Chapter 26
Heart of the Mountain
The zombie gurgled as it went down, not disappearing like other spawns usually do. Black blood oozed from the side of its skull staining the rock and running down the slope.
They kept doing that, no matter how many times Jesse had seen it happen thus far tonight, he couldn't get used to it. It felt so wrong.
He pulled his sword from the now officially dead corpse, and he flicked his blade. He made a face of disgust as he let the innards and gore fling off. The ones that failed to poof away always left such a mess.
This was the eightieth something zombie in the last half hour.
On top of the fiftieth something spider, the thirtieth something creeper; and the he-had-stopped-bothering-to-count something enderman...
Jesse looked back down the path he was traversing and the never ending mess of dead monsters and loot piles.
He had only done about three quarters of his last mile to go trek, and Jesse was physically and emotionally drained.
Herobrine was making this difficult; he had no doubt on that matter. He wanted Jesse to be late, he wanted blood to be spilled. Jesse glanced at the sky; the moon was already coming over Incendia. Midnight was getting closer and he was running out of time. It would have been easier trekking the lone mountain if Petra and Lukas were here.
The thought of them made his heart ache. The expression on their faces after he had yelled at them was burned in the back of his mind, never to leave and forever to haunt him.
He did not want to hurt them like that, especially since they've been through so much together. But he had to, Herobrine said come alone. Besides, the thought of that monster attacking his friends was a greater fear over being alone. It gave him a little support, a little confirmation that what he had done was right...
They barely made it away from him last time, and that was only because Steve and Alex had arrived. Jesse knew he couldn't protect them.
He wouldn't risk fate twice.
A spider leapt from the bushes, screeching loudly. Jesse sliced it away without giving it so much a glance.
Damn you to hell Herobrine.
He brought his blade back in front of him, the blade sticky and wet with blood and spider venom.
He could see the glow of the mountain entrance, not too far up the slope. But Jesse could also hear a witch, a slime...and that might be the outline of skeleton archer up there.
Jesse growled, he was really starting to wish he had held on to Titans reigns a little better.
"Just stay here! When Steve and Alex arrive, tell him we're heading for the volcano!"
"What?! Volcano what bloody volcano?!"
"The big one right out the door Ivor! Just stay here!"
That was the last thing Petra had stated before taking off after Lukas.
Ivor was a mixture of feelings at the moment. He was confused, he was shocked, winded, worried, and he was scared.
Herobrine...
Ivor had spotted the discarded papers shortly after Aiden left. He saw that decoded signature...and sitting here now, in this old temple, in a very old world...
Ivor knew it was all real.
Any other time, the discovery of the Immortals and the First World would have been thrilling, a great triumph in his life. But this was not how he wanted the truth to be revealed.
Because right now, three - four if you counted Lukas's statement about Aiden being true- young adults that Ivor now cared very deeply for were in danger. And he couldn't do a thing.
"I can't believe they just took off like that," Reginald was pacing , eyeing the volcano. "That's where they're going? That's where Jesse and Aiden could be? Notch preserve us I can't just stand here!"
Ivor glanced at the volcano beyond the temple doors. It was rumbling in the distance, the peak glowing orange in the otherwise dark night.
Everything in the air was tense and suffocating. Ivor knew there was something very, very, wrong with Notch's original creation. It felt like a poison, seeping into nature itself. Save for the volcano and the portal humming, the night was silent as death.
Like everything was waiting.
"They're in danger," Ivor said softly.
"And Lukas and Petra are running right towards it." Reggie frowned, "We shouldn't be letting them risk their lives. We need to go after them Ivor. I'm not going to wait around for some Steve and Alex; we have to help those kids!"
Before Ivor could respond, the portal pulsed. Ivor tensed, his hand reaching for his sword hilt despite his foot injury handicapping him.
A man stepped out, his hair dark and brown, followed quickly after by a carrot top female. They both looked tired, weary, and a little heartbroken.
"The path is clear. Come on kids, let's go before-" the male froze upon spotting Ivor and Reggie. "What in Notch's beard!" he drew his sword- a diamond blade- "Who the hell are you?!"
The female drew a bow and Reggie responded in kind by drawing his own sword.
"Where are the kids?!" the woman demanded. Her diamond arrowheads glinting the torch light, enchanted and unfriendly.
"What do you want with them?!" Reggie countered.
"Tell us where they are right now! Or I'll-"
"Wait!" Ivor hopped up, wobbling on his crutch a bit. He extended his arms, showing he was unarmed as the pair turned towards him. "Which one of you is Steve?!" he quickly asked before things could escalate further. It was a stupid question he realized, because who would name a woman Steve? But he was trying to subdue worry and panic so Ivor's thought process was not at its finest, so he immediately added, "Or is one of you Alex?"
They didn't answer, but the question did make the pair pause.
"I'm Ivor, I'm friends with Jesse, Lukas and Petra," Ivor explained fanatically, he gestured to Reggie, "This over here is Reginald, Captain of the Ground Town Guard. He's a friend too, we mean no one harm, we're here for the kids - in a good way!"
The adult lowers his sword, "Ivor..." he mumbles, testing the name, "Ivor..."
The female's eyebrows shot up, "Oh wait! Lukas talked about you! You broke your leg right? Something to do with a cult?"
"Yes! That's me!" Ivor gestured to his wounded leg, "Enderman cult, terrible business. So I take you are Steve and Alex?"
"Yes...What are you doing here?" Steve asked cautiously.
"Our home tome- Ground Town was attacked and one of our people is missing," Reginald explained, "We came here to get help from the kids, but it seems...our problems are connected to yours..."
"Attacked how?" the male asked slowly.
"Petra said it sounded like the work of a Herobrine?"
Steve cursed and Alex went white, "Where are they now?!" the later asked.
"Jesse was gone when we got here. Herobrine challenged him to a confrontation." Ivor said, "Lukas and Petra told us to wait here for you while they went after him. They are heading towards the volcano..." he gestured to the smoking lone mountain, "Something about a city-"
Alex actually went a shade whiter, her hand shakily reaching up as she grabbed Steve's arm, "Steve...He's going to try and break the seal."
"Seal? What seal? Does this have anything to do with Jesse?" Reggie demanded.
"Y-you said they went to the volcano?" the male asked uneasily.
"Yes," Ivor confirmed, "Petra said the one just outside."
Steve looked down, shaking, "He's finishing what I started..." he straightened and turned to his partner, "Alex take these two down to the house. I'm getting the kids."
"You can't fight him by yourself! Not there!" Alex argued.
"We can help, I'm a soldier," Reginald offered, "I-"
"Out of the question! The kid's can't take him either! Alex just take them home!" Steve gently cupped his partner's chin, but his expression was firm, "We don't have time to argue on this. The more time we waste the less time I have to save him. We - I - can't mess up again Alex."
Alex looked ready to cry.
"Alex , please? Once you get these two men to safety, you can join me."
Alex looked torn, but she swallowed her emotions and nodded. The ginger hugged Steve, squeezing tight, "Bring them back, bring him back." she begged.
Steve held her for a moment, "I will."
Steve then pulled away and looks at Ivor, his eyes wet with emotion, "Thank you," he whispered. Then with a bounding leap, and a sudden rush of wind, Steve flew out of the ruin and into the dark night.
Reginald's eyes widened a bit, "Did he just-"
Ivor turns to Alex. She's got hand over her mouth and she's shaking as she tries to wipe tears from her eyes. "You really are the Immortal's," he says slowly.
"Come on, we need to get you down to the house." Was her response, she whistled and a massive horse walked into the temple, "You can ride Gaea."
Ivor hobbled over as she adjusted the straps on the saddle, tearing off now useless supplies. "Miss?" he asked softly.
Alex froze.
"There is more going on than just the Lost One needing revenge on you two. This has something to do with Jesse...doesn't it?"
Alex glanced at him, her whole body tense with compiled feelings of rage, fear, and despair.
"What's his reason, Alex?"
Alex swallows hard, tears welling in her eyes. "Herobrine never needed a reason, never has. But I'm afraid..." he voice cracks and she takes a shuddering breath.
Ivor feels his heart skip a beat, and he realizes he's afraid too.
"I'm afraid it's Steve and my fault he's after Jesse."
Jesse's feet thumped softly with each step. The sound echoed off the empty hall, giving the entire room an eerie feel.
The volcano rumbled violently, debris and dust raining down from the ceiling. A particularly large piece fell from the roof high above, hitting the stone table in the middle of the hall. It cracked the center, sending the sound tearing through the room, loud as thunder.
The grand dining hall. He had been here before, but it looked so different now.
Jesse stumbled, the ground uneasy beneath his feet and fell to the ground. He landed hard onto his stomach.
"Damn!"
He struggled to get up, not wanting Herobrine to get the jump on his while he was down. As he moved his fingers became sticky, he paused, lifting one of his hands in confusion-
His palm and fingers were smeared in a dark red.
Alarmed he quickly looked back to the floor where his hands previously rested. There was a dark red smear running a few feet before him. Jesse felt his stomach drop when he gave the mysterious substance a whiff.
Iron, Blood.
"Are you coming," a voice cut through the constant rumbling, though it sounded no louder than a whisper.
Jesse leapt up, taking slow circles and nervously looking around the room.
No Herobrine.
"I'm waiting," the whisper came again.
"Where are you?" Jesse snapped.
Herobrine's laughter echoed down the halls, "In the grand square."
"Where is that?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"I think you already know that Jesse..."
"What do you mean?"
There was silence
"Herobrine?"
A single torch on the wall lit up, then the one next to it. One after the other the lights flared up, leading a trail down one of the hallway's on the far side of the room.
Jesse stared, recalling that same hallway from his vision.
"You don't have eternity you know..."
Jesse looked up, seeing the edges of the moon just beginning to peek through the hole in the ceiling. Taking a deep breath, Jesse followed the illuminated path. As he passed each torch, they would snuff out in a puff of smoke.
At the end of the tunnel was a door, the last torch going out; leaving him in darkness before he could examine it any closer.
Between the cracks in the door, was a faint orange glow, shifting and constantly changing in brightness. He could hear a dull roar, like waterfalls. Gingerly he touched the handle, surprised at how warm the metal was. Then he pushed the door open.
The Grand Square, the heart of the mountain.
Though, having seen its destruction first hand - the grand market looked nothing like it did post battle. Time and nature had taken the once impressive city and tore it down. It was now a desecrated pile of bones compared to its former glory. Balconies were cracked, pillars collapsed, and entire levels were missing. Stairs were damaged, buildings destroyed, tapestries were torn. Even the chasm that divided the city right through the middle had at least doubled in size since Jesse had seen its last condition in his vision. Far below lava steamed and boiled, shooting geysers high through the many levels of the city, even making it all the way to the top.
With people no longer here to harness neither its energy nor its power, the volcano worked at full strength. It was hot, almost unbearable. Jesse could feel the sweat compiling under his armor. Despite the massive hole in the ceiling - that was the mouth of the volcano- the heat and smoke remained condensed and thick. Breathing and seeing were difficult, and if it weren't for the little oxygen surviving here would be impossible.
"Not very grand," Jesse said to himself with a cough as he made his way across the floor.
"It was quite impressive, back in the day. But...you already knew that."
Herobrine was resting across the chasm, seated at the one of the old high back thrones; the chair next to him was still broken in half.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Jesse crossed his arms, "And what happened?" he asked dryly.
Herobrine looked around, "Poets and bards tell tales of two dieties fighting for the fate of the world. Legend says it went for days, leveled mountains, destroyed lives. But they're exaggerating."
"Because you were there," Jesse stopped walking a few feet away from the cliff edge, to nervous to get any closer to the long drop and the deadly stop. He gestured, "You were there, you and Steve."
"Correct."
"You destroyed that village in the mountains and Steve came to stop you."
"Once again you are correct," Herobrine grinned. "I attacked, and Steven defended them. The battle lasted days you see. But only in small bursts. The big battle," he extended his arms out, "The grand finale ended here. This is where it all really came down. Which you know about, since my old man was so kind to grant you a vision."
Even through the volcano's song Jesse could hear the thunder high up in the heavens.
"I saw it," Jesse looked around at the walls, cracks and impact points littering the city everywhere, "I just don't understand why here."
"This was our home, it's what we built together. So he decided to kill me and remove our legacy in one blow."
"Yes but-"
"Obviously he failed," Herobrine motioned to his throat and the grisly scar. "He did damage all right. Destroyed my eyes, impaled my throat but didn't kill me. If you ever speak to him again, ask about the scar hidden under his jaw. That's where I cut him deepest when I slashed his face."
Jesse stiffened, recalling the morbid mark the Lost had left upon the First during the battle.
"But enough chit chat, that's not the reason we're here, is it?" Herobrine grinned, sharp teeth glinting in the lava light, "I will admit, I am surprised you made it on time."
Jesse frowned, shifting uneasily on the unstable ground. All around him pieces of floor broke off, falling down the slope and into the chasm.
"You didn't make it easy," Jesse flicked a piece of ash off his armor, "Kinda funny coincidence that all those spawns were by the volcano base, don't you think?"
"Truly a strange phenomenon..."
The volcano shook violently and Jesse struggled to stay upright. Across the fiery pit a large chunk of stone fell from the ceiling landing right behind Herobrine's chair.
But the demon remained as calm as a meadow.
Jesse waited for the tremor to pass before straightening. The constant fear of death over his head made him angry. "What do you want from me Herobrine? You said it was a life and death matter!"
"And it is."
"Then show me!"
Herobrine shook his head, "Tsk, what's the rush Jesse?" he stood, "I have all the time in the world."
"Well I don't."
"Do you, do you really, I wonder?"
Jesse frowned, "What. Do. You. Want?" he repeated.
"Same thing I offered at the Gate, so it's simple." Herobrine extended a hand, "I'm offering a trade."
Jesse was taken aback, "A...trade?"
"Yes, you have something I want Jesse. I'll give you something you want-"
"You could have nothing I could want!" Jesse snapped.
"Oh, but I think I do..."
"If it's the hostage Herobrine leave them out-"
"Why don't you come over and see." Herobrine waved his fingers.
Rocks broke off from various points in the room, condensing together to make a bridge across the chasm.
"Shall we discuss terms?"
Jesse stared at the 'bridge'- barely together over a pit of flaming death - He looked at Herobrine. "Pardon my mouth, but hell no."
"If I had wanted to kill you, I would have done it already." Herobrine replied firmly, "And certainly with something more messy than plummeting you to your death."
Jesse frowned.
"My patience grows thin Jesse," Herobrine warned. "Either cross the bridge or my end of the bargain expires. Literally."
Jesse stepped uneasily forward on foot coming to rest on the bridge. He glanced slowly at Herobrine; the man had his arms crossed impatiently waiting. He took another step and the makeshift crossing still held. Jesse took a deep breath and crossed as quickly and as un-terrified looking as he could manage.
Herobrine smiled, "I'd knew you'd see things my way."
"Stop saying that," Jesse snapped. "Because I'm not! Now show me the hostage or there is no deal, and there is nothing you can do to stop me from walking back over and leaving!"
Herobrine raised an eyebrow, "And if I dropped the bridge while you crossed?"
"You said so yourself," Jesse glared, "If you had wanted to kill me, you would have done it. I think you don't want to, at- at least not for the moment anyway. I'm not stupid Herobrine."
"You have no manners," the other scoffed, "Did the priestesses teach you nothing at that quaint little orphanage of yours?"
Jesse said nothing.
"Very well, this is what I offer-"
"Hostage first." Jesse cut in. "Let them go."
"Don't interrupt!" Herobrine hissed, eyes flashing. The mountain shook as if to match his temperament. "Unfortunately for both you and my hostage Jesse. That is what I am offering to you in exchange for what I want."
A large ball of smoke appeared by Herobrine's chair and Jesse frowned, "You kidnapped smoke?"
"Look closer."
Jesse moved in a step or two, but kept a fairly decent distance. He didn't want to get to close to Herobrine or the mystery contents of the bubble. He leaned in a little as the smoke parted-
His eyes widened, "AIDEN!"
Aiden was trapped within the blacken haze of the orb, wounded, bloody and fighting violently against restraints that Jesse couldn't see. He was gasping, chest heaving, like he had no air.
"W-what are you doing?! What is that?! Stop!"
Herobrine had summoned a dagger out of thin air, and was picking his teeth with it, "It's condensed volcanic fumes. I've been cutting his oxygen on and off for about..." Herobrine glanced at the moon, "An hour now? Did you know he can hold his breath a fairly decent time?"
"I don't care! Let him go!" Jesse yelled, horrified.
"I can't do that, I already told you, he's also the bargaining chip." he chuckled, " I did tell you to keep a closer eye on your friends Jesse."
"Let him go now!" Jesse bolted toward the orb, getting ready to draw his sword; when Herobrine flicked his wrist in Jesse's direction. A hot gust of air sent him skidding backwards and crashing to the ground, landing on his stomach.
"Not until I get what I want."
"Then stop suffocating him!" Jesse panicked, pushing up onto his elbows.
Herobrine snapped his fingers and the smoke seemed to thin up a bit inside the bubble. Aiden sagged in relief, chest moving shakily in and out. He fell against the side of the bubble, pale and exhausted. Aiden spotted Jesse, and weakly but desperately tried to tell him something, but Jesse couldn't hear him.
"I'm so sorry Aiden I-"
Herobrine chuckled.
Jesse let his head drop, staring at the ground, "You're sick," he hissed.
"Thank you."
"What do you want from me?"
"Just a little something you took by accident." Herobrine got up from his chair, patting Aiden's bubble as he walked by.
"And what would that be?"
Herobrine hummed, "Do you recall that little incident with the Witherstorm?"
Jesse cringed, "I don't have the command block, if that's what you're after. It's broken, and besides it didn't work."
"I'm not after some silly old block. I'm after the power of the Witherstorm itself."
Jesse looked up, confused, "I don't understand."
"Then listen very carefully," Herobrine kneeled down in front of him, "Because I'm only going to explain this once."
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