AN: Hey. Can't talk now. Piggybacking wi-fi off a Starbucks just to publish this.

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

Beta: ?

Chapter 80

A Bigger Mess

[Cobb]

"Cobb! You're moving too slow!"

"So much… running…" I gasped as I struggled to keep up with Soul. "Lungs… burning…"

Bladder: Lungs! Stop drop and roll!

Lungs: *GASP*

"Heart… palpitations… skipping…"

Brain: Don't you die on me, you son of a bitch! Beat, darn you! Keep pumping oxygen-rich blood into this noodle body or we're all dead!

Heart: I… I can't…

Brain: Like hell you can't! Bladder, fetch me 50 cc of 'kick in the pants' and 40 cc of 'less gasping, more dashing'! Stat!

Bladder: Right away, sir!

"Cobb!" Soul growled, reaching back to drag me along by my arm. "Hurry! Those cultists are right behind us." He glanced over my shoulder and squinted his eyes. "I think." He added.

Really. How the hell were we supposed to tell where invisible pursuers were? We needed one of them to say something.

I took a greedy gulp of air before cupping my hands over my mouth and mustering enough to shout out, "Marco!"

"Polo." Came a small voice to our left, followed by a "Wait…"

Soul's axe cleaved through the space to our left, eliciting a pained shriek as it connected with a cultist.

Brain: Ha! Nobody can resist a good game of Marco Polo!

Yeah! Now if I only knew what that game actually was…

"It's pretty embarrassing how stupid these guys are." Soul mumbled before yanking me further forward. "And you, Cobb, how are you so slow?" Soul glanced down at his feet. "Even little Cat-Face is keeping up with us!"

Cat-Face? I internally questioned since my lungs didn't have the capacity to answer aloud. Just as Soul had said, the black and white cat was padding along, keeping up with our pace, and occasionally winding between the axe-wielder's legs.

"Move!" Soul warned, shoving me roughly aside as a sword nearly sliced off my head. I staggered sideways, exhausted, before falling onto my back and backpack. Like a helpless turtle, I rolled to and fro to dislodge myself, all while gasping for breath.

To my left I heard the metallic clangs of crossed blades ending in a grunt and an explosion of gear. Any terror that Soul had been killed vanished when I felt his strong grip lift me by my hoodie and back to my feet.

"Oh my God, you're like a baby rabbit! Get up and on your feet!"

"It's… it's not my fault!" I argued in between labored breaths. "I've… been up since… yesterday! Running… and doing more running… and ender pearl-ing… and sneaking… and more running… and falling… and then—in a surprising change—more fucking running!" I massaged my chest to try and filter in more oxygen. "Then I was burning… and fighting… and running again—"

"Wasn't that only because you attacked that outpost alone?"

"You know what, that's enough talking. Let's go back to running." I shouted in half-exasperation before cupping my hands over my mouth again. "MARCO!"

"Polo—Fuck, I'm bad at this!"

I whipped out my golden sword and struck the invisible source of the noise. Judging by the masculine cry of agony, I may have hit crotch.

Soul and I surged forward through dense trees, sneaking glances at our maps just to have some idea of where we were in relation to the Creeper gaggle and where Cara wanted us to light fires.

After a while, however, it was clear that the only running I was doing was on fumes. Unconsciousness was no substitute for a good night's rest, and I hadn't had one since I set out against that outpost. With all the crisis and drama, I had forgotten how tired I was. But now that that had worn off, there was no way I could keep going.

"Soul…" I gasped as I supported myself on an oak. "I can't… I can't run anymore… you gotta… you gotta—"

"If you tell me to leave you behind and save myself, I will hit you." He growled, taking cover behind a tree and glancing back for any visible signs of our pursuers. "I'm getting you out of here, even if I have to carry you."

I shook my head, falling to my knees, and then to my palms. "I… I seriously… I can't…" Every breath had my lungs fighting for more. It didn't matter if they felt like balloons about to burst, I needed air damnit! I needed food damnit! I needed rest damnit!

I was just going to drag Soul down.

"Just eat up and catch your breath." He advised before suddenly turning his head east. His ears were perked, but whatever he heard was lost on me; drowned out by heavy breaths and ears pumping with blood.

I weakly tried to eat some cooked mutton, but the delicious meat merely slapped against my face before sliding to the ground. Why you no work, food?

"I hear explosions…" Soul spoke, glancing between trees to the east. "We're really close to the herd. I can see them just up ahead."

"Has… has the cult been… been corralling us here?" I pushed myself to my knees, clutching a stitch in my side. What better way to kill us than to corner us and let the Mobs do it for them.

"No idea," Soul shrugged, "but it doesn't matter. We need to cross that herd anyway." He cracked his neck and refilled his Hunger Meter with steaks.

"Wh-huh?" I questioned aloud, looking between the trees to see the vast expanse of light-green death before us.

He nodded. "This might be our only chance to block the valley." He looked over his map carefully. "Cara's on the other side, burning trees down like wildfire. We need to hold up our end."

"But… but we… we haven't *cough* hit all the spots yet." I tried to eat the mutton again, only for it to slip between my weak fingers and hit the ground with a wet slap. My groan went unnoticed.

"To hell with controlled backfires." Soul jerked his head as if caution was an annoying fly. "We're burning a straight inferno right across this valley." He pointed forward. "Right through there. Cutting the Creepers off completely."

That sounded like a terrible idea. "If we do that, we'll burn… everything down!"

"Yeah, we will." He spoke with his eyes still set towards the east. "But it'll cut the Creepers in half, at least."

"Not to mention destroy… thousands of acres of wildlife!"

"Meh, what has wildlife ever done for me recently?"

"This is crazy!" I argued. "What happened to the plan!?"

"Our plan never included the Endward Cult getting in the way. And not just the ones chasing us either." Soul turned to look at me. "This whole forest is probably teeming with the bastards and like that Invisi-Bitch said, they're all doing whatever they can to destroy Ringwood and mess everything up." There was a mad gleam in his eye that made me wary. "And to that I say: When things are a mess… just make a bigger mess."

"…Soul, you're scaring me."

"No, just think about it!" He argued earnestly. "Burning down the forest is bad for everyone, Creepers and cultists included. They'd never want a fire to hinder their herd of Mobs. And they'd never be able to get around with all the flames licking at them. Their Invisibility would be useless."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was crazy. Insane! And yet…

If it were me in a burning forest, I'd want to get out as soon as possible. Death by fiery bushfire of bushy, fiery, death didn't sound very appealing… or grammatically correct. Surely the cultists would retreat… right?

Suddenly, a voice disrupted our argument. It was from afar and it sounded like Spring.

"Marco!"

"P—!" The irresistible reply to the cultist's shout was smothered by Soul's hand pressed over my mouth. I looked up to do the same to him, but he already had his mouth covered with his other hand.

Smart.

Those cultists were getting craftier. And closer, by the sounds of it.

Slowly, Soul removed his hand from my mouth and did the same with his other hand. "Burning down the whole forest is the best way to drive them out—actually scratch that. It's the most desperate method of driving them out, but it's also all we've got to ensure Ringwood deal with their half of the herd."

I let out an agonized groan, finally shoving some cooked mutton down my throat. "…Wynn is going to kill me." My breathing was still heavy, but the stitch in my side had faded.

"Not like she isn't already going to kill you for the outpost."

"Can we just get it over with already and stop talking about whose fault it was I went to that outpost?"

"It was your fault and most everyone knows it."

I muffled a whine into my arms before recollecting myself. "I take it we're going to test out the cat's defense?"

"Its name is Cat-Face." Soul admonished before his eyes widened and he coughed into his fist. "That is… I mean… I don't care what you call it. It's just a cat." Cat-Face rubbed its face against Soul's leg, causing the axe-wielder to almost smile before forcing it into a grimace. "I hope what those cultists said about cats was true. Otherwise we'll look pretty stupid before we die." He picked up the cat by its front legs and dangled it off the ground, where it gave a disinterested meow.

"So just to be clear," I began. "You and I," I pointed to both of us in turn before pausing, "and Cat-Face, are going to run across this valley, burning any trees we come across in a long swathe of flames, and pray that it doesn't spread to Ringwood and make the situation there a thousand times worse?"

"Not quite." Soul corrected, balancing the cat upon his head… before he grabbed my hand and threw me over his shoulder. "Wow, your noodle body is actually really light."

"What the—!" I squawked in outrage. "Hey! I'm not a sack of potatoes!"

"No, because sacks of potatoes don't complain." He remarked with an arrogant laugh. "But neither of you can run across this valley at your level of hunger. So I'm going to carry you. Now get your flint and steel ready, because we're going for it!"

I groaned into my hands. Just what kind of heroic position was this? Lugged over someone's shoulder like a carcass with my carrier having a cat on his head. If saving Ringwood was supposed to be an epic feat, I didn't want it to be remembered like this. Not like this!

Maybe if there was some embellishing here and there, with the cat being a dragon and Soul being a robotic steed, but this just looked ridiculous!

"On the count of three." Soul began before cutting straight to "THREE!"

[Wynn]

Almost everything was a mess.

The guards and citizens had been quick to follow Iron_Lungs' orders in digging out trenches and moats to keep the Creepers a safe distance away from the undamaged buildings, but that was forcing them to demolish the buildings already destroyed by Creepers. Furthermore, while my lava suggestion had just been me thinking out loud, several guards had followed through, pouring buckets of the burning rock into the first trenches where the Mobs were quickly set ablaze and killed.

The problem? It was creating a molten mess of the Southern District.

Flowing lava. Deep gouges in the dirt and roads. A ceaseless tide of Creepers buffeting themselves into molten death. Buildings and structures in rubble.

It was a nightmare.

And yet somehow, the Southern District was the one faring the best. Solara, from her high vantage point, could tell that the other districts were being beset by Creepers of their own (the Western and Eastern Districts the worst off). My guards hadn't been quick enough in their warnings. Creepers were getting into the Kingdom. I needed to get to the other districts to help, but I couldn't just—

"WYNN!" A scream caught my attention and I turned to see Iron_Lungs waving me off. "GO HELP THE OTHER GATES! I GOT THINGS UNDER CONTROL HERE!"

I hesitated for a second. "You're certain?" I called back, wanting to do more elsewhere, but unsure whether the Captain could keep so many Creepers in check.

"DOES THIS SOUND UNSURE TO YOU!?"

I looked to the veteran Captain before glancing towards the Western District. It was a shady place, but the Crafters living there were still Ringwood's. And the guards there needed someone to assess the situation and spearhead damage control.

I needed to be there.

"I'll come back as soon as I can!" I called back to my fellow Captain, grateful that he was freeing me up to help others. I shot a glance to the roof of one of the buildings. "Solara! I'll need your help too, let's—"

"Uh… Captain?" Solara began carefully, her eyes squinting as she looked out over Ringwood's wall. "There's… something you need to see."

"What is it?" I asked urgently, already scaling up the building. "More cultists? Are they preparing another attack? Is there another wave to this?"

"…Well…" Solara tilted her head as if to get a better look at something and then rubbed her eyes as if whatever she was seeing was a figment of her imagination. "I don't really know how to explain this but… I see Cobb out there by the valley."

My eyes widened. "You do!?" I nearly pushed the archer out of the way as I craned my neck to get a better look. "What's he doing out there? Is he okay? Is he staying away from the Creepers?"

"Well…" Again, she sounded unsure. "He's… not voluntarily avoiding the Creepers…"

What? What did that even mean? I squinted my eyes to get a better look, but the only thing that caught my attention, besides the massive amount of Mobs, was a trail of flames cutting through the herd and woods like wildfire.

"Alright, but where's—" I began to ask, but stopped myself almost immediately. One didn't have to look long to realize Cobb was the literal trailblazer to such an inferno. As far away as he was, it was hard to miss his trademark black and white hoodie. A measly speck, making its way across a sea of green… with burning orange in its wake.

He was running through the Creeper herd. Burning so much wildlife in the process.

Did he have any idea how many trees would have to be planted to repair the damage his inferno was causing? How about all the animals and lumber that could no longer be a stable resource?

The only consolation for him was that, like Solara said, he wasn't doing it voluntarily, but even that was pretty weak. Someone else was carrying him. Someone who looked remarkably like he had a cat for a head had Cobb over his shoulder while he ignited tree after tree.

He was still burning Ringwood's forest. A forest that Ringwood was practically named after, and would soon be renamed Ring-Ash if the fire continued unabated.

So, in about ten seconds, I went from hopeful, to relieved, to confused, to shocked, to horrified, to angry, to worried, and then back to angry. On the one hand, Cobb was unhurt and doing everything in his power to slow down the herd. On the other, he was doing it by burning down forests and was only out there because he was stupidly trying to enact vengeance on his own.

It was a whirlwind of emotions, but eventually I settled on a compromise.

I would be worried for Cobb until he got back safe.

Then I would kill him for making me worry so much! And for being stupid. And selfish.

But first, I had to find out how to get to him. Or at least how to get him back to Ringwood in one piece.

Cobb and the person with him were just charging right through that herd, burning trees, and not seeming to care for the danger. They were right in the thick of those Mobs, and yet… they weren't exploding.

They… weren't exploding?

No, it wasn't that they weren't exploding. It was that they were diving out of the way.

The Creepers were throwing themselves out of their path, keeping clear of Cobb and his cat-headed companion. They never got closer than a set radius, never bothered to close in on the two or the gaps they made until after they'd pass.

Why?

What about them was scaring off the Creepers?

If I only knew… if I knew what it was… I could do the same to scare off the Creepers in Ringwood.

But what about them was doing it?

"Captain!" A voice from below snagged my attention and I quickly peered down to find a haggard guard. "The Creepers are advancing through the Eastern District! The councilmen are suggesting we use fire to slow them—"

"The councilmen aren't out here right now. I am." I spoke firmly, leaping down with practiced ease and standing face-to-face with the out-of-breath guard. "The Kingdom's crops are in that District, we can't afford to raze it."

Additionally, the Cross-Kingdom Railway was under construction there. Connecting the Kingdoms was a diplomatic priority that couldn't suffer any setbacks.

"Ma'am, the councilmen understand the risk… but… but it is their belief—their words, not mine—that if we don't stop the Creepers, they'll pool into the other districts and surround us!"

I bit my lip. He was right. The councilmen were right too. For a Kingdom, the people were the priority. That was what King Mann had said, and I followed his words like a mantra. It made sense to burn away territory if it meant saving Crafters from Mobs.

But, at the same time, destroying crops would hurt Ringwood in the long run. Crafters would drop like flies without the food to sustain themselves. And burning a district had no guarantee of killing all the Creepers. We were surrounded, after all.

We were surrounded… and running out of time.

"…So?" The guard asked and it took me a moment to realize he was waiting for an answer. "What should we do, Captain? Should we go through with burning the Eastern District?"

I frowned in thought before my eyes darted towards the wall, behind which a forest was currently burning.

"Captain? I need an answ—"

"Tell them to wait." I spoke back hesitantly. "Tell them… tell them there might be a solution. One that doesn't involve incinerating any property." My eyes looked back towards that wall where Cobb was burning beyond. "But we can't implement the solution. Not at this moment. We need to wait."

"What!?" The guard's eyes crinkled in confusion. "Captain! We can't wait! People are dying! If you have a plan then—!"

"I don't have a plan!" I hissed under my breath. "I don't know how to drive out these Creepers, but…" My thoughts turned to Cobb running through that herd with all the Creepers avoiding him like the plague. Then they turned to the Endward Cult, who had surely planned such an attack and coaxed the Creepers to our front door. "…But there is a way. Of that I'm certain."

The guard could only shake his head. "I can't tell the councilmen that! 'There's a way to stop them but I don't know what it is.' With all due respect, that is exactly as vague as it sounds!"

"We just need a little more time." I spoke carefully, hoping the guard would understand. It was a gamble, one that I wasn't entirely comfortable with, but right now it was also our only chance. "Have the guards build up trenches and let them all know about blocking Creeper explosions with swords. Tell them to impede the Creepers however they can, and, if necessary, retreat to the plateau. That's all we can do."

"Ngh… yes Ma'am." The guard nodded begrudgingly and hurried to spread the word, telling two guards at a time.

"That's all we can do…" I murmured to myself, feeling frustrated by it all. I clenched my fist and slammed it against the nearest wall, nearly breaking the block.

There I was, a Captain of Ringwood, without any answers on how to protect the people I swore my life to. I felt so useless.

Just like in Halstatt, I was powerless. Forced to be protected by someone less experienced and less prepared than myself. Again, I had to put my faith in Cobb and hope for the best.

He knew how to stop the Creepers. It must have been a tip he picked up out of that accursed Mob book. It instructed him on how to defend against Creeper explosions. Didn't he say as much back at the basin?

As unfortunate as it was, the fate of Ringwood now rested in how soon Cobb could return to relay that information. I had to get the guards to hold out as long as possible.

Because if he couldn't, and they didn't…

There wouldn't be a Ringwood left to save anymore.

[Lenz]

"Alright." I spoke with a calm certainty. "Is everyone ready?"

"No." Came the four hesitant replies, one of which being stuttered.

"Then I will begin clearing away the trees." I ignored their worries, telling myself it was just a minor case of nerves.

I mean, theoretically speaking, if you have never been fired from a cannon, how would you know whether or not it is an unpleasant experience?

I set up the TNT cannon, made from bits and pieces of the water tower, and adjusted it so that it was aimed towards the park. Accounting for the distance and propulsion needed, I filled the cannon to the brim with TNT, making sure it was positioned above the water and adjacent to redstone dust.

Once that was done, I pressed the two buttons, with a short pause in between to account for the distance, and huddled next to the other four Crafters with my hands over my ears.

There was a loud explosion that forced the five of us against the rim of the exposed water tower and a primed block of TNT was launched forward, arcing high over the herd of Creepers. It sailed a good distance and was right on target as it exploded amongst the foliage of the park.

"Success!" I shouted with my fists raised in triumph. While the TNT had only dented the thick foliage, it made it easier to spot the crystal blue water of the pond nestled deep within. A few more shots of TNT would expose it completely and allow the Crafter ammunition to be fired next.

I worked feverishly while the four Crafters behind could only watch in confusion. None of them knew redstone like I did. I was the only one qualified to operate such a cannon.

Several TNT blasts later, I finally managed to enlarge the gap in the trees to a passable size. Our target, the pond, was within sight and still free from Creepers. When that was done, I gnawed on some steak and mutton and passed a little to the other four Crafters. Erin accepted hers with trembling hands, and then, in an act that betrayed her timid appearance, tore at the meat with ravenous abandon for manners.

"Alright, we are set." I beckoned the Crafters over after they finished their meal and guided the first one, Coombes, to the launching point. He was hesitant as he stepped down into waist-length water with several blocks of TNT behind him.

"Uh… shouldn't—shouldn't you test this out first?" Coombes asked. "You know to… safely show us how it works?"

"Negative." I dismissed quickly. "If I went first, I would be leaving further operation of the cannon in your inexperienced hands. That would only risk one or more of you blowing up."

"…Oh." Coombes muttered, going white. "Blowing up…" He mumbled under his breath before his eyes darted to the TNT and to the Creepers below. "Remind me why I'm doing this first?"

"We played for it, Coombes." The guard replied. "But if you'd rather watch someone else test out this deathtrap, I'll go first."

The guard stepped up, fully prepared for the off chance that my calculations and calibrations were wrong, but Coombes hastily waved him off, biting his lip.

"No, I…" His eyes darted back to the TNT before fixating on the guard. "I'll do it, I'll do it. Just… you sure I won't blow up?"

"No." I replied honestly, causing Coombes to start shaking in anxiety and prompting the guard to punch me in the shoulder. "I mean—You will not blow up." I spoke with a straight face, though it did little to alleviate Coombes' fears.

Well, I tried to be tactful.

"Anyway," I soldiered on, adjusting Coombes for launch, "you need to be facing the TNT with a sword out and held defensively." He quickly took out his sword, but found he could not steady it within his trembling hands. "Firmly grasp it. There. Just like that." I attempted to help before shrugging at the final product.

Looks safe to me.

"Now, I will ignite these TNT and you will block them with your sword." I pointed towards the pond, tracing the path back to our water tower. "Do not flail or jerk around too much upon your descent—"

"What? Why? What'll happen?" He shot out in quick succession.

"Nothing. Just any unnecessary movement on your part might alter the trajectory of the—"

"I thought you said you could launch us safely!" Coombes accused, nearly jumping off the launching point.

"I am an archer." I spoke with contained patience. "The arrows I fire do not writhe around in mid-air. They stay firm and true. So long as you do the same, there should be no problem."

Coombes slowly lowered himself back onto the platform. "Okay. Okay… I'm calm. I can do this. I can be firm and true. Firm and true." He mumbled to himself like a mantra, his sword held defensively before him.

"Yes. Firm and true." I repeated like him before shooing away the other three Crafters. "Get ready to be fired." I backed up and had my hand hovering over the button that would prime the TNT. "Firing in three… two…"

"On second thought, maybe the guard can go first, just so I can see how it's—"

"THREE TWO ONE LAUNCH!" I shouted in exasperation as I slammed a fist against the button. The TNT all primed and flashing white.

"Oh, dear God!" Coombes screeched, fumbling with his sword before finally holding it in a defensive stance towards the TNT. His eyes were screwed shut as the final seconds of the TNT ticked away.

*BOOM*

The explosion was as deafening as ever. The force of it was so tremendous that it propelled Coombes in an instant. The sight was comical. One second he was there. The next, he was sent blasting off, screaming like crazy.

Over the Creepers he sailed. We all watched as he reached the zenith of his launch and began to descend towards the park. He kept as still as he could, opting to invest all his energy into his screaming.

Just like I had predicted, he sailed through the sizable gap in the trees and splashed into the pond. He stayed under for a few seconds before his head burst from the water, sputtering and gasping for breath. He turned his head this way and that, taking in his surroundings and marveling at his own safety, before swimming towards the pond's edge.

Comparators, I am good! I congratulated with a mental pat on the back. If only the students at the Redstone College could see me now!

With my hands on my hips, I turned to look at the remaining three Crafters. Despite Coombes' safe landing, they still seemed hesitant to step forward. It was probably all the screaming he did.

"So," I asked with a small smile, "who wants to go next?"

[Soul]

"They following us!?" I shouted to the Crafter over my shoulder.

There was a pause in his fire lighting as he looked over the sea of Creepers. "I see some gaps in the gaggle!" He answered back. "They're still invisible, but the cats are helping them through!"

"Then keep lighting!" I answered as I continued running forward with Cat-Face perched atop my head. He wasn't doing anything particularly intimidating, but, as absurd as it was, the Creepers were scared of him.

Like a protective talisman, Cat-Face's mere presence was enough to cause the Creepers to shirk away in terror. As I ran forward, the suicidal Mobs would jump out of the way or scamper around us. They wanted to be anywhere Cat-Face wasn't.

No wonder the cultists had no trouble moving around the herd. Just having a cat with us was like Creeper repellent!

I glanced at the map held before me and saw Cara ahead of us, lighting more fires no doubt. Cobb was doing the same on my back, creating a swathe of flames that cut through the valley. Soon it would burn through the trees and block further Creepers from passing through the valley.

But more importantly, the cultists would have a harder time navigating a burning forest. If the cats burned and died, they'd be defenseless against the Creepers. And even if they were invisible, they would catch fire and give away their position.

They'd have to be insane to stay out here now. I thought confidently. Sure, the forest would burn down a bit, but if it scared off the cultists, it was worth it.

Trees could be replanted anyway.

"Soul!" Cobb shouted over my shoulder, taking a break from burning to refill his low Hunger Meter. "Dere thurning bagg!"

"Could you try saying that without stuffing your face with food?" I called over a shoulder.

Cobb gulped down a mouthful of steak, nearly choking, before pointing behind us. "They're turning back! Or at least the gaps in the Creepers are turning back!"

I looked over my shoulder and was pleased to see Cobb was right. The gaps in the Creepers were retreating back to the safety of the unburned woods. The fires were too intense for them to chase us through. They couldn't risk it.

"Ha! Suck it cultists!" I called out as I turned back ahead, grinning. I could almost see the edge of the herd. The side of the forest Cara was on. "Yes! We're gonna make it!

Saying that, I was pretty much asking for the arrow that sunk into my leg.

I let out a yelp as my leg gave out and I fell face first into the dirt. Cobb was flung from my shoulder, but Cat-Face was spared that fate by digging his claws into my hair.

Ow.

Cobb was in trouble though and I knew it. If Cat-Face was with me, he had no protection against the herd. And he was flung pretty far. I looked up and spotted a black and white hoodie falling into a sea of green before several hissings and flashings made my heart stop.

"COBB!" I shouted over the explosions that ripped apart the trees and dirt. Seven Creepers had detonated. By the time the smoke had cleared, there was no sign of any black and white hoodie.

Just a sea of Creepers that quickly cascaded over the scarred land.

I could only look upon it in shock. It took a few seconds for it to set in, the time in which Parker and Spring sprinted towards me, their Invisibility wearing off and their cats marching alongside them to protect them from the herd. They were the only ones brave enough to pursue us through the flames now engulfing most of the surrounding woods.

Parker had been the one that shot my leg.

I clenched my fists into the dirt, feeling rage building up in my being. First Silent. Then Floyd. And now, after finally befriending him…

Spring took advantage of my prone form, bringing his sword around to carve at my back. Parker took a few shots too, hitting me in my shoulders.

The cultists took everything!

I whirled around, my axe whipped out so fast it could have been instantaneous. As Spring raised his sword to attack again, my axe caught him in the hip and dug deep. He gasped in pain, giving me the opportunity to down a Potion of Strength.

With the additional strength and rage fueling me, I lifted Spring off his feet by my axe and chucked him into a tree where he impacted hard and slid to the ground, clutching his side.

I turned on Parker next, rushing the cultist and bellowing my fury. Parker kicked his own cat aside, expanding the radius of protection from the herd before ducking under my heavy swing.

How dare he!?

I cocked back a fist and punched with all my might. I smirked cruelly at the sound of it connecting with Parker's jaw, but I wasn't done yet.

I abandoned my axe and grabbed Parker's stunned face with both hands before bringing it down into my knee. His head jerked back so fast, I was sure I broke his nose.

When I grabbed a fistful of his clothes, fist raised to hurt him even more, Spring cut in with his sword, shearing into my arm and forcing me back. He then flung his hand towards me and I cried out in agony as a Splash Potion of Poison caught me in the eye.

I fell to one knee, trying desperately to clear my sight, but Spring wasn't letting up. I felt him kick me in the gut before stabbing me in the neck and forcing me onto me back. Cat-Face scampered off me and over to the side. I rolled around in a blind pain, but I was still roaring in defiance. I was no better than a wounded animal, calling for their blood.

"4Blite's gonna be pissed." Spring panted as he approached. I felt his boot stomp down on my chest, pinning me painfully. He had to be raising his sword. "But at least we got a Head out of it. And it's certainly been a long time coming."

I tried to wrench his foot off me, but it impossible to do while blinded and poisoned.

This… this was the end?

Still, I fought for any chance of killing the two cultists that caused me so much pain.

And, remarkably, I felt the pressure on my chest lift.

"ARGH!" Spring shrieked as he fell off of me. Something had cut him. But what? Was Cara out here now?

I rubbed my eyes a bit more and looked on. Even though it burned, I could see a bit. My savior had been…

My axe?

I rubbed my eyes again and looked, just to be sure I wasn't seeing things. My axe was still there, hovering in midair, and fighting off Spring.

Someone invisible was using it. But the only other person that had an Invisibility Potion that wasn't trying to kill me was…!

"Cobb?" I called out tentatively, earning a short 'Yes, I'm Cobb!' coming from the hovering axe. I almost sagged with relief. He was alive. He was still alive.

He must have slipped away from the Creepers or blocked them with a sword before downing one of Hugh's Potions of Invisibility. No wonder I couldn't see any sign of him. He had even stripped off all his armor, using the cultist's own techniques against them.

"Could really use some help here, Soul!" Cobb called back. Spring reared forward, sword raised to attack the location of the axe, but Cobb was faster. He tossed the axe backward towards me, wiping out any signs of his location. Spring paused for a fraction of a second, lost on where to attack.

That was all the opportunity I needed to surge forward, catching my axe with my good hand, and bringing it down roughly onto Spring's shoulder. He screamed in agony before hastily throwing a bright red potion down at our feet. The hearts on my Health Meter filled up instantly. It was a Splash Potion of Healing, and it was clear that if he hadn't thrown that down, he would have been killed.

"You…" he winced as he brought up his sword and batted aside my axe. "You've… gotten stronger… I'll give you that…" He was tottering, physically spent and exhausted. "But if you think I'll just roll over and die—"

His words were cut short as a hovering iron sword swung around, denting Spring in his face and sending him skidding to rest beside Parker. The cultists looked at us with hatred, but knew they were too injured to attack without first healing.

"Invisibility is a lot better when I can abuse its cheapness." Cobb marveled as he waved his sword around. "I could get used to this."

I raised my axe, moving towards the two downed cultists. This was my chance. The chance to avenge Silent. Their cats and mine were spread out, making a spacious area where the Creepers never dared to enter. The fires were spreading nicely too. Cara would be proud.

So, with our mission effectively complete, Cobb wouldn't begrudge me killing these two, right?

I gazed upon the two cultists with a cold desire to kill them. They looked back with defiant glares of their own... but then their eyes suddenly widened. The hatred vanished in an instant, to be replaced with a combination of hope… and fear.

They were also looking elsewhere. Their gazes were directed past me and past Cobb's invisible sword…

And over to a dark-skinned cultist emerging from the Creepers.

How did I know he was a cultist? It wasn't the cat that he had beside him. It wasn't the black leather cap covering his snow-white hair. It wasn't how he seemed unbothered strolling through a burning and Creeper-filled forest.

It was that he matched his wanted poster to a tee.

Lieutenant 4Blite marched towards us, an enchanted diamond axe hefted over his shoulder by an arm with the sleeve torn off. His dark purple irises gazed upon me, the floating sword that was Cobb, the cats making up the perimeter, and finally the two cultists lying in a heap.

"Well?" 4Blite asked, his voice as cold and calm as his eyes. He looked to me as he asked, "Are you going to kill those failures or do I have to do it?"

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Golden Sword [Sharpness I, Unbreaking I]{Weak}, 1 Golden Shovel [Silk Touch I, Unbreaking III], 1 Flint and Steel {Weak}, 15 Cobblestone, 12 Flint, 12 Torches, 5 Coal, 2 Oak Wood Planks, 2 Sticks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Oak Wood Door, 1 Clock, 43 Dirt, 1 Bucket, 4 String, 6 TNT, 14 Steak, 30 Cooked Mutton, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00},1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Iron Helmet {Weak}, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Unbreaking I], 1 Iron Leggings {Weak}, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Leather Pants [Dyed Black, Unbreaking I], 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Black, Protection I], 9 Rotten Flesh, 46 Emeralds, 1 Map {Ringwood Region}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}

[EXP: 21]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 3 Levers, 4 Wooden Buttons, 1 Stone Button, 5 Redstone Torches, 17 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 24 Redstone, 64 TNT, 15 TNT, 1 Hopper, 1 Dispenser, 3 Blocks of Redstone, 5 Pistons, 10 Cobblestone, 10 Torches, 13 Wheat, 2 Sticks, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 9 String, 25 Gunpowder, 15 Steak, 2 Cooked Mutton, 42 Arrows, 1 Potion of Night Vision {8:00}, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Pumpkin, 64 Emeralds, 14 Emeralds, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}

[EXP: 5]

Inventory (Soul): 1 Iron Axe, 1 Potion of Strength II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Strength II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Crafting Table, 20 Oak Wood Planks, 27 Steaks, 9 Emeralds, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}

[EXP: 35]

AN: So much for the 'Don't run into a Lieutenant ' plan. Better go with the 'Run away like little babies' plan.

I actually finished this Chapter earlier last week, but I wanted someone besides me to proofread it. Void of Shining Darkness hasn't proofread for me in a while since I'm usually too late to ask him to proofread. Not this time though!

...Or so I thought. Turns out I can't contact him. It's been three or four days... hopefully he's okay.

So... I might need a new Beta. Any takers? And don't say 'yes' just to read a Chapter early, but also don't say 'no' because you hate my guts or something. I'm trying to publish as fast as I can! (T_T)

Also, I think the Omake below is actually better than the Chapter. Tell me what you think.

Leave a fav, follow, review, PM, or what have you.

Omake: Overshadow (Part 6)

A diamond sword smashed into the ground where Carys had been. The masked angel flipped away, keeping her distance from the Hacking brute.

Urson growled as he pulled the blade from the ground and lumbered in Carys' direction, smoke still billowing freely from his eyes and being.

Carys narrowed her eyes, before pulling out her Infinity, Flame Bow. She took aim at Urson, but was forced back as a hail of arrows pelted towards her. And she used the word 'hail' literally.

"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!" Ocan shrieked with increasing volume, every word punctuated by the firing of five arrows. His Hacker powers were on full display, the smoke encompassing him as it did his brutish ally, both of their sclerae a midnight black.

Carys kept low to the ground as she rushed forward, dodging the endless stream of arrows following her. She suspected Ocan had an Infinity Enchantment helping with the ammo, but the rate of fire was entirely his Hack. Not even the fastest archer could fire five arrows per second.

She weaved in between the throne room's pillars while her Paragons took cover by the door, following her orders to make sure nobody escaped from or intervened in their fight.

"Ha! What's wrong Angel of Death? Lost your touch—Agh!" Ocan's taunt was cut short as Carys sent two burning arrows into his chest. The Hacker caught fire and whined in distress, but was otherwise ignored by the other combatants.

Urson stepped up next, trying to corner Carys from behind her pillar. He slowly crept forward before lunging around with sword raised…

Only to find nothing.

A short whistle caught the Hacker's attention, causing him to whirl around in time for a burning arrow to stick into his forehead. Urson clutched at his head as fiery agony assaulted him, all while Carys leaned leisurely against the opposite pillar, lightly tossing an Ender Pearl and catching it in her hand.

"Gah!" Ocan finally managed to put himself out and pointed his bow at the cocky angel, firing another infinite stream of arrows. Carys dove behind a new pillar, listening as the arrows drummed rhythmically against the stone.

"I thought you wanted a fight, Angel! I thought you said you were prepared to fight us!" Ocan crowed from his position on the throne. "If that's the case, why run from Urson? Stand and face him like a warrior!"

But Carys didn't move from her cover. Though she was prone to hot-headed decisions when angered, she wasn't stupid enough to fall for an obvious trap. Fight Urson head-on?

She'd be dead in an instant.

She knew this because Jillian's information regarding the two Hackers was incredibly thorough. They were both Level 2, and she knew the Hacks they possessed.

First off, Kal had explained to her the finer points of Hackers, being a Hacker himself. Hacks themselves could be simplified into enhanced attributes. Things that any regular Crafter could do (running, jumping, regenerating), a Hack could bump up to the nth degree. Every Hacker began at Level 1, but they were capable of manifesting more Hacks if their aptitude allowed. The Hacks weren't freely chosen, instead bestowed upon spawning and discovered through training and experience, but they usually reflected the Hacker's personality and fighting style.

For example, Urson was a beefy guy. Not fast, but strongly built. His two Hacks included KillAura, a type of force field that inflicted damage upon any Crafter foolish enough to get close to him, and One-Hit-Kill, which was pretty self explanatory. Both of those Hacks exemplified strength and convinced Carys that close-quarters combat with Urson was a bad idea.

Then there was Ocan. His Hacks suited a long-distance fighter. FastBow was what he used to fire arrows so quickly. His rate of fire was akin to a machine gun. And his other Hack was a common one for most Hackers: Regen. It took a Crafter's standard rate of regeneration and made it instantly refill a Health Meter whenever the Hacker wasn't taking damage.

It was pretty annoying.

So, in summation, Carys had two enemies. One she had to fight long-distance and the other she needed to overcome his insane level of regeneration.

Fortunately, she had come prepared for such.

She pulled out her newest diamond scythe and waited for Urson to approach. It wasn't hard to tell his position. Those lumbering steps of his were all too loud.

When he was close enough to be right around the pillar she was hiding behind, she shot out and slammed her scythe into the ground before him. At that point the scythe's ability activated.

The scythe was designed to harvest crops, much like a farming scythe did. It could mow down an entire area of wheat extending to a certain radius. Tinker's diamond scythe worked much in the same way. Slamming the blade down upon any surface would create a shockwave that would damage anything before it.

Hackers included.

Urson was stymied as an unknown shockwave shook the floor and knocked him off his feet. He checked over himself, glancing at his Health, and wondering how something besides an arrow could have hit him without doing any damage to the Angel.

Carys raised her scythe to repeat the action, only for a stream of arrows to pelt her, striking her armor.

Her Thorns Armor.

Ocan's triumphant cheer was cut short as the Thorns Enchantment damaged him from the arrows he had carelessly fired. He healed up instantly, of course, but he didn't expect hitting his target would cause himself pain.

While he was confused, Carys rushed towards him, intent on bringing the troublesome archer down. Her scythe trailed behind her in a flash of sparkling diamond and she kept low to the ground, dodging arrow after arrow.

Seeing the Angel close in, Ocan swapped out his bow for a sword and swung with the desperation of a dying man. Carys effortlessly ducked beneath the half-assed strike and grabbed Ocan by the ankle before bringing her scythe around to dig into his back. The Hacker squealed like a…

Carys paused a moment, her eyes losing focus, before she angrily wrenched her scythe free and dragged Ocan off the throne. She slammed him into the ground and reached into her belt for the finishing potion.

Even with his Hack regenerating any lost Health, Ocan continued to writhe around, kicking and squealing like a… like a…

Images flashed through Carys' head. Finding a piglet in the Nether. Sharing carrots with the growing animal. Chatting amicably with it. Riding it into battle after battle.

Watching as Cobb killed and ate it…

The throne room started to spin. She felt her blood boil. She had to reach out and save Mr. Piggles. She had to kill Cobb! She had to—

She blinked in confusion when she took a Heart of Damage. Ocan hadn't hit her though. He was still restrained.

She blinked back into focus and saw Urson closing in on her with his sword raised. When had he gotten close enough to…?

"Angel! Move!" Anibal cried out, even as Carys took another Heart of damage from Urson's KillAura.

Carys knew she was right. She had to move. Close combat with Urson was suicide. He only needed to land one solid hit to kill her. But as she prepared to leap back behind the cover of the throne, she felt something grab her leg and hold her.

Ocan was smirking cruelly up at her, his hands wrapped around her leg in a death grip. He was taking damage from Urson's KillAura too, but he was regenerating just as quickly.

She looked back up to see a diamond sword slashing towards her. She couldn't dodge. She needed to block it. But her hand was occupied with a potion. She couldn't swap out her sword in time.

Just as it was about to cleave into her, two iron daggers flew into Urson's arm, forcing him to release the sword. Without him holding it, the weapon clattered uselessly against Carys' shoulder.

Without missing a best, the Angel of Death reached out and grabbed the diamond sword before sinking it into Ocan's neck. He cried out in agony and released the Angel, allowing her to flip back just in time to avoid Urson's kick.

A kick that just barely connected with Ocan's arm.

One-Hit-Kill.

A kick was all it took to overcome Ocan's regeneration and slay the Hacker.

Ocan burst forth in a shower of gear, his Infinity Bow and Head clattering to the floor. Urson was horrified by his mistake, stepping back and looking upon his fellow Hacker's remains with the deepest regret.

Carys, meanwhile, tried to steady her breathing. She forced herself to look composed—even pleased at how the situation turned out.

But on the inside, she was in a panicked frenzy. She had almost died. She had lost focus for an instant, but that was all it had taken. She looked up to her Paragons, still guarding the entrance. Then she looked to Z7 who had her other daggers drawn. She nodded subtly to show that she didn't require thanks for saving the Angel's life. It was her daggers that were thrown into Urson's arm.

If she hadn't intervened when she did…

Carys bit the inside of her cheek and felt her blood boil again. Even when he wasn't there, that accursed Crafter was tripping her up. He'd get his, though. She'd make sure of it.

But first, she needed to end this fight.

Her eyes snapped open, the deepest, blood-red crimson piercing through her Wither Skull mask. She cast aside all thoughts of Mr. Piggles and King_Cobb and focused every ounce of her killing intent on the remaining Hacker before her.

Urson was glaring at her too. His golden eyes glaring dagger at her. "You said your Paragons wouldn't interfere." Urson accused, inclining his head towards Z7.

Carys shook her head. "They weren't supposed to. And they won't anymore." Her message to them was clear. Intervene again, and you'll pay. This is my fight.

Urson scoffed before his attention was diverted towards Ocan's Head. Though the eyes were blank, Carys watched as a dark smoke began to envelop it. It swirled around faster and faster, lifting the Head into the air and spinning it. Before long, the smoke left the confines of the Head and began to orbit it in larger streaks and arcs before finally shooting up and through the throne room's ceiling. The Head settled back to the floor with no trace of any vapor or smoke clinging to it.

"The Clan will know of what happened here." Urson spoke to himself before turning towards Carys. "Even if you somehow kill me, there won't be a future for any of you Paragons. The Clan will hunt you down to the ends of Minecraftia and slaughter you without mercy."

Carys cracked her neck and held up her scythe challengingly.

"Let them try."

With their words spoken, Carys and Urson squared off, ready to end the fight once and for all.

AN: Should have turned off friendly fire, Urson. One Hacker down, one to go.