Chapter 79: Naked Escape

Chapter 79: Naked EscapeChapter 79: Naked Escape

"Who is he?"

"Let's not get our hopes up... this might be Zhao's tricks again... maybe he wants to chuck one of us into the magma..."

"Fuck him! Fuck Hahn, that fucking traitor!"

Growls and whispers were abundant as a small group of men and women were barely able to stand and some, who needed support from others, cautiously glanced at the mysterious figure covered by the uniform of a fire nation's soldier. Their bodies, despite being tired, couldn't help but feel tense.

*Snap*

A loud snapping sound caused the group of thirty-something individuals to quieten down as the man under the skull mask with a red helmet covering the rest of his head began, "Has any of you met with the Dai Li?"

*Snap*

Not waiting for the reply and willing to ride the momentum lest he gets interrupted, the figure continued, "Has any of you seen a man with sick desires to control your mind?"

*Snap*

"Has any of you peed into the magma?"

The expression of the group turned for the worse as one of the weary men hissed, "Stop it! Either let us go, or just kill us! The war has ended, yet Zhao keeps us here as if we're his slaves!"

"Comrade," Nik whispered deeply, the final barrel of water he had saved to prove his allegiance now came in handy. Although surprised by the sudden appearance of a barrel, the group simply felt all their fatigue melting as the man who rescued all of them began to bend water and continue, "You and me both hate Zhao."

"W- we're truly being rescued—"

"Wait!" a sharp female voice screeched as the group parted to reveal an old woman. Her wrinkles dropped just as much as her sagging breast and whitened locks. Her glare bore into Nik, "Northerners can be fooled but not me! They said there is a traitor who gave all the benders up to keep power. A boy named Hahn. How can we believe that you're not part of his schemes?"

Nik continued with ease, again beginning with the same word, "Comrade." His voice was deep and attractive, "I'm a southerner. My Chieftain, Sokka, is the Avatar's friend. We are on a quest to save those pushed behind the bars for no reason whatsoever."

"Bah, this old bitch has reasons to be behind prison! The witch bends blood for god's sake! Gave me erections when I didn't want to!"

One of the burlier prisoners whined, making the old woman smirk even when she was being supported by another woman.

"Blood?" Nik frowned. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

"Name's Hama," The old woman who seemed to have the most presence, ironically, introduced herself.

"For me, I care not for your name, comrade," Nik shrugged, "But you will follow my directions if you wish to escape. Those who have the strength, drag these guards out," he pointed at the naked guards unconscious on the metal floor. His words instantly made many frown, especially Hama.

"We—"

"If the Fire Nation finds out we have killed their own, they will retaliate. Not towards you, but your families if they even survive until now. And mind you, there will be no prisoners."

"I don't have a family!" Hama scoffed.

"Then do us both a favor. You're reaching the end of your life anyway, take a dip in the magma will you?" Nik remarked calmly, not holding any punches since he knew he wasn't attracted to Hama the least bit.

The burly victim of erections suddenly chuckled, "I'll bite. You're saving us all. Far be it from me screw things up for you."

With one man accepting, others followed soon as they gazed in wonder how all the guards, including the warden, were naked. The bruise to their balls became all the more apparent and this form of injury actually stopped Hama from trying to interrupt Nik constantly. In fact...

"Hmmm, the bruise suggests you did a number on them. A dishonest but effective method to deal with dishonest firebenders. Boy, you never told me your name."

"Comrade, you don't need to know my name."

"I do. You're a waterbending rookie, are you not?" Hama pointed out, "Don't deny. With that much water, I can rain hell on an entire troop of firebenders. Ask the others and they'll agree. I am better. The best, in fact. Be a bit polite and I might teach you."

"Save it. Until we've successfully escaped," Nik didn't decline outright since others' reaction towards Hama certainly made it look like she was strong so he needed some time for his own consideration.

"Your name?" Hama smiled, revealing a set of a few teeth.

"Nik."

He led the group to the railings but the problem was outside. He was quick and efficient and he was sure that less than an hour had passed but there was still no indication of other fire nation guards bursting inside.

He would have felt lucky but the constant misdirection from the fire nation guards had revealed to Nik that they weren't easy to deal with and to maneuver through the last leg of escape, he needed someone who can deal with the guards probably waiting outside. After all, that would be the best spot.

The metal door is the only escape and it restricts the number of individuals who can escape. Probably, the guards will overpower the escapees and send them back from where they came.

"Hmm..." Nik turned around, walking up to the burly man and then patting the face of the middle-aged bald man who was dragged by the prisoner.

"Don't attack, it's the warden."

"Hold your fires," the leader of the troop instantly called out while his expression worsened as more and more prisoners came out while holding their comrades buck naked.

"Bastard! Who stripped them? Be honorable this once and step out!"

'Well... I'm the first to come out so...' Nik still kept silent while shoving Hara to the front.

"Just let us go or else!" Yoki threatened while the last of the benders suddenly pulled and brought out the water that made the stairs and instantly formed sharp ice spikes that levitated around them. Nik finally turned the ice over his hand warmer and warmer, unable to keep at it for any longer. This again caught the eye of the experienced waterbenders and did conform to Hama's conclusion of Nik being a rookie.

The sudden infusion of water into the situation made everyone on the opposing side tense.

"Warden..." the leader in the front finally spoke up with a stern expression, causing Hara to chuckle.

"I'm hostage now, Rahat," Hara replied, "Do what you see fit."

His words were cold and clear. Even if naked, his face didn't betray any embarrassment but only a dignified look.

The leader looked towards the other guards held by the escapees and bit his lips. Slowly, he raised his hand and his actions caused the ice spikes to stop swaying as the waterbenders took the mark, too.

The surroundings turned tense until Rahat sighed deeply, "Let our brothers go. You can leave after that—"

Nik didn't wait any longer and knocked out the unsuspecting Hara again.

"What are you doing?" Rahat scowled.

"Preparing the trade," Nik replied as Hara slumped on the ground. He very much wanted to devour the prison underneath him but he was also afraid that the sudden action may just cause the surrounding ground to collapse and given how tired the waterbenders really are, they may just plunge to their deaths, too.

"Is there any settlement nearby?" Yoki whispered.

"A village where these guards live... but aren't really welcomed."

"That's perfect," Hama smirked coldly.

"We will drop them by the entrance of the village," Yoki shouted, causing the surrounding guards to flinch.

"Impossible," Rahat scoffed.

"Fine, final fight for us then!" Hama suddenly cackled. As if rejuvenated by the idea of bloodshed, she stopped leaning against her helper with a ruthless air condensing around her as Nik suddenly understood something.

'She is... using vapors?' He felt dazed for a moment.

The sudden savageness that all the benders revealed at Yoki's call shocked their opponents for a moment.

Rahat's expression became somber and he felt more and more troubled.

"We won't harm the villagers," Nik spoke up, "And if we truly wanted to hurt, we would have never let the guards live."

Although he hasn't killed, he's been killed so he didn't feel it below himself to make such suggestions and it proved effective as Rahat silently gave way. But it was clear that they were going to be followed which made the journey to the village the longest Nik had walked since time seemed to pass extremely slowly.

---

Sun walked, nay, he skipped. It was a refreshing feeling to not be scowled at. Although the conversation with Katara and Suki ended with a sad note, it didn't manage to lower Sun's relief.

But seeing Katara cry for her losses in war really made Sun feel complicated.

He was well aware of the reasons why he was scorned— because his Lava Bending reminded them of firebending. When he was within the colony, the Lavabending, because of his criminal actions, brought him negativity for different reasons but getting out of the colony and into other settlements made him realize how simple his problems were previously.

He was hated for things he hadn't committed and wasn't in the first place. Yet, he could not lash out at the villagers physically. Not all of them scorned... well, very little would be the number as the majority seemed hellbent even after Wu's insistence which was rare that further indicated the losses of war weren't simple in the least bit.

"But... nobody has been nice to me after Meng... and had cried on that same conversation..." Sun bit his lips, jogging a bit faster.

He continued until he reached the entrance of the prison. He felt bad to have kept this information hidden from Katara and Suki but it was his job to keep the prison a secret and safe given that he was the only lava bender.

"Huh... where is everyone?" Sun fell stunned as he stood in front of the entrance.

***

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