'Gods, I miss Iron,' Toji thought with a grumble as he walked through a dense forest, using Kuruk's spear to get rid of the foliage while making his way to his final destination.
He didn't miss the big mass of hungry flesh out of love. No, he just missed the beast because then, he wouldn't have had to walk from one mountainside to the next like a glorified woodsman.
On top of that, he hasn't had a lick of sleep in the past four simply because of the stupid bounty hunters that Azula had sent after him simply because he 'rudely' embarrassed her in front of half the Fire Nation's nobility a year ago.
"No food, no sleep and every wannabe killer in red armour trying to be the next hero," He murmured before rolling his eyes as Wormy let out a slow rumble from under his cloak.
"You can sound tired, but I know you slept just fine while I had to gut those idiots at the last camp we tried to make," Toji responded, not surprised at Wormy's sheepish grumble as he continued walking.
Still, he had to admit that the bastards were persistent despite knowing his reputation, even going so far as to come in groups of twenty or more in order to try and take him out while he's weak.
Unfortunately, Toji was all too used to hordes of assassins trying to take him out with how much the Zenin and Jujutsu Society hated him, which meant that these guys are just marching to their demise.
"They really think that numbers will dull me? Idiots, the lot of them. I could go weeks without sleep, but let them think otherwise," Toji muttered with a grin as he shoved another tree branch aside, chuckling as he heard Wormy's disgruntled rumbling.
"Don't worry, you're not going to have to eat another one. They're barely worth the effort," He responded, stepping over a log before looking forward as the treeline began to thin.
Walking out from the forest, Toji narrowed his eyes as he walked out onto a cliff that overlooked a deep ravine, focusing his eyesight through the mist to look at the sight in front of him.
"Well, that's...something," Toji muttered as he stared at the upside-down buildings built on the underside of the cliff on the other side of the ravine.
On one hand, he had to admit that it was impressive, the stonework still being intact despite being ancient and suspended like a hive beneath the cliff.
'On the other hand, would it have killed them to make a bridge that linked the two ravines together?', He thought with a grumble as Wormy poked his head out, tilting his head at the temple as Toji nodded.
"Yeah, I see them," He muttered, staring at the ethereal spirits scattered around the temple that were all still and looking at him.
Looking at Kuruk's spear, he could feel the malice of the spear's curse dancing with glee, shaking his head as Wormy spat out the two Kyoshi fans that were still connected with the chain.
"This is a stupid idea," He muttered as he picked up the chain and turned, taking a few steps before spinning and sprinting towards the edge.
Throwing one fan deep into the side of the cliff, he grabbed the other end and threw it out, running along the chain before grabbing onto the fan at the end and heaving it forward.
The other fan ripped out of the ground along with a large rock, the man spinning and kicking it further before grabbing tightly onto the chain as he let it carry him.
As the boulder reached its apex just a few dozen meters from the temple, Toji leapt off of it while pulling his fan free, throwing the Kuruk spear behind him before calling it back.
Relaxing as he caught the spear and let it take him, Toji grunted as he crashed onto a platform, not surprised to see numerous spirits already surrounding him when the dust settled.
'I could have just leapt over, but at the same time, there's just something about falling with style,' He thought as he stood up, dropping the spear to the ground while Szeto's ring gleamed on his right ring finger as he slowly twirled Kyoshi's fans.
"Cursed Soul. Leave," One of the monk-like spirits spoke, the other staying silent as they held their staves while flames clung to their bodies.
'Must be victims of the genocide that are clinging to this realm,' Toji thought as he smirked before resting the middle section of the chain on the back of his neck and catching the fans in both hands.
"Well, no. I believe that Yangchen's staff is here, yes? Mind if I take it?"
"No, you will not have it."
"Why not? It's simply collecting dust here and I have a need for it so I'm taking it. Unless, of course, you guys want to take me on?", Toji asked as he stood in a loose stance, tightening his grip on the fans as they all shifted into a stance with their staves aimed at him.
"Hard way it is, then," He murmured as he threw the fans out to the side, but stopped them before they could hit anyone and pulling them in the opposite directions.
Ducking down as two monks missed their swings, the fans crashed into their chests and sent them flying back, the doubled weight of the fans vanishing before he twirled the chain around him.
Wrapping one end of the chain around a monk's staff, he pulled them in while swinging the other end at the monk behind him, kicking Kuruk's spear at another monk and watching as it tore through the spirit's chest.
With a loud shriek, the spirit's body darkened at the wound before they disintegrated, Toji whistling and calling the spear back with a thought.
Leaning to the side as the spear flew past his head, the monk that wanted to attack from behind was stabbed through the head before Toji threw Kyoshi's fans out to the side and grabbed onto the spear.
Ripping it free, Toji spun and parried the staff aimed at his chest, pushing it upwards before stabbing the spear through the monk's heart.
Pulling it away while grabbing onto the chain of Kyoshi's fans with one hand, Toji spun them above his head and narrowed his eyes as he could feel their weight double with every miss.
With a grunt, he let go and watched as they tore through a group of spirits around him like nothing, a smile on his face as he lunged in and began his counter attack.
Moving like a storm through the spirits, chain, fan and spear weaved in tandem with one another as Toji danced through the monks, ducking under a staff swing and slamming his shoulder into its chest.
The blow made its body scatter before it reformed, but Kuruk's spear already stabbed through its chest before he continued as Wormy wriggled excitedly.
"No snacks. Now keep quiet," He responded as he continued, slipping between them and piercing another spirit before narrowing his eyes as the ground rumbled.
Watching as the monk spirits immediately vanished, he let out a sigh as a monstrous spirit emerged from the shadows, its body covered in armour that took the shape of an air bison with six arms that each held a large dao.
"Six swords? That's just overkill," Toji muttered before the fighter twirled the spear with a smirk as Wormy bit down on the chain of the Kyoshi fans to hold them at the ready.
"Fine, I'll play along," Toji spoke as the beast narrowed its eyes at him, letting out a bellow before rushing in with a speed that didn't match its size, swinging the two lower blades down in a scissoring strike.
Pivoting on his heel, Toji dodged the first blade while the second grazed his sleeve, Kuruk's spear piercing the air and biting deep into the joint of its lower left arm.
"Good, you can bleed," He whispered with a grin as he saw the iridescent blood and heard its pain roar, immediately hopping back before hopping around as the spirit swung all six blades in a frenzy.
The pressure from each swing alone managed to crack the ground, but Toji grunted as he kicked both fans, Wormy letting go and letting Toji grab onto the middle of the chain.
Yanking it back, he smirked as the chain wrapped around the spirit's arms before thrusting the spear forward, watching as one fan embedded itself into the spirit's neck while the other dug into its side.
The spirit let out a roar as it shattered the chain, but Toji was already gone, sliding under a swing before thrusting upwards and stabbing the spear through the gap in its armour and through its chest.
Grabbing onto the spear as the monster fell forward, Toji kicked its legs out and slipped onto its back, ripping both fans free before hopping into the air and coming down with a twirl.
Landing with a flourish and his back to the spirit, Toji snapped both fans shut before opening them fully and thrusting his hands out to the side, a blissful laugh escaping his lips as the spirit's head fell to the floor.
"Hahahaha! Oh, it is good to be me, isn't it Wormy?!", Toji spoke with a grin and the spirit in question just let out a rumbling laugh before Toji let it eat the fans.
With a whistle, Kuruk's spear flew to his grasp as the man walked forward, holding Szeto's ring to the spirit's head and smiling as an ethereal air bison formed in front of him with a surprised look.
"Like I said, I didn't want to fight. You think I can see Yangchen's staff?", He asked, watching as the bison narrowed its eyes before it turned and floated away.
"Guess that's a yes. Hey, I'm going with the air bison. If any of you try to attack me, I will kill you all, okay?", Toji spoke as he followed after the cleansed spirit, thankful for the fact that Szeto's ring was a reflection of the man's diplomatic spirit.
Not only did it exude a calming yet commanding aura that unnerved those standing in front of Toji, it also could release a spiritual cleansing aura that rid all malevolent spirits of the pain that kept them in this life.
'Although, considering how this one isn't passing on despite the fact that it could, I'm guessing it was close to Yangchen. Wait, was this her air bison?', He thought with a hum as he walked behind the spirit and through the air temple.
It took a few moments before they stopped at a large pair of double doors, Toji looking at the Air Nomad carvings on it before rolling his eyes as he saw the spirit looking at him.
"Relax. If I wanted to smash my way into the room, I would have done so," Toji spoke, watching as the spirit continued to look at him before it floated through the door.
Waiting for a few moments and then readying Kuruk's spear, he smirked as he saw the spirit peeking out once more, hearing mechanisms creaking and groaning behind the door.
Walking forward, he raised his hands and pushed the doors open, entering a chamber that had a high ceiling that was open above to the outside world while in the centre of a room was a statue.
He had to admit that the statue of the woman was beautiful, noticing the airbending tattoos that was signature of an airbending master as well as her eyes having no irises or pupils.
"I'm guessing that's Yangchen in her Avatar State, then?", He asked, nodding as the spirit rumbled before he finally noticed the staff on the palms that it rested on its lap.
It was a long staff of pale wood, just as long as Kuruk's spear with elegant spirals carved into it and the diamond-shaped pieces that were located near the bottom and the top of the staff.
'It looks pretty good,' He thought as he walked over, hopping onto the palms and picking up the staff before humming as he twirled it alongside Kuruk's staff.
"Yeah, this is nice. Wormy, bottoms up," he spoke with a grin, letting the spirit store it in its stomach before looking at the spirit and bowing his head.
"Thanks for letting me have it," he spoke and smirked as the spirit huffed before fading away, most likely having gone into an ethereal form to still follow him around without being seen.
"Well, that was a lot easier than the o-", Toji narrowed his eyes as he felt a presence to the side, looking over before sighing at the woman from the statue now standing beside him.
"Spirit?"
"It seems you already know."
"Great. Well, why are you here? I thought Avatars get stuck in the bodies of other Avatars."
"Not particularly. Half of our souls are left in the reincarnation cycle while the other is allowed to pass on to rest in peace. However, every Avatar has the opportunity to seal part of their soul into the object that they've used throughout their lives in order to ensure that we help the next Avatar should something happen to the Avatar Cycle."
"Why would something happen to the Avatar cycle? Only a fool would let that power be erased."
"Precisely, but who knows? A future Avatar could be foolish enough to let that happen and while that would upset the balance, they can now take our spirits sealed within the weapons and absorb our spirits back into their souls."
"And revive some parts of the Avatar Cycle in doing so. Not a bad idea, but unfortunately, I've gotten the weapons that were stored away. Actually, now that I have someone to ask about this, what the hell is with Kuruk's spear?", Toji asked, holding the weapon in question as Yangchen grimaced.
"Let us just say that I am glad you received the spear and not a future Avatar. It is something that is fitting for a cursed soul such as yours."
"Huh, guess that's fine with me," Toji muttered as he tapped the spear against his shoulder before blinking as Yangchen placed a hand against his face.
"Not that I mind having a woman touch me, but I'd prefer if she was alive and not a spirit."
"I am simply looking into your mem-", Yangchen lowered her hand as Kuruk's spear rested against her neck, Toji keeping a calm smile on his face even as Wormy let out a warning rumble.
"If we ever do meet in the future again, here's a warning. Don't ever do that unless you want to have a painful time in the afterlife, okay?"
"Very well, I apologize," Yangchen spoke with a stoic look and Toji nodded as he took the spear away, humming under his breath while watching as the spirit continued to stare at him.
"What else are you waiting for?"
"For you to leave and let me rest in peace," She answered, to which Toji let out a chuckle before shrugging and turning around.
"Sure thing. Have a fun time with your meditation or whatever it is you guys do in the afterlife," He spoke with a grin, watching as the doors closed behind him before shaking his head and making his way back out.
However, he frowned as he heard the sound of movement outside the main door, opening it only to sigh at Azula standing in front of the door with a smirk.
Right behind her was a waving Ty Lee and a bored Mai and right behind them was an army of firebenders, each standing at the ready as Azula spoke.
"Now then, let us continue our little discussion, Toji Fushiguro."
A/N: And we end it off here~! I was going to skip this week's chapter, but then I found that I didn't feel like writing a chapter for Spiritual Don today. Don't know why, just felt like I would be forcing a chapter out so I decided to finish this.
Anyway, next chapter: Burn.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!