The Second Avatar

Chapter 10: He is a Dual Bender

The battlefield was a chaotic symphony of screams, blood, and shattering earth, but Yogan's focus narrowed to a single figure: Daiko. The wiry bandit leader was weaving through the rubble and corpses, his lean frame moving with the practiced agility of a seasoned rogue.

Yogan's breaths came quick and shallow, his back still searing from the gash Daiko had inflicted on him moments earlier. But pain was secondary now. Daiko could not escape.

With a powerful burst of airbending, Yogan launched himself forward, his feet barely brushing the ground as he closed the distance between them. He leapt over the broken remains of an Earth Kingdom guard, the air swirling around him to soften his landing. The wind carried the coppery stench of blood and the acrid tang of ash, but Yogan pushed it aside, his entire being honed on his quarry.

Daiko glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Yogan. "Persistent, aren't you?" he muttered, his smirk tinged with irritation. He ducked low, grabbing a fallen bandit's knife as he ran, and hurled it backward.

Yogan's instincts flared. With a quick spin of his staff, he conjured a gust of wind that deflected the blade, sending it spiraling harmlessly into the dirt. The airbender's feet barely touched the ground as he twisted midair, using the momentum to propel himself forward once more.

The chase led them through the ruins of the battlefield, where jagged stone pillars jutted like broken teeth from the ground. Daiko vaulted over the corpse of a guard, then ducked beneath a low-hanging beam of splintered wood. Yogan followed with relentless precision, his airbending allowing him to maneuver through the obstacles with an almost otherworldly grace.

Daiko gritted his teeth as he darted between two crumbling boulders, sliding through a narrow gap barely wide enough for his wiry frame. He had hoped the tight space would slow Yogan, but the monk surprised him. Instead of following directly, Yogan leapt onto the rocks, using a burst of air to vault over them. He landed just ahead of Daiko, forcing the bandit leader to skid to a halt.

"Give up!" Yogan shouted, his staff pointed at Daiko. His voice was ragged but firm.

Daiko's smirk returned, though it was strained. "You're good, monk. I'll give you that." He darted to the side, his movements almost serpentine as he slipped through another pile of rubble. Yogan cursed under his breath and gave chase again, the wind whipping around him as he surged forward.

Across the battlefield, Kiva caught sight of Daiko's retreat. Her sharp eyes flared with fury, and she screamed, "Daiko! Get your cowardly ass back here!"

Daiko, hearing her but not slowing, called back, "I'm not stupid enough to die for a losing battle!"

"This isn't over yet!" Kiva roared, her voice echoing with defiance. She gritted her teeth and turned her attention back to Chen, who was bearing down on her.

With a snarl, Kiva reached into her belt and withdrew another pair of swords, their blades gleaming despite the blood-streaked chaos around her. Her movements were fluid as she twirled the weapons, adjusting her stance to face Chen once more.

Chen's expression was grim, his heavy sword resting comfortably in his hands. His connection to the earth beneath him was palpable, his stance as solid as the ground he commanded. "You should surrender," he said, his voice calm but unyielding. "You've lost."

Kiva spat at the ground. "I haven't lost anything." She lunged, her swords flashing as she unleashed a flurry of strikes aimed at Chen's chest and throat.

Chen blocked the first strike with his sword, the clang of steel on steel ringing out like a hammer on an anvil. He countered with a sweep of his blade, forcing Kiva to retreat a step. The earth trembled beneath her as Chen stomped the ground, sending a jagged pillar of stone shooting toward her.

Kiva leapt backward, her agility saving her as the stone spike grazed her side. She spun midair, hurling one of her blades at Chen. He deflected it with a quick upward swing, but the distraction allowed Kiva to close the distance.

Her remaining swords lashed out in a deadly arc, forcing Chen onto the defensive. He raised an earthen shield to block one strike, then countered with a horizontal slash that barely missed her neck. Kiva twisted her body, the blade passing so close she could feel the wind of its passage.

"You're fast," Chen admitted, his tone grudgingly respectful.

"And you're predictable," Kiva shot back, her lips curling into a feral grin.

The two clashed again, Chen's powerful strikes crashing against Kiva's precise counters. Each blow sent shockwaves through the air, their movements a deadly dance of strength and skill. When Chen raised a boulder to crush her, Kiva ducked low, slicing at his legs. He jumped back, using his earthbending to create distance, but Kiva pressed forward relentlessly.

With a sharp whistle, she drew a dagger from her boot and hurled it at him. Chen caught it in midair, but the momentary distraction allowed her to land a shallow cut across his forearm. Blood dripped from the wound, but Chen didn't flinch.

"You think you're the strongest," Chen said, his voice low and steady. "But strength isn't just speed or blades."

He raised his sword high, and the ground beneath Kiva erupted, a massive wave of stone surging toward her. She darted to the side, rolling to avoid the brunt of the attack, but a fragment of rock caught her shoulder, tearing her armor and drawing blood.

Kiva hissed in pain but didn't slow. She launched herself at Chen, spinning midair to deliver a double slash aimed at his chest. Chen met her attack head-on, his sword clashing with hers in a thunderous strike that sent sparks flying.

The force of the clash sent both combatants staggering back, their chests heaving. Kiva's wild eyes locked onto Chen's calm, unyielding gaze. Blood streaked both of them, staining their weapons and pooling at their feet, but neither showed any sign of backing down.

"You're strong," Kiva admitted, her voice tinged with both respect and frustration. "But you'll have to do better than that to kill me."

Chen's lips curled into a faint smile. "Then I'll keep trying."

Their blades met again in a flurry of strikes and counters, each movement more desperate and precise than the last. Around them, the battlefield continued to rage, but the duel between Chen and Kiva became its own storm—a testament to the unyielding will of two warriors refusing to break.

Kiva's breath came in sharp, controlled bursts as she circled Chen, her eyes gleaming with fierce determination. Blood streaked her face and dripped from the shallow cuts on her arms and legs, but it only seemed to fuel her. She adjusted her grip on her twin swords, twirling them with practiced ease. Her movements were faster now, more deliberate, like a predator closing in for the kill.

Chen's eyes narrowed as he readied his stance, his bloodied sword held firmly before him. His breathing was steady despite the exertion, but he could see it: Kiva was far from finished. Her ferocity, her defiance—she was a storm barely contained.

Then she moved.

In an instant, Kiva was upon him, her speed almost unnatural. Her swords flashed like lightning, striking at Chen from every conceivable angle. He parried the first strike, sidestepped the second, and deflected the third, but Kiva didn't relent. Her attacks came faster and faster, her agility forcing Chen to stay on the defensive.

Her blades sang as they clashed against his, sparks flying with every strike. She spun low, her swords slicing at Chen's legs. He jumped back just in time, raising a chunk of earth between them to create space, but Kiva leapt over it effortlessly, twisting midair to bring both blades down toward his shoulders.

Chen barely raised his sword in time, the force of her strike sending a shockwave through his arms. He stumbled back a step, his boots sliding on the blood-slicked ground.

"You're not as untouchable as you think," Kiva snarled, her lips curling into a vicious grin.

Chen's jaw tightened, and he retaliated with a powerful horizontal slash. Kiva ducked under the blade, her movements fluid and precise, and retaliated with a quick thrust aimed at his midsection. Chen twisted his body, the tip of her sword grazing his ribs and tearing through his tunic. Blood seeped through the fabric, but Chen didn't falter.

Kiva pressed her advantage, her strikes growing bolder and more creative. She lunged forward, feinting with one blade before spinning and slashing with the other. Chen caught the second blade with his sword, but Kiva used the momentum to pivot and kick him in the chest.

The blow sent Chen staggering backward, his boots skidding on the uneven ground. He slammed his heel into the earth, sending a ripple of stone toward Kiva, but she leapt to the side, her movements like a dancer's.

"Is this the best you can do?" Kiva taunted, her voice laced with mockery. She darted forward again, her swords moving in a deadly blur.

Chen gritted his teeth, parrying and countering as best he could. But Kiva was relentless. Her agility was unmatched, her strikes coming from angles that seemed impossible. She spun, twisted, and lunged, her twin blades cutting through the air like vipers.

One of her swords grazed his thigh, drawing a shallow but painful wound. Another sliced across his forearm, forcing him to shift his grip on his sword. Blood dripped from his wounds, pooling at his feet, but Chen held firm.

"You're good," Chen admitted, his voice steady despite the blood trickling from his lip. "Better than Sorin, that's for sure."

Kiva smirked, her wild eyes gleaming. "Damn right I am." She lunged again, her blades striking in a flurry that forced Chen to retreat.

But Chen wasn't without his own tricks. As Kiva closed in, he stomped the ground, causing a section of earth to rise between them. Kiva tried to leap over it, but Chen anticipated the move. He swung his sword with a roar, the blade slicing through the air and forcing Kiva to twist mid-jump to avoid the strike.

She landed awkwardly, rolling to absorb the impact, but recovered in an instant. Before Chen could press the advantage, she hurled one of her swords at him. The blade spun through the air, forcing Chen to raise his weapon to deflect it.

The momentary distraction was all Kiva needed. She darted forward, drawing a dagger from her belt and slashing at Chen's exposed side. The blade bit deep, and Chen hissed in pain as blood poured from the wound.

Kiva didn't stop. She twirled around him, her blades flashing as she struck at his back, his legs, his arms. Each attack was precise, aimed to weaken and wear him down. Chen's movements became heavier, his injuries slowing him, but he refused to yield.

"You're tough, I'll give you that," Kiva said, her voice tinged with both respect and disdain. "But toughness only gets you so far."

Chen's lips curled into a faint smile. "We'll see about that."

He slammed his sword into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth that forced Kiva to leap back. He followed up with a series of quick, powerful strikes, using his earthbending to enhance his movements. Kiva dodged and deflected as best she could, but Chen's attacks were relentless.

The ground beneath her feet shifted unpredictably as Chen manipulated the terrain, creating pits and spikes to limit her movements. She stumbled once, barely catching herself, and Chen took the opportunity to swing his sword in a wide arc.

Kiva ducked just in time, the blade whistling past her ear. She rolled to the side and hurled another dagger at Chen, aiming for his chest. He raised a slab of stone to block it, but Kiva was already moving, her remaining sword slashing at his side.

Chen twisted his body, the blade grazing his ribs, and countered with a powerful uppercut. The force of the strike knocked Kiva's sword from her hand, but she retaliated with a quick punch to his jaw, sending him reeling.

Both combatants staggered back, their chests heaving, their bodies battered and bloodied. Kiva's armor was in tatters, her wild hair matted with sweat and blood. Chen's tunic was soaked with crimson, his face pale but resolute.

"You're still standing," Kiva said, her tone grudgingly respectful. "I'll give you that."

"And you're still fighting," Chen replied, his voice steady. "But not for long."

Kiva smirked, raising her dagger. "We'll see."

The two clashed again, their weapons ringing out in a deadly symphony as the battle raged on. Kiva's speed and agility were unmatched, but Chen's unyielding strength and earthbending kept him in the fight. Each strike, each dodge, each counter was a testament to their skill and determination.

The battlefield around them seemed to fade away as they fought, the world narrowing to the deadly dance of their duel. Blood soaked the ground beneath them, and neither showed any sign of stopping.

The battlefield shifted once more as Yogan stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Kiva. The chaos around them seemed to fade, the sounds of the wounded and the dying muffled in his ears as his focus narrowed. His staff twirled in his hands, and the air around him began to stir, the winds picking up and whipping his robes. Kiva turned to face him, her wild grin returning as if she welcomed the challenge.

"So, the monk steps up," Kiva said, her voice dripping with mockery. She raised her blades, bloodied and gleaming in the morning light. "You think you can take me on? Bring it."

Yogan didn't reply. His staff spun faster, the winds around him swirling into a tight vortex. Then he struck.

A powerful gust of air blasted forward, aiming to knock Kiva off her feet. But Kiva was ready. She dropped low and darted to the side, her agility unmatched. Yogan followed up with another strike, his movements precise and fluid as he sent a spiraling current of air toward her. Kiva twisted her body mid-dodge, flipping over the attack and landing with feline grace.

"You're fast," Yogan said under his breath, his brow furrowed.

"And you're predictable," Kiva retorted, lunging forward. Her twin swords flashed as they slashed toward him. Yogan propelled himself backward with a burst of air, landing lightly on a raised piece of rubble. He retaliated by slamming his staff into the ground, creating a shockwave of air that sent dust and debris flying toward her.

Kiva shielded her face with her arm, then charged through the haze, her movements feral and unrelenting. Her blades struck at Yogan from different angles, forcing him to rely on his airbending to evade. He ducked, twisted, and leapt, his polished movements carrying him just out of reach each time.

The crowd watching from the edges murmured among themselves.

"Did you see that water earlier?" one of the guards whispered.

"No, that was just an illusion. Probably debris from the fight," another replied.

"But it moved… like bending," a third said hesitantly.

"Impossible," a wounded bandit spat, his voice trembling. "He's just an airbender."

Yogan could hear the comments faintly, but his focus remained on Kiva. She was pressing him hard, her attacks growing more ferocious as the fight wore on. Her swords were like extensions of her body, slicing through the air with terrifying speed and precision.

Then, a memory flashed in Yogan's mind.

The Spirit World. The serene glow of the ethereal plane. Raava's voice, calm yet commanding, resonated in his thoughts. "You are the reincarnation of Wan, my vessel. Like him, you have the potential to master all the elements. The journey will not be easy, but the connection is there, waiting for you to reach out."

The words echoed in his mind, their weight settling over him like a cloak. He looked around the battlefield, his sharp eyes catching the faint glimmer of a nearby pond through the trees. The memory of the water streaming toward Kiva moments ago sent a spark of realization through him.

Kezin can do it. Why can't I?

Steeling himself, Yogan reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he extended it toward the pond. He felt the connection immediately, faint and elusive, like trying to grasp smoke. The water stirred, sluggish at first, before rising into the air in a spiraling arc.

Kiva paused mid-lunge, her eyes narrowing as she watched the water twist and writhe in the air. "So, it wasn't my imagination," she muttered, her grin fading into a scowl.

The water lashed forward, clumsy and uneven. Kiva sidestepped easily, her movements quick and decisive. "That's not going to cut it, monk!" she shouted, charging him again.

Yogan switched back to airbending in an instant, his movements fluid and precise. A burst of air knocked Kiva's swords off course, and he followed up with a sweeping kick that sent a gust toward her legs. She stumbled but recovered quickly, her grin returning as she lunged once more.

The fight became a deadly rhythm. Yogan alternated between airbending and waterbending, the two elements weaving together in a raw and chaotic dance. His airbending was sharp and polished, every movement deliberate and effective. He used it to create distance, to evade Kiva's relentless strikes, and to strike back with calculated precision.

But his waterbending was a different story. Each motion felt clunky, his arms moving unnecessarily as he struggled to control the element. The water responded sluggishly, often missing its mark or dissipating before it could land a solid hit.

Kiva exploited his weaknesses ruthlessly. She dodged his water attacks with ease, her blades flashing as she pressed him harder and harder. But Yogan's airbending kept her at bay, the currents of wind unpredictable and unyielding.

"You're improving," Kiva said, her voice tinged with mockery. "But you're still too slow."

Yogan didn't reply. He drew a deep breath, focusing his energy as he reached for both elements at once. The air swirled around him, lifting him slightly off the ground as he raised his arms. The nearby pond rippled violently, and a stream of water shot toward him, joining the vortex of air.

Kiva's eyes widened as Yogan brought his hands together, sending a spiraling combination of wind and water hurtling toward her. She dove to the side, barely avoiding the attack as it tore through the ground where she had stood.

"That's new," she muttered, her grin faltering.

The watching crowd murmured again, their disbelief giving way to awe.

"Did he just… combine them?" a guard whispered.

"Maybe he's more than just an airbender," another said, his voice hushed.

Yogan pressed his advantage, his confidence growing despite the rawness of his waterbending. He sent a blast of air to knock Kiva off balance, then followed up with a wave of water that slammed into her shoulder, sending her staggering.

Kiva snarled, her movements becoming more erratic as she struggled to regain the upper hand. She lunged at Yogan, her blades flashing, but he countered with a gust of air that threw her back.

For the first time, Kiva looked uncertain. Blood dripped from a cut on her cheek, and her breath came in ragged gasps. She tightened her grip on her swords, her wild eyes narrowing.

"You think this changes anything?" she spat, her voice trembling with anger. "You're still just a monk playing with power you don't understand."

Yogan met her gaze, his expression calm but resolute. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean I won't use it to stop you."

With that, he surged forward, the wind and water swirling around him as he prepared to end the fight.

Yogan's attacks surged forward like a storm, a powerful gust of air twisting toward Kiva and forcing her to retreat. He pressed the advantage, his airbending precise and relentless. The crowd watching from a distance held their collective breath as it became clear: Yogan was winning.

Kiva stumbled back, her twin swords crossed defensively. Her wild eyes darted around the battlefield as she searched for an opening. But Yogan gave her none, his mastery of airbending keeping her off balance. He sent another spiraling blast of wind at her, forcing her to drop one of her swords.

"This is it," Yogan said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He raised his staff, ready to finish the fight.

But Kiva wasn't done.

With a feral grin, she reached into her tattered clothes and drew two small, razor-sharp daggers hidden in her belt. As Yogan prepared his final attack, she hurled one of the blades with pinpoint accuracy, the dagger sinking deep into his right shoulder.

Yogan screamed in agony as the blade pierced flesh and muscle. Blood sprayed from the wound, staining his robes a deep crimson. His airbending faltered as he clutched at his shoulder, but before he could react further, Kiva lunged forward with the second dagger, plunging it into his left thigh.

The pain was blinding. Yogan's legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his staff falling from his grasp. Blood poured from both wounds, pooling around him as he writhed in pain.

"You're good, monk," Kiva said, her voice cold and mocking as she loomed over him. "But not good enough."

Before she could deliver a killing blow, a sudden chill swept over the battlefield. The air grew heavy, and droplets of water began to coalesce around Kiva, pulled from the very air itself. She froze mid-strike, her eyes widening in confusion.

"What the—?" she started, but her words were cut off as the water around her solidified, encasing her in a block of ice.

The battlefield fell silent as Rilo stepped forward, his expression calm and composed. His black robes swayed slightly as he lowered his hand, the faint mist of his waterbending dissipating into the air.

"That," Rilo said, his voice carrying easily over the stunned crowd, "is what an actual waterbender can do. Not some novice, newbie attempts."

Yogan, still writhing on the ground, managed to glance up at Rilo through the haze of pain. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

The bandits, now leaderless, surrendered en masse, their weapons clattering to the ground. The remaining Earth Kingdom guards cheered, their voices filled with relief and triumph. But the celebration was short-lived as the wounded and dying became the focus of attention.

Ru Tan, who had been standing off to the side and catching his breath, stepped forward to take charge. His appearance drew shocked murmurs from those around him.

"What… what happened to him?" one guard whispered.

"That can't be Ru Tan," another muttered, staring wide-eyed.

Ru Tan looked down at himself, confusion flickering across his face. His once-morbidly obese frame had transformed into a slightly chubby but solidly built figure. His earthen robes, tailored to fit his much larger body, now hung loosely around his shoulders and waist. His thick arms and broad chest, though still large, now revealed toned muscle beneath the loose fabric.

"I—" Ru Tan began, running a hand over his stomach, now much flatter than it had been moments ago. His fingers brushed his jawline, no longer buried in layers of fat. Realization dawned on him, and he chuckled softly. "Ah, so that's it."

He straightened, addressing the curious stares around him. "It's my chi," he explained, his voice steady. "The fatter I am, the more chi I have stored up. When I regulate that chi into my bending, like I did to destroy the mountain, my body… well, it returns to its normal state."

The crowd murmured In awe, exchanging astonished glances.

"You destroyed a mountain and lost three hundred pounds in minutes?" a guard asked, incredulous.

Ru Tan smirked faintly. "That's the short version." Then his tone turned serious as he surveyed the battlefield. "But enough about me. We have work to do. Tend to the injured and the wounded. Tally the casualties. And someone get to work patching up Yogan before he bleeds out."

Several healers rushed to Yogan's side, carefully removing the daggers from his shoulder and thigh and applying pressure to the wounds. Yogan groaned in pain, his eyes fluttering open briefly as they worked.

"Chen, Jian Lu—" Ru Tan called out, spotting his old friends among the injured. Chen was leaning heavily against a broken pillar, blood staining his side, while Jian Lu sat on the ground, his leg wrapped in a makeshift bandage.

"Help them too," Ru Tan ordered the healers. His tone was firm but not unkind. "They've earned it."

As the healers got to work, Ru Tan turned to the remaining guards. "Search the surrounding areas for Daiko. He's still out there, but don't stray too far. If he's gone too far into the forest, return here. I don't want anyone getting lost or ambushed."

The guards nodded and dispersed, leaving Ru Tan to oversee the cleanup of the battlefield. Despite his transformation, his commanding presence remained unchanged, his voice steady and authoritative as he directed the recovery efforts.

The celebrations were muted, tempered by the grim reality of the day's losses. But amidst the blood and chaos, a sense of victory began to take hold. Ru Tan's leadership, Yogan's courage, and Rilo's skill had turned the tide, and for now, the bandits' reign of terror was over.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]