Chapter 47
General Sai ignored the town and made his way to Omashu.
It will take them a few days to arrive at their destination. They had enough rations for them. At any rate, once their food would over, they would eat again once they take over Omashu.
The only ones that they should be worried about are the One Hundred Man Haru and the Crazy King Bumi. The other earthbenders should be easy to deal with, considering that the Fire Nation has more benders and soldiers than their foes.
Two days passed. The fire army was nearer to Omashu than ever. As they were taking the road, Sai heard something.
Turning his head to some high peak, he saw large boulders falling.
"Get back!" Sai yelled. "Combine your fire."
The soldiers ran backwards, getting away from the gigantic rocks.
Some took their bending stances and shoot fire at the rocks. They slowed the momentum of the boulders, which gave room for others to escape.
The rocks, however, were big and unstoppable. They were the size of an average house. Since they fell from high peaks, they were fast.
Around 50 soldiers were crushed under those boulders.
The remaining soldiers started helping the fallen ones, trying to look for those who survived.
Sai clenched his fists and looked at the peaks. "They have set traps on our way. It seems they have expected us to come."
"General, what should we do?" asked his Vice.
Sai turned and said. "Burn the bodies of dead ones and keep the ashes. Now. Send two fast riders forward, they will scout for any potential traps."
"As you order." Said Sai's vice with a voice that held frustration and sadness.
Taking a deep breath, Sai clenched his fists and thought that something is missing.
It felt as if their enemy is watching them. It could be possible that the town had sent a messaging hawk to Omashu, and they set up traps. At least, Omashu's soldiers would take a day to arrive here, another day to set those traps, and another day to get back to their Kingdom.
The only explanation he could reach was that these traps were set way earlier.
'I've learnt my lesson. If we can avoid these traps, then we are good.'
After two scouts picked up very fast rides, they headed forward. After making a kilometre distance from them, Sai and the rest of the soldiers marched.
Half a day passed, and it was night.
The scouts shoot fire into the sky each time they discovered a trap, and Sai counted them. Around 20 traps were on their way to Omashu.
Sai raised his hand and tasked the army to stop and take a break. Sai sat in a tent with his vice and some captains. They picked up a map.
A captain approached and pointed to the map. "As it seems, from here to Omashu, there are around 22 traps. If we head there, there is no way we wouldn't trigger these traps, and our army would be as good as dead."
"So, what are you suggesting?" Asked Sai.
The captain smiled and traced his finger on the map. "We send the scouts in these directions. If there are no traps, we will be good to go."
"Sounds reasonable." Sai nodded. "Alright, tell the scouts the plan. They will examine the road, and we will be sleeping tonight." He yawned. One of the bad things about taking the city down was that you get tired on the road.
Just imagine how hard it is to resist sleeping when you are awake for so long. The soldiers may just want to give up on death if they were that tired. It was something Sai learned from fighting against the North Pole in the past. It was essential to take a break and have your soldiers in their full energy. This way, their soldiers won't lose their morals.
Haru was in the fire soldiers' tent, in his spirit form. He observed the general.
Currently, the scouts of the Fire Nation would move in different directions.
To guide them to the narrow Path Haru desired, he had put earthbenders on the other paths. This way, the only one who will remain will lead them to the final trap.
'This general is good. He seems to be experienced. If I interrogate him, I will learn a lot about the Fire Nation.'
Haru had been planning to, at some point, go to the Fire Nation and mind-control the Fire Lord — for the greater good.
He needed some information about the Fire Nation from a general.
'All according to a plan.'
-x-X-x-
The sun rose, and the army of the Fire Nation was still in their spot.
Sai was on his ride, looking forward. From the scouts he had sent yesterday, only one came back. Cupping his fists and giving a slight bow, Sai showed his respect for the souls of the dead scouts. Their sacrifices won't be forgotten. They will be treated as honourable heroes and their names would be carved in the history of the Fire Nation.
"Let's go in this direction," Sai ordered.
They moved. After a few hours, they reached a narrow path. It wasn't that long. It was like a gate, which forced his army to make lines of 100 men. They got in.
Very soon, something happened.
As they were about to sort, the ground in front of them cracked and was swallowed by the earth.
The temperature was very high in this area. A huge lava pool appeared. It was connected to the peaks in a way that it didn't allow them to make a turn around it.
It was long that they couldn't even jump over it. It stretched for 10 meters in width.
'This doesn't make any sense. There should be no volcanos in this area, and our maps didn't show a lava pool.'
Sai was confused. In this case, there is no choice for them but to get back.
"Retreat!" Sai ordered.
When his voice echoed, no one moved. It was strange. This had never happened before. When he turned to angrily stare at them, he saw them shaking.
They dropped their weapons. From the two peaks behind them, lava started pouring. And for no reason, a large hole appeared, and the lava was filling it.
The atmosphere became hotter and hotter. Currently, the lava was pouring from the two peaks, so it was impossible to climb them.
In front of them, there was lava, so behind them. There was no way for them to retreat.
The General lifted his head, thinking that their option may be climbing the peaks. But he thought that earthbenders may have set up a trap there.
Behind the army and from a distance, appeared more than a hundred earthbenders from the ground. They took their bending stances, ready to use their power at any moment.
They could even make the peaks collapse at them. Seeing how lava was pouring from these peaks made Sai believe that it was a bad move to provoke the earthbenders.
"So, tell me, how would you feel if I dropped boulders on you, guys." A man in Earth Kingdom general clothes was mocked as he was in the lead of the army. "Well, let's see what our prince has to say."
Turning his head forward, Sai looked. On the bridge that leads to Omashu was a young handsome man walking toward them, his long brown hair flapping with the winds.
He continued walking until he was 10 meters away from the lava pool.
Sai could recognise him. "Haru…"
Haru sneered at them. "Congratulation for reaching this point while avoiding every possible trap I set. I have an offer for you: Surrender, and you will live in our prisons. Do a stupid move, and you will… reincarnate. Who knows what the afterlife holds?
Sai smirked. "So, you are the infamous Haru, strong and cruel.
"Yet here you are, within the reach of a hundred men, if I don't count the line behind me."
If there is a good chance to get rid of Haru so be it.
The best thing to do is to kill him, and then, aim the tanks behind them to kill the benders. They will find a solution for the lava later, but now, having this man dead is most important.
"You can't do a thing," Haru said. "I won't repeat myself. Surrender."
"Formation five!" Said screamed.
The first line of a hundred men spread their legs and squatted until their balls touched the ground.
The second line squatted, and the third jumped.
All of them had good sync.
A gigantic fire blast, which overwhelmed the entrance, headed at Haru.
With such a level of fire, it can even swallow a whole army. It can burn the city.
The Fire swallowed Haru. The yellow glint vanished, and the lava boiled hotter.
Haru wasn't there.
Sai lifted his head and laughed. "Hahaha!"
Their enemy turned into ashes.
"Aim the crossbow tanks at the earthbenders," Sai yelled. When he remembered how Haru had been cocky to look at them, he laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" came a voice behind Sai.
From the ground, Haru emerged. His hand reached Sai's neck. Haru lifted him from the back of his neck with one hand. Sai couldn't believe the strength of the young man.
"Your life is quite valuable, so I'll keep you for interrogation." Haru then smacked him to the ground.
Darkness took over his vision, and the last thing he could remember, before passing out, was Haru turning to face the army.