Hero's Bane

Chapter 78: This Purpose

Edited 7/11/2022

He felt it and he shuddered. Herobrine's eyes snapped open wide and his head immediately shot up with his posture swiftly changing from his slouched position on the stone fortress throne. This enigmatic spike of energy in the air had the short fine hair on the back of his neck stand on end, this specific type of energy was also one he seemed familiar with but he couldn't tell why he knew it and who it belonged to. It was just known, instinctive almost. This force was foreign and yet… recognizable. So acute but also detectable, even by the faint amount he picked up.

'He' was here, his presence was in the world once more and the injured being found himself immediately on his guard.

-Notch.- He hissed to himself.

The white-eyed man quickly leapt up out of the chair and instantly grimaced and grabbed his wound, the deep gash was still moist with blood and the pain intensified from his abrupt stretching movements. He clasped a hand over the space between his neck and shoulder and held tightly while his free hand remained open with his diamond blade of wrath forming in it. Even with the sword he was conjuring; he still felt on edge and almost fuming with his deep seeded rage for the traitorous deity's arrival.

It was him, Notch's presence wasn't too far away. HE was in the world once again after being absence for centuries, the creator and governor of his world has returned.

But for what reason? He did not know.

That judgmental and condemning god had made his way back to this world for a purpose unknown and this annoyed Herobrine to no end. He knew nothing of that man's reason for being here, he could only guess and prepare for a possible encounter. A fight to death one or so it would seem, and this happened just before he was preparing to force his memories and sanity away. That would have been a huge mistake, at least it would to him now that he was free from his irrational and arrogant single-mindset self.

A hand tightly coiled around the leather strapped handle of the sword, his feet remained planted on the ground and he refused to move as he kept his focus on the energy and waited for it to either spike significantly; the definite sign that would indicate him appearing nearby, inside or outside the fortress. Or wait to see if it would dissipate; meaning that his visit was short and that he left. Herobrine didn't like this at all, he thought that the god was gone forever. He had been wrong. Why would Notch abandon his world and all of his precious creations to suffer for so long and then just suddenly up and reappear? Did he return to wipe the world clean and begin again after losing interest of the current world and it's inhabitants? Did he come back to get rid of this nuisance of a world so that he wouldn't have to worry about it ever again? Or did he return to resolve some unfinished business; particularly with a powerful being killing his people and taking their souls?

Was he back for revenge? Herobrine was now injured and healing rather slowly, so slowly that his wound was still as fresh as it was cut a short while ago. This was an opportunistic time for Notch to end it all while he was at a disadvantage.

Inner conflict had him in a frenzy of frustration, rage, and strangely enough; fear. Yes, he felt vulnerable when he would have normally never have felt that way, this was worse than the fear he had of Ender. The hero of old used to fear nothing, ever. Now he feared the End Beast to some degree, but not this much. Having a sense of fear used to be unheard of to him, but now that was all he felt; standing alone in the dark fortress with a large wound. His strength was literally draining from him and the longer he stood in place the more weaker he was becoming, he was in no shape to fight. A part of him was wanting a retreat while the other wanted a confrontation. He was split on the idea of hiding and taking the creator on. A part of himself really wanted to fight and kill that abandoning and punishing bastard, while the more rational side said that it would be futile; especially in his current deplorable condition.

It was Notch after all that left the world to fall into ruin, that deserter and traitor let a great man like Lionel die and let a vile man like Brutus take the throne. HE let Herobrine be tormented for absolutely no reason, let him be persecuted though he once had a belief in the creator like the silver sentinel did and he even thanked him on the occasion with a small prayer. That creator ignored him and even helped the turncoats of the Sovereign fulfill their work. He assisted in setting up the paralyzing and silencing punishment and helped cast him to the depths of the Nether forever, it was these actions that made him hate Notch with every fiber of his being. He wanted nothing more than to deliver his own form of justice. To obtain revenge.

White began to fog the edges of his vision, energy flooded his veins from the sword's feeding power. The more he focused on Notch's power the more stronger he felt, he has waited for a very long time for a chance like this; a chance to fight and kill his greatest adversary for all of the things he had done wrong to him and his brother, even to the miner.

Revenge was what Herobrine wanted, he wanted that more than freedom of his endless debt. He had more reason to want it now that the god had abandoned the world and left the miner to place false hope in him. Steve kept believing in him when all hope seemed lost, he still did apparently. The miner had been deceived.

Or… perhaps… HE- was hear to answer a plea from the mining mortal? Herobrine blinked in thought and then sneered from a startling realization, it was perhaps the miner's own need for revenge that he returned. The ancient hero ground his teeth and squeezed the handle of his sword more tightly. He released the hold on his wound and coiled his other hand, Herobrine concentrated on keeping his growing power low, masking his presence to hide himself as good as he could.

He allowed the miner to get retribution; because he deserved to, but the human is too morally weak to claim his life and he couldn't do it alone. -So he had to go and resort to this? To call upon Notch!?-

Rage stirred within the powerful being, he felt his insides boil and his eyes narrow sharply.

…

"I've already lost them, I don't want to lose another."

…

His rage instantly subsided for that moment he remembered the miner's last words before he fled. Surely he didn't mean Herobrine, not wanting to lose him like he lost half of his family. The negative effect of the cursed sword might have retriggered his strong hate once he fled, it's effects can last considering it the power that once absorbed into the body remains for a short while. Herobrine was surprised it didn't kill Steve right as he dropped the weapon, there was always a high chance that if the negative power wasn't fully absorbed than it would recede and pull the nearly all of the human's strength out and basically kill him from the lack of energy to function his bodily vitals.

This same effect could happen to Herobrine on rare occasions but it would never be enough to kill him, just make him feel a little winded. He didn't want mortals to take his swords; let alone touch them so he had to create them to be too strong for humans to wield them, and yet the miner overcame these effects. Perhaps the only reason why the miner didn't die from the cursed blade was because of his lack of strength, he barely had any to begin with; but still. He had been very fortunate.

The more he thought about it; the more he doubted it was the miner who summoned the god and his powers, his friend may no longer care for him but he didn't want him dead it seemed.

Then it was coincidence that Notch returned? Or that is what Herobrine now assumed. Maybe it was bad luck, or karma out to get him. Everything that was happening to him recently over the past two weeks was nothing but a bad encounter right after another, or something that wasn't bad for him per say but just turning out sour in the end. He believed that it was this change he had undergone that had made him aware of his position; trusting the miner and gaining fellowship with him was just the start of bad times to come. Even though he valued his freedom and trust through the man; he was going to surely pay for his 'freedom' now.

His empty fist loosened then his fingers coiled again but more tightly. No. Not if he could do something about it. He still had plenty of time to get souls, he just had to wait for Notch to leave. He hoped that the god would leave soon and change nothing of the world or it's inhabitants Yes, he had to retreat, for now.

Or ...he could fight.

That irrational thought came up again, the desire of leaving the fortress to confront and kill the creator was strong. He wanted nothing more than to have this opportunity for so many years, why waste this one chance? It could be he last for all he knew. He could finally drive his sword into Notch and watch as the life slowly drain from him; but that would be too merciful. Herobrine's lips curved into a devious predatory smirk as he thought of a more 'fitting' punishment, one that would kill the god but rather slowly so that he could make it more sufferable; adding smaller forms of punishments for more agony like he felt in the Nether or an impalement that his friend suffered. Ah, pinning the being to the Netherrack grounds of the Nether would be fitting, as well as tormenting him more and lastly casting him into the lava to burn and die.

His eyes started to beam more brightly in the darkness and he soon noticed through the thin fog that he was losing control again, that he was producing enough light from his eyes to light up the stone brick beneath him. It was in this instant that he wailed and dropped his blade, it clanged loudly against the floor and he grabbed the sides of his head. A sharp splitting ache had the man stumbling a few steps forward while his facial features contorted and twisted to ones of pain and anger. He couldn't lose control of himself now, no definitely not now. Fighting for control of himself was becoming harder to do even more than it has when he was with the miner, it's like he was reverting back to his old self without any effort tied into it. This was the proof that he was mentally shattered and breaking more and more, like a broken mirror; tons of tiny pieces now finally falling out of the damaged frame and chinking against the floor. His damaged being was crumbling, there would be no telling when he'd lose all of his new and old memories; likely permanently if he did now.

That was only a part of the problem at the moment, if he were to lose it all at this instant then he'd be putting himself in great danger. He was way too vulnerable and unfortunately enough; weak, to take on a being who was more supreme than him in his current state. It was another pride breaker that he tried to reconcile with, his injury has yet to even begin to heal so he was virtually powerless to one like Notch. There would be no way his irrational side would resist trying to dominate such a power higher than his own, even in his sane state he has the need to triumph any obstacle or creature like it's in his nature. Going mad now however; would mean certain termination or another punishment he'd have to sit through forever, like how the End Beast trapped in his domain till the end of time. There's a possibility that he could end up destroyed or trapped in a another tormenting world and have no power to free himself of it again. Ender certainly wouldn't help him a second time, he tested the beast's patience long enough so he could be punished unjustly once more but without a possible release.

That was NOT going to happen, NOT again.

The pain sharply intensified, Herobrine wailed loudly and fell flat to the floor. Rolling onto his back he stared blankly at the ceiling with a deep expression of exasperation etched a crossed his face from the agonizing throb. This pain he could not tolerate; it was too much, even for one like him. All he could do was just lie there and whimper like a mortally wounded animal, it was nearly getting to the point that he couldn't even think straight. It was undignified for one like him to be in such a position so he forced himself to roll back onto his stomach, he had to get up and leave before Notch could find him.

Herobrine closed his eyes when his face met the cold stone, it was surprisingly soothing to the hammering hot ache so he laid there on the floor for a few minutes. He nearly passed out as he laid there, meditation did seem to be a good way to escape the ache however; even a second of rest was too much to risk though so he peeled himself from the floor and remained on his hands and knees. Herobrine regretted in doing so because the pain found it's way back to him when he did and it was as bad as it was just moments ago.

Both of his hands clasped the sides of his head, he held on tightly. Herobrine pressed to the point that he had another pain to focus on, he took deep breaths to try and reduce this dreadful pulse rattling his fractured mind. It was annoying but the pressure he made for himself was now starting to make most of the ache go numb and fade out almost immediately. It wasn't exactly comforting but it was better than the debilitating headache he had.

Testing to see if the pain was more tolerable; Herobrine slowly eased the pressure until his palms left the surface of his cranium. Suddenly could hear several voices before him but not see anything; only two of the voices were prominent enough to perceive and one sounded oddly like his old lost voice. The other one seemed familiar but mostly new to him. The more they talked; the more clearer the voices became.

It was hard to see; but after blinking a few times to clear the fog in his sights he reopened his eyes to the sources of the voices and could see that he was now inside of a golden tanned brick structure with high arches and pillars like that of the stone fortress but this was more nicer and nearly perfectly carved. Several very blurred and transparent images of human forms were now standing and a few floating in front of him. They looked human and wore armor, a few of the human-like forms had silver armor and beating wings of white, even wielding lances and swords in their hands it seemed as they stayed afloat with the sharp objects in hand. They were all facing him with their weapons pointing at him; like they were bracing for an attack, yet they quivered slightly like they were hesitant to fly at him. Then there was also a few humans in silver armor on the ground; they too wielded lances, swords, and shields and looked ready to fight but with a sense of fear so perfectly etched in their faulty stances. And mingled amongst the blurs of Iron was one clothed form of an ordinary looking mortal, they moved up closer to him from the group, his expression was slightly more readable than the rest; although his features were still pretty blurry. This shape of a mortal man had no fear on his face, Herobrine couldn't see nor sense it.

"Please Herobrine, calm down." The blurred male figure said and immediately raised up his left arm as if to block one of the winged humanoids that was trying to fly towards him with their weapon ready, the winged humanoid obeyed and immediately ceased it's threatening advance. "No Trinity, stand down. I will deal with this, he will not hurt anyone alright. No one moves but through my orders."

"… …? …." Another voice was present but indiscernible. The winged being with long golden locks of hair trailing past her shoulders only nodded but remained close to the man, ready to defend him like his life was at stake.

"So is this what is my so called 'purpose' is?" Herobrine's voice started out softly but with very define dual tones of rage and frustration, dejection was also present in his words; just mostly masked by anger and shock.

Herobrine felt himself move up off the ground without any trouble; feeling rather strong at the moment he stood with a defensive and yet offensive stance. He could feel his mood shifting, his confusion faded when his voice began again. "Am I right?"

Not even how the presence of his old voice came to be could distract him now from the gravity of his situation; being one verses several in the large interior of the building. That is what he felt as he stood there on the opposite side of the room with several armed units on the opposing end. He could feel his lips moving again and distinguishable words left his mouth without any real thought to them.

"You knew it all along. Toyed with me like I was a naïve spawn." He hissed.

Herobrine heard his voice let out a small chuckle of hysteria and his headache completely subsided.

"I was never one of you was I? It's all pretend isn't it? All of this?" He absentmindedly gestured to all of the translucent beings, like he was the center of attention. "A lie." The chuckle died as everyone in the large enclosure now only stared at him in silence, the blurred man before him made his rage spike up immediately; just by silently staring without even a single reply.

"You lied to me! You did all of this to me! Treated me like someone special and segregated me from the rest of this world and all of the world below while trying to hide your true reasons with pitiable ones? And why? To hide 'this' from me? My pathetic reason to EXIST?!" He broke out in fit, half attempted to throw the diamond pick in his hand to the floor or dig into one of the chest plates of the guards to demonstrate his fury.

"You weren't supposed to know Herobrine, it would have been best if you never knew." The man said softly with a deep frown, his eyes were downcast as were his head as if hanging low in shame. "That is why I wanted to keep you from ever finding out. I never wanted to put lives at risk because of this and your unruly … temper." He said hesitantly. "It had to become a secret and I am sorry for doing that, I thought my friends would never speak of it-"

"Well you thought wrong!" Herobrine snapped with a scowl on his face. "It only took stumbling upon two people talking about me behind my back like I was some atrocity of a creation! They were talking amongst themselves so casually and without care; saying that I was basically a dangerous monster being treated like a dog on a lease. And after that? My stupid and pointless existence! They just had to talk about it and openly judge me for something so beyond my control! Everything they talked about made sense of my nature, my behavior and aggressive tendencies. I didn't need the proof because I am the proof. I can not help myself for what I am so I had to take in the truth and accept it. I loathed it. They were right about me as much as I detested the very idea of being something so- destructive. … Then I had to go and find your little precious 'project' nearly the same time I found out this 'secret', this only proved that I was meant for nothing, nothing but a damn joke!"

Herobrine's rage grew immensely and so he stomped a foot on the ground and split the bricks beneath his foot making them crack and the ground around him tremble lightly.

"You have it wrong! You're not a joke! You're our friend!" The man said defensively.

"Friend?" The voice snorted and growled. "You were never my friend and nor were they. Friends don't keep serious things-… secrets like this from others, from me." Herobrine's voice ended with a resentful hiss.

"It's not like that, and we're still on good terms and everybody here is still your friend. You have to calm down Herobrine, rage will only induce your violent nature." The man pathetically attempted to reconcile with a pleading tone for his pathetic blurry features and gestures to everyone behind him. "I know the rest of the gang are not here right now but they feel the same way as me and so do the sentry."

"Oh really? I don't see it that way, not anymore. It's all pretend, all lies isn't it? It's no wonder all of you fear me, why all of you took so long to get to know me, most of you are still too scared to attack let alone approach me." White eyes darted to the armored beings behind the man. "All of you were so afraid when I first came around here and you still are and this is why you hide behind him."

"…. … … …?" One of the armored figures behind the man growled but remained in his place with his lance at his side. ".. ….. … ….. ."

A fake smile was plastered on Herobrine's face. "Of course you do, just behind him; unlike proper sentries that are supposed to protect and shield their king." The white-eyed one taunted.

"… …. …!"

"Please, stay out of this matter, all of you." The man glanced back at the small assembly of guards behind him and then looked back at Herobrine. "Don't provoke them."

"They're all afraid and so is everyone else in this world and beyond… all except for you 'friend'. Or should i say brother?" Herobrine mocked. Eyes landed on the unarmed man once more, another hiss sounded after the title. "So my dear friend." Herobrine's voice asked the title with a sarcastic tone. "How long have you known? It's been quite a while hasn't it?"

"… Yes, but it doesn't really matter."

"So you say? Oh but it does matter, there's just a bigger matter that I would like to deal with at the moment and you're the only one who can help me." He began to saunter back in forth before his small crowd, showing off his dying patience. "You know the one I seek to destroy, the one who 'created' me and I have this feeling that you will refuse to tell me who. Please, tell me that I am wrong."

"I can't, I'm sorry." He turned away slightly.

"You hide them? Protect them?! Why?!" Herobrine suddenly stopped and demanded with another stomp to the floor, small chips of the bright stone bounced up from between the cracks from the force.

"I can't tell you because I won't let you kill them, it wouldn't be the right thing to do and you know that Herobrine!"

A dark growl escaped him. "I just want justice. I deserve it after all, don't I? You know I do."

The blurry form made a light nod but sighed afterwards. "Unfortunately, yes. But still, punishment of that scale now wouldn't make things right."

"You let them go with nothing but a damn slap on the wrist! Virtually nothing as punishment!" He growled as he paced from side to side, soon coming to a stop and turning on heels to face the bald man. "At least tell me where Copeland is hiding, he might have not made me but he's the one who started it all. Designing my form after that pathetic Minecraftian miner for a damn laugh."

"I can't." The man reiterated. "The good thing about all of that is that you are alive and here, we can work things out. Besides, Copeland never meant any real harm, as for the other... the same... I suppose?" He shrugged with a nervous looking expression.

"Bah! That I know is a lie! Quit feeding me lies! I want to hear them no more. I now know everything about my purpose so you cannot hide nor cover anything about me anymore!"

The blurry form appeared to have a weaker posture like he was nervous or guilty. "I just wanted- Uh, look. I won't go as far to execute them okay. And you don't have to follow through with this 'purpose', you can have a new one."

"Still against me? Must I remind you of the things you should already know? I cannot deny this side of me that wants to fight and kill, you do know that and that's why we would often spar. I used to think our clashes were nothing but as of a way to kill time and improve skills, oh but that is a lie too. Training and slaying beasts was but a few of the activities that would keep my 'innate' side at peace, that part of me that is in my constructed nature and unfortunately; unchangeable. Killing even non-hostile mobs would satisfy me from time to time. Just destroying statuettes and even tricking or pulling pranks on the other guys with Jeb would calm this destructive need inside. You and your team made plenty of creatures for me to fight, just to keep me busy and under control. You knew that at the time but not I, not until I stumbled upon the truth by accident. I never knew why I had developed the urge to fight or destroy after going for so long with a feeling of peace. Now I know. I was built with this violent inclination within." He said as he rose a fist up and coiled it before his chest with a sneer.

"You don't have to worry about that anymore though. We can work around your problematic tendencies like we did before you ever found out, it would be like old times again buddy." The man smiled lightly, a forced grin. "Hopping around the islands in pursuit of each other, clashing our weapons together, fighting monsters side by side, building structures, and many more challenges like we used to have. You know- The good times."

Herobrine scoffed. "What? And go back and act like I never found out, like a clueless simpleton? Now I know why I had limitations in this world, why you and the others kept me busy all of the time. It's more the reason why I want to leave this place, to leave existence itself actually. I am done with those pathetic 'games'; my 'special activities'. The only reasons why we ever did anything together or why you were almost always hanging around was to keep me under your watchful eye, to make sure that I got out my violent behavior through different methods for everyone's sake. Then everywhere I went without you I had one of your winged scouts or footman follow far behind to make sure that I maintained good behavior, I used to think it was because of your over protectiveness but I was wrong yet again. I have been a nuisance, a thorn in the side and to the great creator of all people.

As if being a pest to the Overworld and it's recently created human inhabitants wasn't enough of a trivial waste of time and reason to be? I tried to get along with them but they feared me and hated the very sight of me, I unknowingly caved into my inherent function and I destroyed them and that's why you removed me from their sights. To make sure that I didn't kill anymore of your precious little projects; particularly your most prized and original number one." His empty hand coiled tightly into a ball, his demeanor darkened. "That pitiable naïve fool that inspired my wretched creation to begin with. I loathe him."

The taller form took a step forward with a pleading stance. "Hey, I actually enjoyed all of those times we had together! And you never were a thorn Herobrine, even from all of the arguments we ever had. I knew you wouldn't fit in too well with humans and you were killing them or terrorizing them so I brought you here because you'd fit in better with powerful beings more like you. You and I aren't too different from each other; despite you being created and lacking certain abilities and such. It's still the same way now. I do admit to keeping a constant eye on you though, not just to make sure you stay at peace but because I care for your wellbeing and don't want you to do something that could get you or our friends hurt. You do have destructive abilities that concern even me, that I'll admit; but still."

"We are not alike, power is nothing compared to what we truly are. I am done with games and lies, no more pretending either."

Herobrine turned away from the man and stared at the floor with narrowed eyes shining brightly with his display of anger. "I never asked to be the damned contemptible thing that I really am, what I was MADE to be. It's a curse, I am a curse. And no matter how much I fight it; how long I go without destroying or haunting, I will eventually fall right into my crafted nature and do it because that is what I was MEANT to do! I cannot even be on my own for too long without causing some form of ruin or death." He quickly spun back around. "I want justice for this! Then I want something done about me!" He shouted, his words loudly echoing throughout the structure.

The blurred man sighed heavily and lifted his head, sorrow was seen in his dark eyes. "I understand your frustrations, I wanted to fix you but I knew that if I tried then you'd find out your purpose and separate yourself from us; like what you're trying to do now. The process would be a complicated and risky one, it could even be damaging too; considering that you are not a creation of mine. I wanted to try a roundabout way while you slept under a spell once but there were so many factors that would hint our work and possible motives, I didn't want to bring harm to you or reveal anything of our work; therefore I called off the attempt and allowed you to awaken like you had just overslept for that day. I would have failed then- but with cooperation I might actually be able to pull off a successful procedure. I can still try if you just give me the chance.

I can fix you."

"Humph, fix me? It's too late for that, you should have done it sooner before I made this atrocious discovery. I am an abomination to life itself; a destructive hand that was meant for nothing but entertainment to you higher beings, I am nothing but a hoax. A prank itself. A tool for you to laugh at other's misfortunes by my hands to the poor unsuspecting innocents. Even to the ones I kill, if I ever had managed to. That is what those two mumbling fools had said in their gossips, it was no wonder I had such strange powers. My abilities were no natural inherited gift, they were meant for poor mortals to burn and die at my hands and nothing more. I am an instrument of some sick joke, it's what I was meant to be. I don't belong here." Herobrine finished lowly with a tone of resentment.

"No. It doesn't have to be like that." The man replied softly with disbelief and dejection hinted in his distorted features, he reached a hand out to him. "I don't want this Herobrine!"

The half-god backed away with a scowl on face. "Oh but it has to. I don't get to be a person and live amongst the likes of you and everyone else like you, I am but a tool with no true useful cause in these worlds; no real reason to be but to destroy or perish on the blades of my adversaries. Why deny me of my 'only' reason to be? Without it I would be nothing, wouldn't I Not-?"

…

Herobrine suddenly jolted up from the floor and leaned up in a swift fashion. He blinked and rubbed his eyes when the voices and apparitions abruptly disappeared, all sounds ceased except for the cries of the mobs moving about in the vast space of the lightless throne room. That was all he could remember, but again; it didn't feel like a memory; just a dream he may have had before if anything. It was like he suddenly woke up from a dream.

He didn't even get the chance to think on what he just envisioned, the splitting ache had immediately returned and it was now painful enough to send him onto his hands knees. Herobrine growled loudly after a loud groan escaped his lips, he could see the brightness of his eyes; the light dimming in and out against the floor as he squeezed his pounding head with his hands and stared at the creases of the stone bricks before him. -What was that? A dream? It has to be. I don't remember it nor anything about it. A dream... and yet-

Herobrine held his head tightly as the pain started to fade out again, he could still feel Notch's presence and it was more clear now than ever that he was not ready to take on the creator, his condition was worse than he thought. Having a returning debilitating headache and large wound would get him killed too easily, he must wait in a place that he wouldn't be found. He had to go back to the Nether and rest, or rest in what was left of his crumbling fortress.

Herobrine placed his hands to the floor and pushed himself back up to stand, he stumbled a bit but regained his balance quickly from the tender stretching of his arm. He started a slow amble towards the large corridor left of the throne room; towards the Nether portal that was located just outside of the Notch shrine. He would have teleported right to the Nether right then but he didn't want the superior being to find out his location nor his home with even the faintest hint of inhuman power fluctuating; no matter how much he wanted to fight him he knew he could not. Not now. Herobrine left the throne room without even a single glance back at the chair he treasured so much, he couldn't find care for even a single stone brick of the entire fortress that he owned at the moment. All he could focus on now was healing and resting up, if he returned to sense Notch again then he'll just confront the guy and fight to the bitter end, but if the god would not be in the world; then he'd continue on his mission to repay the debt to the End beast like he promised.

After several minutes of treading across the long dark hall; Herobrine made it to a large room at the main end, he passed under the ornamental stone arch and stepped inside to see the square portal in the center of the empty room; alighted by a glowing and swirling purple mist. He walked a few steps in and immediately felt a heavy weight upon his shoulders. A wave of exhaustion hit him as well as drowsiness, it was the power of the shrine close by sapping him of his strength. It wasn't too strong from his position but it was annoying as always, just even being in the room adjacent of the shrine of Notch effected him.

The white-eyed one ignored the burdening force and walked right up to the portal, it didn't look so welcoming as he last remembered. Before he imprisoned the miner it was a place of power; a place he would enter just because he could and tolerate the toxic burning wastelands that mortals would have a hard time surviving without water and protection from the hostile mobs and the environment. It was a proof of his strength and now it was a place to hide in. A refuge for the weak that he currently was. But still, he could heal faster in that world without distractions or threats so long as Ender didn't bother him.

Herobrine titled his head to the side, enough to see the shrine through another arch in the middle of the room adjacent to his. A faint bluish glow could been seen coming from center of the water's surface of the pearlescent white quartz well, this made him wonder if it was water in the fountain or some kind of substance like it. He never did go close enough to find out for it would lull him into a deep sleep if he did. He almost did once before an nearly fell under the sleeping curse, it would be likely that he'd never wake up if he ever decided to stand inside the towering room for too long.

Scoffing at the cursed place, Herobrine turned his attention back to the warm mists wrapping around his form and stepped through the obsidian borders; disappearing in the violet fog.

He phased out of the toxic smoke and placed a foot down on the Nertherbrick flooring, he looked around him and immediately noticed that the small room once containing the portal was now cracked in several places; especially one of the corners that had severe damage with drops of lava seeping from the cracks plopping onto the floor. The bricks looked like they were barely holding together, it would probably cave-in and fill up the room with lava soon so it was best not use this portal again. He will have to make another one elsewhere later.

With a small stumble from the high obsidian frame; Herobrine began to amble down the hallway, moving at a sluggish pace to conserve his energy and survey the damages to his Nether fortress. Though his eyes wondered aimlessly on the damaged walls and flooring all around him; his mind was set on the strange dream he had, it was almost realistic but it made barely any sense to him. A part of him felt enraged by what took place in it; his 'creation and purpose' … another side had him feeling isolated and dejected from those against him. Not that he believed the ludicrous dream or anything, but still; the feeling of betrayal weighed heavily on his mind. The only thing that annoyed him more than the feeling of betrayal was that eerie voice of the man that tried to reason with him. It was shockingly familiar but he just couldn't match it to anyone, he tried to think back through old memories for the one with the voice but couldn't find anything.

Herobrine gnashed his teeth when he tried to think back, doing so was not a very good idea; the headache had returned in his attempts. A snarl escaped the depths of his throat. He couldn't even try to think back on the details or the words spoken in the dream without the pain worsening, it wasn't as strong but it was annoying enough and he definitely didn't want to fight an intense ache again. It would be pointless to try again in his current condition; so he dropped the thought and his curiosity and focused on getting back to his meditation chamber to rest and heal. He could think on it later.

…

"It has to be this way." Steve sprinted through the woods in a quick pace, moving actually quite fast after going slow and feeling so drained for so long. He didn't know what fueled him to move at such a pace but he wasn't going to waste the opportunity to move like he now could, he needed to find Herobrine and soon before it would be too late to stop him. He was in search of the last location where he confronted the old hero and he was almost there, he only hoped that the injured being was still in his place so that he could apologize and convince the temperamental duplicate that he couldn't surrender to the End beast; that He could find and fight the real monster himself or at least give it his all to the very end instead of cowering for the rest of his life.

To free Herobrine of his eternal debt.

His father sacrificed a lot; his life to protect his family and so did Lionel, they were heroes and it was Steve's turn to be one despite the lack of confidence he had in his own natural abilities to fight. He had to fight one way or another though. Not to appear all great and selfless like his predecessors were, but to protect everyone that he cared about; including his friends in StoneEdge. So long as Herobrine was a tool; him, his sister, and his mother were at risk of being the next to die and even be destroyed completely. Someone had to protect them and make things right again with an old hero gone corrupt.

The only problem Steve had was his limitations. He was going to have to find a way and confront a deadly monster and either convince him to stop or bring him down somehow, Ender didn't seem like one that would so willingly give up his hatred for mortals of Notch and that was the main issue. A peace talk would have empty results, he could still try though… but to a powerful creature who could destroy a fortress with his mighty roar and dissolve the hands of a demi-god?

Steve found himself swallowing his situation and taking in the negative side of the probabilities, the outcomes couldn't seem more bleak.

The notion of a simple human miner accomplishing such a feat was nearly- if not; next to impossible, but running away from the monstrous problem wouldn't make things right. He had to try because his conscious wouldn't allow him to live with Ender getting his way, he couldn't be a coward or else the ancient hero and many innocents would continue to suffer; particularly the people physically and spiritually. Plus, it was his fault for letting his emotions get the best of him; unaware that he was letting Herobrine drive him away for his own sake.

It was painful to accept that his brother and father may no longer exist in any shape or form, it was such a thought that could deter his choice to find Herobrine and stop him. But he couldn't let those dreadful concepts get in his way and alter his decision. He still had family and friends to protect, he had pretty much the fate of all humanity resting on his shoulders too; especially since Ender is using Herobrine as a tool to get more and more souls. That beast will not stop at a certain amount no, Steve didn't even have to make an assumption; Ender wanted revenge like Herobrine and the miner had a feeling that the lord of the End realm wouldn't stop so long as Notch's creations walk on the plains of this world. Herobrine was only the unfortunate tool doing what he had to.

Besides, Herobrine was not entirely at fault for his actions anyways. He used to protect people one time ago until they drove him mad, then he obeyed his liberator to make up for his freedom. It was not personal at all to him and his family.

The miner squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment and let out a pant of vexation, just remembering that Herobrine wanted to be a coward was hard enough to understand. Part of an ancient code or not; that idiot was going to let himself become a monster again because of a ridiculous debt that should have ended centuries ago. He couldn't let that happen, not again because of the promises he made. Blue eyes shot open and the miner made it into the clearing, the sight of crimson several blocks away was the giveaway that he had made it back to their last encounter.

Steve looked carefully around him but couldn't find no more signs of the being's presence, nothing but a small trail of blood that lead from the puddle to midway across the tree clearing; westward of his most recent position. After that though… there was nothing, it was like the white-eyed one teleported away and this put the miner in a slight panic. He wanted to be wrong, to think that Herobrine didn't go far. He didn't have the time to track the powerful man down and talk it all out, Herobrine could be reverting at any moment; if he was then his chance of saving the guy was over and facing the beast would be impossible.

"Herobrine?" He called out with a tone full of alarm. "Herobrine?!" He called again, but this time louder. Steve knew that the being could hear him… or he should be able to. He waited for a moment for the old hero to answer his call and appear before him, but he never did.

'Herobrine?' Steve glanced all around him, hoping for some sign or signal that Herobrine was coming or already there. It was but a false hope when he received no reply, his expression fell from one of panic to one of despair. He wasn't there and nor was he coming. It could be too late already, he was going to be facing the worst odds and all on his own.

"Herobrine!"