"Leave, Yara," were the first words out of Wang's mouth as he pointed his spear at his would-be enemies.

Yara, who'd come to stand beside him, cradling her unconscious daughter in one arm, frowned. She was covered in sweat, and a bloodied nose, but Wang saw the fire in her eyes. His words had stung her.

So, he spoke.

"Misha was the only thing that kept me going when I walked out of a black powder explosion with half my face melted off. I've kept away because I suspect Samir has already penetrated her mind, and I could not give away my attempt to rescue her. Now that she's safe, put my mind at ease by getting her the help she needs," Wang said in a loud but soft voice.

Yara's anger melted.

"But you can't face them alone," she insisted.

"You know I can. No Phantom is my match. They will die at the end of my spear like thousands of Firebendes before them."

Yara twisted her lips slightly. She clearly wanted to protest his alleged position as the best.

"I could run interference; keep the pressure off," she finally said.

Wang shook his head.

"You can't risk Misha like that."

With a conflicted look on her face, she gave Wang one last look before shooting into the air, faster than most could react.

Again, Jon Jon had to grab the combustion bender to warn him against attacking, but the second of hesitation was all Wang needed. Kicking off, Wang held nothing back. He layered Chi, suffused himself with Airflow hastening his movement, and appeared in front of Jon before he could blink, spear aiming for his head.

Jon's head snapped to the side just in time, a thin line of blood running down his cheek.

The combustion bender swung his muscled hand, but Wang raised an elbow to block it, dispersing the force, even though his bones did groan a bit, and struck with a Chi-infused fist aiming for the tattoed eye on the warrior's forehead.

The combustion bender snapped his head back in time so that Wang took an eye instead. As a scream ripped out his throat, Jon and another fire bender struck.

A lanky man in shorts with his legs bare. He kicked, unleashing a torrent of fire that washed over Wang's rotating shield of Chi.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

A moment later, he swung, spear blade tracing the air as he drew a Chi-infused crescent.

"Give me the boy, and I might spare you pathetic lives," Wang growled. For every ghost he had killed, Samir had to pay; for kidnapping his nephew and infiltrating her mind, he must pay; and for nearly killing him, he shall suffer.

"This is my first and final offer."

No one spoke, but they took several quick steps back, giving him a wide berth as they settled deeper into their stances. Not that it would change much.

Eyes red with rage, he announced. "So be it."

The combustion bender fired a shot even though the other benders were close enough to feel the impact, and Wang wove under it with ease as he closed in.

Several flaming whips lashed out, dancing and gyrating like they were alive, and Wang spun his spear to gather air and fired a thick air ball that dispersed most of it. In the carnage, a second combustion shot whipped out, which Wang predicted even as it formed, One-with-the-world guiding him.

Jon Jon's fireballs came next, each wave sent precision blasts that were nearly impossible to avoid, yet Wang wrung his way through, parried the few he could not dodge, and shielded himself from the rest.

It was clear Jon was the biggest threat, the combustion bender was a close second, and the fire benders with the whips were a close third.

Wang considered his options, drawing from his experience with a previous group, and went for the weakest link first.

The combustion bender.

Faster than they could blink, Wang's free hand shot an air stinger packed with a decent chunk of his Chi and wind towards the Combustion bender. The man had barely noticed Wang's hand move when his head exploded. The rest of the firebenders weaved back on instinct, and Wang closed in on his next target, the martial artist.

His spear swung down like an executioner's axe, shearing through a bright crescent that the martial master quickly threw out with his leg and bounced off his leg bracers with an audible twang.

Both sides reeled back, but the martial master clearly lost his footing. Six whips came a second later, lashing, whipping, and digging, but a hasty cast shield rebuffed them all. The second they came down, Wang's fingers blurred, exploding with two jabs that carried his air stinger far.

Both men miraculously weaved through it before Jon jet slammed into Wang. He spun his spear, creating a perpetual tunnel of wind to beat back the heat. The martial artist leapt away while Jon kept the pressure on.

"Get him out of here!" Jon said to the martial master. "You're of no further use to us." The man scowled at the insult, but he did as told. He grabbed Samir and leapt into the air with flame thrusters all the while Wang watched his teeth gnashed.

Samir wasn't going to slip through his grasp again.

With an explosive burst that soaked his mind and body in Chi, Wind surged forth, overpowering Jon's flame for a moment, giving Wang the opening he needed. His muscles seemed to swell from the strength pouring into them, and his torso blurred as his spear shot forward.

It ripped through the Martial master's head like he was paper; his lifeless body tumbled into the water, but Samir did not follow. Teal flames burst from three limbs instead of four as he leered down with Malice at Wang before he shot in the direction of the Fire Nation ships.

"No!" Wang screamed, even as the other benders bombarded him with attacks. He generated a windshield before the first attack hit.