaving the Xiao Zhong scion defenseless and exposed.
"Stop this!" An Qing'en trembled slightly as he struggled to pilot his metal monstrosity out of harm's way. But his efforts were in vain as the glaive punctured the circular glass, shattering it upon impact. Unlike his previous fervor for battle, the scion recoiled as a heavily armored arm reached for the cockpit, seizing him with unyielding strength. An Qing'en's screams echoed across the battlefield as he was dragged out, skin lacerated by the jagged edges of broken glass. As expected of a man who placed unwavering faith in the machinery's supposed impenetrable exterior, he neglected to don any form of armor. The once regal dark green silk garments offered scant protection against the razor-sharp fragments, easily torn asunder by their relentless onslaught.
The Judge of Honghai seized him by the collar, his metallic visage an ominous specter of retribution as he held An Qing'en captive in his grasp. The glaive, still stained with the blood of countless victims, poised ominously, promising further carnage.
Cornered and defenseless, An Qing'en's pride and courage faltered, replaced by a desperate bid for survival. With his fate hanging in the balance, he grasped at any shred of hope, the once formidable facade crumbling in the face of impending doom.
Like any nobleman of prominent lineage, An Qing'en sought to leverage his familial ties to An Lushan in order to sway the armored sentinel in his favor. His first gambit appealed to the ancient customs and rites of the Earth Kingdom, asserting that a peasant without title or fief had no right to harm those of noble lineage. However, the Judge of Honghai remained unmoved, his grip on An Qing'en's collar unyielding.
Undeterred, An Qing'en's second attempt was more overt, tempting the masked warrior with promises of vast lands to establish his own fiefdom, crates of gold to secure his wealth for a lifetime, and most despicably, offering women from Xiao Zhong to serve as concubines. Yet, even as the words dripped from An Qing'en's lips, coated in a thin veneer of false allure, the hand around his neck tightened in silent rebuke.
Before further negotiations could ensue, the sudden arrival of two hastily approaching figures disrupted the precarious standoff. With swift reflexes, the Judge of Honghai released An Qing'en and turned his metal mask towards the newcomers. Brandishing the glaive menacingly, it is pointed at two women.
Satchiko and Mayumi, frozen in fear, sought to convey their peaceful intentions. But their words fell upon deaf ears as the glaive swung towards their necks. Only their reflexes, honed through years of rigorous training as Kyoshi Warriors, spared them from certain death as they dodged the lethal blow.
A resounding clang echoed through the air as a giant ballistic bolt was deflected back towards its origin. The Kyoshi Warriors realized with mounting dread that the main host of Xiao Zhong was stirring, their archers and siege weapons positioning themselves at the forefront, poised to unleash a deadly barrage.
An Qing'en's desperate attempt to crawl back to Li Zhu'er's army was abruptly halted as the glaive's shaft mercilessly pummeled both his legs, eliciting anguished yelps and screams as he collapsed to the ground. The bones on both legs bent, ensuring this man becoming a cripple.
From the ranks of the main Xiao Zhong forces, a group of cavalrymen surged forth with lances. Any arrows that managed to find their mark on the Judge of Honghai simply glanced off his glistening steel armor, their futile attempts at penetration met with the resilience of the hardened mountain pattern scales and overlapping plates.
A man wielding a trident charged forth on his ostrich horse, conjuring fire in his spare hand, prompting the Kyoshi Warriors to quickly assume defensive stances in anticipation of the impending clash.
However, instead of meeting the onslaught head-on, the Judge of Honghai calmly strode towards An Qing'en, using the crippled man as a shield. This simple yet underhanded maneuver effectively halted the advance of the Firebender and the group of cavalrymen, their momentum stymied by the precarious hostage situation.
"What do we do now?" Mayumi's voice quivered with uncertainty as she addressed the heavily armored figure before them. With the Xiao Zhong general having decisively ordered his soldiers to form a large circle around the area, escape seemed all but impossible. The enigmatic nature of the Judge of Honghai left them grappling with the unsettling question of whether they too might face death for reasons unknown. Yet, the decision to leverage An Qing'en as a hostage succeeded in preventing the Xiao Zhong army from unleashing a barrage of arrows or other deadly attacks that could have also ended the madman's life.
An Qing'en's pitiful whimper echoed across the battlefield, a stark contrast to his once proud demeanor, prompting the seven thousand-strong Xiao Zhong forces to take notice. His brief respite came with the arrival of Li Zhu'er, the lone general of the Xiao Zhong forces, who approached the masked sentinel with a demeanor of contrition, seeking to rescue the nephew of a state's ruler.
"My deepest apologies," Li Zhu'er bowed his head respectfully towards the masked man. "Young master An Qing'en is still a youthful childe, prone to playful indiscretions and irresponsibility. You are a peerless warrior, I implore you to forgive his juvenile transgressions. Our governor remains steadfast in his desire to forge an eternal friendship with Ba Sing Se, it is the missteps of his subordinate that have failed to honor this vision. As the general overseeing this young man's expedition, I will accept responsibility for failing to control his childish impulses."
"Childish impulses?" Satchiko's voice cut through the air with righteous indignation, not even allowing the Judge of Honghai to speak first. "What kind of childish impulses would kill so many innocent people?" Her words dripped with scorn as she challenged Li Zhu'er's attempt to downplay the gravity of An Qing'en's actions. "People who kill others for fun are not allowed to live, especially this one right here!""
Contrary to his previous bravado, An Qing'en trembled at the harsh rebuke delivered by the teenage girl. Stripped of his armor and faced with the stark reality of his deeds, the once proud scion of Xiao Zhong yearned for nothing more than to preserve his own fragile existence.
"The rank of marquess... no, the rank of state prime minister if anyone can get me out of here!" An Qing'en's desperate pleas echoed across the battlefield as he offered enticing promises to spur the Xiao Zhong forces into action. "I would even give away my own sister to whoever rescues me!"
However, it was clear to everyone present that the one person who would not allow An Qing'en to escape is the Judge of Honghai himself. Though his emotions are concealed behind a metallic facade of frozen rage, he would surely notice the gruesome array of severed heads and limbs adorning the giant metal humanoid, mostly taken from women and children. Without the monstrous contraption that fueled An Qing'en's bloodlust, his facade of invincibility crumbled, revealing nothing more than a defeated ruffian vanquished by Ba Sing Se's war hero.
Yet, there is another individual who bore responsibility for the atrocities committed. If An Qing'en was allowed to pillage and murder peasants, then someone had allowed these heinous acts. If there are eyes behind that metallic golden mask, it would have turned to Li Zhu'er, the Xiao Zhong general. Though no aura radiated from the glistening suit of armor, the Kyoshi Warriors sensed a palpable tension in the air, a subtle tinge of murderous intent seemed to emanate from the Judge of Honghai.
Before any further words could be exchanged, an arrow pierced Li Zhu'er's right shoulder, eliciting a cry of pain from the general. The thunderous galloping of ostrich horses reverberated across the battlefield, drawing the attention of all present. The air was rent with the hideous and high-pitched screams reminiscent of the infamous battle cries uttered by various steppe nomads, instilling fear in the hearts of all who heard them.
A platoon of mounted archers thundered across the earth, their steeds guided with precision and unparalleled speed as they unleashed volleys of arrows from their composite bows. The deadly rain of projectiles impaled a section of the encirclement, cutting down many spearmen and creating a gap in the Xiao Zhong formation. Following closely behind, a heavily armored chariot pulled by four ostrich horses, charged forth with its momentum bolstered by the ferocity of its riders.
Mounted warriors with double-feathered helmets and lamellar suits poured into the breach, their enthusiasm for battle resounding through the air as they clashed with the Xiao Zhong forces. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure with a penchant for growing large beards charged into the fray, brandishing a scimitar with wild abandon. With a scream that echoed across the battlefield, he descended upon Zaoju, catching the Firebender off guard with his speed and lack of self-preservation. Though Zaoju managed to fend off the daring attack with his trident, the nomad soldier swiftly retreated, leaving confusion in his wake among the nearby Xiao Zhong soldiers.
The mounted archers continued their onslaught, spinning in circles as they unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, forcing Li Zhu'er and the Firebender to retreat temporarily as they are being pelted endlessly. Even An Qing'en found himself tormented by their departure, left to rue their absence.
"Good to know you started without us!" The leader of the mounted archers arrived, a wry grin on his face as he surveyed the battlefield strewn with the corpses of Ba Sing Se border guards. "Like I said, the boys here couldn't handle it." His jest, though laced with humor, carried an obvious hint of truth.
The Judge of Honghai remained silent as he forcefully dragged An Qing'en onto the chariot, securing the man's legs with metal chains that connected to the vehicle's handles. With a pointed gesture of his glaive, he signaled for the reluctant Kyoshi Warriors to step on the platform.
Mayumi held Satchiko's hand and leapt onto the war machine without hesitation. Satchiko, seizing the opportunity, delivered a forceful stomp to An Qing'en's jaw, eliciting a pained scream and a spatter of blood.
"Don't overdo it, kid," Qibi Heli chuckled. "The general won't be pleased if you kill this swine too quickly."
The Kyoshi Warriors glanced back at the masked man, only to notice a heavily shielded war wagon thundering towards them from behind. It resembled a 'Gate blocking knife cart', its body bristling with spikes and steel plates to withstand arrow fire. Clearly intending to deliver a lethal blow to the Judge of Honghai from his blind spot, the war wagon charged with deadly purpose.
Perplexed by the lack of concern from nearby Ba Sing Se soldiers, Satchiko nearly attempted to warn the masked sentinel herself. However, her warning died on her lips as she watched the Judge's personal steed stampede towards the oncoming war wagon. With a powerful ram of its steel horn, the beast shattered the wooden frames and tore the war machine to pieces. Xiao Zhong soldiers inside were either crushed by falling metal plates or trampled to death by the rampaging creature. One unfortunate soul met a grisly fate, impaled on the horn before being flung aside, his lifeless body torn asunder by the creature's canine-like jaw.
Both Satchiko and Mayumi looked more closely, realizing that the strange amalgamation of various animal features was actually armor. Beneath this imposing and grandeur disguise lay a plain brown ostrich horse, albeit a member of a much larger breed often used to form some of Earth Kingdom's heaviest cataphracts.
However, their temporary awe was quickly soured when they witnessed the ostrich warhorse devouring the severed human arm. Even more gruesome was its continued voraciousness, tearing into the Xiao Zhong soldier's stomach and pulling out his innards. Despite Mayumi's attempt to shield Satchiko's eyes, the younger sister strangely showed little reaction. She stared without much emotion, unsure whether to be fascinated or repulsed by the grotesque display.
After the Judge of Honghai mounted the tall and sturdy ostrich warhorse, the group departed, aiming to retreat back towards the walls. As Xiao Zhong soldiers attempted to fill the gap and block their escape, the mounted Ba Sing Se archers unleashed a volley of arrows, precisely impaling anyone who dared to obstruct their path.
To further demonstrate their disdain for any who tried to impede their progress, the war chariot charged through the enemy lines, impaling those who had not yet managed to ready their spears. The five charioteers did not pause for a second, and the Kyoshi Warriors can only take cover from the carnage by lowering their heads. The charioteers showed no hesitation as they swung their dagger-axes like reaping tools, the force of the chariot's speed rendering even the heaviest armor useless against their onslaught. Screams of men filled the air as the chariot left a trail of blood and severed limbs in its wake. It became apparent to Mayumi that the chariot's wheels were fitted with rotating blades, making the driver perhaps the deadliest member of the five-man team.
With one final push, the chariot and the mounted Ba Sing Se soldiers broke out of the encirclement, disappearing into the dense desert fog. This prompted the leaders of the Xiao Zhong army to hastily decide their next course of action.
"Father!" Zaoju rode quickly towards the injured general.
In the presence of multiple officers, Li Zhu'er extracted the arrow embedded in his shoulder. It is a dangerous act, given the risk of further blood loss without proper medical attention. But there is no luxury of time to return to Xiao Zhong for recovery.
"General, we mustn't advance deeper into Ba Sing Se," advised a colonel. "The news of this incident will eventually reach the Upper Ring, and Jian Xin will surely attempt to use it to form an alliance to crush our state!"
The chaotic nature of the border incident only increased the likelihood of such a dangerous scenario. Even the headstrong Zaoju concurred with this initially prudent approach.
"Then let me ask you all, do you think An Lushan would spare us after his nephew is captured under our watch?" Li Zhu'er's words hung heavy over the cohort. No matter the merit they had accumulated from battles against Jian Xin's forces, the crime of endangering a relative of the ruling clan would warrant a fate worse than death. Failure to retrieve the engineer Su Song meant disgrace and losing An Lushan's favor, but being considered responsible for his nephew's demise meant losing their heads. With the Judge of Honghai having already crippled An Qing'en physically, diplomatic negotiations seemed futile.
"The blood of twenty thousand corsairs spiritually tainted the Western Air Temple," Li Zhu'er's voice carried an ominous tone as he spoke of their prospects. "Do you truly think that man will spare our young lord?"
The moment An Qing'en is killed would also mark their own punishment by An Lushan for supposed negligence. If the governor were a benevolent ruler fitting the idealistic image proposed by the Earth Sages, there might be no cause for fear. But in the two decades of conflict with their neighboring state of Jian Xin, entire armies of Xiao Zhong men have been executed for displeasing the hulking warlord. From failing to loot enough wealth through pillages to allowing captured women to escape, An Lushan can be just as cruel to his own subjects. Li Zhu'er himself has allowed men to pillage cities simply to satisfy their governor's desires. Moreover, their families reside in Xiao Zhong's capital. Fleeing to another state or attempting rebellion would mean the immediate demise of their loved ones living close to An Lushan's personal palace.
"If we fall honorably in battle, at least our wives and children might not be immediately butchered," Li Zhu'er sighed. "It's harder for them to be killed since we all tried to rescue An Qing'en."
With little time for further contemplation, Li Zhu'er swiftly issued multiple orders. They must either successfully rescue An Qing'en and save themselves from An Lushan's wrath, or face their demise at the hands of Ba Sing Se. A detachment of a hundred light cavalrymen was immediately ordered to pursue the departing Ba Sing Se soldiers, riding into the dense fog, uncertain of what lies on the other side.
Before leading the remaining troops deeper into the heart of Ba Sing Se's territory, Li Zhu'er meticulously orchestrates preparations to steel his men for an impending clash against overwhelming odds. Ba Sing Se is a vast dominion that stands as one of the largest states since the fracturing of the Earth Kingdom into myriad fiefdoms led by petty warlords. It casts a looming shadow over the neighboring realms of Xiao Zhong and Jin Xin. Within its formidable borders, a dormant hegemon observes with watchful eyes as its former provinces descend into fractious discord. The mere contemplation of confronting the colossal legions marshaled by Ba Sing Se's overwhelming manpower is enough to send tremors of doubt through the hearts of the bravest warriors. Advised by the counsels of the Earth Sages in Xiao Zhong, Li Zhu'er is acutely aware that the deployment of even a single division from Ba Sing Se would eclipse the combined might of both Xiao Zhong and Jin Xin.
In a bid to fortify the morale of his seven thousand soldiers, Li Zhu'er dispatches the valiant warrior Zaoju to rally their spirits. Mounted upon his steed, Zaoju traverses the ranks of the Xiao Zhong infantry, his fiery rhetoric igniting a fervor among the soldiers. With an impassioned speech, he disparages Ba Sing Se's legions, painting them as mere lawmen fixated solely on numerical superiority rather than the indomitable spirit of individual warriors. Contrasting the seasoned veterans of Xiao Zhong, whose valor has been honed through decades of strife, Ba Sing Se's soldiers are scorned as lethargic and feeble outside the sheltering embrace of their fortress walls. With audacious bravado, Zaoju even dismisses the Judge of Honghai as a mere paper tiger, boldly proclaiming his intent to seize the head of this purported charlatan.
"I will personally vanquish him!" Zaoju declared with thunderous resonance. "Beneath the celestial canopy, I have yet to encounter a soul capable of enduring five strikes from my trident!" With a flourish, he raised the formidable weapon skyward, a gesture that stirred the hearts of all but the most hardened Xiao Zhong soldiers, who bore scars from witnessing the grim spectacle of the masked sentinel's gruesome exploits.
With this final act of rallying fervor, Li Zhu'er issued the command for the army to advance. However, before disappearing into the swirling mist himself, he entrusted a sealed missive to a messenger mounted upon an ostrich horse. Curiously, the intended recipient is not the governor of Xiao Zhong.