Avatar: Awakened Gamer

Chapter 112 - Twists In The Darkness



…
In the dark, damp cells of Ba Sing Se, eerie darkness surrounded the quiet underground prison. The dimming light that came from the torches in the hallway, was like a flickering sign of hope that didn’t exist. A tortuous sight for many to bear, crushing their will of ever getting out of here. 

Amongst these dark cells, one of them stood out due to its bigger door, it was made for its current resident. 

Even the other most secure of the other cells had a small window on the doors, this one had none. The metal sheet was so thick that it resembled the entrance to a vault.  There was not even a smidge of hope for the prisoner inside of it escaping.

Within such a cell stood a teen girl with disheveled dark hair and yellow eyes like those of a natural predator. 

Chains surrounded her form, neck, hips, legs, shoulders, were bound by chains, and two chunks of metal over her arms. It seemed like a monster was imprisoned instead of a young woman. Her body was so small that the chunks of metal were half of her body size. It was a miracle how she was able to still stand straight with such restraints.

Despite her appearance, the countermeasures taken against her would make everyone that walked by her cell know better than to dare and do anything.

Azula had seen better days, the chins were bound tight, she could barely move, and sitting down was impossible. The chunks of metal were heavy, it felt like they would pull her shoulders off their sockets.

This amount of pain and discomfort, while tiresome and annoying, wasn't enough to break someone like her. 

Even when bound like this she was confident in killing anyone that came into her cell. Her mouth was still open and she would be able to burn anyone who dared to confront her. Breathing out fire wasn’t something she had tried before, but she was called a genious for a reason. 

The last couple of days, some Dai Li had tried to come and deliver her some messages, but she burned them by blasting flames out of her mouth. She didn’t want to speak to some brainwashed pawn. That would be a waste of time. 



Suddenly, the sound of rhythmic steps disrupted the silence. Anyone else would have been creeped out by such sound after spending so much time in darkness. Azula wasn’t bothered by it. The only thought in her mind was whether she should kill the next man that comes, that should be a signal she won’t meet anyone else but the leader.

But as metallic shifts to her door cell rang out, signaling that the door was opened, she saw a man that didn’t look like a Dai Li. 

He was an almost bald man, with a big forehead and mini mustache.  He had a lamp in his hands, serving as the only source of light in here, Azula’s eyes narrowed, not used to the light. “Princess Azula-”


“Finally they decide coming to try and convince me,” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough to have the Dai Li she was sure were within the walls of her cell listen and interrupt the man from speaking any further. 


She tugged at her chains, making them rumble a little, just to startle her observers some more. She would have liked to bully them a little longer but held those temptations back. Azula didn’t want them to know she was aware of the existence of the Dai Li in the walls yet.


A malicious smirk came upon her face, and she tugged the chains again, as much as she could, making them shake further. The power she exerted over them made them a little loose.

Immediately, from outside the door, two Dai Li came in and raised a wall to protect the man. She realized right then and there; this guy was the real deal, he was the leader of these elite earthbenders. 

“Hahahaha!” Azula’s mad cackle rang out through the cell, creating a haunting sound as her laugh echoed through the room and hallway. “You got scared of someone in chains? No wonder you need to use brainwashing to keep your Dai Li in control. Weak men like you can’t keep free-willed people in check.”

The wall came down, and Azula could see Long Feng’s eyes were wide open. His face became passive in a split second, without showing any emotion. 

But she smelled the fear, like a bloodhound. Even while restrained in chains, Azula felt in her natural habitat, that of a predatory dragon hunting her prey. She alone stood at the top of that foodchain.

Consciously, the man likely knew he was in control here, but the mind was a different monster, fear isn’t always logical. 

Azula did wonder if maybe the man was faking his reaction, but in the end, it didn’t matter. 

She had been expecting something more from the man ruling Ba Sing Se from the shadows. Azula was prepared to deal with a person like Kuzon, who was strong, fearless, and terrifyingly meticulous, but that didn’t seem to be the case.


Azula’s smirk widened. Unnerving even the cold-faced Dai Li.

Yeah, she was exactly where she wanted to be. 





***
Long Feng felt an internal chill. Looking at the Fire Nation Princess made him uncomfortable. He would be lying to himself if he admitted differently to himself. He was a man who took pride in at least telling the truth to himself amongst the liars and thieves he had to deal with daily.

   
But such fears calmed down when remembered he had two Dai Li by his side and a dozen more hiding within the walls. The Fire Nation princess would be dead before she knows it if she tried anything. Deep down she must be a vulnerable little girl, Long Feng had grown up watching the current Earth King and knew royalty quite well.


In an open field with her friends looking over her back, Azula was dangerous, even Long Feng had to admit her talent and powers. But in such cramped walls with earth all around them, she would have a hard time against just one Dai Li. Three Dai Li and she would be crushed to death before she would be able to even blink.


Though many Dai Li had died during the fight against Azula and her friends, with some panic spreading amongst the people, it was all worth it. By now Ba Sing Se was under his control and he could suppress this news easily. No General or high-ranking official got wind of such a huge fight within the city. 

People in Ba Sing Se only heard what Long Feng wanted them to hear.


A sense of courageous will rose within his heart. Yes, this was the power he has dreamed of when scrambling amongst the dreg of society. 

Long Feng smirked at Princess Azula. Even though she seemed unflappable, with the gaze of a wild animal. He was confident in getting her under control, just like he had the rest of Ba Sing Se. 

What was a teenage girl compared to hundreds of thousands and millions of Ba Sing Se? 

Using the same strategy he had with Ba Sing Se, Long Feng was confident in getting the Earth Kingdom, and even the Fire Nation under his control.
  

Suddenly Azula's chains crackled again, this time the wall shook, as the handles in the chains were about to be ripped off their roots. 

Long Feng was brought back to reality by the sound, and his heart started beating fast again. For a split second, the girl in front of him had imbued a sense of fear within the deepest part of his soul. 

The smirk on Azula’s face widened a little more as if she knew what had happened. "C'mon, be the big man. Hehehe, show the world that you're in control of Ba Sing Se."


He frowned, her mocking voice finally made a sense of irritation build within him. "Azula, even your father won't be able to save you from here."


She shrugged. "You're right, but that also means that no one can save you from me either."


It took Long Feng all of the control he had built over the years to not have his smirk drop. She didn't mention anything about him no longer calling her a princess. 

There had been some rumors about Azula falling out of favor with the Fire Lord, and Long Feng could use that weakness to exploit her. 

‘She was simply acting rebellious because of her father’s abandonment, there was nothing to be afraid of.’ Thought Long Feng.


A weak teen child, abandoned by her parents. If that didn't sound like a good victim for his plans, he didn't know what did. 


"I think we can work together,” he signaled his guards to release her shackles. Whether this was to prove to himself or the Dai Li that he wasn't afraid of her, he didn’t know. “As a princess of the Fire Nation, you can have your rightful place on the throne."


Azula stared at him, the chunks of metal around her hands released a loud clang as they hit the stone floor and created a crack in it.

She rubbed her sore wrists and shrugged. "I don't think we can work together. You don't have absolute power, only the illusion of it. If only one of your Generals catches wind of this, he would be able to bring you down."


Leng Feng clenched his teeth, the truth sometimes was hard to admit. But even though he has had control of Ba Sing Se without any opposition in the recent decade, he didn't have absolute control over the army and its Generals.


Azula crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "As long as they're around, any cooperation between us would be useless. But you know that already, don't you?"

Long Feng stared at the young girl, seeing what she was doing here. She wanted the generals dead. Was she trying to fill the power gap? 


'Heh, she's trying to act smart and scheme. But she doesn't understand anything. Without me, the Dai Li and Ba Sing Se are nothing.'


With that in mind, he nodded at Azula and walked off. 

The young girl would understand her position soon enough, but now wasn't the time. Maybe he should start making his moves now.




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A/N: Yea, I'm back. Daily updates resume.