After some stew to quench their hunger for a while and some well needed rest did Shroud feel just as about as ready as he'd ever get even if he was still slightly sore. Shroud knew it was going to be a challenge to get the materials needed especially with attacks he had. He had his claws and maybe his fire ability which he wasn't sure if the latter was going to work anymore after his freak-out moment. Shroud shudder unintentionally at the thought of what had to face soon.

To get a Ghast tear he, of course, had to kill a Ghast. Shroud had a hard time before laying even a scratch on them since they liked to float around in very spacious areas over lava and they were immune to pretty much all fire damage. So even if Shroud fire ability was a-okay, it would be useless.

Then Shroud needed to get a Blaze rod from one of the many Blazes who guard the fortresses scattered across the Nether and they too were immune to fire since, of course, they are made fire themselves. They are also much more aggressive than the Ghasts and would fight to the death until any threat was dead themselves. Another bad part to entering their fortress was the fact Shroud had to go deep into it to find the final ingredient… Nether wart.

Shroud huffed in early defeat at the daunting tasks ahead of him that he didn't know why he was doing any of it in the first place. But he was going to do it anyway to help Aodh so he could leave him to defend for himself. Though, as Shroud got ready to face his challenges ahead, Aodh tapped his knee to get his attention, still unable to stand to tap his shoulder.

"Yer can't just tackle your challenges with your fists and fire Shroud, here; let me show you how to use my sword…" Aodh wheezed out as Shroud stared curiously at him and his iron sword. Aodh was a strange man to Shroud, offering his only protection to him to help Shroud further.

Shroud nodded anyway, believing whatever he could get from him would help finish his tasks quicker to save the ever weakening Aodh. Shroud inwardly winced at how horrible weak Aodh was now… even if he did seemed to have infinite energy when blabbing away. Aodh's condition made Shroud wonder if he had been that weak when he got the strange illness, too.

Moving on, it was difficult at first to use the sword, Old Faithful, since Aodh couldn't stand to show the proper way to hold and wield the iron sword. Soon though, Shroud could swing it decently often and he got a wicked smile on his face when Aodh told him he could deflect the Ghast's fire back at them. Aodh got a little nervous when he saw Shroud's grin and hoped he didn't plan and doing anything insane.

Though as Shroud thought about smacking the Ghasts with their own attacks something made him wonder…

'How can their FIRE attacks hurt them when they're immune to FIRE attacks…?' Shroud just mentally shrugged thinking he could ask Aodh later if he lasted. At that moment, Shroud step out the 'door' which was merely a two block gap in a wall and began his search for the items.

Shroud looked slowly to the left towards the way they came from before and then to the right to the area where he found the Nether fortress before. For a few moments of thinking and a bit of listening made Shroud decide to go look for a Ghast first. Shroud thought it would be the best way to go since he didn't want to alert the Blazes and have them chase him forever.

But then again, Shroud could simply get some Nether rack and block up the gap, though Shroud didn't know if there was another exit to the fortress or not.

Shroud growled to himself for taking even just a few seconds to think about every possible flaw in his plans and with a whim, dashed off to the left, hoping to find an open space with Ghasts NOT floating over lava.

It was only when Shroud had ran around several corners did he realize he had to mark his way or he'd lose his bearings and never find Aodh again.

'Or you can just abandon him now…' Shroud nearly whip-lashed himself in surprise as he rapidly turned his head around in every direction. Soon though, he to realize that it was just Voice talking to him again. But Shroud still could not comprehend how Voice and other voice could randomly speak at times when they mostly just sent silent emotions to him. Well then again Voice could speak before just not now since other voice showed up.

Even through his confusion on the voices, Shroud did wonder if he should just abandon Aodh now. Again though, that small spark of whatever-it-was made Shroud continue otherwise. This didn't mean however that Shroud didn't want to tear his mind out and have another fire-fit, IF he could have a fire-fit. Not knowing where this sense of duty to Aodh was coming from maddened Shroud to the extremes.

Shroud didn't like not knowing things especially if he kept them from himself.

'I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT!' Shroud frustratingly reflected only to snap out of his inner thoughts when he heard a Ghast in the distance. He looked around a bit trying to get his bearings again and remembered that he had to mark his way. His solution was to place down two mushrooms pointing in the direction of the hideout.

The red mushroom would point away and the brown would point towards the hideout.

Shroud smirked before turning around and started searching for the Ghast that he had heard. He had just turned around a tight corner when he heard the high-pitched scream of a Ghast attacking. Shroud had jumped back around the corner as the blast smashed where he was just a few nanoseconds before.

Shroud put a hand over his racing heart and once he had calmed down enough did he steal a glimpse around the now smaller corner. Nothing could be seen, but Shroud could certainly hear the Ghast nearby.

Even after so long, the Ghasts still feared Shroud and would attack him on sight unlike with other creatures of the Nether.

So it was no surprise to Shroud as he moved back into the open space to hear the battle cry of the Ghast again. Though, this time a blast did not come giving Shroud a few precious seconds to locate the still unseen Ghast.

Turns out the Ghast was stuck behind a large over-hang and couldn't get into the smaller area in which Shroud was in. Shroud took off at a sprint towards the Ghast who was trying to maneuver around the over-hang to get a shot at him.

Shroud had nearly gotten into close enough range to start hacking and slashing away. Unluckily, the Ghast had had a moment of intelligence and blasted away the area that was blocking its path instead of continuing to blunder around the overhang.

What the Ghast hadn't expected after it had cleared the way and shot at Shroud was for its own blast to come bouncing back.

The Ghast dodged just in time and down below it one could hear the curses of Shroud. Shroud was still new with the iron sword he wielded and hadn't anticipated the blast to be as hard to hit back and had hurt his wrist.

He had no time to nurse his sprained wrist as the Ghast sounded off another attack which blew up into a pit of flames just inches to the left of Shroud. By the time the Ghast launched a third shot. Shroud was ready and was able to smack back the fire charge at the Ghast.

This went on for several minutes as Shroud tried to hit the Ghast with its own attack, but the Ghast kept moving out of the way and it was getting harder for Shroud to hit back as his injured wrist started to shake trying to even whole up the sword.

But despite his weakening wrist, Shroud's aim was improving as more of the fire charges were getting closer and closer to hitting home.

The Ghast was firing yet another attack, but when its head hit the ceiling of what was left of the overhang it knew it wasn't going to be able to get away in time.

Shroud saw this and a wicked grin stretched across his face at the thought of finally seeing the annoying Ghast die. With a strong swipe of Old Faithful, the fire charge hurled to the doomed Ghast and exploded right between its eyes killing it in one blow.

The insane smile of Shroud's didn't leave as he began to move towards the ground below where the Ghast had died searching for the tear. To see the Ghast explode into nothing just overdosed Shroud's thrill of revenge since that Ghast were always a problem to him.

So thrill was Shroud that he actually started to skip and laugh darkly soon enough until he found the tear which was where he thought it would.

As he reached down to grab the tear, however, pain enter his features causing his crazed smile to fall because of the pain in his wrist.

Shroud pulled his injured hand back before using the good hand to pick up the tear. Just as he was pocketing the tear and about to examine his hurt hand did Shroud hear the cries of more Ghasts curious to know what had happened.

He wasted no time and fled back towards the hideout having already gotten what he came for. Problem was trying to navigate back to the hideout since Shroud had only put one marker down. And so Shroud had to take many twists and turns before he found the right path which left him just a little bit tired out from all the walking.

As the hideout came into view, Shroud couldn't wait to rest up for a few minutes and get his last two tasks over with. He also wanted to get a proper look at his wrist to make certain it was okay enough for his next tasks.

Soon though as he neared the entrance, Shroud went tense with unease. He didn't know why, but he felt like there was some danger nearby and Shroud had learned to trust his instincts when he got a bad vibe.

Shroud decided to run the rest of the way back to make sure everything was all right.

He got to the entrance in a short time span,but what he saw inside made his blood rise to a boiling point from sheer rage.

Towering over a defenceless Aodh was a Pigman with a terrible burn on his back and he had slashed Aodh on one of his arms causing him to bled freely.

Shroud recognised the pigman from the ledge they had fought on a while ago and instantly regretted his decision on letting him live after their brawl.

The inner rage of Shroud's became known as a deep and ear-shattering roar sounded from him and caused the pigman to spin around in shock since he didn't know Shroud was there. And let's just say...

Shroud had some unfinished slaughtering to do.