Republic City never truly slept.
Even under the pale light of dawn, the streets bustled with a kind of organized madness. Vendors barked out the morning's specials, benders trained in alleyways, and the hum of Satomobiles mixed with the thunder of trains overhead.
Kaiqok could feel it—an underlying tension, humming beneath the city like a barely restrained earthquake.
Something was wrong here.
He and Korra stepped off the ferry into the harbor district, planning to visit Asami's private lab before meeting with the city council. Tenzin had insisted on secrecy, warning them both not to reveal Kaiqok's full abilities until they understood the threat at hand.
It took all of ten minutes for everything to go to hell.
---
The explosion rocked the marketplace.
A stall went up in flames near the tramline, smoke curling skyward as screams echoed through the morning fog. Satomobiles swerved, horns blaring, as pedestrians scattered in every direction.
Korra was already moving. "Come on!"
Kaiqok followed her into the chaos, his eyes scanning for the source of the blast. His chakra cloak shimmered faintly under his jacket, golden energy pulsing just beneath the skin of his hands.
They reached the burning stall—fruit splattered across the cobblestones, fire crackling with unnatural intensity.
Then came the second explosion—this one from above.
A zeppelin had dropped something—a strange canister glowing blue.
It hit the ground, burst open, and released a shockwave of compressed energy. People were thrown off their feet, and several benders cried out in pain as their bending faltered mid-motion.
Korra grit her teeth. "It's some kind of anti-bending tech!"
"No…" Kaiqok crouched near the canister, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't tech. It's spiritual. Someone's blending spirit energy with mechanical force."
As he spoke, a figure stepped from the smoke—tall, masked, and cloaked in deep red robes. Their presence was oppressive, like the heat before a thunderstorm.
Korra stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The masked figure didn't speak. Instead, they raised a hand—and unleashed a wave of corrupted energy.
Korra blocked it with a wall of water. Kaiqok moved like lightning, his chakra bursting to life in a flare of golden flame as he tackled the enemy from the side, slamming them into a wall.
But the figure twisted, landing cat-like. Their aura crackled—golden, but warped, tinged with dark red edges.
Korra stared in disbelief. "That's… your chakra."
Kaiqok's fists tightened. "No. It's someone else using what shouldn't exist."
The enemy launched forward, fists glowing with corrupted chakra. Kaiqok met them head-on.
Fist clashed with fist. Sparks burst through the alley.
Their fight was a blur—pure movement and fury. Kaiqok's golden cloak flared into a wolf's shape, jaws snapping as he moved in tandem with his attacker.
But the enemy was trained. Faster than expected. Their movements mirrored his own—exactly.
Too exactly.
Korra launched a stream of fire at the assailant, trying to buy Kaiqok space, but they dodged and vanished in the smoke with unnatural speed, melting into the chaos.
---
The aftermath was grim.
Twenty injured. Dozens displaced. Two city blocks scorched, and a new word was spreading through the streets:
"Chakra."
Tenzin met them at the council hall, his face grim. "Reports are coming in from three districts. Similar attacks. Similar energy signatures. People are calling it… the Golden Flame."
Korra crossed her arms, pacing. "It wasn't Kaiqok. Someone's mimicking his power—twisting it."
"They moved like me," Kaiqok said. "Same style. Same form. It's not coincidence."
Tenzin rubbed his temples. "This city is already on the edge. The Equalists are gaining followers again. Now we have this… this chakra war erupting in the shadows."
Asami entered the room then, dressed in her usual dark slacks and white jacket, her expression unreadable.
"I ran a trace," she said without preamble. "That energy came from a synthetic source. Someone's replicating chakra using spirit-infused tech."
Kaiqok stared. "They're manufacturing it?"
"Exactly. It's not pure like yours. It burns too fast. Think of it like volatile fuel—powerful but unstable."
Korra's eyes darkened. "Then someone's building an army."
Asami looked at her. "And they're using your friend's power to justify it."
---
Later that night, Kaiqok stood atop Air Temple Island, watching the flickering lights of Republic City.
Korra approached, her footsteps soft. "You okay?"
"No." He didn't turn around. "That person… they knew my style. Like they were trained to fight me."
She stepped closer. "You think it's someone from your past life?"
"Maybe. Or someone studying me from the shadows."
Korra touched his arm. "We'll figure it out. Together."
He glanced at her, and for a moment, the golden light of his chakra reflected in her eyes.
"You've changed," he said quietly.
"So have you," she whispered. "And maybe… that's exactly what this city needs."