A/N: Advanced chapters ahead at: www.patreon.com/Blazuki
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"Everyone. Get your weapons down. Do not harm this kindred spirit!" Unalaq ordered his units that surrounded Akashi. "It seems that the locals don't want us here for a good reason. Though I have tried to put the interests of our Water Tribe above all, they are feeling overwhelmed by the lack of choice. Once the portal to the North Pole is opened, we will head back. The people of the South will then have a vote to decide if they would join us or not, considering that we will be closer than ever."
Akashi let go of his hold on Unalaq.
The latter touched his throat, checking if everything was fine.
The remaining forces of the Northern Tribe clenched their jaws.
But they followed the orders of their leader, not daring to rebel.
They went to their fallen comrades whom Akashi had knocked down.
As the Northern Tribe believed that women were only good for healing and that men were for war, they didn't have healers. They would have to ask the Southern Tribe members to heal them. However, Akashi doubted they would find any treatment here. They would have to stay bedridden.
The fact that he used sound waves at specific frequencies to damage their internal organs and amplify the short waves meant that they would stay bedridden for months or more. They would be lucky if they could fight again.
And so, they picked up their comrades and returned to the ship.
Today was a day they wouldn't forget.
It was the day that a single airbender humiliated them in their homeland.
If a waterbender lost despite being near the ocean and standing on frozen water, then they would be a laughingstock to everyone.
As for Akashi, he would be a legend among legends.
Considering that he stood up to an entire invading force on his own and managed to force them to retreat, that wouldn't just put him in history, but in the category of myths and legends.
Anyway, as the soldiers started retreating, Korra approached, looking at Akashi with admiration in her eyes.
Unalaq rubbed his throat before extending his hand.
"You were right. There is no need to rush things," Unalaq said. "Once the portal is open, everything will flow naturally."
"That's right," replied Akashi, shaking the hand of his uncle-in-law.
"Glad that everything worked out," Korra said cheerfully.
She was genuinely happy.
The people of the South would no longer be oppressed, and everything went back to how it was supposed to be.
If she hadn't interfered, things would have worked themselves out.
She was glad that it didn't end in tragedy.
But truth be told, she had been ready to interfere if the other party had pressured Akashi, and she would have gone mad at them.
It's not like she was ready to lose the love of her life for her job.
Unalaq turned and said, "Korra, we will meet later and go to the Spirit World to open the portal."
"I'll tag in," Akashi said.
"I don't mind." Unalaq nodded before gliding on the ice.
"So," Korra looked up at Akashi, "what did you tell him to convince him?"
"I told him that it's useless to fight when things can sort themselves out," replied Akashi honestly, "and that we could all be buddies."
Korra clenched her fist and hit his shoulder.
[-1 HP]
"You almost gave me a heart attack. What were you thinking, attacking all of them on your own?" she scolded.
"I was thinking that if you can't interfere, I'll make them wish you could," Akashi replied. "And besides, you gotta admit, I'm skillful enough to be an Avatar on my own."
"Haha!" she rolled her eyes. "That's a good joke."
It wasn't a joke.
Even at this moment, Akashi got stronger.
In other words, he leveled up.
[Name: Akashi.
Level: 49
Class: Airbender.
Skill Points: 6
Attribute Points: 11
Skill Trees
Airbending — Level 25
Wavesbending — Level 15
Martial Arts — Level 6
Skills
Flying — (9/10)
Poison Resistance — Level 4
Driving — Level 5
Attributes
Wisdom: 20
Strength: 20
Vitality: 30
Agility: 20
Stamina: 20
HP: 1400/1500
Chi: 300/500
Stamina: 600/1000]
Just one level behind 50.
And if his plan to take down the Dark Avatar worked, he would surpass that target level.
The only thing that mattered to Akashi in this world was his levels.
After all, to thrive, he needed to level up.
To deal with the Earth Queen, his first enemy, and to join the coming battle, he would rely on his levels.
'I will not lie. Korra's stronger than me. And in her Avatar State, unnerfed for plot reasons, she'd be way harder to deal with — let alone Unalaq. However, if there's something I should take into account, it's the fact that Avatars aren't invincible, and a good attack can take them down. It's like Roku dying because of volcano smoke. Aang almost dying because of a lightning bolt — despite being in the Avatar State. That would be my weapon.'
"What are you thinking of?" she asked.
"My in-laws are something," Akashi replied.
Korra blushed. "You're proposing?"
Akashi scratched the back of his head.
They had been dating for more than half a year now.
"I'm making future plans," he replied. "Anyway, let's get back and hide. I'm quite tired."
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Later that day and in the following days, the soldiers of the North Pole quieted down. They no longer imposed rules on the streets, and the people of the South were left in peace. Korra was in a better mood, considering she was no longer being treated like an outcast, and Akashi was being treated like a local celebrity.
Korra and Akashi's relationship grew stronger, and Korra was clingier than before, thinking that he had stopped an entire invasion just for her sake, giving her job and family life peace.
That's the common story.
And the Harmonic Convergence was approaching.
When it happened, and if the portals were opened, Vaatu would be freed.
Before that happened, let's say Akashi used his high agility stats to poison Unalaq.
He invaded his kitchen a couple of days before, adding some ingredients to his food — chicken's shit, some polluted water.
And most importantly—
When Akashi visited Unalaq in his residence, the latter was more welcoming than before.
Akashi smiled as he held two bottles of alcohol.
Unalaq closed the door behind him.
"A monk drinking. That's not so spiritual," commented Unalaq.
Akashi took a seat. "That's why the world needs balance between the light and the dark."
He grabbed two cups nearby and filled them.
"So, tell me. From what I understand, you are a very capable detective. But what I can't understand is why you are looking for Vaatu?" asked Unalaq, sitting across from Akashi.
Akashi pondered for a while.
"You know, I kill killers. Sometimes, when we know that a criminal is doing something, we forge evidence on them. If we always play by the book, being the good force, then nothing will ever change and society will go down," he replied. "And besides, without darkness, people like me won't have a job, no?"
"So, you believe that darkness is a necessary part of the world?"
"I truly do. Do you believe me?" Akashi asked, putting a few drops of something into his own drink. Then he handed Unalaq the other cup.
Unalaq looked at the cup.
He smirked.
He took Akashi's cup and gulped it before saying, "Drink."
"Can't blame you. People who play underhanded like us aren't to be trusted," Akashi said, drinking the other cup.
"Let's drink a toast to the new world," Akashi laughed, lifting his cup.
"To the new world," Unalaq lifted his cup as well and drank.