Chapter 77
— Katara, what else do we need to prepare? We're flying out tomorrow, — said Aang, now filled with newfound resolve, turning to his friend.
— I've already prepared everything, but it wouldn't hurt to buy some more non-perishable food, since we don't know how long the journey will take, — Katara replied with a smile on her face.
— Then let's go! — the boy exclaimed enthusiastically, grabbing the girl's hand and running toward the local market.
— I wonder where they get their money from? — I wondered, watching them go.
— Well, it's none of my business, — I shrugged, hopped back onto the rooftop into the shade, and, making myself comfortable, focused on my inner sensations. I couldn't feel my soul — I don't have that kind of level. But the so-called Ki I'd unlocked in this world and chakra from the world of Naruto, I could feel quite well. You'd think these two energies would conflict, but there's this point: chakra is a mix of two energies — physical and spiritual. Ki is that very physical energy, but the locals seem to lack some piece that would let them fuse Ki with spiritual energy, which everyone has. And right now, I could perfectly feel my greatly increased reserves because of the Fire Mages I had consumed. After all, along with their memories, I was essentially devouring everything connected to the soul, and the so-called indestructible core would go on to reincarnation, which is very different from Alucard's method — he stored souls within and fed on them. So potentially, my development would be much faster, but if I hadn't absorbed Schrodinger, I would still have one fatal flaw — mortality. There have already been three events in my existence as a vampire where, if not for Schrodinger's immortality, I would have been killed: the first time, when I was beheaded by a true vampire; the time on the roof when I angered Incognito; and the third time, when Incognito threw me into this world. Why do I think I'll progress faster than Alucard? Judging by the memories of an ANBU I once consumed, who had chakra at chunin level, now, after having eaten so many mages, my chakra is about at elite jounin level. And if I devour the Fire Mage fleet, around thirty thousand people, theoretically, I'll have chakra at the level of the Nine-Tails from Naruto, which sounds very strong, but it still doesn't compare to Alucard after removing his seals, having consumed literally millions of souls, especially if he gets serious instead of giving his enemy a chance as he did with Anderson in Hellsing Ultimate. When it seemed Anderson would win, Alucard ultimately instantly took the victory when he got serious. The life force of millions of people is not a joke, so Alucard never worried about his fight with arisen Incognito. He had every right to be that confident. I am still far from that level.
While I was contemplating the future, the atmosphere on Kiyoshi Island changed, as a very recognizable "black snow" began to fall from the sky — a symbol of how the Fire Nation brings ruin and pollution to this world.
Naturally, I wasn't too pleased when a fleck of soot, small as it was, landed on my face, so I had to get up.
— How stupid do you have to be to keep chasing the Avatar after the last massacre? — I sighed at the persistence of a certain prince, before shifting to the edge of the village, right in front of a crowd of soldiers, led by the prince and, walking beside him, a fully-armored Iroh.
This time, their numbers were much greater than when they attacked the South Pole. By a rough estimate, there were about two hundred. And of course, my sudden appearance did not go unnoticed.
— Where's the Avatar? — Zuko immediately stepped forward, taking a combat stance, fire lighting up on his fists. In the next moment, the soldiers followed him, indicating they were ready for a simultaneous attack.
— Hm? You've got surprisingly more people, little foolish prince. I wonder why? — As I spoke, I decided to look into the not-so-distant past — I was really curious why Zhao didn't take some of Zuko's soldiers. The answer came quickly. Before me was the image of the general looking at the inscriptions on the wall — now not written in blood, but in deep scratches. As soon as he read the part about Vaatu, he became surprisingly friendly, assigning soldiers to help the prince. It wasn't hard to figure out his logic. He knows about spirits, maybe even more than Iroh, and decided the affair was too dangerous — better to assess the risks via the scapegoat, Zuko.
— You haven't answered my question, — Zuko almost growled, the fire on his hands growing brighter, drawing my attention again.
— You want to know where the Avatar is? Are you sure? — I asked with a playful smile.
— Don't test my patience, woman.
— Aw, aren't we just furious? — I teased, and before he could attack, I answered: — He's already preparing to leave, so soon he won't be here.
— After me! — Zuko commanded, apparently deciding not to waste time on me, and moved on.
— And where are you off to? — I asked, as he almost came up to me.
— Take care of her, — the prince ordered his soldiers, ignoring me.
— Yes, sir! — nearly all the soldiers replied with unusual enthusiasm, and I felt their lustful gazes upon me.
— Idiots! Not all of you! — Zuko immediately barked at them, then jabbed his finger at one of the sergeants assigned by Zhao. — You, take five people and deal with her.
— Only five? You really underestimate me, little exile, — I shook my head, then quickly formed some hand signs and stomped the ground. I poured half my reserve into this technique at once, and a long stone wall rose in the path of this mini-army.
— Before you can go on, you'll have to have fun with me, — I smiled bloodthirstily, then, shifting quickly to the back rows, tore out a soldier's heart.
While the rest hadn't come to their senses yet, I sank my fangs into his heart, savoring the intoxicating feeling of his strength becoming mine.
— Rigo, no! — nearby, a cry full of anger and grief rang out, and a jet of fire flew at me, which I split down the middle with no harm. The next moment, the fire turned into a solid stream.
— Die, monster! — screamed the armored woman, thinking she'd overpowered me, but unfortunately for her, in the next instant, she felt incredible pain in her chest. Blood streamed from her mouth, and looking down, she caught a glimpse of the hand piercing her chest, holding her heart.
This time, I sent the heart to my inventory, and the spot where I had just stood was swallowed by a fire vortex that melted the armor of the already dead woman.
— See, little foolish prince? They died because of you, — I whispered in his ear, incorporeal, before tearing out my next victim's heart and storing it away for a future meal, when the time was right.
— Don't you dare! — Zuko screamed in panic, charging into battle, but unfortunately for him, he and his uncle, who also joined the fight, simply couldn't do anything against my instant teleportation — all they could do was helplessly watch as their soldiers were ripped apart with bare hands, their hearts torn out.
When my collection reached over seventy hearts, I checked what the Avatar team was up to. The teenagers were ready to leave and looking for me, so I had to stop my game.
Tearing out another heart and tossing it in my inventory, covered in blood from head to toe, I smiled sweetly and said: — Sorry boys, but the Avatar's already flown away, so it's time for me to go.
With a wave of my hand I wiped off all the blood and teleported right onto Appa's back.
— Hey, you there, come on up and let's go! — I called out to Aang, and a minute later we took off.
— Did something good happen? — Katara asked, noticing the happy smile on my face.
— Well, I found a boy who was really fun to play with, — I answered, looking at the blood-drenched shore where Zuko was raging in fury and helplessness.
— Oh? That's... good, I guess? — Katara said uncertainly.
— Very good, — I nodded.
Meanwhile, on the shore...
Zuko, his rage spent, sat leaning against the stone wall created by that bloodthirsty monster. The deaths of so many soldiers weighed heavily on his heart.
— Your highness, the sentries saw the Avatar's bison fly north, — a soldier reported.
— I see, — the prince replied simply, in no rush to give orders.
— Go tell the others to prepare the funeral pyre, — came the old man's voice. When the soldier left, he plopped awkwardly beside the prince.
— Don't blame yourself, Zuko. You're not at fault.
— They died because of my decisions! — Zuko burst out, springing to his feet.
— And what are you going to do about it? — Iroh calmly asked.
— I... I... don't know, — Zuko was like a balloon that had lost all its air. In a voice full of confusion, he asked: — Why didn't she kill us? Why did she target the soldiers?
— Only she can answer that. All we can do is guess.
— Why is such a creature near the Avatar?
— I don't know, — Iroh replied bitterly. — But one thing is clear: she must be stopped.