ATLA: Azlua

Rebellion Part Nine

Rangi, always the first to act, immediately began barking orders. "Get those archers into position! We need suppressive fire on those earthbenders now!" His voice boomed, cutting through the din of battle.

Meanwhile, Mai held back with her Yuyan archers, her sharp eyes scanning the chaos from a distance. Beside her, Commander Shin stepped closer, his tone hesitant. "Lady Mai... Is it wise to leave command to Rangi? He's a capable fighter, but..." He trailed off, his concern evident.

A sly grin tugged at the corner of Mai's lips. "Rangi may seem like a muscle head, but he's smarter than he looks. He knows how to think on his feet. Besides, there's a reason the rebels trust him so much."

Shin nodded but remained unconvinced. Mai's eyes, however, were drawn to something else. The "bandits" outside the wall were far too organized for what they were supposed to be. Her instincts, always sharp, were screaming at her now.

"Did you see the way they're fighting?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "Those aren't bandits. They're too coordinated."

Shin furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Mai's gaze narrowed as she watched the non-benders outside the wall fire volleys of arrows with deadly precision, suppressing the rebel archers and earthbenders on the wall. Meanwhile, the earthbenders among the attackers were doing more than just bombarding the wall with rocks. They were trying to form slanted pillars to climb the wall, an organized and methodical strategy.

"This isn't just some random attack," Mai continued, her voice low and thoughtful. "They're suppressing our forces from afar while their benders work on breaching the wall. This feels planned... calculated."

Her bad feeling, the one that had gnawed at her since the start of the attack, intensified. Something about this assault wasn't right.

She turned to Shin, her expression sharp. "We'll take defensive positions behind the wall. When they break through, we'll hit them from inside as they come."

Shin blinked. "But... should we—"

"I'm not suited for leading troops in battle," Mai interrupted, her voice calm but decisive. "I work better in one-on-one fights. Sneak attacks. We'll strike when they least expect it."

Shin, though still concerned, nodded in agreement. Mai was right—her strengths lay elsewhere. And if the wall was going to fall, it was better to be prepared for what came next.

As Rangi continued to rally the troops on the wall, Mai took her Yuyan archers to set up a trap behind it, preparing to deal with the invaders once they breached the defenses.

Her instincts were rarely wrong, and something told her this fight was about to get a lot more complicated.

As the battle raged on, Mai remained crouched on the roof, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene below. The Yuyan archers beside her stood ready, their bows drawn, waiting for her command. The fight at the wall was fierce, but something gnawed at the back of her mind. She began to doubt her instincts—perhaps this was just another desperate raid. But then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed something.

The dirt near the side wall shifted unnaturally, just far enough from the main battle that it went unnoticed by most. Mai's gaze sharpened, locking onto the spot. A moment later, the ground erupted as a dozen bandits burst up from beneath, their faces twisted in concentration as they tunneled their way into the city.

Her heart sank. She knew something was off from the beginning. These aren't bandits. This is too calculated. She had limited knowledge of earthbending, but even she knew tunneling beneath walls required skill—something ordinary thugs didn't possess.