7 Chapter 7
Haru found himself at the entrance of the village. Odd enough, there were no guards with Earth Kingdom uniforms. Neither there were guards of the Fire Nation.
He got off his ride, threw some fish out of the store when no one was looking, and told it to stay here.
'Alright, I need to find a map… I'll ask the people around.'
As Haru looked across the streets, he barely saw anyone.
When he saw some middle-aged men around, he smiled and decided to approach them.
"Excuse me, guys… I'm new here and I need some help."
They looked at him with their eyes shining. All of them extended their hands.
"Young man… do you have some money to spare…"
"Help your fellow Earth Kingdom people, and may the spirits be with you…"
Haru took a step back and raised his eyebrow. He hadn't taken money with him. His mom would be needing it more than he does. Moreover, he had a few couple coins to train his bending with. And those coins are no longer usable.
"I don't have money on me… but do you know someone who has a map of the surroundings."
The middle-aged men narrowed their eyebrows and turned their heads in the opposite direction, ignoring Haru, who stood still.
After some time, Haru let a sigh. He decided to ask someone else.
While he was checking out this city, he found that the people were really poor.
Their clothes were shattered, and they were skinny.
Haru wondered what's happened to them. They don't seem to be lacking currency. There were shops around. And there were stalls that sell food. Also, they can always get outside and hunt for food. The animals are really large. If one sheep can feed a whole family for a week, imagine what a creature ten times its size can do.
Haru entered one small restaurant. Secretly, he opened the storage and got some fish in a sack, before he offered to sell them to the owner.
The owner seemed to be happy, yet he gave Haru a very cheap price.
Haru's goal wasn't to make money, but to get information, so he agreed to see the fish for cheap.
"By the way boss." He called the owner. "Why everyone in this village is so poor?"
"Are you new here, to this area?" the restaurant owner said as he went to the counter, and grabbed a pan and some oil. He then lit up a fire and started to cut the fish.
"Yes."
"Where are you from?"
"A village under the Fire Nation. I have escaped from there." Haru said as he sat down. Staring at the owner, he could tell that he was going to cook.
"Well… as much as I would like to congratulate you, you picked up the wrong destination to escape into." He said. "This village was supposed to be under the protection of the Earth Kingdom's army."
"But…" Haru narrowed his eyebrows.
"But the soldiers became a tyrant. They are now bandits who force the people to pay taxes. They steal our food. We thought of escaping, but the near villages are under their fist. Some tried to run away, but the soldiers… no, the bandits… declared them as traitors and executed them on the place."
"Have you ever thought of resisting?" Haru asked.
He had to admit, after hearing those shocking information, that he didn't know how to feel.
"They took every earthbender in our villages to the army. Moreover, what can a normal citizen do against an Earthbender when standing on earth." The owner said as he went outside the door before he started whistling.
Very soon, a few elderly people and young children came in. Each took a small piece of the cooked meal.
"Come on, eat before those guys come." The owner said.
Haru took a deep breath and said. "By the way, do you have a map or know anyone who has it?"
"The bandits took every possible map from us. And it's forbidden to make them." He said. "Only if we could get rid of them, peace would come back."
[Ding, System has a new Quest for you. (y/n)]
[Quest: Defeat the Bandits.
The former soldiers of the Earth Kingdom are using the villages are their income sources.
Your quest is to defeat them and resort balance to in the villages.
Objective: Defeat the bandits.
Rewards:
+2000 exp
+Random gift
Risks: Death, crippling.
Punishment for abandoning the mission after accepting: -500 Chi Points]
(A/N: For the punishment. If he refuses the quest, there will be no punishment. But if he accepted and then didn't go after it, the system will punish him. Failing the quest doesn't include punishment, but includes the risks)
Corrupt people are using the time wars to their benefit and are oppressing the weak.
If Haru went after them, he will gain from it. First, he will have a chance to fight earthbenders and soldiers, meaning that he will gain experience. Moreover, he will level up.
Even without the quest, Haru would still go after them. He sympathised with these people, because he was like them, except that their condition is worse.
Besides, these bandits have what he is looking for.
Cracking his fists, he went to the owner of the restaurant and he said. "Where are they?"
"Who?"
"The bandits."
Haru put his hand on the man's shoulder. "I need you to tell me right now. I can't explain why."
"They are at the peak before the mountain range, they have a base there." The owner said. "You should avoid the eastern peak, they will be there."
Haru smiled. Surely, this man was good. He must be thinking that Haru was asking for directions because he wanted to avoid them.
"Thank you." Haru gave a slight nod and got out.
Haru went in the east direction. Once he was outside the village, he stared and a mountain range appeared in front of him. It's not so high, so climbing it should be easy.
But before going, Haru opened his system, and he decided to put some points in.
He has 8 Affinity points, and he was planning to use them now.
As an Earthbender, Wisdom and Physique were affinities he should cultivate.
Haru decided to put 2 points on Wisdom and the rest on strength.
Sure, he could build his character to be unbalanced and he will be powerful.
But that will give him a weak point that his enemy can expose. It's better to be balanced and have no weak points than to be very strong with a weakness.
Haru originally had 2 on Physique and 14 on Wisdom.
Now.
[Affinities:
Wisdom: 16
Physique: 8
Agility3]
Haru, physically, should be stronger 4 times than he used to be. His body is skinny, and it's easy to tell that he doesn't lift. Not to mention that his meals weren't that nutrients. He may have been physically average for his age, but now, he is way stronger to be considered average.
Haru decided to check on his health and Chi.
[Health: 250/250
Chi: 6500/6500]
Haru took a bending stance and lifted a small boulder off the ground.
It felt lighter and less Chi-consuming, and that wasn't due to his skill level, but due to his newfound strength.
Haru's guest was right, the best build for an earthbender was Physique and Chi.
As for agility, his weakness, he will overcome it by training.
Haru split a part of the boulder, which should be around 200 kilogrammes heavy, and tried to lift it. After clenching his teeth, he found that he has enough power to lift it, even if it felt really heavy.
He put it down, took a deep breath, and looked at one peak.
"Time to level up."
He cracked his fists.
-x-X-x-
Haru climbed the peak and he found a path leading to the mountain range in front of him.
Sniffing the air, he could smell the delicious smell of something being roasted.
Haru threw his shoes away and started walking forward. This way, he would be seeing with both of his eyes and earthbending. No possible trap will be getting him and he will be able to see his enemies before they can.
Haru made a slight jump, avoiding a thin thread that was tied between two trees, and he smirked inwardly.
Very soon, he stopped at a spot surrounded by trees. With his sixth sense, he could sense a bunch of people, eating. Some were in guarding positions, and some were in guarding posts. Some of them were entering and leaving a cave. Due to the lack of skill, he couldn't sense what was inside of that cave from this distance.
Haru quickly moved and put his back on a tree. From the entrance to the camp of the bandits, appeared a fat man with a helmet and a great sword. Haru narrowed his eyebrows, thinking if he should attack them directly or should he try sneaking upon them.
The last option seemed quite insane since if he tried to sneak, others will be alerted.
The best option would be using the surprise element to get what he wants.
Haru stepped on the ground, making a rock fly. Using his hand, he controlled it in the air, before making it float behind the man and hitting him on the back of his head. He fell, and Haru made an appearance.
[Defeating a trained non-bender soldier ]
[+100 exp]
Haru raised his hands, group of large rocks started floating around him. Levelling up his strength made the physical toll from bending less.
He entered from the entrance and walked forward, and stared at the bandits — Earth Kingdom soldiers — playing and minding their business.
<<Compress>>
The rocks got smaller, stronger and harder, yet kept their weight.
Haru took a step forward and started aiming his attacks, sending the rocks.
A bunch of men fell to the ground, unconscious and defeated.
The rest paid attention to Haru. In instant, their eyelids shook, they jumped and took a defensive stance.
[Ding, defeating a low-rank Earthbender
[Ding, defeating a mid-rank Earthbender]
.
[Ding, host levelled up]
[Level 6…]
Haru noticed as one large man growled at him, stood up, and said. "And who are you! Quickly speak before I kill you." He stepped, and the ground started shaking. Haru took a step to the side, avoiding a spike that appeared in his original standing spot.
