John Wick in Avatar the Last Airbender

The world was fire, smoke, and screams. The heat of battle burned hotter than any flame his hands could conjure. The sky had long since darkened, choked by ash and soot, turning the once-blue heavens into a swirling mass of black and red.

The ground beneath his feet was no longer stable; cracked stone and torn earth trembled with each mighty blow delivered by the enemy. The air smelled of scorched flesh, burnt wood, and blood.

Lieutenant Shoji ran forward, his heart pounding like a war drum against his ribs. His hands were raw from bending, sweat and grime coating his fingers as he sent out another jet of fire toward the advancing Earth Kingdom forces.

It hit a boulder instead. The flames flickered uselessly against the rock before dissipating, leaving behind nothing but a faint orange glow before fading into darkness.

"Get up! Move forward!" someone screamed.

He followed the order, though the words barely registered through the chaos. Around him, his fellow soldiers surged forth, a sea of red and black, fire bursting from their fists in desperate attempts to push back the enemy.

But the Earthbenders fought like demons. The land itself was their weapon. The ground twisted and shifted underfoot, opening like the jaws of a great beast to swallow Fire Nation soldiers whole. A boulder the size of a carriage came crashing down into the battlefield, splintering on impact, sending shards of razor-sharp rock flying in all directions.

Shoji barely managed to duck in time. Behind him, a soldier was not so lucky; his body was crushed instantly, his scream cut short as the weight of the earth collapsed upon him.

The Fire Nation had always spoken of the might of their bending, of how fire was power, destruction, dominance. But here, amidst the hell of battle, Shoji realized a bitter truth. Fire could be smothered. Fire could be snuffed out. The Earth Kingdom's defences were not just formidable; they were designed to counter everything they stood for.

Still, they advanced. One after another, the Fire Nation forces surged forward, striking relentlessly, pressing into the city's defences with sheer numbers and brutal tactics. Shoji knew the strategy; he had once been a commander, after all, before he had been disgraced and thrown into the ranks of common foot soldiers.

He had been stripped of his status, but his knowledge remained. Fire Nation forces were few in number, but concentrated. The Earth Kingdom was vast, but divided. The Earth Kingdom outnumbered them, yes, but that meant nothing when its forces were scattered across a massive continent, isolated in their own city-states, ruled by their own petty governors and kings.

They fought bravely, but they fought alone. And so, one by one, their walls crumbled. Their defences faltered. Their will broke.

A sharp whistle cut through the air. Shoji barely turned in time to see an Earthbenders charging him, fists clenched, feet planted firmly on the ground. He moved with purpose; his motions precise… a master.

Shoji raised his hands, fire flaring to life, but before he could release a single burst, the ground beneath his feet shifted. Shoji's stomach lurched as the earth gave way, sending him tumbling backward. He barely managed to twist mid-air, landing hard on his side. Pain shot up his ribs, but he had no time to dwell on it; his opponent was already moving again, arms sweeping through the air.

A jagged pillar of stone shot toward him.

Shoji rolled. The rock slammed into the ground where he had been a heartbeat before, sending a violent tremor through the battlefield.

He pushed himself up, teeth gritted, and attacked. Flames roared from his hands. T

he Earthbender stepped back, bringing up a thick shield of rock, but Shoji was faster. He twisted his wrist, shifting the flames into a tight, focused stream, cutting through the shield like a blade. The Earthbender barely had time to react before Shoji lunged forward, his fist connecting with the man's chest.

There was a sharp gasp. The Earthbender staggered.

Shoji didn't hesitate. He struck again, this time with fire, the heat searing through cloth and skin. His opponent crumpled.

Shoji stood over the body, chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat trickling down his forehead. His hands were trembling; not with fear, but with exhaustion.

Another explosion rocked the battlefield. The Fire Nation forces were advancing, pressing deeper into the city. The Earthbenders were retreating now, their numbers thinning, their defences beginning to crack under the relentless assault.

It was not victory; not yet, but it was inevitable. He moved forward, re-joining the fray. The fighting was brutal, unrelenting. He saw comrades fall, their bodies crushed and broken. He saw enemy soldiers burnt; their faces frozen in expressions of agony.

He fought until his arms ached, until his breath came in ragged gasps, until the only thing keeping him standing was sheer will.

And then… Silence.

The battle was over. The city lay in ruins. Smoke curled into the sky, blotting out the stars. Fires burned unchecked, casting flickering shadows over the corpses strewn across the streets.

Shoji stood in the aftermath, surrounded by death and destruction.

He had survived.

But as he looked upon the shattered remains of yet another conquered city, he wondered… how much longer would he be able to?