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The Ultimate Firebending Duo! - Chapter One Hundred Five
The sound of snow collapsing underground resonated into the air while large chunks of concrete fell down from above.
Just as Azula sat up with her backside in the snow while she glared up with ruthlessly annoyed amber golden eyes.
And then soon after that Zoi pulled herself up alongside her while the noblewoman shook the snow from her damp hair.
"Damn that stupid brat and her irritating bombs!" Azula snarled in an intensely aggravated voice while she glared up with irate amber golden eyes.
She grasped at a firm wall of snow as she lifted herself up onto her booted feet.
As she tried to ignore her body's impulse to shiver from the frigid chill that was overtaking the air.
"I really hate to admit it…but when he said that he had a firebender at his disposal. I never expected her to be this strong." Zoi stated in a calm voice with her visible breath starting to appear before her face while she stood up alongside her scowling princess.
They listened to Katsu happily shout out her 'victory' in the distance.
"I swear I am going to kill that girl." Azula hissed as she brushed snow from her angered face while her captain stepped up beside her.
"If we were in the Fire Nation…we could fight this girl all day without worry of succumbing to the cold. But here…in this colder climate…. we run the risk of freezing to death as soon as those fires go out." Zoi remarked in a grave voice with her serious golden eyes gazing up at the snow looming above them.
The smoke from the fires burning above permeated the cold air as the princess's lips pursed into a prideful glower.
"I don't need you to tell me that Zoi." Azula grunted in a harsh voice with her fists at her hips while she glared up at the snowy ceiling.
And she once again found herself inwardly cursing her girlfriend's sentimental nature.
Throughout the battle she has had multiple chances to kill the girl.
It would have been all too easy to kill such a transparent opponent with one bolt of her lightning.
But then Katsu would have died.
And she knew that she would never hear the end of it from her serving girl if that were the case.
The princess could only let out a low growl as she stomped forward in the snow while she clenched her fists at her side.
And yet somehow…as much as it annoyed her having to abide by such a soft-hearted peasant's whims.
Strangely enough she wouldn't have it any other way.
"We'll have to take her down hard in one decisive strike." Zoi spoke with a knowing look in her hardened eyes while Azula turned to regard her coldly.
"We? What makes you think that I need your help to defeat this moron." Azula demanded in an abrasive voice with her strict eyes gazing back into the noblewoman's equally golden gaze.
"I didn't say that you did. Look Princess…normally I am not much for teamwork. But as much as I would rather finish this battle on my own…considering the circumstances. It probably is for the best that we do this together." Zoi explained in a composed voice with her stoic eyes gazing back into her princess's moody amber golden eyes.
"Is that it? Or could it be that you are just trying to make excuses for yourself?" Azula shot back in a haughty voice with her arrogant amber golden eyes gazing back at scoffing face.
"If I didn't know any better Princess, I would say that you are afraid that I am going to show you up." Zoi taunted in return with a small smirk forming upon her lips while Azula her amber golden eyes in response.
"Please. Don't flatter yourself soldier. You are the one who is going to be shown up." Azula retorted with a conceited wave of her hand while her captain smirked back at her.
And for a fleeting moment she found herself unable to resist allowing her own lips to pull into something akin to a fond smirk.
Before they glanced back up with alert looks in their eyes when they heard another explosion of combustionbending going off not too far away from their location.
And then the two warriors held themselves high with determined expressions in their eyes while their auras began to return to full force.
They entrenched their boots in the snow below them as they used the heat from the flames to recover their energy.
Just before they burst into the air once more to finish the battle with the combustionbender once and for all.
Meanwhile…
Mai and Ty Lee could only stare on with their eyes wide in disbelief while a faint green light illuminated their line of vision.
And then the smoke in the distance began to slowly clear from the air.
Only to find themselves staring on in shock to see that there was no sign of the princess and the captain.
All that they could make out was a gaping pit in the snow that had been blown open as a result of Katsu's attack.
Elle gazed on with lips trembling in distress as she shook in the icy winds.
"Are they really…defeated?" Ty Lee questioned with worry lacing her voice while Mai gazed into the flames with uncertain tawny eyes.
"N-no. Azula-sama…..it couldn't be. She can't be defeated." Elle spoke with a frantic shake of her head while her big sisters gazed on in an unsettled silence behind her.
They gazed out at Katsu standing before the pit with her glowing palms held out above her head.
And then not a second later the sound of another rumbling bomb detonating erupted into the air while they shielded their faces in alarm.
Elle stared out into the bright green light with her gloved hands frightfully clutching at the straps of her backpack.
The two noblewomen nervously exchanged a glance with one another.
Just as the sound of Katsu's deranged laughter resonated into the while the girl gleefully set off another round of explosives.
"Elle is right. That girl has no strategy. There is no way that Azula would lose to someone that dense." Mai remarked in a flat undertone while Ty Lee numbly nodded her head in agreement.
And then the two nobles turned to glance about once more while their little sister still peered on with worry-filled amber eyes.
Only for the highborn women to freeze up with their eyes growing wide in alertness when they felt a chill suddenly travel down their spines.
Except…that it wasn't anything like the chill from the frigid climate.
No.
It was almost like…they were being stalked!
That was all it took for the two noblewomen to grab a hold of their startled young friend while they leaped backwards.
Only for all of their eyes to widen in shock to find themselves staring right back at Nero standing an uncomfortably close distance away from them!
Nero's lips pulled into a sadistic smirk as he stared piercingly back into the three girls now unnerved eyes.
'How did that bastard sneak up on us without me noticing!' Mai thought with her tawny eyes forming a fearsome glare while she clutched her blades in hand.
Ty Lee gazed on with fiercely protective brown-gray eyes as she glared back at the ominously smirking man.
As she pushed the younger girl behind her while she shielded the frightened teenager from view.
The noble girls found themselves once again recalling the old sage's prior words of warning.
He is like a spider. He watches and waits. And then he finally springs when the moment is right.
"I would have to be a dishonorable monster to attack you girls in the cold. Unfortunately for you three…I am!" Nero spoke with a demented chuckle as he strode forward while his red eyes stared back at the two noblewomen's glowering faces.
The two older girls never once wavered from standing defensively in front of their innocent little sister as they glared back at him.
"You stay away from us!" Ty Lee shouted in a much colder voice than her usual while narrowed her eyes as she stood in a fighting stance.
As her little sister gazed out from behind her back with apprehensive amber eyes.
Mai stood rooted to her spot with her icy tawny eyes glaring back at the man's depraved face.
"Your friends won't be coming to help you." Nero purred in a menacing voice with his almost demonic eyes gazing the three girls unsettled faces down.
"O-oneesans." Elle stammered as she shivered with her worried eyes peering up at the taller girl's backs while her big sisters glared the man down.
"You're not as smart as you think you are if you think that we are incapable of fighting without Zoi and Azula!" Mai hissed with her blades in hand while her merciless eyes glared back at Nero's smiling visage.
She stood over the petite girl with her breath visibly pouring into the air before her scowling lips.
While she gazed out of the corner of her eye to momentarily share a glare with Ty Lee.
Just before the two noblewomen settled in their spots in the snow with their guarded eyes never leaving the advancing man.
"You should know that I am no ordinary scientist." Nero cackled in a monstrous voice with his cruel eyes gazing back at defensive faces of the glaring highborn women.
Just as another cold wind blew into the frigid air.
And then right after that he sprinted towards the two noblewomen.
Mai rapidly fired off her stilettos from her holster while she stared on with intensely focused tawny eyes.
Only for her normally calm eyes to widen a fraction in surprise when the man dodged them with ease!
As Ty Lee gazed on in shock beside her while Elle stared on with alarm filled amber eyes.
"Mai look out!" Ty Lee yelled out just as Nero dropped down above Mai from behind.
Mai stared on with widened tawny eyes just as she barely evaded a blow to the neck.
As she jumped backwards with her eyes spinning around in sight of her target.
And then before the three girls could react the seemingly inhuman man leaped at with his crimson eyes wide in bloodlust.
"T-Ty Lee!" Elle exclaimed in a fretful voice only for Ty Lee's taller body to intercept the man before he could reach her.
And then just like that the skillful acrobat met the demented scientist head on in battle while her elbow pushed back on the researcher's gloved palm.
Her brown-gray eyes stared furiously back into sadistic crimson eyes as they exchanged a swift series of blows.
Mai stared on with murderous tawny eyes as she held her knives at her hips.
Just as she rushed back into battle while Elle stared back and forth with her innocent eyes wide in distress.
'What…what is he!' Ty Lee thought while her brown-gray eyes furrowed as she leaped away.
And then not a moment later she slid back on her the balls of her feet just before she hesitated ever so slightly on her bad foot.
Nero's sadistic crimson eyes astutely took notice of Ty Lee's faint display of pain.
And that was all it took for him to lunge forward with a devious smirk on his lips while the woman bounded back into action.
Only for Ty Lee's face to break out in an expression of pain when a merciless kick struck at her weakened foot!
Just before she gazed back into Nero's cruel eyes while a shiver traveled down her spine when the man smiled right back at her.
"That foot of yours seems to be causing you pain. Allow me to deepen it!" Nero called out in a malicious voice as he sprung at the now frightened Ty Lee while Mai stared on with fury in her tawny eyes.
"Leave my big sister alone!" Elle shouted with panic in her amber eyes while she moved to aid the older girl.
Ty Lee staggered backwards as she let out a cry of pain when the monstrous man brutally kicked her injured foot once more!
Nero grinned wickedly as he continued to savagely assail the noblewoman while Ty Lee desperately fought on the defense.
Just as Mai jumped into the air behind the scientist with her eyes now full of rage.
And then she slashed at the man's back with her sai while the flames from the surrounding inferno permeated the air.
Only for her tawny eyes to widen in disbelief when her strike was blocked.
The two noblewomen now gaped on with their jaws dropping in shock to see that the man had bent his arm backwards at a grotesque angle to catch the sai in his fist.
Nero now held Ty Lee's fist in his other hand while he turned his head to smirk goadingly back at his opponent's stunned faces.
'What sort of monster is he! Even Ty Lee isn't able to move her arm like that!' Mai thought with her eyes wide in incredulity while the man smiled like a beast.
Elle frantically gazed back and forth between the three with rapidly growing worry in her eyes.
And then before Mai knew what was happening, she took a foot to the stomach while she flew backwards grunting in pain.
Just before she landed in the rubble on her ass.
Nero rapidly spun around as he launched himself back at the startled Ty Lee as the noblewoman quickly readied herself on the defense.
Only for the sound of Ty Lee's screams to split into the air not a moment later while Mai and Elle gazed on with alarm in their horrified eyes.
Ty Lee now fell to one knee in the rubble with her widened eyes now gazing down at her foot in surprise.
Before she raised her eyes to gaze back up at Nero's dementedly smiling face.
And in his left hand he was now holding a stun gun!
Ty Lee glared back at him while beads of sweat dripped down her cold cheek.
"You piece of shit! You keep going for her injury!" Mai roared as she pushed herself up from the rubble with her enraged eyes glaring venomously back at Nero's sadistic countenance.
The man stood with a cruel smirk on his lips as he held his stun device in hand.
As he gazed tauntingly down into Ty Lee's increasingly fearful brown-gray eyes.
"Another thing that you'll find out about me is that I have a complete mastery of the human anatomy and all of the painful stimuli that it encompasses." Nero stated in a horrific voice with his evil crimson eyes staring down into Ty Lee's terrified eyes.
Mai listened with her teeth clenched together in revulsion.
Only for the two noblewomen to spin around with worried expression in their eyes when they heard their young friend rushing up behind them.
Just as Elle stepped in front of the moved Ty Lee with her arms held out at her sides while she stared defiantly back at Nero's cruelly amused face.
"Get away from my oneesans! If it's me that you want! Then it's me that you'll get! I'll fight you!" Elle yelled in a courageous voice while her big sisters gazed at her back in alarm.
"Elle no! Get back!" Ty Lee exclaimed as she ignored her pain while she pulled herself to her feet while the younger girl stood her ground.
She gazed down at the shorter girl with concern in her eyes while her fellow noble glared daggers at the now laughing man.
"You fight me?! Do you have any idea who you challenge child?" Nero cackled with coat blowing in the cold winds while he took a step towards the glaring teenager.
The two highborn women stared on with a lethal protectiveness in their eyes as they watched him closely.
"Yeah, that's right me!" Elle retorted as she stared the smirking researcher down while he smiled back at her.
As a faint glow of energy began to emanate before the noblewomen's bewildered eyes.
They stood in the burning flames with their taken aback eyes staring down at their petite friend in astonishment.
Elle never once back down from Nero as she stared up into his monstrous crimson eyes as he continued to walk towards her.
"Hm. Under normal circumstance I might consider your power to be a paramount threat. However, it would seem as if your little bout with your brother expended all of your energy. I very much doubt that you will be able to muster that kind of power again anytime soon. And besides…" Nero trailed off in a cruel voice with an inhuman smirk on his lips while Elle audibly swallowed as she held her position.
The two noblewomen stood in fighting stances with their unsettled eyes staring back at their adopted sister.
While Elle still stood with her arms extended in a heartwarming effort to protect them.
"This arctic climate is already putting strenuous pressure on your 'condition'. Any further strain on your lungs will cripple you. And then you'll suffocate." Nero informed in a gleefully wicked voice with his crimson eyes staring right back into Elle's intimidated amber gaze.
The older girls listened with rising fury in their enraged eyes.
Only to find themselves gazing on shock when the girl's chi began to glow once more while Elle stubbornly stared Nero down.
"Then…that's just a chance that I'll have to take! Now let's go!" Elle declared with her amber eyes overflowing in courage while she clenched her fists at her hips.
As her big sisters gazed back at her in disbelief.
Nero still stood with a sadistic smirk on his lips as he gazed back at the momentarily emboldened girl.
"No Elle!" Ty Lee hollered as she set a hand on Elle's shoulder while the young girl glared back at the approaching man.
The eyes of the three girls flashed with a trace of fear as the devious man stalked towards them through the flames.
Just as Mai stepped in front of the shorter girl while she stood tall with her knives grasped in her clenched fists.
"If you come any closer to my little sister, I swear on the honor of my family name that I will kill you!" Mai snarled with her lips in an imposing glower while she stood over the touched teenager.
Ty Lee stared on with unusually cold eyes as she glared at the monstrous researcher.
Only for the man to take another step closer while Elle's bravery started to wane as she gulped down a lump in her throat.
Nero's heartless eyes gazed back at all three girls with his gaze lingering on the unnerved teenager.
Before he turned to stare smugly back into Mai's tawny eyes while she glared into his eyes.
Mai dug her boots into the snow as she clutched her blades in hand.
And even though the noblewoman was loathed to admit it.
Somewhere deep down inside of her she couldn't help but find that the man's otherworldly presence was bringing about a primitive feeling of fight or flight from within her.
But she chose to squash it while she narrowed her tawny eyes into an icy stare at Nero's smirking face.
Ty Lee did the same as she stood rooted to her spot with her brown-gray eyes staring the man down.
Only for Nero to simply smile as he continued to cackle while he stalked closer.
Elle shook with her faint chi barely staying alive while she inwardly prepared herself to fight.
And then she took a step up beside her big sisters while they turned to her with worry in their eyes.
Before they turned back to Nero with their eyes narrowed into slits while the man strode towards them with menace in his step.
And just when it seemed as if the man was about to assault them once more.
The sound of a bomb going off exploded into the air!
The three girls reeled around with looks of surprise in their widened eyes to see Katsu burst through a crumbling wall.
Nero turned around with his crimson eyes now wide in surprise to see the rampaging Katsu dropping down above him.
"What do you think you are doing you little beast! I am your-" Nero shouted only to be cut off with an explosion of green energy in his face.
And then he was sent hurtling through the rubble while the three members of Team Azula gazed on in bewilderment.
Just as Katsu dropped to the ground laughing with her glowing fists at her hips while the other girls blinked in confusion.
"Katsu?" Elle pondered in a quiet voice while her big sisters stared at her wild friend in bafflement.
"Bakudan!" Katsu yelled in a manic voice with another bomb forming in her hands while her laughter echoed into the air.
The noblewomen stared at the girl in puzzlement over her animalistic behavior.
Only to find themselves gazing on in shock when the mad bomber suddenly dropped to her knees screaming in agony with her hands tearing at her hair.
Elle stared on in with her amber eyes widening in horror for the other girl's wellbeing.
As Katsu now shrieked with her collar sending out electrical shocks all throughout her body.
The three girls watched Nero stand up from the rubble with a small remote in his right hand.
He grinned wickedly over the girl's torture as he observed Katsu writhe on the ground.
"Simple minded fool. You forget that I am the one in control here." Nero sneered in a sick voice as he stalked towards the screaming bomber while the highborn women stared at him in disgust.
"W-what are you doing to her! Stop it now!" Elle demanded with uncharacteristic anger in her eyes while she ran to assist her friend.
Mai and Ty Lee exchanged an uncertain glance before they moved to back up their adopted sister.
Nero now stood before the shrieking girl with a sadistic smirk on his lips.
"Now stand up! I have further use for you. I want you to kill those two." Nero ordered as he pointed his gloved finger at the two noblewomen while a look of fear flashed over their eyes.
Katsu panted on her knees with her hair clinging to her skin while she gazed around with wild golden eyes.
Her animalistic gaze passed over the two wary nobles before it swept over Elle's faintly familiar face.
Only to find herself letting out another shriek of pain when she failed to stand.
The three members of Team Azula could only gaze on with revolted looks in their eyes.
"I said get up! Or must I punish you further you worthless ingrate!" Nero barked in a degrading voice as he kicked the kneeling girl in the belly while Katsu released a hiss of pain.
'What a horrible beast! That poor girl! Everyone treats her like a tool! No wonder she's so damaged!' Ty Lee thought with revulsion in her eyes while she glared back at Nero's remorseless face.
"I said stop!" Elle screamed with her fist clenched in her fury while Mai gazed on in loathing.
Just as Katsu began to pull herself up with one hand grasping at her hair while she glared through her fingers with feral golden eyes.
Her gaze once more landed on the three other girls before she turned away to gaze back at the man standing beside her.
"That's right you grunt. That's all you know how to do." Nero mocked in a cruel voice as he hit the girl over the head while Katsu recoiled in pain.
The two noblewomen watched with increasing anger in their eyes while Katsu growled under her breath.
Just before they turned to Elle in surprise when the girl yelled in anger once more.
"Are you going to take that from him Katsu!" Elle hollered with fury in her voice while Katsu tilted her head to gaze her way in curiosity.
Nero turned to gaze back at Elle with a flicker of annoyance in his crimson eyes.
"Ignore that pest. And do as you are told." Nero stated in a harsh voice while the noblewomen glared back at him.
Just before Katsu stood to her full height with her golden eyes gazing about while she panted.
Before she turned to gaze back at the researcher through the corner of her golden eye with a scowl now adorning her lips.
"Don't listen to him Katsu! I'm willing to bet that you're stronger than him! Why else would he be having you fight for him!" Elle explained in a helpful voice with her kind eyes staring back at the older girl's faintly thoughtful face.
And irritation began to flash in Nero's crimson eyes while he turned to glare back at Katsu's increasingly rebellious face.
Before the girl's scowl gave way to a childish smile.
"I just thought of a really good idea! Much better than yours!" Katsu announced as she straightened with her golden eyes gazing back at Nero's cruelly laughing face.
The three girls watched with bewildered expressions in their eyes.
"Really now? I find it hard to believe that a stupid creature such as yourself is even capable of critical thought." Nero scoffed in a heartless voice while Katsu held a seemingly contemplative finger underneath her chin.
As the noblewomen and their friend stared at him in disgust.
Only for Katsu's smile to turn into a scowl once more as she entrenched her boots in the rubble.
"The collar…can you shock me if I take it off?" Katsu growled with her fists starting to glow once again while the researcher gazed back at her with a surprised look in his cold eyes.
"What! Don't you even think of it!" Nero exclaimed with anger in his eyes only to find himself blinded by a flash of green light.
And then the three members of Team Azula took a cautious step back while they watched in bafflement when Katsu let out an ear-piercing animalistic roar.
Their eyes widened in shock as they watched a lethal chi sweep over the girl's body!
Katsu howled with her eyes widening in a primal fury while Nero's mouth fell open in a momentary loss of composure.
"Stop that! How dare you defy me!" Nero shouted as he pressed the remote once more while Katsu let out a horrendous scream of pain.
Katsu stumbled backwards with her manic eyes gazing forward while she panted with her hands in her hair.
The onlookers gazed between the demented researcher and the rebelling lab subject.
Only for a final primeval shriek to tear into the air while Katsu's potent chi overflowed over her entire body!
And then not a moment later a distinct snapping resonated into the ears of the astonished Team Azula.
Nero stood with his crimson eyes watching the broken collar fall into pieces at Katsu's feet.
Katsu gasped with her hair pony tail hanging behind her while her maddened golden eyes stared right back at the shocked face of the scientist.
"So, you broke the collar! I'll just make another one that is even stronger!" Nero boasted in an arrogant voice as he glared back at Katsu's snarling face.
Only to find himself taking a step backwards when the girl bent her back like a wild animal that was about to charge her target.
The noblewomen observed with unsympathetic eyes as they silently took joy in his fear.
And then with no warning whatsoever Katsu charged like a komodo rhino towards the startled scientist.
"No! Wait-" Nero yelled in a furious voice only to be silenced with a blow to stomach.
And then soon after that a bolt of combustionbending exploded before his eyes at point blank range.
The group stared on with astoundment in their eyes as they watched the man careen into an eroding concrete wall.
"Serves him right." Elle muttered as she shivered beside her big sisters while her amber eyes still peered around in search of her princess.
Katsu barreled towards the downed scientist as a dust cloud slowly cleared from the air.
Only for Nero to be revealed to laying with his back embedded in the structure of the broken building while his crimson eyes were now boiling in murderous rage.
Just as Katsu leaped in the air above him while her storm of green chi illuminated the orange inferno.
And then not a second later a surge of horrible chi flared forth from the scientist's infuriated body.
The three girls stared on with their eyes widened in utter shock as Katsu was sent staggering backwards by a wave of energy.
"Foolish cretin! You forget that I am also an aberrant! My body has been modified to endure and adapt to even the most rigorous forms of combat!" Nero shouted with his gloved hands held out before him while he glowered at the surprised face of his rebellious creation.
Just before Katsu screamed like a wild beast as she bounded back at him with her combustion energy exploding all that stood in her warpath.
Nero's battlecry split into the air as he held his palms together.
And then mere seconds later he fired back at Katsu with a beam of dark chi.
"I gave you power! And I can just as easily take your life away!" Nero bellowed with his cruel voice carrying out over the battlefield while Katsu roared as she plunged into his wave of energy.
Katsu's animalistic voice cut into the air as she unleashed an explosive blast of radiant combustionbending.
The burning military encampment glowed ominously under the light of the two combatants clashing energies.
Nero slowly but surely found himself being pushed back into the rubble with his crimson eyes widening in disbelief.
'Her power is even greater than I predicted!' Nero thought with his eyes wide in shock while he slid through a combusting wall.
And then soon enough an explosion lit the skyline while all eyes on the scene stared up in awe.
Just before Nero's shouts of protest echoed throughout the battlefield as he was sent soaring by the force of Katsu's blast.
Before a burst of green light illuminated the air while the three girls watched in disbelief.
And right after that the scientist was sent plunging underground with a mountain of snow raining down on top of him.
Katsu dropped down onto the top of a burning building with her glowing hands clenching in excitement.
She released a victorious laugh that echoed throughout the blazing rooftops.
"I am the winner!" Katsu called out at the top of her lungs while she laughed in a maddened delight.
The other three girls watched from below with bewildered looks in their eyes.
"K-Katsu…won?" Elle questioned with shock in her voice while she stared out into the distance.
"I…I have never seen a firebender other than the Royal Family and Zoi capable of such destructive power!" Ty Lee exclaimed with astonishment lacing her voice.
"Let's just hope that she doesn't come back over here…and that creep is really down for good so we can focus on finding Azula and Zoi." Mai stated in a wary voice while they stood near the flames for warmth.
Just before the three to gaze up in alarm when they heard another explosion of green light go off.
Only to find themselves staring up in bafflement to see the girl childishly exploding random objects.
"I am the explosion!" Katsu shouted with her loud laughter resounding in sync with her explosion.
The two noblewomen now gazed at their little sister's face for an explanation while Elle shifted on her feet.
"She's…rather obsessed with bombs." Elle answered as she scratched her cheek while Mai snorted.
"I can see that kid." Mai spoke in deadpan as she turned to glance around her while Katsu continued to shout above them.
And that was when Elle turned around to search for the princess and the captain.
Only for her amber eyes to widen when she saw a familiar face watching them in the distance from atop a nearby ledge.
Mai and Ty Lee followed the girl's line of sight as their eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and anger.
Naoki gazed down at them with emotionless brown eyes while her scarf was wrapped tightly around her neck.
"Naoki…you were watching us again? Were you just going to let us die? Weren't you going to help Katsu?" Elle asked with frustration in her voice while she peered up at the cold-hearted redhead.
"Your inability to survive on your own accord isn't my problem. Those who are too weak to help themselves deserve to fall." Naoki responded in a pitiless voice with her machinelike eyes gazing down at Elle's recoiling face.
The two highborn women now glared back up at Naoki through the burning smoke.
"Little brat." Mai scoffed under her breath with her tawny eyes glaring up at the emotionless girl.
"I suggest you two make the most of what little time you have left with Elle. Because you won't ever be seeing her again." Naoki informed in a voice that was as icy as the wind that blew through the air.
Elle's sensitive amber eyes shook in renewed distress while her big sisters scowled up at Naoki.
And then not a second after that…
The supersoldier had vanished as quickly as she came.
As the noblewomen stood defensive with their teeth gritted in anger.
"N-no! I…I don't want to stay here. I want to go home!" Elle protested with her gloved hands fearfully clutching the straps of her bag.
Just when she felt Ty Lee set a comforting hand on her shoulder while she gazed up into the eyes of her two adopted sisters.
"It will be alright Elle. We'll take you home. Regardless of what she has to say about it." Ty Lee assured in a gentle voice while Mai affirmatively nodded in agreement beside her.
Elle's fretful gaze calmed after hearing those words as she managed a small smile.
Just as their attentions were regained when they turned to warily watch Katsu once more.
Katsu continued to shout like a wild beast from the rooftop as she formed another ball of chi overhead.
And just before she could throw it, she was taken off guard when an explosion of firebending hit her in the back.
Just before she was sent plummeting off the rooftop while the other members of Team Azula's eyes widened in renewed surprise.
They now spun around to find themselves gazing up in relief to see Azula and Zoi standing atop the blazing aircraft hangar!
"Wrong! We are the victors!" Azula declared in a sanguine voice with her blue flames flaring to life at her fingertips while a proud smile adorned her lips.
"It's time that we finished this." Zoi stated in stony voice with a small smirk of her own on her lips while her princess smirked at her in agreement.
"Azula-sama! Zoi!" Elle shouted with joy in her voice while the two warriors gazed back down at them.
"Azula!" Ty Lee exclaimed with similar relief in her voice while her cheerful smile returned to her lips.
And even Mai couldn't help but feel relieved to see that the other two were okay after all.
"You two keep that girl out of harm's way. I have a battle to win." Azula ordered in a strict voice as her childhood friends quickly nodded in understanding.
Just as she turned her callous gaze down to the ground below.
And not a second after that a pillar of light erupted from one of the military outpost buildings.
Just before it combusted into splinters while Team Azula as a whole watched with awestruck eyes to see Katsu already back on her feet.
Katsu's vibrant golden eyes became rage-filled once more when she gazed up at the two firebenders to see the princess's burning blue flames.
And that was all it took for Katsu to release a feral roar while the older firebenders stared down at her in a combination of bewilderment and fascination.
Just before Katsu broke out into a mad sprint towards the two warriors while they sunk into their mutual bending stances.
"Don't kill her! Please Azula-sama!" Elle cried out with worry in her voice while her princess turned to gaze down at her through the corner of her cold eye.
And then the princess returned her attention to her charging opponent while her captain held her fists up alongside her.
And just like that the two firebenders' auras flared back to life while their bodies soaked up the heat from the surrounding inferno.
Just as the screaming Katsu sprang onto the rooftop while she ran straight towards the two astonished firebenders.
"Why would we have want to kill such a magnificent young firebender?" Zoi asked with noticeable excitement in her voice while her princess's gaze flashed in agreement.
'She behaves more like a war machine than she does a human!' Azula thought with her ruthless eyes wide in interest while she held up her palms in a defensive stance.
And then mere moments later those below watched in awe as Katsu dropped down above the two older warriors.
Her brown hair hung in her manic golden eyes as she fell from the sky with her combustionbending glowing alight.
All the while as the captain and the princess's firebending began to spread across the burning rooftop.
Only for an explosion of three colors of firebending to illuminate the roof of the aircraft hangar.
And then soon enough the rest of the team gazed up with their eyes wide as they watched the entire building start to collapse under the force of the combined power of the three firebenders.
Azula and Zoi stood their ground on the crumbling steel roof with the embers from the inferno surrounding their bodies.
The wild girl leaped at them with both her fists and feet glowing with a green aura!
And then Katsu held up her hands before her animalistic face in an imitation of the older girls bending stances.
They stared back at her with their eyes conveying impressed expressions once more.
Just before Katsu howled with her voice echoing all throughout the collapsing hangar while she bounded at the powerful duo.
Azula suddenly found herself swiftly exchanging rapid blows with the agile bomber.
Just as her boots slid down the caving rooftop while she stared back at the girl with her harsh amber golden eyes.
And even though she didn't want to admit it.
Somewhere deep down she couldn't help but be bothered by the look of insanity if the other firebender's eyes.
'Is it…because I realize that could be me?' Azula thought with her elegant brows furrowing in thoughtfulness while she narrowed her merciless amber golden eyes.
Just as she swiftly dodged an exploding blast from the girl's foot.
Katsu shrieked as she barreled forward with her glowing fists flying in the air while the princess skillfully fended off her blows.
"Bakudan!" Katsu roared in a violently feral voice while her foot impacted with Azula's fist.
Only for the princess to swing her own boot in her face while she skidded backwards on the incline of the collapsing metal roof.
All while as chunks of the building fell into the sea of flames below.
The duo stared back at their young opponent with stoic looks in their eyes as their own shouts soon filled the air.
Just as the energetic combustionbender quickly rebounded with her feet springing off the metal flooring.
And then she dove above the two warriors with her wild howls resounding into the air.
The two much more experienced firebenders soon began engaging the younger firebender in a brutal succession of kicks and punches.
Katsu slid along the collapsing hangar while she let out a beast like growl as she impacted with the smirking captain.
"You're strong kid. Unimaginably so. But it's going to take more than brute force to bring us down!" Zoi shouted with red steam rising from her powerful muscles while she swung her fist into the girl's gut.
Just before Katsu spat out saliva while her golden eyes widened in agony while she slid several paces backwards.
Only to spring back with even greater ferocity before she punched the noblewoman in the jaw.
The mighty warrior skidded back on her booted feet with her golden eyes wide in surprise.
Just as the captain quickly used her bending to shield herself from an explosion of green combustive light.
Katsu panted as she stood on the sinking rooftop with her golden eyes staring furiously back at her opponents.
Before she flipped into the air over the young conqueror while her angry golden eyes stared down at the composed princess's smirking face.
"Yes, I must admit that you are exceedingly impressive. But you aren't going to defeat me…girl." Azula spoke in a voice of regal authority with her cold eyes watching the girl fall down above her.
Only for her cloak of azure flames to surge to life while Katsu released a cry of surprise as she was pushed backwards.
Azula's callous eyes grew wide as she swiftly used her flames to block a close-range explosion of combustionbending.
Katsu snarled as she staggered back on the balls of her booted feet.
"I am not going to just defeat you! I am going to blow you up into bright green bits!" Katsu roared as she leaped back at the astonished duo.
Just as the princess and the captain broke out into a rush down the collapsing slope towards Katsu.
And then the captain plunged herself forward with steam exuding from her right fist.
And right after that Zoi punched the younger firebender in the stomach yet again as hard as she could muster.
Katsu heaved as she soared backwards with her shouts tearing into the air.
Spit flew out her open lips as she coughed with her hair blowing in the wind behind her.
The rest of Team Azula watched from below with speechless expressions in their widened eyes.
And before the girl could recover the princess's lightning began to spark upon the sinking rooftop.
Katsu stared back at the bright lightning with childlike awe in widened eyes.
And then not even a second after that Azula used a controlled dose of lightning to send the roaring girl careening in the opposite direction.
"Ready Zoi?" Azula purred with a smirk on her beautiful lips while her dark hair swayed in her amber golden eyes.
"Yes, let's do this Princess." Zoi agreed with a smirk of her own on her lips while she tapped into the depths if her reservoir of chi.
The two firebenders dropped through the collapsing roof and into the inferno below.
They raised their eyes upward to gaze up through the smoke as wooden beams fell down over their heads.
Katsu skillfully slid down the sloping metal roof with her manic golden eyes gazing back down at them.
While her fists lit up with an even greater power as her lips started to curve into a wild grin.
And then she roared with her bangs blowing about before her maddened eyes as she plunged through the thick smoke above the waiting duo.
Just as the two warriors took on elegant defensive postures while they began to generate their flames into a joint attack!
The princess's blue flames began to burn in near perfect sync with the captain's red blaze while the duo released a combined battlecry.
Elle, Mai and Ty Lee watched from where they stood in the burning encampment with their jaws dropping open in shock.
And then seconds later they gazed up in awe to see a large stream of blue and red fire spiraled out from the ravaged hangar.
What little remained of the building now crumbled to the ground into cinders.
The two firebenders were now revealed to be standing side by side while they discharged their united strike!
And falling down above them was the roaring bomber with her body glowing brightly with her green chi!
Katsu rapidly generated a ball of combustive energy in her clenched palms.
Just before she released her wave of firebending while she fell on top of it with her wild golden eyes watching as it collided with the great pillar of flames from below.
And then not a moment later the entire destroyed military base was lit up by the radiant light that was created by the combined power of the three firebenders!
Naoki watched from the distance with her emotionless eyes closely observing the struggle with her scarf blowing in the wind.
'They're strong…obscenely so. There is no way that Katsu can defeat them both on her own.' Naoki thought with her machinelike eyes watching the clashing energies light up the sky.
Katsu growled as she held herself up on top of her combustion wave with her wide golden eyes gazing below.
The two older firebenders stared back up at her with unusually excited smirks on their lips.
Just as Katsu let out a frustrated grunt as she found herself suddenly being pushed backwards!
"I…I am!" Katsu trailed off in a yell as she pushed back against the pillar of flames with her hands starting to burn from the intense heat.
"No other firebender other than my father has ever made me work up this much of a sweat before. You should consider yourself honored Katsu." Azula spoke with a strangely eager smirk on her lips while sweat dripped down her brow.
And then she dug the soles of her boots in the burning ground while she released a piercing roar.
And just like that she her energy burst forth from her body while her pillar of flames plunged into the stunned bomber's combustion wave.
"We'll have to do this again some time when you're of sounder mind." Zoi stated with a smile on her lips before she entrenched herself in the ground.
And then she roared in unison with her princess while their flames spiraled into the skies with the heat of the burning inferno only serving to boost their power!
The two firebenders blasted the wildly screaming girl into the air.
As the sound of innocent cheering suddenly began to resonate into their ears.
"Go Azula-sama! Go Zoi!" Elle cheered as she jumped on her feet with her big sisters gazing up in disbelief.
"I…I can't believe my eyes." Mai muttered with her jaw dropping in marvelment while the pillar of fire burst through the air.
It was just mind boggling that this kid managed to even lost this long against those two!
"Amazing…" Ty Lee whispered with her brown-gray eyes expressing her wonder.
As she stared back at the princess's confident back with a wide smile on her lips.
'Azula truly has come a long way. She isn't trying to kill this girl.' Ty Lee thought while she watched Katsu release childlike yells as she was thrown into the air.
It was almost like…Azula was trying to snap the girl out of whatever the scientist did to her!
And then in that very instant the beam of flames seemed to take the shape of a dragon!
Those that were alive gaped at the stream of flames with astonishment in their eyes.
As Cynthia watched from her hiding spot with her blue eyes wide in disbelief.
"What…incredibly powerful aberrants." Cynthia murmured as she held her arms close underneath her coat.
And somewhere close by…
Nero stood with snow in his hair while his mouth was also open in a rare display of shock.
He watched with his torn coat blowing behind him with his cruel crimson eyes studying the two firebenders flames in fascination.
"Hm…interesting. Perhaps this does warrant further study after all." Nero stated in a thoughtful voice with a smirk returning to his malicious lips.
Katsu futilely fought to hold the blast of fire back while she let out a growl of frustration.
"The living explosion!" Katsu shouted in an animalistic voice only for her hands to start to waver.
As her combustion wave began to crack beneath her fingertips while she stared down in disbelief.
Her golden eyes began to grow wider and wider as she finally realized that she couldn't fight back the combined power of their energies.
"This…this can't be! I…I can't lose!" Katsu screamed in an aggravated voice while her entire body trembled on top of the pillar of firebending.
Azula and Zoi observed from below as they gazed up with greatly impressed expressions in their eyes.
And then not an instant after that the pillar of fire exploded with a thunderous roar in Katsu's screaming face.
"No! No! No!" Katsu wailed only for the force of the energies to overcome her while her maddened eyes were blinded by the overwhelmingly bright light.
And with that she was quickly swept up in the powerful blast.
The violent expression of madness faded away from her widened eyes as she was ultimately engulfed in the great explosion.
And that was the last thing she saw before she succumbed to unconsciousness.
AN:
I am sorry about the lateness of the recent update. I had a stressful week last week, my car got totaled in a car accident and it may not be salvageable. I am not hurt, nor was anyone else hurt, but I will have to pay out of pocket to fix it and I don't know if I have the money for it, or the extent of the damage yet. As a result, I am now stressed out because I live in a rural area and now don't have a car.
Well anyway, allow me to take a moment to reply to the reviews.
Loligang, Karasu was the best comparison that I could think of. Even then, there are some differences between them. Karasu is able to create invisible bombs, whereas Katsu's are a glowing green light. Also, because Karasu is a demon he is able to create bombs that are more like small demons that seem to have a life of their own.
I have also never watched One Piece, but after looking up Luffy's second gear I see what you mean.
When Zoe uses that technique, the reason her body creates steam is because she is unleashing the reservoir of chi/energy that she has holding within. Basically, she abstains from using her firebending for long periods of time in order to convert it into stamina, physical strength and use it to power her hand to hand combat.
But when the situation calls for it, she is able to draw upon that well of energy in order to give herself a power boost in battle. The downside to this technique however, is that using up her reserves could leave her exhausted if she pushes herself too far.
In general though, I am trying to describe the use of chi/spirit energy like how spirit energy is often used in series that use similar themes such as Yu Yu Hakusho.
Now, as for the afterword.
At the end of the last chapter Azula and Zoe were caught off guard by both Katsu's incredible raw power and her direct up front assault. Also, because they are each prideful warriors in their own right, they both wanted to fight Katsu without the other interfering.
However, in the wake of that attack, they realized that they didn't have time for that, which is why they came together to put Katsu down as quickly as possible so that they wouldn't risk freezing to death in the cold when the fires in the camp die out.
Azula also held back on Katsu in one sense in that she knew that it would have been easy to hit such a wild target with her lightningbending. And yet Azula refrained from using her lightning on Katsu until the end of the fight when she knocked Katsu away so that they could perform their finishing attack.
One reason for this is because Azula is interested in Katsu, and the other reason is that she knows that Elle would be upset if she killed her friend.
As for Nero, we received a glimpse of his power in his fight against Mai and Ty Lee. We saw that he is strong enough to overpower Mai and Ty Lee by himself. And yet at the same time, we also learned that he is not above using underhanded tactics to gain an advantage over his entrapped opponents.
We also saw another example of his highly sadistic personality. While traits of sadism are prevalent in other characters in the story, Azula, Silah, Terak, Felix, etc. It is possibly the strongest in Nero.
In a way, Nero's sadistic inclinations can be considered his greatest weakness. He had a short window of opportunity where he could have gotten away with Elle, but he became too immersed in torturing Ty Lee.
In the later books, we are going to learn his story, and how he came to be, and what he is. For now though, we are just going to learn little details about him at a time.
Nero is an ingenious scientist who has performed many horrible operations on many other living beings and even himself. In the beginning, his sole objective was research. However, as time went on. He developed a fixation for pain and suffering.
We saw a glimpse of this during Naoki's flashback to when Nero and his subordinates operated on her. Scientists are typically supposed to remain focused on the greater objective. And yet Nero stopped to take a moment to enjoy the suffering in the child that he was experimenting on.
His inclination to cause pain has become a perversion, and it often clashes with his goal of seeking knowledge through his research. We saw this once again when he started to beat and torture Katsu.
Also, despite possessing a modified body and being powerful in his own right. Nero is better at research than combat. This was shown when Katsu broke free from his control and managed to successfully overwhelm him.
Ultimately, Nero is at his most dangerous when he can apply his genius to something scientific.
Despite all of that though, we saw that he wasn't angry when Azula and Zoe. Which signifies that his goals are more of a long term thing, rather than immediate.
And as Naoki noted, Katsu was outmatched in a one versus two against Zoe and Azula. However, a true one on one with no outside interference may have been more of a tossup.
In the end, both Azula and Zoe noted that Katsu has tremendous potential, she just needs to learn how to control it.
We also saw that Azula saw a little of herself in Katsu, which shows that deep down Azula is often struggling to hold it all together. Seeing Katsu like that, was a stark reminder that it could be her if were to spiral downward into madness like she did in canon.
And like I said before in a previous note, Azula's blue firebending represents her cold perfection and dedication to being perfect. We also know that her flames are evolving, as we saw several times now when Azula's blue fire showed small hints of evolution.
Azula even demonstrated that she had the ability to combust with her flames during the fight against Silah.
With that said, when it comes to creating explosions and bombs, Katsu is still in a tier of her own. She isn't brilliant intellectually like Azula, but her talent is vast. It just manifests differently than Azula's does.
And unlike Azula and Zoe, Katsu has a wild and sometimes childish personality. Which means that she is at the moment ignorant of how to hone her power at will.
Also, I have to admit that the fight between Azula/Zoe and Katsu on the rooftop is one of my favorite fight scenes that I have written so far. I particularly enjoyed the theme of fire versus fire, and I enjoyed getting the chance to explore that, as well as showing how effective Azula and Zoe are when they work as a team.
Lastly, I want to say that the next chapter will be shorter as it is the wind down from the fight that leads into the next act.
Anyhow, that will be it for now.
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred six! The Unlikely Friendship of Elle and Katsu!