Tides Of Flame : Avatar The Last Airbender

The air in the opulent, yet now shattered, hall crackled with residual energy, a testament to the raw power that had just been unleashed and, more astonishingly, absorbed. Azula stood frozen, her hand still extended, a look of utter disbelief etched on her face.

Her lightning, her signature weapon, the very embodiment of her cold, precise power, had been swallowed whole by the blind firebender. It was an impossibility, a defiance of the natural order she so meticulously controlled.

Alec, his body trembling almost imperceptibly, met her stunned gaze with a faint, enigmatic smile. The energy, a searing, vibrant force, coursed through his system, a dangerous dance of power and control. He could feel the intricate pathways of Azula's lightning, its destructive potential, its chilling precision.

It was a sensation unlike any he had experienced, a direct connection to the very essence of her bending. He was a conduit, a living battery, and for a fleeting moment, he understood the terrifying beauty of her power.

"What… what was that?" Zuko stammered, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. He had seen Alec perform incredible feats, but this… this was beyond comprehension.

He had braced himself for the impact of Azula's lightning, prepared to dodge it, but Alec had simply… taken it.

Iroh, however, understood. His eyes, usually twinkling with amusement, were now sharp with concern. He had witnessed the raw power of lightning, its devastating consequences.

For Alec to absorb it, to contain such a volatile force, was a testament to an extraordinary, and perhaps dangerous, ability. He knew, instinctively, that this was not a technique to be trifled with, that it demanded immense control and came with inherent risks but how did he learn this....

Azula, recovering from her shock, snarled, her eyes blazing with renewed fury. "You… you freak! You think you can defy me? You think you can steal my power?" She lunged forward, a torrent of blue flames erupting from her fingertips, her composure shattered, replaced by a primal rage.

This was no longer a calculated trap; it was a desperate, personal attack.

"Now, Prince Zuko!" Alec's voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos. "Go!" He unleashed a concentrated burst of fire from his fan, not at Azula, but at the crumbling wall beside her, sending a shower of debris and dust into the air, creating a momentary screen.

The absorbed lightning, still contained within him, pulsed with a dangerous intensity, a silent threat that kept Azula momentarily at bay.

Zuko, jolted into action, didn't hesitate. He knew an opportunity when he saw one. "Uncle! Alec! This way!" He blasted a hole through a weaker section of the wall, creating an escape route.

Iroh, ever the pragmatist, was already moving, his firebending a defensive shield, deflecting Mai's knives and Ty Lee's chi-blocking strikes with practiced ease. He understood Alec's unspoken command, the urgency in his voice. This was their chance.

Mai, her face a mask of grim determination, continued her relentless assault, her knives whistling through the air.

Ty Lee, agile as ever, tried to flank them, her movements a blur of pink. But Iroh, with a surprising burst of speed, intercepted her, engaging her in a fluid dance of evasion and counter-attack.

He wasn't trying to defeat them, merely to hold them off, to buy precious seconds for their escape.

Alec, still facing Azula, felt the absorbed lightning begin to destabilize. It was a volatile energy, meant to be channeled, not contained.

His body, though resilient, was not designed for such prolonged absorption. He needed to release it, or risk catastrophic consequences.

But he couldn't release it at Azula, not without risking Zuko and Iroh. He needed a distraction, a way to create an opening.

"You're powerful, Princess," Alec said, his voice strained, a subtle tremor in his words. "But your rage blinds you. You cannot see the true path."

He unleashed a series of rapid-fire blasts, forcing Azula to retreat, to defend herself. He was pushing her, baiting her, drawing her attention solely to him.

Azula, blinded by her fury, fell for the bait. She saw only the defiance, the audacity of this blind firebender who dared to challenge her. She charged, her hands crackling with renewed lightning, determined to overwhelm him, to reclaim her stolen power. This time, she would not hold back.

But Alec was ready. Just as she unleashed her lightning, he pivoted, his fan sweeping in a wide arc, not to absorb, but to deflect. The raw energy, instead of striking him, was redirected, not back at Azula, but upwards, towards the ceiling of the villa.

The ancient stone groaned, then cracked, and with a deafening roar, a section of the roof collapsed, sending a shower of debris and dust raining down, creating a chaotic screen between Azula and the escaping trio.

[Ding, Lightining bending leveled up - Level 1(1/100) ]

"Now!" Alec shouted, his voice hoarse, the effort of the deflection draining him. He turned, his movements swift, following the sound of Zuko and Iroh's retreating footsteps.

The villa, once a symbol of Ember Island's opulence, was now a crumbling ruin, a testament to Azula's unchecked fury and Alec's desperate ingenuity.

They burst out of the villa, into the overgrown gardens, the cool night air a welcome balm against the lingering heat of the battle.

Zuko, his face streaked with soot and sweat, didn't look back. He knew Azula would be right behind them. Iroh, ever calm, was already assessing their surroundings, looking for the quickest route to the harbor. They had to get back to the ship.

"This way!" Iroh commanded, his voice firm, leading them through a hidden path he had discovered during their earlier explorations. It was a winding, overgrown trail, barely visible in the dim light, but it offered cover and a direct route to the docks.

They moved with a desperate urgency, the sounds of Azula's enraged shouts and the crashing of debris echoing behind them.

As they ran, Zuko glanced at Alec, a million questions in his eyes. "How… how did you do that? The lightning?"

Alec, still breathing heavily, simply shook his head. "No time. Later." He could feel the lingering effects of the absorbed energy, a faint tremor in his limbs, a dull ache in his chest. It had been a risky maneuver, one he hoped he wouldn't have to repeat.

They reached the harbor, a bustling hub of activity even at this late hour. The ship, a familiar silhouette against the moonlit water, was a beacon of hope. "Get to the ship!" Iroh ordered, his voice booming. The crew, alerted by the distant sounds of battle, was already preparing to cast off, their faces etched with concern.

But Azula was relentless. She burst from the villa, her eyes blazing, her movements a blur of blue fire. Mai and Ty Lee were close behind, their determination unwavering.

"You won't escape, Zuko!" Azula shrieked, unleashing a volley of fire blasts that scorched the ground behind them.

"Firebending cover!" Iroh commanded, and the ship's firebenders responded, sending a defensive barrage of flames towards the shore, creating a temporary barrier. Zuko, Alec, and Iroh scrambled aboard, the gangplank being pulled up even as their feet touched the deck.

"Full speed ahead!" Zuko roared, his voice hoarse. The ship lurched forward, its engines roaring to life, cutting through the water, leaving Ember Island and Azula's fury behind. They were safe, for now. But the encounter had left its mark.

Zuko was shaken, his confidence in his own abilities momentarily rattled by Azula's cunning. Iroh was thoughtful, his gaze fixed on Alec, a new layer of respect and concern in his eyes. And Alec… Alec knew that the game had just gotten a lot more dangerous.

He had revealed a fraction of his true capabilities - well of his system's to be exact, and Azula, the relentless hunter, would not forget. The escape was successful, but the serpent's coil had tightened, and the hunt for the Avatar had just become infinitely more complicated.