[Martial Arts up to level 10]
[Waterbending up to level 30]
[Airbending up to level 40]
[Two sub-bending forms have been unlocked. Spend a skill point on each to unlock them.]
Akashi looked at his screen, deep in thought. Those who couldn't see the system could only wonder what he was pondering so intently.
But in truth, he was thinking about how to use his remaining 10 attribute points.
With every stat at 35, there was no use in breaking the balance. But this was a prolonged fight. And when it came to stamina, he didn't need any more—his high recovery rate already exceeded his stamina usage. However, he would be using Chi. And for that, more Wisdom was needed.
[Wisdom up to 45]
With that, his chi points exploded. The system gave him an additional 1,100 points.
Well, it seemed the higher he climbed, the more rewarding it was.
Though, at this point, it would only be harder—if not impossible—to climb any further in levels.
That's why he needed to fight armies.
As the sun began to rise, Akashi joined his hands together as if in prayer.
Those next to him took notice and imitated him, praying as well.
Some prayed to return home safely. Some prayed for victory. Some prayed for the well-being of their families, and so on.
The only person with different prayers was Akashi.
'Please, let me gain at least five levels. I don't want to fight a massive army for nothing. Dear bonus experience points, I'm counting on you. Do not let me down.'
From the walls, the shadow of a woman fell.
The rebels lifted their heads to the top of Ba Sing Se, only to see the one who ruled it looking down at them.
Noatak crossed his arms and glared back.
She opened her mouth to speak.
"Children of the Earth Kingdom. I expected better of you—to not forget that you are originally of the Earth. Yet here you are, following a waterbender. No, a bloodbender, the son of a criminal who was expelled even by his own tribe.
"However, being the loving and merciful queen you have always known me to be, I am willing to let this go, forgive you, and move on. As long as the ones behind this silly rebellion are punished, everyone can go home… except for the criminals."
The rebels glanced at one another.
The queen was offering forgiveness and a bloodless resolution, if only they would lay down their weapons.
"Where was that offer when you rained bombs down on them?" Amon called out loudly.
"We were treated as criminals from the start!"
"Yeah, this poor country deserves better."
"Earth Queen, give up! Then none of your men will die, and only you and your people will be punished."
The rebels began yelling at the queen, refusing her offer.
The queen grimaced, clenched her teeth, and stomped on the ground.
"Are you willing to turn down my mercy? Does every one of you believe you will make it out of this war alive?" she shouted.
Akashi stopped praying and took a few steps forward.
The queen looked down at him.
"What's this scary bastard doing?" she muttered. "The only thing that airbender can do is fly over the wall."
Akashi cupped his hands as if holding a ball of air. Soon, a ball of blue light appeared, shining brightly.
Akashi took a step forward and shot the blue ball forward.
"Hadouken," he declared. He knew it wasn't necessary to say its name, but he felt he should try it at least once in a lifetime.
It grew in size and moved as fast as lightning, striking Ba Sing Se's walls.
The ground shook. A massive hole appeared in the walls—the same great walls the Fire Nation couldn't penetrate.
Soldiers standing atop the wall suddenly fell. Those behind the walls—many meters thick—were sent flying by the shockwave.
A massive cloud of dust covered everything.
The queen was quickly lifted by one of the agents near her. He carried her away to safety.
Akashi lowered his hand and turned to Noatak.
"That should make at least fifty," said Akashi, hinting that he hadn't forgotten the bet.
"Focus more on not tiring yourself out," Noatak replied, putting his hands in his pockets as he floated in the air.
The rebels, still shocked by Akashi's display of power, lifted their weapons and roared.
As the dust cleared, behind the hole in the wall appeared rows of soldiers in uniform. They looked focused, ready to kill anyone who approached.
Akashi cracked his neck and slowly walked forward, a wide smile spreading across his face.
What he saw weren't just people—they were people with numbers above their heads.
'This may be the last time I get to enjoy leveling up. I'd better make the most of it.'
"Show-off," Noatak commented as he walked forward too.
The soldiers holding position behind the hole in the wall clenched their jaws.
Only two men dared to step toward them, as if they felt no fear.
What angered them was that their two greatest enemies stood at the front lines, not behind them.
If someone killed either of them, only glory, wealth, and fame would follow.
The earthbenders quickly dashed forward, rushing to attack.
Akashi didn't stop. Instead, he focused on the air. By this point, his mastery was such that he could command it without moving a muscle.
Wind formed a large sphere around him, compressing into a vacuum.
As the soldiers charged, Akashi pointed his palm toward them.
All the compressed air trapped in the vacuum released, creating a sonic-like bomb accompanied by a massive soundwave and shockwave. The frequency was more damaging than he had even intended.
The soldiers hit by the wind had no time to defend.
Those who noticed the shockwave from behind quickly raised earth walls to protect themselves. Yet the soundwaves penetrated the barriers, violently shaking their internal organs and forcing them to drop one after another. Dust rose, covering the scene.
[+1,000 soldiers have fallen]
[+8 million experience points]
[Counting bonus points…]
[+25 million]
[You have leveled up]
Akashi paused, trying to keep a grin from forming on his face.
He had leveled up, and he'd gained a sizable portion toward the next level.
Surely, fighting a massive army yielded better results than facing the Dark Avatar. And with the bonus experience points, it would only be a matter of time.
For the first time in history, the war halted.
Everyone watched, their hearts in their throats, as the dust slowly cleared up, revealing only one man standing.