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Burn the World Down by Infonticus

Cartoons » Avatar: Last Airbender Rated: M, English, Adventure & Fantasy, Words: 395k+, Favs: 5k+, Follows: 6k+, Published: Jan 30, 2023 Updated: Mar 13

2,585Chapter 9: The Power the Avatar Knows Not

Chapter 9: The Power the Avatar Knows Not

Disclaimer: Do NOT attempt with Red Bull what you read in this chapter.

[Somewhere in the Western Earth Kingdom]

"It's really helpful of the Fire Nation to put up these notice boards at every crossroads." Katara smiled as they all looked over the various posters pinned on the lonely notice board in the middle of the forested dirt road

"See if you can find a menu, I'm starving!" Sokka cried out as he emptied the last crumbs of their pouch of biscuits into his mouth.

"Look at this one!" Aang grinned as one colourful poster caught his eye, "The Fire Days Festival. Fire Nation cultural exhibits, jugglers, benders, magicians... This would be a great place for me to study some real firebenders. And look, Sokka! 'The Fire Days Festival Organisers would like to personally convey their gratitude to Captain Khan and the 41st Division for their generous contribution to the Fire Days Festival Midnight Feast. All colonial visitors are entitled and heartily encouraged to try out free samples of traditional Fire Nation cuisine!'"

"Free samples?!" Sokka breathed in wonder... and drool, "Now, that's the only thing from the Fire Nation that I wish there was more of!"

"Now, hold on..." Katara muttered- snatching the poster from Aang's hands and squinting suspiciously at the text, "'Captain Khan'? Isn't that the 'Giant' that Zuko said was doing all those horrible things? If it's anything like those rumours, I think we should keep as far away as we can from the festival."

"You believe those rumours?" Her brother dismissed with a scoff. "The Fire Nation doing the usual bad fire nation things- that's not surprising. But a ten-foot-tall, skull-faced, firebending giant that shoots fire from his eyes while leading an army of Kyoshi warriors and vengeful spirit-demons from the underworld riding flesh-eating ostrich-horses? All that on top of being widely–known to be secretly the Fire Nation prince? Katara, you got to admit that the rumours are getting pretty out there. And I mean reaaally out there."

Oh, she didn't hear about those rumours... then what Sokka just said registered with her.

"Wait, Kyoshi Warriors?" She furrowed her eyebrows- recalling that island village they visited early on in their journey. "The same Kyoshi Warriors who fought Fire Nation soldiers in the middle of their burning village? I think the rumours are definitely getting things mixed up."

"Yes, thank you!" Sokka cried out, "That's exactly what I said too, but I guess some people just believe everything they hear!"

Katara just looked away- feeling a bit attacked by that as she murmured her reply, "Okay. So the rumours are mostly hoaxes... but I still think we shouldn't mingle in a Fire Nation festival. We should keep moving."

"Katara..." Aang pleaded- his grey eyes looking straight into hers, "I have to learn firebending at some point and this could be my only chance to watch a master's up close!"

"And this might be our last chance to stock up on supplies." Sokka added, "My map says that it's going to be almost a whole day before we come across another village!"

"Oh, alright." Katara sighed in surrender, "We'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble, we'll leave."

"Yep, we'll leave as soon as we see anyone who is even 7-feet-tall!" Aang laughed reassuringly, and Sokka joined in.

"Or if we come across an evil Kyoshi Warrior working for the Fire Nation!" Her brother laughed as they all began to make their way towards the Fire Days Festival. "Oh, this is going to be a funny story to tell the next time we visit Kyoshi Island. Do you think Suki's gonna find it funny or infuriating to hear the rumours about Kyoshi Warriors working for a scary evil Fire Nation giant? I betcha that it's just some tall, skinny guy that they call a giant for propaganda."

"Or maybe he's a guy on stilts!" Aang suggested with a grin, "Like the Flying Koi Travelling Carnival! They wear funny and colourful clothes, and hats with bells that tinkle whenever they move. They're so tall that they just step over the crowds!"

"Well Katara, looks like the Earth Kingdom has their own giants!" Sokka slapped his knee in laughter, "Maybe one of them even shoots fire out of his eyes too!"

Looking at them with their infectious smiles, Katara couldn't help but smile along too. Hearing all those awful rumours, it painted this terrifying image in her head. A great dangerous shadow looming over the horizon. But she knew when to admit that she was wrong. She knew when to roll with the joke. She was fun too!

"Now I just feel silly worrying about over-exaggerated rumours." Katara laughed with a shake of her head. "A Fire Nation army of flesh-eating ostrich-horses led by a firebending skull-faced giant... Like, come on!"

They all laughed.

(Later) [Fire Nation Pohuai Port]

"Raise our banners high." My deep voice rumbled out from my skull helm and to the army behind me, "Let them know that the 41st Division rejoins the main force of the 3rd Fire Nation Army at long last."

As instructed, the red and black banners of the 41st Division fluttered in the ocean breeze as we arrived at the Fire Nation bastion, Pohuai Port. The magnitude of the Fire Nation war machine was made apparent in this place, illuminated as it was by the light of the rising dawn sun. A vast field of great red tents furnished thousands troops with semi-permanent dwellings, the storage yards full of wooden containers stacked higher than houses supplied thousands more across the advancing frontlines, and finally... Two dozen Fire Nation cruisers- great metal behemoths that have dominated the seas for a hundred years- were moored here at port, ready to make metric tons of flaming rock fall from the sky.

And now, we have arrived as well: The 41st Division.

Full platoons of {Ostrich-Horse Veteran Scouts} proudly rode on monstrous ostrich-horses, their helmets decorated with a plume of ostrich-horse feathers. Squads of well-trained {Fire Nation Raiders} guarded wagons laden with our loot and supplies as they rumbled along. And marching at the head of it all were my {Kyoshi Warrior Honor Guard}, my companions and myself. But more than just our appearance, our reputation preceded us as well. Our fellow Fire Nation soldiers looked up from their campfires and peeked from their tents to stare at us with awe and fear; their hushed whispers and mutterings inevitably following us as we passed by.

"Is... is that the Giant and the Horde?"

"He's as tall as the rumours say... I thought they were an exaggeration."

"The Firelord's elite unit... back in basic, the 41st Division was the dumping ground for the weak and feeble, but now..."

"Look at their gear... why do they get all the good stuff?"

"Those are the biggest, angriest looking Ostrich-horses I've ever seen."

"The girls in green... are those the Kyoshi Warrior defectors?"

"The Earth Kingdom's greatest warriors... on our side. We really are winning this war."

The legend of the 41st has grown with each Earth Kingdom settlement we razed and each earth Kingdom battalion that lay dead in our wake- their bones picked clean by our Ostrich-Horses. And now, even Fire Nation Command was going to reward me for my efforts.

For confirming the rumours of your stature and prowess among your fellow soldiers...

{Fire Nation} Reputation : 69 - 71

+ R +

"So~" Suki began, the redheaded Kyoshi Warrior's voice was lyrical with curiosity as she rode up beside me, "It's going to be Commander Khan, huh? How does this work? Are you going to be in charge of an entire army?"

"That's certainly an option." My skull-faced helmet nodded, "I could command an entire corps of thousands of soldiers and komodo-rhinos and tundra tanks. However... What we have is currently working for us, a small elite unit. Instead, I'd rather have a small fleet of merchant marine ships at my beck and call. The ability to move supplies by sea and by the tonnes instead of by caravan will be invaluable for more remote places where we can't forage as much."

"Wait... a navy fleet? But aren't you a Fire Nation Army Captain?"

"The lines between the two branches blur as one reaches the higher ranks of the Fire Nation military." I shrugged- my spiked steel armour clacking from the motion, "If I recall correctly, Admiral Zhao managed to strong-arm an army colonel into handing him command of the Yuyuan Archers- Fire Nation Special Forces that have traditionally been the army's purview for over four hundred years. If he can do that, I'm sure I can get away with bossing around some non-combat vessels under the excuse of supplying a land-based offensive."

"But being sneaky with military... errr... rules like that, aren't you going to get in trouble?"

"It's practically military tradition at this point to find ways to circumvent regulations." I laughed, "Firelord Azulon's reforms may have introduced a suffocating level of bureaucracy. But military officers will always keep finding ways to work around them. And with my impending commander rank, I'll be able to make such funny patterns with the chain of command. But I will admit... when playing fast and loose with authority like this, it's always good to have friends who are higher up."

"So, we have to get friendly with this admiral, huh?" Suki sniffed- clearly not liking being friendly with other Fire Nation officers.

"Yes, and he's the one supplying our ride to the Fire Islands." I admonished, "And also the only one who knows the location of a library I wish to visit. So, play nice, Suki."

"I can do that, I guess. But it does look like someone's compensating..." She muttered, looking up to the collection of lavish tents atop the hill overlooking the rest of the base... which was naturally where the officer tents were. Leaving behind the rest of the 41st, Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors followed me up to the biggest and most lavishly decorated red tent.

Four {Firebender Veterans} in brass-gilded red armour stood guard by the entrance, eyeing us as my heavily-armoured seven-foot-frame approached them.

"Identify yourself, soldier." the lead guard demanded. But from his tone, he already knew who I was and was just going through formalities. I gave a quick salute.

"Captain Khan of the 41st Infantry Division, answering Admiral Zhao's summons." My voice rumbled like crumbling rocks.

"You arrived ten days earlier than expected, captain." The same guard saluted back, "The admiral is currently away on a surprise inspection of the Fire Days Festival."

"Fire Days Festival?" Suki parroted.

"Yes, ma'am." the guard confirmed, his eyes flicking towards Suki momentarily, "It's an annual weekend holiday that celebrates Fire Nation culture with attractions from the homeland and gives the colonials a taste of home. Very popular out here in the colonies."

"They're the ones we handed those excess perishable goods to." I reminded Suki. Which also reminded me that I'll need to do a quest to increase my inventory space. I can only store so much gear and perishable [Herbalism] ingredients in it before it gets full after all.

Suki's blue eyes widened as she apparently remembered.

"Oh, the Fire Nation colonials! Now I remember!" she agreed, before her eyes rested on me, "Just your luck that the officer in charge of your promotion is off on a vacation, aye Khan?"

The guard coughed, "I'm sure he'll be back soon, sir. The admiral left before dawn on riverboats."

"Riverboats? I think I know where this is..." I thought aloud, finally recalling where on the ATLA timeline this was now.

Admiral Zhao leaving on river boats was what clued me in: This was the episode where he's acting as the villain of the week for the Gaang. At the moment, they should be with Jeong-Jeong, Admiral Zhao's old firebending master, who would be giving Aang a cursory lesson in Firebending right now. And soon, Zhao was going to arrive to get outsmarted by the young Airbender and have his ride home wrecked. Recalling the geography, I estimate that it would be at least three days before Zhao completes his sad walk of shame back here.

"It would seem that we'll have to sit and wait until he retur-"

"Khan?" Yor called out- the raven-haired assassin-turned-secretary jogging up the hill in her heavy red cloak. "A very urgent message arrived via messenger hawk. It has been indicated to be for your eyes only."

I considered the weatherproof leather scroll case she handed to me, gilded as it was with brass flames. Very gaudy and very official, indeed. Screwing off the top and unfurling the scroll inside, I was greeted with painfully precise penmanship set on fine parchment. A faint fragrance of spicy incense wafting from the paper.

Azula...

= F =

Dear Commander Khan of the 41st Infantry Division,

Rejoice, loyal Fire Nation citizen! In our Fire Lord's limitless wisdom and matchless generosity, He has commanded that the Great War's 99th commemoration is to be lauded with the grandest military parade in the last 50 years. And for your undeniable military achievements and unquestionable loyalty to the Fire Nation, you and your entire division are given the unparalleled honour of receiving this personal invitation from the Throne of the Fire Lord itself to march in the parade.

Your unit will be held up as exemplars to inspire other loyal citizens to strive in their own service to Fire Lord and Fire Nation. Truly, this is a great honour for a relatively new recruit such as yourself!

Participation is mandatory.

You are hereby ordered to report to the Royal Plaza in Imperial City post haste. The precise logistics of your division's redeployment shall be handled by your army's navy attache who has no doubt been informed of this development as well.

Very Respectfully,

Azula

Crown Princess of the Fire Nation, Heir Apparent for Royal Throne of the Fire Lord, Chief Organizer of the Great War Commemorations

P.S. In the unfortunate event that this particular information has not yet been relayed to you, let it be known that you have been promoted to the rank of Commander. And- at the time of writing- your official file held within the Fire Nation National Archives and Records already reflect this advancement in grade. You may thank your crown princess in person for this expedience.

= F =

My armoured fists clenched on the parchment.

"We do not need this diversion now!" I growled- steam escaping between my skull helm's steel teeth and making the guards tense.

The original plan was to take only the essential companions on a quick cruise to find the assassin's daughter. Yor, because it's her daughter. June, because she's the tracker. And the Kyoshi warriors, because they were tactically versatile. Meanwhile, the rest of the 41st Division was supposed to stay behind here on the Earth Kingdom continent until we regrouped for the Siege of the Northern Water Tribe. So, I don't know what Azula was planning, but I can't refuse her royal order. Not as I was now, no. My allies were still too few and my might was not so great. I dare not disobey a direct order from the Crown... Or can I?

However, before I could seriously consider that course of action, a window from the Gamer System popped up for me and only me to see.

New Quest:

A HERO'S TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING

Main Objective: Arrive at the Imperial Capital within (10) Days

Secondary Objective: Have at least 75 {Fire Nation} Reputation upon arrival

Rewards:

Large bonus exp

Large Reputation increase with the {Azula}

Secondary Rewards:

Perk Point x2

Large Reputation increase with the {Firelord Ozai}

[Fire Nation War Hero] You're like a rockstar, but with war crimes! All entities with loyalties or sympathies for the Fire Nation start with +15 more Reputation; and +50% to Reputation and Affection gains with them. Stacks additively with [Siren's Voice]

+ R +

"Is something wrong?" Suki asked- concerned over my sudden silence.

"Nothing." I answered- rolling up the scroll, "I just changed my mind: We can't afford to slow down now."

Two whole perk points... I've been practically starved of them. With the XP required to level up increasing with each level, the past ten days or so have been slow going in terms of power-levelling. This quest was exactly what I needed: Generous with its quest rewards, feasible with my current level, and most of all, located precisely where I was heading anyway. I'd be a fool to pass up on this quest. From here at Pohuai Port, it was about a 10 day sail to the Fire Islands... which meant that we needed to leave within the next twenty-four hours.

I glanced up at the mid-morning sky then down to my shapely secretary/assassin, her blood red eyes peering from underneath the cowl of her red cloak.

"Do you need something else?" Yor's soft voice asked.

"Yes, I need you to find out how many ships we'll need to transport the entirety of the 41st to the Fire Islands. I want us to leave for the Fire Islands by dawn tomorrow!"

Her red eyes widened in surprise before she beamed a wide smile at me, "Yes, Khan!"

For being so eager to help her...

{Yor Briar} Reputation : 48 - 55

+ R +

Technically, true, I'm sure her child was being held in one of the major towns anyway. Not that big of a detour. I watched Yor run off to collect the numbers from the various officers and quartermasters of the 41st. Speaking of which...

"Lieutenant!" I yelled as I marched down the hill, "Go requisition some riverboats. You and a squad of cavalry scouts will be accompanying me heading up the river to ensure the Admiral gets back here in one piece!"

"Yes, Captain Khan!" the heavily-armoured firebender saluted back- her feathered helmet whipping as she barked at a squad of {Ostrich-Horse Veteran Scouts}. "1st Cavalry Scout squad! You heard the Captain: We're escorting the local admiral on a river cruise back to base!"

I watched them promptly trot off before looking over June, the leather-clad goth merc leaning against her Shirshu and looking at me expectantly.

"June, you're coming with us. Your Shirshu will ensure we find Admiral Zhao."

"That's a lot of trust you have for her, Khan..." Suki said narrowed her red-painted eyes at the merc.

I laughed, "Do you really think she'll cross both 'The Giant of the Fire Nation' and 'The Thorn Princess.' All for half a chest of gold?"

"Well..." Suki muttered- looking away. "When you put it that way-"

"She'd do it for eight chests of gold." I finished, and Suki sputtered while June snorted in amusement.

"I'd do it for ten actually, and not one yuanbao less." The raven-haired merc said- laying her steel grey eyes on me. "Speaking of money... you're not paying me to find an admiral."

"Really? A shame that you're not showing initiative." I stared at her, "It might hurt your chances of getting that bonus..."

Rather than being offended, June just barked out a laugh of amusement.

It's not everyday I run into a Fire Nation officer who understands how mercenaries work." She shrugged, "If more of them were like you, the war would have been over 70 years ago..."

I rolled my eyes, "The sooner the admiral is back, the sooner we can have ships ferry us to Imperial City. I'll even toss an extra yuanbao your way if we reach the admiral faster because of you."

"Heh. Aye, aye. Captain. We'll wait for you down at the docks." she saluted with a cocky smile. Hopping onto her massive Shirshu mount, she cracked her whip once. The giant anteater-wolf-mole sniffed at the admiral's tent a few times to get his scent before it bounded off after the scouts.

For continuing to be an agreeable employer who gets her...

{June} Reputation : 15 - 20

+ R +

Good, this will handle the main objective of the quest. With luck, the entire division will be prepped to leave by dawn. Now, time to handle the Secondary Objective that held the bulk of the rewards. And that was to acquire...

{Fire Nation} Reputation : 71

+ R +

... 4 Reputation points in three days. It was a more challenging feat than it sounds: I've been handing out trinkets and free food to every Fire Nation colonial village we visited for weeks on end; and yet, that has only bought me 8 points of Reputation. Now, I only had three days to replicate at least two weeks' worth of goodwill... and I was out of colonial villages to donate almost spoiling bull-pig meat.

I glanced over to the six Kyoshi Warriors who were wearing ready smiles. "Kyoshi Warriors, I need-"

"More jewellery designs?!"

"Some assassinations done?!"

"Infiltration and sabotage time again?!"

"An ostrich-horse racing tournament held?!"

"Someone to try out more elixers?!"

"Your balls emptied?!"

"What?" Suki cried out as the other Kyoshi Warriors stared at her. "Don't look at me like that! We were all thinking it! Besides, I'm right!"

Six painted faces looked at me expectantly... their eyes glancing lustfully at my codpiece for a moment.

"Aren't I, Khan?" Suki breathed with smouldering blue eyes, and I rolled my eyes.

"Unfortunately, no. We're on a strict deadline right now." I refused, "I need to build good will and admiration among the soldiers here in the camp. So, hold ostrich-horse racing tournaments. Hand out our barrels of Mountain Dew. Give away the (Exquisite) quality instruments I've crafted as prizes. Whatever we can afford as long as the troops toast my name even after we leave for the Imperial City."

"Awwww..." Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors pouted as one.

"... We'll have ten days at sea sleeping in the same room together on our way to Imperial City, and I did promise to deck you out on finery."

Quick as a flash, they knelt on one knee. "Your loyal Kyoshi Warriors will have them worshipping the ground you walk on, Our Khan!"

I sighed. Spirits save me from perpetually horny ninja girls cutting into my reading time.

"The rest of you..." I pointed at the gathered officers of 41st Division. Proudly mounted on their softly honking ostrich-horses. "I have just assigned Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors here with a crucial assignment while I escort the Admiral back to base. All of you are to aid them to the best of your abilities. And I will be very displeased if I come back and it has not been completed due insubordination. Understood?!"

Reputation check succeeded!

100/75 Reputation Required with {41st Division}

Obedience check succeeded!

100/75 Obedience Required with {41st Division}

The 41st Division officers saluted as one.

"YES, CAPTAIN KHAN!"

"It's Commander now!"

"YES, COMMANDER KHAN!"

"You all have your orders. Dismissed!"

With that, my seven-foot-tall armoured frame marched off to the docks. This required my personal touch after all, [Siren's Voice] was going to be invaluable in getting Admiral Zhao to lend me his best ships. I could probably make do with standard Fire Nation ships, but that would be cutting things too close with the deadline.

The [Quest: A Hero's Triumphant Homecoming] was on the line here.

For a Quest with rewards this valuable, minimising the risk of mission failure was tantamount. But this little rescue mission posed its own risks. Namely, the risk of running into the Gaang- the main characters of this world. I was still wary of facing off against them so early, because I'm still not sure how their bullshit plot armour will interact against my bullshit [Gamer System]. I could stomp them and win this little adventure story early, or get stomped by them instead. I simply had no information to justify it either way.

For now, I can only hope the butterflies of my existence here in the world of Avatar haven't changed the order of the episodes too much...

(Meanwhile) [Several kilometres up the river]

With a gust of wind, Aang sidestepped across the riverboat's deck.

"Woah!" he gasped as the great fireball almost singed his orange and yellow robes. He had to admit- this Admiral Zhao guy was tough! The admiral's firebending was a lot more powerful than Zuko's. The orange flames, burning hotter and brighter. Reaching the size of sabertooth moose-lions and with a roar just as furious. But just like Jeong-jeong said, he had little self-control. And for Aang who was an Air nomad? Who had an entire tenet dedicated to using their opponent's energy against them? Aang knew exactly how to fight someone like Zhao.

"Ahoy!" Aang wiggled his butt to the admiral, "I'm Admiral Zhao!"

"Raaagh!"

Eye twitching, the older man just roared wordlessly as he unleashed a furious kata of firebending- forcing Aang to duck and dodge around the great balls of fire. All the while, the reckless admiral burning own riverboats to cinders in a fit of collateral damage.

"You've lost this battle." Aang smirked.

"Are you crazy?! You haven't thrown a single blow!" Admiral Zhao roared back, still ignorant to what he had just done.

"No. But you have." Aang smirked before gesturing to the burning boats, "Have a nice walk home!"

It was just then that- out from the treeline- the rest of the Fire Nation soldiers arrived just in time to see their admiral standing in the middle of their burning boats.

"Admiral Zhao!" the eye-patched soldier saluted, "The deserter and his followers have eluded us!"

"Aang, over here!" Katara's voice called out to him from the sky. She and Sokka waved from atop Appa. Aang let out a sigh of relief. Good, Jeong-Jeong and his followers got away. And he guessed that was his cue to leave. But just as he was about to fly off with Sokka, Katara and Appa... the scruffy-bearded Zhao guy shouted to him.

"You think that this will stop me, Avatar?!" He called out, standing as he was thigh deep into river water among the flaming wrecks of his boats. Aang snorted.

"Pretty much." he shrugged with a playful grin. "It's not like you can grow wings."

But instead of getting angry as Aang expected, the bearded Fire Nation admiral just gave him a knowing smirk.

"Then you underestimate my power, Avatar." Zhao declared.

"Admiral, no! Don't do it!" begged the eyepatched Fire nation soldier- falling onto his knees as he apparently knew what Zhao intended, "Not the forbidden technique! No man is strong enough!"

That phrase caught Aang's ear and his grip on his {Airbender Staff} tightened in caution. He didn't know what counted as a forbidden technique for the Fire Nation, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Forbidden techniques were forbidden for a reason after all.

"No man was strong enough... until now, sergeant." Zhao boasted as he pulled out... pulled out two cans of drinks from his belt pouch.

"...What?" Aang had expected him to pull out something sinister like a blasting jelly bomb or something, but a quick drink break? Never in a hundred years.

"Admiral, don't!" His Fire Nation soldier ally cried out... who was ignored.

Twin clacks of metal rang out and Zhao chugged the contents of both cans simultaneously- gulping down the amber liquid so hungrily that some began soaking his beard.

"No... Not two cans of Red Bull at once!" The admiral's own soldier whimpered in fear, and that was when Aang really started to get worried. The sound of metal crunching was heard as the admiral crushed the empty cans in his fists.

All the hairs on Aang's arms stood on end as if some gargantuan calamity was about to happen. And then it did: The admiral and the riverboats were consumed in a fireball the size of a house. So hot that it scorched'Aang just scratched his bald head. He guessed that was why the technique was forbidden- it made the user blow up?

Aang honestly thought that the fight was done until- from the roaring blaze- a voice echoed out...

"SUCH POWER..."

... and it sounded unequivocally evil. Like in those stories they tell about tormented spirits thirsting for blind vengeance. At the sound of it, the other Fire Nation soldiers stumbled back in fear.

"R-run for your lives, men!" the Fire Nation sergeant cried out as he scrambled down the riverside. "The admiral has double-dosed on Red Bull!"

"Aang...who is that?" Sokka nervously called out, then the voice spoke again.

"I?"

"I AM... ZHAO."

Aang, Sokka and Katara watched in horror as the admiral emerged from among the flaming wreckage of the ships. The explosion had almost scorched his armour right off him, and yet, he didn't look harmed. Far from it. His eyes and fists were alight with powerful fire as he strode through the shallow waters. The very water boiled around his knees. Steam rose alongside the smoke of burning boat fuel, and the flames roared even higher around him.

"ZHAO THE CONQUEROR..."

"ZHAO THE INVINCIBLE..."

"ZHAO..."

He turned his flaming gaze towards Aang.

"... THE AVATAR-SLAYER!"

"AANG! GET UP HERE!" Katara shrieked, and he didn't need to be told twice. Swirling the wind around him for a great leap, he found himself landing on the saddle with her and Sokka.

"Appa, yip yip! YIP YIP!" Aang cried out- holding tightly onto Appa's reins. Flying lower to try and find an updraft to springboard from.

With a great roar, the admiral loosed firebolts at them.

"RAAAAAAGGHHHHHHH!"

"Uh.. Aang? How is the firebender flying?!" Sokka yelled out in panic.

"He's WHAT?!" Aang shouted out as he glanced behind them. And there, just like Sokka said, was the admiral who was now flying at them. Jets of flame blazed from the bottoms of his feet and from his back to propel him higher than Aang had ever seen a non-airbender jump... And he was actually catching up to them.

"You just had to tell him to grow wings, didja?!" accused Sokka.

"How was I supposed to know he'd actually do it!" Aang shouted back as he steered Appa away from incoming fireballs.

"But how is he doing this?!" Katara cried out.

"He drank something called Red Bull!"

"What's a Red Bull?!" Katara panicked- ducking as a great firebolt seared over their heads, "And how is it making him FLY?!"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Aang shouted back as he once again glanced over his shoulder, and he felt his heart skip a beat as he saw the juiced-up admiral gaining on them.

"ZHAO THE MOONSL- Augh!"

But just as it seemed the admiral was about to reach them, the flames under his feet sputtered out as he apparently lost whatever unnatural power was imbued into him. The once furious firebender lost consciousness mid-air and fell like a brick into the river. All three of them watched as the Fire nation soldiers began fishing out the admiral, and they knew... This wasn't the last they'll see of Admiral Zhao.

"That was a close one." Sokka exhaled- slumping to the saddle with a relieved groan.

"I'm more worried about this 'Red Bull.'" Katara spoke up- looking over to Aang. "That was what he drank from those cans, right? Is that some kind of tea that enhances bending? Does something like that even exist?"

Aang pressed his lips together into a thin, uncertain line before replying, "Yeah... it does. Wandering Air Nomads used to tell stories about special herbs that grow in ancient, hidden places. And how wise old Earth Kingdom alchemists would grind them up into pills or steep them in cauldrons to make miracle elixirs that increased your chi four-fold."

"And now, the Fire Nation is using it as a secret weapon!" Sokka snapped his fingers. "It's the only logical reason why we haven't seen anyone else use it until now. A tea that's able to make a firebender able to do all of that... angry... fiery... fire-flying! We need to go and let the other nations know about this."

"Aang and I still need a waterbending master, Sokka." Katara reminded him. "And we're already so close to the North Pole already, we can't turn back now!"

"But Katara! Flying firebenders! Who knows what other secret weapons the Fire Nation will come up with while you and Aang are splashing icy water at each other?! Mind readers? Trained foxes who spy on people? Or maybe even... spooky spirit powers from the Spirit World!"

"Sokka, you're just being ridiculous now." His sister scoffed.

"Am I, Katara?! Just a few months ago, we didn't even know that bison or lemurs could even fly! Now, the firebenders are flying too! Maybe Momo is secretly a firebender?!"

Their resident flying lemur just gave a confused trill.

"Well, we did make Momo earthbend a few weeks ago!" Aang laughed, "And besides, Sokka, don't we also have to warn the Northern Water Tribe about this Red Bull Elixir anyway?"

"You have a point..." Sokka said after a moment of consideration. "Okay, we'll keep heading north, but we should at least keep our ears to the ground for the source of this tea. If we find the old man brewing this tea for the Fire Nation, Aang should do his usual Avatar thing and talk him out of it."

"Actually... If anything, he's probably being forced by the Fire Nation to make this tea." Aang suggested, and Katara arched a curious eyebrow.

"What makes you say that, Aang?"

He just beamed, "Well, tea makers and tea lovers are some of the friendliest and most learned people I've ever met. Something about the calming properties of a good cup of tea that attracts that sort of person. I'm sure this one isn't so different!"

(An hour later)

Beads of sweat slid down the tribesman's fearful face as my armoured hand squeezed around his neck.

"Where is Jeong-Jeong's camp?! Talk or I'll feed you to the ostrich-horses!" was my single demand. Loud enough to momentarily drown out the rumble of the riverboat's engines, the rushing water of the river and the sounds of lush untamed jungle as the riverboat chugged up the river.

"I don't know! Please!" The tribesman stuttered out- struggling beneath the armoured hand as he slowly lost consciousness.

"This one has stopped being useful." I snarled in disgust beneath my skull-faced helmet. And with contemptuous ease, I hurled the tribesman in a high arc over to the river banks... right where my cavalry scouts were striding. The tribesman barely had time to scream before our ever-hungry ostrich-horses were upon him. Feasting like a flock of hens would on earthworms in a chaotic free-for-all lunch.

"HONK!" "HONK!" "HONK!" "HONK!" "HONK!"

I looked over the two other tribesmen prisoners who just stared, wide eyed, at the gruesome feast happening at the river banks.

"Now..." I spoke to them, "Will either of you talk or will the ostrich-horses have another course to their meal?"

"N-no... We'll talk!" the one on the right gasped out. "Anything but the ostrich-horses!"

"O-our camp is not far from here..." the one on the left divulged- shamefully looking away. "Just keep heading up the river, it can't be any more than another hour! You can't miss it! But I swear on all the spirits of the Earth and Jungle, we don't know don't know where Jeong-Jeong or the Avatar went!"

"Good, both of you are spared. For now. The lieutenant will handle the rest of your interrogation, and you will tell her everything you know about Jeong-jeong's activities in your time with him."

"Yes, Giant. We- Aaaah!"

Before they could say anything more, I tossed them over to the other riverboat.

"A river cruise and a lunch show where a giant juggles some tribers..." June casually remarked as she sipped on a can of Mountain Dew, "You do know how to keep a lady entertained."

I looked over to the bounty hunter who was casually lounging in her dark-red riding leathers, naught a care in the world. Her voice always took me off-guard. Hearing Commander Jane Shepard from Mass Effect in the world of Avatar had always been jarring. But I didn't let that stop me as I walked over to her, "Since you're so relaxed, it's your turn to entertain me with an interview."

"Oh?" She hummed, raising a slender eyebrow at me as her smooth voice turned coy. "I'm not the kind of woman you can buy like that, Khan."

"Damn Suki and her rumours..." I cursed before settling my gaze at her through the slits of my helmet, "I meant a serious interview, not some thinly veiled attempt at seduction. Your mind is far more valuable than your body after all."

She blinked in stark surprise. "... wait, you're actually serious about the interview?"

"Yes, I am." I replied, briefly glancing over to her napping Shirshu on the other boat, "You may not know it, but you hold the most valuable form of knowledge on Shirshus in all the Four Nations: The practical kind of knowledge gained from years of real-world experience. That is leagues more valuable than the prattlings of some zoologist sitting in a stuffy lecture hall in Ba Sing Se University."

She leaned back, cupping her chin for a moment before smirking at me. "And what has you so interested? Are the Fire Nation planning on raising their own Shirshus?"

"No, this is knowledge for knowledge's sake as far as I intend. It'll sit in a library until someone finds it."

"That changes things then." June hummed before smirking and batting an eyelash at me, "... It seems that I've got something you want; so, what are you offering in exchange?"

"Five yua-"

"Uh, uh.." the goth merc interrupted with a smirk- wagging a finger tipped with a black-painted fingernail, "Let's make this interesting and say I'm not after money. Just this once, at least."

I frowned, "A favour then?"

"Aww... are you afraid that it's going to be a sexual favour, big guy?" She winked and I rolled my eyes from behind my helmet.

"... are all warrior women in the Earth Kingdom this horny?"

"Hah! We're not at that point... yet." June chuckled... the last word almost silent. "Besides, I'm letting you off easy: I just want to see how you look under that helmet."

"Just the helmet?"

She raised her hands, "Hey, a lady is naturally going to get curious when six frigid Kyoshi Warriors talk about nothing except sex with you for half a day."

"I reiterate: Damn Suki and her rumours..." I grumbled as I unbuckled my helmet. "Also, I have a good reason to never take off my helmet: Helmets save lives... and end them just as quickly when I headbutt those who don't wear helmets."

"Very practical." June quipped as I stood before her without my helmet. "Okay, let's head inside for that interview, big guy. Going to want some privacy for this."

"Excellent! Get comfortable, I'll just retrieve my stationery." I replied. And by that, I meant 'Find a spot where people won't see me pulling things out of thin air.' Because I definitely planned to keep the extent of my powers under wraps for as long as I can. On the topic of my powers though... The book, An Interview with a Shirshu-mounted Bounty Hunter by Commander Khan, will certainly impress Wan Shi Tong. I was past the halfway mark for the Secondary Objective, and with this. I'll only need to author 6-7 more books after this one with June.

Quest:

THE JOURNEY FOR INTELLIGENCE

Main Objective: Impress {Wan Shi Tong} with (618/100) books for his library.

Reward: Removal of the [Dull Mind] perk

Secondary Objective: Impress {Wan Shi Tong} with (11.6/20) books you authored yourself

Reward: [Able Mind]

+ R +

Cradling my box of stationery in my armoured hands, I climbed down below the deck to where the small officer's quarters was, and pushed open the door.

For showing a more intellectual side, and for also being incredibly attractive to her ...

{June} Reputation : 25 - 35

{June} Obedience : 10 - 20

+ R +

Wait... I've seen this notification before, when Suki first saw me without my helmet. I swear, if this leads to yet another interview where my interviewee flashes me her...

"... breasts."

"Yes. Do you like them?" June purred as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her dark eyes with their heavy eyeshadow hooded in desire, and her raven-black hair spilling down her naked shoulders and down her back. Apart from the skull hair tie, the only thing she was wearing were the thin red covers draped casually over her naked body. Rosy pink nipples peeked over the covers as she crossed her arms under perky C-cups- pushing the smooth, firm globes up as if offering a sample of them.

I sighed, "June, offering your body isn't going to convince me to give you that bonus."

Her long, toned leg slipped out from under the covers- the flimsy cloth riding up dangerously high up the naked flesh of her inner thigh.

"Oh, it's more than just that bonus." the goth merc's painted lips stretched in a sly smile, "Life as a bounty hunter doesn't really let me have boyfriends." She shrugged, making her bare chest sway slightly, "I don't have the luxury that most girls have of dolling myself up, preening around like a peacock-pigeon and waiting for guys to make a move. If there's any tactic I can take from bounty hunting, it'd be 'Chase them down until their resistance is exhausted and get down to business.'"

"I wasn't expecting you to be so forward." I said, "You seem to be more laid back than this."

"I am. Was." She shook her head, "But after a crap week with tough work and little pay, I felt like blowing off some steam. And wouldn't you know it, this giant who looks surprisingly cute under his helmet comes along just in time. Barging into my life with his gold and his handsome mug- dragging me into this job to find the daughter of the Thorn Princess herself. And if having sex with him makes him like me enough for a fat bonus? Well, that's just the cherry on top. I want to see if you're everything the Kyoshi Warriors had been saying about."

"Damn Suki and her rumours..." I said with a sigh, "... But our deal was just the helmet, June."

"So?" She smiled, "I'm changing the deal: You want that interview, Khan? All you have to do is scratch my itch. Besides, I'm thinking I should be pretty confident with what I got. Don't you think so?"

June shifted in her seat, crossing her long legs that were toned from a lifetime of riding her shirshu over all sorts of terrain and revealing a brief glimpse of what she wore between them: nothing at all. And the rest of her was just as delicious. Abs defined on her smooth, pale skin peeked out from the sides of the red covers. As expected of a successful bounty hunter, June was very much in shape and very much had me cornered- leaving me with only one way to get that interview...

... and that was to have sex with this very fit and very sexy goth girl.

"You Earth Kingdom girls are insatiable..." I took off my helmet.

"There, we go." June smirked lustily, "I like how you look at me."

More than anything, I wasn't pleased about her reneging on the deal. I just kept my eyes on her as I unequipped my armour- leaving myself in just my loose pants. And by then, June was chewing her lower lip. Her coal black eyes running their gaze up and down my body. "Mmmm... well, that's one rumour confirmed: You definitely look like a Fire Nation prince out of that armour."

"And you look very good for someone who has lived her whole life on the road as well." I said. Reaching out, I yanked the covers off of her- exposing her pale, naked body.

June gasped in surprise- her pale cheeks blushing pink; but didn't protest as I joined her on the bed and ran my hands over her pale skin, admiring how soft and smooth it was despite a life of bounty hunting. Brushing my fingers across the tips of her breasts and across her smooth inner thighs, I earned from her a sigh of pleasure. And when my fingers brushed against her the delicate lips of her quim to find it dripping wet, a soft lyrical hum.

"Careful..." June tried to smirk again but was interrupted as a shiver of pleasure ran through her, "A girl can only take so much teasing..."

Her pale, slender frame made it easy to maneuver her onto my lap, I slipped off my pants and poised her right on the tip of my cock. Seated cowgirl was a good pick for a girl who had spent a lot of time riding powerful, relentless beasts around the Earth Kingdom.

She glanced down and moaned, "They grow them big in the Fire Islands..."

"Having second thoughts, June?" I chuckled as I prodded her tight pink entrance with the tip- threatening her with a very good time. "If we start now, we're not going to stop until I'm satisfied."

"Do it if you're so tough." She purred with a smirk as I held her by the waist... right before I slammed her down my cock until our hips met in a wet slap of flesh. June's coal black eyes clenched shut in pleasure as she threw her head back. Raven-black hair streaming down her back as she bared her pale neck to me, as she was unable to hold out a rolling moan of pleasure, "A-ahhhnn~!"

Her feminine insides were tight. So tight that it felt like her hot, silky inner walls were clinging to my cock. Years of riding on shirshu-back toning her muscles made her tighter than most. Meanwhile, delicate folds squeezed and pulsed wetly as if doing its best to service every inch of my cock. Even without movement, her insides were so hot and active that a man could cum from just that... but not me. Keeping six fit Kyoshi Warriors satisfied on long nights has built up my sexual stamina, and I was about to make this quippy bounty hunter realise just how unmatched she is.

"Did you cum just from that?" I chuckled.

The goth merc shot me an annoyed look as she panted through her blush. "Sh-shut up and just fuck me."

Naturally, I obliged her.

Holding her by her narrow waist, I hear June give a shuddering gasp as I lift her up- dragging her tight pussy up my shaft. Her tightness meant that her folds clung to my shaft as if reluctant to release even a single inch- sparking up pleasurable friction as the ridge of my cock head scraped against her sensitive silky folds. Then she found herself right where we started: with her trembling netherlips kissing the crown of my manhood. Right before I once again slammed her vulnerable pussy right down to the hilt of my cock.

June's rich alto voice let out a high feminine moan of pleasure, almost lyrical in quality, before catching herself.

"You- You heard nothing!" She hissed, but I just laughed.

"It's amusing how much you're intent on keeping this facade of a stoic, snarky bounty hunter." I said as I kept moving her up and down continuously. The wooden bed creaked underneath us as I used her pale, slender body as my onahole. The squelching of her wet pussy getting filled to spilling rang out with each powerful thrust, and her entire body seemed to shudder each time I bottomed out in her gripping pussy.

There was nothing more satisfying than surpassing the expectations of someone who had underestimated me. To that end, I had a new purpose: Draw out the sweet voice of this goth girl and make her mine.

"I want to hear it again." My voice rumbled into her ear. Her long black hair tickling my shoulder as I pounded away into the soaked depths of her welcoming pussy. Her perky C-cups dragging against my chest.

"D-don't make me! That's- Mmm! - not my style!" Her rich voice groaned, still acting tough. "Just keep goi- Mm! M-mmm!"

She came hard, and tried even harder to keep her mouth shut as she did. But from the way she clenched incredibly tight around my shaft and from the way her black-painted nails claws at my back, it must have been rocking her world. Her insides practically milking me to cum inside her. But unfortunately for June, she was going to have to work for it some more. Six perpetually horny Kyoshi Warriors made sure that my sexual stamina was up to stuff.

June opened her coal black eyes to look at me as she panted breathlessly.

"How... how haven't you cum yet?" She gulped for air. Her pussy, still trembling around my shaft from her orgasm.

"No." was all I said, right before I began moving her again.

"S-slow down, I just ca-caaame!" Her voice was cracking between her usual tough one and one that was distinctly more... vulnerable and feminine. I knew then that I had, all

"I know." I replied as I slid my hand inwards to brush my thumb against her swollen clit. Again and again. Her eyes flew wide open... right before her soft insides went wild: fluttering, squeezing and milking my shaft as if she came and came and came.

"S-spirits! K-keep going! Don't stop!" She pleaded vocally now- unable to care about appearances now. She began to bounce on her own accord, toned legs lifting herself up my cock until only the tip remained before slamming herself down to the hilt. The wet squelch and splatter of her womanly juices following right after. And from the desperation that she was moving and from how desperately her silky wet insides were milking my cock, June seemed like she was about to...

"Oh, that's- Cumminnng~!"

June came with a long guttural moan of ecstasy- her hips bucking uncontrollably as she howled her pleasure. And that triggered my own orgasm. I tilted her head up to capture her lips in a heated kiss. Letting this goth girl's moan into my mouth as I filled up her fertile womb with my seed until it began leaking out from where we were connected.

"Finally... you're done!" she panted breathlessly, her voice climbing back down to its rich alto. "I thought you were going to break my pussy in..."

"We are not done." was all I said before I pushed her slender frame to the bed while pinning her hands over her head. My cock poised yet again at the trembling entrance of her freshly creampied pussy as it leaked its creamy prize down her thighs. "Like I said... we're not going to stop until I'm finished. If you're going to change the deal, then I'm going to give you exactly what you wanted, June."

A complex mix of panic and anticipation glittered in her coal black eyes. "Uh... is it too late to apologise?"

"It's not like you can unfuck yourself, can you?" I grinned down to her, "But... trust me, you'll have a lot of time to apologise. With your holes."

This time, June didn't hold back with her moan as I sank balls deep back into her hot vagina.

(An hour later)

After several more rounds of nonstop sex, I decided to quit before June was too tired to track Zhao.

For giving her the best lay of her life so far and making her your cumslut...

{June} Reputation : 35 - 65

{June} Obedience : 20 - 50

+ R +

Gripping the goth girl's skull hair tie, I guided June's mouth up and down my cock as she knelt between my legs to give me a clean up blowjob. Well, as much as she could at least. Her deep red lipstick left kiss marks up and down my shaft and smeared everytime she took me in her throat. Her eyeshadow and mascara were now running down in a black mess down her pale cheeks. Long ropes of pearly white semen streaking all over her face from her previous titjob.

"Keep going, June. I'm getting close." I told her, patting her head. But before we could continue anymore, we heard someone hurriedly climbing down the steps.

"Commander Khan!" The lieutenant called out as she barged into the quarters, "We found the admiral and his unit. They report- OH! E-excuse me, sir! I... I didn't realise you weren't penis. DECENT! I didn't realise you weren't decent!"

I glanced down to June.

"Looks like your bounty hunter services weren't needed after all, June." I told her as I stood up. "Go lay down. Take a nap or something, I'll wake you when we're back at base."

"Yessir..." June slurred before she tiredly climbed onto the bed- just basking from the afterglow of our heated lovemaking and muttering softly, "Kyoshi warriors... you lucky bitches..."

I looked over to the Lieutenant who was still standing there frozen with her armoured hand covering her face... and I chose to ignore the fact that I could see her eyes peeking between her fingers.

"I'll attend to the admiral as soon as I'm ready." I said to her, "In the meantime, Lieutenant, show your fellow Fire Nation some of that fabled eastern Fire Island hospitality."

Yes, I need her to buy me some time. Time to wipe myself down to rid the heavy musk of sex and get dressed. After all, It was imperative that we made a good first impression with the admiral. Too much was riding on me being able to convince him to give the 41st priority naval support.

"I- me, sir?" She said with uncharacteristic hesitance. "You want me to do it?"

"Yes." I snapped. "Double time it, Lieutenant. The admiral will be waiting."

Reputation check succeeded!

100/100 Reputation Required with {41st Division}

Obedience check succeeded!

100/75 Obedience Required with {41st Division}

Wait... what's with the reputation and obedience checks?

"Y-yes, sir. By your orders..." the lieutenant murmured softly, "Uh... I'm not... experienced in this, at all... but I'll do my best."

She took a deep steadying breath, but instead heading above deck, she shuffled towards me with unsteady legs.

"Should I- with my h-hand, sir? Or do you want me to- uuuu... takeyouinmymouth? A-also... If it's you, sir, I w-wouldn't mind if you take my virg-"

"Lieutenant." I said in my flattest, most deadpan voice, "I meant to go upstairs and ensure the admiral has a ranking officer of the 41st to talk to. I did not mean sexually satisfy me."

I couldn't see her exact expression behind her helmet, but I'd swear I could feel the heat of her blush through the metal.

"W-w-w-WHAT?! But I thought you wanted me to-! I was actually ok with-!" She stammered and sputtered before saluting, "I mean, yes sir! Right away, Commander!"

She dashed out the room and up the steps so fast that one would have thought she was an airbender.

Meanwhile, I just shook my head before hurrying to get dressed. With my Inventory, it was easy to just equip the armour. Slap a bit of asiatic Axe bodyspray and I was ready to pretend that I didn't spend the last hour pounding goth girl pussy. I climbed above-deck just in time to see a group of haggard-looking Fire Nation soldiers wave at us from their place at the river banks. Already, my ostrich-horse mounted scouts were escorting them on board the riverboats- the tall creatures wading into the water to help the rescued soldiers aboard.

One of the admirals' soldiers was particularly familiar.

"Ah, Lieutenant Yan." I greeted the eye-patched soldier as he climbed aboard. "Congratulations to you too for making it to an Admiral's retinue."

"Thank you, Commander Khan, sir." Yan saluted back before glancing over his shoulder to the four soldiers hoisting a stretcher aboard. "Set him down easy, men. The commander's an expert herbalist."

Obeying, the soldiers placed the semi-conscious man on a wooden bench.

"So, this is Admiral Zhao..." My voice rumbled in consideration as I knelt by his side. He was middle-aged, but fit. Greying hair and magnificent sideburns. Yes, there was no mistaking Admiral Zhao. Even without his armour, he looked the part. Shirtless, the admiral's torso was decorated with multiple battle scars now faint, but no fresh wounds anywhere. He was also shivering and muttering in his sleep.

"zh-zhao... the victorious..."

"Did you see what caused his injuries?" I said, aiming my question to any soldier who could answer as we crowded around the admiral.

"He went mad with power, sir." Yan replied, "...And drank two cans of Red Bull at once."

"Ah, that would do it. This man is too reckless." I shook my head in disappointment, "He took the cans that I gave your unit for himself, didn't he?"

"Yes, sir..."

"zha-ao the... wise..."

"I recall Suki's first can of Red Bull." I shook my head. "I should have expected that the admiral would also do such a thing. But thankfully, this is easily curable..."

Time to put that new herbalism perk to good use.

Level 10 - Expert Skill Perk

Medic! (Passive): Actual medical license not included. When you personally apply healing consumables which you have personally made to other entities, the treated wound heals at a faster rate. Scales with your [Herbalism] skill.

+ R +

Reaching into my belt pouch, I retrieved a (Fine) [Small Health Tonic] from my inventory. A small thing, really. Merely a glass vial just large enough to hold one full gulp of Predictably, the liquid inside was red, just like in all fantasy settings too. liquid. A combination of herbs and wild berries to produce an all purpose health potion.

With a flick of my armoured thumb, I popped the cork off the vial and tipped the contents into the insensate admiral's mouth, and he reflexively gulped down the sweet liquid. I looked over to the rest of the soldiers, "The only thing left to do is prepare some food and water for him when her wakes up. He'll need to replenish himself after pushing his body that- "

I was interrupted when- as if resurrected by a lightning bolt- the admiral's eyes flew open and he jumped to his feet.

"AVATAR! YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR ZHAO THE RADIANT!" Zhao boomed.

AN:

This chapter occurs during the episode... (ATLA Book 1, Episode 16 - The Deserter). Taking place after (Bato of the Water Tribe) and right before (The Northern Air Temple).

Don't stress about military ranks... ATLA is whack in that regard. (e.g. Commander Zhao who was in charge of 'a hundred ships' was somehow promoted straight to Admiral, skipping Colonel outright.) And rather than rework everything into a cohesive and sane military hierarchy, I just rolled with the one laid out by this western-made asiatic cartoon show about the four western elements.

This chapter kicked my ass... Balancing humour and wish fulfilment. The colourful cast of ATLA characters... But mainly because both Age of Wonders 4 and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom came out.

The Lieutenant is actually another expy... But I'm saving her for later. Already enough characters to juggle as it is. Right now, the most I can do is build her up for her eventually unmasking.