AN: Chapter 200! WOOOO! 682 Favs, 704 Follows, over 3500 Reviews! WOOOOOOO!
Sadly, this Chapter isn't as epic as its number designating it so. Not like the five Chapter Wither special. You know the one...
I'd like to thank everyone for sticking with the story. Knowing that it has a growing following and that you enjoy Cobb's story makes writing this worthwhile. It's turned a simple hobby into something I put effort into, and I sincerely hope more people can consider this story a hidden gem (and that it takes first place with the most favs/follows in the Minecraft Category).
In honor of this milestone, I've planned a series of Omake's that I'll be posting the next few chapters, the first being this one. I ran this idea on the Discord Channel and it seemed to get a lot of approval, so I'm doing it.
I'm also including a song list for characters, themes, settings, groups, etc. The stuff I listen to when writing these scenes/characters. I did this for Chapter 100 (as well as answering questions, but that was before we had a Discord), so I'm doing it again now. Since this Chapter marks the end of Part VI, I'll also be doing some end of Part notes. They'll cover my thought process for writing the Arcs of Part VI and how I've been setting up the story for future development. Basically behind the scenes/take-it-or-leave-it writing advice.
So, first off, here's the song list. Hope it introduces you readers to some new music.
[Darker Billionth] = Suffer - Kingdom Collapse
[Lighter Billionth] = Disrupt - Panic Era
[*Stepped Leader Fight*] = Staring in the Dark - Bridge to Grace
[Soul/Carys] = Enemies - Shinedown
[Cobb - Letting Jade Go] = 6.04 - 24: Peace (I) - The Walking Dead - Season 6 OST
[Aikido] = 6.04 - 25: Peace (II) - The Walking Dead - Season 6 OST
[Paragons] = Confrontation Extended - The Legacy of Goku 2 OST
[Cobb and Jade] = If The World Was Ending - Jp Saxe
[Teal] = Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
[Tragedy of Ringwood] = Night of Long Fangs - The Witcher 3 OST
[VS Ember] = You're... Immortal? - The Witcher 3 OST
[VS Hacker] = Struggle Away - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST
[VS Hacker II] = The Force in You - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST
[Daymonte] = West City - The Legacy of Goku 2 OST
[Redstone College] = Capsule Corporation - The Legacy of Goku 2 OST
[Jolin] = Tree Village - Tak & the Power of Juju OST
[Akasha/Dryrock Mesa] = Dryrock Canyon - Tak & the Power of Juju OST
[Redbone Desert] = Numa Dunes - Tak & the Power of Juju OST
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add Turkeys.
Chapter 200
A Favor Owed
[Floyd]
Anibal and Kalmarin had arrived to help the injured while Carys had run after where Soul said Noman and Gunnah had run off to. I still couldn't move after using my Speed Hack and had to wait in frustration over having such a glass cannon for a power.
Once everyone had recuperated, we wanted to run in and help as reinforcements, but Anibal and Kalmarin shook their heads.
"She won't need the reinforcements." Anibal assured.
I felt appalled by the indifference towards their leader. Carys may have been tough, but Gunnah was firing those deadly rockets. And what about Noman!? His map may have shown him to be alive, but there was no denying he was in mortal danger. He'd drawn Gunnah's attention to spare the rest of us! I told them as much and the Paragons agreed.
Eventually, we tracked Noman with our linked maps to a ruined sandstone temple just a little away from where Gunnah sprung up. We proceeded with caution, knowing how deadly those rockets of Gunnah's could be.
We needn't have bothered. The only sign of Gunnah was the decapitated Head lying on its side.
Noman and Carys were just a little farther. Noman unconscious with the Severe Shield on and Carys leaning against a pillar with a grimace. I saw her Health Meter on her arm. It was low.
Albert and Reuben rushed forward with Splash Potions of Regeneration and Healing for Carys and Noman respectively. Anibal spared Carys a nod before turning to Gunnah's gear and poking through it. Spaatz joined her.
"Tough fight?" Kalmarin asked Carys as she was patched up. "Did Noman help-?"
"He helped by lying there like a dead fish." Carys snapped. "About the only useful thing he did was drawing Gunnah away and leading him to this enclosed space." She glanced at Noman with expressionless eyes. "I suppose he deserves some credit, at least."
"We didn't lose any more because of it." Reuben chimed in after splashing a Regeneration Potion on him.
"If you ask me, he's an idiot." Anibal commented. "Was he thinking of fighting Gunnah alone? Did he even have a plan aside from getting the shit kicked out of him?"
"You can ask him when he wakes up." Soul said, stepping forward to get a better look at Carys. "You good?"
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." Carys replied evenly. "You have time to worry, save it for your unconscious pacifist over there. I'll have none of it."
Soul accepted that before joining me in trying to rouse Noman up.
"Albert, send a message to Baltic and Jillian in Nitebane." Carys talked to the alchemist patching her up. "A message is long overdue. We need to tell them what happened and who we lost." She shifted slightly, the discomfort in her body healing itself. "I want Baltic and the Beta boys back home to look into a new potion that Gunnah was using. Made him slow, but also damn durable. Sounds like the same thing Drowned_One had. Also, look into crossbows and firework rockets. See if we can't up our arsenal." He nodded before getting out his map. It was then that Carys spared a glance to Anibal and Spaatz. "You find his crossbows yet?"
"No." Anibal shook her head with an annoyed groan, the action mirrored by Spaatz. "No crossbows, no armor, no swords, no weapons. Guy was a pro; he Curse of Vanished it all." She kicked Gunnah's Head out of frustration. "Left nothing for us."
"Curse of Vanished...?" I asked, the phrase new to me.
"It's an enchantment." Kalmarin explained. "Curse of Vanishing. Any item enchanted with it will disappear when the holder dies. Whether it's in your Inventory or belt or you're holding it." He snapped his fingers. "Just like that. Usually we see people using it in a 'Screw you, you're not taking my valuable gear!' kind of way."
"Makes sense. I wouldn't want anybody taking my axe." Soul shrugged.
"Even though it's what I would have done, it still pisses me off." Anibal kicked the Head again, finding it therapeutic for the loss of two of her men. "Ah well. Crossbows are relatively new, so it shouldn't be that difficult finding out how rockets can be fired. Same goes for how he fired three shots at once, those piercing arrows, and the short reload time." She took out a crossbow she made way back when the latest Bounty Day news broke and started fiddling with it.
"Anything in his stuff that tells us who he was?" Dyson asked.
"Just a couple of potions, some ores and emeralds." Spaatz and Reuben pocketed most of the stuff before pausing on a book. "Hoo, what's this?" Spaatz opened it up, his eyebrows rising. "Well, what do you know..."
"What? What is it?"
"Seems like Noman wasn't his only target." Spaatz turned over the book. Inside were detailed descriptions of not just Noman, but Cobb as well. "He was looking for either Billionth."
"The cult's really sending people after Noman and Cobb." Soul gnashed his teeth. "This has that snake Jade written all over it."
"Shut. Up." Carys said irritably as she glared at Soul. The axe-wielder looked taken aback by the out of nowhere hostility. "Don't go spouting baseless accusations when we don't know the first thing about who this guy was or who sent him. Especially when you're eager to throw every problem on the traitorous bitch that eroded your guild from the inside out. If we're going to let our feelings color our judgement, then we might as well say I paid this guy to come kill Noman and Cobb and this is all just a convoluted conspiracy."
"We operate on facts." Carys stressed. "Evidence." She pointed to Gunnah's gear. "He was prepared for Noman's chestplate and he was targeting him and that massterbaitor. He was sent by the cult. However, despite being sent by the cult, he recognized me only as a Ringwood criminal rather than as the Angel of Death. Had Jade told him everything, he would've known about me. Just like anyone in the cult would've. He didn't. He was ready for Noman or Cobb, but he wasn't ready for me."
"That tells me that this guy - this Gunnah - wasn't directly involved with the cult. Not a Lieutenant, nor a grunt nor an Executive. He was merely an ally tasked with killing the Billionths. Whether he was sent by the higher-ups or a grunt matters little. What we know for sure is he's dead. The cult's lost a valuable pawn that they can no longer hunt us down with. That's the only takeaway from all this."
Carys sighed as she finished her analysis. She was able to glean a lot from just a handful of information. Just another skill you pick up leading a guild of cultist hunters.
"Let's get back to camp for now." Carys pushed off the pillar as soon as her Health was back to full, cracking her neck and rolling one shoulder. "I gotta sleep that fight off."
"He was that good, huh?" Kalmarin asked. "Did he poison you?"
"I'm not giving you a play-by-play. He's dead, I won. Simple as that. It was just..." She wrinkled her nose. "...more trouble than I thought. These Bounty Days keep throwing out new combat tactics to trip me up. I need to be versed in all of it."
Soul and I carried Noman out of the temple and back to camp with Carys leading the way. The Angel of Death had a point about the new gear coming from the Bounty Days. The Severe Shield looked invincible when Herobrine made it in his time. Now, there was a weapon that could work around that defense.
The world kept evolving.
[Cobb]
November 1st. First day of a new month.
I stretched my arms and awoke with a yawn before going through my daily routine. Lenz was getting up much in the same way for his training with Z7. The rest of the Paragons were either starting to pack up or else getting a few more minutes of sleep, like Heather and Wing.
Baltic was up when I went to bed and he was there awaiting me when I awoke, looking like he hadn't slept. Had he been up all night waiting for a message back from Carys' group?
I checked my linked map and saw that the blips of Floyd, Soul, and Noman were all alive and well. They were fine. Baltic was just being a worrywart. He looked down, however, so I decided to go over and reassure him. Lenz, Z7, and Trenay went with me.
"You shouldn't wear yourself out like this." Trenay opened. "We've got a lot of hiking to do today."
Baltic had a linked map clutched in his hands, his face tightening slightly.
"Quit worrying about Carys. She can break a man's arm with her thumb." I tried instead, joking (though she probably could). "They're late with their message, but it's probably nothing. You-"
"They were attacked yesterday." Baltic interrupted softly, his eyes sliding shut and his face looking older. "Harbord, Buckner, and Devers are dead."
My words petered out and fell flat, my gaze following them to the ground. Trenay's breath hitched and she had to look away. Z7 - though not understanding the alchemist's words - was able to read the mood and realize that lives were lost.
"Who... were they?" Lenz asked, sounding lost.
"They were with Carys' group." I spoke to him, my eidetic memory recalling their names despite my frigid attitude at the time. I turned back to Baltic. "What happened? How are the others doing?"
"I got the full story some time after midnight." Baltic said somberly. If I remembered right, Harbord was a member of his team, Team Beta. An alchemist like Baltic. I didn't know about Buckner and Devers, though. "If you don't mind, I'd rather wait for everyone to wake up before relaying what happened yesterday. I... don't want to say it twice."
"Of course. Take all the time you need." Trenay nodded.
"...Yeah." I said rather pointlessly. Lenz looked similarly at a loss of words now that he knew what had happened.
Baltic slowly turned and walked off to pack up his stuff. Lenz and Z7 went off to train, but I felt like the wind had been taken out of my sails. All the enthusiasm I had for a new month suddenly drained away and I didn't feel much like training today.
Instead, I packed up my bed and took stock of my gear while the sun slowly rose and the Paragons awoke one by one. They could tell by the mood that something was wrong, though Trenay kept telling them that Baltic would explain later.
I didn't really know the three Paragons that died. They weren't with my group and they weren't even among the ones that attacked us in Zeppil. It was as if hearing a stranger had died, but it was also like hearing the friend of an acquaintance died. I knew Baltic and Trenay and Heather, and I wondered how much this would affect them. I even wondered how much it was affecting Carys before remembering that I didn't care about her feelings.
I wanted to know more, however. How did Carys lose three of her Paragons when Noman, Soul, Floyd, Kalmarin, Anibal, and Carys were there to stop them? Who or what did they encounter out in the desert?
Eventually every Paragon was up and packed, ready to go. Lenz and Z7 finished their training early and joined us, though Lenz's fingers looked no less fatigued from throwing daggers all morning. Once they arrived, Baltic made the announcement.
"Yesterday, Carys' group was attacked by a lone assassin sent by the Endward Cult. They were tasked with killing Cobb and Nowhere_Man. His name was Lone_Gunnah, and he killed Buckner, Devers, and Harbord trying to kill Nowhere_Man." The news of those that died caused a mixed reaction. Dwight bit his lip, looking livid. Buckner and Devers must have been Team Gamma like him. Perry and Wing glared at the ground. The assassins shut their eyes quietly.
"Harbord..." Witige muttered before looking away.
"Please tell me they got the sonofabitch." Perry snarled.
"They got him." Baltic nodded somberly. "Carys took care of it personally."
"Good." Perry nodded. "Hope he died screaming."
"It was just one guy?" I asked. "One guy did all of that? How?"
"From what was relayed, the assailant relied on new crossbow technology and enchantments from the recent Bounty Day. He also made use of a new potion that I intend to look into." Baltic swore. "Jillian has our people looking into it, but apparently crossbows can launch fireworks that cause devastating amounts of damage."
Lenz perked up slightly, as did Trenay.
"We shouldn't think their deaths in vain." Luis said, trying to rally everybody. "Death comes at any time, whether we expect it or not." He said the words pointedly while looking to Heather. She scowled and looked away. "The important thing is to keep going. We keep fighting this war. For Buckner, Devers, Harbord, and all the others who've died for our cause."
There was a smattering of assent from the gathered Paragons, though I noticed Dwight and Heather were silent on the matter. Baltic looked rather somber as well, but, having said his piece, he motioned for everyone to move out and continue our hike through the Ohm Mountains.
As we walked on, I saw Luis trying and failing to talk to Heather. She wasn't having any of it and sought refuge with Wing and Perry. Luis looked frustrated, but he didn't press it, instead meandering at the back of the pack.
Lenz, meanwhile, was discussing something with Trenay while Z7 shadowed them. I caught something about 'fireworks' before Lenz showed off some Tripwire Hooks in his Pocket Box.
Baltic and Witige were talking. Maybe it was about Potions, maybe it was about Harbord. The assassin trio were keeping to themselves, though they kept a watchful eye for lingering Mobs.
Seeing that Dwight was the only one available - and the one still reeling from the news of his comrades - I decided to step up and try to console him.
"Hey." I started. "I'm sorry for your loss."
He spared me a glance before snorting. "No you're not."
"I am." I assured. "I've lost people too-"
"You say 'I'm sorry for your loss,' when you're really thinking "I'm glad I'm not in his shoes'." Dwight cut me off. "Because you didn't lose your people. They're all fine." He said harshly. "You didn't even know the ones that died. Hell, I bet they got killed because your stupid friends got them killed."
"...Is that what you think?" I said quietly.
"He was after Nowhere_Man, wasn't he?" Dwight smirked nastily. "But he didn't have to die. Not like Buckner or Devers, not with that chestplate of his-"
"Dwight." Baltic interjected, looking stern.
"Don't act like I'm wrong! Those guys wouldn't have gotten killed so carelessly!"
Baltic looked weary as he looked between Dwight and me. "I didn't bring this up before because I didn't want Cobb to needlessly worry, but Nowhere_Man drew the assailant away from the group." My eyes widened. "Carys, Kal, and Anibal were tracking Gunnah down, but he doubled back and attacked. He could have killed Spaatz, Reuben, Albert, and the rest had Nowhere_Man not drawn him away - at great personal risk." He added to Dwight who now looked awash with guilt.
"Noman what?" I hissed. Despite knowing he was okay, I still didn't approve of him taking such a risk.
"Gunnah had contingencies to get around the Severe Shield. He could hurt Nowhere_Man. He had the power to kill him, but... but Noman lured him anyway." Again, Dwight flinched in shame. "Noman was unconscious when they found him. Had Carys not intervened, he most likely would have died too."
I bit my cheek hearing that. Noman was all about saving lives because of his aikido mentality, but throwing himself into danger like that knowing his Severe Shield wouldn't protect him...
It was stupid and reckless... and so very Noman.
"Gunnah wasn't a common assassin." Baltic explained. "He was a serious threat. Carys nearly died fighting him."
"Wait, what did you say?" I asked skeptically. "How could Carys nearly die? I thought she was a badass."
"She's not invincible... even if she thinks she is." Baltic added to himself. "Gunnah's new items tripped her up. Kind of like how we drove off those criminals with our SutsCo merchandise from the _." The last word was muted, Baltic touching his lips and remembering the censor. "Anyway, she had Noman to look over too. Maybe it split her focus. Albert didn't elaborate on how the fight went, though he did say Carys fought him off alone."
I felt off hearing Baltic explain all this. Here I thought Carys was formidable, determined, and nigh unstoppable, yet it sounded like she almost died last night. And that felt... weird.
I don't know. After torturing myself training to fight people like her and Thed and Ember, it felt a bit empty to hear they almost died. I always envisioned an inevitable showdown between her and me - a brutal battle for the ages.
It never crossed my mind that she could die. She never seemed the type all the times we fought.
Even stranger was hearing she was hurt bad defending Noman, my friend. She did it to use him as bait, but she kept him alive more than she did her own men. That filled me with all kinds of lousy feelings I couldn't put to words. It niggled at the back of my mind and I knew I couldn't let it fester without doing something about it.
Heart: You feel you owe her. You owe your mortal enemy.
I... I had to get to the bottom of this. Hear it from an unbiased witness.
"...Baltic." I said suddenly. "I... need to send a map message."
[Floyd]
Carys slept like a log when we got back.
As tough as she seemed, the fight with Gunnah must have worn on her. She was the last to wake up while the rest of the Paragons went about packing up gear or getting ready for the day.
The horse situation was dealt with swiftly by Kalmarin and Stayer (who lost his horse to Gunnah). Soul and I were without steeds also, while the horses belonging to Buckner, Devers, and Harbord were without riders. It was eerie how the numbers worked out. I took Buckner's, Soul took Devers', and Stayer took Harbord's.
Anibal was carrying around a pair of crossbows she must have made. She took them to an anvil and named them before placing them at her belt.
Noman was awake. Soul had told him how we found him and what happened to Gunnah, and it only seemed to make Noman more miserable. He seemed to take it as a failure, and he wouldn't respond to anyone while he packed up his gear.
He wasn't the only one wishing to have done more. I had struck Gunnah twice last night while he was invisible and armor-less. If I had Kalmarin's Strength Hack fueling my slashes, I could've ended him myself without getting Carys involved.
I wanted it, yet Strength continued to elude me. Since it was tied to my feelings, it must have meant I didn't feel strong enough to use it. I was missing something, and it didn't seem like I'd figure it out anytime soon.
Eventually, Carys woke up. She kicked out of bed and stretched, looking to be back in tip top shape. Albert was the first to greet her, asking if she needed potions or food, both of which she refused. He then showed her his map before discussing something. Carys listened attentively before her gaze slid to me. She jerked her head towards me before she and Albert approached with Kalmarin and Dyson. Soul, who could smell trouble, stopped feeding his parrot and hurried to see what was up.
"Baltic got our report." Carys started. "He sent a message back verifying, but Albert tells me we're getting a new message from the massterbaitor."
I know it was an insult aimed at Cobb - a particularly crude way of calling him a fisherman - but I couldn't keep the corners of my mouth from curling up everytime I heard that word.
"Raaawk, massterbaitor!"
Great. Now the parrot was saying it too. I had to stifle the chuckle.
"What's the message say?" Soul asked.
Albert held it up. "He wants confirmation first that he's speaking to one of you. Answer this. What was your first Silver Intent mission together?"
"Easy. Brett had us there to replace the cult's banner with one of our own." Soul said.
"Right. It was on top of the... the Center of Planar Trade." I nodded.
"You guys put that up there?" Kalmarin raised a brow. "Huh. Well that's that mystery solved."
Albert sent the answer back while Carys made some critical comments.
"The hell's the point of switching a banner?"
"It was symbolic and shit." Soul defended somewhat lamely.
"Sure. Why kill cultists or raid outposts when you can take down their flag."
"Silver Intent are fucking useless. A guild of invalids." Carys shook her head. "Intel is all they're good for if they had you doing that."
Okay, in hindsight, replacing the banner seemed more epic and poetic at the time... also I was suffering from lack of sleep and trying to rekindle my friendship with Soul. I could be forgiven for not thinking the mission was pointless. If anything, Soul and Cara should have said something.
"Alright, they messaged us back." Albert drew our attention. "Cobb's asking if Carys is listening in."
"Of course I'm listening in, I have a map." She held it up for emphasis before messaging back herself. She dropped and picked up the map in Morse code.
The reply was instant.
"He wants it so I'm not listening in? What is this?" Carys scoffed, sending her own message back. "Does he expect me to drop my map and leave you to a private conversation?"
The blip that was Cobb flashed back incessently. "Drop your map, close your eyes, and leave."
Carys threw her head back in indignation before taking a few paces back and forth. She didn't leave as requested, however, and a look of dawning comprehension appeared on her face.
"Oh. Oh ho ho. I see what this is." She gave a dry chuckle. "He wants to insult me behind my back with the boys." She walked over and grabbed a fistful of my sweater, holding me in place. Soul tried to pull her off only for her to jerk her head and have Kalmarin and Dyson seize him too. "The massterbaitor heard I lost some guys and wants to hear the juicy details, hm?" She jostled me sharply. "Let's all laugh at Carys for saving the sorry ass of his invalid pacifist."
Carys took out her map and dropped it onto the sand behind her before she addressed Albert. "Tell him I cleared out. I want to hear what he would like to say behind my back."
Albert hesitated before relaying the message that Carys dropped her map and left. I stood awkwardly, hoping Cobb wasn't really calling to insult the person holding me by the collar.
Moments passed before Cobb's reply came.
"He's asking Floyd if she really left. If so, answer this: Which village did we first discover Lenz's Wanted Poster?"
"Don't even think about lying." Carys warned, jostling me again. "What's the answer?"
"...Birchbark Village." I answered truthfully before Albert relayed the words. Now Cobb would think it was us he was talking to. I held my breath wondering what he'd say.
"Translate aloud, Albert. Word for word." Carys canted her head as she smirked. "I want to hear it clearly."
Albert did as bidden as the blip flashed and the words Cobb didn't want Carys to hear came in.
"Did Gunnah - one man - really cause so much damage?"
Carys frowned at the words, but prompted me to answer with a shake.
"Yes." I said truthfully, figuring it was the best option. No sense lying. "He had weapons that could get through the Severe Shield."
"He killed three of Carys' men?"
"...Yes."
"And he almost killed Noman?"
"Yes."
"But Carys saved him. Carys fought for him."
"Yes, she..." I paused before Carys shook me for the words. "Noman would have died if not for her. He was knocked out and hurt when we showed up."
There was a pause as Cobb processed the words. Carys was frowning with her eyes narrowed, expecting the insults to start any second.
"Was Carys hurt bad?"
I felt the grip tighten behind me. "She was near death when we found-"
"Strike that last message. Albert, tell him I was fine." Carys interjected.
Albert did as he was told. Cobb's reply was immediate.
"I heard she nearly died fighting this guy. That she nearly died protecting Noman."
"You already told them I nearly died!? What is wrong with you!?" Carys snapped at Albert, releasing her hold on me.
"I-I was just giving an honest report!" Albert tried to placate her to no avail.
"They don't need to know how much I was hurt or how close things were!" She shouted. "That makes me look weak! All they need know is I handled it and am alive. Tell that to Cobb."
Albert sent the message.
"I already know she handled it and is alive! It's Carys we're talking about!" The surprisingly vocal reply came back, earning an appraising look from Carys, Kalmarin, and Dyson. "I fought her myself, you think I don't know how annoyingly tenacious she can be? I want to know if she bled on Noman's behalf. She must have if what I heard is to be believed."
Carys scowled at the map in Albert's hand, but it was without heat. I couldn't tell what she was thinking as she jerked her head to tell Kalmarin and Dyson to let go of Soul. She seemed grumpy. Was it because Cobb wasn't saying the things she thought he'd say, or was it because there was a note of respect in the words he didn't want her to hear.
Cobb's message continued.
"Gunnah had to have been a tough opponent to initiate combat against a group of fourteen Crafters which included two Hackers, an artifact wielder, and the damn Angel of Death herself. Yet you're telling me she fought the same guy, alone, while guarding Noman, and came out of it without a scratch? That's bullshit. She got injured. She fought, she nearly died for Noman, but she won at the end of what must have been a grueling slugfest. And now I owe that bitch. I owe her for saving Noman over her own guys. Don't try and sugarcoat this, Floyd, this is how it works with me. I'm not going to be able to ignore it with just a 'she handled it' crap. Am I wrong or is that what really happened?"
Silence reigned at the end of that long message. I didn't answer thinking Carys wanted to make him believe her story, but she wasn't saying anything either. Her hands hung at her side as she just frowned at the map in Albert's hands for the longest time.
"Raaawk, massterbaitor!"
Carys' gaze snapped to the stupid parrot on Soul's shoulders, but it seemed to break the tension and get her talking.
"Tell Cobb..." Carys paused for a second in thought. "Tell him I was hurt, but that it was a necessary sacrifice. I had full control of the fight. Gunnah was never going to win." The corner of her mouth tilted up slightly. "And he's right. He does owe me. But he should tell me that himself so we can work out what I'd want from him, and be extra nice and polite when he talks to me. And make sure the words sound like they're from Floyd - actually scratch the extra nice and polite bit, that sounds too off; he'll know it's me. I can tell that to him as myself."
While Albert relayed the message, I stepped forward with a suspicious look. "What are you doing?"
"Why, I'm being considerate and accepting Cobb's recompense for protecting his silly friend." Carys said with fake innocence. "If he feels he owes me, I won't turn it down. Rather, I'll milk this position of strength for as long as I can."
"Then why the whole charade about pretending not to have listened in? We'll just tell him later that you heard everything-"
"Seeing as how you need us to send a message in the first place, you'll only be telling him what I want you to tell him." Carys shut down with a smug grin. "As for why I want to keep my eavesdropping a secret, perhaps I find this non-irritating side of Cobb to be refreshing." She shrugged. "He recognizes my strength, even if he'd never admit to it. No other reason than that."
"Sounds like you just want the excuse to have him indebted to you." Soul said, to which Carys just shrugged.
"It'll keep this alliance favorable... for me."
The message was sent and, after a while, Cobb reluctantly asked that Carys return. After that, he freely admitted to owing her and she used her momentum to make him address her with manners and respect. She didn't bother doing the same for him.
Then she made clear that a favor was owed, and that she fully expected him to pay her back sometime down the road. The specifics would be up to her, and Cobb was forced to accept it.
Carys was smiling the whole conversation.
[Noman]
I watched from afar as Carys, Floyd, Soul, and a few other Paragons were gathered around a map sending messages. They were likely contacting Cobb's group or Cobb was contacting them, and the specifics of yesterday were being shared.
I sullenly turned back to my gear before packing most of it up. Soul had made me a set of replacement iron armor after what Gunnah's rockets did to my last set. It was basic, unenchanted gear, but it would do for now.
Yesterday was still weighing heavily on my mind. Three people died because of me, more people almost died because of me, and Gunnah died ultimately because he was hunting me. It all came back to me.
I thought back to the private talk I had with Carys and how I judged life. Like she foretold, I was attacked by a relentless force I couldn't stop nor reason with. Gunnah wanted me dead and I couldn't stop him. I tried, but trying wasn't enough.
I thought back to when I was in the temple with those two Potions and the Severe Shield on. I could've just jumped down and struck him once and that would have been the end of it. He'd be just as dead, but with the blood on my hands instead of Carys', not that she seemed to mind.
I don't think I asked her if she was comfortable killing. I wish I had.
"You've been packing up the same gear for the last twenty minutes."
I turned around to see Anibal holding two crossbows. She wasn't pointing them at me, but I was still nervous remembering what Gunnah could do with them.
"Sorry. Just thinking." I properly packed everything away before getting up and dusting my dress pants. I'd have to shed clothes soon if it got any hotter. "Have you figured out those piercing arrows? Or the rockets...?"
"No, I... I wasn't enchanting them." Anibal shifted awkwardly, the crossbows tilting up. "I remembered you guys naming your horses. We all said it was a waste of EXP, but..." She trailed off before holding the weapons out for me to examine. She had named them
Buckner and Devers.
"Corny, huh?" She chuckled, taking them back. "Don't know what I was thinking. I'm not one to be sentimental-"
"You're honoring them." I said reassuringly. "It's good."
She snorted before a silence stretched between us. Was there more she wanted to say, or was she expecting something from me.
"I'm sorry." I said. "For getting them killed. You have to know that I'd never want anyone to die-"
"Not even your enemies." Anibal cut off with a shake of disbelief. "Why'd you even draw him away if you weren't going to kill him? Did you have a plan?"
"I had potions." I threw out. "I was hoping I could paralyze him like I've seen people do a hundred times, but..." I shrugged piteously. "He was ready for it. He was ready for all of it."
"Tell me about it. Guy even Curse of Vanished his gear because he was ready for it." Anibal grumbled before shooting me a glance. "You could have killed him easy with the Severe Shield."
"No, I couldn't." I said firmly. "Aikido means not to kill." I quoted from The Art of Peace. "Although nearly all creeds have a commandment against taking life, most of them justify killing for one reason or another. In Aikido, however, we try to completely avoid killing, even the most evil person."
Anibal's gaze grew colder. "Some people can't afford to pick and choose. Harsh life makes for harsh choices."
"I know." I nodded in understanding. "But at least for me, I never want to kill again."
"So you've killed before. How many?"
"...Seven." I remembered morbidly. Anibal flinched at how quickly the number came to my lips. They were always weighing on my mind. "Six cultists, one Hacker, all dead because they hit me while I was wearing the Severe Shield."
"Geez, so you haven't ever had an offensive kill. It's all been defensive." Anibal noted. "I thought, with a chestplate like that, you'd have more of a body count, but you've shown... sickening restraint."
I had nothing to say to that. In terms of kills, I knew I had the least in the Beginners. Cobb, Floyd, Lenz, Soul. They all killed more than me - usually cultists, Griefers, the occasional Hacker, or some others trying to kill them. I was more careful about it, disarming and redirecting with my shield. Knocking people out of a fight or talking people out of a fight.
"So if you weren't going to fall back on your artifact, potions was your only plan." Anibal suddenly said. "You drew him away with a shoddy plan like that. Did you know there was a temple right over that dune?" She demanded.
"No. I wasn't thinking beyond splashing him with the potions."
"Then you're an idiot." She insulted. "You should always have a plan if you're drawing fire. An escape, a defense, a way to turn it around. Acting without a plan will get you killed, especially against a superior opponent like Gunnah."
I shook my head. "I wasn't thinking about that."
"Then what were you thinking about?"
"...I was thinking that more people were going to die because of me unless I did something." Anibal went still from my despondent reply. "I didn't want to be the cause of more death. Whether it was my friends or the Paragons. I didn't want others to die protecting me, and then later have to face people like you who wished it had been me. So I drew him away."
"I never said I-!" Anibal cut off her desperate shout before speaking more calmly. "I didn't want it to be you. I was just... I was angry over them. Buckner and Devers. I was angry with what you did, but I never wished it to be you. You can't think about sacrificing yourself like that."
Anibal planted her hands on her hips as she gazed at the sky above. "Buckner and Devers knew the risks, same as the rest of us. They got caught by surprise, but Carys avenged them. However," she locked eyes with me, "I'm grateful you risked yourself to draw Gunnah away. You helped make it so we didn't have to burn any more Heads. So... I'm sorry and thank you."
I felt my eyes welling up with tears that I was quick to wipe away. I nodded at her words, feeling a bit better about last night.
Her piece said, Anibal made to walk away only to turn and ask one last thing.
"Do you really think you can make it against the cult without having to kill?"
"...I don't know anymore." I said honestly. "But that doesn't mean I can't try."
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Carved Pumpkin, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Depth Strider III], 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sweeping Edge III], 12 Cobblestone, 2 Glass, 16 Ender Pearls, 9 Ender Pearls, 52 Glass Bottles, 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Furnace, 17 Flint, 1 Flint and Steel, 17 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 10 Coal, 64 Snowballs, 25 Snowballs, 4 Ender Chests, 30 Obsidian, 64 Steak, 6 Steak, 2 End Crystals, 12 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Eyes of Ender, 64 Chorus Fruit
[EXP: 38]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Dragon Head, 1 Chainmail Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings, 1 Chainmail Boots, 32 Pumpkin Seeds, 1 Iron Dagger, 16 Ender Pearls, 13 Cobblestone, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Bow, 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow, 42 Arrows, 11 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 30 Steak, 13 Tripwire Hooks, 63 Chorus Fruit, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}
Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 63 Arrows of Poison {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 63 Arrows of Weakness {0:30}, 60 Arrows of Slowness {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Fire Resistance {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Healing II, 64 Arrows of Invisibility {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Leaping {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Slow Falling {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Night Vision {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Strength II {0:12}, 64 Arrows of Swiftness {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Swiftness II {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Water Breathing {1:00}
[EXP: 21]
Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 10 Arrows, 3 Brewing Stands, 1 Water Bucket, 28 Bones, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 26 Emeralds, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Healing II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Harming II {0:05}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Splash Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 64 Glass Bottles, 6 Glass Bottles, 64 Dragon's Breath, 64 Dragon's Breath, 1 Dragon's Breath, 46 Blaze Powder, 43 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 63 Phantom Membranes , 64 Blaze Rods, 22 Fermented Spider Eyes, 58 Carrots, 55 Melon Slices, 55 Rabbit's Feet, 50 Golden Ingots, 1 Golden Nugget, 56 Gunpowder, 55 Redstone Dust, 56 Glowstone Dust
[EXP: 30]
Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 14 Torches, 18 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 9 Pumpkin Pies, 40 Baked Potatoes, 1 Bucket, 1 Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Slow Falling {4:00}, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 1 Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
[EXP: 42]
Inventory (Floyd): 1 Mob Head {Creeper}, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Shears, 5 Cobwebs, 2 Iron Ingots, 64 Steak, 26 Steak, 2 Sticks, 29 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 16 Ender Pearls, 2 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Bucket, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 44]
Buckner's Horse
Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 62 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Shears, 8 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Jukebox, 1 Music Disc {chirp}, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 24 Torches, 34 White Wool, 23 Dirt, 11 Pumpkin Seeds, 64 Cobblestone, 62 Cobblestone, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 41 Steak, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 41]
Devers' Horse
Cat-Face the Cat
Christopher Squawken the Parrot
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Green Shield [Beginners], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Cobblestone, 63 Nether Warts, 20 Soul Sand, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Shears, 10 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 5 Buckets, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Brewing Stand, 37 Glass Bottles, 1 Water Bottle, 1 Water Bottle, 2 Ender Chests, 16 Ender Pearls, 4 Ender Pearls, 24 Steak, 3 Phantom Membranes, 63 Glowstone Dust, 31 Gunpowder, 19 Redstone Dust, 63 Blaze Powder, 64 Golden Nuggets, 64 Brown Mushrooms, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple
[EXP: 35]
Snow the Horse
AN: So concludes Part VI and Chapter 200.
Thus begins... the hiatus.
You know the drill (if you've been with this story long). After every Part is a hiatus to rest and recharge my creative juices. Before I bid you a 'see you later', however, I'm gonna do my Part VI notes, then the funny Omake I wrote. It's a real winner.
So, Part VI Notes:
Part V had some very dark moments, so this is like the light after the dark. Always darkest before the dawn, things have to get worse before they better. That sort of thing. Throughout this part, the main focus was Cobb and Carys joining hands in a shaky alliance. Beginners and Paragons. Cobb has trust issues and Carys and the Paragons are only exacerbating things, but the Endward Cult needs to be stopped. She has skills he needs, so he'll put up with her, even if it means splitting up the party.
Another theme I had going into writing the Beginners/Paragons exchanging teammates was kinda like how different elements form different compounds by sharing electrons. Paragons learn from Beginners and Beginners learn from Paragons. By mixing the groups, we get various character interactions that we wouldn't otherwise see. Cobb and Baltic, Noman and Carys, Lenz and Z7, Soul and Anibal, Floyd and Kalmarin. Some are deeper/stronger while others are glancing or have yet to develop. But the connections are there.
The Triplex Arc had that going while also touching on the Endward Cult and how they're evolving/advancing their strengths. You got Hybridization, KillGore, Spring going AWOL with Carmen, 4Blite and his Plagues, Leadstripe sending Gunnah after Cobb and Noman, Mark and Teal birthday banging, Sdraw forging his own shaky alliances with Hackers (or just laying groundwork). A lot is going on.
The SutsCo Arc was more a means of upgrading the characters with Shulker Boxes while also covering how the Scouts are making a profit off the End. It allowed Cobb and Lenz to work more closely with the Paragons and it also helped Cobb reclaim his Heart. After this Arc, he's become more like his old self pre-Jade. He hasn't forgotten, though. The pain is still there, just less. He's made his peace with working with the Paragons.
The Red Sands Arc was meant to highlight Carys' fighting abilities, present their side with a real threat, and also show off the snazzy new rocket-loaded crossbows. It was a short Arc, but I liked writing it. You gotta give Carys some focus, you know?
I liked the SutsCo Arc the most. Writing the Scouts' creative challenges and Cobb and Lenz guiding the Paragons into Herobrine's bunker as a nostalgic return to a horrible place they once visited. Just like with Lenz and the college. They're stronger, and wiser now.
That's all I have to say, really. Send a Review if you have any questions about Part VI (Chapter 165-200). With that done, here's the Omake.
My Craft Stew: Mamsels
Dahlia grinned as she led Brandr through the Berserkers' base in Jolin. Bands of armed bounty hunters greeted her respectfully, the base packed with enough Crafters to make a private army.
"You seem in a good mood, ma'am. Is this about the prisoners we captured?" Brandr asked.
"Exactly that." Dahlia confirmed as the two walked past a towering bear statue of solid gold. "Those prisoners are undeserving of the small fortune their Heads are worth. We captured them with ease. Perhaps Ringwood and Nitebane have been underestimating the Endward Cult."
Brandr's eyes widened. "They're cultists? Not... not Lieutenants, surely?"
"They're Lieutenants alright." Dahlia nodded, taking a turn down a hallway and passing a trio of diamond clad Berserkers. She had them patrolling the base in case the cult had any ideas of saving their prisoners. "We're sure to get the emeralds for them from Ringwood and Nitebane respectively." Another turn towards a set of doors covered by four of her most skilled Berserkers.
"Dahlia, ma'am." They saluted before allowing her and Brandr to enter the dungeon. There were several cells lined up side to side and made up of iron bars. Only two cells were occupied, though. Dahlia and Brandr walked right up to the dimly lit cells and gazed at their feeble-looking prisoners.
Lenzington and MarkAble.
"Morning boys. Not like you can tell without any windows." Dahlia joked with a smile. "I hope you slept well, because you're in for a big, big day."
She nodded to Brandr who took out some malicious splash potions. Lenzington gulped audibly, but MarkAble looked indifferent at the prospect of being tortured. In fact, he looked at the situation less like a horrible circumstance and more like a bothersome inconvenience.
"This is Brandr." Dahlia introduced. "He and I have the unfortunate task of torturing information out of you two. What a hassle, right?" She said trying to commiserate with them. "But it has to be done. Know why? Because we need information on your other cultist buddies. We want Lieutenants, Executives, outposts and plans. Anything we can put a pricetag on."
"Now, pay attention. Here's where you get a choice." Dahlia spoke pointedly. "If nobody talks, you both get tortured. But if you give us something more valuable than the other, you won't be tortured and you'll get to live. That is, if you tell us something straight away. Torture intensity will vary as we proceed. Sounds like a good deal, right?" Dahlia smiled. "So what do you say? Feel like sharing anything?"
"I am not a cultist!" Lenz exclaimed with fear clear on his face. "Neither is Cobbert or Floyd! We have been framed!"
"That's a great story, but I wouldn't care even if it's true." Dahlia said curtly. "The only truth I care for is the one that makes me money. I'm basically the greedy villain with no redeeming character traits. In fact, I'm so forgettable that I'm betting the readers don't even know what Story Arc I was from."
"There is an oversaturation of characters." Mark conceded. "Leadstripe is kinda meh."
"Please, do not do this." Lenz begged.
"Doesn't look like we'll get anything out of this one." Brandr drawled before throwing a Splash Potion of Poison into Lenz's face. He whimpered as the poison burned his skin before Brandr turned to Mark. "How bout it? Got anything to say?"
Mark eyed the two carefully before letting out a sigh. "My fellow Lieutenant is named Teal_Larkspur. She has teal-blue hair tied up in a ponytail-"
"Stop. Teal is a known quantity. You know this and are just stalling." Dahlia got up closer, a flint and steel in hand and threat clear. "Tell us something we don't know. Now."
Mark smiled tiredly. "Something you don't know, huh? Alright then." He canted his head. "Teal's going to kill you. All of you." He then leaned forward to whisper into Dahlia's ear. "You're all already dead."
Dahlia learned back with a skeptical smile. "Oh yeah? One little girl is gonna kill all of us? She's just gonna waltz through the front door and work through all our security?" She chuckled. "You overestimate her. She's not coming to save you. Which means we have the whole day to extract something useful out of you boys."
Brandr hit Mark with a Potion of Poison and the Lieutenant fell back with a wince.
"Looks like we'll be doing this the hard way, which, by the way, I'm completely fine with." Dahlia assured, ready to light a fire under Mark with her flint and steel.
She lost her balance when a tremendous explosion rocked Berserkers HQ. The flint and steel sparked before her and she accidentally set herself ablaze.
"AHH! Shoot!" She patted herself out frantically while above came the sounds of shouting and combat.
"What was that?" Brandr asked before he went over to the guarded doors and addressed the Berserkers standing watch. "What happened? One of you, go upstairs and see what's up!"
The Berserker made noises of assent before heading up the stairs. Lenz rubbed the poison out of his eyes and glanced to the ceiling, wondering what was going on. He could hear fighting.
Beside his cell, Mark smiled to himself.
"Sounds like a bomb went off." Brandr said, coming back in. "You okay, ma'am?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine!" She pushed him away and listened to the fighting coming from upstairs. There was shouting too. And screaming. "Who is that...?"
"Whoever it is, they won't get out alive." Brandr assured. "Our top guys are on standby. It won't be long before they close in and sounds of combat cease."
"Right. Right..." Dahlia wrung her hands nervously, forgetting the torture of her two prisoners for a moment.
Contrary to what Brandr said, the sounds of combat didn't cease but intensified. Now the occupants of the dungeon could hear the sharp cracks of broken bones, the meaty impact of flesh on flesh, and louder and higher pitched screams growing closer and closer.
Eventually, the combat reached the dungeon doors, and Dahlia, Brandr, Lenz, and Mark got to hear a clearer rendition of the 'fighting' that had been working through Berserkers HQ.
"ARGH!"
"Shoot her! Fucking shoot her!"
"NOOO! Ulk... guh..."
"Ahhhhhhh! AeeeeeeeeEEEEEEE!"
"I'm dropping my sword! PLEASE - AUGH!"
Dahlia nudged Brandr. "G-Go out there and help them."
Brandr shook his head frantically. "The, uh, the prisoners. Have to help you guard them."
"Go out there right now and take care of whoever that is!"
"I-!"
Brandr cut off and turned to the door. The screaming and dying wails had stopped, leaving only a dead silence hanging in the air. He drew his sword - as did Dahlia - and gripped it in two shaking hands.
The silence stretched for what felt like minutes before a loud pounding was heard against the door. It sounded like someone was slamming a person's face against it.
"Little pigs, little pigs~! Let us in~!"
"Teal, just get in here." Mark rolled his eyes. "You've terrified these two enough."
"Okie dokie~!"
Suddenly, a body was flung through the doors. Dahlia and Brandr ducked out of the way as it sailed past and slammed into the cell bars with a loud 'CLANG'! Lenz recoiled, scooting away from the body as it slid to the ground.
From the doors, two women emerged. The first was Teal_Larkspur with a great big smile that didn't reach her eyes as she gazed at the targets of her apoplectic wrath.
The second was Z7, a pair of daggers in hand as, from behind her curtain of purple hair, her eyes settled on Lenz in a cage.
"...Z7?" Lenz blinked.
"(Hey, nerdling. I came to break you out.)" She spoke in Jibberish, Lenz being the only one who could understand her.
"I've got no idea what this one is saying, and I know we're supposed to be mortal enemies and stuff," Teal declared, "but damn if I don't like killing assholes with her by my side! We called a truce to save our mamsels~!"
"(We're willing to negotiate. Turn over our mamsels now and I'll only jam some of these knives up your ass before stabbing you in the brain. Ah, what am I saying? You can't understand a word of it. I'm really only trying to be funny for the nerdling.)"
"St-stay back!" Dahlia opened one of the cells and pressed her sword against Mark's throat. Brandr did the same with Lenz, making Z7 glare. "Surrender or we'll kill them! We'll kill them!"
That was all they managed to get out before Teal and Z7 darted forward with fists, kicks, and daggers flying. It didn't take long to deal with them, and when it was over, the two ladies were helping their respective mamsels in distress.
"Did she hurt you at all?" Teal checked Mark over for injuries.
"I'm fine, Teal."
"Hm, your cheeks feel a bit bruised." Teal said while unashamedly squeezing his ass. "Imma have to check a few more times just to be-"
"I said I'm fine." Mark pulled his butt out of her reach.
"(Thank you for saving me.)" Lenz thanked in Z7's tongue. The assassin nodded before Lenz spared Teal and Mark a dubious glance. "(Should we be more cautious around them? Who is to say they will not turn on us? They are cultists.)"
"(We'll go our separate ways.)" Z7 assured. "(We'd best leave, though. We left quite a mess in our wake.)"
"(...How much of a mess?)"
"(Remember how the Berserkers were one of the Big Three Guilds? Well, now it's the Big Two Guilds. If the Scouts kidnap you next we can shoot for the Big One Guild.)"
"(Let us not talk about next time.)" Lenz said wearily. "(How about instead I get you some desserts as recompense for rescuing me?)"
"(No need.)" Z7 held up a hefty sum of stolen emeralds. "(Berserkers are buying.)"
AN: Hope you enjoyed! FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. CORN.