Ok, I promised you guys I would make this within this week so here you go.
I apologize for any gaps between chapters, I just don't have as much free time.
Thank you for your patience.
Enjoy.
Joe opened the large set of doors slowly, to see a large, empty room.
"Huh?" He asked, confused. "Kinda expected a little more than this..."
He walked into the room, only to have the door shut behind him.
He stood in place, examining the area, when his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
"So the hero's finally here."
This startled Joe, as he gripped his weapon.
"Who's there?" Joe yelled into the darkness.
In that moment, a large man dressed similarly to the other members stepped forward.
"Skinnier than I expected, that's for sure." The man stated.
Joe then smirked at this. "You must be The Boss."
The man then chuckled, as he bowed mockingly. "That I am. Captain Yan at your service."
"Captain?" Joe asked.
"Of the South Kingdom's military regime." Yan stated.
Joe recognized Yan's words.
"South Kingdom. As in one of the four kingdoms of the Nether." Joe asked.
Yan laughed at this. "Yes I am."
"Your men are dressed like Dreu's men back at the tournament. Explain this to me." Joe said, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Let's just say, The King wasn't too happy about his son losing the Tourney. Let alone slain in battle." Yan explained.
"Even though he lost in a formal fight." Joe added.
Yan then shrugged. "We only serve The King. Nothing else."
"Then why do you kidnap my friends!?" Joe yelled.
"The King wants you dead."
Joe was taken aback at this.
"And he wants anyone associated with you to suffer." Yan stated, with a smug look on his face.
"Bastard..." Joe said, as he readied his stance.
Yan then raised his hand and waved his finger.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said, laughing.
At that moment, the room illuminated to a little over a dozen of soldiers, all pointing glowing bows at Joe.
"Shit...those bows are enchanted, correct?" Joe said, loosening his grip.
"Poison, slowness, and fire arrows. You won't stand a chance." Yan said, crossing his arms.
Joe then sighed, as he let go of his weapon and raised his hands.
"I give." He said, his arms raised.
Yan made a hearty laugh, watching Joe surrender.
"Yaebi, grab his sword for me." He growled.
In that moment, between the soldiers, a small boy stepped through, showing himself to Joe.
He had tattered clothes, with a teal shirt that was torn from the sleeves, and blue pants that were torn about halfway. He wore a hood with a design of the face of a zombie.
"Y-Yes sir..." The boy named Yaebi squeaked.
He then walked over to Joe, and started to fiddle with the knot Joe had his sword tied to his belt from. He seemed to be having trouble untying the knot.
"H-He has it tied in a weird knot, sir..." Yaebi croaked.
"Here, I'll get that." Joe said, smiling at the boy. He then lowered his hands and untied his knot, and handed his blade over to the boy.
"T-Thank you, sir..." Yaebi said, smiling as he brought the sword to Yan.
"Useless boy." Yan growled as he snatched the sword from the boy's hands. He then smirked a smug look as he looked at Joe. "Toss him in the cell. We leave for the Kingdom tomorrow."
The guards surrounding Joe then stepped closer to Joe and grabbed his wrists together. They then guided him towards another door in the room, and walked him through it and into a dark hallway.
They walked for what seemed like hours, until they came across a room with iron bars, presumably the cell they were taking Joe to.
All one could see was darkness within the cell, not even with the dim light of a torch nearby.
"In you go." One of the guards said, as he opened the cell door and kicked Joe inside,the force caused him to collapse onto the ground. He groaned in pain, as he landed straight on his left arm.
He quickly sat up and watched as the guards shut and locked the cell door.
"Don't get too cozy. You'll be dead by tomorrow anyway." The guard said, as he and the other guards walked away from the bars of the cell.
Only having the dim light of a torch on a wall opposite of the bars kept him company.
He sighed heavily.
"What a mess..." He said, as he scratched his head.
In that moment, a voice came from the darkness.
"J-Joe-kun?"
He immediately recognized this voice, and looked to the darkness.
"C-Cupa? Is that you?" Joe asked.
Not taking chances, Joe activated his Miner's Vision to see into the darkness.
And better yet, the creeper girl was right in front of him, looking at him.
"C-Cupa!" Joe exclaimed as he immediately embraced her.
"Joe-kun...I can't believe you're here!" Cupa said, as she quickly returned the embrace. She then noticed that he was hugging her tighter than usual, as her face was digging into Joe's shoulder.
"A-Are you ok?" She asked.
"I'm just so happy to see you..." Joe said as he held Cupa close to him.
She went a tad red at this, and smiled.
"I'm happy to see you too..." She said as she held onto Joe.
They stayed like this for a few moments, until Joe let go of her, allowing her to lean back on his chest.
"Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asked, as he wrapped his arms around Cupa's waist.
"N-No, they didn't...But I was still really scared..." She replied, as she went red at Joe's current actions.
"Good...I'd have to skin them alive if they did..." Joe said, sighing in relief.
Cupa then jabbed Joe in the face with her finger after hearing this.
"Don't sound so aggressive. I hope your time in the Nether hasn't changed you" She said, holding onto Joe's arm.
"Of course it hasn't. I don't want anyone hurting you is all." Joe said back, smiling.
Cupa held his arm tighter after hearing this, squeezing it closer to her.
"It makes me happy to hear you say that…" She said, as she held him tight.
Meanwhile, Joe couldn't help but just stare at the creeper-girl as she held onto his arm.
What was it about her? Was it because she's cute? Compassionate? He didn't quite know.
All he knew was that he was the happiest he had been in a while just to see her face again.
"We need to find a way to get out of here. I helped the others before I got to you. They should be home by now." Joe said, looking around.
"Can...Can we just rest for now? You must be exhausted after all that…" Cupa said, looking at Joe.
"No, I'm fine, I just need to-Goddammit!" Joe said, but was stopped by a wince of pain in his left arm.
"A-Are you ok?" Cupa asked.
"Y-Yeah...Damn, I guess I landed on my arm wrong when I was kicked in…" He said, holding his arm.
Cupa then held his left arm close, and leaned up against him.
"You're not moving until this arm is done aching." She said, smiling at Joe.
He could only sigh in defeat, as he slumped his head.
"Well, I should sleep a bit then…" Joe said, as he laid back onto the ground.
Cupa then joined him, as she laid against him, her head on his shoulder.
"Y-You don't mind this, do you?" She asked.
"I-Its still a little embarrassing, but I would rather not you be on the cold ground." Joe said, staring at the cieling.
Cupa couldn't help but smile, as she dug her head into Joe's chest.
After a few moments, Joe could only hear the slight snores coming from the creeper-girl.
He then sighed himself.
"How am I gonna get us out of this mess…."
Its a tad short, but I will make up for it in the next chapter.
Thank you for you patience, I will see you in the next chapter.