Book 2: Earth

Chapter 17- Proof of Existence

The fighting had been intense, with Freedom Fighters and Fire Nation soldiers burning the landscape and scorching trees in a chaotic melee. Firebenders tangled with Earth and Metal Benders, contorting metal armor, and shooting earth spikes into the crowds of Fire Nation soldiers. Dozens were injured, but many more were still in the fight, not willing to back away from the cave, which contained the ultimate prize for both parties.

The fight, for Asami however, was a diversion at best. Both Zhenjin and Korra were in that cave, and they needed back up. But she could do nothing while she was still locked in a duel with that meddling Kyoshi Warrior!

Asami's thoughts however, were suddenly snapped as she parried another thrust from the Kyoshi. The Warrior was holding two short swords now, striking in quick succession. Although Asami's black blade was stronger for the wear, the Kyoshi planned on simply overwhelming her with a barrage of attacks, so far, it did nothing more than annoy her.

"I've wasted enough time with you." Asami said with an irritated scowl, backing cautiously away from her opponent. Her cocky demeanor from before was now replaced with a stern contemplation, her opponent was stronger than she gave her credit for.

Niska said nothing as she backed away as well, focusing on her opponent with grim determination, both stalking and circling each other like two hunters sizing up their kill.

A fully trained Sentinel of Azula was no pushover, and the various scrapes and cuts all over Niska's armored kimono were a testament to that fact, but Asami didn't walk off lightly either as Niska managed to land a few more superficial blows onto the Sentinel, a huge gash outlining her armor chest plate, with several smaller cuts.

"It'll take more than swordplay to get past me." Niska said grimly, knowing what was at stake from preventing Asami from entering the cave.

"True, maybe I have underestimated you." Asami admitted grudgingly, using her free hand to reach into one of the pouches behind her. "But it ends now."

Then, before either opponent could move, something happened in the mine.

It was a subtle rumble at first, barely noticed by the warriors in the chaotic melee, but everything seemed to stop when the ground started shaking, followed by a violent blast that erupted from the mine. The top of the rocky hillside where Korra had entered seemed to erupt in a tremendous force of energy, followed by a solid pillar of blinding light that stretched to the heavens.

The explosion was so loud and overwhelming, all eyes on the battlefield quickly turned to the cave and Niska barely saw Asami's as she produced a pair of electrical chi-blocking gloves from her pouch.

__________________________________

Mako grunted as he parried another spear thrust from a freedom fighter, easily sidestepping out of the way and snapping the spear in half like a twig in a sweeping kick. The Earth Kingdom fighter, an untrained peasant by the looks of it, simply dropped his weapon and ran, only to be replaced by more fighters that began emerging from the trees.

As the Firebender braced himself for his new opponents, he took a look around at the rest of his squad. Prince Zhenjin was busy chasing Korra, and knowing him; he would have caught up to her by now. To his right side, On Ji and Hide were safe for the moment, fighting with the Southern Raiders in a solid formation while the Earth Benders were slagging rocks at them. They weren't going in for the kill, the freedom fighters were too weak to take on the entire Fire Nation expedition, but they were delaying them. That made no sense to Mako, why would the freedom fighters have any interest in the Blue Spirit? Then, he watched in horror as the entrance way to the mine collapsed under a large explosion, a solid pillar of light erupting from the inside of the cave towards the heavens.