"Checkmate." Amon said, standing with his real face, no mask, smiling as he had his hand on Akashi.
"What?" Akashi said in shock. Amon smiled.
"You have chess?" Akashi added.
"If you are talking about the Pai Sho," said Amon. At the same time, he felt something missing. Something that was happening, yet he felt that it shouldn't, but he didn't know what yet.
He had been facing the most difficult opponent all this time — the deadliest one so far.
Those spinning spheres that exploded upon touching were the most dangerous thing he had faced in a while. And he would rather face the avatar than face those again. Not to mention that Akashi had been the only one so far to resist his bloodbending, something enough to control a crowd of large animals.
"Do you know about En passant?" Akashi asked, his tone betraying a hint of comfort.
"What's that stupid name?" Amon said calmly, before opening his eyes widely. He suddenly realized what he had been missing. The fact that Akashi could talk comfortably while being bloodbent meant one thing.
"How in the hell are you resisting?" he asked.
"My body evolved during the fight." Akashi looked at his hands. "It's like working out. As long as I don't die, I get stronger."
"Nobody gets stronger that fast." Amon, feeling alerted, controlled the army around him, like puppets, to block Akashi's escape path.
"Beginner gains." Akashi started moving his body slowly, his muscles twitching. He sweat up. "Damn, even at this level, I find it difficult to resist your bind."
The crowd flew in his direction. Same for sharp water streams in the gaps between.
*Clap*
Amon heard a clap.
But that clap had a very weird echo.
It kept repeating.
And suddenly, he lurched forward. He used his right foot to stop from falling, and he quickly controlled his own blood to regain control over himself. He had suddenly got dizzy.
"Even if you do so, you can't escape." Amon said, looking for Akashi, who vanished.
"I'm not trying." The officer's voice echoed behind Amon, making him turn his head. But Akashi wasn't there, and Amon felt like a fool for a half second for falling for that technique despite knowing about it.
Akashi appeared in front of Amon, having two fists in a boxing stance.
Amon tried to exert control.
But he was too slow to block the hook that headed toward his face.
A tooth flew.
And another hook came from the opposite side, and another. Each punch held Akashi's agility stats and full weight behind them.
[Martial arts up to level 6]
And the worst thing — to Amon, of course, — was that Akashi used wavesbending to amplify the shockwave.
His body felt as if he had millions of ants crawling on it.
The sun became just a big lamp in Amon's eyes.
And soon, everything turned dark.
As Amon fell, the whole population of the equalists fell down.
[Defeating a boss]
[+500k experience]
[+3 levels]
[You leveled up to level 43]
Akashi stood there, raising his arms and jogging in place slightly.
He had finally won.
Even after Amon lost, he won't turn into a symbol that would be glorified like someone who created the worst economical system back on Earth. He would lose his allies, one by one. And the Earth Queen would stop bothering Akashi. Surely, he would always appreciate enemies. But a man needed a vacation from time to time. And he had businesses to manage now, so it's more appreciable if she doesn't try sending assassins and enemies for a short while.
Hiroshi, who was standing by the side, approached quickly.
"You beat a bloodbender?" he said, his tone more confused than happy or relieved.
"Shouldn't you be concerned about something else?" Akashi said, pointing to the unconscious people. "Matter of fact, it's only a matter of time before the police arrive."
"But… " he said, "Why?"
"You guys are just idiots…
"Thank you—"
"100 million." Akashi demanded.
"What?" Hiroshi smiled.
"Or your daughter knows your deepest, darkest secret." Akashi approached Hiroshi and smiled at him. "I have evidence against you."
Hiroshi didn't doubt Akashi's words of him having evidence. If this man said that Asami was a firebender, he'd believe him without doubt.
"I don't have that much money." He said.
"The filming camera project I gave you can help you make a lot of money if used in entertainment. The fact that you managed to create flying jet planes is another indicator that you are going to be rich." Akashi said, looking at Hiroshi. "You have 2 weeks in your hand."
If the equalists were misguided citizens, he was someone. Well, he knew that the moment these citizens got taken, they'd be able to be bailed out since they had been fooled, and they had yet to cause any real harm. But who would end up with all of that money? Obviously, some lazy bureaucrat who never risked his life on the front line and their kids.
Hiroshi swallowed, sweat appearing on his forehead.
Akashi's smile widened. "What? You believe that all of the benders are evil, right. You better believe not to mess with me."
"Alright." Hiroshi nodded. He went to the lieutenant, lifting him off the ground. He went to a jet plane that soon flew.
Akashi went to one building, taking Amon and Tarrlok with him. He put them there, next to him, and he thought to himself.
'What would I gain if I beat their asses every now and then? Surely, it's hard to level up. But they could come in handy.'
Akashi looked at Tarrlok, thinking about the times he used to complain despite getting food, drinks, women, and weed. Akashi slapped him on the face.
And just then, the sky darkened.
Violent winds surged, making the sea almost split in two as raging waves rose.
"An angry Avatar is scarier than I thought." Akashi muttered, biting on a straw while looking at the sky.