Tactics

Zuko had been no match for Azula to begin with. On top of that, the two boys had just fought a round and used up a fair amount of stamina, so it was only natural that he ended up taking such a beating.

The only thing Kahn admired was that Zuko had stubbornly refused to concede, instead getting pummeled by Azula before she kicked him out of the ring.

Zuko had taken at least some of Kahn's earlier words to heart.

Even Azula was surprised by this, and for once, she did not mock Zuko after his defeat.

But seeing Zuko's formerly handsome, adorable little face covered in soot, his clothes covered in scorch marks, and his hair turned into a bird's nest, Kahn laughed without a shred of sympathy.

But his laughter soon died.

Because Azula beckoned to him with a "friendly" smile.

He was up next.

In fact, he had been observing closely while Azula thrashed Zuko. He had to admit that Azula was a genius through and through. Her fighting ability was on an entirely different level from theirs.

By comparison, he appeared weaker than Zuko, but his familiarity with firebending and excellent physique allowed him to fight Zuko on equal terms. Add in his many unexpected tricks, and he could win.

In other words, their "power" and "wits" were roughly equal, but Kahn had the edge in "skill."

The gap between Azula and Zuko, however, lay in the fundamental aspect of "power."

Unlike her sly personality, Azula's fighting style was nothing like a girl's. It was even more domineering than a boy's.

If Kahn and Zuko's fight had been an exchange of moves and counters, a combined contest of power, wits, and skill, then Azula and Zuko's had been a pure clash of power.

And Zuko had been the one getting crushed.

The same firebending seemed to unleash greater power in Azula's hands. She could easily dodge or block Zuko's attacks, or even counterattack directly, while Zuko could not withstand her attacks at all and could only dodge desperately.

What surprised him even more was that the flames Azula unleashed were not the usual orange-yellow, but azure blue!

Whether viewed scientifically or mystically, azure flames were generally stronger than ordinary orange-yellow flames.

But why were Azula's flames special?

Setting that question aside for now, back to the fight itself.

At first, Zuko had barely managed to fight back, but once Azula seized control of the fight's tempo, the advantage instantly tilted her way.

Soon, Zuko had been scurrying like a rat with his hands over his head, his clothes burned to tatters and a roasted smell clinging to him, before finally being blasted straight off the training platform.

And since he only had an edge over Zuko in "skill," he would probably meet the same fate.

So I'm definitely getting beaten up?

At the same time, however, some ideas began forming in Kahn's mind.

After dispatching Zuko cleanly and efficiently, Azula beckoned to him with a "friendly" smile.

"Hey, your turn."

I know, but do you have to look so eager? You're making it way too obvious.

Grumbling inwardly, Kahn stepped onto the platform and casually asked Azula:

"Do you need a break?"

Azula paused at his words, gave him another inscrutable look, then said disdainfully:

"Worry about yourself."

Fine, then.

Kahn shrugged indifferently.

Kahn and Azula completed the ritual for their practice bout, then stood with their backs to each other, waiting for the countdown.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, recalling Azula and Zuko's fight as various approaches to the battle brewed in his mind.

She might be strong, but that did not mean he had to get beaten up!

I, Kahn, just love saying no to people who think they're all that!

"Three, one!"

Go!

Azula used the same opening as Zuko, turning and punching a meteor-like fireball toward Kahn, then charging straight at him behind it.

But Kahn did not choose to trade blasts with Azula.

He dodged left, avoiding the fireball, and swept his right hand diagonally forward, drawing an arc of flame to block Azula's advance.

"Cheap tricks!"

Azula casually split the incoming arc of flame with a chop of her hand, then blasted out a pillar of fire.

Without stopping, Kahn flipped sideways to the left again, dodging the attack that followed close behind.

Azula kept charging at him, but Kahn refused to clash with her head-on, continuing to retreat and dodge.

Side flips, backward bends, turns, forward leaps, crouches, one-handed handstands, rolling in the dirt-Kahn pulled out every trick he had, performing all kinds of movements that looked like acrobatics to the onlookers as he dodged Azula's attacks.

For attacks he truly could not dodge, Kahn minimized their power as much as possible before blocking them. As a result, he had plenty of scorch marks and dust on him and looked quite bedraggled, but in reality, he had barely been hurt.

Bet you didn't see this coming! This is my finishing move-

The run-away strategy! Nigerundayo!

Azula attacked as she chased him, but Kahn dodged each strike by a hair's breadth. Watching his wildly imaginative, even somewhat comical movements, she grew angrier and attacked harder, rapidly burning through her stamina without realizing it.

Zuko watched from the sidelines, dumbfounded and stunned by Kahn's dazzling agility.

He had thought Kahn would get thrashed and quickly lose, just as he had. Yet although Kahn was being forced onto the defensive, he stubbornly held on without losing. Instead, it almost felt as if the two were evenly matched.

Huh? Isn't something off here? Does this count as being evenly matched?

Zuko began wrestling with the question.

Azula felt deeply uncomfortable now-disgusted, even. She could no longer be bothered with snide remarks and spat at Kahn outright:

"Hah, hah, did your teacher only teach you how to run away? Like a coward?"

She panted heavily, half from exhaustion and half from anger.

When she had watched Kahn fight Zuko earlier, she had not thought much of it, merely that Zuko was stupid. Only now, facing him herself, did she realize just how good this brat Kahn was at dodging!

Why get so good at dodging? Are you insane?!

Azula was wronging Kahn here. He had never trained in dodging. Even he had not expected to perform like this; it was purely extraordinary natural talent.

Kahn was panting just as heavily. As he rested, he kept his eyes fixed on Azula and maintained his distance, not letting her seize the chance for a surprise attack.

His head was perfectly clear. In this match, holding out meant victory!

Talk all you want. If I trade even one move with you head-on, I'm giving up my humanity.

The constant dodging had consumed a great deal of energy, and Kahn was already exhausted. Yet his mind remained clear, and Azula's taunts did not sway him. He even mocked her back:

"Running away is a useful skill. At least it keeps you from hitting me."

His counter-taunt proved highly effective. Already disgusted and irritated, Azula could not help charging at him again, while Kahn continued dodging.

Neither had much stamina left, and this situation would have to end eventually. But now, Kahn saw a path to victory!

Azula was extraordinarily talented, and the same firebending unleashed greater power in her hands. She was far beyond his ability to confront head-on.

But however gifted she was, she was still only a little girl. Her physical capabilities limited her strength. In particular, the drain on her stamina was gradually weakening her, and her moves were growing disordered, beginning to reveal openings.

And this moment was exactly what Kahn had been struggling so desperately for-

I'm giving up my humanity, Azula!

The instant Azula exposed an opening, Kahn suddenly advanced instead of retreating, dodging her attack by a hair's breadth and clamping onto her right wrist.

At the same time, the strength Kahn had long been storing suddenly erupted. He turned sideways and twisted, his legs driving his waist and his waist driving his shoulders, gathering all his strength into his hands and hurling Azula into the air-

Caught off guard by Kahn's sudden assault, Azula was dragged by an immense force and thrown into the air before she could react. Once she recovered, however, she merely adjusted her posture slightly in midair and landed easily.

"What good does struggling like this do-"

Before Azula could finish, she suddenly remembered something. She stared at Kahn, who stood on the platform, and fell silent.

She had landed outside the training platform, and they both knew the rules of their practice bouts very well.

Panting, Kahn looked at Azula and smiled.

"That's called making proper use of the rules."

At the same time, Zuko's excited shout rang out:

"Azula, you lost!"