AN: Hey. I'm back with a Chapter. Sorry for the delay, I was busy with work, Elden Ring, Chapter Planning, Elden Ring, and, of course, trying and failing to fix Elden Ring Multiplayer. Still doesn't work, so I get to hear all my friends playing without me when I just want to help and show off my cool arsenal of spells and attacks. It blows. Why'd I even purchase Playstation Plus if this doesn't ever work.

The sad thing is, it actually DID work the first day. Yeah, it worked fine and I got to play with my friends for one glorious session. But now I can't see any summon signs and it doesn't work anymore. Gotta be satisfied with Single Player now.

Sigh.

Oh, right, and here's a Chapter, I guess.

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add Glintstone Staffs

I may have played Elden Ring a bit too much. Almost done with it, though.

Chapter 209

The Mining Village of Galitsino

[Noman]

November 9th.

"Okay everyone." Anibal clapped her hands together. "Time for a morning sparring session. Noman, you're with me."

I looked up from my brewing stand with hesitance. "Er, I'm kind of in the middle of something."

It was true. I was going over potions with the Beta-males. I usually prioritized the ones that helped our side - Healing, Regeneration, Swiftness, and Strength - rather than the ones that hurt others - Harming and Poison. Slowness and Weakness were the exception as they prevented bloodshed by paralyzing my opponents. Either way, I wanted to focus on potions instead of combat.

"Well, you hardly ever spar with anyone." Anibal pointed out. We'd been moving through Exter steadily and planning to stop at a village that very day. The Capital City of Exter would be a few days further. "What? Are you scared you'll lose?"

"Not really. I just don't want to hurt anyone unnecessarily."

"Sounds to me like the talk of a weakling."

"Why wouldn't I be weaker than you? You have years of combat experience on me and nothing to prove."

Anibal blinked twice before pouting in displeasure. "You're no fun to taunt. Hey, Soul! You wanna fight or you too much of a wuss?"

"I'm gonna beat your ass, Anibal!"

"That's the response I wanted."

"Language." I closed my eyes as she deflected a charging Soul and the two started sparring.

Everyone else followed her lead pairing for spars. Floyd went with Kalmarin - the two still trying to unlock Floyd's budding Strength Hack - and Dyson paired with Stayer. I presumed Spaatz was coming over to pair off with me, which I promptly headed off.

"Sorry, Spaatz. I'm prioritizing potions today. You'll have to find someone else to-"

"Oh, I'm not sparring." He yawned. "I'm excused because I was last on watch. And you have to go spar with the only person left because she demands a somewhat competent sparring partner."

I paled before turning to a seated Carys across the camp. She met my gaze and lifted her scythe inquisitively.

"...Is it too late to trade partners with Anibal?"

It's too late.

I struck the ground hard - the obsidian ground making it hurt twice as much - and I stared at the sky as Carys paced into view while looking down at me in both senses of the phrase.

"Would you take out a sword already? While I enjoy the exercise, this hardly counts as sparring."

I groaned as I rolled to my feet, putting my shield between us. Carys rolled her eyes before performing a dizzying spin of her scythe that ended in a swing straight for my head.

My Aikido training kicked in. Bailey taught me that instead of taking all that offending force, I should redirect it by slanting the shield at an angle. That way the strike would slide off the surface with less force rather than bounce off with all its force going through my body.

I angled my shield and Carys's scythe slashed across, getting diverted away and to the ground. However, Carys anticipated this and spun with the swing to bring the scythe back around in an overhead slash. I hastily changed the slant on my shield so it would redirect away from me, but as soon as her scythe blade bit into the ground, Carys used it like a pole vault to leap up and roll across my slanted shield before dropping to her feet behind me.

I tried to bring my shield back around, but she stuck her leg between mine, tangling my movements and tripping me up with minimal effort. Flat on my back, all I could do was bring up my shield before she squashed me flat, the air blowing out of my lungs with an audible 'Oof'.

The wooden shield wobbled as she shifted her weight upon it, stomping down occasionally to drive more air from my lungs while my strength desperately contested to keep the shield off my stomach.

"This is ridiculous." She sighed, stooping down to pick up her scythe before hooking the edge around my shield and prying it aside with contemptuous ease. "Your shield work isn't the problem. You're diverting my attacks and I know how much damage these things can withstand. The problem is your incomplete fighting style. Shields block attacks, yes, but only to give the bearer the opportunity to counterattack. It's a wall between you and your opponent that you only let down when it's the right time to strike. But you," she scowled as she kicked me onto my front, "you can't strike at all without another weapon! Relying solely on a shield to take attacks will just drain your stamina wastefully. A bad combo against an opponent with superior stamina! I can keep pounding you until your arms go numb and still have reserves in the tank to kill you. You need to attack more."

"What about the old saying, the best defense is a good offense?"

Carys shot me a flat look. "So then you're admitting a good offense would be the best defense?"

"That's right! Uh, wait..." I doubled back.

"We're agreed, then, that you should put forth a good offense." She smirked. "Congratulations, you played yourself."

"W-Well, I can't attack because-"

"I swear, if you say because of Aikido-"

"You'll beat me up?" I guessed, the threat so common I'd grown numb to it.

"Worse." Carys grinned like a shark. "I'll assault your virgin ears with the most vile curses known to man and have that stupid parrot repeating them on loop. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be a fluent tongue in profanity."

"You... You wouldn't!"

"You're looking at the woman who poisoned herself to cheat death. I think we both can agree there's nothing I wouldn't do."

Noman broke eye contact first, keeping his Aikido mentality to himself. Satisfied, Carys backed off, resting her scythe on one shoulder.

"If you refuse to use a sword, use those potions you're learning." She suggested, the idea resonating comfortably with me. "Divert an attack, then splash their feet with Weakness or Slowness. Or, here's a crazy thought, Poison! Harming! Kill them for a change!" She shrugged one shoulder as if knowing I wouldn't. "Must be annoying having to pull your punches all the time."

"I like to think of it as being strong enough not to."

"Meh. I'd go crazy."

"I'll do your potion idea." I said, deciding it was worth trying. "Thanks for the advice."

"Don't thank me. I don't need it." Carys asserted. "What I need is for you to learn to cover yourself. If you're done getting comfortable on the ground, we can do just that."

I nodded before pushing off the ground and readying my shield. As I held it up before me, I used it to cover up taking a potion from my belt and sipping it.

Carys didn't wait as she was already eager to resume sparring. As such, she made a spinning advance with her scythe that I blocked full on. No slanting or redirecting. Taking the brunt of such an attack would blow a chunk off my stamina.

That is, unless dark red particles were emanating off of me.

The Potion of Strength I took allowed me to overpower her the second she struck my shield, the scythe bouncing off as if it was swinging in reverse, Carys' crimson eyes widening slightly.

Okay! Now's my chance!

I reached down for a Splash Potion of Slowness, taking my eyes off of Carys for one second to pick out the right one.

One second was apparently too slow as Carys had reversed her scythe and turned the rebound into a swing going the other way. My shield was still up as I readied my potion, her scythe hooking down and underneath it. When I threw the potion, she lifted the shield just enough so that the back of it broke the glass bottle and doused myself with it.

Oh darn.

Slowed as I was, I was too sluggish to offer much resistance as Carys released her scythe in favor of jumping up and mounting my shoulders. The last thing I saw was an elbow bearing down before I woke up some time later slumped over my horse, my forehead throbbing painfully.

"Raaawk! I hardly hit him! Just some light sparring!" Christopher Squawken belted out in Carys' voice. "Kal never went down from that, raaawk!"

"Hey, look who's back in the land of the waking." Albert greeted.

If the parrot's squawking was any explanation, Carys likely knocked me out in our 'friendly spar'.

"Who... got me on the horse...?"

"Ah, that'd be me." Soul raised a hand. "Carys prodded you a few times thinking you were faking until Floyd and I dragged you off. The good news is we're almost to Gallstone Village."

"Galitsino Village." Albert corrected wearily, like this wasn't the first time he mispronounced the name.

"I calls it like I hears it." Soul defended. "Anyway, we're going in to pick up arrows and check out the rumor mill."

"We are?" I asked, recovering slightly from my headache.

"You two are." Carys called back from the front of the pack. "The Paragons have been seen going East, and the Beginners have been seen going West. We're maintaining that illusion by sending only Beginners into Galitsino Village, minus this one." She gestured to Floyd. "He's wanted AND a Hacker, so it'll just be you two. You know the drill, keep an ear to the ground, try and be good bait."

"Ugh, we're gonna need to shell out for the toll and Exter passes, aren't we?" Soul complained. "Hey, Anibal. We're not made of money. If you want your arrows, cough up some gems."

"Cheap bastard. Fine." She ignored my reproachful 'Language!' and instead turned to Spaatz with an open palm. "Fifty emeralds."

Spaatz made to argue before growling traitorously and shoving a hand in his backpack. He started to count the emeralds out before Anibal just robbed them off of him. Instead of dropping them into Soul's expectant palm, she pointedly passed over him in favor of handing them to me. "Get me a good amount. I need them for my new crossbows. The Infinity enchantment just doesn't seem to stick."

"Sure thing." I nodded.

Galitsino Village - not Gallstone Village - had an interesting layout. Instead of walls to protect it, the village was nestled in what I first assumed was a crater before realizing it was an excavated quarry. It gave it a sunken bowl look, but also designated it as a mining village. The Lacquerlands' outer shell of obsidian had been cracked open to get at the softer rock underneath, allowing the miners to dig out a vast quarry. Once the ores dried up, I assumed they made the unused quarry into a village, replacing tunnels and pits and tracks with buildings and streets. Instead of walls to keep out Mobs, the village relied on the fall damage between the lip of the pit and the bottom to take care of most unwanted pests.

Soul and I flashed our Citizenship Information and I paid for the toll and our new Exter Entry Passes. We'd be able to go in and out of any community within Exter's borders. It was nice and easy, no drama or disturbances like with Akasha. The guards - garbed in the purple-dyed leather caps of Exter - found no issue with the items we were bringing in, and one female guard actually cooed adoringly at Soul's parrot.

"You think he's adorable now? Check this shit out!" Soul brought out a jukebox and played his music disc much to my mortification. The guards and bystanders ate it up, however, as Soul and Christopher Squawken started dancing in rhythm. "Mm, yeah! Go Squawken, go Squawken, go!"

Well, at least we're standing out as bait. Noman thought wearily as Soul and Squawken continued to entertain people. Boisterous applause and cheering chased us away, the axe-wielder wearing a pleased smile with the parrot perched on one shoulder.

"Oh, lighten up, Noman." Soul nudged him. "It was just a little fun. Or are you just grimacing because your head's still killing you?"

"Yes, my head's still killing me," I asserted, "and no, it's not why I'm upset. You know who has us acting as bait when I know it's just going to end up with more dead people." I looked down in frustration. "I can paralyze them and render them harmless, yet she'll still interrogate them before slitting their throats. I've got to do more for Aikido. Lives need to be preserved."

"Don't take this the wrong way - I like saving lives as much as the next guy - but in terms of preserving cultists or Griefers, I'm on the angry lady's side." He shoved both hands in his pockets. "There just isn't enough room to be forgiving. Jade'll get that."

"She'll be very understanding, I'm sure." I shook my head, banishing the topic of Jade from further discussion.

Moving down a flight of stone steps led us into Galitsino Village proper. We traveled to the village square where we took a look at a bulletin board full of wanted posters. Cobb and Floyd were there as usual, as were the escapees from Ringwood. The faces of Lemonada and Drowned stuck out more after our brush with them in the desert. They were still on the loose, free to do the Endward Cult's bidding with the rest.

"Hey, have I seen that guy somewhere?"

I looked over to see Soul pointing to a guard station where a giant, muscular, mountain of a man was walking out with several purple-capped guards in tow. The man had a wild mane of vermillion hair and shouldered a giant warhammer. The red leather tunic he wore showed off much of his chest and abs - he wore nothing underneath.

I thought the man looked familiar too, though I was able to place him after seeing one bystander pass with a respectful bow.

"Captain XoX." I named him. "I remember. We watched him fight Cobb on the third day of the Spleef event. From the Parkour Games, remember?"

"Riiiiight." Soul realized. "I knew those pectorals looked familiar. Thanks, that was gonna bug me."

"That's what stuck out? His muscles?"

"Ease up, it's not like I have a muscle fetish."

"Raaawk, I have a muscle fetish!" The parrot squawked very clearly in Soul's voice.

"Traitorous bird! You better not say that when Anibal's around or no more pumpkin seeds for you!"

I snorted amusedly at their antics just before the iron head of a warhammer came crashing into my shield.

It was impossible to have been caught by surprise when someone of XoX's size came barreling toward me with a giant hammer reared back and ready to swing. I caught sight of the movement in my peripherals and brought up my shield on instinct. While that spared me making direct contact with his hammer, it didn't stop me from getting launched into a building, the arm bracing my shield rattling down to the bone as I slid to the ground.

"Uohhohho!" XoX roared in triumph, beating his chest like an ape. "First blood! Come, Nowhere_Man! Join XoX and lose yourself in the throes of bloody combat!"

"Hey, what the hell's the matter with you!?" Soul shouted as he drew his axe. XoX kept his back to him, ignoring him and instead lumbering towards me. "I'm talking to you, you big ape! HEY!"

As the Captain approached, I raised a hand to stop him. "W-Wait! What'd I do wrong...?" My eyes widened as he reared back again and I brought my shield up to protect me, slanting it slightly so I wouldn't have to feel the full brunt of that hammer.

I realized my mistake when it crashed down and my arm shattered.

Slanting my shield may have worked against fists and blades, but that iron hammerhead was a large, blunt object coming at me with all the thunderous force XoX's muscles could channel through it. It was the equivalent of trying to block a large, thirty-ton boulder with a shield; I just couldn't do it without something breaking. In my case, it was my arm, splintering like dry twigs.

"ah... AAAAAAAGH! AAAHAAUUUUGH!" I clutched my arm trying to lessen the agony that felt like thousands of glass shards in my bones. Just that small act of bending it closed made it feel like it was getting torn to shreds, tears coming from my eyes as I screamed even higher.

"FUCKER!" Someone screamed - I couldn't process who - before XoX's head jerked to the left from a sharp blow. He staggered away before righting himself and hefting his warhammer.

Between blinding agony and remembering to breathe, I tried to work my broken arm out of the shield it was fastened to. Even the slightest movement brought up fresh waves of pain that made me nauseous. No matter how tender or careful I was, I couldn't get my arm out of that shield.

There was a thunderous impact that kicked up dust before a body was thrown like a ragdoll across the street. Something clattered noisily against the sidewalk and some guards were shouting for calm, calling for XoX to stop.

A shadow loomed overhead and I looked up in time to see that accursed hammer hurtling toward my face. I dragged my shield back over me and my splintered arm felt every ounce of force once again, like a pretzel stick smashed to dust.

My vision went white. My arm burned and pricked and exploded in pain. My voice left me as he brought that hammer down upon my shield over and over, my body making a crater in the street.

There was another shout, raw and furious, as something latched onto XoX's back and drove a fist into his jaw. XoX reared back, flailing wildly, while someone clung tight.

I weakly tried to grab a Potion of Healing, my good arm missing my belt as my vision swam. I think XoX slammed his back into a building to pry off whoever was on him. Only then did the guards rush in, blocks of ice tucked under their arms.

"Captain! Cease this!" The guards started rubbing him with ice. XoX protested strongly and vocally, throwing off guards who rushed back in to apply ice to his arms, bare chest, and neck. Anywhere skin was showing.

"COOOOOOOOLD!" XoX howled, shrinking under the ice. "COLDCOLDCOLD... c-cold... so c-c-cold..."

"It's working! We need more ice under his armpits! Get Samson!"

"We can't! We've overused that trade! All he's got are flowers and Nautilus Shells!"

"What are those things even good for!?"

"I DON'T KNOW, SIR, I JUST DON'T KNOW!"

"Well, keep throwing emeralds at him until the ice is available! XoX needs to cool off!"

One of the guards broke off to check on me. "Are you alright? Why did the Captain suddenly attack you?"

"...Please... potion..." I whimpered, leaning to the right to show my side. "Belt... arm... can't feel..."

It was enough for the guard to piece together. He withdrew a Splash Potion of Healing from my belt and doused me with it. The relief was immediate, though the agony was still fresh in my mind as the shards of bone that were my arm knit back together.

"The fuck is wrong with him!?" Soul demanded, clutching his back painfully. It was him that had clung onto XoX after he attacked me.

"Captain, why did you suddenly attack?" One guard asked. "Did Nowhere_Man provoke or challenge you-"

"He didn't do a fucking thing!" Soul shouted in my defense. "That psycho just went apeshit on him! What's your problem!?"

Indeed, many watching bystanders wanted to know the same. They gravitated towards the shouting and signs of fighting, curious as to why the Exter Captain attacked an innocent man in the street. Only a few of them saw the whole thing, and they were just as baffled on what triggered XoX.

A few of the Captain's entourage were quick to explain. "Our profoundest apologies! XoX, the Ogre of the West, has been on edge as of late." They rubbed more ice along his skin. "He's been... wishing to return to the Combat Arena. He wants a good fight and it was only a matter of time before he boiled over."

"That's what you call it? He nearly beat my friend to death!" Soul shouted in justified anger.

"Again, we wish to express our sincerest apologies." They bowed low. "The Captain isn't responsible for his actions when he gets like this. I'm sure once we're done icing him, he'll apologize for his behavior!"

"I'll gladly ice him after he assaulted my friend out of nowhere!" Soul shouted. "He didn't do anything! Ask anyone here!" He spread his arms out and the bystanders who had seen the whole thing murmured in assent. "Yet this gorilla got to snap his arm like a twig with only a bit of ice as punishment? Are you kidding me! Are we all just supposed to tolerate this brutality?"

A couple of bystanders and even some guards voiced their support, renouncing such violence and demanding the Captain surrender his warhammer at the very least until he proved he wouldn't be a danger with it.

XoX glared my way the whole time the guards were icing him. I couldn't meet those hazel eyes after having them look over me while I was being beaten near to death. I was scared of him. Of such raw, unprovoked violence that made me want to put a few Kingdoms between him and me. I was glad Soul could speak on my behalf. I couldn't.

"The Captain is very sorry-"

"I DON'T CARE IF HE'S SORRY!" Soul burst out. "Captain or not, we have rights! Keep him on a leash and keep him the fuck away from us! He lunges at us again, I'll defend myself." Soul stooped over Noman. "They'll be severe consequences."

I caught his double meaning. He was hinting at the Severe Shield. Despite knowing how deadly a power it was to abuse, I found it difficult to renounce such an idea. The pain in my arm was still fresh. I didn't want to be put through that again. If wearing the Severe Shield would remedy the situation - make me feel more secure - then I would do it as a deterrent to XoX. There was little else I could do against such sudden hostility.

When XoX made to approach, I flinched quite visibly, earning sympathy points from the crowd and a disgusted sneer from the Captain. He was about to take another step when one of his guards pulled his ear down and whispered something I couldn't catch. After that, XoX took more notice of the watching bystanders and guards. He grunted something before ignoring me entirely. Soul glared at him the whole time.

That short interaction was soon followed by a Testificate bundled in a blue parka approaching with a llama on a lead. He looked about ready to pass out, and it was no wonder with the clothes he was wearing in this heat. He was dressed for the tundra in Exter's volcanic biome. The name above his head read Samson.

"Hey..." He panted out, sweating like a dog. "Hey, you... That was a nasty tumble you took."

I didn't want to sound rude, but "I just had my arm smashed to dust." I answered flatly.

"You know what would fix that?" He ignored my tone, plowing through with the single-minded focus of a seasoned salesman. "Ice! Ya want some ice? I got packed ice, blue ice. Great for cooling off deranged Captains, beating the heat, easing inflammation on tender injuries, or else calming down raging erections so the ladies won't notice."

"Um, what?"

"Ignore that last one. I can tell a finely dressed young man such as yourself would be nothing but gentlemanly with the ladies. No stiffies from the spiffies, am I right?"

"Uh..."

"But maybe you're looking for something else? Like flowers! Gentlemen callers always love handing out flowers for the lovely ladies. Or dyes! Great for showing off your artistic side! Or maybe you want some shrooms! I got shrooms. And Nautilus Shells - they're a pretty novelty that carries the essence of the sea! Great for popery - Young man! Step away from the llama!"

"What is this beautiful beast and can I have one?" Soul asked while hugging the llama's long, furry neck. Oh, God, he was rubbing his face on it now. Ew. What was his thing with animals?

Samson tugged the llama away by the lead, the creature spitting at Soul's eye to get him to let go. Soul rolled around on the street in a combination of irritation and revulsion, and I fished in my backpack for some emeralds before paying Samson for four blocks of packed ice. It was expensive at three emeralds a block, but I felt they'd be a good way to cool off.

...Or better still to keep XoX at bay.

After that, Samson was ushered away by the guards. He must've been their personal supplier of ice to keep XoX chill, and he was milking them for every emerald while he did it.

A new group of guards approached soon after, saluting the Captain and showing no awareness for the violent beatdown he had been a part of. "Sir! We have a lead on the woman. She hasn't left the village yet."

XoX turned his attention to them and barked some orders before being led away. He made sure to regard me one last time and I averted my eyes in fear. He apparently took that as a sign of surrender and sauntered off with that warhammer hanging off his shoulder.

I only breathed easy when he was long gone, and after that I just wanted to get Anibal's arrows and leave that village behind.

"That was fast." Carys said as soon as we returned to camp. "Glean any useful intelligence?"

I handed Anibal her arrows without a word and retreated to the outskirts of the camp to practice brewing with Albert. Carys took being brushed off in stride, instead turning to Soul. "Anything happen?"

"We didn't hear about any cultist activity in town." Soul replied, more for Floyd's benefit than Carys'. "We were in and out. Fetched the arrows and ready to move on."

"More like you rushed it." Carys complained. "So what's eating him?"

"Oh, only that he got his arm broken and near beat to death by Captain Sucks Cocks."

"There's a Captain named Sucks Cocks?" Floyd asked haltingly. "I guess after Private_Showers anything is-"

"No, no! It's that XoX guy! Or Zocks. Damn if I know. But you're missing the point! He savaged Noman for nothing!"

"Raaawk! For nothing!"

"The Captain just attacked you for no reason?" Carys asked of me, curiosity showing. I needn't have bothered nodding with Soul having an excuse to rant.

"Yeah! Totally out of the blue! We just walked by, minding our own business, and XoX takes one look at us and starts pummeling Noman with that giant-ass hammer of his." Soul spat. "Fucker woke up and chose violence today."

"Are you two kidding me?" Carys asked in hushed disbelief. Soul and I cast her a glance and saw her palm her forehead. "Oh my God, you can't be this gullible. Cobb and Lenzington must be the brains - and isn't that a sad thought - and you nimrods the muscle."

"You got something to say?" Soul asked brutishly.

"Yeah, I do." Carys scowled. "We're on the lookout for cultist activity and you don't think this applies?"

"What are you talking about? We weren't beaten by a cultist, we were beat by a deranged Captain-"

"And did you stop to consider WHY you were beaten by a Captain?" Carys asked with sharp impatience. "By your own admission, you did nothing wrong and were beaten near to death for it. Or rather Noman was - you just got in the way. Noman, who's publicly recognized as the cult's greatest enemy. Noman, who we're using as bait to lure cultists out into the open. Don't you think there might be the slightest chance that Captain XoX, an impulsive, untamed warrior of the west, may have mistakenly acted without thinking and attacked Noman - an identified enemy - because he possibly has ties to the Endward Cult? Did any of that cross either of your minds, or did you default to the explanation they gave you - remind me, what was it again, Soul?"

"...woke up and chose violence."

"Woke up and chose violence. Of course! THAT makes more sense!" She spoke condescendingly. "God, you're stupid. I feel stupid just listening to this! My brain cells are just killing themselves!"

"O-Okay, hold on." Floyd tried.

"Yeah, no point in roasting him when he's already ashes." Anibal grinned lazily. "She's got a point, though. You didn't think it strange to get attacked like that?"

"N-No, we DID think it was strange!" Soul was tripping to explain himself. "I screamed at the guy! The guards dragged him off and-and the people were on our side and-"

"Stop." Carys ordered, moving to stand before Soul with a serious expression. "Breathe." Soul paused, taking a deep breath and then exhaling it. "Now tell me exactly what happened. Start from the top and don't leave out any details."

And so, Soul explained everything that transpired in Galitsino with as much details as he could recall. Carys and the other Paragons made up for what he missed, asking specific questions about how XoX and the guards acted. I supported what statements I could. A lot of details were lost on me while I was blinded by the pain of a broken arm.

Carys put her focus on the Captain, asking how he first reacted, if the two of us ever met before, his facial expressions and demeanor before and after getting dragged away by the guards.

By the time we were done explaining, it was nighttime, and Carys and the Paragons had a clearer picture of what went down.

"So he never met you before and would have no reason to attack you with vicious intent." Carys summarized.

"It's completely out of character." Anibal volunteered. "I know the Ogre of the West loves a good fight, but Noman, dressed to the nines, hardly evokes the image of a seasoned warrior. No offense."

"None taken."

"I agree." Kalmarin supplied. "XoX is a wild man, but Captains can't go around attacking innocents. He acted on impulse, which means he knows who Noman is. Unless there's some secret grudge we don't know about, there's a good chance XoX is a cultist."

"I'm not entirely convinced." Reuben raised his hand. "We agree that XoX is an impulsive wild man that loves a challenge. Does that sound like the type of person who could maintain the cover of a Captain? The guy has to be on call 24/7, so where is he finding the time to moonlight as a cultist?"

"But then why attack Noman?"

"Who knows. Maybe he's like Ciro. He knows about the artifacts and knows Noman has them. The promise of the Severe Shield is too good to pass up."

Carys was quiet as she heard every theory, then quiet for a little longer as she considered things. Once she made up her mind, the silence was broken. "Go back into the village. Both of you."

I shot up fast. "What!? No! Why?" I threw out in quick sucession. I wanted to put Galitsino and Captain XoX far behind me.

"You won't be alone. I'll be following under the cover of invisibility this time." She snapped her fingers and Albert placed a couple Potions of Invisibility into her hands. "You two are going to make contact with XoX again. You'll ask a few probing questions while I gauge his reactions. Once I'm sure enough he's a cultist, I'll take him out. Nice and simple."

"I don't want to be anywhere near that brute!" I argued, nearly hyperventilating at the thought of those hazel eyes bearing down on me while he rears back his hammer to break my kneecaps.

"What? You scared?" She taunted.

"VERY!"

"Ugh, look, if this is about a couple broken bones, you really need to toughen up." Carys placed her hands on her hips. "I've had my arm broken over a dozen times, and while the first time was the worst, I came out stronger for it. Now I can suffer a broken limb without being taken out of the fight. When you fall down, you pick yourself up and get right back on that horse."

"XoX isn't a horse, he's a bucking bronco and I want no part in meeting him again!" I refused vehemently. Carys may have numbed herself to crippling injuries, but I didn't want to relive today. My bones getting shattered and ground together relentlessly.

"Noman, you don't understand." Carys spoke flatly. "This is happening. Your compliance is just a formality I don't care to wait for. I need to gauge XoX for myself." She folded her arms and turned away. "If a cultist is working undercover as one of Exter's Captains, it lends credence to Cobb's crackpot theory that the Western Division is operating in Exter. We have to follow up and investigate this. And, thanks to your report, we know the Captain will be in town a while longer searching for some girl. There's no better chance to get him alone, so we're doing this even if I have to knock you out and manipulate your body while invisible like some puppet master."

That was just oddly specific enough to make me think she'd do it.

"So if this guy gives you a bad impression, what, you're just going to waste him? A Captain?" Soul asked.

"That a problem?"

"Nope. Go right ahead." Soul smiled evilly. "No love lost with Captain Sucks Cocks."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Not only was the crass language offending my delicate ears, but the two were plotting the murder of an important figure of Exter with apparent indifference. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

"Quit looking so worried. If he tries to break your arm again, I'll break him." Carys assured.

"W-what about you?" I tried. "This alliance is supposed to be secret and you're risking it going into town. What if the invisibility wears off and you're seen?"

"I won't be seen." She spoke simply. Confidently. "And if by some small chance I am seen, I'll ensure that the sight of me will be the last sight they see."

So more killing. More violence. When does it stop with her?

"Maybe a compromise for the scaredy cat." Anibal teased. "If you're so scared for your safety, wear the Severe Shield. If XoX knows what the artifact can do, he won't dare attack. You're kept safe, and we confirm he knows about the artifact. Everybody wins."

"Except the Captain if he attacks anyway and dies in the process." I scowled. "Then what gets proven? That I caused another pointless death on a theory? No."

"Then just wear an ordinary diamond chestplate." Carys reasoned. "There's no visible difference and we won't risk 'killing an innocent'. If he attacks anyway, we prove he has no knowledge of the artifacts. If he doesn't attack despite wanting to, we prove he knows and has sense not to die against the invincible chestplate."

That actually sounded like a decent plan. The only problem was that the most favorable outcome was for XoX to attack, hurting me and proving he has no knowledge of the Severe Shield - he'd never attack against the chestplate's deadly Thorns enchantment. His life would be spared and no one would have to die. I didn't want to go back and face him, but so long as Carys and Soul were there to get between us, I figured I'd be better off than our first meeting.

I sighed in resignation. "Alright. It's a plan I'm willing to consent to."

"Again, your consent isn't really a factor, but I appreciate not having to play puppet master. Now put this on." Carys threw me a plain diamond chestplate. "We're going back in right away. We can't risk losing XoX. If he gets back to Exter, it'll be near impossible to corner him."

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, 56 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, 11 Snowballs, 4 Ender Chests, 29 Obsidian, 46 Steak, 2 End Crystals, 9 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, 1 Potion of Strength II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}

[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, 1 Crafting Table, 18 Steak, 1 Stick, 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}: 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 1 Crossbow, 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, 64 Dragon's Breath, 64 Dragon's Breath, 45 Blaze Powder, 42 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 63 Phantom Membranes , 64 Blaze Rods, 20 Fermented Spider Eyes, 55 Carrots, 55 Melon Slices, 55 Rabbit's Feet, 50 Golden Ingots, 1 Golden Nugget, 55 Gunpowder, 54 Redstone Dust, 55 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, 9 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 4 Pumpkin Pies, 31 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, 5 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, 7 Pumpkin Seeds, 64 Cobblestone, 62 Cobblestone, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 17 Steak, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter 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 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Green Shield [Beginners], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Cobblestone, 60 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, 33 Glass Bottles, 4 Packed Ice, 2 Ender Chests, 16 Ender Pearls, 4 Ender Pearls, 2 Steak, 3 Phantom Membranes, 61 Glowstone Dust, 29 Gunpowder, 18 Redstone Dust, 61 Blaze Powder, 62 Golden Nuggets, 61 Brown Mushrooms, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple

[EXP: 35]

Snow the Horse

AN: Still in the Stigmata Arc. Carys side. I'm hoping to wrap this up in five Chapters before shirting to the far-more-interesting Cobb side. That's the plan, anyway.

FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. OREOS.