The Hardest Choice (malereader x avatar)

The Drill (Book 2: Chapter 9)

Three weeks. It had been three weeks since Y/N and the elite Fire Nation team had last seen the Avatar. That would change today.

They were now about five miles away from the walls of the greatest city in the world: Ba Sing Se. The city was a looming presence even from this distance, its massive walls stretching endlessly across the horizon. The name alone—The Impenetrable City—was a constant reminder of the challenge they faced. But Y/N knew better than to take that title at face value. After all, Iroh, the Dragon of the West, had managed to breach those walls during his campaign. Though his victory had been short-lived, it had proved that even the mightiest of defenses could be penetrated.

Still, Ba Sing Se had never truly been conquered, never fully taken. Azula planned to change that.

In the three weeks since their last encounter with the Avatar, their pursuit had been relentless, but Aang and his friends had been careful, leaving little trace of their movements. Mai, usually so adept at tracking, had been frustrated by the lack of clear signs, and the entire team had grown increasingly weary with each passing day.

Their fortunes shifted just a few days ago. While staying at a small village, Azula had received a message from a soldier—a request for her and the rest of the team to come to a large military base not far away. The soldier had mentioned something "huge" being planned, something that could turn the tide of the war.

It was an opportunity Azula couldn't ignore. They had made their way to the base, traveling through rugged terrain and dense forests, pushing themselves to their limits. When they finally arrived, the base was teeming with activity, bustling with Fire Nation soldiers—hundreds, maybe thousands of them. This sight was enough to stir a sense of awe in Y/N, but it wasn't the soldiers that drew his attention. It was the massive structure that dominated the center of the base.

The drill.

Massive didn't even begin to describe it. The sheer size of the machine left Y/N breathless. It towered over everything else, its enormous, rotating drill bit gleaming in the sunlight. It was a marvel of engineering, a symbol of the Fire Nation's power and ingenuity. This was War Minister Qin's secret project, something he had spent years designing and months building. And this was how they would bring Ba Sing Se—the so-called Impenetrable City—to its knees.

Y/N had felt a surge of excitement as he stood before the drill, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The sheer scale of the machine was awe-inspiring, and the thought of using it to breach Ba Sing Se's legendary walls filled him with a sense of purpose. This was the weapon that would end the war, that would bring the Earth Kingdom to its knees.

His interactions with War Minister Qin had been... interesting, to say the least. The first time Qin laid eyes on Y/N, he had eyed him curiously, as if trying to place where he had seen him before. Y/N, however, recognized Qin instantly. The War Minister had been a frequent presence at the war councils back in the Fire Nation, a close associate of Y/N's father. When Y/N introduced himself, Qin's face lit up with recognition.

"You're Kuzon's boy, aren't you?" Qin said, his voice deep and measured. There was a warmth to his tone that caught Y/N off guard.

Y/N had nodded, feeling a mix of emotions at the mention of his father. "Yes, sir. I am."

Qin had chuckled, a sound that seemed out of place in the harsh, militaristic environment. "You've been away for quite some time, haven't you? I suppose I've seen your father more recently than you have!" His laugh was brief, but genuine. Then his expression grew serious once more. "He misses you, you know. Won't admit it, of course—wouldn't be like him. But he does, I can tell. I always can. I can't imagine how your poor mother feels... She was torn to pieces when you left..."