Chapter 8

Two weeks passed.

[Stats:

Name: Chen

Age: 20

Level: 12 (500/20.000)

Chi: 6000 points

Skills:

- Chi Control level 9 (500/4000)

- Flame Generation level 11 (500/10.000)

Specialities:

- Firebending level 12 - Master (5000/15000)

-Lightningbending level 12 (12.000/15.000)

Accumulated experience: 0

]

Chen life's has been progressing well. Although his levelling up became slower, he became stronger, and he gained more money. During the two weeks he had, he gathered enough money to pay all of his debts. He'd levelled up his firebending and lightning bending, thanks to the accumulated experience he'd gotten from his fights. Moreover, his flame became stronger. It was on the eleventh level. Its colour turned into a dark purple.

Chen had noticed that he started to become famous in Republic City. His fights amazed the people in the pro-bending matches. Same for the underground. He was known by the name of the Mystical Flame, which he used to knock out strong opponents. Chen's wins in the matches were high, and thus, his price rose. One time, he lost as he'd sold a match for 200.000 Yuan.

Now, he has a total of 600.000 Yuan. Some would go to the triad, and he would be left with enough to buy a new home for himself.

"Now, would the Earthquakes keep their winning streak, or would they lose? Chen is, as usual, not seem excited."

Currently, Chen had a match. He stood in the middle, with Mira on the left and Hina on the right.

During the last weeks, and in the 5 matches they had, their sync had increased. Their job now was to provide distraction. Chen was the one knocked out.

Compressing fire in a second, Chen jabbed when the match started. The first firebender was surprised when he got hit and knocked out two zones back. Just as an earth disk headed at Chen, Mira blocked it with another disk. Hina kicked a water stream at the waterbender, and Chen kept focusing on the firebender. It wasn't long before he knocked him out of the ring and to the water.

Seeing that the waterbender of the opposite team is struggling, Chen jabbed. In underground fights, he learnt how to fight waterbender. Speed was the sky. He gave a very fast jab. Since he was a full master now in firebending, his shots were fast. The waterbender was pushed, and Hina delivered the final blow.

With only the earthbender left, it didn't take a long time to knock her out. Although ten seconds were left until the end of the round, they were more than enough. The girls could take care of him. But just to assure that he gains experience, Chen delivered the final blow.

"Chen, like usual, surprises us with his improvement and his roughness with his opponents. That fire knocked the guts out of them. Even when his opponent is falling, he would make sure to deliver the final blow." The commentary yelled.

[Ding, defeating an amateur earthbender]

[Ding, defeating a semi-virtuoso firebender]

[Ding, defeating a semi-virtuoso waterbender]

[+5000 exp]

[+5000 accumulated exp]

[Firebending +2000 exp]

[Flame Generation +1000 exp]

Chen ignored the notifications. The only thing that would get his attention was the sound of levelling up. It was still a happy occasion for him to win. Chen was getting more popular outside. People were treating him with respect. Some ladies were giving him signals. Since he was near to having a debt-free life, he would finally relax a bit.

After waving his hand to the audience, he turned and walked outside of the ring. He took off his helmet and took a deep breath. Tonight, he would have his final match underground, and he would go to live a professional life.

"Hey! Happy news, we are one match away from joining the tournament." Hina jumped up happily. She clung to Chen's back.

"Get off my back," Chen asked gently. "I'm not your piggy ride."

"I've never said so. Let's just celebrate." She didn't get off his back. "We are going to the tournament."

"You know what this means." Mira mused, happily. "If we win the reward, our financial problems will all be solved."

"Talk about yourself," Chen said, sighing.

"If you need, I can lend you some money," Mira replied.

Chen couldn't help but chuckle when she misunderstood him. But the pressed boobs on his back cut his laugh.

"Hina, unless you want to become my friend with benefits, I advise you to get off my back," Chen said.

"Whatever! Let's just have dinner." She got off his back and laughed.

"I won't be able to come," Chen said.

"Oh come on. Now or never. Let's just go." Mira held his arm and took him, her friend did the same. Seeing their attempt to invite him, he sighed and accepted. Wasting one hour of his time eating won't stall him from his match tonight.

-x-X-x-

Chen changed to proper clothes to go to a luxury restaurant. He sat down opposite his teammates, and he looked at himself. He realised that he needed to buy new clothes. He'd always spent his time in bars, where criminals and triad members gather. His clothes had always been shady and dark. 'I'll buy some tuxedos later.'

A waitress arrived at their table, and she asked what they want. His teammates held the menu and ordered.

"I want a big beef," Hina said.

"Salad and a steak," Mira ordered.

"Some wine. Preferably hundred years old." That was the most expensive thing on the menu. He's money to spare anyway. In this new body, alcohol happened to be his favourite drink.

"You should eat something. You are getting thin." Hina said. "At this rate, you'll end up becoming bones."

"Let him. Not everyone wants to make their body more attractive." Mira rolled her eyes, before saying to Chen. "But you gotta eat more, and don't get used to alcohol. I saw men getting destroyed by it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Short answers as usual." Mira raised her eyebrows.

Chen didn't reply.

Soon, the waitress came with their orders. Chen held the bottle and filled his glass. He wouldn't drink more than one glass, since he's an underground match tonight. Well, if it came to worse, he can always electrocute himself with light lightning.

He and his teammates started having a conversation. They talked about their dream, and the talk was tolerable until they started speaking about bags and the market.

'Tonight is the deadline. After paying for things, I'll open a cafeteria and work as a pro-bender. I'll take my share of the reward. Afterwards, I'll live my life. Let's just hope that nothing wrong happens. Now thinking of it, there is the anti-bending movement. But as far as I had seen, Korra isn't in the city yet. I don't really know. As long as she doesn't appear, nothing bad should happen.'

Now, some may blame Chen for not remembering the details clearly of the first season of Legend Of Korra.

But for the god's sake, who would remember clearly something they watched 7 or 8 years ago?

The only clear thing he remembered was that Korra is a hormonal dramatic teenager. Other than that, the leader of the anti-bending movement is the brother of someone who rules the city.

When he sipped his alcohol, his anxiety about the future vanished. The taste invaded his tongue, and he felt a new kind of pleasure. He looked at the expensive bottle, and he thought. 'I can get used to that.' He then turned and looked a the clock.

"You girls can have the rest." Chen stood up. It was time for him to leave. His duel is about 3 hours, and it was time to move.

"You aren't trying to make us pay for it." Hina joked.

Chen placed a few papers on the table. He then said. "Don't want it, I'll take it with me."

"Joking, I'm just joking." Hina laughed and took the bottle. "But seriously, you don't seem to be worried about money. What do you do for a living?"

"Nothing," Chen said.

"Anyway, where are you leaving? It's late night, and I don't think you have a job to do."

"I have to meet someone."

"Are you a drug dealer?"

"Would you think if I were one, I would be sitting here with you?" Chen mocked. "I feel a bit of headache, and I need to sleep;"

"Oh, you can't handle alcohol, I see." Mira smiled. "Just stay and get drunk. We'll take care of you."

Chen paused for a minute. Getting drunk with two good-looking girls can lead to one thing, and it's morally questionable. But most importantly, it will ruin his plan of getting out of his shady life.

"Next time maybe." Chen wore his coat and turned to leave. "Take care."

"That's bad then." Mira placed her head on the table.

-x-X-x-

Chen was standing in the middle of the ring, topless. He was taking a boxing stance while looking at his opponent, a large earthbender. He was jogging around the ring while the audience cheered.

The earthbender kicked on the ground, lifting a plate. Using his power, he split it into many parts and created many spikes. All headed at Chen, who squatted on his legs and spread his arms wide open. The dark fire gathered in the middle and it spread, destroying the sparks and pushing them to the side. He then degraded his fire and slowly shot at his opponent, who could dodge. The earthbender seemed to be tired as titled his head to the right. At that moment, even though he didn't have a direct flame with the fire, his skin turned red, and he lost a portion of his hair from the heat.

"What's the matter, you are slower than the first round," provoked the earthbender.

Chen didn't really care. He'd already sold the match for 200.000 Yuan, and Fu was the one to offer him the price.

Chen smiled and said. "How about I get faster."

He then started running forward. His opponent, confused, shot earth rocks at him. Chen parried them with his purple compressed flame. As he was a half-meter away from the earthbender, he extended both of his hands. The earthbender looked about to piss on himself when he realised that he is going to lose.

*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*

The bell rang three times, and Chen stopped his attack. He patted the earthbender on the shoulder, and he said, loudly enough for the audience to hear him. "Prepare yourself to get electrocuted."

This sentence alone is enough to make people switch their bets all on Chen.

The last round started. Chen turned his head to a girl who said she loves him. It was intentional action, as Chen had been the one to hire her. The smart earthbender didn't waste a chance as he sent a small rock to his head. Chen got hit on his mouth. He lost his balance, and the earthbender bent to the ground, sending Chen flying to the water.

The audience seemed to be shocked.

"You gotta be kidding me!"

"Your simping made me lose my money."

"Buu!!!"

Chen swam out of the water and left the arena. He didn't get a notification that he won. But at least he got this.

[Firebending +3000 exp]

[Flame Generation +1000 exp]

Ignoring the boo sounds, he walked out. He met Fu, who gave him a bag full of money. Chen counted them, and he didn't declare his intent to leave this business.

"So, when would you like to fight?"

"I will just take a vacation, for a couple of months," Chen said.

"Well, I can't blame you." Fu looked at Chen's face. The right side of his face was swollen from the attack from the earthbender. It hurt of course.

Just as Chen was about to leave, he met the three guys who work for the Agni Kai's triad.

"Why are you here guys? I paid you my debts before playing the match."

Before playing, Chen had visited the Agni Kai's headquarters. He'd paid the boss all of his debts, and he was free.

"Oh, it's not about that. Our boss has a talk with you."

"What kind of talk?"

"Just come over, unless you'd like for our triad to bother you."

Chen felt a bit of resentment toward them. Placing the bag over his shoulder, he decided to see what they have with him. It's better to clear matter.

"Sure."