Book 2: Earth

Chapter 25- The Battle of Yu Dao (Part 2)

The scene at the breach was one of quiet tension as the Fire Nation troops gazed warily at the looming shapes forming behind the dust clouds of the collapsed walls. Based from the sounds of the thunderous cheers and the rolling tanks of the Earth Kingdom, it felt as though any minute now, they would burst through the smoke and charge through the collapsed section of the wall like water bursting through a dam.

But strangely, they did nothing, having formed up, the Earth Kingdom troops simply stayed put outside the range of the Fire Nation towers and soldiers. Mako watched them indifferently as his own platoon of Southern Raiders stood at the ready, while the Yuyan archers kept their bows aimed squarely at the breach, holding their strings in place with a strength that he could only admire.

"What's taking them so long?" Hide asked in irritation as he snuck a peek over the rooftop they were posted at. From their position above the streets, they had a good view of the anxious Fire Nation and Colonial soldiers crowding around the breach, ready to intercept the attack.

"Maybe they're waiting on more soldiers?" On Ji offered as helpfully as she could. In truth, even Mako didn't know why the enemy wasn't attacking. They've breached the walls, and they had a clear path through, even if it was into a cauldron of Fire Nation pikes and flames.

Then it happened.

It was a slow rumble at first, barely a noticeable whimper. But eventually each tremor was followed by several smaller ones, until it finally became one overwhelming wave, shaking the very foundations of the buildings in the streets. It was then that Mako noticed the first cracks in the pavement of the roads below.

"They're digging underground!" Mako shouted just as the building his group stood on collapsed into a cloud of smoke and dust. The Yuyan Archers and Southern Raiders too slow to comprehend were pulled downwards. Hide quickly dragged On Ji off the roof before she had a chance to protest, both of them landing on an adjacent balcony where the quicker Raiders and Archers had jumped just in time before the building collapsed.

Mako himself jumped off the collapsing rooftop with them, chips of stone and masonry flying through the air, flaking off his armor as he met a face full of dust on the ground. Through the smoke, cannon fire erupted from the ground, shelling the buildings around them. And even as he landed, Mako saw several larger explosions reverberating across the city, clouds of dust and flame kicking up as the Earth Kingdom Tanks emerged from the various tunnels they had dug underneath the fortifications. Their cannons roared behind the Fire Nation lines, tearing deep gashes into the buildings around them, shooting through barricades, walls and light armor.

Gritting his teeth, Mako unsheathed his own jian, nodding towards On Ji and Hide. It was then, through the hole, where the first Earth Kingdom soldiers emerged, with heavy armor and spears, charging at the rear of the Fire Nation army that had camped at the walls.

"We have to protect the troops at the wall while they reform!" Mako shouted at the remaining Southern Raiders and archers near him, who all nodded in assent. As Mako led the charge into the nearest group of Earth Kingdom troops, one thought echoed through his mind.

Korra. Asami.

Be safe.

With a grim cheer, the special elite troops of the Fire Nation advanced, determined to make Giam's forces pay for every step they took, to buy the colonial and Fire Nation troops at the wall the time they needed.

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The view of the city from the ramparts was one of utter chaos. It was as if the ground had opened up at several points in the city, swallowing buildings whole and covering vast sections of Yu Dao in dust and rubble. It was too coordinated to be a coincidence, and sure enough, Zhenjin saw immediately the groups of Earth Kingdom troops emerging from the tunnels with their tanks, throwing up chaos and confusion in the rear while his own army faced the wall, where finally, the Earth Kingdom troops outside the city started to attack the breach.