Chapter 46

A new day arrived. After predicting the paths that the soldiers of the Fire Nation would take, Haru and the soldiers began creating a series of traps.

Haru knew that after the Fire Nation soldiers would fall the first trap, they will test their path.

He had decided to make the traps after the first one not so impactful. The first trap will be easy to predict. It will give them a false sense of security.

Just a trigger which would drop some huge rocks on them from the peaks next to them.

While he set up the trap, he tested it with small rocks. When it appeared to work, he tasked the earthbender soldiers to carry heavy rocks to the peaks.

Some soldiers didn't seem to like doing these jobs although they did them anyway. They were prideful to do such simple jobs. Their bending style required them to be sturdy, strong, and direct. It affected their personality.

But it's stupid a bit in Haru's opinion. If they can use their power in creative ways, they would have won over the Fire Nation.

They could use their ability to mine and the Earth Kingdom would have a strong economy. They could farm. They could dig wells. They could have built a wall greater than China's walls way easier than the Chinese people had done.

After the war, Haru decided to make the Earth Kingdom great, depending on the power of the earthbenders.

"Prince, we are done." A general waved his hand to Haru from the top of the peak.

Nodding his head, Haru said. "Now, let's create some lousy traps in Omashu's direction."

As he knew that after the first trap the soldiers will try to discover if there are more traps on the way, Haru created some lousy traps that weren't tested, not he put much effort into them.

They were like an ugly woman with make-up. Those traps have an elegant appearance, but they were nothing harmful.

However, they served a bigger purpose — guiding the enemy.

After several hours, Haru allowed the soldiers to rest. He then tasked them to manipulate the terrain, using combined effort.

With effort, they created a narrow path. It was like a gate that leads to open space. On the two sides, there were two peaks.

Haru ascended the peaks and created two lava pools, which will pour in once the army steps forward.

"Okay, guys, go back."

Standing at the end of the narrow path, Haru told his soldiers to get back. He pointed his hands in different directions. The ground started turning into lava. Haru didn't stop, he could sense what was underground, and he turned it into lava.

[Physical Shift up to level 8]

Now, if the Fire Nation soldiers got out of the narrow path, they will find this lava pool in front of them. And when they would try to go back, the lava pools on the peaks pour and block them from behind.

Haru thought of keeping some of the soldiers alive. Of course, it was for those who survive and surrender, provided that they didn't kill a person from the Earth Kingdom. Otherwise, they will be judged. If they had done crimes to his people, they would be executed.

Lifting his hands, Haru hid the lava pool with his Earthbending. The earth shifted its shape and created a thin layer above that lava. The layer was thin and easy to destroy.

"Now, go back to the castle. We will wait for them." Haru clapped his hands.

What he said wasn't a part of the plan they had agreed on. Haru said its purpose. This way, he will his earthbending skill to see if there is a spy among these people.

"But sir, shouldn't we hide in their back lines…" one soldier asked. "Wasn't that the original plan."

Haru took his shoes off, stepped on the ground, and said. "Are you a spy?" taking off his shoes boosted his earthbending senses to a higher degree.

"No!" that soldier yelled and shook his head.

Haru decided that he was honest.

"Then who?" He then turned and looked at the soldiers, one by one in the eye.

No one seemed to be anxious to be judged as a spy. Even if they didn't show it on their face, Haru could sense their internal system.

This troop can be trusted.

He smiled and said. "I was just teasing you… you will be moving a day later because they will arrive by then."

-x-X-x-

A day later, it was the middle of the day.

The ships of the Fire Nation reached the beach.

The general, Sai, took a deep breath as he stood in front of his ship.

The heat of the sun didn't bother a firebender such as himself.

Such a thing was refreshing, and it only serves in making their firebending stronger.

The absence of the sun was one of the reasons why it was hard to invade the North Pole, as coldness weakens them.

"This is the best time for us to show our power," Sai said.

Excited to conquer, the Fire Nation soldiers behind him raised their weapons and yelled.

They arrived at the beach. One of their naval bases, which once was great, now was all but a large metal grave. They saw it and it shock them. The iron seemed molten and swallowed everything.

Sai put his hand on his heart. He stood on the edge of the ship. He slightly bowed. "Rest in Peace our comrades. Before taking over Omashu, we shall avenge for you."

A silence took over. The soldiers showed their respect to their heroes, who died at the hand of the barbarian earthbenders.

Everyone knew how this had happened. At first, there had been a report from General Zhao, saying that their worse enemy is dead.

There had been a celebration in the Fire Nation, attended by the families of Haru's victims.

But something didn't make sense.

The other bases of the Fire Nation across the Earth Kingdom reported different information, which contradicted Zhao's report. It was about rumours that Haru took their base down and killed General Zhao. There also had been rumours that he had taken over this town, and he had taken their fellow soldiers as prisoners.

"Soldiers!" Sai screamed.

He stared at the hill. Anyone can see great walls covering the town that should be there.

The soldiers got in line and stood up straight.

Sai turned to them. "Before heading to Omashu, we are going to honour our dead comrades." He then pointed to the walls. "And we are going to use our bolts to conquer that town first and take out our living soldiers. They deserve to die as warriors, not as prisoners."

"Hurray!"

They raised their weapons and screamed. They were very excited.

Around 5000 soldiers descended from their ships. In front, there were ten tanks, and another 5 tanks with giant crossbows above them.

They took the road to the town. In order to scare their enemies, they yelled loudly, making sure that their war cries were heard.

They settled at the walls, the large tanks with crossbows settling in front of the army

Sai smirked. "Now, the walls shall be broken."

*Music instrument*

Everyone lifted their head when they heard calm music being played. A young man with a guitar in hand was playing music as if there was no war. He didn't pay attention to them and kept playing the music.

"Retard…" Sai muttered. "You have no idea that these walls will fall."

The guy stopped playing the music. As if offended, he looked at Sai. "Oh, you are still here…" he said. "You think you are going to take these walls down, go ahead, but make no mistake."

"Make no mistake?" Sai narrowed his eyebrows. These people are really retard. How are they expecting him to make a mistake from such a distance?

He got it. That guy is bluffing. They are acting like this to the Fire Nation army.

But soon, his vice came and said. "General, look."

From the walls, emerged people. Their black hair, fair skin and golden eyes made it easy to recognise them as soldiers from the Fire Nation.

The soldiers started crying.

"General! Save us."

"General… take us out. I want to see my family."

"Friends, help me."

The guy above said. "The earthbenders, behind this wall, will move those soldiers to take your bolts. For an earthbender, this action is easier than frying an egg. I'm curious. Wanna go back to your home as the man who killed their own soldiers?"

Sai raised his hand, stopping the tanks from shooting. He stared angrily at the walls. But that didn't affect his final decision. Sai wasn't a common soldier. He was a general, someone who is supposed to keep calm thinking and always look at the bigger picture. Emotions play no role in his judgement.

Somehow, this town knew how to use their soldiers as human shields. And it appears that they won't hesitate to use the Fire Nation civilians if it must.

To Sai, each life from his nation is worth thousands of Earth Kingdom barbarians.

He knew if the Fire Lord was here, he would make the sacrifice.

But if Sai acted on his own, he would take full responsibility. It won't be a sacrifice, but a murder.

The families of the dead people will make him take responsibility back for his nation. Sai and his family may live as scums.

Sai turned to his soldier. "Send a letter to the Fire Lord and ask for his decision. We shall continue until we reach Omashu. Also, asks him if we should shoot if Omashu used the same strategy."

He simply couldn't kill his men in cold blood. But if Omashu used this strategy as well, then Sai was sure that the Fire Lord would give his permission.

The Fire Nation troops ignored the town and went past it, heading to Omashu.

-x-X-x-

Meanwhile, above the troops of the Fire Nation, Haru was in his spirit form.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was in his body.

Standing up from his meditation pose, he turned to a near general of Omashu.

"You and soldiers can head underground," Haru said.

"Yes, Prince." The general cupped his fists and bowed down. He then turned and left.