Tournament

With that, my last 2 months of training have successfully passed, and now I am on my way to the capital with Uncle Nozo.

We have arrived in the capital 2 days before the start of the tournament and stayed in a pretty cheap inn in the Harbor city. It actually is sort of interesting how the Capital was made inside of the volcano – this way it would be practically impossible to assault it just like Ba Sing Se. Though I think it is pretty interesting how all the elite and nobles live on top of a dormant volcano.

Obviously, all the important places were located inside the Royal Caldera City (volcano city), so we had to take a long walk to get to the Arena and check it out.

Arena turned out to be massive coliseum just like the movies, with a special VIP booth and a designated seat for the Fire Lord. I don't know what type of events could be happening here in the Arena but perhaps they also have regular shows or fighting battles besides firebending tournaments? Probably.

Talking of new skills that I have developed in the last 2 months, there are quite a few actually:

- Scorch Release: Blazing Pellets – disk from which I send off scorch release bullets

- Scorch Release: Scorching Wave Blast – condense orbs in one hand, to shoot a massive ray of scorch release chakra.

- Scorch Release: Demon Lantern: creates 10 scorch release orbs smaller in size than regular orbs that can be controlled with mind and can detonate in mid-air. Allows to look badass by soloing and opponent without a single move. This was my primary bet to impress the audience during my fights since I can look just like Gaara during chuunin exams.

- Scorch Release: Heavenly Desert – enhanced version of Karakum Desert technique, but it is just a ring instead of a disk however the ring is constantly spinning giving off even more heat. Also it makes a really strange sounds as if a huge snake would be hissing.

Overall, I can say I was more than prepared to stomp the competition and show myself as a new prodigy firebender. The fact that everyone in the competition would be many years older than me, would only serve me well because a kid beating up 18 year olds would do something like this.

***

Azula's POV:

- C'mon Ty Lee, Mai. You need to come to watch Young Firebender tournament with me.

- Why should I? It is not like there will be anything interesting there, - said Mai

- Because my dad promised to give me something if I come. I can't come without my best friends, can I?

- You are right, Azula! Me and Mai would be happy to accompany you for the duration of the tournament. Maybe we can even find some cute guys there, too?

- Probably not. We are just 9 year olds, but my father always told me that the tournament is for people up to 19 years of age, - said Mai.

- There still is a chance that we can find a cute guy there, Mai. I know that is what you want! – answered Ty Lee.

- No, stop making me think about guys…

- Pleeeeease, Mai, - said Ty Lee

- Fine, I'll come and watch with you. But that's it.

***

With that, it was a finally the day of the competition. A total of 64 competitors have been included in the first round. That meant that the total around of fights would have been around 63 so, it was obvious that there won't be a whole arena presented for a single fight, but multiple at the beginning.

The way it worked was that in the morning we had 4 fights that went simultaneously in the Arena. 32 competitors have been eliminated in the first round. Now it was just 32 people, so after that we had 16. A total of 3 hours have passed, and more and more people have started coming to the Arena. I guess the main purpose is that as time would go by more and more people would come to check it out.

Starting from the 32 people, it has been a case that only one pair would be fighting in the Arena. "Warmup" matches were over so one can even say that it was time to show off.

Considering how my first opponent went down almost immediately,

*Flashback*

- Fight! – was all I heard before crossing arms Gaara-style with a smug face and a smile, then letting Scorch Release: Demon Lantern do the job. First it was important to counteract all the firebending attacks sent my way by blowing them up with a single lantern, after which I was able to mentally torture my opponent by chasing them down with my scorch release orbs. Unfortunately for him, those orbs of mine are instant kill, so he at least can say that he went down like a true warrior.

Judge's POV

- Ahhmhm… Winner is Obi! – what is this kid?! He barely moved and controlled those fire orbs like nothing. They even don't have a regular color – what is this white-pink color that they seem to have? Man, I am getting paid to little to think about this…

*End of Flashback*

I must also say that I was not so impressed with the firebenders present. I hoped that the final opponent would bring a challenge so that I can look even better in the eyes of the audience.

Anyways, now I am sure some people saw me performing in the "group" stage, but the most important part is to show off when the whole Arena is only focused on you. Fortunately for me, it was my turn against some huge 1.9 m tall guy who already had a beard.

The whole Arena was excited since this was the first fight since the group stage, and I also was able to visually confirm that the girl that I hoped to be here today was indeed present and was sitting quite far away from Azulon's lounge along with her friends.

Azula's POV

- Finally, first real fight! I hope this will be exciting.

Ty Lee's POV

- Why is that small guy going to fight that monster? He will lose.

Mai's POV

- As sad as this would be, I hope this kid at least survives the fight.

MC's POV

Since I am the first one to fight, I guess I will gradually escalate my skills with every fight. Since I already showed Scorch Release: Demon Lantern already, I decided to use it along with Scorch Release: Blazing Pellets in the end. Most important goal is to show how easy it is for me to repel their attacks, then just finish off my opponents with a quick death.

- Next fight would be Obi against Roju.

- Fight!

- Why are you looking at me like that, kiddo? If you give up right now, you won't have to get hurt. I know your mommy won't be happy if I cripple you, haha.

- I can't tell if you are scared or simply too stupid. I hold no grudge against you, but the rules of competition allow me to kill opponents and that is what I will be doing today, even if I don't like it - I said with some extra smug face holding hands in front of my chest.

- Kill me? I would like to see you try it, kid, - he said right before launching straight firebending attacks.

- Scorch Release: Demon Lantern, - was the only thing that I said before barely shifting my fingers so that 10 scorch release orbs appeared around me and started intercepting all his fire attacks and creating explosions in mid-air. It seemed like the whole Arena was now filled with all explosions and audience was in shock at the display.

My opponent understood the futility of his attempts at some point, and now decided to approach me into melee combat.

- A grave mistake, - I thought before releasing my Gaara-stance and making a motion of my right hand like I threw an invisible ball directly upward to create a mid-size Scorch Release orb. After that I immediately sent Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder at him. Unfortunately, he was unable to dodge with the maneuverability and speed of my orbs, so he instantly died when my orb hit him, and he became a blackened corpse.

- Winner is Obi!

Azula's POV

- How is he bending without moving?

Ty Lee's POV

- He… He killed him…

Mai's POV

- That death was totally unnecessary...

Ozai's POV

- Such skill and ferocity… That kid could definitely become one of the future Royal Guards.

MC's POV

And just like that, I left everyone speechless right from the bat. Now, all I need to show some tricks here and there and I would get a Royal Guard's invitation without any problem. Now I should just go back and wait for my next fight…

***

- Next fight is Obi against Masu. Can contestants please come to the arena, - haha this Masu seems to be quite young too – he is probably 16 years old max. Though, I do feel a bit sad that I will have to end his life, but he signed up when he came to this competition.

- Fight!

- Scorch Release: Blazing Pellets, - is all I say before a huge disk of pure white flame with pink-orange hue appears in front of me, after which a barrage of scorch chakra bullets is released on my opponent.

- What is this?! – is I hear before he starts rapidly dashing around Arena trying to not get caught by a single bullet since he, just like everyone else, remembers the effect that white fire has on people – immediate death.

- You know you can give up, buddy. I don't want to kill you.

- I give up! I give up! Stop it! – immediately when he says that I stop the technique and smile to the referee.

- Winner is Obi! – was all I heard when I tried to find the girl this whole demonstration was dedicated to.

Azula's POV

- That is no ordinary bending

Arena POV

- Oh my god, how is he doing that?

- This is literally impossible! How he controls all these orbs just like that?

***

With that, I had to fight in two more fights where I showed my Demon Lantern once again along with Scorching Wave Blast before I was moved directly to the final round. That was when everyone saw the Fire Lord himself arrive and take place in his personal lounge like a Roman Emperor.

When it was the time for the final fight, I knew that with almost 80% of my chakra remaining, I can put quite a show:

- Final fight is about to start! Can Obi and Yao come to arena?

After those words I decided to flex a little more and walk with 20 apple sized orbs floating around me like some planets to the arena. Everyone at this point already knew that I was not to be underestimated by anyone because of my unique bending style and the fact that everyone except the guy who gave up, turned into lifeless blackened corpses. Yao, 18 year old firebending prodigy showed amazing amount of skill and considering the determination he has on his face, he believes he has some answers to my techniques. Hehe.

- Do any contestants have anything to say before the start of the final fight of the Firebender tournament?

- I do actually, - this is it, the moment I waited for.

- Go on

- I just wanted to say that I dedicate my whole performance and my future awesome victory to one really pretty and kind girl that I saw today sitting in the audience. I hope when later I ask you for a date, you won't turn me down. That's all, - I said with shy smile to appear as childlike as possible. Though it is debatable how can one be so deadly yet so innocent at the same time.

- That was quite a speech young man. What about you, Yao?

- No, thanks. Sorry kid, but that girl of yours will have to see your humiliating defeat.

- We'll see about that, old man.

Mothers' POV

- Ooooohhhh, that's so sweet.

- This young boy could even take my heart away

- So strong, yet so innocent.

Fathers' POV

- Good job, young man. She's totally yours now. Just don't fail the last fight.

- Hahaha, that is a ladies' man right there.

Ty Lee's POV

- Oh my god, is he talking about me? I mean he is kinda cute.

Azula's POV

- He is definitely talking about me. Pretty and kind? There is no one who is more pretty and more kind than me here! There is no way he would even think about someone else once he saw me. Once I get myself a firebender that would be as strong as this one, no one will be able to stop me!

Mai's POV

- Pfff.. What a showoff… Why did he say it like that? Now I know for sure that it isn't me. Why did I even think that it could be me? How can someone even choose me over Azula or Ty Lee? Haha...

Ozai's POV

- It must be Azula. Once I recruit this kid in the future, Fire Nation will be the strongest of them all!

MC's POV

- Fight!

- Scorch Release: Heavenly Desert! – I say, right before all 20 orbs around me combine into a huge one above my head and turn into a ring of white fire that is rotating extremely rapidly.

My opponent is wary of what is going on, so he tries to run away in hope of me not hitting him with whatever I am preparing to do. However, I would be aiming at the audience with my first jutsu.

Now the size of the ring is the size of the arena, and it is rotating even faster than before. Everyone is already heavily sweating under absolutely immense amount of heat that is produced by Heavenly Desert technique. I even see Fire Lord removing sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. This is total success!

Ozai's POV

- How is this even possible?! Such talent my be secured by the Royal Family!

MC's POV

- Scorch Release: Demon Lanterns – I whisper before going back to the classic Gaara-stance and a smug face. 20 Demon Lanterns now appear to stand in form of the wall in front of me to intercept every single attack that my opponent may send. My opponent is now scared for his life, because he now understands that we are simply far too away in terms of pure skill. The Heavenly Desert rotating on top of arena doesn't help him at all.

He tries to show at least something, by sending some fireballs at my wall, but I send my scorch release orbs at them at impossible speed so that the fireballs themselves explode almost in the face of Yao.

- You should give up, Yao. I don't want to kill you – you are no match for me. Haha.

- Shut up! – he cries before starting to send more and more of his attacks from his knuckles, but to no success as every single one of them is getting intercepted by me. He is now extremely exhausted and is totally out of breath, so he drops on his knees involuntarily and only says:

- I give.. – then he falls face first into the ground, - up… - now I decide is the most to do it.

- Scorch Release: Great Steaming Explosive Blast, - is all I say before merging as many orbs and possible, even summoning some extra ones to create this huge ball of insanely hot white fire with a height of at least 4 meters. Now, I use this as a initial orb for my final technique – Scorch Release: Scorching Wave Blast – and create a huge ray of flame going high in the sky

At this point my Heavenly Desert technique is dissipated, and I look directly at the absolutely mind blown audience to find my future waifu and point an index finger at her.

As expected, Azula believes that it is she I am pointing at, and gestures to confirm if that is the case by pointing her fingers at herself. To that, I respond with shaking my head, and showing to the right with my index finger. Now, Azula is extremely surprised and even somewhat angry and hesitantly points at Mai with Mai also pointing fingers at herself. Now, I nod and show a heart with both of my hands and wink at Mai, to which she blushes and drops her jaw to the floor. Now all three look at me like I have grown a second head, but I can't even think how much I would pay to hear them right now. Haha.

- Heh… The winner of the Young Firebender tournament is Obi! – and audience finally comes back to reality and everyone starts clapping.

I guess I did quite well after all…

Azulon's POV

- Impressive, impressive. I haven't this type of firebending in my life. I can only imagine how strong he will be once he grows up. A 9-year-old winning the tournament… This must be a blessing of Agni to help us against the Earth Kingdom in war. I will have to get my hands on this young man before anyone else does.

Azula's POV

- Why?! Why did he choose that stupid Mai, instead of me?! Can he not see me? I am obviously more beautiful than her. Kind? I am the kindest girl in the whole Royal Academy… I hate you, Obi!

Ty Lee's POV

- Well, we did end up meeting a cute guy and he is of our age too! Though, it is sad that he didn't choose me… Since Mai already is good friends with Zuko, I only hope this guy won't get hurt because of this.

Mai's POV

- Me? Why would he choose me of all people…? I am not pretty like Azula, nor am I kind… He said that he wanted to go on a date with me, but what if he sees how ugly I am and will run away. What should I do? I need to talk to mom about this… I mean, he does look somewhat good, and he is quite strong. Even if he only chose me by mistake, maybe he will still like me…

MC's POV

Mission complete! Now I just need to walk around the Arena with my hands outstretched to the sides to look like some famous gladiator. Ohh, I see Azulon talking to Ozai about something. I guess I can expect some invitation even before I leave. I bet Uncle Nozo would be proud of me now…