I couldn’t help but notice how cleverly the Fire Nation had adapted to attacking these territories.
Instead of approaching the city where they’d get their teeth kicked in, avoiding traps that even I had trouble sensing, not being surrounded by the enemy, they fired from those damned catapults.
Not just randomly either.
Their trained falcons acted as spotters, hovering over targets to deliver fast, relatively accurate strikes.
“We need to find their position and drive them out,” I muttered, applying ointment to the animal’s neck.
The beast tensed under my piercing, displeased gaze, trying not to meet my eyes.
The reason for my irritation was those absolutely despicable methods of warfare.
Yes, I’d experienced catapults firsthand, and let me tell you it was unpleasant.
“Forget it.
They’ll be driven off once the new outpost is built,” the girl said, sliding off the dinosaur and smoothing her hair.
She looked at me silently, gratefully.
“Better tell me why you brought us here instead of Shen Guan.
And I can’t remember seeing you among the apprentice architects.”
Her face leaned close to mine, carefully examining my features.
Her upturned nose and serious gaze gave her the air of a know-it-all or a stickler.
But her full hair and smooth skin, so different from the rough Earth Kingdom folk, softened the image into something almost pretty.
“I didn’t bring you because they won’t let me in.
They’d kick me out faster than I could treat his burn.” I focused on the large wound, finally covering it completely with medicine, and checked for other injuries.
Looking at my salve, I caught my breath.
“That’s really bad…”
“What happened?” The girl tensed at my terrible expression.
“I had to use most of it on such a big animal.
What if I get hurt today and have to suffer second-degree burns?
How shortsighted of me.
I should have made multiple batches at once.” I slapped my forehead.
At least the experience was etched in my memory.
I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Looking at a nearby hill, I pressed my feet into the ground and opened a passage, quickly climbing inside.
The surprised girl rubbed her eyes, peered into my hole, and slowly followed.
Inside, a spacious room greeted her.
Several tables, exercise equipment, and a few belongings: a small hearth, an iron pot, and many ingredients I’d mastered back in the insect cave.
The girl watched silently as sand tentacles swirled around me, bringing supplies and lighting the fire while I muttered a recipe under my breath, watching the boiling liquid.
“This is your den?
I see.
You’re just a traveler they wouldn’t let into Shen Guan because you lack skills.” I glanced up at her.
She was examining the place suspiciously.
“Without bending, you probably can’t see obvious things.”
“I know first aid and combat.
Do you expect me to master everything?” For the first time, there was a pretty girl in my home.
Not that I was particularly happy about it.
“Maybe.
But you don’t know basic geometry.
This den would collapse from one catapult strike, no matter how many layers of earth are above you.
To make, say, strong stone armor, these skills are absolutely essential.”
I gave the smug non-bender a meaningful, reproachful look as she smirked at every corner of my home.
I was sure if I showed her how I built a stone house, the reproaches would be even worse.
Still, if someone was going to show off without any real skills, I could laugh at them too.
“And who are you anyway?”
“Liyu.
An architect, apprenticing as a draftsman.
I may not have magic, but all the wonders happen here.” She tapped her skull.
The fifth kind of bending: showing off.
“I’m designing comfortable, sturdy animal enclosures so they don’t get caught in the crossfire at our outposts.
But I got caught when I just left camp.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
Liyu lowered her head, frustrated and annoyed, clenching her fists.
“I need to go.
Have to report the enemy’s presence so we can prepare better.” She turned half away, reached into her bag, and pulled something out.
“Is the ointment for my Glutton expensive?”
“Priceless,” I said flatly.
“Great.
Hope this covers something.” She placed a couple of gold coins on the table and left, climbing onto Glutton and riding toward her impregnable fortress.
Just as I thought.
No opportunity at all.
The rest of the day was spent making more ointments.
One jar was no longer enough.
I’d used plenty of precious ingredients just to stock up.
As for her comments about my house, I took them seriously.
The next morning, I woke early, focused on creating stronger armor.
From what I understood, it was precisely the right composite defense that allowed Bumi to tank hits.
Maybe if he took a full catapult hit, his defense would fail, but in close combat, he was nearly unbeatable.
It would take a squad of soldiers.
For me, this skill was even more important.
I still dreamed of that heavy armor Guru Huu made from swamp plants.
“Okay, let’s see.
Hmm, this angle is easier to break.
How did the smiths teach me?” I applied my knowledge of armor-making to my bending.
Something even worked.
But standard armor had many exposed spots that were easy to hit.
I had no idea how to properly protect them, so I studied hard.
On the third day, I went outside and, scouting the forest, found Fire Nation soldiers.
“A bender outside the fortress?” They were surprised when I appeared right in front of them.
“Attack!” They quickly spread out and opened a heavy barrage of flamethrowers.
I evaded by simply dropping onto my back.
The earth swallowed me, making the soldiers tense and scan the area.
A second later, I emerged nearby, fully encased in extremely dense stone armor.
My legs barely moved.
Jumping and dodging was impossible.
I had to push myself forward with bending.
Taking a few blasts, somehow weathering the hits, I plowed into part of the squad, knocking people into the trees.
It quickly became clear that I hadn’t created anything better than a simple sand shield.
But creating something more advanced became a matter of principle.
One scattered squad told me I needed improvements.
Trial and error for the bending itself and my brain.
I even climbed a tree to find someone specific.
A few more days passed.
I felt ready.
“There they are.” Squinting, I pushed off with a compressed sand wave, leaping through the trees.
Soon, I caught the attention of the red-feathered hawks circling the area.
A loud bird cry rang out, unmistakable.
The bloodthirsty birds began circling angrily above me.
Then…
Boom.
A meteor shower descended on my raised walls.
Cardboard indeed.
The hawk circling overhead announced my speed, and the number of falling projectiles told me they were panicking.
The soldiers I’d chased away or rather, simply let go had already spread the word: the Sandbender was coming for them.
“It’s him!” I appeared on the sandy seashore.
Facing three iron Fire Nation ships, I frowned slightly.
They’d positioned themselves comfortably, aiming all catapults at me.
I had to raise piles of sand and defend with them.
“Kill the Sandbender!” A volley of stone projectiles left almost no chance to dodge on the ground.
As for sand barriers, they didn’t last long.
Boom!
Crash!
Thud!
The shore was torn apart by cascading impacts.
Shields barely absorbed the hits, crumbling like a fallen bastion.
But they still protected me.
After hours of innovation, trial and error, I’d managed to create significantly stronger walls.
I survived a volley from the ships, standing on the shore with my face covered.
Shocked bakers stared from the horizon.
This was…
fun?
“Thanks to your first chakra, you’ve quickly reached your limit.
Choose:”
1: Stop here (You’ve invested enough effort to raise your defensive abilities.
You can’t achieve more with only one active chakra.
You’ll continue your journey.
Defensive skills will improve with more chakras.
Further mastery can only come from books).
2: Return home and study (Practical training alone won’t teach true defensive mastery.
You can deepen your geometry knowledge and learn architectural skills.
A predetermined meeting with Liyu).
3: The Sandbender’s Grip (You can continue terrorizing Fire Nation soldiers, deepening the image of the invincible Sandbender.
You’ll spend significantly more time on reputation than training, but this may pay off later).
“Liyu?” I didn’t think I’d see her again.
I wasn’t expecting it either.
I was more drawn to that feeling other people’s reactions to skills I’d improved.
The feeling of growth, achievable not just through training or wild bending, but through knowledge.
That was…
cool?
“I want to become stronger.”
I blinked rapidly.
Seeing the ships prepare for another volley, I cleverly grabbed a couple of birds with tentacles and, spinning them in a vortex, sent them home toward the ships.
I quickly disappeared, weaving through trees on my sand scooter.
“When Afka returns, I’ll send her for new books.” I wanted to build a wall that couldn’t be broken by those annoying stone balls.
But returning home, I found an unexpected guest.
I didn’t think she’d come so fast.
“Oh, there you are.” Liyu, leaning against my hill, yawned and looked bored.
On her shoulder was the same small backpack, now with even more rolled papers sticking out.
“Where were you?”
“…What’s it to you?”
“Hmph.
My Glutton is feeling better.
He’s puffing his frog sac again.
I figured I should repay you for saving my pet.” She adjusted her backpack strap and coughed quietly.
“So, are you going to invite me in?”