Negotiations

"How is the South currently faring? We know it was one of the places where the invaders attacked for a long time and took away all our warrior brethren." Arnook sat on a throne and glanced at Thorian, who was looking around.

"Many villages were massacred; all waterbending masters were either imprisoned or some were even directly killed, as they did with my tribe six years ago." Thorian's response was cold. He wanted these people to understand the extent of the war in the South, although it was probably similar here.

Pakku, seated to Arnook's right, asked, "So how did you manage to recover so quickly?"

"We don't want to force you to recall the past if it bothers you in any way; we simply want to know if there's any way we can improve as well."

"When my village was attacked, my father defended it with his life, and my mother did too, but she was killed while escaping on an ice platform that had been attacked before I could get away. At that moment, I thought I would die, but then an ocean spirit contacted me and granted me a series of abilities, powers, and techniques that helped me survive and bring them directly to my people."

Thorian waved his hands, and an ice dragon formed behind him. "This ocean spirit never appeared in my life again, but it changed the color of my eyes and hair, and my powers increased as rapidly as my body developed. Now, while others train in techniques and can become very skilled, everyone can possess and wield them as long as they fight for something they truly need."

Arnook was surprised to hear this; his daughter Yue was born with certain physical conditions that prevented her from crying, and when they handed her over to the moon spirit to save her life, she too underwent those transformations. Now, hearing Thorian's story, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.

Pakku, with a hint of curiosity, asked, "So, how do these techniques differ from the ones you usually use?"

"We use them to kill; these techniques are so brutal that they're only taught as the soldier improves their control over them, or it would be a danger," Thorian waved his hand, and a large table with a map and marked signals appeared.

"That's..."

"What you see as intense blue is currently what we've managed to keep under control. Our army has been able to free thousands of prisoners who are now in our ranks."

The map displayed the entire fleet that the Southern army managed, and Thorian took advantage to say, "In the next three months, we will take control of all the colonies in the north, so I hope all your soldiers join the war."

"A counterattack won't work; we've tried it before, and it never worked," Arnook said, shaking his head.

"This fleet will attack the north at dawn; you will be completely destroyed, just like what happened to the south many years ago."

"Destroy us? Perhaps you don't know, but in the North, we have always remained strong, so you might want to watch your words." Pakku didn't trust Thorian much because of his age. Of course, he couldn't deny his talent, but still, those words shouldn't have been said.

"My fleet is a few kilometers away from the enemy fleet. The plan is to let them advance with their forces so we can attack them from behind and take their ships. Only then will we destroy their fleet, dealing a severe blow to the colonies that have participated in this attack on the north."

Upon hearing this, Arnook fell into deep thought and, after some time, said, "Alright, let's suppose we do everything you say. Do you have enough forces to support us?"

"Even if there aren't enough warriors, you have me. I am the most powerful warrior in the South, and I have taken down great Fire Nation generals. Additionally, no more than ten thousand soldiers are ready to support you in this defense." Thorian pointed to the map and said, "As long as we take the enemy fleet, we can establish forward bases, and with a swift counterattack, we'll take the enemy colonies."

Looking at the map, which clearly showed where the enemy was located, Pakku believed that this boy's vision wasn't entirely bad and asked, "What are your true intentions in wanting to unify the South with the North?"

"To free them, to reclaim the lands that have been taken from us, By doing that, we will eliminate the Earth Nation colonies, free all prisoners established at key points, and only then will we be ready to invade the Fire Nation." Thorian explained exactly what would happen in the following months.

Looking at Thorian seriously, Arnook asked after much deliberation, "In the hypothetical scenario that we reach the Fire Nation, what will you do?"

"I will kill the emperor, put his son on the throne, and make all rulers of each nation swear loyalty to the supreme emperor, who will lead the future world without wars."

"And do you plan to become the emperor?"

Thorian looked Arnook in the eyes and said, "That destiny is written; I will do everything the Fire Nation has failed to do. I will proclaim myself as the emperor of the world; that is the only way to end wars between nations that will be wounded after the war."

"That's absurd..."

"Then give me absolute control of this battlefield; I will protect this nation at all costs and let them know that I am the only one who can do such a thing." Thorian, to finalize this plan, had a backup plan, and that would be the Avatar. If the Avatar oversees Thorian's government, everyone will be sure that he won't abuse power.

"What is your decision?"

"Tell me the defense plan." Arnook had no alternative; he didn't know what was going through the minds of the people who put Thorian in power, but there surely had to be something.