Chapter 26

It was the early morning, and Haru wasn't far from Kyoshi's island. All he has to do now was to ride a boat and reach that island. However, he had a job to do before leaving. Assuring that this city has strong walls.

Feeling the cold breeze against his skin, Haru stood at the edge of the city. The other earthbenders were working together, while Haru was alone. He lifted his hands, and thick great walls appeared.

The other benders looked at him with some shock. After all, the feats he was doing required a combined work from the other benders to achieve. Yet Haru was doing it alone.

Haru moved to the side and he bent the ground, creating 3 meters thick wall with a height of five meters.

Haru had always been able to do this when his level was lower.

Now that he was at the 19th level, he could do more. But he wanted to keep his energy and only do the necessary work.

One hour passed, and Haru sat down. He got a few notifications from the system. It was about him levelling up his skills.

[Bending with hands levelled up]

[Earthbending levelled up]

Haru sat down to get his Chi back. It wouldn't take a long time. While sitting, he remembered what he had done yesterday.

After he and Rune found a house to settle in, Haru excused himself and went to the base of the Fire Nation. He used his skills to heat up the metal and melt it. The heat alone was enough to burn the bodies into ashes and devour them. And the base turned into a grave and a pure source material for anyone who wanted to use the iron. Haru had never liked to leave the bodies to the rotten outside. It was quite disrespectful. At least, he had given them a proper funeral.

Leaving a sigh, he remembered what happened after that. He had gone to sleep with Rune and her son. The woman surely was pretty, hot, and curvaceous. Haru had felt quite uncomfortable staying there. But the older woman seemed to be hosting enough. She had cooked Haru a good meal and even apologised, saying that she hadn't cooked for a long time. Haru had accepted the meal with a smile and said it was delicious and that she didn't get that old, same for her son.

But the problem wasn't there. They had eye contact in silence, a long one above that that lasted for half a minute. You know what happened when a man and woman had eye contact — a universal sign… Haru was about to find out, but Rong broke the silence by asking for more food. Haru just slept that night and decided to focus on the important things.

'Remember, the conqueror's path reward at its end, not in the beginning.' Haru sighed, took a few breathes and meditated for a bit, calming the blood that was rushing down to his groin. 'But Rune is one fine pretty milf.'

"Big brother!"

Haru turned his head when he heard a familiar voice calling him. Rong was holding a bottle of water. He ran to him, and he extended it to Haru. "Drink, My mom said you need to regain your energy."

Haru patted him on the head and took the bottle.

"Thanks, son," Haru said, unconsciously.

"Huh? What did you say?" Rong narrowed his eyebrows as if he hadn't heard well.

"I just said thanks." Haru drank the water, and he turned his head to Rong's mom, who waved her hand at him, her large chest jiggled. She was working with another group on the wall. Haru gave her a small smile before he stood up.

"Tell your mom that her water is good," Haru said. Rong nodded and went to his mommy.

Haru then continued working on the wall. At this rate, he will cover the whole town in a day. But he chose not, as he need some time for himself to grind.

It was around 3 pm. Haru swept his forehead as he, alone, covered half of the town. He hadn't rested, and he didn't go to food. Rune cooked for him. She was acting too nice toward him. Other benders brought him water. Haru, of course, accepted food from the earthbenders and not the citizens.

[Bending with hands, levelled up.]

Haru swept his head. When he looked around, he noticed that everyone was staring at him with awe.

"I always doubted how you took care of that base alone." Said a bender. "No wonders. You are really powerful."

"So, this is the power of Haru, who took down a full unit on his own."

As it seems, the rumours of Haru being the one to defeat an army had reached the people here, and they believed it.

Haru turned and smiled at them. "This is just the beginning, the Earth Kingdom will be free again, and you guys will live at peace. Will you help me?"

Someone stepped forward and bowed down. "I will put my life in the line for you."

A girl threw herself in. "Yes, Prince. We will fight till the last breath. Just give us an order."

The others seemed to share their opinion.

Haru just looked at them in silence.

There is no real guarantee that anyone will throw their lives for him. They are doing so because they believe in him and that he will win. No one likes to fight for a loser case, nor support the loser teams.

But having a leader like Haru guaranteed that they will fight.

"I'll count on you then." Haru sat and put a leg above another. "I'm quite tired. You guys continue this."

The Earthbenders, although more tired than him, pushed themselves.

While seeing them working, Haru wondered. Why the Earth Kingdom was economically weak?

Earthbenders can bend the earth. If someone used them to build and farm, then the country will rise to very strong economical power. They can even mine.

But alas, all they care about is using their power for fighting, or just to look like supreme martial artists.

'No wonders the Fire Nation is strong. They knew well how to use their fire to craft.'

When everyone seemed to get tired, Haru clapped his hand and said. "Let's call it a day off, we will continue starting from tomorrow."

The new followers, almost 50, nodded and went to their homes.

"Big Brother."

"What's up, Rong."

Haru turned as Rong caught up to him and was walking by his side.

"Are we going for war against the Fire Nation?" He asked. "If so, I want to be in the front line and fight with you."

"Why so?" Haru asked, amused.

"Because you need someone to protect you."

"Hehe!" Haru chuckled. "Listen, if you really want to help me, stay home and protect this town. You will do great work."

"But I want to fight the firebenders." He said. "They took my parents from me, my mom to jail and father across the sea. I don't want them to take more people from me."

Haru noticed that Rong's mother didn't tell him what really happened to his father. To Rune, she may have been a widow for years and got over it. But the kid would suffer a shock if he knew what happened to his father.

When he turned to his mother, who just caught up to them, she smiled approvingly at Haru as she stood next to her kid.

"Don't mind him please." She said.

"It's okay. He is a good kid" Haru smiled reassuringly. He then placed his hand on her shoulder and said. "If you need anything, please, don't hesitate to tell me."

Her body twitched for a second when Haru touched her shoulder. But she didn't push it, and she only smiled. After a few seconds, she said. "I'll take your word for that." Her slightly tanned cheeks turned pink for a second.

"Don't worry, I'm a man of my own word," Haru said. "Just don't think for too long, since I won't be here for long." He squeezed more gently on her shoulder.

She nodded, put her hand on his, but didn't push it. Instead, she embraced it and said. "At least for a couple more nights."

"Yes, big bro." The kid said.

'Well, if both of the mom and son wanted me, so be it.' Haru smiled and took his hand back. While staring at her shoulder, his eyes slipped down and went to the large melons. He couldn't keep staring at them for long when the young kid was down. He stared at the road.

"Okay, let's head home," Haru said. "I need to eat, and bath."

"Yeah, me too." She said. "Building that wall was trying for us, let alone you."

"Was it that trying?"

"Well, since you are really strong." She said, examining his body from head to toe. "You may feel less tired." She seemed to be amazed. "I wonder how strong you are in other areas."

"You may find out one day," Haru said. It was obvious by now that they are flirting.

-x-X-x-

Haru reached the house he and the woman had settled in. Haru had taken this house from a previous noble of the Fire Nation, along with his wealth and money. It was quite comparable to living here. Rune went to cook something, and Haru was sitting by the table along with the kid. Very soon, Rune came with the food.

"Thanks," Haru said before he started eating.

"Please, ask for more if you're not satisfied."

"I won't eat much. I will have to take shower." Haru said. Taking baths with a full stomach always felt annoying to Haru.

"Sure. I will heat the water for us." She said and stretched her arms up. "It had been a long time since I had a chance to enjoy myself."

She then looked at Rong and said. "Son, would you like to take the water by the wall. They must be tired."

"But they are really far, it will take me an hour to reach it, and more hours to deliver the water."

"But they will be happy, and we will have a more secured home like this." She said.

"And here I thought you are a tough boy," Haru said with a mocking tone. He seemed to understand his intent of Rune. Well, there had been signals between him and her. And she wanted the kid to leave them some time on their own. Haru decided to play this game and see where it was heading.

Rong slammed his chest. "I am a tough boy. Give me that damn water." He then left the room.

"Wow, you know how to deal with my kid better than me," Rune said as she looked at the door.

"He has your eyes, after all." Haru stood up, and placed his hands on the shoulder of the woman, touching her. "I will be showering for now."

Having a blush appear on her cheeks, the woman said with a shaky voice and a smile. "I've prepared the water. Please, go in… I'll help you with your back." She then lowered her head from his face and looked at his chest, before his abs. She seemed to be aroused.

"Thank you for everything." Haru leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead, before walking in the bath's direction.

"You're welcome. I'll just come in a minute." She went to the door and locked it.

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