“Oh, Holy Trinity, eternal and divine,

We kneel before You, our hearts incline.

To thee we offer our humble praise,

In reverence to Your sacred ways.

Vortrax, oh mighty ocean vast,

Thy waves of transformation ever last.

Guide us through the ebb and flow,

As we navigate life's currents below.

Ravius, radiant sun above,

Thy light shines down with boundless love.

Illuminate our path with Your golden rays,

As we seek to walk Your righteous ways.

Titanus, steadfast earth below,

Thy strength and stability we surely know.

Grant us the fortitude to withstand,

The trials of life and shifting sand.

Oh, Holy Trinity, eternal and divine….”

Lin:

Lin knelt in silent reverence within the hallowed halls of the Temple of Kami, her head bowed in prayer as she sought solace in the presence of the Trinity. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, mingling with the soft murmur of whispered prayers creating a somber atmosphere. Civilians, religious Gujis, and even the Goddmashin knelt before the Trinity.

Before Lin, a grand altar rose. The altarpiece itself was over ten meters wide and half that again in height. Made from gold, silver, and alabaster marble. Rumors said there were over eight hundred and fifty enamel plaques, each backed by hardwood oak, with five thousand gems involved in its construction. From garnets, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and more, each adorned the carvings in the enamels depicting the likeness of Vortrax, Ravius, and Titanus, the three Ideals that composed the Trinity. The Grand Altar was truly a monumental work of art.

In the creation of Republic City, Zuko, Aang, and Toph, her great-grandmother, brought forth knowledge from all walks of life: construction, education, military, justice systems, and even religious texts. Three-quarters of a century ago, the culmination of religious texts and insights consolidated, and the Great Trinity was founded. Right here in the Temple of Kami.

Lin’s eyes looked with careful admiration upon each enamel plaque. From the giant leviathan Vortrax, who united with Avatar Aang at the battle of the Northern Water tribe who watched over the seas, to the dragon Ravius and the mighty Titanus. Each Ideal Lin carefully looked upon and bowed in reverence. Their forms were imposing yet comforting, somehow still feeling like gods through mere carvings. They represented the vast expanse of the ocean, the radiant warmth of the sun, and the steadfast strength of the earth.

“Oh, Holy Trinity, eternal and divine...” A Guji spoke near her. A votive candle was lit in each hand. The Guji was clad in his priestly carmine-colored robes—not unusual, as Ravius was typically worshiped more in the summer months. Kneeling, setting down the candles beside him, and bowing his head in prayer to Ravius, Lin also whispered along with the Guji in further prayer.

As she closed her eyes in quiet contemplation, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, the atmosphere of the temple seeming to create a profound connection to each of the divine Ideals: Vortrax, then Ravius, and finally her own, Titanus. In her mind's eye, she could see the vast expanse of the ocean stretching out before her, its mighty waves crashing against the shore with unyielding force. She could feel the warmth of the sun's rays upon her skin, filling her with a sense of hope and renewal, and beneath her, she could sense the solid, unyielding strength of the earth. Of her Ideal.

For Titanus grounded them all, earthbenders even moreso. He was the one who anchored the world. He was the father of life. He was the backbone of the realm. Titanus the beating heart. Titanus the immutable. Titanus the eternal. Titanus, The One Who Watches All, from the guts of Earth herself.

But as Lin prayed, a strange sensation washed over her, a presence that seemed to envelop Lin in its embrace. It was as if she could feel the earth itself stirring beneath her feet, as if Titanus, titan of the depths, was watching over her with his silent, unyielding gaze.

Lin's heart raced with awe and wonder, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the weight of His awareness pressing down upon her. Sweat dripped down her neck and back, beneath the armor she wore, beneath the flesh of her Ideal. In that moment, she was acutely aware of her own insignificance, of the vastness of the earth, and of the incomprehensible power of the Primordial Earthlord.

Yet despite her shock and awe at the attention of such a being, Lin dared not break her concentration, dared not draw attention to herself in the presence of her god. Instead, she continued to silently pray, her words a whispered hymn of devotion and reverence to the mighty Titanus.

In that moment, Lin felt a bond with the earth itself, a connection that transcended words and thoughts, a connection that spoke to the very core of her being. For all her meditations, seismic senses, and practice honing the earth, at that moment, Lin felt closer to her element than ever before. It was almost as if she could smell the very earth, see the mountains, taste the metal and rocks, hear the very beat of the earth, and feel the rush of magma vents deep below. At that moment, she was not an earthbender; she did not even feel human. With Titanus’s gaze upon her, she felt like a piece of true reality, unshackled by moral desires and whims. And as she basked in the presence of her god, she knew that she was truly blessed.

Eventually, His awareness left her, and the weight of his focus turned elsewhere. Yet in this sacred space, Lin felt a sense of peace and belonging greater than all her years spent on the force. Then all seven years married to Wan.

With renewed strength and her morning prayers done and complete, Chief Lin rose from her knees, her heart still filled with awe for the blessing bestowed upon her as she left the Temple of Kami to start her day on the force.

***********

“Blasted Trinity, this is the fourth fire this month,” Lin said.

Wan knelt down to move and scrape around the ashes with his gloved hand. “Bummer that not much is left, Chief.”

The two of them stood on the edge of a quiet street, staring at the destroyed warehouse building. On the edge of the waterfront, closer to the Little Chin district and firmly in Triple Triad territory.

“First fire didn’t get any Triad men. This one is too hot to tell.”

Her deputy shrugged and dusted off his gloves to free them from ash. “Yes, it seems it is. We could send some to the lab. See if anyone was caught in the fire.”

“Agreed, send a sample again to the lab and ID anyone who is found,” Lin said. If the lab could find pieces of bone, that was all she needed to know. Dead men grew her squad. No politician wanted the dead of their voters to plague their campaigns. When she first discovered the incident at Mrs. Wei’s, she had less than a dozen police officers under her. Now she had eighteen. Most too green for much good.

“Do you think the killer has the attention of the Goddmashin?” Wan asked. “We have already found nine dead. At what point would the Goddmashin decide to intervene?”

“I truthfully don’t know Wan. Though I doubt a few dead gangsters would interest them. If, however, enough collateral was damaged, and their precious supply chains were disrupted, then I might see them getting off their high towers and help. Maybe even send out a Sentinel.

“Oh, a Sentinel? Now that would be interesting. I haven’t seen one of their prized Sentinels in action. Only seen them afar in some parade or other nonsense. Are they as mighty as the legends say?

“Hmph,” Lin scoffed, “legends are never correct. But I will admit the Sentinels are impressive. While the stories paint them to be larger than life, I would reckon they could give the Avatar a run for their money.”

Lin knew from firsthand experience how imposing the Sentinels were. Her sister was one. They were the warriors of the Goddmashin, and one Sentinel would wipe the floor with her entire squad, increased numbers or not.

Lin looked at the ocean off in the distance. Thinking through the case. Is it the killer? Rival gangs? A third party? Whoever killed the men in the last four Triad bases torched them to cover their tracks. Yet, with no survivors, Lin suspected it was the same killer. Rival gangs didn’t purge all members and burn down Triad merchandise in the process.

Interrupting Lin from her thoughts, Wan stood up and moved to her side, gazing at the gray clouds above the ocean. “That is if the Avatar is real. Not just another legend.”

“The Avatar is real,” Lin rebutted. This was a common argument between her husband and her, as they often debated the existence of the Avatar. The discussion usually went well into the night. “We have yet to hear if the reincarnation began, but yes, the Avatar is certainly real.”

“What would the Avatar think? I mean the world has changed quite a bit since Aang passed.”

“While unbelievable, I do believe that the Avatars have memories of their past lives. Too many accounts of old Avatars somehow knowing lost knowledge. There must be some connection. So whoever the new Avatar is, they’ll have Aang’s memories. Wouldn’t be too hard to extrapolate from his memories until today.

“Aye, that could work. Assuming the reincarnation and connection to past lives are true. Still, while your family has extensive records of past Avatars, none of which I have read, I find the idea that someone is reborn for eternity, eternally cursed with past memories, a hard pill to swallow.

“Belief is often hard, Wan. It takes a level of blind trust,” Lin said as she gently touched the pendant at her neck, remembering that fateful day her Ideal graced her with his presence.

“Whoever this new Avatar is, he, she, it, they best prepare. This is a new world, and there are titans now that won’t bend to anyone.”

With her piece said, Lin then turned and walked to her patrol automobile. Her husband right beside her. Getting into the vehicle, Lin and Wan drove to the edge of the Little Chin and Small Omashu districts. Both poorer areas of Republic City and right alongside the waterfront.

As they drove past the small shops, run down apartment buildings, and worn down roads, they eventually came to another burned-down building. One was the first Triad base hit a month ago.

Pulling up and parking a block over, Lin and Wan both got out and walked up to the perimeter set up by her men around a sewer hole. Glancing at Yu, Lee, and the new face Joo-Ni.

“You are certain someone traveled down here?” Wan asked Yu and Lee.

“Beyond the accounts of a few eyewitnesses, no.” Replied Yu. “All we know is this was a possible traveled tunnel.”

“So we may well be chasing ghosts.” Wan more of stated than inquired.

“Aye, but it’s likely our best option at the moment sir.”

“Lead on then. I want us to take a two-by-two-by-one formation. Lee start tracking up front. Yu keep to his left shoulder. Joo-Ni, I’d like you to take our rear. Chief, we will take the middle.” Wan spoke to the squad.

As Chief Lin prepared to follow her team into the depths of the Tunnels, her gaze lingered on Joo-Ni, the enigmatic newcomer whose presence among them remained shrouded in mystery. Joo-Ni was a woman of few words, her dark eyes betraying little of her thoughts as she checked her weapons with practiced efficiency.

Lin knew little of Joo-Ni's background, save for the fact that she was once a member of the Goddmashin, she had a reputation for being unbeatable in their off-duty spars. What had caused Joo-Ni to distance herself from the faction and join the police force from such lofty heights remained a mystery, one that Lin had yet to uncover.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Joo-Ni’s past, there was no denying her skill in combat. She moved with a fluid grace that spoke of years of training, her movements precise and deadly. Lin had witnessed firsthand the speed and precision of Joo-Ni’s attacks, her blows striking with incredible force and the finesse of a master.

As Lin studied her fellow officer, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. There was still something about the woman that set her apart from the rest of the team, something that hinted at something more, lurking beneath the surface. But for now, Lin pushed aside her misgivings, focusing instead on the task at hand—the hunt for the elusive killer lurking in the shadows of the Tunnels.

***********

Officer Lee crouched at the mouth of the old service tunnel, his breath visible in the frigid air. The tunnel stretched ahead, dark and foreboding, with only the faint lights from each of the police helmets. He adjusted his stance and breathing, focusing inward and then outward. Bringing the world into a strange, otherworldly focus, where vibrations were felt and heat signatures glowed against the cold, stone backdrop.

Chief Lin stood silently at the edge of the tunnel, her eyes fixed on Lee as he knelt, palms pressed against the cool, damp earth. The dim light of their headlights long shadows on the walls, flickering eerily with each shift of their movement. Lee's brow furrowed in concentration, his eyes closed as he focused on the seismic vibrations beneath his fingertips. It was a technique Lin had taught him, taught her whole squad, a closely guarded secret of the Beifong family, but Lee had taken it to extraordinary new heights.

Lin marveled at his prowess. She had taught him to sense vibrations through the earth, a skill that allowed an earthbender to detect movement and presence in the surrounding area. But Lee's abilities had evolved beyond her wildest expectations. He could sense not just the vibrations, but also the subtle shifts in temperature, for movement of the earth always left a slight increase in heat. Lee was able to create a mental map of thermal disturbances that gave him an almost supernatural insight into his surroundings.

Stepping forward, Lee noticed the first set of cues: faint footprints in the dust, barely registering due to their likely age but disturbed just enough to suggest passage. Chief Lin's voice crackled as she broke the silence. "Lee, do you see anything?"

"Yes, Chief," Lee responded. "Tracks visible. Proceed with caution."

Chief Lin, Deputy Wan, Officer Yu, and the quiet but observant Joo-Ni followed closely, each alert and ready. Lee’s thermal senses picked up the faint heat residue left by the killer's feet, a subtle glow, in his mind, that indicated he had passed through. The team moved silently, their senses attuned to every shift and sound. The tunnel walls were lined with old, rusted pipes and cables, and the occasional drip of water echoed through the cavernous space.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

This was the third day of continuous tracking through the vast Tunnels. The squad had followed the nearest entrance from one of the more recently burned Triad houses. With the Triads now in shambles and soon to be gone from all the damage done by the killer, rival gangs, and more, Lin knew their window of opportunity was shrinking. Soon there won’t be Triads anymore. And who knows who the killer will turn to next, Lin thought.

A few hundred yards in, Lee noticed a discarded food wrapper, its metallic sheen barely visible. He picked it up, recognizing it as a brand sold only in the nearby convenience store. "He was here," Lee muttered, handing it to Wan who pocketed the wrapper as potential evidence.

Further in, this tunnel branched into two paths. Lee paused, studying the ground carefully. The right path showed more recent disturbances. Dust particles floated in the air, illuminated by his headlight, which he had switched on briefly to check for more detailed tracks. Don’t want to killer to see our lights. Tiny pebbles were scattered in a pattern suggesting someone had hurried through.

"Which way?" Deputy Wan whispered, his eyes scanning the dimly lit paths.

Lee focused back on his thermal senses. "Right," he said. "Trail is stronger here."

They advanced, the tunnel seeming to narrow as the air grew colder. Up ahead, Lee heard the faintest echo of movement, a scrape against the stone.

"Sounds detected up ahead," he whispered. "Moving in."

Their grip tightened on their flashlights as they approached a bend in the tunnel. Lee peered around the corner, through his thermal sense highlighting the residual heat signature of a handprint on the wall, indicated the killer had paused here, perhaps to catch his breath.

The team advanced, their eyes scanning for more signs. The tunnel sloped downward, and Lee noticed a slight increase in the warmth of the footprints. The killer must have traversed this tunnel more recently, he deduced. Just then, he spotted a small, crumpled piece of cloth caught on a protruding nail—a piece of a jacket, torn apart.

"Chief, take a look at this," Yu said, his voice steady, and holding out the torn cloth to Lin. “Do think it’s our guy?”

“Maybe. I think we are getting close.” Lin spoke. “Squad, be on guard. Lee keep tracking but I want Wan and Yu to straddle each side. No surprises.”

As they moved deeper, the tunnel's silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water. The distant hum of city life above had long been left behind as they were too deep in the Tunnels.

They paused at a junction where the tunnel intersected with an old maintenance shaft. The thermal senses revealed a faint warmth rising from the shaft. Lee peered down, seeing a rusted ladder leading further down into the darkness.

"Down here," Lee directed.

Taking a deep breath, the team descended the ladder, their movements swift and controlled. At the bottom, they found themselves in a smaller tunnel, its walls lined with old lump edges, clear signs of an earthbender’s make. The thermal trail was more distinct here, the killer’s bending and body heat lingering on the narrow passage's walls.

They moved forward, Lee's seismic senses catching a flicker of movement ahead. A figure darted into a side passage about two hundred yards ahead. The team picked up their pace, careful to maintain their stealth. The tunnel opened into a small chamber as the team reached the end of the tunnel, their lights casting flickering light on the rough stone walls.

The trail had led them to a large, open cavern, the ceiling high above their heads to where they could only see darkness above. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss as they scanned the area, weapons at the ready, but there was no sign of the figure they were following. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

"This doesn't make sense," Deputy Wan muttered, frustration evident in his voice. "The trail led us here, but there's nothing. No signs of a struggle, no hidden passages. It's like he just disappeared."

Yu kicked at a loose stone, his face etched with disappointment. "Maybe we missed something along the way. We should backtrack, see if there was a fork in the tunnel we overlooked and missed by Lee."

Lee knelt down, his hand pressed against the ground, eyes closed in concentration. "No," he said quietly. "This is the end of the trail. He was here. The vibrations are fresh."

"Then where is he?" Joo-Ni asked, her tone calm but edged with curiosity. "Did we get led wrong, or is this some kind of trap?"

Lin's brow furrowed in thought. She trusted Lee's abilities implicitly, but the situation was perplexing. "Let's take a moment," she said, her voice steady. "Lee, try to extend your senses further. See if you can pick up anything we missed. The rest of you, stay alert."

Lee nodded and settled into a meditative stance, his breathing slow and measured. The rest of the squad formed a loose circle around him, their eyes scanning the cavern for any signs of danger. The air was thick with tension, the silence oppressive and heavy as they waited.

"This place gives me the creeps," Yu murmured, his eyes darting to every shadow. "Feels like we're being watched."

"We can't keep searching these tunnels forever," Wan said, his frustration bubbling over. "Maybe it's time to regroup, come up with a new strategy. We've been at this for days with nothing to show for it."

"Is it just me," Yu complained, "or does the air feel heavy?"

Before Lin could respond, Lee's eyes snapped open and up towards the darkness, his expression one of urgent alarm. "Everyone, move!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern.

In an instant, faster than most of them could react, the ground beneath them erupted as a violent tremor shook the earth, and chunks of stone and dirt flew through the air. The squad scrambled to regain their footing, but the force of the arrival knocked several of them to the ground. Lin barely had time to react before a massive, armored figure landed almost on Lee from above. Whatever it was must have been floating in the darkness. Knowing they were tracking it. How, Lin could only guess much later.

The metal monstrosity towered over them, its form twisted and dark, a terrifying blend of metals their headlights unable to even illuminate its entire form. Without stopping from its heavy landing it advanced, its movements swift and deadly.

"Get back!" Lin shouted, pulling her men to their feet as they prepared to face the new threat. Yu, Lee, and Wan formed a defensive line, their metal whips were drawn and stances ready. Lin and Joo-Ni started to lift up earthen mounds behind the trio to heighten their own vision of view.

"We've walked into a trap," Lee said, his voice grim. "This was a setup."

Lin's mind raced as she assessed the situation. They had been led here deliberately, the killer using their own tactics against them. But there was no time for regret or second-guessing. They had to survive, to fight their way out of the trap. First, secure their safety. Then worry about the killer.

"Stay focused," Lin commanded, her voice steady despite the chaos. "We fight together, and we get out of this together. Move!"

As Lin spoke the thing rushed forward. Yu, Lee, and Wan rose up an earthen wall, each reinforcing it with additional layers of stone and forming a curved spherical shape to eliminate any stress points.

Yet as the towering figure reached their shield it turned and delivered a quick fluid strike. Its limb was pointed in a spike, which struck completely through their earthen shield, grazing Lee’s armor, denting it, and sending him tumbling to the side.

Joo-Ni and Lin both hurled boulders at the dark figure before Lin stomped her food and shifted the earth under Lee to move him away to regain his bearings.

Like a waterbender, the figure ducked and weaved around the boulders hurled at it before punching both of its hands in a singular spot into the makeshift shield. As it punctured the earthen bulwark, each limb quickly flowed outwards, spreading and hooking along the crack, and with a heave the dark figure tore their spherical shield in half.

Yu and Wan both dove to either side, dodging the foot that crashed down where they once were. As they circled the metal monstrosity, Wan threw more boulders of stone and Yu attempted to muddy the ground to off-put the foe's footing.

Lin then stepped forward to confront it directly. Noticing how Wan's strikes were shrugged off. A true testament to its fortitude as the three of them almost fell into a dance as they continued to press the fight. Joo-Ni and Lee, who likely had a broken collar bone, both kept overwatch over the fight and hurdled massive boulders as Lin, her husband, and Yu danced and battled the killer. Lin was sure this was a bender and not some demented new machine. Too fluid, too well versed in techniques.

Certain now the killer was working alone, for fire, water, and even earth seemed to barely phase it; it was no wonder the Triads were so outclassed. This thing alone could kill any gang. Lin realized.

How the killer developed such a style of fighting, surrounding itself with enormous amounts of metal, was unknown to Lin, but as the fight raged on she couldn’t help but grudgingly admire how effective it was.

It was nimble as a waterbender but strong as a titan. Many of Joo-Ni and Lee’s boulders were artfully dodged while it simply tanked almost all of Lin, Yu, and Wan’s strikes. Each time lashing out in return. Most of its strikes the trio dodged without question. After seeing it crack open their prior defense like an egg they did not dare make that mistake again.

As the fight raged on for minutes the trio started to fall further into a rhythm. Timing their strikes and aiming to knock it over. Stone pillars, whips of metal, and boulders of rock all flew and raged throughout the air. Like a blizzard of earth, centered around their hulking adversary. Yet Lin knew their time was finite. They were no more than mere pests annoying a crocodile. Lin, and her squad, just didn’t have enough raw power to do any lasting damage.

And each return strike, kick, and grab was getting closer and closer to finding its mark. It was learning, figuring out her squad's fighting style. Sooner or later the killer would time its strike right, figure out the correct footwork, and meet its blow with their flesh.

Knowing they needed a change, Lin shouted, “Joo-Ni, engage. Yu and Wan retreat back and support Joo-Ni.”

Yet as Wan and Yu turned to retreat the figure struck out. Fast as a snake, it leaped forward and struck at Yu. Its limb just barely seemed to connect yet it cut through Yu’s armor in a screech of metal, catching him around the middle. Slicing and spilling Yu’s guts out, it continued its swing to cut off the retreating Wan.

No shouts of alarm, nor pauses in the fights occurred for Yu. Each of the squad members knew that would be a death sentence. Only cold, rational thinking was necessary. As the killer turned to Wan, Lin could see the calm façade Wan had collected before he dove away. A thin whip of metal then struck out from the giant figure's side, barely connecting with the diving Wan, catching him on the helmet and sending his body spinning away.

Lin's eyes narrowed in concentration as she pulled a giant chunk of earth from the cavern floor, shaping it into a jagged projectile. With a grunt, she sent it hurtling toward the monstrosity, but it deflected the boulder with a single swipe of its colossal arm.

“And now the kiddie glove come off..” Lin faintly hear beside her. Looking, and seeing Joo-Ni moving to face the killer.

The metal figure turned to face Joo-Ni. Almost seeming to bore down and assess her as a threat. Lin watched in awe as Joo-Ni stepped forward, her stance unwavering, her eyes locked on the hulking beast. She moved with a fluid grace, her every motion a sign of her skill.

"Joo-Ni, be careful!" Lin shouted, but she knew it was unnecessary. Joo-Ni was a force of nature herself, her every strike calculated, her every defense formidable.

Joo-Ni met the monstrosity's charge head-on, her hands and blows moving in swift, precise gestures as she bent the earth to her will. Giant pillars of stone erupted from the ground, striking the creature with tremendous force. The impact was enough to stagger the beast, but it quickly regained its footing, its metal body seeming almost impervious to the onslaught.

With a fierce yell, Joo-Ni leaped into the air, her foot connecting with the monstrosity's chest in a powerful kick. The creature stumbled back, and for a moment, it seemed as though she had the upper hand. But the monstrosity retaliated with a brutal swipe of its arm, and Joo-Ni barely dodged, the claws grazing her armored side.

Lin could only watch in stunned admiration. The rest of her squad lay defeated, but Joo-Ni fought on, undeterred and unyielding. She was a whirlwind of motion, her strikes precise and powerful, her defenses unbreakable. Dodging its strikes in a blur of motion, and returning with almost equal punishment.

"Stay with me, Yu," Lin murmured, kneeling beside her fallen officer. Yu's face was pale, his breath shallow as he clutched his side, blood seeping through his fingers. "We're getting you out of here."

Wan lay crumpled in the corner, his body bruised and battered. His helmet flung off somewhere in the dark cavern. Lee was back by the entrance of the tunnel. Looking like he was attempting to use his Brick to call for help. A lost cause this deep into the Tunnels. Lin's heart ached for her team, but she couldn't afford to lose focus. She had to believe in Joo-Ni; had to trust that she could hold the line.

The battle raged on, Joo-Ni and the monstrosity locked in a fierce struggle. The cavern echoed with the sounds of their clash, the ground literally trembling beneath their feet from the force of their blows. Joo-Ni's movements were a blur, her earthen boulders striking with the force of a train, her feet dancing with the precision of a master. She would lift boulders and somehow condense them down before slamming them against her foe.

But even Joo-Ni's incredible skill had its limits. The monstrosity was relentless, its sheer power slowly pushing her back. Metal flowing over the dents and scrapes delt by Joo-Ni. Lin's heart pounded in her chest as she watched, knowing that they were running out of time. It was just too big, too bulky, too much metal. A titan if she ever saw one.

And then, as if from a dream, a high-pitched voice rang out through the cavern. "Hold on!"

Lin's head snapped up, her eyes widening as a teenage girl rode on the back of a massive polar bear dog. Her attire screamed Northern Water Tribe. The girl’s hands moved in fluid motions, and water surged from a nearby underground tunnel behind her, wrapping around the monstrosity and seemingly freezing it in place.

The polar bear dog roared, its massive form barreling into the metal beast and sending it staggering onto one knee. The girl leaped off its back, her waterbending creating a shield of ice between Joo-Ni and the metal hulk.

The dark-skinned water tribe girl then turned to step up next to Joo-Ni. There almost seemed to be a smirk dancing across her face.

As she started to speak, “It’s alright now, I’m the..” the monstrosity shifted suddenly. Its movements were a blur of precision. It grabbed the polar bear dog by the face with a crushing grip, stopping the animal's bites, the sound of cracking bones echoing throughout the cavern. Lin's heart lurched as she watched, helpless and horrified.

"No!" the girl screamed, but the creature's other arm swung around with brutal force, sending the polar bear dog crashing onto its back. The animal yelping in pain, the sound piercing the chaos of the battle. Before Joo-Ni or the girl could react, the monstrosity's metal limbs encapsulated the animals head, a cruel vise tightening with merciless strength.

Joo-Ni's eyes widened as she tried to launch another attack, bursting through the ice barrier, but the creature moved too quickly. The ice wall slowing Joo-Ni’s too much. It drove a knee into the girls animal's belly, pinning it to the ground. With a sickening twist, the massive metal monstrosity ripped its head off, a geyser of blood and pieces of flesh splattering the floor and ice the waterbender had erected as a barrier mere moments earlier.

The cavern fell into a moment of silence, the only sound was the dripping of blood and the labored breathing of the fighters. The girl fell to her knees, her hands trembling, eyes wide with shock as she made an odd moaning sound. She’s in shock, Lin thought, knowing that look from experience. Joo-Ni's face, however, hardened as she launched herself at the monstrosity with ferocity, her attacks no less weaker than before.

Lin shut down a feeling of nausea, time for that later, she thought. Yet the brutal scene was still etched into her mind. She had to rally her team, had to find a way to end this nightmare. "We can't let it win," she muttered, steeling herself.

The monstrosity turned to resume its battle against Joo-Ni, seeming almost to relish the despair it had sown. Its goal to kill never faltering and the water tribe girl a silly distraction. Lin clenched her fists, drawing on every ounce of her training and determination. Joo-Ni would have to hold it off as Lin and Lee would flee with their downed comrades. Aware Joo-Ni very well might die fighting the killer alone.

Suddenly, a change came over the cavern. The girl’s eyes began to glow with an otherworldly light, and her body lifted off the ground, levitating a few inches in the air. The cavern was bathed in a brilliant, ethereal illumination.

"What's happening?" Lin whispered to herself, realization dawning as she took in the sight. Remembering the old texts in the Beifong family library. "The Avatar..."

The glowing intensified, casting long shadows and making the metallic surface of the monstrosity gleam. Lin's heart raced with a mix of fear. They were in the presence of the Avatar, the bridge between worlds, the master of all elements. But why was she here, in these tunnels, in the midst of their dire search?

As the light grew blinding, Lin made a quick decision. She grabbed Yu by his breastplate, fingers digging into the metal, his breath ragged and weak. She hoisted him onto her shoulder, his armor bent around this wound to try and keep his guts in.

"Hang in there, Yu," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Ahead of her, Lee was already making his way to the cavern entrance, Wan slung over his shoulder like a ragdoll. The ground beneath them trembled, a rumble that quickly grew into a deafening roar. Lin looked back to see the Avatar’s glowing form at the center of a vortex of elements, her power erupting in a display of raw, uncontrolled energy.

"Go! We need to get out of here now! She’ll bring down the cavern!" Lin shouted over the cacophony, her voice barely audible.

She sprinted towards the tunnel entrance, her legs burning with the effort. The cavern began to collapse, chunks of rock falling from the ceiling, smashing into the ground with bone-jarring force. The monstrosity was caught in the maelstrom, thrown back along with Joo-Ni, both of them disappearing into the chaos.

A massive blast of earth and air erupted behind her, propelling Lin forward. She stumbled, a sharp pain slicing through her head as a falling boulder struck her. The impact sent stars bursting before her eyes, but she pushed on, driven by sheer willpower.

She could see Lee up ahead, pushing forward with Wan. Lin gritted her teeth, every step a battle against the encroaching darkness at the edges of her vision. The tunnel entrance was so close, just a few more steps as she took more strikes from the falling cavern.

With a final, desperate burst of energy, Lin reached the tunnel entrance, her legs giving out beneath her. She collapsed to the ground, the weight of Yu pinning her down. Her vision swam, the sounds of the collapsing cavern fading into a muffled echo.

"Lee... Wan... Joo-Ni..." she whispered, her consciousness slipping away.

The last thing she saw was the dim light of one of their flickering headlamps. The glass was cracked but not quite broken, a small beacon of hope in the overwhelming dark tunnel, before it flickered and everything went black.