Although an unexpected guest interrupted the picnic, the group wasn't uncomfortable or annoyed. On the contrary, everyone was interested in the upcoming showdown.
To prevent any stray blows from harming the surrounding nature or curious onlookers from the nearby town, Toph and Petra built a circular wall around the two swordsmen.
Together, they created an arena where both swordsmen could fight freely. Shisui stepped between them, holding a coin in his hand. He looked at the two men and spoke.
"I will toss this coin. When it hits the ground, the fight will begin. Are there any rules, prohibitions, or anything else to note before we start?" the Sage asked. Neither of them replied, indicating that this fight would be all-out.
"If that is what you want, then..." Shisui tossed the coin into the air with such force that it soared high. Then, his figure became a blur as he vanished from his spot, leaving the two fighters alone and about to face off.
"I've heard stories about you. You're not as famous as the Avatar or the Sage, but the Fire Sword Prince has made a name for himself, especially among swordplay specialists," Jet said, making the most of the little time left before the fight began.
"Then you should know that I won't hold back, especially since you're a criminal wanted by the Fire Nation," Zuko replied coldly. This caused his opponent to flash a complicated smile.
"I won't justify my past actions, but let my sword show you my commitment to the new path I've chosen," Jet said. The coin finally hit the ground, emitting a clink that signaled the start of the fight.
A sword training match! A duel between swordsmen! A display of willpower! To the untrained eye, the two men's figures became blurred and elongated as they charged toward each other, mercilessly wielding their lethal weapons against their enemy.
The clash of metal, the screech of their swords rubbing together, and the flying sparks marked the true beginning of the fight. The wind was pushed back by the shockwave created when their weapons clashed directly.
Jet noticed it quickly. Zuko was stronger and had better control of his strength. Jet himself had to take several steps back to steady himself, while the dust beneath the prince's feet swirled up, stirred by something invisible.
Jet realized that Zuko had redirected the force acting on his body toward the ground. It was no coincidence that the prince had grown up alongside a Waterbender. Many of the concepts Shisui had used were incorporated into the Firebender's fighting style. Combined with his already formidable power, Zuko prevailed in the first trial.
Yes, a test. Although sword fights often end in just a few strikes, that only happens when the fighters know each other's capabilities. This information is gathered in various ways.
The two of them entered a subtle state of mutual testing, gauging their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, they found or created a weak point to exploit with a few strikes at the most opportune moment of the fight, depending on their needs.
To the uninitiated, the fact that Zuko and Jet stared intently at each other as they spun and collided, grappling for a few seconds, only to repeat the process, seemed pointless and wasteful.
Couldn't Zuko simply use firebending to enhance his offense and end it quickly? Couldn't Jet pull something out of his sleeve, like an explosive or a hidden weapon? Neither of them lacked means beyond their swords.
They could use them! However, true swordsmen never put on a show; they fought to learn, understand, and grow. This process varied slightly depending on the circumstances of the encounter.
For a swordsman, every fight was a valuable learning experience. No matter how the fight went, they sought to learn as much as possible from their opponent. When that wasn't possible, or they had learned enough, things got serious.
Furthermore, sword duels were not just physical affairs where you displayed your strength or techniques. There were also mental, ideological, and spiritual conflicts. You didn't just fight your opponent; you fought their emotions, thoughts, and true essence.
No one could hide their true self when practicing martial arts, including swordplay. Even if something was hidden, a glimpse of it would always be revealed. This is why fighting was sometimes the best way to understand your friends and even your partner, because it revealed a person's true nature.
It's no wonder that Shisui and Azula's relationship went so well. They didn't need sex like rabbits, drama, or anything like that. Confronting each other every few days helped them understand their love, appreciation, respect, and trust for one another, so the idea of cheating wouldn't even cross their minds.
The same went for the other couples in the group. This custom rubbed off on their new friends. Although Toph was single, she constantly sparred with everyone, so she also fit right into the circle.
But back to the fight: Jet had beads of sweat on his brow as he swung his swords defensively, fending off a barrage of slashes, thrusts, sweeps, and drags from Zuko. Aware of his physical advantage, Zuko began to press his opponent.
The clang of metal against metal was reminiscent of a blacksmith's workshop, and sparks frequently flew, indicating the power of their clash. On a more esoteric level, Zuko's hot, sharp impulse constantly pressed against Jet's resolve-filled, dark, and light-glimmering impulse.
However, Jet was not desperate because defense always presented a good opportunity to gather information. Furthermore, neither of them had resorted to methods such as physical enhancement through chi, Zuko's more drastic Firebending measures, or Jet's hidden tricks.
'I just have to wait... Now!' Jet roared mentally at one point. Chi surged into both his arms, causing his muscles to writhe beneath his skin and his veins to bulge. Both of his limbs appeared slightly thicker than normal.
With this burst of extra strength, he swung his swords in a crosscut, evading Zuko's clumsy defense as Zuko scrambled to switch from attack to defense. Like two venomous fangs, Jet's hook-shaped swords threatened to pierce the prince's body. The prince merely snorted in disdain.
"You fell," Jet heard before a screech like thousands of birds singing filled his ears. Then, his body went rigid as his muscles spasmed from tiny arcs of electricity shooting from Zuko's swords to his own, momentarily incapacitating him.
Under normal circumstances, such a small amount of electricity would only cause a slight spasm. However, coincidentally, the electric arcs disrupted Jet's internal flow of chi, which exacerbated what should have been momentary paralysis.
Zuko lived up to one of the most acrobatic bending styles by leaping and spinning in the air. His heel emitted a powerful burst of flame that propelled his foot directly into Jet's face. It struck him like a whip, sending him crashing into the wall.
The man's back arched, and he cried out in pain as he bounced off the cracked wall and landed on his knees. Despite the damage he'd suffered, the bruise on his cheek and the blood flowing from his mouth and nose, he remained clutching his weapons.
"Fair enough. I suppose you win the first round," Jet remarked as he struggled to his feet. Zuko walked toward Jet, his swords sheathed in solid flames that gave his weapons a menacing red glow.
It was as if two half-forged sword embryos were present. The heat in the air had already risen due to the energy released by Zuko, but it rose even further because of his power.
"This is just the beginning, Jet. Bring out all your tricks," the prince demanded, not arrogantly, but with cunning shining in his golden eyes. He knew that non-benders had their own ways of fighting benders like him.
He needed to know Jet's to act accordingly. He couldn't act recklessly without knowing how Jet would threaten him; otherwise, he could be defeated.
He never let his guard down against a nonbender, recognizing the threat they could pose. Unlike many benders, he didn't have that innate pride just because he could use an element. He was always respectful of non-benders and never thought he was better than them just because he could wield fire.
"Hehe, if you say so." Feeling that his body had improved after the attack and the disruption in his use of chi, he joined his swords into one and brought his hand to his hip. He slowly pulled out something that made Zuko curse Shisui inwardly.
It was a pistol, called a revolver by the sage who first conceived the idea. Very few were in circulation, but Jet had somehow managed to get his hands on one. Noticing the puzzled look on Zuko's face, Jet spoke up.
"Merchants are very wealthy and well-connected. Didn't your country undergo a purge of the nobility? Some of the channels and resources left behind by the nobility weren't fully absorbed by your royal family.
Let's just say that if you pay well and know the right people, you can get your hands on interesting things like this." Jet twirled the gun on his index finger before pointing it directly at the prince and slowly releasing the safety.
"I suppose it's inevitable. Luckily, Shisui made us aware of the capital and the bourgeoisie. Otherwise, in a few years, we would have had a big problem," said Zuko, who could feel the threat of death that came with being pointed at by a gun.
After all, he was a Firebender, not fire itself. He was vulnerable and mortal. Although benders had physical advantages, weapons could unleash immense power in anyone's hands once understood.
Zuko wasn't afraid of Jet or his gun. Instead, he ran toward Jet, dragging his swords and leaving a faint reddish trail in his wake. Jet didn't shoot. He simply gripped his sword tightly and channeled chi into the hilt. This time, he was wary of the lightning that might strike out of nowhere.
The prince didn't repeat his strategies. Instead, he seemed to turn into a crimson hurricane, attacking Jet from multiple angles. This time, he knew that with only one weapon, his enemy's defense wouldn't be as durable or effective.
But when he bypassed the protection, Zuko abruptly retreated. He looked at Jet as if he were a madman because Jet had small pouches tied to his clothes. They had been hidden by his attire, but were now partially exposed.
Zuko recognized the pouches easily because the Earthbenders of Ba Sing Se used them extensively in their gunpowder-bending. Jet had gunpowder hanging from his body, which forced Zuko to abort his attack. He realized that earlier, during his kick, he'd been lucky to have struck his enemy directly in the face.
"The few Firebenders I've faced weren't as aware as you. Many underestimated me. Though not all fell, the few who did confirmed the viability of this strategy," Jet remarked before patting his chest, clearly indicating that there was more gunpowder hidden beneath his clothes.
"Though I no longer target the Fire Nation, I remain just as cautious. I'm willing to die for my ideals and the path I've chosen. Are you willing to die for something like that, Prince Zuko?" Jet asked, aiming at Zuko again. This time, he pulled the trigger.
A shot, a bullet, a question, his true nature was emerging, revealing his essence. He was flawed and contradictory: a murderer to one nation and a hero to a few outcasts. He was full of regret and determined to improve, even though he couldn't change the past.
This was Jet, his true self. Now it was Zuko's turn to reveal his true self. Their sword duel continued to evolve to even greater heights. This, too, was the meaning of being an exceptional swordsman.