**Roku**
At the site of one of the villages burned by the Rhino Gang, Shirshu still hadn't found anything. Hopefully, the others would have better luck. I'd almost thought we'd spend the entire journey in silence. But then, Jun started a somewhat strange conversation:
"Where do you get your strength?" she asked abruptly, without preamble.
"I've been training hard since childhood, and I still haven't stopped," I replied. I wasn't about to talk about chakras and life energy with someone I'd known for barely a day, even if we'd had something resembling sex—that didn't change anything yet.
"Do you have a lover?" she pressed, bringing out the heavy artillery.
"Yes," I confirmed calmly, my hands gently caressing her body.
"Hmm," she snorted, glancing at my hands, but said nothing more.
We continued in silence, and it seemed she was upset that I'd answered honestly…
Soon, the city gates came into view, and Lao's people weren't there yet. She left me at the gates, saying she'd quickly stop by the inn, probably to change her clothes.
By the time Lao arrived, Jun had returned, now wearing new dark leggings that looked more like tights.
"They're too good at covering their tracks," sighed one of General Zen's soldiers. "This is all we found, and only by luck," he added, holding up some bloodstained bandages with dried blood on them.
Someone from the village must have managed to wound one of the gang members.
"It's enough, we have a trail," said Jun, as Nayla began pacing, ready to start. "Jump, Roku," the mercenary nodded at me.
"I don't like this mercenary," Toph muttered sullenly once I was behind Jun.
For about an hour, we followed through the forest, stopping briefly at a river where Jun said the scent had grown fainter. Most likely, they'd bathed there…
The journey slowed significantly after that, as Shirshu often stopped. The Rhino Gang was skilled at evading, but it wouldn't save them. We were closing in on our target.
"Quiet," Jun whispered, raising her hand. "Eight scents, two hundred meters ahead. I think we've found them."
Lao ordered his men to circle the camp to prevent the Fire Nation soldiers from escaping.
"I'll go ahead," I told the others. "I'll try to disable or kill their Komodo rhinos," I said, noticing the worried looks on Toph's, Lao's, and… Jun's faces. Our people were ready for battle. Near young Jet were two earthbenders tasked with guarding him and protecting him if danger arose—otherwise, he'd charge straight into the enemy. "As soon as you see my move, attack. Use the chaos."
Moving silently through the forest, I used my chi to avoid making any suspicious sounds. I was getting closer to the small camp. Peeking out from behind a tree, I saw gang members hastily packing their few belongings onto their rhinos. They must have sensed danger and decided to leave quickly.
Taking a deep breath, I dove into an open hole in the ground, using the "subterranean swimming" technique to approach their campsite. "Seeing" the Komodo rhinos through vibrations, I sharply created sharp spikes from the earth, piercing them in multiple places. Some of the animals died instantly, while others were badly injured and unlikely to move.
Above, the noise of battle had already begun. Our forces were attacking the camp. Metal clashed, and arrows whistled through the air. Soon, I located their most dangerous member—Colonel Monke.
The gang leader was slowly retreating from the camp, deflecting attacks from our earthbenders. My hands tried to pull him down, but they nearly got burned.
"We've got a mole here," I heard his strong voice, laced with mockery.
The entire battlefield was clear. Lao had joined the fight, engaging Kachi and proving his skill with his weapon. So far, Toph's father was dominating, creating new wounds in his opponent's body.
Vashira took on a group of four, with two providing timely defense against the archer's deadly arrows while the others pelted him with stones. Another group of earthbenders faced Yan Lu, who was unleashing his firebending without restraint.
"He's weaker than I thought," Toph's slightly disappointed voice sounded as she crushed Ogodei with stone slabs, surely breaking multiple bones.
The rest were already paralyzed by Shirshu's tongue.
We were lucky to know their skills and abilities, and we'd prepared a plan, assigning roles to everyone. Bursting from the ground, I instantly clad myself in stone armor, which was immediately struck by a fiery whip.
"So it's Roku himself," Monke recognized me anyway. "I wondered why I had indigestion today. I knew it wasn't a good sign," he smirked, showing his composure.
"Time to show my mastery of metalbending," I thought, ignoring his words. I wondered how much my reputation would grow if I demonstrated something considered impossible by many earthbenders.
"It was fun burning those villages, hearing the agonizing screams of the filthy Earth Kingdom villagers," the colonel shouted, trying to provoke our people.
"Time for you to shut up," I said, noticing some of our people making mistakes. If Jet hadn't been held back, he would've already charged into the fight…
Manipulating earth energy, I took control of a metal sphere in my pocket. Levitating it in front of me, I saw Monke's eyes briefly show surprise, quickly replaced by caution.
"I don't know what tricks you're playing, Roku, but they won't help you," he said firmly, still taking a defensive stance.
"Master Roku is the coolest earthbender!" Toph's voice sounded as she stood beside her father. Lao was already wiping his bloodied sword, and his men had subdued the defeated Kachi.
Punching forward, the sphere shot toward the firebender. A concentrated stream of flames appeared in its path but failed to stop it. At the last moment, Monke tried to duck, but the sphere struck his solar plexus. The heavy metal ball knocked the wind out of him and broke a few ribs.
"Kha," Monke spat out blood, kneeling. "You'll still be under the Fire Nation," he managed to smile, showing his bloodied teeth, before losing consciousness.
The rest were already defeated. On our side, there were no casualties, just some moderate injuries. Someone had been grazed by Yan Lu's fire blast, and one of their warriors had a small through-and-through wound from an enhanced arrow fired by Vashira, which had pierced a stone wall.
"Is your revenge complete?" I asked, approaching the silent Jet.
"Not yet," he shook his head. "It will only be complete when I see them dead."
"That will happen later," I said, watching General Zen's men take away the Rhino Gang. "First, we need to extract the information they have. Then, they'll definitely face execution," I patted him on the shoulder.
Toph was already telling her father how easily she'd handled that warrior.
"Did you see what Master Roku used in the battle with Colonel Monke?" I overheard two soldiers talking.
"You mean the metalbending?" the other asked.
"Yes! It's just unbelievable, isn't it?" he whispered excitedly.
Many glanced at me cautiously, and I could feel the growing respect, admiration, and envy. I should use metalbending more often—then rumors about me would spread quickly across all the provinces.
"I think we should celebrate our glorious victory!" Lao said as everyone prepared to return to Kahal. "I expect everyone at the mayor's residence at ten o'clock!"
As I approached Shirshu, her owner moved toward me.
"You're not just hard as steel here," she whispered huskily in my ear, running her palm over my groin, briefly squeezing my manhood. Shivers ran down my spine—it was too unexpected…
"I hope I'm invited too, Master Lao?" Jun asked as she jumped onto Shirshu.
"Without you, we wouldn't have even started!" he replied with a smile, discreetly giving me a thumbs-up.
That evening, the banquet hall buzzed with voices. Lao sat at a table with the mayor and Luna. Toph, overwhelmed with impressions, quickly fell asleep.
At our table, there were initially five people, but Jun quickly dismissed them, settling her firm derrière next to me.
"Drink more," she poured me more wine for what felt like the tenth time.
"Maybe it's time to pretend I'm a little drunk—that's clearly what she wants," I thought. My open chakra blocked all alcohol, so I could only fake it.
Gradually, I began to resemble the slightly tipsy warriors around us, waiting for Jun's next move.
"Let's go to your room—it's too loud here," she said, stroking my knee.
*
*Jun. Same place, same time.*
"No turning back now, stay focused!" Jun steeled herself, downing a glass of wine in one gulp. Taking Roku's hand, she quickly led him to the room. "Especially since he's already proven he can handle my strength."
As far back as she could remember, she'd always been stronger than others, and the difference only grew clearer with time. At first, she'd been overjoyed… Of course—she was attractive, born into a wealthy family of rare animal collectors, had a sharp mind, and could easily defend herself.
But one day, everything changed…
Serious relationships always end up in bed, though sometimes it's the other way around. Her first time should have been unforgettable. They loved each other and were already planning to start a family. But in this world, there are no free gifts…
"Aaaah!" She still remembered her former lover's piercing scream, the man she'd crippled herself.
Literally, she'd shattered his hopes of having children.
"I don't need your apologies! I never want to see you again!" His eyes no longer held the love they once had—only hatred remained.
"Better stay away from her."
"She's a rose with thorns. Heard about that incident?"
"Yeah, poor guy," the small town quickly filled with new rumors about her intimate peculiarities.
It became unbearably stifling, even just walking through the city. Her father, a former mercenary, suggested she see the world, where there were equally unique people who could become her kin.
Taking her father's Shirshu, Jun began making a name for herself. Each new village and city gave her hope that this would be the place where she'd find the one strong enough to withstand the "grip of her love."
Over the years, Jun realized she was likely chasing something mythical and nonexistent, so she started taking jobs for the Fire Nation. She no longer realized she was becoming deeply cynical, blindly pursuing an unattainable goal.
In her later years, she drank more often, trying to lose herself in alcohol. Her toys didn't give her emotions—they only provided release. Soon, her beauty would begin to fade, and she'd spend the rest of her days alone.
Life loves to throw surprises, sometimes unwanted ones, but that day, she nearly missed her chance.
"You'll be mine!" echoed in her mind like a drumbeat as she lost for the first time to a handsome young man who was now famous.
The next day, her head cleared slightly, and she decided to conduct another, more practical test.
It had been a long time since she'd had such a wild orgasm! The shape of his manhood instantly made her wet, signaling her readiness. Only later did she realize she'd acted like… like a crazy girl with extremely indecent behavior.
But time couldn't be reversed—only forward motion remained!
"Please, spirits, ancestors, gods, and anyone who can hear me, let him be the one!" she prayed before the closed door to the room.
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