The Second Avatar

 Chapter 38: Death of Kuno

The dim alley's tense air thickened as Kezin approached, his waterbending stance settling with a quiet intensity. The faint glow of the nearby torches gleamed off his determined gaze, casting shadows that seemed to wrap around his form, creating an imposing silhouette. Kuno, blades still flashing in hand, noticed him and adjusted his stance, eyes narrowing in guarded recognition.

Kezin's movements were swift and purposeful as he joined the fray, flanking Yogan and Yoan. His hands rose, and with a smooth, fluid motion, he summoned tendrils of water from the ground, twisting them into defensive streams that shielded his allies. He played the role with remarkable finesse, his demeanor exuding the urgency and concentration of a warrior bent on victory. Yet, beneath the façade, a cunning calculation lay hidden in his gaze.

Kuno grinned, his twin blades spinning in his hands. "Another one? I was hoping for a fair fight, but if you insist…" he taunted, shifting his weight in a poised stance.

Kezin wasted no time in responding; with a flick of his wrist, the water coiled and froze into shards, hurling them toward Kuno in a rapid, unrelenting assault. Each shard glistened in the dim torchlight as it sped through the air, whistling sharply with deadly intent. Kuno dodged nimbly, his movements almost effortless, deflecting several with his blades as he retreated a few paces. But Kezin pressed on, amplifying his attacks to match the swiftness and agility of the swordsman.

Meanwhile, Yogan and Yoan seized the opportunity to join in, coordinating their attacks with Kezin's. Yogan launched concentrated gusts of wind that funneled toward Kuno's center, forcing him back, while Yoan's bursts of air aimed at Kuno's legs, attempting to unbalance him. The three fighters closed in, their combined forces forming a storm of movement, air, and ice surrounding Kuno in a deadly dance.

Despite being cornered, Kuno fought with relentless vigor. His swords flashed in rapid, lethal arcs, slicing through the air with terrifying precision. He spun and twisted, parrying their strikes, weaving between attacks as if each dodge was part of an intricate performance. Kezin's icy tendrils whipped forward, coming mere inches from Kuno's face and chest on multiple occasions, but each time, Kuno slipped through the gaps, evading capture by a hair's breadth.

"He's fast," Yogan muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes tracking Kuno's every movement. Blood dripped from a fresh cut on his forearm, staining his sleeve, but his focus remained unshaken.

Kezin, maintaining the façade of effort, forced himself to show signs of exertion. He tightened his grip, summoning larger and faster streams of water that morphed into icy spears as they neared Kuno, who narrowly dodged each one. For a moment, it seemed Kezin might actually succeed in trapping Kuno in a cage of ice, but with a quick, practiced slash of his blade, Kuno shattered the nearest spear, breaking free and lunging at Yoan with ruthless speed.

The fierce exchange intensified as Kuno, with a deadly grin, pressed forward. With his swords now a blur of silver, he began to overpower his opponents, targeting Yoan with a sudden burst of attacks. Kuno's strikes became faster and more vicious, his relentless assault driving Yoan and Yogan to the edge of their limits.

Just then, a small opening appeared in their skirmish, and Kuno suddenly found himself in close quarters with Kezin. They were locked, Kezin's hands gripping Kuno's wrists as his icy tendrils held Kuno's feet in place. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to pause around them. Kezin leaned in, his voice a barely audible whisper, and spoke with chilling intent.

"Kill Yoan. Now."

A gleam of recognition flashed in Kuno's eyes, and a slight, wicked smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He freed himself with a vicious twist, his blade cutting through Kezin's icy hold, sending shards scattering.

Kuno's demeanor shifted—a palpable aura of killing intent surged around him, transforming the very air. His eyes narrowed, dark and unyielding, his body almost vibrating with newfound ferocity. Yogan felt the shift instantly, a cold shiver racing down his spine. Kuno's agility and speed surged as he launched himself back into the fight, his strikes now wild and ruthless.

In seconds, his blades slashed across Kezin's arm, drawing blood, yet Kezin barely flinched, hiding his satisfaction behind a mask of grim determination. Kuno was relentless, his bloodlust heightening each second, driving Yoan and Yogan back with a barrage of blows that were faster, more brutal than ever. His swords danced like twin demons, cutting and slicing with deadly precision. Yogan's shoulder was grazed, a thin line of blood soaking into his tunic, and Yoan stumbled back, a nasty gash running down his arm.

Kezin, showing his dedication to the act, took another strike across his side, the blade biting into flesh as he grimaced. He let the blood flow, evidence of his supposed struggle, while his eyes remained focused and calculating.

Amidst the chaos, Kuno's gaze locked onto Yoan. He lunged, one sword flashing forward. Before Yoan could react, the blade embedded itself deep into the side of his stomach. Blood erupted from the wound, staining Yoan's robes, and he fell to his knees, a scream of agony tearing through the night air.

"Yoan!" Yogan's voice broke through the noise, raw with horror. Ignoring the danger, he rushed to his friend, dropping to his side, his hands instinctively reaching out to support him as Yoan trembled, blood pooling beneath him.

Kuno's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction as he observed Yogan's moment of vulnerability. Seeing his chance, he bolted forward, his remaining sword raised high, aimed directly for Yogan's neck in a swift, merciless swing.

In that instant, Kezin's eyes flashed with purpose. With a swift, controlled gesture, he summoned a dozen icy spikes from the mist that still hung in the air. The frozen daggers glinted like shards of polished steel as they shot forward, piercing Kuno's body in rapid succession. The spikes tore through his arms, his chest, and legs, embedding themselves deep within his flesh.

Kuno staggered, his grip on his sword slackening as he dropped to his knees. Blood seeped from the punctures, staining the ground as he turned his gaze, now dulled with confusion, toward Kezin. A single word, weak and barely a whisper, escaped his lips.

"Why?"

Kezin's response was equally soft, a mere breath. "Killing Yogan wasn't part of the plan."

Kuno's expression faltered as the realization dawned, but he had no time to respond. His body wavered, and then, like a puppet with its strings cut, he collapsed to the ground, his lifeless form crumpling among the blood-streaked cobblestones.

As the dust settled and silence reclaimed the bloodstained alley, Yogan's eyes fell on Kuno's lifeless form lying nearby. His body was marred with countless icy spikes, each one embedded with deadly precision. The sight jarred him; he couldn't tear his gaze from it. Slowly, he turned, meeting Kezin's indifferent expression.

"Kezin," he said, his voice taut with a barely restrained anger. "Why did you kill him? The elders wanted Kuno alive for questioning."

Kezin's face remained unreadable, his eyes dark and unmoving. He simply looked at Yogan, offering no words or signs of remorse. There was a chilling emptiness in his stare that sent a shiver through Yogan.

At that moment, Kaiya stepped forward, gently taking Yogan by the arm and pulling him back. "Yogan," she whispered firmly, "you saw what happened. Kuno was about to kill you—he was swinging for your neck. Kezin saved your life."

Her words were earnest, and for a moment, Yogan felt a flicker of relief. He turned to Kuno's body again, his mind replaying the final moments: Kuno's last look, the shock and confusion in his eyes before he fell. His form lay twisted and broken, surrounded by a dark pool of his own blood, and the ice spikes protruding from his body glistened like cruel decorations in the moonlight.

Yogan looked back to Kezin, expecting to see some hint of regret or even pride at his victory, but Kezin's face remained disturbingly calm. His expression was as still as stone, devoid of any emotion. Instead of gratitude, a deep, gnawing fear rose within Yogan, filling him with a quiet terror that he could hardly understand. This man, who had just taken a life so coldly, didn't flinch, didn't show any sign of remorse or satisfaction. An unsettling aura surrounded Kezin, dark and ominous, as though he carried a weight of secrets far heavier than any of them realized.

In that instant, Yogan decided. Kezin was dangerous—a force he could never fully trust. He wasn't a savior; he was a threat, someone who could just as easily turn on them if it suited his purpose.

A sudden grunt broke the silence as Yoan, still weak and bloodied, struggled to his feet, clutching his wounded side. The sound jarred Yogan from his thoughts, snapping his attention back to his friend. Momentarily forgetting the lurking danger of Kezin, Yogan rushed over, wrapping an arm around Yoan's shoulder to steady him.

"Let's get you up," Yogan muttered, his voice heavy with concern.

Yoan nodded weakly, leaning on Yogan for support. Just then, footsteps echoed down the narrow alley. Yogan looked up to see Renji and several other airbenders approaching. Unlike the disciples and students, these men bore the traditional tattoos of fully realized airbenders. Their faces were stern, their eyes sharp as they took in the scene: the blood-spattered stones, the fallen body of Kuno, and the wounds marking each of the fighters.

One of the airbenders stepped forward, his voice firm. "What happened here?"

Renji strode closer, his gaze narrowing as he surveyed the aftermath. He stopped in front of Yogan, his expression filled with both curiosity and accusation. "Brother," he said slowly, "what exactly was all this fighting about?"

Yogan straightened, his gaze hardening as he looked Renji in the eye. "I'll explain everything to the elders," he replied. "You'll hear it all then. But for now, Yoan needs help."

Without waiting for further questions, Yogan shifted Yoan's weight against him, taking careful steps toward the healer's hut. Renji nodded, moving to Yoan's other side to help support him, their combined efforts easing their friend's painful journey. Behind them, the other airbenders began to gather around Kuno's body, clearing the scene, removing traces of the deadly encounter.

Kezin watched them as they walked away, his eyes fixed on Yogan's retreating form. Beside him, Kaiya stood silently, her gaze filled with unease.

"Things aren't looking good," she murmured, casting a sideways glance at Kezin.

Kezin's eyes didn't leave Yogan's back. "I don't understand why Kuno tried to kill Yogan," he said slowly, almost to himself. "From the start, I made it very clear that Yogan had to be left alive."

Kaiya's brow furrowed. "Maybe something changed during the fight."

Kezin's expression darkened as he shook his head. "I was forced to end it... but why?" He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "The look Yogan gave me after you explained—he doesn't trust me now."

Kaiya turned, her face tense. "Then it'll be up to me to get him back on our side."

Kezin finally tore his gaze from Yogan and shifted his focus to Renji, watching the airbender as he helped Yogan and Yoan along the dimly lit path. "In the meantime," he murmured, "I'll turn my attention to Renji."

An unreadable glint appeared in his eyes as he watched them disappear into the distance. His mind worked in silence, calculating his next moves with an intensity that cast an invisible chill over the alleyway.

What exactly was Kezin up to?

[A/N: Read 15-20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]