My Craft

by OnTheCobb

Devoid of memory or purpose, a new Crafter is pushed forth into the unforgiving land of Minecraftia. Armed with nothing but his wits, he must…well…actually he's pretty witless. Hopefully he won't get killed in the first week. Hopefully.

100. Paragons and Pacifists

AN: Well, I feel good about two-thirds of this Chapter. See if you can guess which is the most lacking.

I feel like there was something important about this Chapter... something I can't quite put my finger on...

Oh, right. IT'S THE HUNDRED CHAPTER! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

Ahem, anyway. It's been a crazy journey getting this far. Nearly one million words. This story might actually be the longest Minecraft fic. And yet some of you claim to have caught up with the entire story in under three days!? LIES! HOW? LIES!

Alright, whatever. Lots to do. Lots to do.

FIRST, congrats to gs gaming for guessing last Chapter's riddle correctly. The answer was that the police don't put any of the rooms out because police don't put out fires. And yes, I am aware that the easier these riddles are the more likely the Victory Cookie winner comes down to whoever reads the Chapter first. And with time zones, that's a real pain, but that's what the favorite and follow button are for. Enjoy your cookie and your acknowledgement, gs gaming.

(::)

SECOND, is this chapter's puzzle:

What is brown and sticky?

THIRD, I took some suggestions for what to write in this Chapter (you'll notice it's a bit longer than usual, even with all these words in the AN).

FOURTH... is that how you spell fourth?... Whatever, 4TH!

I'm going to answer some review questions since I said I would. I won't say who sent them, but I'll write out the commonly asked questions so it'll be easier to navigate around if you just want to read the juicy chapter below. Anyway, onto the questions!

1.) Can you explain Poulsen's Hack better?: It's explained better in the Chapter below, but Creative Control is basically a Hack (a real one, mind you) that allows a Hacker to select two points to make an area. Think of the two points like the opposite corners of a rectangle or square. And then when the area is completed, it eletes all blocks within, above, and below that area. So Poulsen could literally make a pit to bedrock that could also take out the ceiling of a building if he used it indoors. It deletes the entire y-axis above and below the selected area. I hope that clears that up.

2.) Do we have a time-frame for when the Beginners will get to Zeppil?: Good question. The Beginners are going to stop at Jolin first before heading to Zeppil. Since they don't have horses, it'll probably take them a week to reach Jolin, where they'll stay for two or three days depending on how tightly I can write things, followed by another week to finally reach Zeppil. All in all, they'll probably reach Zeppil by Chapter 115 or 120. Maybe sooner if, again, I can write succinctly. I'm doing a time-skip for the first week of travel to Jolin, though, so Chapter 101 will be them reaching Jolin as well as some catch-up. The Zeppil Arc will follow the Jolin Arc. Trust me, I want them to get to Zeppil too since I got something BIG planned for that.

3.) What are your Top 5 ships for the entire story?: Good question! The answer is [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and finally [REDACTED]. Okay, okay, I guess I have to answer. 100 Chapter special and all. I'm only going based on their relationship, whether its romantic or not. Just my opinion on best interactions. From worst to best, CaraxSoul, WynnxVeronica, NomanxSpark, CobbxWynn, TealxMark. There, don't think too much on that.

4.) Will you ever make an interesting Griefer OC?: I have a thought for one, which could make Griefers sympathetic or allow for more pity towards them. People are just people, after all. So there needs to be an understanding that anyone can turn out like them. So, yes, one day I'll introduce an interesting Griefer. Though it'll probably take time to address.

5.) Are you male or female?: *Lifts pants and looks down* Male.

6.) Is Wynn gay?: No, but Veronica wants her to be.

7.) Who are your Top 5 characters?: From worst to best, Erin, Lenz, Teal, Wynn, Carys. No Cobb, I know. The dude sucks.

8.) Do all Jibbermen speak Atbash?: Yes. Yes they do. Good catch. I think I first had that planned since Chapter 20. I guess the secret's out now.

9.) Was the picture in Bailey's kitchen a Head or a snow print?: That's... honeslty kind of an odd question. I thought it was obvious. It's a snow print. Noman just called it a picture since he isn't quite familiar with what snow prints are. Also, kudos for remembering what snow prints are.

10.) What would you think the characters' theme songs would be?: Notch damnit, this question took a lot of time to think about. I didn't surf the web listening to songs and trying to pinpoint the exact one for each character. That would be crazy. No, I just listened to all the songs on my music player and picked the ones I thought best represented the characters... out of the music I listen to. It's funny, because I often listen to this music while I'm writing, Some characters have more than one since I couldn't decide while other songs are for certain themes. I'm gonna list them for you to check out, just keep in mind that some might be explicit. Not too bad, though. If you can read through my swearwords, you can probably listen to this without being scarred for life. Probably.

[Teal] = I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy

[Cobb] = Rise - Blockheads

[Soul] = War - Sick Puppies

[Floyd] = Papercut - Linkin Park OR Meet me in the Woods - Lord Huron

[Lenz] = Rodent (DDT Mix-Ken Marshall Remix) - Skinny Puppy (and only because it was the only techno song in my playlist)

[Wynn] = White Flag - Joseph

[Carys] = Your Time is Over - Richy Nix

[Veronica] = Living in a Dream - Finger Eleven

[Noman] = Oh Stranger - Defences

[Beginners] = How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty

[Endward Cult/Lieutenants and Executives] = Wicked Ones - DOROTHY

[Traveling Music] = Send me on my Way - Rusted Root

[Wastelands/Outside Kingdoms] = The Last of Us - Gustavo Santaolalla

Take a listen and tell me what you think. And if you hate my taste in music... don't tell me. (T_T)

11.) Did Meyrick have an artifact?: Meyrick? As in the Nightclub owner back in Daymonte? The one that Wynn and Veronica beat the snot out of way back in the thirties? No, he doesn't have an artifact.

12.) Is Part II still ongoing?: I actually have the start of the part's written at the beginning of certain Chapters, so I don't blame you for missing it. To make it clear though, we're currently on Part 4. The Part length with the chapters is as follows:

Part 1: Chapters 1-28

Part 2: Chapters 29-62

Part 3: Chapters 63-92

Part 4: Chapters 93-?

The first Chapter of each Part has a little summary. Sorry if I made that unclear.

13.) What inspired you to make Minecraftia and its residents?: The inspiration for this story came after a certain Minecraft server I frequented. The server had a lot of people and they all formed guilds and stuff and had access to teleport commands between friends. I joined another player in this mountainside shack and expanded it into a lush, stone and wood mansion with farms, portals, and the like. But what I really enjoyed about the sever were the WARS. They had a bottle command, just like the bottle mechanic I use in my story for EXP, so you could actually farm bottles of EXP. I was basically a warmonger on that server, selling EXP for diamonds and emeralds... all while amassing my own private stash. But then one guy took advantage of my hospitality and demolished my glorious mansion. So, in retaliation, I went to the Nether and farmed a bunch of Wither Skeleton skulls to make the equivalent of nuclear bombs.

When the monthly war occurred between the guy who sabotaged my mansion's faction and this other group, I went invisible and spawned withers all over his base and battlefield. It was glorious. Their little guild village never stood a chance. I got kicked from the server, but it was worth it. Nobody screws with my mansion! Anyway, I wanted to make a community like that, with trade and bartering... as well as bloody vengeance.

I also took inspiration from the Yogscast's Shadow of Israphel series (which is a great and humorous adventure), the N00b Adventures which focused on a strict inventory tally that I would use at the end of every Chapter, and the Hunger Games servers, where players had to be resourceful with the environment and what little items they had. It was sort of an amalgamation. As for the Characters, I just thought up personalities, backstories, appearances, and whatever else with a bit of aid from other media.

14.) How many organizations/alignments are there in this world?: Good question. There's Guilds, of which the Top 3 are Paragons, Scouts, and Berserkers. There's the Hack Clan. The Endward Cult. The Griefers. Unaligned Bandits that are stronger and more knowledgeable than Griefers, but are fewer in number. The Kingdoms which are safeguarded by color-coded Guards. Aaaaaaaand the Mobs, which are monsters. There's also Jibbermen, the people with garbled names that speak in garbled tongues (Atbash). And then the Hybrids, like the Creeper and Slime girl. And I think that's all. There are other guilds, but they're smaller than the top 3 and can just be sorted into the 'Guild' pile.

15.) Name two characters with an interesting dynamic: You're gonna hate me for this, but Teal and Mark. I know there hasn't been much to see, but they really do have an interesting dynamic. I guess in terms of dynamics that would be interesting, I'd have to go with Cobb and Carys. The two of them are very much opposite sides of the same coin, and I really, really, really want them to meet up again. But since we're having fun with hypothetical interactions, I'll throw a few more out there. Cobb and Wynn. Floyd and Noman. Floyd and Kalmarin. Ember and Spring. Noman and Soul. The list goes on.

16.) What's the highest level a Hacker can achieve?: You're right about the highest being Thed with 5 Hacks. But, the level cap is 10. Which is a lot to juggle.

Okay! That's all the questions. Now, onto the Chapter.

---

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. Yadda yadda...

Go.

---

Chapter 100

Paragons and Pacifists

[Noman]

"How can a person dressed so smart be so stupid!? The Art of Peace is a means justifying the ends sort of thing! It's as plain as day from the excerpts on pages seven, twenty-four, AND forty-five as I so generously highlighted for you. Therefore, what's the harm in a little harm on the road for peace?"

"The harm is that, whether you have good intentions or not, hurting people is not the way to accomplish your goals! Anyone can simply kill someone that doesn't agree with what you want. It takes greater force of will to act beyond pettiness and revenge, and let both sides live… as stated on page twenty."

"Well, gee, I guess you must live in a fantasy world where problems are solved in thirty minutes or less and everyone's holding hands and singing about following their dreams. Ring ring! Oh, what's that? Let me just pick up that phone and—oh look! It's reality calling! And it says you're a naïve little bitch!"

"Language! I'm sure there's something in this book against swearing…"

"Ha! If anything it should be all for swearing! Free expression is allowed!"

"That doesn't mean—"

"Shit. Bitch. Asshole. Hell. Damnit."

"Gaaaaaah, stop it!" I covered my ears. "LANGUAGE!"

"You can't make me! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, ass, ass, ASS, ASS!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO! AAAAUUUUUGH!"

"Nghhhh, I can't take it anymore!" A female Griefer came between Casimir and I, shoving us apart and panting with an embarrassed face. "This is just ridiculous!"

"Excuse you! Can't you see we were in the middle of a sophisticated debate? Ass. Dick. Fuck. Hell." Casimir added, causing me to wince.

But the female Griefer, Tania, was having none of it. "You two have been bickering over that book for over an hour! And while the rest of us would be fine with watching what I can only describe as Philosophical Book Wars: The Weenie Edition, I have to remind you, respected leader, that we're getting hungrier by the second!"

Casimir for the first time took notice of the Griefers sitting around us in a wide circle. Some had keeled over onto their backs with grumbling stomachs, while others looked haggard with dead eyes and sunken cheeks.

Bailey had since recovered and, since it seemed just cruel to watch, had started to hand out bowls of beetroot stew to the starving Griefers who half-greedily, half-gratefully accepted. All reason as to why they had come here forgotten.

Casimir shifted awkwardly. "I… see your point." He coughed lightly before trying to regain some semblance of authority as he addressed me. "Well, Noman, I find myself evenly matched against your interpretation of the Art of Peace. From one student of aikido to another, I'm impressed."

I wanted to point out that I wasn't actually a student yet since Bailey refused to teach me any aikido, but I instead settled on accepting the praise for what it was. "Thanks. You're pretty knowledgeable too. I'm glad we were able to talk out our differences before you did something you might have regret—"

"What? No. I'm still going to take this farm." Casimir stopped my words cold with his blunt honesty. "Tania just got done explaining how everyone was starving. I gotta feed them one way or another."

"…Oh."

"Still, I find myself conflicted on something." He frowned to himself, rubbing his chin. "Your interpretation of the Art of Peace is an angle I had never considered. It places more importance on the value of life while skirting some of the stricter teachings regarding neutrality and isolation. Maintaining that life is paramount AND a that it's perfectly fine—even necessary—to desire to protect it, is admirable. If a little naïve." He added.

"Well, I don't think your interpretation is the end-all either." I countered. "Those necessary evils you committed to keep these Griefers fed isn't going to be worth whatever prize you're planning to get." I said, remembering what Marble had taught me about not letting an object rule every move I make. I had nearly sacrificed a friend for the Voda Shlem, a memory which continued to frighten me.

"My actions are truer to the philosophy than anything that old man has done." Casimir countered before visibly calming down. "However, I see that we still have a debate on our hands. Which leaves only one available recourse."

"Continue to talk about it in a calm, orderly environment?" I guessed.

"No." He replied before suddenly tossing me Bailey's stick. "The only way to properly defend our respective perspectives of the Art of Peace is by beating each other senseless with our philosophies until one of us concedes!"

"…Starting to notice one or two holes in your reasoning."

"Shut up and fight me like a man… with a stick… peacefully."

"But I don't know any aikido!" I desperately tried to argue, holding Bailey's stick awkwardly in my grasp. "I don't even know which end of this stick is the right one!"

"Then I guess your Art of Peace is as backwards as the way you wield that stick." Casimir quipped as he pulled out dual wooden swords. "And once I win, the farmhouse will be mine to do with as I please." Before he could attack, he paused. "But, since I'm a nice guy and I can honestly see the merits of your interpretation, I'll let you leave alive with that old man. After I win, of course."

"Since when did I become the representative of this farm? I got here two days ago!" I complained as I took a half-step back.

"You better not lose, son!" Bailey called from the sideline, as unhelpful as ever as he started passing out more food to the watching Griefers while whispering among them.

I let a low whine of distress as Casimir advanced.

---

[Kalmarin]

"Kalmarin, sir. They're in sight."

I nodded to one of the Paragons from Team Delta, Trenay, as she relayed the information to me. We were stationed at the edge of the stone juts, just as Jillian had said. The bases provided adequate cover while the tips allowed our lookouts to scan for our quarry. There were only thirty of us in total. Twenty from my team and ten from Delta.

Attila was among those from my team.

She stood near the back, furthest away from me, her eyes downcast and her hand twitching upon her weapon. She had been reluctant to come along, and the whole three days she'd never spoken a word to me.

So far, the plan to get her to trust me wasn't working so well. But I wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"Attila." I called out, shocking her to attention. "They're heading straight for us so they'll pass through these two juts. You have any suggestions for setting up an ambush?"

She narrowed her eyes, detecting something suspicious. "You're the leader, here. Why are you asking me?"

"Because I'm open to ideas." I persisted. "You have experience too, so I'd appreciate your input—"

"Wouldn't a Hacker have more experience with this?" She cut me off, stressing the word like a curse. "You know, since we're attacking a Hacker? I can't say I have much experience being one of those." The watching Paragons shifted uncomfortably at the way she referred to me. It may have been true, but nobody liked admitting to what I was.

"I… that may be, but…" I struggled to respond to her venomous words, but eventually relented with a sigh. "Never mind. Sorry I put you on the spot like that."

She made no sign of accepting my apology as she turned around and moved to the back of the group.

Well that was a bust.

"Sir?" Trenay called down again from her perch atop the stone jut. "They are nearly upon us. Your orders?"

"Right." I turned to the other nine Team Delta members. "Take sniper positions on the nearby juts. The Griefers will be coming right through here and I want you all to have an angle on this chokepoint." They nodded before rushing off to climb the juts. I then turned to my own team, Alpha. "The rest of you will be in the thick of it. Try to avoid Poulsen—he has purple hair and wears a bright yellow robe—and focus on the Griefers. It'll be a five-to-one ratio in their favor, but they can't fight to save their lives. Delta will watch your backs, but only so long as you stay in the open. You should do fine so long as you—and pay attention when I stress this—avoid Poulsen. Stay at least fifty blocks away from him. I'll keep him occupied so he doesn't delete a chunk of the ground and drop us all into oblivion."

Team Alpha gulped nervously at that, but they held determined gazes as they withdrew swords, shields, and axes. Their armor shone with fresh Enchantments courtesy of Nitebane's EXP Factories. Jillian had been right to reserve a quarter of their bottles o' enchanting for the Paragons. We would be the first of many to use them in battle.

"Attila, why don't you lead the forces here and…" I looked to where she had gone, only to find nobody matching her hair color. "Where'd she go?" I glanced around for the brunette but only caught a glimpse as she rounded one of the stone juts with the other scrambling archers. "Attila! Wait! I... aaaaaand she's gone." There went Plan B.

"We will follow your orders to the letter, sir." One of my Team members, Dyson, stood at attention. He was my current right-hand man and a bit stiff, but he was capable at leading in my absence. I had planned for Attila to try her hand at it, but he'd have to do.

"…Dyson, you direct the fighters while I keep the Hacker busy. Fight smarter and there should be no problem taking these Griefers out." He nodded in assent and started giving out orders and arranging groups. I noticed how my team seemed to relax at being issued orders by someone other than me and I had to repress a forlorn sigh.

Being a Hacker wasn't easy.

While everyone scrambled into position, I decided to take one last crack at Attila. I followed the way she went and searched around, even asking some of Team Delta above. But none of them had seen her.

I was just wondering if she'd possibly doubled back when I saw her creeping amongst the juts… only she was heading towards the approaching Griefers instead of setting up where I said she should.

Has she lost her mind!?

I hurried after her, keeping myself as low as possible in case any of the Griefers spotted me. "Attila!" I hissed. "Attila, get back here!"

She turned to me with a dismissive look before ignoring me and slipping between two juts.

"Oh, you…!" I grit my teeth before dashing after her. Ignore me will you?

Wriggling between the two juts, I saw Attila taking out a lot of TNT and rigging it along the base of one. And when I say a lot of TNT, I meant a lot of TNT. Enough to leave a dent in the Griefers' forces. She must have been stockpiling the stuff over the past week.

"'Not good at following orders' is something you probably should have mentioned before you applied for my team!" I hissed lowly as I marcher up to her.

"I never applied. It was either this or death, remember?" She shot back, causing me to wilt.

"It… it was a figure of speech…"

"Whatever." She laid out redstone connecting the TNT. "I'm doing my job. I'm killing the Griefers. This way will get more bang for your buck."

"We had a plan." I stressed, gesturing behind to the waiting Paragons ready to ambush. "You can't just go off on your own. What if you got caught? What if Poulsen killed you?"

"Then I'll be with the rest of my family." She countered with a scowl.

"That's not how you should be thinking. You should be focusing on survival."

"Most of my life was spent focusing on survival. Now I feel like shit." She fiddled with some repeaters, laying TNT here and there. "If I got caught and killed it would be a win-win, both for me and for you. Griefers will die and I'll have my revenge. Or I get to keep on going and do the whole thing all over again, so why do you care?"

"I care because you're a member of Team Alpha!" I hissed. "You're being reckless when you don't have to be. I wouldn't tolerate this from any of my team! I'm supposed to be keeping them alive. To be keeping you alive."

"Oh sure," she laughed sarcastically, "because someone like you would care about what happens to someone like me."

"…Because I'm a Hacker?" I began slowly, causing Attila to stop her fiddling. "Is that what you think? That I don't care? Or is this a more personal issue?"

"I just find it strange that someone who basically has Minecraftia on a plate would be working for Carys."

"We're not allowed to say her name out in the open!" I nearly shouted. The rule was that important. The Paragons and Carys_Angel couldn't be tied together, otherwise the cultists would learn of the Angel's identity. "And I follow Carys because I believe in what she's trying to do. To unite Minecraftia against the malicious forces that have caused us harm. That have caused you harm."

"Why don't you tell me the real reason you brought me along!" She stood to her feet, glaring at me with flaring, grayish-green eyes. "To get me to accept you as a leader. To get me to trust a Hacker. But how is that supposed to work, Kalmarin_the_Prophet?" She pointed a finger to the approaching army. "Either you betray us and take their side, or you kill your own kind—a Hacker—for somebody better? Either way makes you untrustworthy as hell!"

"Well I suppose you know what that's like, now don't you?" I shot back, causing her to falter. "You were a cultist, but now you want to stab them in the back. It's the pot calling the kettle black."

"Don't compare me to you! I have a reason to hate them! They took away my family!"

"And they took away my love!"

"They… what?" Attila blinked in shock, stepping back from my latest outburst. Her eyebrows lifted and she stared into my eyes as if verifying the truth of what I had said.

Honestly, what was this, some sappy soap opera? I hadn't intended on bringing anything up, but the way she kept picking at me, accusing me, as if I was some unfeeling God who never had to answer to anything. Whatever the world thought of us Hackers, I could assure them that we were just as human as the rest of them.

Complete with guilt and shame.

"What do you… when you say—?"

Attila's question was cut off by a loud voice coming from between some stone juts.

"Who's there!? I know I heard a pair of screaming voices! I swear if this is another couple making out in the stone juts, I am gonna drop this whole biome into the abyss!"

I recognized that voice. That violent temper. That hatred for all things lovey-dovey because he could never get a date.

It was Poulsen. And by the sound of it, he and his Griefers had us surrounded.

---

[Jillian]

It's funny. One would think running a kingdom would be enough to take one's mind off of other things. Like, say… a Hacker killing Kal and his men and arriving in Nitebane to lead everything to ruin.

But, surprisingly, it didn't.

My nervousness was showing as I sat atop that throne, listening to requests and reports and offering what input and aid I could. My fingers were drumming against the arms of my seat or else fiddling with my blonde, braided hair, my left foot was tapping, a thin bead of sweat was trailing down my cheek. Kal would have picked up on it instantly if he were there.

But he wasn't there. Right about now, him and his forces were probably intercepting that Hacker and duking it out. His protection was missed, not because Z7 or the other Paragons were poor at their jobs, but because he was an outlet with which I could talk to. A confidant.

And I'm sure Z7 could be a great confidant if, well, she could talk normally and not be an assassin in the shadows 24/7. Little things like that proved off-putting.

I glanced up to the rafters, knowing she was up there, somewhere. Was there even a point to her hiding? Besides the element of surprise, she'd be no less dangerous down here than up there.

"Jillian, ma'am." I quickly turned my attention forward, pretending I had been paying attention the whole time. Standing before me was Witige, a member of Team Beta; Baltic's man. "There's a group of Bounty Hunters with some news they wish to share with you. They are requesting an audience."

"I thought we made it clear to have one person at a time for any given audience with me." I sighed in exasperation at having to go through this again. Sure, the throne room was big, but what was the point of bringing in so many when only one was needed to relay a message or request. The others would just stand around awkwardly before leaving; a waste of time for everyone involved. "Tell them to send only one in."

"I tried, but the lady in charge insisted that her 'merry band of charming rogues'—her words not mine—be allowed in. They say they have information regarding one of the bounties we issued."

My eyebrows lifted in interest. "They have Flawwed_Floyd? Or King_Cobb?"

"Not per se… but the woman claims she killed Floyd here in Nitebane prior to the bounty being issued and wishes to complain to whoever issued it for having lousy timing." Witige scratched the back of his head. "She was very vocal about it, ma'am. She said her and her merry band of charming rogues fought hard to kill him and are now cursing themselves for the apparent amount of emeralds on his exclusively live head. They want something for their troubles."

"Do they even have his Head?"

"No, they said they had no reason to think they should keep it. He wasn't wanted when they killed him."

"Well then who's to say they're telling the truth, Witige?" I rolled my eyes. "They're probably just Berserkers looking to get an easy prize. Just send them away."

"I tried that too, but they refused to leave the courtyard until they meet you face-to-face. They want to hear the words from your lips, ma'am. The lady in charge was very vocal about it."

"Well, I guess it beats having to deal with the worshipful sorts." I sighed before waving an arm. "Fine. Let them in. I'll tell them that they won't be getting anything for claiming they killed him. Guards, be prepared to intervene if things get heated. These bounty hunter sorts hate to hear they worked for nothing."

I honestly had no idea what they were expecting to get from hearing it straight from my lips. This was just another waste of my time. I had a million better things to do than be the bearer of bad news for bounty hunters.

A few moments later, Witige returned with seven Crafters. Six of them were clad in iron armor, but the seventh one—the teal-haired one at the front—wore nothing but the clothes on her back and a… Crafter Head? Yes, she had to be wearing a Crafter Head since there was no name hovering over her.

"Helloooo~" She waved cheerfully before pointing at me. "You the lady in charge?"

"No, I just sit on this throne and cover for someone else." I said, pretending to be sarcastic when it was the genuine truth. Carys was supposed to be the one in charge, after all. "Yes, I'm the woman in charge. I issued the bounty for the Endward Cult Lieutenant, Floyd."

"Alright, well, see, I killed that guy before his bounty became public, sooooo," she wiggled her arms before her, "I feel a little cheated. We were wondering if you can't offer us a little something something for our trouble."

"You have any proof you killed him? You know, besides your word?"

"I mean, if you get a dive team searching the ocean floor just off the coast, you miiiight find a blue-haired Head." She hinted in a sing-song voice. "I'd do it myself, but I've had enough action with Guardians recently."

"I wouldn't risk people for that." I replied dismissively. "Besides, the bounty was only good if he was brought to us alive. That Lieutenant has a lot to answer for."

"Siiiiigh. That's too bad." She pulled off her Crafter Head, freeing up her teal pony-tail and flashing a devious grin. "Guess you'll have to settle for another blue-haired Lieutenant."

It took a second to process her words and another to read the freshly revealed name atop her Head. By the time I realized who she was, Teal_Larkspur was already lunging for me with an outstretched hand and a toothy grin. I remembered what Attila had told us about her. The strongest Lieutenant in the Endward Cult and a master at hand-to-hand combat. Her fists were all she needed to kill me.

Her fingers had just brushed against my beret when a dagger was thrown from above, forcing Teal to halt her attack and backflip to safety. My Captain training kicked in shortly after and I climbed behind the golden throne, my bow already drawn.

Teal's merry band of charming rogues, now revealed to be cultists, had their weapons drawn and were attacking the Paragons savagely. Witige, being a member of the support Team Beta, had trouble with his opponent. Perry and Heather, members of the combative Team Alpha, were holding their own quite well against three cultists. The other Paragons on guard were quick to jump in or else call for backup.

Z7 was going toe-to-toe with Larkspur. Her purple hair whipped around as she tried to drive a knife into the Lieutenant's ribcage, but Teal skillfully contorted her body out of the way before retaliating with a kick that the Jibberwoman barely blocked.

"Oooh. You're good~" Teal praised before skipping back from a knife dagger that would have sliced her cheek. "Mind my face, though. I've got people I want to look pretty for."

"Ivhg zhhfivw." Z7 replied through a curtain of purple hair. "Blfi kivggb orggov svzw droo yv qfhg zh rg dzh lmxv hvkzizgvw uiln gsv ivhg lu blf."

"Umm… them's fighting words? OW!"

She pulled back as a dagger stuck her beneath the arm. Z7 prepared another slash, but Teal retaliated by ramming a knee into the assassin's face, dazing her. Teal then grabbed her arm and gave a jerking twist that elicited a dry, cracking sound and a low whine of pain. Z7 slashed out at her face, causing the Lieutenant to release the arm. It fell limply to Z7's side. Broken.

From my cover behind the throne, I shot a barrage of arrows at Teal. None of them landed, but they did manage to force her away from Z7. Teal somersaulted between two pillars before coming up near the stained glass windows overlooking the ocean. She spun and twirled like a dancer, dodging the arrows with increasingly impressive acrobatic feats. It frustrated me, but I knew enough to keep my distance. I would be helpless against those reflexes of hers.

Despite her broken arm, Z7 leapt back into the fray, throwing daggers and adding to the projectiles trying to nail Teal to the wall. Her vibrant blue eyes glittered mirthfully before she lunged for Z7. She grabbed the assassin's broken arm and yanked her back, bringing forth another garbled shout of agony. Teal laughed as she pulled Z7 along and pinned her to the window before rearing back a fist.

Glass shattered as Z7 barely tilted her head to dodge the powerful jab. Teal pulled back and shook her hand with a taunting smile before going for another. This time, Z7 was able to wriggle free of her hold and evade the punch that only caught her long hair. She twisted out of the way of a follow-up kick that broke yet another stained glass window.

"Take that artful windows!" Teal laughed after breaking yet another one with her fist when Z7 dodged. "Too good to be made out of regular glass? I don't think so!"

*CRASH* *CRASH*

In fact, Teal was doing more damage to the windows than to Z7 as the two continued to evade one another. They made their way back to the center of the throne room while my attempts to hit the Lieutenant were thwarted by her display of acrobatics. Z7 lashed out with a dagger, but Teal dodged it with contemptuous ease before retaliating with an axe kick.

The Jibberwoman's dark eyes flashed before she darted between Teal's legs, dodging her attack, and leaving the blue-haired cultist wide open.

Teal cried out as the iron dagger bit deep, scoring a long slash across her back. Teal staggered forward a little before throwing out a kick that Z7 caught on her good arm before rolling away for distance.

When Teal turned around again, she found herself facing dozens of armed Paragons. Z7 was at the front of the group, crouched low while two members of Team Beta worked to heal her injuries.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey! What happened to all my guys?" Teal shouted as she looked around the throne room now filled with Paragons. If she had been paying attention, she might have noticed her cultists getting overwhelmed. Instead, she was lost in the throes of battle.

"They're all dead." I informed her as I stepped out of hiding and took position beside a recovering Z7. "What? Did you think throwing yourself at us would amount to anything?"

"Well it works on my darling stud muffin so I figured—"

"Quiet! I don't care about muffins or studs. You're surrounded and more guards are on the way." Teal eyed the enemies taking positions around her and took a cautious step back. The way she came in was covered, as were all the other exits. "Give yourself up now and we won't have to scrape your Head off our clean throne room floor."

Went unsaid was the fact she'd be interrogated for any information pertaining to the cult before being promptly disposed of by Carys herself.

"Well, I admit, as plans go, this wasn't very well thought out." She hedged carefully before shrugging one shoulder. "Guess it's time for Plan S."

"…Plan S?"

She smirked. "For Swan Dive."

She was already bolting for the broken windows by the time I realized what her plan was. "STOP HER! DON'T LET HER ESCAPE!"

The Paragons gathered together to form a barrier between the Lieutenant and the windows, but Teal responded by putting on a blue leather cap of all things. It perplexed me for a moment when I saw water particles surround her, but then I was downright floored when I saw her effortlessly hop over the heads of the Paragons who were moving slower upon entering her proximity.

Z7 darted forward and I let loose a few shots, but both slowed down the second they got too close to her. Teal had the time to look over her shoulder and laugh haughtily before she dove out the window, down into the Guardian-filled Ocean below in a graceful swan dive.

"Holy mother of God." Perry muttered breathlessly as he joined the other Paragons in crowding the windows to track Teal's cliff-jumping descent.

I was a bit faster on the uptake. I leaned far out the shattered window, Z7 keeping me from falling out, as I aimed down my bow and took three quick shots in succession. That Lieutenant wasn't getting away that easily. Her lack of a well-thought-out plan was going to get her killed.

As my arrows neared her, however, they suffered the same slowness as before. It had something to do with that leather cap she was wearing. She hadn't worn anything throughout the fight, but when she finally did, it was something as small and light as a leather cap? No. It had some kind of Enchantment. Maybe something new from the Bounty Days? Some kind of area-of-effect that slowed down enemies and attacks.

She landed in the water with a splash, and all hopes that the Guardians would swarm and kill her were dashed when I saw her produce a boat and clamber inside it. She sailed out for the small island off the coast.

"Somebody organize a party to go after her!" Perry barked, getting the Paragons moving. "We can't let her slip away. Not when we have her run—"

His words were cut off as he was suddenly thrown across the throne room, skidding along the floor and crashing into a pillar. To make matters worse, he also caught fire. He rolled around painfully and I stared at the burning arrow sticking out of his chest.

"Wh-what the—?"

More people started getting pelted with arrows, each one packing enough Power, Punch, and Flame to hurl us from the windows with barely a Heart to our names. Z7 twisted me around and shielded me, her back to the windows as a flaming arrow struck her and caused her to hiss in garbled agony while being tossed across the room.

The arrows were coming from the windows. The recently smashed windows that Teal had focused on more than Z7 during their fight. It was all to open up the throne room to powerful projectiles.

"Seal the windows!" I commanded over the sounds of burning Crafters. I rolled myself and Z7 out of the way of a fresh barrage of arrows that, unfortunately, ended two Paragons writhing on the floor behind us.

The ones not on fire scrambled for water and to seal up the windows. Witige and other available members of Team Beta threw out Splash Potions of Fire Resistance, Healing, and Regeneration in an effort to save lives. I dragged the dangerously low Z7 behind a pillar and cracked the proper potions over her head when they were tossed to me. Heather and some other brave souls nimbly wove between the broken windows in-between volleys and sealed them up with whatever blocks on hand. Others attempted to pull the injured away from the danger zone.

But there were still deaths.

By the time the windows were sealed and the throne room secure, a total of twenty-two Heads were littered across the floor. If we hadn't have called in so many reinforcements to apprehend Teal, there may have been less.

This wasn't the spur-of-the-moment plan I thought it was. This was premeditated. Everything was planned out too well. Teal causing a ruckus and cracking the windows to gather as many people as possible. 'Forcing' her way out when that leather cap could have helped her just as easily escape through the front door. Making a spectacle of diving out the windows to draw everyone there. And then the bombardment of arrows from a bow with Enchantments powerful enough to rival anything Anibal could get her grubby paws on.

Checking that Z7 was fine, I crept over to the sealed windows, numb to the Paragons jostling me as they moved about and mourned the fallen.

As I peeked out through what little remained of the stained glass window, I watched as Teal's boat moved further and further out to that lonely island well within view of Lunar Castle.

My eyes narrowed as I tried to scan that island's beach. My eyes weren't good enough to see that far, so I had no way of knowing if the archer was there, but…

What was I saying? There was no way anyone could have shot at us from that island. It was miles away. You'd have to account for arc distance, wind resistance, the small target our windows made. As an archer myself, I could attest that it was within the realm of impossibility. Nobody could make that shot!

…

But there was nowhere else they could have come from.

---

[Abyssmal]

"Feh. Missed the gal in charge."

I griped in solitude, lowering my prized bow, as I stood on that beach. Sure I had taken out a bunch of them, but the idea of this mission was to cut the head off the snake. That Jillian woman's reforms were making Nitebane stronger when it should have been the Endward Cult taking it back. It was the cult's birthplace and to have someone else kick the Hackers out before us was insulting on all levels. Ember hated it. And I was a bit disgruntled over it.

But it looked like the assassination attempt was a bust. Admittedly, it was a bit of a slap-dash plan, arranged only when the Hacker acting bodyguard for her morning, noon, and night decided to leave town for some reason. Though the other factor was that the people in charge weren't your average Steves. One of them held their own against the blue-haired beast herself. And that Jillian obviously knew how to run a Kingdom. Hell, like I said, one of them was a friggen Hacker!

This had to be a guild or something. One of the big ones. The Scouts were too stupid and the Berserkers not altruistic enough. Which left…

"Damn Paragons." I sighed, scratching at my eye-patch. This made things a lot more aggravating. But did that mean Jillian was the Angel of Death? I doubted it, since Teal wouldn't be alive and rowing towards me if the Angel had been up there.

Speaking of which…

"Nice job, Teal. I give your dive a ten out of ten."

"Why thank you." She replied with a smile, hopping out of her boat and slogging through the shallows to greet me. She took off her powerful leather cap and shoved it back into her pack while nudging the boat along to shore. "Get any kills?"

"Twenty-two. But someone dove in front of her Highness." I revealed with a shrug. "And looks like we lost some men. Again. Fan-tucking-fastic. Two missions with you being the only survivor. I'm beginning to think you're cursed."

"It's not my fault! They weren't pushovers. And Mark came back just fine before." She shot back, rolling her arms. "Man, that purple-haired chick stuck me good. I think I might need a few days off to recover—"

"I gave you a vacation with Mark, you greedy idiot. You'll heal." I dismissed to which the teal-haired woman pouted. "We're done here. Let's beat it before they start looking for us. Tandem boat ride for two?" I added suavely.

Teal was unimpressed. "How about instead you go have tickle fights with yourself. Calling me a greedy idiot…"

Teal started to sail away only to squawk in surprise as her boat mysteriously broke when a mysterious flaming arrow was mysteriously shot at it. Mysteriously.

"Oh look. Your boat broke." I said while hiding my bow behind me back. "And you don't have a spare." I took out my own vessel, placed it on the cool water, clambered inside, and patted the seat behind me. "You want to ride tandem now?"

She grumbled a reply before squatting in the space behind me, making sure to prod at me painfully with her knee before settling into a comfortable position.

The badasses of the Eastern Division, everybody!

---

[Kalmarin]

So much for following the plan.

We were surrounded. Nestled in a hollow of stone juts because of Attila's recklessness. Getting into a shouting match with her probably didn't help matters either. And as we sat in that hollow, we heard the Griefers surrounding our position and demanding we show ourselves.

As I considered my options, I noticed Attila making a sudden movement towards the TNT. My eyes widened before a hand shot out and grabbed the wrist holding a flint and steel.

"Are you mad!?" I hissed under my breath.

Attila glared back unflinchingly. "They have us surrounded. Now's the best time to set this TNT off. We'll take out all of them."

"And get killed in the process?"

"Why don't you use your precious Hacks to survive it?" She countered.

"I only have two Hacks and neither of them could survive a point blank explosion! And even if I had a Hack that did, I wouldn't let you die such an avoidable death."

"Well, that's a shame." She called back uncaringly before trying to wriggle her arm free. Seconds later, she gasped in pain when I activated my first Hack, Strength, and tightened my grip on her wrist.

"Drop it." I growled as smoke seeped from my eyes and surrounded my body. She glared back challengingly, still trying to free her hand and the flint and steel within. But then I applied more pressure, causing her mouth to twist into a grimace. "Drop it."

She gnashed her teeth in defiance before finally letting the flint and steel fall. I quickly snatched it up and stuffed it in my backpack before letting her go. She clutched at her numb wrist, massaging feeling back into it as she eyed me traitorously.

"Good. Now… wait here." I whispered to her as I came up with a plan. "If they see you, come near me. They won't attack while I'm there."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion before her eyes widened as I slipped between the stone juts and walked out, smoke still surrounding me.

As I revealed myself, I watched as the first Griefers that saw me raised their weapons before suddenly dropping them in fear. They were shaking as they realized who they had been pointing their swords at. Many of them prostrated themselves before me, bowing low, falling to their knees, or else pressing their foreheads to the ground. They counted themselves lucky to be in the presence of a Hacker.

As I stepped through the crowd of bowing Griefers, smoke still coating my body, I saw him. The purple hair and the bright yellow robe. It was a diamond-clad Poulsen standing in the middle of a group of Griefers giving him a wide berth.

"Holy blue blazes! Kalmarin, is that you?" Poulsen laughed as he stepped forward with a large smile. "It is! Geez, man, how the hell have you been?"

Poulsen opened his arms as he approached, but I took a step back, holding up a hand to dissuade him. He stopped in his tracks at the gesture and his face fell a bit.

"That's close enough, Poulsen." I said neutrally.

The purple-haired Hacker tilted his head in confusion before moving on. "Well that's a fine way to greet someone after years of not seeing one another. Seriously, where've you been? We found out a Hacker spawned without you telling us and rumors have been flying around back home non-stop. Thed was worried sick and went out to find you, too."

"I'm sure he did." I spoke calmly, the smoke swirling around empowering me. "But I couldn't exactly tell you all where I was going."

"You could have left a note or something." Poulsen placed his hands on his hip. "Aaah, but who cares about what's in the past. I don't know if you've heard, but some annoying krill seemed to have rebelled against Urson and Ocan. I don't know what trick they used, but I'm heading there now to turn the place into a graveyard." He let out a haughty smirk. "Wanna hit the Kingdom with me? It'll be fuuuun~"

"No." I answered simply. "You're not going to Nitebane, Poulsen. I'm here to stop you."

The Griefers shifted uncomfortably at my words and distanced themselves slightly further back, while Poulsen looked back flabbergasted. "You're… what!?"

"I don't consider myself a member of the Hack Clan anymore." I continued. "I left because I was fed up with the reckless destruction and the disregard for human life. They were a family of monsters; one that I don't wish to be part of any longer."

Poulsen fixed me with narrowed eyes before his sclerae turned black and smoke started to seep from him just like me. "Well, gee Kalmarin. It sounds to me like you're shunning the Clan altogether." He spoke with barely restrained fury. His voice shook from the effort alone; a powder keg waiting to blow. "You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with what happened to Urson and Ocan now would you?"

His fingers twitched to his belt, and mine reflected the act as we stared each other down.

"So that's it, huh?" Poulsen smiled nastily. "Betrayal and abandonment. That's all you have to show to your family?"

"Blood may be thicker than water, but the whole lot of you are thick not to see the damage you're doing to Minecraftia. The Clan's megalomaniacal policy is clearly in the wrong. Somebody has to take you down a peg. Even if it has to be another Hacker."

Poulsen sneered. "Oh God, don't tell me… don't tell me…" He laughed incredulously. "This isn't about us being 'wrong for Minecraftia'. This is about that woman isn't it?"

I remained quiet as I withdrew my sword and pointed it at him.

"And here I thought you got over it." Poulsen shook his head in exasperation. "She was one woman. Minecraftia is full of them. I don't care how hot she was, you were getting too invested. The Clan leaders did you a favor snuffing her out."

"Stop." I threatened lowly, my eyes lacking any pity for the man before me.

"If you're having trouble moving on, you might as well come to Nitebane with me. It's probably full of single women." He laughed cruelly. "And like they say, nothing impresses a lady more than threatening to kill her."

I struck like a thunderbolt, my Strength empowering the slash that hammered into Poulsen's armored chest. I took no small pleasure in watching the look on his face as half his Health was obliterated in one hit before it refilled instantly.

…Oh no.

The Paragons lying in ambush took my attack as the signal to do the same. It wasn't quite how we planned it, but they descended upon the Griefers gathered around Poulsen and I with frenzied aggression. Swords clashed, blows were exchanged, horses started running around the place without their riders. Arrows pelted down from the stone juts, killing an occasional Griefer here and there. It was chaos, but in our favor.

And, like I had warned, everyone was steering clear of Poulsen. His Hack to decimate a selected area from top to bottom was a fearsome one.

But it seems he had leveled up since we last met.

"Surprised?" Poulsen taunted as he picked himself up and readied his enchanted diamond blade. "I'm not the same Level 1 Hacker I once was! Now I'm Level 2, and with a shiny new Regen Hack to keep my Head on my shoulders!" He glanced around at the ongoing carnage and fixed me with a scathing glare. "You're certainly popular. I guess you really did kill Urson and Ocan, huh?"

Suddenly, he lunged forward, crashing his blade against mine. "So since you already broke the rule about infighting, I guess I'm in the clear to kill you, traitor!"

"You don't have the skills to kill me." I scoffed before disengaging and then punching him square in the face. He staggered back, his face a furious red.

"That's what the Hacks are for."

Poulsen brought up a smoky hand and slapped a block of the ground before him. It left a smoldering handprint; the tell-tale sign of his Hack, Creative Control. Now he just needed to slap another block to complete the area and delete everything above and below it.

I had to stop him. I moved forward with my blade ready to cleave him, but Poulsen was unconcerned. And for good reason. My Strength Hack wasn't strong enough to overcome his Health in one hit. Not while he was wearing diamond armor. And I hadn't expected him to have the Regen Hack, otherwise I would have brought more backup.

But then, that just made him cocky. And since it was a relatively new Hack for him, he didn't know of the hidden weakness. The chink in his armor, as it was.

My blade caught his arm, but he responded by slashing out with his own, scratching my chestplate… and causing me to catch fire.

"Hot enough for you?" Poulsen laughed as I tried to put out the flames. He brandished his Fire Aspect Enchanted sword and went for another slash.

I blocked it this time while the fire bit into my Health. Fire Resistance wasn't one of the enchantments I had bothered putting on my armor, and I was starting to regret it. This called for some strategy.

I pushed Poulsen back before activating my second Hack. He didn't notice and slashed forward with a savage blow.

It struck my chest. I caught fire…

And teleported right behind him.

Though burning, I took advantage of the opening and struck at Poulsen's spine with a bone-crushing blow that had him eating dirt. I probably shattered his spine with all the force I put into it, but his Regen healed him right back up.

I may not have had Regen, but I did have a neat Hack called EnderPort. It worked like this. When it was activated, any time I took a hit, whether it was a projectile or a physical strike, I would teleport right behind the attacker. It was the mother of all counter attacks and was particularly useful against hidden snipers. Once an arrow hit me, I would teleport right behind them using EnderPort and use my Strength to finish them off.

Poulsen spat out dirt as he propped himself up and glared at me. His face was growing more furious by the second. "Hey, traitor." He spoke with vitriol. "That woman must have whored herself out to you quite well to make you betray us like this."

My sea-green eyes hardened before I charged Poulsen like a madman. Smoke radiated off my arms as I delivered a crushing blow to his diaphragm. Air and spittle exploded out of his mouth before he was sent hurling further away.

"Don't talk about her, you scum." I threatened lowly, to which Poulsen just laughed mockingly.

"And I thought I was temperamental." He grinned nastily before raising his hand. "Thanks for throwing me far away from my first mark. It makes the area of effect so much bigger!"

My eyes widened at the realization as he slammed a smoky hand down into the ground, leaving a second mark. As soon as he did it, two smoke trails raced out from the mark, connecting with the two smoke trails racing out from the mark behind me.

I tried to throw myself out of the way, but I was too late. I felt weightlessness as a 20x30 block area of the ground and so much more vanished beneath my feet. An overhanging stone jut was also caught by the area of Creative Control, becoming clipped and blunt.

I fell down, hearing Poulsen laugh mockingly as I did, and I tumbled through the empty ground, passing layers of dirt, stone, ores, and heading straight for…

The Void.

That was what people always thought was below bedrock, though only Poulsen would have ever seen it with his powers. It was as dark and empty as what I remembered, but there was one important difference.

Falling into this would kill me.

Trying to stay calm, I twisted in mid-air and brought out an ender pearl from my belt, thanking my lucky stars I prepared for precisely this kind of situation. There wasn't an angle to throw it back onto the surface, but Poulsen's Creative Control had luckily exposed pockets in the earth that must have been caverns. The obliterated area must have had Mobs in it too, since I noticed some Skeletons and Zombies falling into the Void.

But now wasn't the time to worry about Mobs. I chucked my pearl at the closest cavern opening and let out a wince of pain when I took the damage that came with teleported to safety. I brushed myself off and peered up the newly created pit to see Poulsen frowning down at me.

I had made a mistake falling for his taunts. But he had a made a mistake in using his Creative Control without thinking. Now, he was going to pay.

But first, I needed to get back up there.

I pulled out another ender pearl and tried to angle my throw correctly. But it was no use. I was too far down and the angle was all wrong. I'd only hit the side of the pit and fall back down again… and I might not be so lucky in teleporting to a new cavern.

I decided to play it safe. I angled my ender pearl towards similar cavern openings higher up, and teleported there. Like climbing the rungs of a ladder, I warped a few feet, rested to get my Health back, and then teleported up again.

I was unprepared for when the ground opened up below me again.

Poulsen wasn't a fool. He made a wider area to encompass the cavern ledges I was resting on, and now I was falling again. I cursed his name as I threw out a hasty pearl, missing a cavern ledge by a few feet, but salvaging it by throwing out a hand to catch myself.

I hoisted myself and growled up at the sneering Poulsen who proceeded to smack the ground with a smoky hand before circling the pit. He was going to keep widening it until I fell to my death.

I didn't have the time for this. If only he had a bow and could shoot me, I could use EnderPort to teleport right behind him and end this in a second. But he knew my Hack well enough. He wouldn't make such a mistake.

He was just circling the second corner, his hand already smoking with the power of Creative Control, when a massive explosion rocked the earth. Poulsen stumbled over the edge of the pit and had to throw out an arm—the non-smoking one—to catch himself.

I nearly fell off too, having to steady myself against the cavern wall to keep from falling into the Void. That explosion… it sounded like it was still going on, and I even spotted some chunks of TNT flying over the pit. That had to have been the stuff Attila rigged up.

But had she… did she actually blow herself up? Did she throw her life away in one last blaze of reckless glory?

A head of long, curly, dark brown hair poked over the edge of the pit to answer me.

"Attila!" I called up, thinking on my feet while Poulsen struggled to drag himself back onto solid ground. "Shoot me! Take out a bow and shoot me!"

"What!?" She called back, obviously confused. "Why? I mean, I know I hate you, but asking to get shot is a little—"

"For the love of God, just shoot me!" I called up desperately. Poulsen was going to recover if she dawdled any longer!

"Alright, but you asked for it!" Shrugging at the odd request, she pulled out a bow and aimed down its sights at me. I stood perfectly still, and as open to her aim as I could be.

She was no archer though. The first and second shot missed. "COME ON!" I cried out in exasperation.

"Shut up! Don't rush me!" She called down angrily before taking her time lining up her third shot. She let it loose and I watched as it flew towards me before I activated my EnderPort.

The arrow struck me.

And the next second, I was standing behind Attila. Back on the surface.

"What the—!" She jumped at my sudden appearance behind her and would have fallen into the pit had I not caught her around the waist and pulled her back. She clutched at her heart as her chest rose and fell, but I only spared her a cursory glance before turning my attention back onto Poulsen.

He had finally pulled himself up and was glaring daggers at me. "Begging a lowly Crafter for help, Kalmarin? How low you've fallen."

"You're about to fall lower." I quipped in turn, picking out an ender pearl from my belt.

"Oh yeah? And how's that?" He taunted from across the pit. "I'm invincible! Even your Hacker Strength isn't enough to kill me!"

"I don't need to. You've already 'dug your own grave', so to speak."

"What are… you…?" His eyes widened as he realized his mistake, just as I threw my ender pearl over to his side of the pit. He looked fearfully at me as I grabbed him by his annoyingly bright robe.

He was so confident in his newly acquired Regen Hack, he failed to realize the dangers his other Hack brought to the table. Unlike my Hacks which could be used in tandem, his were like oil and water; one a weakness to the other.

"Regenerate your Health forever." I whispered to him coldly before I used my Strength to hurl him clear off the ground…

And into the pit he had made for himself.

He screamed in dying fury and fear as he tumbled down, down, down, sharing the fate of the victims he had buried beneath the bedrock. Though his fate was entirely up to him, now. I watched as he tumbled past the level of bedrock and into the open darkness of the Void as he became a smaller and smaller speck of bright yellow that soon became encompassed by black.

He would be taking damage now. Constant damage. Which meant he had a choice his other victims never had. He could deactivate his Regen Hack and welcome death. Or he could keep his Hack active and be forced to sustain Void damage for eternity, falling further and further from Minecraftia, into an unknown abyss that frightened me just thinking about it.

It wasn't a fate I wished for anyone. Not even Poulsen.

But it was done.

My team had finished up the Griefers by then, too. They were all gathering around the open pit, glancing nervously into the abyss. Some couldn't even do that for fear of falling in or out of vertigo.

"Is he… dead?" Attila asked as she walked up to my side and stared down.

"Not yet." I replied. "He might never be. It all depends on his fear… or his sanity."

Maybe he'd get lucky and live long enough to level up with a new Hack. Fly could get him out… though by then, how many thousands of miles would he have fallen? Would he even be able to find his way out? It was a long-shot to hold onto.

Aside from waiting to see if a smoke trail emerged to verify his death, there was nothing left to do. I'd probably never know if I killed him or not, but right now, I considered him worse than dead.

"If you're all done staring, help me seal this up!" I called out to the watching Paragons, who hastily started to mine stone. I'd leave a sign warning of the pit Poulsen had made to warn off Crafters from sharing his miserable fate.

"Nobody deserves to die like that."

---

After we finished covering up the pit, we picked through the Griefers' gear (nothing useful) and returned to our horses for the long ride back. Everyone was celebrating a job well done, but I guess I was still a little somber about how it ended. Whatever Poulsen said about her, he didn't deserve what he got.

And there had been some happy memories between us before…

I shook those thoughts from my mind as I decided to say something to someone.

"Hey." I called over to Attila while she was mounting her horse. She turned one eye to regard me.

"If you're here to thank me for helping you, don't." She spoke coolly before turning her attention back to the saddle. "You had it under control pretty well without me."

"Thanks for not blowing yourself up." I said instead, causing her to pause. "I know you might never like me, but believe me when I say I don't want you to die." My eyes strayed to the other members of Team Alpha as they mounted their steeds. "And I bet if you opened up to the others, they wouldn't want you to die either." I raised my hands in an act of surrender. "That's all I wanted to say. I'll back off and leave you alone now."

With my piece having been said, I walked off towards my horse. I fished out some sugar and held it out for the steed while petting its head.

Animals were great like that. They didn't shirk away from me just because of my eyes. I had to entice them with sugar, sure, but at least they didn't flinch every time I raised my hand. Nobody from Team Alpha bothered to shoot the breeze with me now that the mission was over.

It was… a little depressing. But that was life as a Hacker.

At least Attila had more of a defiant anger towards me rather than the whipped personalities of everyone else. Ironic how the most combat-oriented team was the most timid towards me. You'd think it would be the other way around.

While I was in the middle of a forlorn sigh, I failed to notice someone sneaking up behind me.

"That woman Poulsen was taunting you about." I jumped out of my skin hearing Attila's voice suddenly so close and I turned around. "I… may have overheard the conversation from the stone juts." She looked mildly embarrassed about admitting that, but she continued.

"Was the women he brought up… who was she exactly?"

I furrowed my brow at the inquiry, but one thought of the person in question was enough to soften my features.

"Adina_Doe…" I smiled softly. "She was… God, she was something else." I remarked fondly, my eyes closing. "I was a real monster with the Clan. And I only ever realized it after being with her. She made me think, you know? She creamed me in a fight—me, a Hacker—and yet… she let me go with a stern telling off despite all the things I had done." I opened my eyes. "It gave me pause for thought. Humbled me. It took me a while to convince her to give me a second chance before we started dating."

"So… what happened to her?" Attila asked.

"…I think you can guess." I replied somberly, rubbing my horse's head as my thoughts turned elsewhere. To the days I had been truly happy with Adina. To the times I cherished the most.

Attila was quiet for a moment as she stared at me. I had been there when she and Carys had fought in that cell. She had laid out all her guilt and grief over the loss of her community. I'm sure she had fond memories with them, just as I had fond memories with Adina. Maybe she even had a love too…

I was shaken from my thoughts as Attila suddenly cuffed the back of my head. "Ow!" I cried out indignantly while clutching my skull. "What the heck was that for?"

"For being relatable!" She growled with folded arms. "I still don't trust you, damn Hacker. But seeing you mope around is making me want to mope around. And I know that neither my community… nor Adina… would want us to be miserable for the rest of our lives. So be happy, already!"

I was astonished at her kind, if somewhat mixed, words. Was I… actually getting through to her? Was she giving me a chance?

A small chuckle escaped my lips. "I don't have a lot to be happy for."

"Well..." Attila continued. "Finishing off the Endward Cult and the Hackers could be something." She offered with a confident gleam in her eyes—a welcome change to the cold glares she usually reserved for me. "And bringing Nitebane back. And being able to journey out into Minecraftia without fear of getting kidnapped or offed by guys in black leather caps or with dark lines over their eyes. There's a lot to still be happy for!"

I raised an amused eyebrow. "Does that mean you won't try and blow yourself up anymore?"

"No, I'll still blow myself up, it's kinda my combat style." She remarked cheekily. "It just means I'll be able to walk away afterwards. A little Blast Protection armor should help with that."

"Glad to hear it." I smiled as I brought one leg up over my steed and hoisted myself up. "Want to continue this conversation on the move?"

"Well, I wouldn't want you to get lonely from how everyone seems to be avoiding you." She countered before whistling for her horse. The steed rushed over and Attila mounted it as it passed before taking a head-start towards home. Complaining aloud that I should be the one at the front, I spurred my horse and raced after her. And the rest of our group followed me, making sure they kept their distance.

This backfired pretty quickly when Attila and I subtly decided to race back home. She let out a hearty laugh watching the Paragons once previously keeping their distance struggle to keep up… while also maintaining a safe distance from me. To hell with them. Attila looked happier than she had been for the last few days. We left the rest of the group in the dust and I didn't feel bad one bit.

I'm gonna have to thank Jillian for suggesting I bring her along.

---

[Noman]

I was losing. Badly.

I felt like an idiot waving a stick… mainly because I was an idiot waving a stick. I didn't know aikido like Casimir, and what I did know were just vague imitations of what I had seen Bailey do to Mobs and Griefers. Which, of course, boiled down to me waving a stick around. Like. An. Idiot.

Meanwhile, Casimir's wooden swords were raking across my armored self, scoring hits, tripping me up, deflecting my stick waving with practiced ease. I was getting my butt handed to me. All while the audience of Griefers and Bailey watched.

I debated about throwing the stick aside, picking up a sword (or the Severe Shield), and fighting back, but doing so might make Casimir violate his promise of letting me and Bailey go should he win. Plus… I still didn't enjoy killing people, Art of Peace or not. Even if the Severe Shield could end the fight immediately, I didn't want any more blood on my hands.

"Yah!" Casimir shouted as he struck me in the face with one of his swords, causing me to tumble onto my back, staring at the sky. The leader of the Griefers circled me as he caught his breath. "Your skills with the stick may be poor, but at least you have the spirit of aikido down pat. Your commitment not to hurt me and pretending to be a novice waving a stick around… it's commendable."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I really had no idea what I was doing.

"Clearly this is a fight of wills and philosophies as well as strength." He continued. "But you'll have to hit me eventually; otherwise you'll lose this fight and your teacher his home."

He had a point there… even if he was wrong about Bailey being my teacher. I only came to save him from getting mobbed by Griefers, but him losing his house just seemed cruel. He was an old man for Notch's sake! Student or not, I had to protect his livelihood.

Plus, he was so nice. Even now, the old farmer was passing out food to the Griefers who began to eat heartily. He also kept whispering to them. Casimir didn't notice, however. His attention solely on me.

"Get up and fight me so I can prove my Art of Peace is superior!"

Okay, that was it. Time for drastic measures.

I shed my blue leather tunic and donned the legendary armor hidden deep in my backpack: the Severe Shield.

"Stay where you are, Casimir." I warned, holding my hands up. "What you see before you is a powerful artifact given to be my Notch. It can—wait! Stop! Don't attack!"

I threw myself out of the way of his sword, preventing the contact that would have activated the Severe Shield's deadly Thorns Enchantment and saving Casimir's life in the process.

"No more talking with words. Let your stick do the talking."

"Listen! This Chestplate will kill you if you hit me while I'm wearing it!" I explained quickly as I dodged another attack. "Stand down or—Whoa!—stand down or—Ah!—please, stand down you crazy cracker! This will kill you!"

"Ha! You think I'd fall for a trick like that?" He laughed before raised his dual swords. "You're making stuff up in an effort to resolve this fight peacefully. But that won't work on me!"

"Ugh…" Seeing as he wasn't backing down, I stripped off the Severe Shield and stowed it back away before reaching for the stick I had been using.

Only… I was having trouble finding it.

Add to the fact that Casimir wasn't letting up, and I was reduced to feebly swatting out with my hands to dodge his barrage of wooden sword slashes.

One of them caught my shoulder while the handle of another caught my chin, stunning me as I toppled to the ground. I rubbed the sore spot, but had to crawl back on the heels of my hands when Casimir stood over me.

"You can't win a fight if you're worried about hurting your opponent!" He scolded as he raised his swords. "And you've just proven this. Offense and risks. Those are the things paving the way to true peace."

I reached into my backpack, desperate to find Bailey's stick to defend myself. Instead, I grabbed the flat edge of something and quickly put it between me and the approaching swords.

"What the…!?"

Casimir gasped in confusion at the shield I had just raised before us. I couldn't understand why, though, until I noticed more startled gasps from the Griefers watching us. Even Bailey appeared shocked at my latest choice of weapon.

"Is that… a shield?"

"How did he craft that?"

"Were those always a thing, or…?"

That's right! The shield was something new from the Bounty Days. They must not have discovered it yet. Just like how dual-wielding was news to Bailey, shields were news to Casimir, the Griefers, AND Bailey.

"The heck am I looking at?" Casimir cursed, to which I automatically replied 'language' before pushing both his swords back.

The shield was sturdier than I thought. Like a wall. And wide enough that it could cover the whole front of my body if I needed to. It felt bulky on my wrist, but if I held it with two hands, it was manageable. Plus, it provided better leverage.

"Is this… is this your own innovation to the aikido style?" He questioned as he took a half step back. "A shield… what better weapon to avoid harming yourself and others? Well, let's see how good you are with it?"

Casimir darted in low, trying to sweep my feet with his swords. I panicked at first, before realizing I could just lower the shield to the ground to cover my legs.

I did so, and his swords bounced harmlessly off the surface, throwing off his balance. I took the advantage with a bold shove, pushing the shield with what strength I had. It hit him flatly in the face and torso, causing him to give up ground.

"Tch." He spat before he attacked again. This time, he tried to knock the shield aside with one sword so he could open me up to the other. But I was clutching the shield tightly before me, like a protective talisman. His blows rattled the shield, but failed to knock it completely aside. I blocked all his attempts to do so, before again, shoving him hard in the chest with the shield.

The bump messed up his breathing and forced him to catch his breath as he distanced himself further away.

I advanced slowly, peeking over the top of the shield to see where he was.

Finally having enough, Casimir scowled before bull-charging me with both swords angled for my shield. I held firm, prepared for his latest attempt, but instead I gasped when I saw him leap onto my shield and use it as a springboard to jump over and behind me.

I tried to turn around, but he was faster, spinning with the landing and knocking my legs out from under me. My back hit the ground hard and I brought up my shield, but soon regretted the decision when he threw himself on top of it. His weight pressed the shield into me, pinning my arms beneath it and making me struggle just so my lungs wouldn't get crushed. I tried to roll or throw him off, but I didn't have the strength or space for it.

My legs flailed in an attempt to knock him off, but he stopped that by pinning them down with his knees. His face pressed up against mine as he hissed two words.

"Give up."

This was it. There was nothing I could do and he had me pinned. One of my hands nudged over to the edge of the shield where I held it open and tilted my head to the side.

"I-I give up. You win."

Immediately Casimir was off me. I pushed the shield off too so I could get some deep lungfuls of air and stretch my arms. I laid there in disgrace, having lost Old Man Bailey his home.

"You fought well, Noman." Casimir praised, though he smiled arrogantly as he said it. "But your peaceful fighting lacked the will to win. And now, my Griefers," Casimir raised his fist to the sky, "this farmhouse is ours!"

There were a few subdued cheers followed by some weak clapping, which caused Casimir no end of confusion. "What… what's wrong with you guys? We won? We got this farmhouse now. We can eat! Steak dinners for all!" Casimir looked around as if expecting to be showered with praise and cheer.

"Actually…" One of the Griefers called out hesitantly. "I… think we're good."

"You're… good?"

"He means the old man already fed us." The female Griefer, Tania, called out bluntly while holding up a bowl of beetroot soup. "He gave us bread and soup. Enough to fill us. And he didn't even have to kill any cows or chickens to do it."

"Well… the proper feast has yet to come!" Casimir began, undeterred. "If we start harvesting his crops we can supply—"

"He also offered us a place to stay here and to feed us." Another Griefer chimed in. "He even said he'd help teach us how to farm. But at a slower pace. With jobs even we could manage."

"What… when… when did he tell you all this?"

"While you two were fighting." Bailey answered as he shuffled up to my downed form and helped me up. He took his stick back too. "You did well, Noman. Especially since you don't even know any aikido."

"But… but I lost."

"I sort of anticipated that." Bailey rubbed his wiry hair sheepishly. "So I took the liberty of feeding the Griefers and making offers while they were contentedly full. They were much more accepting to my terms that way."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO LIVE ON THIS FARMHOUSE!?" Casimir screamed so loud I had to cover my ears. The Griefer leader was looking at his comrades with disbelief.

"I mean… we just wanted to be fed." One Griefer spoke genuinely. "We never agreed to fight a war against Akasha. And that old man had a point, the Hackers might not even want to join in. So why risk it?"

"But… the food…"

"You said it yourself, if we took over this farm the food would be gone in a week or two." Tania explained with folded arms. "Every other farm we took over turned barren. Maybe we should try things a different way for a change. See how it goes."

"And eat beetroots for the rest of your lives!?" Casimir shot back. "He's a vegetarian! You'll be giving up meat if you live here. All you'll be eating is bread and beetroots, and let me tell you, a diet like that will make you shit bricks and piss pink! That's right! The pigment in beetroots? It gets in your urine and stains your hands red. You'll be peeing pink for months. Who wants pink urine? What am I, a girl?"

"I can grow carrots." Bailey supplied tentatively. "And melons and pumpkins and potatoes. Enough to feed all of you… provided you stop your reckless destruction of others' property."

"I don't know, boss. I think we should take him up on his deal." Another Griefer spoke up. "Eating comfortably for a while sounds better than the short-term gain we have planned."

"But… but…" Casimir looked around, trying to appeal to the Griefers that were slowly turning against him. "But I won the fight…"

"…Good for you?" Tania said awkwardly. "I'm sorry, boss. But food is food. The old man is offering this even after all the trouble we caused. The least we could do is give it a try."

"Do you think he can teach us how to find bread seeds?" One Griefer asked with a raised hand.

"We have much to discuss." Bailey said before he turned to Casimir and held out a hand. "I'm sorry I didn't want to get involved with Akasha. I just didn't see it as my responsibility to interfere."

Casimir swatted the hand aside. "People are being wrongly persecuted there. Don't you feel bad for them at all?"

"Of course I do. But…" He shuffled awkwardly. "What would you have me do? Fight everyone until they listen? That won't solve anything either. In fact, it'll just make the situation more volatile."

"Keep telling yourself that." Casimir shook his head. "But without even attempting to help… I can't follow your Art of Peace." He turned to address the surrounding Griefers. "If you all want to sit around comfortably and well-fed, then by all means stick around with this do-nothing old man! But if you want to make a difference—if you want to save Akasha—step forward and follow me."

Nobody moved.

Casimir glanced around with a betrayed look in his eyes. "Wh-What? Not one of you wishes to fight?"

"We're hungry, boss." A Griefer whined.

"You never bothered to tell us we had to fight wars to put food on the table. We didn't sign up for this."

"Ghhh…" Casimir growled before he threw his arms out. "Cowards! Do-nothing cowards, the lot of ya!"

He mounted his horse and took one last withering glare at the Griefers. "After all I've done for you… this is the thanks I get? I orchestrated all those raids and had all those deaths on my conscience… all so you could just give up!?"

The Griefers couldn't quite look him in the eye, prompting the former leader to spit in their direction.

"Failures! All of you are failures! Just try and learn how to farm without your dumb brains exploding."

And with that parting remark, Casimir rode off into the distance, leaving a silence in his wake.

---

It was late in the afternoon when the Griefers were finally, adequately fed. They had set up a camp just outside Bailey's farmhouse where the old man distributed food to everyone. I only stayed because Bailey asked me to and I didn't have a steed.

Because the Griefers had killed it.

I followed Bailey back to the kitchen as he took in the empty wooden bowls. When I confronted him, I noticed that the picture of Casimir was finally taken down. I narrowed my eyes at it, but continued towards the old man.

"Are you sure about feeding them?" I asked, causing the old man to pause. "Didn't they kill a lot of Crafters for food? How can you trust them?"

"Are you saying I shouldn't?" He returned.

"No. I'm saying I wouldn't." I confessed. "So why feed them?"

"Casimir only controlled them through their stomachs." Bailey replied. "Griefers… aren't really bad by choice. They've just been shunned because they don't catch onto recipes and crafting as well as the next guy. They shouldn't be punished just for being slow. And, as the Art of Peace clearly states, all life is precious."

"…Even the lives of killers?"

Bailey smiled. "Casimir was no less a killer than them, and yet neither of us sought to kill him in our respective fights. You didn't stoop to his level and use a sword. For that, I am grateful."

He sighed as he stacked the wooden bowls atop one another with dull clanks. "What do you suppose would have happened if I didn't offer them any food?"

"They… probably would have taken over your farm anyway." I realized. "And then contacted a Hacker…"

"And then they would have all been slain." Bailey finished. "I have no doubt in my mind that that would have transpired had I not made my counter-offer. Hackers care little for lives not their own. They would have stamped them out like cockroaches."

"So your decision saved their lives." I concluded. "Even when you could've let them die."

"My decisions have also cost many people their lives." He noted grimly. "I figure this could split the difference. There's enough blood on these old hands of mine." He held them up as if he could actually see the red. "But, I must admit, I am impressed with how you handled your duel with Casimir. I knew you wouldn't win, of course, but you did everything in your power to keep him from dying. Even made up that lie about a 'mystical chestplate'."

"Yeah… the lie…" I rubbed my head sheepishly before considering something else. "But… I think Casimir had a point. Doing nothing, way out here, could mean the difference between someone living and dying somewhere else."

"Perhaps." Bailey admitted. "But part of what makes life so precious is that it's unpredictable. Who can say whether my actions or inactions will affect anything outside my sight? I saved a starving, well-dressed gentleman, and he in turn saved me by buying the time for which I could sway the Griefers from Casimir's ambition and prevent them from getting slain by a Hacker." He shrugged. "The consequences of our actions are a mysterious thing."

"…I don't want to kill people." I stated bluntly. "But… but I don't want to just run away or hide in order to do it. I want to actively save lives. I want to prevent deaths. I want to protect life." I took out my Severe Shield and held it up for him to see. "I wasn't lying about this thing. The smallest hit while I'm wearing this could kill anyone. But I don't wear it precisely because I don't want to kill people."

Bailey frowned at my words, observing the chestplate closely before he looked at me. "You have the power to kill… but you choose to shun it?"

I nodded.

Bailey smiled. "Then you are quite different from my last student."

I quirked an eyebrow, but Bailey slid over to the wall to check a clock mounted on an item frame. He mumbled something about it 'not being too late' before he gestured me to follow him.

With nothing better to do, I followed the old man out the back of the farmhouse. We walked along a gravel path that led right up to the rear mesa, where a winding path climbed up the side.

The old man took the first steps up, making sure I was following him. Up, up, up we went, the farmhouse growing smaller and smaller. I spotted the dots of Griefers still camped out and took a moment to wonder what Bailey had in mind bringing me up there.

After a few labored breaths, I managed to huff and puff my way to the top of the mesa where I collapsed near the edge. I must have been tired or out of shape, because the old man barely looked winded from the climb.

"Come. Take a look at this, son."

I tilted my head to see what he was pointing towards and I gasped in awe.

It was the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen.

Light streaked across the sky, dying the clouds in a warm pink while shades of orange, red, and yellow struck the sands of the Dryrock Mesa. The sun was just dipping below the horizon, and I couldn't take my eyes off it.

This was the sunset Bailey had been talking about.

"You're pretty good with that shield." Bailey spoke as he raised a stick and got into a position. "If Casimir thinks evolving the style is necessary, maybe I should take a page out of his book. The master could learn a thing from his students."

"What… what do you mean?" I asked while taking out my broad shield.

"I mean I'm going to spend the next two weeks teaching you the ways of aikido. The actual combat style." My eyes widened. "And you're going to adapt it to that shield of yours. What better weapon to protect lives with, right?"

"Y-You will!?" I stuttered, getting all excited. "But… but why the change of heart? Not that I'm complaining, but I thought you said you wouldn't teach me."

"The less you know about fighting, the more likely you'll don that fancy chestplate of yours and swing a sword around." Bailey waved a hand. "And that will get people killed. As I see it, teaching you how to fight without killing can greatly dampen the chance of that happening."

"That… that's great! Thank you!" I almost laughed with excitement. This was exactly what I needed! To fight without killing people. And with a shield of all things! But there was one problem. "Did you say two weeks?"

"Yes. Two weeks. And we'll be training up here at sunset and sunrise."

"Is that enough time to learn aikido?"

"I'm not expecting you to learn every form and motion, especially since you'll be adapting it to a shield. It's an item that has never been seen, let alone used for aikido. Your style will be completely your own." He twirled the stick between his hands before angling it towards me, causing my shield to raise instinctually. "I will merely be showing you the basics. Two weeks should be enough for that. The rest you'll have to learn as you travel."

"Okay, then." I nodded politely already hopping in place. "So what's the first lesson?"

I yelped as the end of his stick swung out towards me, slipping between the enarmes connecting the shield to my hand and prying it out before knocking it loose.

"The first lesson," he smiled, "learning how to disarm your opponent."

And with that, I began my two-week long crash course in aikido.

---

Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Shield, 1 Bow [Infinity], 34 Birch Wood Planks, 35 Iron Ingots, 19 Sticks, 13 Torches, 1 Bucket, 1 Crafting Table, 60 Beetroots, 59 Bread, 1 Birch Fence, 1 Bed, 1 Book {Notch Mission II}, 1 Book {Artifact List}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Book {The Art of Peace}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Dover Plains Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Dover Plains}, 1 Map {Mesa}, 1 Compass, 64 Arrows, 2 Glass Bottles, 10 Sugar, 7 Enchanted Golden Apples, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Blue] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots, 64 Emeralds, 64 Emeralds, 64 Emeralds, 64 Emeralds, 22 Emeralds, 2 Bones, 14 Rotten Flesh

[EXP: 7]

---

AN: Cue training montage!

So Noman's going to learn aikido with a shield. He'll be a regular bad-ass within a fortnight.

More happened with the Paragons though. A lot more. They're facing attacks on BOTH fronts. The purpose of this was to show that the Paragons are actually capable... as are the Endward Cult and Hack Clan.

It also showed off Kalmarin's Hacks and addressed Attila's issues with him... as well as a little of Kalmarin's backstory. It's so weird having these two viewer-submitted OCs interacting off one another since the viewers who wrote them never expected them to talk with one another. I kind of enjoy writing like that, though. As to whether I'm adequately representing the characters, I'm doing my best. I refer to the OC page and everything, though I make tweaks here and there for the sake of backstory.

The Noman part of this Chapter seemed a little lacking - at least I thought the second half did. The problem kind of wrapped up too quickly and I hated myself for it. But, honestly, what other way is there to appease hungry people than feeding them?

I also showed off Abyssmal's expert archery skills. He might even be better than Veronica AND Lenzington combined... despite the fact that his eyepatch should ruin his depth perception. But whatever.

Hope you enjoyed this 100th Chapter. Hopefully the conclusion of this story won't take another 100 Chapters amirite?

Haha... ha...

God I hope not.