Chapter 6.2- And so the Dragons Danced

Agni Kai. Agni’s sacred combat. The one way firebenders have settled their conflicts since time immemorial. It was so entrenched in our culture that for centuries, to refuse a challenge was to surrender oneself to exile from whatever civilization one had been a member of. Agni Kai’s were still, to this day, used as a form of trial by combat in most of the fire courts. The only person immune to a challenge was the fire lord himself, and even he could not lightly turn one down. Only his position as Agni’s representative on earth gave him the leeway to even consider it. For the rest of us mortals, it was unavoidable.

That’s why I was unsurprised when Hiroshi arrived at the central courtyard just before dawn. The school was already gathered around us. Most of it, at least. Those who had classes this morning had found their classes rescheduled as the lecturers unanimously turned up. Whether it was to support one of their own or get the front row seats to his downfall, I could not tell. That was one of the things I hated most about firebenders. For people who wielded the element of raw passion, we could be shockingly duplicitous and two-faced. We lied so well it was difficult to tell who felt what.

I turned towards the crowd and smiled at the area where I could spot Toji and Lee enthusiastically cheering me on and making signs of encouragement. Within an otherwise dead silent crowd, they were impossible to miss. I just knew this was Lee’s idea, and Toji had jumped right on the bandwagon once he saw how likely their antics were to draw the Principal’s ire. The man had glared daggers at me since he arrived in the morning. I was sure it was only Grandfather’s presence that prevented him from walking forwards and giving me a piece of his mind.

When the sun crested the horizon, Master Shin walked forwards with a sneer on his face that was directed at me. When Hiroshi stepped on the makeshift stage, it became clear that his displeasure was not meant for only me. He glared at his fellow professor with such disdain that it was a wonder that the two of them hadn’t already duelled it out. If they had, I was sure Hiroshi could never have survived the experience.
“As customary with Agni kai, the fight shall be until yield or death. If your opponent can no longer yield, and is no longer dead, I will decide on whether I should step in and call the fight. If I do not, assume it will continue until one person is dead. I should not have to remind either of you that this is Agni Kai. Dishonourable tactics are impermissible, and neither is cowardice. Fight with the fire Agni has blessed you, and may the Sun never set on the winner.” He said with a bow that we both returned.

At least he could conduct the ceremony properly. I took my stance when I turned to him. Centre of gravity lowered, fists clenched and raised in front of my head with my right side turned towards him. His own stance was the second step of the Fire Nation Military style. Textbook, but perfectly executed. Grandfather had pounded the strategies into my head for this particular fight. Once Shin’s hand dropped, signifying the start of the fight, I was a blur of motion. My first movement, an instant backflip helped me dodge the lance of fire that had been sent screaming at my head.

At my legs crested in the flip, I breathed in, and unleashed my flames from my feet in an arc that followed my backflip. Hiroshi was forced to block both arcs of fire and I took advantage of that second or two where his vision was blocked almost instantly. The explosive nature of firebending built within me and flowed from my feet as I propelled myself in one explosive burst. Grandfather had explained to me that I was the only one who saw fire as two distinct components; heat and explosiveness, but I knew he was wrong. Sparky sparky boom man, Azula, and Zuko were proof that others knew this trick or could somehow seperate the natures of fire on their own.

Still, it was rare, and I took advantage of Hiroshi’s surprise at seeing me firing at him like a bolt from a canon to get my first attack in. A roundhouse kick to the head powered by explosive flames. He took the attack right in the noggin and was sent reeling. I pounced on the weakness and brought my second leg around again to repeat the hit. This time, a strong hand reached up and clenched my shin. I felt bone creak as he whipped me around like a toy and tossed me straight in the air.

I was tossed ass over teakettle and my lightheadedness was amplified as I flew further and further into the air. Stretching out my palms behind me, towards the sky was the only way I could bring myself to a stop as twin blasts of flames stabilised my ascent and left me in a sort of float as I stared at the massive lance of fire heading right at me. I watched it come with a smile. At least this wasn’t going to be boring. I straightened in the sky and began to fall back towards the ground, boosting myself with a blast of flames on my feet. I stretched both hands in front of me in a wedge and forced Hiroshi’s lance to part around me as I dove right through.

I was proven right in my hunch when the bastard was less than ready to see come out of the tail end of the attack unhurt and unburned. I flipped over as I got closer to the ground and him, landing with a powerful axe kick that captured all the momentum from my downwards force. It was only the fact that just being in this world gave me a body that was nigh superhuman by old earth standards that allowed me to survive the manoeuvre without breaking a bone or a 100. On the other hand, it was also that fact that allowed Hiroshi to get away with blocking the attack by lifting only a single arm over his head. The momentum seemed to flow through his body like a conductor as the ground around us shattered.

A/N; Stopping here for today. Personal emergency. Might finish this tomorrow. Might also jump to a different story. Anyway, how is the fight looking?