"This is my private domicile, and I will not be harassed in my private domicile," Akashi said, his tone firm as he looked at the Dai Lee agents that appeared from the shadows.
Truth be told, he had sensed their presence, hiding behind the grassy walls. And he knew that they were here to make a scene with him.
No. They were here to assassinate him once Korra was taken to the court.
The Queen would simply use Korra to capture Amon. And she would use the fact that Korra was away from Akashi to assassinate him. Well, to be fair, she wasn't to blame. Akashi had written a book, making her appear like a whore. And above that, he had manipulated her to make enemies with the bloodbenders.
But even if she knew everything, she wouldn't know about his strength.
But it's time to let her know.
"Move aside, and let the Avatar do her job," demanded one of the Dai Lee agents.
All five men wore bamboo hats and green kimonos. They looked strong and very trained in the arts of assassination.
Akashi reached into his pocket and grabbed a cigarette. Not like he was a smoker, but it was to display power. And it was one of the airbender weapons. He lit it up calmly, lifted his foot, and kicked the envoy in front of him in the chest.
Because of his high agility and strength, the envoy was sent flying to the grassy walls, getting buried in them.
"So, let me confirm this," Akashi said, "Once the Avatar goes to the courtroom, and while she will be busy, you guys would come here and assassinate me, while making it look like I disappeared or killed myself. Tarrlok had admitted that I'm the writer. Given that you are hidden and didn't appear with the envoy, I guess you were waiting. But I forced your hands, didn't I?"
Despite being trained to control their facial expressions, they couldn't help but flinch. The sound waves coming from their hearts changed, allowing Akashi to confirm that information.
"Your face says yes," he said, putting his hands in his pocket while still smoking. "Well, good news for you, guys. You still can achieve that. The key is to kill me and transfer my body under the earth. Wake the Avatar, take her to the courtroom, while saying that you didn't find me. It will appear that I have vanished from the surface of the earth."
"You are truly a cunning and vicious man," he said. "It's good that you made peace with yourself and are ready to die."
"Don't worry, guys. I won't kill you. I'll let you deliver my message to your queen, not to mess with me." Akashi smirked.
There were times when to act weak, and there were times when to act strong. This was the time to act strong.
By acting strong now, and with Amon leading a rebellion against her, she would reconsider ten times before investing resources in him. She'd consider everything she could to stop the rebellion from rising.
And he would make sure that she knows, by sending these men. And by stopping Korra, she would realize that he's somehow an accomplice with the bloodbenders.
"Arrogant piece of shit."
One of the agents cursed as he stomped. Instead of the ground changing its shape, it provided him with power and speed, pushing him flying to Akashi, appearing like a blur. He extended his hand, which was covered by earth. This technique was meant to kill by applying the earth glove on the victim's neck, choking them to death.
"Humph," Akashi harrumphed. From his mouth, a dense cloud of smoke left, covering the agent's face, blocking his vision, and entering through his nose and mouth. The man held his throat, trying to cough. But the air, or rather, the smoke, entered more through his lungs. And he choked. With no oxygen and lungs full of harmful chemicals, he had no choice but to fall to the ground, unconscious.
[+12000 experience points]
Akashi looked at the notification, amused. Surely, the perk of Meditative Mind provided him with good extra experience.
The dense smoke spread, moving away. And Akashi could sense that some agent was trying to slip to the ground. He pointed his finger at them, and with his current level, the next action was too easy. Air gathered and got compressed, before turning into a bullet-like projectile. And needless to say that the agent didn't manage to get under the ground.
Nevertheless, there were still three, and Akashi had a good idea of their location.
In no time, Akashi appeared in front of one of them, punching him in the stomach, lifting him up with his fist, before slamming him down.
What was the use of speed if it's only used for travel.
And it didn't get over.
A few needles found their way to him.
But with a wave of his hand, air circled around Akashi, reflecting the needles.
As Akashi didn't want to destroy the rented place, he had to finish things with his own hands and without using mass destruction.
He spread his arms wide open, looking at two gathering, before clapping in their direction.
A massive shockwave that moved the wind surged, and the agents had closed their ears with their hands. But that did nothing as they fell and blood gushed out of their noses and mouths.
There was one still remaining.
And he had gone under the ground, heading toward Akashi, who could tell that from the sound waves in the air.
Air circled around Akashi's arm, compressing by the vacuum, creating an aura around his fist.
"Let me call this, Power Wave."
And with that, he punched the ground, controlling the shockwave, redirecting it and amplifying it. The ground split into two, and from it, the last agent flew into the air.
[+10000 exp]
[+2500 bonus]
[+11000 exp]
[+3000 bonus]
[+13000 exp]
[+4000 bonus]
[+15000 exp]
[+4500 bonus]
Ignoring the experience log, Akashi saw the level filler, and he crossed a considerable amount. Still, one Amon was better than five Dai Lee agents. The envoy, who had been kicked to the grassy walls, managed to get out.
"How dare that motherfucker hit me. Agents, bring him to me. I hope you didn't kill him yet." He said arrogantly. Since he no longer heard any more sounds, he assumed that the Dai Lee had taken care of Akashi.
But what he had seen was that the arrogant motherfucker was clapping the dust out of his clothes. The Dai Lee agents lay on the ground, either with broken bones or bleeding holes.
Akashi still had that cigarette in his mouth.
"No way. It wasn't even a half minute," the envoy yelled, pointing his finger at Akashi.
"So, you are admitting to the attempt of assassinating me," Akashi said. "Anyways, go back to the palace, and bring someone to take these agents with you."
"There is no way. You committed a crime, Akashi. And no matter what you say, it's your word against our kingdom's word." Replied the envoy, his tone betraying fear.
"Tell the Queen if she makes a scene, I'll tell Korra that she sent assassins after me." Replied Akashi calmly.
It wasn't an act of mercy. Akashi knew that their leader would punish them severely for failing.
But it was to deliver a message to the Earth Queen, that he wasn't afraid of her. And she needed an Avatar's level force to beat him. Well, that is if she managed to hold her ground against the bloodbender.
Poor Tarrlok had lost his bending.
Akashi went to the rented house, ignoring the envoy, who seemed to be too afraid to say anything.
The envoy knew that if someone dared to challenge their kingdom, they would find no problem killing him on a whim.
Akashi got out of the house. On his shoulder lay Korra. And in his hand, were bags that contained the souvenirs and clothes he had bought.
Unstoppable, he made his way to the airport, meeting Lin and the task force.
"Thought you were going to take your time. And what's wrong with her?" Lin asked, pointing to Korra, who was sleeping on Akashi's shoulder.
"She got drunk and didn't sleep on schedule." Akashi spoke the truth and only the truth.
"Hahaha… Little kids need to sleep early." Lin laughed at Korra.
"For reference, I'm not that much older than her." Akashi said, feeling slightly offended.
"Doesn't change a thing." Lin continued laughing.
-x-X-x-
The trial proceeded as Akashi expected, and against the queen's hopes. Korra didn't attend, and was now on the airship, sleeping peacefully with a hangover waiting for her when she'd wake up.
The judge looked at Tarrlok.
"For your crimes, I deem you worthy of death and strip you of every human right you have. The Palace may punish you as it sees fit," said the judge.
And just as he had said that, a bunch of a hundred thin people entered the courtroom.
The people who attended the trials seemed to recognize them.
"Pai Po. You're alive."
"Mom? I thought you vanished. I searched for you everywhere."
"Didn't they take you to the concentration camp."
A man with no mask appeared in the courtroom. His steps alone were enough to make everyone stop talking and give him attention.
"Everybody here seems to realize that these people aren't ones who are supposed to see the light of day." He said. "For I have been with them, in the concentration camp. Their only crime was to speak against the throne.
"I have been known as Amon. I may have been wrong in my pursuit to bring equality for everyone, thinking it would cleanse the world of every evil. But I was wrong. For now, it's justice that I'm seeking.
"My purpose is to unite the people and dethrone the queen. If you want to join hands with me, you're welcome. If you don't, then I understand. But I promise that if you don't, you are standing on the loser's side."
Tarrlok smiled widely. The lifeless eyes he had got replaced. For a second, he thought he was going to get pegged to death.
The judge, angrily, smacked his hammer against the counter. "Guards! What is this joke. Someone invading the courtroom and you are only watching."
As they had been anticipating Amon to try freeing his brother, they had planted a massive unit of agents in the spectator's seats.
All of the agents moved at once, trying to take Amon down, shooting something at him.
But the bloodbender had a sensation of everyone's blood in this room.
And without a move from him, all of these agents floated in the air, flying forward to receive the projectiles they had shot.
They then fell to the ground, pinned on their knees.
"I find myself too careful after facing that man and woman. But not everyone is a challenge, it appears." He muttered under his breath, feeling fresh that he no longer had to hide his real power.
Seeing that no Avatar was here, he smirked, 'That bastard kept his word this time.'
-x-X-x-
After a short while, the Earth Queen, who was waiting for the happy news, looked at her consultants, sweating and avoiding her gaze.
"What happened?" she asked, feeling something had gone wrong.