The Blow

The sun's harsh rays, usually casting a warm glow, struggled to penetrate the labyrinth of shadowy alleys. The Messenger, Brick, and Flint moved like phantoms through the dimly lit passages, their faces concealed by hooded cloaks. The ambient noise of the city faded, replaced by an eerie stillness as they approached the rogue Bender instructor's lair.

The dilapidated building stood at the edge of the city, a forgotten relic amid the hustle and bustle. The air reeked of secrecy, and the dimly flickering lanterns did little to dispel the gloom that clung to the walls like a sinister cloak.

As they neared the hidden courtyard, the atmosphere thickened with an unspoken understanding of the impending confrontation. The Messenger's gloved hand, poised to knock, hesitated for a fleeting moment, amplifying the tension that enveloped them.

Finally, the ominous rap on the door echoed through the desolate courtyard, and the door creaked open, revealing a man with loose black hair and a clean face. The rogue instructor.

The rogue instructor's place was dimly lit, a mix of ancient knowledge and danger lingering in the air. As The Messenger, Brick, and Flint entered, the instructor's piercing gaze met The Messenger's hidden eyes. The trio's presence seemed to amplify the secretive ambiance, with shelves of worn tomes and artifacts hinting at a turbulent past.

In the center of the room, The Messenger produced the Syndicate emblem – a coin adorned with a sinuous symbol – and placed it on a nearby table. The instructor's calculating eyes shifted between the emblem and the imposing figures before him, a moment of recognition passing between them.

Amidst the cryptic air, the heavy door swung open, revealing the towering figure of Rage. His eyes, ablaze with determination, scanned the room. As The Messenger acknowledged his presence, the atmosphere tensed further.

"Rage, we are ready to discuss the plan," The Messenger intoned, his voice a whisper that echoed in the secluded space.

Rage's response was curt, "Proceed."

The instructor, anxiety etched on his face, stuttered out a question to The Messenger, "W-who are these people?"

The Messenger, shrouded in an air of mystery, simply replied, "They are allies with a common goal. Now let's discuss the plan."

The instructor, reluctantly revealing the secrets of the Grand Energy Nexus, spoke in hushed tones. "The Nexus is a source of unimaginable power. It governs the balance of energy in this city, and those who control it can wield tremendous influence over bending itself."

The Messenger, his hood casting a shadow over his face, interrupted the instructor's explanation with a dismissive tone. "You know not nearly enough about the Nexus, but we seek someone who does. Someone who can unveil its true potential."

The instructor, anxiety etched across his face, stammered out a crucial piece of information, "Th-the elders, they're in the city for the Grand Energy Festival. They hold the key to the Nexus, and possess the knowledge you seek. If you can confront them during the festival, you might get what you want."

The Messenger's voice, a low and ominous murmur beneath the hood, declared, "The festival is too late. We act now." He locked eyes with the instructor, intensity radiating from the concealed gaze. "Where are they?"

The instructor, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, stammered in fear, "I-I don't know their exact location. They're secretive about it. They'll be somewhere in the city, overseeing the preparations."

"Do you know how they look?" The Messenger asked.

"N-no... I've heard they're quite old though..." said the instructor.

The Messenger's hooded head tilted slightly as if contemplating the instructor's words. "Old-looking, you say? Well, that narrows it down." The shadow within the hood seemed to smirk. "Now, we must find these elusive elders before the Festival. Time is not on our side. Rage, accompany me and gather some information about these people. Brick and Flint, stay with our friend here for now."

The three nodded, and off went The Messenger and Rage, leaving behind Brick and Flint with the instructor.

Brick glanced at Flint with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with an impish idea. "Hey, Flint, let's give this guy a little scare. You know, for fun."

Flint, ever the follower, eagerly agreed, and together they started playing a mock argument, raising their voices and flexing their muscles menacingly. The instructor, caught off guard, stared at them in horror.

Brick leaned in with exaggerated menace. "You better start talking, old man, or things might get ugly!"

Flint added, "Yeah, and you won't like us when we're angry!"

The instructor, now visibly frightened, stammered, "I-I don't know anything, I swear!"

Brick and Flint burst into laughter, revealing the prank. "Relax, old man, we're just messing with you!" Brick chuckled, slapping the instructor on the back.

Flint joined in, "Yeah, we're not really the scary type. Just having some fun, you know?"

The instructor, still recovering from the prank, nervously blurted out, "You two are fools! Only a couple of imbeciles would join hands with someone like that hooded man!"

Brick's face turned beet red, his eyes narrowing in anger. Flint, sensing the impending storm, took a step back, realizing that the instructor might have just triggered Brick's short fuse. Brick clenched his fists, his muscles bulging with tension.

"What did you just say?" Brick growled, his voice a low rumble. "You think you can insult us and get away with it?"

Flint, attempting to defuse the situation, nervously interjected, "Come on, Brick, let's not—"

But Brick cut him off, his anger surging. "I'm not letting this old man disrespect us like that!"

The instructor, realizing his mistake too late, stumbled over his words in an attempt to backtrack, "No, I didn't mean—"

In the cramped space of the room, Brick lunged at the instructor with surprising speed for his size. The instructor, panic-stricken, barely managed to dodge Brick's initial attack. The impact of Brick's punch left a dent in the wall, sending a shiver down the instructor's spine.

Flint, standing at a safe distance, winced at the display of Brick's raw power. The instructor, trying to evade, stumbled over a chair, but Brick swiftly closed the distance. With a swift motion, Brick grabbed the instructor's wrist, restraining him.

"Thought you could insult us and get away with it?" Brick sneered, his grip tightening.

The instructor winced in pain, realizing the gravity of his words. He stammered, "I... I didn't mean to offend. Please, let me go!"

But Brick, fueled by anger, wasn't in a forgiving mood. He hoisted the instructor effortlessly, showcasing his immense strength. The room seemed to shrink as the struggle unfolded, the instructor at the mercy of Brick's powerful grip.

Flint, torn between trying to mediate and watching the spectacle unfold, wondered if they might have taken things a bit too far.

The instructor summoned a surge of energy, creating a protective shield around him. The sudden burst of power caught Brick off guard, pushing him back a few steps.

Flint, now more engaged in the conflict, watched as the instructor transformed the energy shield into a series of projectiles, launching them at Brick. The large man skillfully dodged some but was hit by others, causing him to stumble.

However, Brick wasn't one to stay on the defensive for long. Roaring with determination, he summoned his own energy, creating a shockwave that dispersed the projectiles and sent a burst of force back towards the instructor. The instructor, caught off balance, struggled to maintain control over his bending.

It became a clash of brute force against finesse, as Brick pressed forward, unleashing punches fueled by raw strength, while the instructor attempted to outmaneuver him with calculated energy manipulation. The room echoed with the sounds of their struggle, the rogue instructor fighting to defend himself, but Brick, driven by rage and power, seemed determined to crush any resistance in his way.

With each passing moment, it became evident that the instructor was outmatched against the sheer strength of Brick. Despite his best efforts to use energy control tactically, Brick's relentless assault and overpowering force left the instructor struggling to keep up.

Brick, fueled by anger and determination, closed in on the instructor. The room vibrated with the impact of his punches and the instructor's attempts to defend himself. Eventually, with a powerful blow, Brick sent the instructor crashing into the wall, leaving him incapacitated.

As the dust settled, Flint watched wide-eyed as the instructor, battered and defeated, lay on the floor, unable to continue the fight. Brick, panting but triumphant, stood over him.

Brick then proceeded to pick the battered instructor up with one hand, his fist poised to strike.

"Say goodbye!" Were the words as Brick's fist hit the instructor's face like a missile.

Certainly! Here's the aftermath:

As the dust settled, Flint cautiously approached the crumpled form of the rogue instructor. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene.

"Brick, I think you might've punched a bit too hard this time," Flint exclaimed nervously.

Brick, towering over the defeated instructor, scratched his head, seemingly perplexed. "Oops. Well, he did ask for it."

Flint rolled his eyes, muttering, "Yeah, asked for it or not, we needed him in one piece for the plan."

The Messenger and Rage returned, finding the instructor literally flattened on the floor. The Messenger raised an eyebrow, looking at Brick.

"Did you have to go all out?" he questioned.

Brick shrugged, a mischievous grin on his face. "Just making sure he won't cause any trouble."

The Messenger sighed, realizing that managing Brick's overwhelming strength might be a challenge in itself.

As they prepared to leave, Flint leaned closer to Brick. "Next time, can you dial it down a bit? We don't want our employers angry at us."

Brick nodded, "Alright Flint..."

The Messenger intervened, "Anyways, we've managed to find out that these elders of Stronghold reside at the hills up north. Rage, go with these two and find out more about them."

Rage nodded, "Alright, let's go then."