After only a short fall, the pitch-black surroundings suddenly brightened, the space abruptly opened up, and the ground finally came into view again.
Flames streamed downward around Kahn, slowing his descent until he landed lightly. He then surveyed his surroundings and found that this seemed to be a training room. Some kind of glowing crystals were embedded in the walls, lending the place a hint of mystery.
Then the old man arrived right behind him, emerging from the ground just as before, looking as though he had used some earth-traversing art.
Kahn had seen Earthbending before. Kori and her mother were both Earthbenders, and while they were still in the Imperial Capital, he had often sought their guidance, learning a good deal about Earthbending. Thus, he understood just how outrageous the old man's Earthbending was.
Earthbending was clearly only an art of manipulation, yet this old man had used it to achieve something akin to a supernatural earth-traversing ability. That level of control was simply inhuman.
He could think of no one in Omashu besides Bumi who could take Earthbending to such heights.
But although the old man before him had graying hair around a bald crown and obvious age spots on his face, looking at those bulging muscles straight out of Fist of the North Star, was this really the physique a hundred-year-old man should have?
Kahn inwardly exclaimed at how absurd it was. Those muscles were far bulkier than his own.
So he could only greet him with a little hesitation:
"You must be Master Bumi, right? I'm Kahn. Uncle Iroh sent me to pick you up."
"Sharp eyes and a good head on your shoulders. Not bad, not bad!"
Bumi clicked his tongue in wonder at Kahn's performance, tacitly confirming his judgment, but he did not seem