Chapter 20 - Coward

I knew now that I had put off talking to the cult long enough; I had to go speak to them. I sighed and headed towards the Grand Hall. I stopped before the doors that led inside. So much had changed, and I barely knew what I was going to say. Sighing again, I pressed on the door, pushing them open.

The noise immediately stopped. Everyone turned to face me as I walked towards the stage at the center. The room was set up like a cafeteria, with long tables along the sides of the aisle I walked down. I kept my hands clasped behind my back, my head held high. I was a god, after all, and I had a presence to uphold. I walked up the steps to the stage and turned to face the crowd.

Someone started clapping, and then the whole hall joined in. "All hail Herobrine!" A woman shouted, and everyone followed suit. I raised my hand, and they immediately fell silent.

"What you have seen here today is a miracle. I was once banished to this world by my brother, as punishment for all the damage and hurt I have caused. He turned me into a mortal, a mortal named Steve. He made me forget who I was, to replace all that I knew with memories of mortal things. It became my curse, my burden. I was not myself. And during that time, I had failed you as your leader, your god."

The crowd was absolutely silent. They all seemed to be in awe, I paused for a second, and continued on.

"I was once a very hash god. A god who murdered, raped and killed. But there are other ways to be God of the Nether. I want respect. And it seemed I have only earned your respect, not the Overworld. But in my absence, I left a man who lied to you and stole from me." I snapped my fingers and the cage holding Omega burst through the doors. He didn't look any different from when I last saw him. His blonde hair was still a mess and the cut under his eye had scabbed over. The only thing that had changed was the look on his face; no longer was his face twisted in anger – he was calm. If I didn't know any better, I would have said he accepted his fate.

The cage hovered in the air and I snapped my fingers again. The cage disappeared, and Omega fell to the ground. He groaned and started to sit up. The crowd was shouting things at him, calling him names and cursing. I raised my hand again and they went mostly silent, aside from a few grumbling members.

"This is the man who led you. And he stole from me. Go ahead," I said, gesturing to Omega. "Show them what you can do." Omega struggled to stand and once he did, he wobbled on his feet and fell down. The crowd laughed, and I watched Omega's calm face twist with anger. He stood again, this time remaining standing. He looked at me, bowed, and muttered, "My Lord." Someone in the crowd cursed at him and Omega fixed his blood red eyes on the culprit.

I saw his eyes narrow and his hand lit up, fire licking at his fingertips. "Demon!" A man screamed and again, the rest of the crowd joined in. "You want a demon?!" Omega roared. He held out his hand as though he was summoning something. The crowd watched in an almost silent horror as the doors flew open and an object whizzed through.

Omega reached for the object and I was able to see what it was. It was Ignis, Omega's fiery sword. He swung it once through the air, grinning like a madman as he watched the flames it left behind.

I knew what Omega was planning now. Maybe at one point I was going to dole out justice in a fair way to account for his crimes. But now, I saw no other option. Omega wanted to fight fire with fire, and I had to be the other flame.

I summoned my own blade, my signature obsidian sword. Swirls of black smoke weaved around it and I heard someone sigh with awe. Omega turned those blood red eyes on me. "This will only end one way," I warned, my voice pitched low. "I'm aware." Omega responded, and he pounced. I blocked his swing and aimed towards his stomach. He growled in anger and pushed me back with his foot.

I jumped up into the air and hovered over his head. I saw him grit his teeth as he stared up at me. "You coward. What? Are you afraid of what I'm going to do to you?" He laughed. "Is this really how you want to go? The almighty Herobrine dying a coward." Before I could respond, a woman from the crowd hopped on the stage, holding a diamond sword with a jewel-encrusted hilt.

My eyes widened. That sword…I know that sword. "The only coward here is you, Omega." And I watched as Jess brandished her sword in front of her. He snickered. "Oh, you're going to fight me? You'll be my practice." Jess' green eyes narrowed and she took a step closer.

"She isn't alone." Emfia, wearing a black leather jacket and combat boots, jumped on the stage and stood next to Jess, holding a gold sword. Omega laughed again. "Aw, you have a friend. Double the practice!" Emfia followed Jess' stance. Omega was looking at them like a hungry cat, and they were food.

I started drifting down back towards the stage to join them when another person hopped onto the stage. It was Alexander, armed with a diamond sword. He winked at me and stood in front of the girls, his diamond sword held out in front of him, so close it was almost touching Omega's chest.

"You have me to deal with too." He said, his pale red eyes locking onto Omega's blood red ones. Omega's mouth set into a hard line and he swung at Alexander.

And that's when all hell broke loose.

It was over as fast as it started. Jess, Emfia and Alexander fought harder than I've ever seen them fight before. I didn't even know Emfia could wield a sword, and especially not as well as she did.

Omega got punched, kicked and scratched by the four of us and eventually, Alexander tackled him to the ground and Jess sat on his chest. I had my sword against his throat. His red eyes held such anger they probably could have set me on fire.

"End it already," Omega spat, some blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "Any last words?" I asked, pushing down a little harder into Omega's neck. He winced and spit out more blood. "I regret nothing," he said, a weak smile playing at his lips.

"Good," I replied, and I sunk my sword into his neck. It was a gruesome scene. Jess jumped up, out of the way of the blood and Alexander stepped back, although some splattered on his shoes. Emfia chocked back a sob and wrapped her arms around my torso. I had forgotten that the crowd was there until someone started clapping. The rest of the hall joined in. I looked over at them and realized that these people truly honored me, and no matter what I did or how I did it, they would follow me to the end of the world if I asked them too.

Patting Emfia's auburn hair, I turned to face the crowd again. "Thank you all for following me. But I must go. There is much for me to learn, much for me to understand. I will be back. Someday, I will be back. I promise."

Snapping my fingers, Omega's dead body disappeared from the stage. Gesturing to Jess, Alexander and Emfia, they headed towards the door. As I went to follow them, Ignis, Omega's sword, clattered as I accidentally kicked it with my foot. Picking it up, I admired the flames and its construction. It was such a beautiful weapon and I knew I couldn't just toss it, so I took it with me as I followed Emfia out the doors.