The Second Avatar

Chapter 8: The Stone Titan Ru Tan

The town chief's office was a stark contrast to the world outside. While the streets of the Earth Kingdom town buzzed with activity, Ru Tan's office exuded an air of indulgence. The room was spacious but cluttered, with shelves overflowing with ledgers and scrolls. A large, intricately carved desk sat at the center, its surface stained with ink and crumbs from Ru Tan's last meal. The chief himself reclined in a broad wooden chair, his round frame spilling slightly over the sides. Dressed in the traditional yellow and green of the Earth Kingdom, his robes were more decorative than practical, embroidered with gold threads that glimmered faintly in the sunlight streaming through the window.

Ru Tan scratched his chin thoughtfully, his pudgy fingers gliding over his double chin. His small, sharp eyes studied Yogan, who stood across from him with the quiet poise of an Air Nomad. The young monk was flanked by Jian Lu and Chen, the town's guard chief. The two older men contrasted sharply—Chen stood tall and broad, his presence commanding, while Jian Lu had a wiry, compact frame, his sharp eyes always alight with curiosity.

"You're sure about this, Yogan?" Ru Tan's voice was deep and deliberate, though it carried a slight wheeze from his shortness of breath. "This Monk Nara… you really believe she's in that hideout?"

Yogan closed his eyes for a moment, letting Ru Tan's words settle. He replayed the events in his mind. The bandit he'd followed had carried a satchel bursting with coins—Earth Kingdom mint, the very same that Nara had been safeguarding before the attack. Though he hadn't ventured into the cave itself, the cluster of bandits he observed matched the descriptions of the raiders who had attacked the Air Temple. Their bruised egos and lust for revenge would have undoubtedly drawn them together. It all made sense.

Opening his eyes, Yogan met Ru Tan's gaze. His voice was steady, assured. "Yes."

Ru Tan leaned back, nodding slowly, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his expression. He turned to Jian Lu. "What about Old Man Rekama? Can we count on him?"

Jian Lu hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not sure, Chief. He's been… odd lately. Keeping to himself, mumbling about the mountains. I think his age might be catching up with him."

Chen folded his arms across his barrel-like chest. His muscles bulged under his simple green tunic, which was less ornate than Ru Tan's but no less symbolic of the Earth Kingdom. "Odd or not, Rekama's the strongest bender around. We need him if we're going up against those bandits. You've seen what he can do."

Yogan tilted his head curiously. "What does he bend?"

"Earth," Jian Lu replied. "He's the strongest earthbender in the southern regions of the Great Continent. No one comes close."

"Not so fast!" Ru Tan interjected, puffing out his chest and placing a hand over his heart as if offended. "Are you forgetting about me?"

For a moment, the room was silent. Then Jian Lu let out a sharp bark of laughter, followed by Chen's booming guffaws. The two men looked at Ru Tan, their eyes scanning him from head to toe.

"You?" Jian Lu managed between fits of laughter. "You're the strongest? Since when, Ru Tan? Since the day you threw your back out trying to move a pebble?"

Chen wiped a tear from his eye. "Oh, I remember that day! You called it a 'training accident,' didn't you?" His laughter doubled, shaking the very walls of the office.

Ru Tan's face turned a deep shade of red, though whether from embarrassment or mock indignation, it was hard to tell. "I'll have you know," he huffed, "I was quite the bender in my youth. The Boulder himself said I had potential!"

"Potential for what? Eating contests?" Jian Lu quipped, earning another round of laughter from Chen.

Even Yogan, usually composed, found himself cracking a small smile. But as he observed Ru Tan's serious expression, he was struck by a sudden thought. Unlike airbending, which valued agility and grace, earthbending was about strength and resilience. Perhaps this man, despite his appearance, had once been formidable.

"Laugh it up, you fools," Ru Tan muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "I could still take either of you on any day of the week."

"Oh, please," Jian Lu shot back. "If we asked you to take two steps, you'd need a nap."

Chen was bent over, clutching his sides now. "Stop—stop—I can't breathe."

Ru Tan glared at them but couldn't suppress a small smile. Their banter, though mocking, was a testament to years of friendship.

Clearing his throat, Jian Lu straightened up. "All jokes aside, we should also consider asking Rilo for help."

Chen nodded. "That's a good idea. He's got skill, and we'll need all the hands we can get."

Yogan raised an eyebrow. "Who's Rilo?"

Ru Tan leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "He's a young man from a southern Water Tribe. Came to town a few months ago looking for some noble waterbender or other. He's been here ever since."

"Is he strong?" Yogan asked, his tone measured.

The three older men exchanged glances, as if speaking a language of their own. Then, in perfect unison, they answered, "You'll see."

The weight of their words hung in the air, leaving Yogan both intrigued and slightly uneasy. Whatever lay ahead, it was clear this Rilo was no ordinary waterbender.

The first rays of twilight began to filter through the window as the four men sat in contemplative silence. The plan was coming together, but the challenges ahead loomed large. For now, the stage was set, and the players were gathering.

---

The sun had barely begun its ascent, and the forest surrounding the bandits' cave was bathed in the dim light of dawn. A low mist clung to the ground, curling around the boots of the hundred or so men and women gathered in silence. The guards of the town, clad in the green and yellow uniforms of the Earth Kingdom, stood in formation, their expressions tense but determined. Among them were a dozen or so others—travelers, skilled benders, and fighters—who had volunteered for this mission. They were the town's best hope of dealing with the bandit menace.

At the forefront of the group stood Yogan, his young face marked with grim determination. Beside him towered Chen, the town's guard chief, his broad shoulders and muscular frame like a fortress unto itself. He crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the hidden cave entrance ahead, partially concealed by dense foliage. A few bandits lingered outside, some standing watch, others lounging around a campfire. Their laughter and chatter drifted through the trees, oblivious to the impending danger.

Chen broke the silence, his voice low. "So, the leaders are inside the cave?"

Yogan nodded, keeping his gaze on the bandits. "I think so. These are the same bandits that attacked the air temple weeks ago. Their leaders must be inside... and with Monk Nara. I can only assume they're torturing her." His fists clenched at the thought, his knuckles turning white.

Chen grunted, his expression dark. "Then we've got no time to waste."

"Well, that does seem to be the case," a familiar voice interrupted. Both Yogan and Chen turned to see Ru Tan and Jian Lu approaching. Ru Tan waddled slightly as he walked, his rotund frame swaying with each step, but his face bore a sly grin. Jian Lu, by contrast, moved with the grace of a seasoned fighter, his sharp features unreadable.

"I know this group of bandits," Ru Tan said, his voice carrying a note of grim recollection. "They're led by a woman named Kiva. I met her some years ago. She's strong—one of the strongest non-benders I've ever encountered. And smart. Cunning as a fox. This won't be easy."

Jian Lu nodded. "She looks familiar to me too. No doubt about it—she's dangerous."

Before they could dwell further, another figure emerged from the ranks, striding toward them. He was shorter than Yogan but taller than Ru Tan, with long black hair tied loosely behind him, reaching the middle of his back. His entirely black outfit contrasted starkly with the earthy tones of the others, and he moved with an air of quiet confidence.

"Well, if it isn't Rilo," Jian Lu said with a smirk. He gestured toward Yogan. "Yogan, meet Rilo. He's been staying in town for a few months now."

Rilo extended a hand, and Yogan took it, shaking firmly. "Yogan," he introduced himself.

"Rilo," the man replied. "I've crossed paths with Kiva a few times in my travels. She's strong, all right. And cunning. We'll have to be careful."

Chen shifted his weight, his heavy boots crunching softly against the forest floor. "Speaking of strong, is Old Man Rekama coming? We could use him."

Jian Lu sighed. "Haven't seen him for a day and a half. He's been acting... strange lately."

"Strange or not," Chen said, "he's the strongest earthbender in the southern regions. We'll need all the help we can get."

Ru Tan chuckled, his belly shaking slightly. "Not so fast. Are you forgetting someone?" He puffed out his chest and patted his round belly.

Jian Lu and Chen exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing. Jian Lu doubled over, clutching his sides, while Chen's booming laughter echoed through the forest.

"Ru Tan, you can't be serious!" Jian Lu wheezed.

"Look at you," Chen added, gesturing from head to toe. "You think you can fight like you did during the Ba'ar War?"

Ru Tan scowled, though a hint of humor tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I still have it in me! Don't underestimate me, you fools."

"Sure you do," Jian Lu said, wiping a tear from his eye. "But maybe cut down on the dumplings first, eh?"

The trio's banter continued, their camaraderie evident in their playful insults and laughter.

Ru Tan abruptly straightened, his face turning serious. "Enough talk. The sun is rising. It's time." He stepped forward, moving out of the cover of the trees.

Yogan moved to stop him, reaching out instinctively. "Wait! You'll expose us—"

Chen grabbed Yogan's arm and pulled him back. "Patience, kid," he said in a low voice. "Watch and learn."

Ru Tan walked steadily toward the bandits, his breath heavy, the morning light glinting off the beads of sweat forming on his brow. The bandits noticed him immediately, their laughter ceasing as they turned to face the intruder.

One of them, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward. "What do you want, old man?"

Ru Tan stopped a few paces away, his round frame heaving slightly. "I'm here to kill you."

The bandits exchanged glances before breaking into laughter. The scarred man drew his sword and pointed it at Ru Tan's neck. "Kill us? You can barely walk, let alone fight. Maybe you should focus on losing some of that fat first."

Ru Tan smiled faintly. "This isn't just fat."

Another bandit sneered. "Then what is it?"

Ru Tan didn't answer. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the scarred man's sword with his bare hand. The bandit yanked on it, trying to pull it free, but Ru Tan's grip was unyielding. It was as if the sword had been embedded in solid rock.

"What the—?" The bandit tried to punch him with his free hand. His fist connected with Ru Tan's body, but instead of the soft give of flesh, it met something unyielding. The bandit cried out in pain, clutching his hand.

Ru Tan's grin widened. "This is strength."

The bandits surrounding Ru Tan stared in disbelief as their comrade cradled his injured hand, his face contorted in agony. The rotund man before them, whose appearance screamed anything but a warrior, stood unshaken, his grip still firm on the blade. The scarred man gritted his teeth and tried to pull the sword free once more, his muscles straining, veins bulging, but Ru Tan didn't even flinch.

"Let me show you why they called me the Stone Titan of Ba'ar," Ru Tan said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of menace.

Before the scarred man could react, Ru Tan tightened his grip on the sword, and with a sharp twist, the steel shattered into pieces, fragments scattering across the forest floor. Gasps of shock rippled through the gathered bandits. A few instinctively took a step back, but others drew their weapons, forming a tighter circle around him.

"You should have run," Ru Tan said, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He exhaled deeply, his belly rising and falling, before stomping down with immense force.

The ground beneath him trembled. It started as a low vibration, a subtle warning, but within moments, it grew into a violent quake. The forest floor groaned and cracked, the vibrations radiating outward like ripples in a pond. A fissure tore through the earth, snaking toward the bandits at alarming speed. The bandits scattered, some leaping to avoid the sudden gap, others tumbling as the ground beneath them buckled.

One bandit screamed as the ground gave way beneath him, a jagged crevasse swallowing him whole. Another stumbled backward as sharp stone pillars erupted from the earth, pointing skyward like jagged teeth. The bandits who had been lounging by the fire scrambled to their feet, their weapons forgotten as they tried to avoid the chaos unfolding around them.

Ru Tan didn't stop. He stomped again, this time sending a wave of rock surging forward like a rolling tide. It barreled through the bandits' camp, overturning their tents, extinguishing their fire, and sending supplies flying. One particularly bold bandit charged at him with a spear, aiming for his exposed chest. Ru Tan caught the spear mid-thrust, snapping it in two with his bare hands. He shoved the bandit backward with a single push, sending him crashing into a tree with a dull thud.

Another bandit—a wiry man with twin daggers—darted in from the side, aiming for Ru Tan's legs. Ru Tan smirked, raising one foot and slamming it down. The ground beneath the dagger-wielding bandit erupted, launching him into the air like a ragdoll. He landed with a groan several feet away, his daggers clattering uselessly beside him.

The bandits began to panic. "He's a monster!" one of them shouted, clutching at his fallen comrade. "We can't fight him!"

"He's just one man!" another bandit barked, trying to rally the others. "Get him!"

A group of five charged at once, weapons raised. Ru Tan's expression didn't change. He crouched slightly, his hands brushing the ground. The earth responded immediately, rising to his call. A wall of stone erupted in front of him, blocking the bandits' advance. Before they could react, Ru Tan thrust his hands forward, and the wall shattered into dozens of fragments, each shard flying toward the bandits like a barrage of arrows.

They fell like wheat before a scythe, their cries of pain echoing through the forest. Some were struck down by the flying debris, others by the sheer force of the impact. Those still standing looked at Ru Tan with a mixture of fear and awe.

By now, the ground around Ru Tan was unrecognizable. The once-flat forest floor was a chaotic landscape of fissures, jagged rocks, and upturned soil. The bandits who hadn't fled stood paralyzed, their weapons trembling in their hands.

"Leave now," Ru Tan said, his voice carrying over the destruction. "Or stay and meet the earth's wrath."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, one by one, the bandits began to retreat, some dragging injured comrades, others abandoning their weapons altogether. Within moments, only a handful remained, their eyes darting between Ru Tan and their ruined camp.

The scarred man, clutching the remains of his broken sword, growled. "This isn't over," he spat before turning and disappearing into the trees.

Ru Tan straightened, dusting off his hands as if the entire ordeal had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. He turned and began to walk back toward the treeline, where the others had been watching. As he approached, he could see the stunned expressions on their faces.

Yogan was the first to speak. "That… was incredible."

Chen grinned, clapping Ru Tan on the shoulder. "You still got it, old man."

Ru Tan chuckled, his belly shaking. "Told you. Never doubt the Stone Titan."

Ru Tan stood at the edge of the devastation he had wrought, the ground around him a twisted landscape of jagged rocks, shattered trees, and upturned soil. His broad shoulders rose and fell with heavy breaths, yet his eyes burned with unyielding determination. He turned back toward the treeline, where Yogan, Chen, Jian Lu, and the others stood, still stunned by the sheer scale of his power.

But Ru Tan wasn't finished.

"I'm not done," he said, his voice carrying with an eerie calmness that sent a ripple of unease through the gathered group.

Yogan stepped forward, confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean? The bandits are retreating. You've already crushed their camp."

Ru Tan glanced over his shoulder at the young airbender, his eyes narrowing. "You think that was all of them?" He gestured toward the cave hidden among the trees. "There are at least a hundred more inside that mountain. The real leaders. The ones who orchestrated the attack on your temple."

Chen stepped forward, his bulky frame tense. "Ru, you've already pushed yourself hard enough. Are you sure about this? You can't take on an entire mountain."

Jian Lu echoed his concern, his usually calm demeanor replaced with worry. "This isn't like the war, Ru. You don't have an army backing you up this time. You're alone out there."

Ru Tan turned to face his childhood friends, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Alone? You two have always underestimated me. That's why I've never needed an army." His voice grew quieter, more serious. "This isn't just about the bandits. This is about sending a message to every brigand, every thug, every fool who thinks they can strike at us and hide in the shadows. They need to know that there's nowhere safe when the earth itself is their enemy."

The weight of his words hung in the air, silencing any further protests. Yogan's mouth opened to speak, but the intensity in Ru Tan's eyes stopped him. Instead, he watched in stunned silence as the portly town chief turned back toward the mountain, his stance shifting slightly.

Ru Tan rolled his shoulders, letting out a deep breath as he planted his feet firmly into the earth. "Watch closely, boy," he said without turning. "This is what true earthbending looks like."

With a guttural roar, Ru Tan stomped the ground with enough force to send a shockwave rippling through the forest. The earth beneath his feet buckled and groaned, the vibrations spreading outward toward the base of the mountain. The once-sturdy ground trembled violently as massive fissures began to form, snaking their way across the forest floor and up the rocky slopes of the mountain.

The sound was deafening—a cacophony of cracking stone, splintering wood, and shifting earth. Trees toppled like matchsticks as the ground heaved, massive chunks of rock breaking free from the mountain's face.

Ru Tan raised his arms high above his head, his fingers curling as if gripping an invisible force. The mountain responded instantly. Entire sections of the rocky structure began to lift and tilt, groaning under their own weight as if being wrenched from their foundation.

"By the spirits," Chen whispered, his usual bravado replaced with awe.

Ru Tan's voice rang out, powerful and commanding. "You think you can hide in the earth? The earth answers to me!"

With a sharp downward motion, he brought his arms down, and the lifted sections of the mountain came crashing back to the ground. The impact was catastrophic, sending shockwaves that rippled outward, causing smaller rocks and debris to tumble down the slopes in an avalanche.

But Ru Tan wasn't done. He stomped again, this time channeling his power into the mountain's core. The ground beneath the cave's entrance erupted violently, jagged spires of rock shooting upward and piercing through the trees like deadly spears. The bandits inside the cave screamed as the ground beneath them shifted, the once-stable cavern collapsing in on itself.

The earthbender shifted his stance, thrusting his arms forward. The mountain split down the middle, a massive fissure forming as if the earth itself had been cleaved by an unseen blade. The split ran deep, revealing the once-hidden depths of the bandits' hideout.

"Ru, stop!" Jian Lu shouted, fear lacing his voice. "You'll bring the whole mountain down!"

"That's the idea," Ru Tan growled, his voice straining with effort.

He spread his arms wide, then brought them together with a resounding clap. The earth obeyed. The two halves of the mountain, now separated by the massive fissure, began to collapse inward. Rocks the size of houses tumbled down, crushing everything in their path. The sound of the mountain collapsing was like thunder, echoing across the forest and drowning out the screams of the remaining bandits.

The ground continued to quake as Ru Tan maintained his assault, his movements deliberate and powerful. He slammed his fists into the ground, each strike sending shockwaves through the mountain's base, breaking it apart piece by piece.

By the time he finally stopped, the once-imposing mountain was unrecognizable. What remained was a smoldering ruin of jagged rocks, upturned earth, and shattered trees. Dust hung heavy in the air, obscuring the sunrise that painted the sky in hues of orange and gold.

Ru Tan turned back to the group, his chest heaving with exhaustion but his expression one of satisfaction. "And that," he said, his voice hoarse, "is how you deal with bandits."

Yogan stared at the devastation, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. "You… you brought down an entire mountain."

Ru Tan grinned, his hands resting on his wide hips. "I told you. Never underestimate the Stone Titan."

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