Chapter 18

Standing on the right side, Chen stared at the opponent team. He currently was in the pro-bending arena. Although he didn't have to come, he needed to collect as much experience as he could before fighting against Amon.

He'd his first night of sleep after leaving the hospital. He'd been in a very bad mood when he woke up. Amon appeared in his dreams, and Chen felt powerless.

"Are you sure that you can fight?" Mira whispered. "You've lost a great amount of weight. Shouldn't you be home resting?"

"Don't overthink it," Chen said. "It's just one round."

He wasn't the same fighter who'd been the last two weeks.

He was Mid Grand Master according to the system. He'd noticed that levelling from level 12 to 13 is way different from levelling up from level 3 to 4. Not only does it take a lot of experience, but it pays well.

The referee announced the start of the duel. Chen didn't slow at all and he jabbed twice in a quick movement. His fire turned light blue, almost violet, and hit against the first opponent, sending him out of the ring. As a water stream headed at him, he jabbed upward, creating a small stream of fire, which vaporised the water. He then gave them a sidekick, sending a fire blast, which carried the waterbender from her stomach and sent her flying out. The earthbender, who was the only one left, looked at Chen's eyes.

Seeing that horror look, Chen didn't show any mercy. But as he was about to blast him out, the man ran to the side and jumped off the ring.

"Amazing! A new record! After being absent for a long time and losing some weight, Chen is becoming more savage. I wonder how will he perform in the tournament."

Ignoring the commentary, Chen had few veins appearing on his face. He was pissed off at the earthbender who escaped.

A good amount of experience was gone, just like that.

The system won't take surrender as a victory.

"Damn it." He clenched his fists.

If he can't get stronger fast, then he may not have a chance against Amon if he attacked him next time.

Although he'd told the Police Chief some details, even manipulated Sato, nothing was guaranteed.

The only ally Chen trusted was power.

[+5000 exp]

[You levelled up to level 16 (1000/60000)]

[+5000 accumulated exp]

[Firebending +3000 exp]

"Chen, you should give your teammates a chance to do something." Mira pouted. "I'm not having fun like that."

"If you feel that way, find someone else to fight in the next match then. I'm not wasting my time here." Chen took off his helmet and walked out the bridge.

There is no point in fighting in this place. He rather goes and fights underground.

Maybe provoking a fight with another gang will give him what he needs from experience.

"Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it that way." Mira ran after him.

"Just leave me alone." Chen wasn't pissed at her.

He was in bad mood.

"Please, I was joking. Come, let me invite you for a meal. We can sort things out."

The commentary had to add his touch. "Hold on. Someone seems to be in a bad mood. Well, can't blame him. That earthbender escaped. He must be angry as his perfect streak of knockouts was ruined"

-x-X-x-

Chen was sitting now in a restaurant. In front of his table, there were many foods. Meat, vegetable fruits.

Mira was in front of him, smiling wryly. She had to invite him to the restaurant so that he won't leave their team.

Chen was a person who barely would show any emotion.

Sometimes, he would deal with the situation with sarcasm.

But he'd been kidnapped, and he'd fought a bloodbender with his neck getting cracked at some point.

She should've considered that he may be recovering from the shock.

Chen was having that stiff expression. He reached the food and started eating. He swallowed, ate and drank, and he didn't show signs of stopping. He turned to the waiter and ordered more, before eating again.

"We're good now?" Seeing his appetite, Mira asked him.

"Yes, we are good." Hina was the one to answer as she extended her hand to the table. Mira slapped her hand. "Not yours."

Chen gave a very small nod and started eating again.

Seeing how thin he got, she could understand why he is eating.

He hadn't eaten for five days. Moreover, he'd lost blood and sustained many injuries.

Somehow, his barbaric way of eating made him look cute. She just observed and tittle her head.

"So, Chen. That light purple fire is the reason why you are known as Purple Fire." Hina asked.

"Yep," Chen said, before reaching his drink.

"Don't bother the guy, let him eat," Mira said.

"I'm not. I'm just asking about him. You're the one who is bothering." Hina replied to Mira.

Sometimes, Mira wished she could strangle Hina so that she would shut up.

"I'm so sorry to be such a bother. You pay for this then" Mira pointed to the dishes that were being replaced from the table. "I'm just a bother after all."

Hina froze. "You can't take a joke, can you."

"I can't."

"I'm full." Chen patted his belly. Although it was full, it was shrinking at a rapid rate while his body was healing. "Thank you for the meal." Chen lied backwards.

"Hold on, how can disguise food this quickly," Mira said, eyes opened on his belly.

"Humans' metabolism increases when they starve for a long time and workout. I just finished a series of battles, and I'm willing to go for more. My body knows that."

"Just relax, no need to go full warrior mode," Mira said. "How about we grab some beers and drink, in your apartment."

It was an indirect invitation. Who knows what may happen if they were left alone in his place and drunk? Mira thought that the only hinder was her roommate.

Hina turned her face and smirked at her. Obviously, she knew what Mira was thinking.

"Sorry, I have to rest. I'm not drinking this period." Chen refused as he wiped his mouth. "Thanks for the meal."

"You're welcome." Mira smiled wryly. Guess he won't drink with her and do her. That's bad. Well, at least this cute guy changed his mind about leaving the team.

-x-X-x-

Chen was at one of the underground arenas. Since he was known and had an attractive title, he got a spot. He'd made a deal with the owner of the illegal ring, saying that he would fight his top 5 benders alone and win, and he bet one million Yuan on himself.

The arena owner considered it at first, before giving the Mystical Flame his fight. Chen was very good when it comes to pro-bending. But fighting underground was another deal. There were no rules or considerations for the safety of the fighters.

Of course, there are rules underground. However, they weren't meant to keep you safe. they were meant to stop the match from being boring. there are rules such as that waterbenders don't fight on full moon nights. firebenders can't just use their lightningbenders from the start.

Sometimes, the owner of the arena can announce a special condition where rules were allowed to be broken.

Chen went to the arena. He was allowed to use lightningbending from the start.

The crowd bet their money on the team against Chen, who took his fighting stance. Someone shot a lightning bolt at him, which Chen absorbed.

Quickly pointing his fingers at them, Chen unleashed a net of lightning, made of six bolts.

The opponents couldn't be reacting in time, they were electrocuted, and they fell.

[+15.000 exp]

[+15.000 accumulated exp]

[Lightningbending +7000 exp]

Chen cracked his fingers that felt a bit numb.

Currently, he could be considered the best lightning bender in the world.

He walked out of the ring, amidst the shocked expression of the audience. Chen met with the owner on his way, and he got his money. The owner looked very happy with the result. People lost their bets, all of them. That was a dream coming true.

Chen gained a million Yuan. He held a bag on his shoulder on his way out.

On his way out, he felt a light touch on his shoulder. He was about to unleash lightning armour. But he heard the familiar voice and stopped.

"Well, haven't I told you what would I do to you If I caught you participating in illegal matches?"

"Chief Beifong."

It was Toph's daughter. He turned to her and smiled a bit.

Now that he had knocked out five people and gained a good amount of experience, he was in a good mood.

Moreover, Mira's paying for dinner for him served to make him happier.

He'd felt a bit bad for yelling at her in the ring. He'd make it up for her later.

"Answer me, do you remember."

"First, I don't think you're my mom to stalk me," Chen said. "Second, I remember well. Technically, I wasn't fighting. I was teaching some young people through tough love to leave underground fights?"

"Excuse me? How electrocuting them would teach them that."

Chen smirked. "They would be too humiliated to show their faces again."

"And you would be making your way home with this." A dagger extended from her arm guard. She used it to pat the bag on Chen's shoulder.

Chen held the bag, which had a million Yuan in it.

"Oh, this? It's to teach the people to not gamble. I'm doing my duty as a good citizen"

"Unbelievable." She sighed and turned her face. "Let's go to your apartment, I have something to talk to you about. Consider yourself lucky that I don't have time to bust your ass in jail."

Realising that she was coming to his place, Chen could guess that one of two things happened.

One, she wanted to check his place and maybe she is horny.

Two, she had taken his advice of investigating Tarrlok, and she found out something that she can't speak about in the police station.

It's obvious that she'd followed him to this place so she could ask him for something. That's how she found out about him fighting.

"So, you've watched my match?" Chen asked.

"Not half bad." She replied, not showing any emotion.

The two of them walked to a car that the police chief brought with her.

---

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