The Second Avatar

Chapter 45: The Storm (IV)

The moon hung low over the ocean, casting a pale light over the beach where three figures stood, separated by the tension that rippled through the air. Yogan's chest heaved, his body battered and bruised from the previous clashes, but he held his ground. To his left, Renji's face was a mask of rage and ambition, his eyes narrowed and unwavering. And to his right, Kezin stood with a smirk, the faint glow of the artifact in his hand casting an eerie light over his face. The ocean surged and ebbed behind him, as if the sea itself anticipated the chaos about to unfold.

"You both look tired," Kezin taunted, his voice filled with contempt. "Maybe you should've thought this through before challenging someone who understands true power."

Renji sneered, his gaze flicking between Kezin and Yogan. "Power? You're nothing but a deluded fool, Kezin. This temple deserves a real leader, and I intend to take my place as its rightful king."

Yogan's breath was heavy, each word costing him effort. "Both of you are wrong. The temple isn't a prize to be won. It's a place of peace, of balance… something neither of you understands."

Kezin laughed coldly, lifting his hand, and in an instant, he summoned a surge of seawater, manipulating it into a powerful arc that curved toward Yogan and Renji with deadly intent. Renji reacted swiftly, unleashing a spiraling burst of air that split the wave in two, the water crashing harmlessly on either side of them. But Kezin was relentless, the water swirling around him like an extension of his own will.

"Don't underestimate me," he said, his voice laced with menace. With a sweeping motion, he raised his hand, and a towering wall of water rose from the ocean behind him. He twisted his fingers, forming the wall into dozens of sharp, glistening tendrils that shot forward, aimed at both Yogan and Renji.

Renji's eyes narrowed, and with a burst of strength, he leapt forward, deflecting the tendrils with powerful gusts of air, his bending fast and precise. He countered with a concentrated blast aimed at Kezin, but Kezin merely sidestepped, redirecting the water to form a protective barrier around him. The three of them moved in a deadly dance, each strike faster and fiercer than the last.

Yogan fought to keep up, his airbending swift but struggling to match the raw intensity of Renji's and Kezin's attacks. Every gust, every dodge took its toll, and he could feel his muscles straining, his movements slowing. A blast from Renji struck him squarely in the shoulder, sending him sprawling back, pain radiating through his arm as he staggered to his feet.

Blood trickled from a cut on Yogan's brow, blurring his vision, but he forced himself to focus. He could feel the weight of the temple behind him, the legacy of the elders and the lives of everyone he cared about, all depending on him. He pushed forward, summoning another burst of air to deflect an incoming shard of ice from Kezin, who grinned, clearly reveling in the chaos.

Kezin's waterbending intensified as he drew more power from the sea, manipulating the water into massive, crashing waves that surged toward his opponents. Renji countered with a fierce whirlwind, his control of the air almost brutal in its force, clashing with the water in an explosion of mist and spray that filled the air. Yogan, caught between them, struggled to maintain his footing as the power of their attacks buffeted him from all sides.

Another strike hit him, this time from Kezin, who had managed to launch a spear of ice that sliced across Yogan's side, drawing blood. Yogan gasped, stumbling, his strength waning. The pain was excruciating, but he pushed it aside, a fire burning in his chest as he remembered why he was fighting.

As the battle raged, Yogan's mind became a swirl of desperation and determination. He could feel his heart pounding, each beat echoing with the weight of his duty, his fear, and his will to protect. His vision blurred, his legs trembled, but he forced himself to keep standing, to face the monsters his brother and former friend had become.

Kezin's smirk widened as he noticed Yogan's exhaustion. "Look at you, Yogan. You're pathetic. You think you're fighting for honor, but you're just delaying the inevitable."

Yogan's chest heaved, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm… I'm fighting for something you'll never understand, Kezin."

And then, something within him shifted. A sudden, overwhelming sensation surged through his body, filling him with a raw, unfamiliar power. His vision cleared, and he felt a fierce, unyielding energy rise within him, as if every nerve in his body had been set alight.

Without warning, Yogan's eyes snapped open, glowing with an ethereal blue-white light. The air around him crackled with power, the very ground seeming to pulse in response. He felt as though he was watching himself from a distance, aware of his actions but no longer in control, an ancient force guiding his every move.

Kezin and Renji froze, a flicker of fear crossing their faces as they took in the sight before them. Yogan's stance shifted, his movements fluid and precise, yet filled with a power beyond anything they'd seen before.

The Avatar State had awakened.

With a flick of his wrist, Yogan unleashed a powerful gust of air that tore through the beach, hitting Renji with a force that sent him sprawling back, blood spraying from a cut on his cheek as he tumbled across the sand. Renji staggered to his feet, his eyes wide with shock and fury as he faced Yogan's transformed presence.

"Impossible…" Renji whispered, his voice trembling. But Yogan—now under the guidance of the Avatar State—showed no mercy. He moved with swift, terrifying precision, every motion deadly and deliberate as he advanced on Renji.

Another wave of air blasted Renji, this one even more ferocious, cutting through his defenses and sending him crashing into the sand. Blood streaked down Renji's face, his body battered and bruised, his strength waning as he struggled to keep up.

Kezin watched with a mix of awe and disbelief, but his ego refused to let him back down. "You think that scares me, Yogan?" he sneered, his voice laced with contempt. With a fierce cry, he summoned a massive surge of water, manipulating it into a colossal wave that loomed above Yogan, crashing down with terrifying force.

But Yogan merely raised his hand, his eyes glowing even brighter, and with a single gesture, he diverted the wave, twisting it around himself with ease. Kezin's expression faltered, his confidence shaken as he realized Yogan was controlling his own water, manipulating it with a mastery that defied his understanding.

In a sudden, fluid movement, Yogan drew on the water, summoning it to his side with a sweep of his arm. The ocean surged toward him, and he shaped it into towering, spiraling columns that encircled him, the water bending to his will. He moved with a ferocity and elegance that left Kezin rooted in place, unable to comprehend the power before him.

With a forceful thrust, Yogan directed the water at Kezin, the sheer weight and speed of the attack crashing into him with unrelenting power. Kezin staggered, his confidence crumbling as he struggled to keep his footing, his waterbending faltering in the face of Yogan's relentless assault.

"Stop… stop!" Kezin screamed, desperation coloring his voice as he tried to summon another wave, but Yogan was merciless. The Avatar State unleashed a combination of air and water, the elements intertwining with deadly precision as they battered Kezin from all sides, his defenses crumbling with every strike.

Kezin's voice became a strained gasp as he fell to his knees, his once-powerful presence now reduced to a battered, defeated shell. The artifact slipped from his hand, its glow fading as it hit the sand, the illusion of power shattered.

Yogan's eyes narrowed, the Avatar State guiding him forward, his figure towering over Kezin as the waves crashed around them. Kezin looked up, fear etched across his face, his voice a desperate whisper. "No… please…"

But Yogan's glowing gaze remained impassive, his form unyielding as the Avatar State surged within him, prepared to deliver the final blow.

And then, as suddenly as it had come, the light in Yogan's eyes faded. The power receded, leaving him dazed and exhausted, his body giving out as he collapsed onto the sand. His vision blurred, darkness closing in around him as he felt consciousness slip away.

---

Yogan awoke to the soft sounds of wind rustling through leaves and the earthy scent of damp soil. He sat up slowly, the aches and bruises from the battle mysteriously absent, his body feeling light and whole. He looked around, recognizing the surroundings—the swamp he had visited before, in the realm of spirits.

Standing a few steps away, watching him with calm, steady eyes, was Wan. His expression held a mixture of solemnity and something almost like relief.

Yogan rose to his feet, meeting Wan's gaze. The two stood in silence for a moment, a wordless understanding passing between them.

And then, from the shadows between the trees, a soft, radiant light emerged. The light drifted closer, its glow illuminating the surrounding swamp in a gentle, ethereal blue. Yogan's gaze shifted, his breath catching as the figure took form—a luminous, flowing presence, shimmering with a quiet yet profound power.

As the light drew closer, it coalesced into the shape of a tall, graceful being. It's form was marked by swirling patterns of light, her figure both solid and insubstantial, like mist given shape. It didn't have eyes but its aura gave it depth that seemed to encompass ages, filled with a wisdom and compassion that was at once familiar and incomprehensible.

Wan turned, his face softening as he acknowledged the figure, a faint smile touching his lips. Yogan's gaze moved between them, his heart pounding as he took in the sight. He felt a pull, a connection to this presence that stirred something deep within him, something ancient and powerful.

The figure looked at him, it's gaze steady yet warm. When it spoke, it's voice was almost female like, calm and resonant, carrying a weight that felt like the world itself.

"Yogan," she said, her voice echoing softly through the trees. "I am Raava."

Yogan's mind reeled, the name stirring a sense of recognition he couldn't place, as if he had known it all along. He took a step forward, his voice a whisper. "Raava…?"

Raava inclined her head, her gaze unwavering. "Yes. I have waited a long time to speak with you, to help you understand who you are… and why you carry the legacy of Wan."

Yogan's breath caught, his thoughts racing as he tried to grasp her words. He looked to Wan, the man who had guided him before, and then back to Raava, feeling a strange mixture of awe and trepidation.

Raava's expression softened, a glimmer of reassurance in her gaze. "There is much for you to learn, Yogan. Much that you do not yet understand."

She took a step closer, the light surrounding her brightening as her presence seemed to envelop him, filling the air with an indescribable warmth. Yogan felt the weight of her words, sensing that whatever she was about to reveal would change everything he thought he knew about himself, about his purpose.

"Tonight," she continued, her voice gentle yet firm, "I will explain the connection between Wan and yourself… and my part in that legacy."

Yogan's pulse quickened, his heart racing with anticipation and a quiet, stirring fear of what her words might mean. But he forced himself to breathe, steadying his mind as he prepared to listen.

And as Raava's presence filled the space around him, he knew that his journey—the journey of the Avatar—had only just begun.

***---***

The tale abruptly halted, the mysterious woman falling silent as if caught by some unseen force. Her gaze grew distant, her expression sharpened with sudden alertness. The circle of listeners—Korra, Bolin, Mako, Asami, Tenzin, and his children—watched her with bated breath, feeling the suspense in her pause.

Korra leaned forward, her voice urgent, "Can't you tell us just a little more?"

Bolin piped in, his enthusiasm as fervent as ever. "Right?! Why stop now? We're finally getting to the good part!"

The woman smiled, an alluring but knowing look in her eyes. "There is something I must attend to," she replied, her voice calm yet final. Without another word, she turned and glided away, leaving them in the Great Hall of Statues. The soft, echoing tap of her footsteps receded into silence.

The group exchanged puzzled glances as the mysterious woman's presence faded. Asami tilted her head thoughtfully. "Wonder what was so urgent…"

"We'll probably have to come back tomorrow night if we want to hear the rest," Tenzin mused aloud, his tone one of resignation.

The others slowly rose and began to leave the hall to return to their duties. Only Korra remained, her eyes drawn to the carved figure of Avatar Wan, held in an eternal embrace with Raava.

She stepped closer to the wooden statue, her fingers brushing over the carved surface as if she could somehow reach through time to the connection she'd lost. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "What did Yogan do… to disappear like that?"

The absence of her past lives felt as raw now as it had five years ago when Unalaq and Vaatu had severed her connection to her predecessors. She stared at the statue, her heart aching with an almost physical weight, longing to speak with Wan… with Aang, Roku, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yangchen, Szeto—anyone who could guide her.

But there was only silence, and the emptiness left by that broken bond.

Korra closed her eyes, her hands clenching as she vowed, "Whatever it takes, I'll restore my connection to my past lives."

With a final look at the statue, she turned and left the hall, the silence pressing in behind her as if to echo the weight of her resolve.

[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers! Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]