Chapter 72

It was night, and Haru was going on his journey tomorrow, at dawn. Since he had become way stronger than before, he decided to upgrade the wall around his village. It was now 30 meters high with a thickness of 6-7 meters. Also, he gave more space inside the wall, so the people can reach their farms in case the Fire Nation attacked while he wasn't there.

As for the little army that had attacked his village, the survivors were all but a bunch of delusional soldiers. They were servants to his village and protectors. Haru had made sure to give them extra modifications to their mindset so that they can become better firebenders.

From Kyoshi, he'd learnt that fire is energy. It's about the motive. The stronger the motive the firebender has, the stronger their inner energy, which is the source of the firebending. He also gave them extra courage so that they won't fear death.

Basically, he had created a bunch of monsters that are his. Aang and his team had been clueless, and they were now away from his village, heading east as he had instructed them. They were on the back of that flying bison now.

"So, you are leaving son."

"Yes, mom and dad."

"Can't you stay more?"

Haru shook his head at his mother's question. Next to them, there were Suki and Luna. Haru considered taking Suki with him since she was an exceptional fighter. However, considering that risks can happen at any time, he decided it's safer for her to stay here. The distance he's to cross is way longer than the distance between Kyoshi Island and the Earth Kingdom. It will take Haru at least a week or more to arrive at the Fire Nation. After having filled the slots he has inside his system with iron and food, Haru was ready to go.

(A/N: some people think that storage is like a warehouse, and every millimetre can be used. However, it's like gaming storage. If you put an armour with a height of 1.5 meters inside, it will take two slots. Each slot can store an item of 1 cubic meter, and the slots can't store extra items.)

Suki went to Haru, put her hands around his neck, and leaned to kiss him on the cheek. Luna did the same with the other cheek.

"Come back safe," Suki said.

"Take care of my parents, and the village while I'm gone."

"Don't worry. I'm a better earthbender now." Luna said.

Suki smiled. "I'll be taking care of them."

Haru smiled.

Later that night, Haru had some quality time until it was dawn. Leaving the two girls sleeping in his living room, he sneaked out of his house from the window. He'd told everyone that he would be going by morning. But he left by dawn so that no one would bother him.

Holding a compass in one hand, Haru summoned one of the destroyed ships of the Fire Nation. Using his power, he fixed it, creating a smaller boat, which was comfortable for him. Picking up a bed and chairs out of his storage, he put them on the deck.

Using his metalbending, he created a propel behind the boat. It started spinning with a wave from his hand, heading west.

There was one reason Haru didn't use his earth board.

The distance he'd had to cross was so long. He would need to sleep, and there was no land on the sea. It's the reason why the boat was the best option.

Although it may sound questionable if he would keep his mental health while being alone, Haru didn't worry. He had Kyoshi with him. It can satisfy him physically and spiritually.

-x-X-x-

Meanwhile, at Azula's camp.

Azula was sleeping, enjoying the cold weather of night. She'd been thinking of the epic battle she would fight. She would be claimed as the greatest prodigy in this era. She was dreaming of humiliating her rival while he'd beg for mercy.

"Wake up your majesty!"

Her door started knocking. Azula woke up, yawning.

*Knock!* *Knock!*

The knocks got louder and louder. The princess jumped off the bed and raised her hair to a ponytail. Forgetting that she was wearing a pink nightgown, she made her way to the door.

"What is wrong with you? Do you know what time is that!" she opened it, staring at the old woman. "Do you know how much important is the mental health of the princess? Do you know the weight of the crime you are committing?"

"You have received an urgent report about the Earth King." She said.

"Oh, about that," Azula muttered. She stretched her arms up, taking a deep breath. She walked to the corner, and she poured some water for herself. It would make the blood flow in her system, and thus she would wake up.

Although Haru had defeated their army, Azula was smart enough to leave someone in the mountain range, to watch the events of the battle and report to her.

She'd instructed the man not to send any report to her until that man leave or die.

She'd learned that Haru was an excellent scout and heard that from a people who had been at a tavern. An Omashu's scout, named Ron, boasted that he'd taught the Earth King skills about their job.

It would be stupid to leave a spy in Haru's village since it would be easy for him to find out.

The old woman opened the report and started reading.

"Apparently, he'd taught the Avatar earthbending in a few days. He'd captured all of our soldiers and played some trick on them. Moreover, he is heading in the Fire Nation direction. His intentions are unclear. But given the power he'd displayed, the Fire Nation would suffer if he managed to reach it. The Avatar is moving in our direction."

Putting her hand under her chin, Azula thought for a moment.

Haru, the most fearsome earthbender was currently on a boat without earth beneath him. Neither lava. The metal on his ship, if used as a weapon, would only make him sink.

Other than that, the Avatar was heading, moving in their direction.

Azula's chaotic brain started giving her many good and evil ideas.

Maybe, instead of chasing directly after Haru, she can manipulate the Avatar. She can ruin the picture of Haru and turn him into a genocidal person. Well, he'd committed many crimes against her nation's army. The naive kid should believe that. He may let his guard down, and she would kill him with one lightning bolt. Azula smirked that the old woman started feeling fear. Even if her plan of capturing the Avatar failed, she can always kill him.

"Oh well, let's meet the Avatar, and prepare my ship to move. I have to take two birds down with one bolt."

"As you order, your highness."

-x-X-x-

"You give love, a bad name~"

"Change the song," Kyoshi requested.

"I don't think that I have to keep you entertained the whole trip," Haru complained, looking at the standing Kyoshi. It was night, and he'd stopped moving, eating dinner and having a little chat. He'd put a sail, leaving the wind to move his boat to the west.

"I don't know. You sound like a creative person to come with all of these hits." Kyoshi was standing on the ship. She started nodding. "What was the song you singing that day I caught you dancing weirdly. Beat It, just beat it~. I quite like how you shook that day when I caught you." She giggled a bit.

"As much as I like how you trying to make me blush, I would like to remind you that last Avatar would bend the water with my weird dance. That dance will be attached to you forever."

Kyoshi's mouth made an "o" shape. She glared at Haru, and she said. "You have no idea how much I wish to have my physical body strangle you."

"Yeah." Haru thought for a bit. "Me too."

"You too?"

"Ahem."

Feeling that there is plenty of time, he opened the storage and brought his boxes. He opened 4 gift boxes and 1 epic box.

[+2 Agility]

[+4 Affinity points]

[+2 skill points]

[+3 Affinity points]

This is what the boxes gave him. Because of the high numbers of his skills, Haru was always confused about where to put those points.

Opening the Epic Box, he got the notification.

[Golden Orb (one time used reviving item in hardcore mode)]

It seemed that he don't have to fear death anymore.

"Why are you silent?" Kyoshi asked Haru, standing in front of him and waving her hand in front of his face.

Looking at Kyoshi, Haru thought. 'Should I? Should I… would it work on spirits or body…' Haru shook his head.

"What happened to you."

"I just thought of something, never mind."

"I'm seriously started to feel concerned about your mental health. Take a nap. I'll wake you up when something happens."

"I'll just leave my body to rest."

Haru's body fell. His spirit left his body, and Kyoshi smiled at him. "Well, let's see you trying to tease me again, in this form."

"Tease you, since when I did that?" Haru pointed at himself, playing ignorance.

"Just get on your back." Kyoshi pushed him.