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.

139. The Clear

AN: FINALLY! IT'S DONE!

Sorry for the wait. This Chapter was a pain to conclude. Plus, I've been busy with work this past month. No real time to write.

Hopefully, this Chapter makes up for it.

In other news, HOLY MACARONI! My Craft has just broken 400 Favs and Follows! All it took was a month of no new Chapters and a fantastic slew of viewers. Thank you all so, so much for liking my story! Oh, man...

I got to do it now. A riddle. I have to.

Puzzle: What goes in the water black and comes out red?

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Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraftia. If I did, I'd remove Potions of Luck. I just don't get them.

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Chapter 139

The Clear

[Noman]

Thunder pounded my eardrums as I wandered into Shansi, my soaked suit sticking to my skin. I had my eyes peeled for any sign of Carys or her Paragons. My shield was already out and my fingers twitched over the sword at my belt.

The rough plan was to find Floyd and get him out safely. If Delaney and the Testificates were right, he was in danger, and Cobb would be broken if anything happened to him or any of his friends.

I could only hope Cobb, Lenz, and Soul could handle that monster down in the mines without the Severe Shield. Depending on how things went, hanging onto it may have been the right move.

It hinged on whether I'd find Floyd before finding Carys or her—

"Hey, I FOUND HIM!"

…Paragons.

I raised my shield as a trio of Crafters stepped out into the street. I recognized two of them. Darkened_Wing, the one that had attacked Soul before I intervened back in Zeppil, and Agent_P, the violent Paragon who beat up Lenzington, more commonly known as Perry. The third guy, BalticSkies, was more of a mystery, though I'm sure I saw his dark blue hair and grey-tinged beard before. He was stood in the midst of the trio and had an air of leadership to him.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show themselves." Wing started, his sword already drawn. "Luis and I got chewed out because of you, Nowhere_Man. There was no record of you joining Cobb's entourage, but it's obvious you're no mere grunt. Lieutenant level at least. Where did you learn those shield skills?"

"An old farmer." I replied, thinking fondly of Old Man Bailey and his skill with a stick. But I didn't reminisce for long. I had to use my words carefully. "As for calling me a Lieutenant, don't tell me you still think we're cultists. Carys is lying to you."

"Shut your mouth!" Perry reacted violently, so mad his sword arm was shaking. "Carys has never steered us wrong and has done more to rid Minecraftia of you scum than anyone else!"

I narrowed my eyes. There was obvious devotion in his tone, and I saw trying to convince them of the truth would be a waste of time… until I noticed a flicker of doubt in Baltic's gaze. He, at least, could be reasoned with.

"Where is the rest of your group hiding?" Wing asked. "Carys would love to talk with your Executive."

"He's busy." I offered shortly. "As for the others, you'll be glad to know that Floyd is safe in hand."

I watched carefully as Perry, the most expressive, cursed his luck. I would have reprimanded him for his language if I wasn't already gauging his reaction. He was apparently angry hearing Floyd escaped. We didn't really have him, but the fact that he didn't call my bluff meant that they didn't have him either.

I couldn't speak for the rest of Carys' band, but these three hadn't gotten him yet.

Good.

"Excuse me. BalticSkies." I addressed, slightly hesitant. He raised an eyebrow. "Could you please take me to Carys_Angel. I need to talk with her."

There was a moment of silence, punctuated by the sharp crackle of the thunder above, before Wing and Perry started to laugh. It was mocking and sarcastic, though Baltic remained silent.

I didn't see what was so funny about it.

"You… you're asking us to talk with our leader?" Wing wiped a fake tear from his eye. "You… aha… you really think we'd listen to—"

"Pardon me for saying this," I interrupted, "but I was asking BalticSkies. Not you."

I could see him simmer at being brushed off so easily, but now wasn't the time to consider people's feelings. If convincing them was a waste of time, I had to go straight to the source of the lies. Carys.

"What do you need to talk with her about?" Baltic asked, surprising his two companions for even considering my request. I silently thanked him for that.

"I… I want to negotiate with her." It was a strange way to phrase it, but I didn't have any other words for it.

"…Negotiate?" Baltic repeated, as if trying to verify my meaning. "I've known Carys a long time, Nowhere_Man, and I can tell you that she'll have no intention to negotiate with a cultist."

"But I'm not a cultist." I felt like a broken record for saying it. Just how much trust did they place in that woman? "In fact, you could say that we're all on the same side—"

"You have a funny way of showing it." Baltic countered. "Killing Carys' pig, stealing our airship, nearly killing us—"

"You say that, but you're all still alive, aren't you?"

"Not for lack of trying on our part." He closed his eyes for a second. "Tell you what. Drop your weapons and surrender peacefully, and we'll bring you to Carys to 'negotiate'. Though I can't promise your safety once the negotiations end." Perry and Wing openly protested at the idea, and it was only their words that proved Baltic's offer was genuine. It was against what the Angel of Death wanted him to do, but he was at least giving me a chance.

That made it all the harder when I had to reject it.

"I'm not dropping my weapons. I have too much on me that I need." I raised my shield a little higher. "I know you people have no reason to trust me, but that's why I want to set up a favorable repertoire now. I promise you'll be safe and I won't fight unless fought." Aikido forbade it. "But you need to bring me to Carys. I have to talk to her."

Baltic let out a weary sigh. "You seem the most reasonable out of your group, but I can't take a risk like that on your words alone. You want good faith? Drop your weapons and give me a reason to give it."

"I'm about to." I replied sadly, kicking on the Bottes Zephyr and slipping a hand into my belt as I stared the trio down. "But it's not gonna be fun."

Two bottles smashed at the same time Wing and Perry lunged forward. Electric blue particles spoke of Baltic having used splash potions of Swiftness. The second they moved, I ripped my hand out of my belt, throwing an ender pearl to the side while bringing my shield up. Perry slammed a sword into it, but I warped away before Wing could take a swing. I wound up with my back against a building. My Health took a hit from the warp—two and a half Hearts—but I bore through it, taking out my Infinity bow and firing at the pair.

With their Swiftness and my amateur aim, they easily evaded the shots before gunning for me at two angles. There was no place to escape.

Or there wouldn't have been if I didn't have the Bottes Zephyr. I stepped forward, on solid air, and kicked off and up the side of the building. Wing and Perry came to a stop, confused at my vertical movements. Then, they were utterly baffled as I stood atop thin air.

"It's like Shroud said." Baltic muttered before taking out another pair of splash potions. "It's some kind of new Enchantment. Swap to bows."

At his command, Wing and Perry took out enchanted bows and directed arrows towards me. They needn't have bothered. I either evaded them by moving further up or, more commonly, let the arrows strike the blocks of air I was stood atop. I was untouchable, and I was fine with letting them waste their ammunition.

The Bottes Zephyr is more practical than I thought. Being this strong wielding just one artifact, it isn't difficult to imagine defeating the Endward Cult with all nine.

"GRRR! Come down and fight, you coward!" Perry shouted, waving his sword threateningly.

"I don't want to fight at all." I called down, kneeling down on the block of air I was perched upon. "Just point me in Carys' direction. I only want to talk with her."

"We will not be ignored!" Perry yelled. "Baltic! Potions of Leaping! And Strength, while you're at it!"

At his words, a pair of splash potions struck Perry's back, bright green and dark red in color. The contrasting particles swirled around his body, mingling with the electric blue of Swiftness. He shot into the air, jumping higher than normal and gaining purchase on a balcony. Then he climbed up a section of fence, a windowsill, and finally to the roof. He dove for me as I stood in the middle of the air.

My eyes flickered as I drew my shield. His sword was thrust forward, aiming for my eyes.

I backstepped off my block of air before kicking off higher with a backflip. Perry flew by beneath me, missing me and unable to stop. He couldn't change direction midair like me.

I brought up my shield and let gravity take me as I struck Perry's gut like a meteor. I grit my teeth through his thrashing against the shield until we both impacted the ground, my shield driving the air from his lungs and leaving a small dent in the street's gravel.

I whirled around in time to watch Wing close in with his sword.

Aikido!

I spun in place, my shield diverting the blade to the side, only for Wing to crack his forehead against mine. Spots danced in my vision, but I knew he was right before me. I threw out a hand, grabbing a fistful of checkered hoodie, and kicked off the ground with the Bottes Zephyr right before a splash potion of Slowness could touch me.

I lifted Wing off the ground by the scruff of his collar, kicking up higher and higher. He lashed out with a blade, but my armor protected me enough to get some height over another building.

Then, I did another backflip, swinging Wing along with me.

Ugh, this is as far as can be from tolerable Aikido. Forgive me, Master Bailey, but it's the only move I can think of…

Wing knew what was coming after watching Perry and desperately tried to position me under him to take the fall, but I surprised him by grappling him into a bear hug from behind, our heads pointed down as we fell. Right towards the hard, wooden building.

"You're crazy!" He screamed. "You'll take damage too…!"

I ignored him, adding spin to our descent, hurtling down like a drill. Baltic called out something, but he couldn't do anything on the ground. Seeing the inevitable, Wing grabbed hold of my suit like a vice, determined for us to share the pain.

A second before we hit the roof, a tossed out an ender pearl. The warp was fast, a millisecond before the impact, and I didn't know if I'd make it in time.

I found myself pressed up against the building's chimney while a resounding crash through the building's roof to the ground floor told me that Wing had been clipped.

My Health was also dangerously low after tanking two ender pearl warps and their thrashing in the air. I stuffed some mutton down my throat and took a moment to catch my breath. Glancing down the inside of the building, I saw Wing strewn over a table, struggling to get up. Perry was the same in the street, only able to get up after Baltic doused him with a splash potion of Healing.

That meant he could take another hit without dying.

I took off the Bottes Zephyr and dove off the building, my shield held flat for another sky drop. Baltic noticed and threw out a Potion of Weakness. It hit, but it couldn't stop my momentum.

Sorry about this…!

I crashed into Perry's spine, his limps flailing out from the impact before he went limp. I kicked his sword away and turned my attention to Baltic. My movements took more energy than normal due to the gray Weakness particles covering me.

The elderly, blue-haired man had a splash Potion of Slowness ready to complete the combo and paralyze me, but my shield jabbed out, stopping his wrist. I then struck it sharply, disarming him of the potion. It fell at his feet, slowing him down.

His free hand dove for another potion, but he was too slow. I stepped into him, driving the handle of my sword into his gut. Then, I swung him around, grasping the back of his neck and driving him into the soaked gravel like my master had taught me a hundred times.

I knelt atop his back, one leg and one hand pinning a respective hand to the ground, with my other hand forcing his head down. I panted for breath, exhausted, but victorious.

My waterlogged suit was weighing me down. I willed it off, leaving me in my white dress shirt and tie, before releasing Baltic's head and prying through his backpack. Predictably, it was full of splash potions of all varieties as well as ingredients. He had a diamond sword, but it didn't look it had seen much use, if the durability was anything to go by. He must have been relegated to support.

Still, I found what I was looking for. A splash potion of Weakness. I stepped off the elderly potion master before throwing the weakening brew against his back. It mingled with the Slowness, doing to him what he intended to do to me.

After that, I went back to Perry and dragged him into the building beside a recovering Wing. He raised his sword pitifully, and I struck him across the face with my shield, sending him down. He tried to get up again, but another blunt swat to the skull had him seeing stars.

I shut the door as I exited and returned to the paralyzed Baltic. I turned him over with one foot, and his eyes were watching me nervously.

I picked him up by his collar and fixed his black eyes with my royal blue ones.

"Now," I panted, "can I talk with Carys, please?"

---

[Carys]

I kicked down the door exiting the building. One more empty house in this miserable village. Neither head nor tails of Cobb, Floyd, or the rest of his damn guild. There wasn't even a glimpse of their airs—our airship. Our airship. God, they'd only stolen the Asmodeus a few days ago and I was already thinking it theirs. What was wrong with me?

Our second airship, the Anemoi, still hung suspended above the village. It was fast, but it didn't hold a candle to the amenities and intimidation of the Asmodeus. A vessel fit for an Angel of Death.

I would see it back in my possession soon. Right after I shoved my scythe up Cobb's—

"Carys, ma'am." Heather piped up from the outside, throwing off my pleasant thoughts.

"This better be good, Heather. Have you and Luis found…?" I stopped mid-sentence as, in the distance, there was a person stood atop a building. He was wearing a drenched, white dress shirt and looked to be carrying someone with blue hair. I thought it was Floyd into a flash of lightning illuminated an aging face. My eyes widened imperceptibly.

Baltic.

I schooled my features back to normal a second later.

Upon seeing me, the person on the roof backflipped down. It was a really showy and awkward way to jump off a building, especially while carrying someone, and it came as no surprise that he slipped and the two tumbled into the gravel. I was about to run over and end whoever had the leader of Team Beta, but the mystery man recovered quickly, dragging Baltic with him. It was then I figured out who he was.

"Nowhere_Man." I said in a low tone. It was his interference in Zeppil that allowed Cobb and his guild to escape. If he hadn't helped Soul… and if the two together hadn't freed Floyd and Lenz… and if they all hadn't stolen the Asmodeus and beaten my Paragons…

There were a few other neglected factors that played a part, but it all traced back to him: the suited innocent with the flying boots. It was a new Enchantment we'd have to look into. The applications were endless. Anibal would be beside herself checking it out.

Maybe I'd bring them to her as a souvenir. Once Nowhere_Man was 'done' with them, that is.

Speaking of the guy, he walked forward, slightly sluggish and worse for wear. Baltic should have had Wing and Perry with him. Nowhere_Man's exhaustion was probably because he fought all three at once. And to still be standing after all that?

He was stronger than he looked.

Heather and Luis took up positions beside me as Nowhere_Man drew near. "Hand over Baltic this instant!" Heather demanded, her voice slightly shaking.

Nowhere_Man stopped and, to our surprise, listened to Heather. He dropped Baltic into the street before backing up the same way he had come. I tracked his movements as he did ours, wiping the rain from his face to see better. His once tidy hair was now disheveled and sticking to his forehead and he had shed his suit in favor of his dress shirt and tie.

Once he was far enough away, Heather and Luis darted forward to the fallen alchemist's side. I could see he was paralyzed by the particles coming off him. His own weapons used against him.

"W-Where are Perry and Wing?" Heather asked, wondering if she'd be two for two in compliance from the man.

"Alive." He answered readily, stopping a good distance away to prove he wouldn't do anything. "They're knocked out in… in a house…" He gestured vaguely in one direction, exhaustion only getting his arm halfway up. "Baltic can tell you."

"How generous." I noted. "And you've returned Baltic to us when you could have used him as a hostage. Now if you could just point me in the direction of Cobb or his girlfriend you may just become my new favorite person."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." He called out, standing as straight as his apparent exhaustion could allow. "Cobb's been through a lot today."

"Oh really?"

"He's been running around sick to death over his friends' well being." He wore a troubled expression. "I watched him fall apart today. I've never seen him like that, and I don't ever want to see him like that again."

"Shame. I would've enjoyed seeing that."

"Look, just…!" He caught his outburst before it could go boom. "He's busy right now, and he doesn't need to stress over what you're going to do to him, or inflict upon him, or… or…"

"Shove into him." I supplied helpfully.

"Right, so could you…" he shrugged, "could you just not, today? Just take your Paragons, go home, and go after him some other time?"

I let out a dark chuckle. "You mean to say there's no room in Cobb's schedule for me and my particular brand of trauma. That he can't pencil me in? That I should just leave when I'm so close to finding him?"

"I spared your men." He pointed out, and then pointed to Baltic as if that would settle everything. "So just spare Cobb this one time. Everyone can walk away, and then—"

"Here's my offer." I cut him off, drawing my scythe and slamming it into the ground. "Cobb, Jade, the other Beginners, and the Asmodeus. Grant me those things and I'll allow you to leave, no strings attached."

He looked on helplessly before shaking his head. "The Asmodeus, maybe, but I'm not handing anyone over to you when I know you're just going to slaughter them."

"Then we have nothing more to say."

I snatched my scythe and threw a splash potion of Swiftness at my feet, lunging forward to slash the suited man before he knew what hit him.

Instead, he jumped into the air, and then onto the air, out of reach.

"I'm not done negotiating." He called down, perched on thin air. I drew my bow and fired flaming arrows at him, but they struck something beneath him. An invisible block…? Was that what his boots were doing? That didn't sound like an Enchantment at all.

I took out an ender pearl, and lobbed it at whatever block he was standing on, but the bastard dove aside. The ender pearl sailed through nothing before gravity took over and caused it to plummet right back down to where I'd thrown it from. I warped a few inches and took a bit of damage for my trouble.

I readied a second pearl, but stopped myself when I saw Nowhere ready to move. He had the freedom to move in any direction up there. Even with my reflexes, it would take time for the ender pearl to reach. Time which he could use to evade. I'd be wasting time, pearls, and Health if I made any more attempts.

So instead, I lowered the pearl back to my belt and told Heather and Luis to stand down.

"Fine. You want to negotiate?" I rested the scythe on my shoulder and smirked lazily up at him. "Let's fucking negotiate."

"…Language."

I was counting the moments before I'd get to cut him.

---

[Cobb]

"We all clear on the plan?"

"Are you crazy?" Lenz exclaimed, his bow still trained on the Ghast Hybrid. It hovered there, peering at us and waiting for an opening. "There is no way that will work."

"If you have anything else, I'm all ears." Soul growled before pointing up with his axe. "I don't think that thing will sit on its tentacles waiting on us, though."

"My husbaaaaaaaand…" It wailed mournfully before launching a fireball.

Lenz was quick, intercepting it with an arrow and redirecting it into the chasm.

"Very well. But let the record show, I am firmly against this plan."

Lenz cleared space in his Inventory, tossing out a stack of gravel and, begrudgingly, a lone stone button. Soul popped two ender pearls into Lenz's waiting palm and two into mine, keeping three for himself. He then dashed forward while Lenz snuck off to the side.

"Oi! Tall, pale, and tentacly!" Soul taunted, waving his arms wildly. "Come and get me!"

"UehuehEEEIH!" It screamed, spitting out two shots that Soul batted back with his axe. He was the best suited to be a distraction; his armor was the only one really capable of withstanding those projectiles if he couldn't knock them back. The problem was that the hybrid was too fast to simply let the shots hit. Lenz was probably right about its low Health, hence why it kept its distance.

That's where my plan came in.

I set my Crafting Table down and went to work, turning jungle wood planks into sticks. I could have done that on my own without the table, but the key was the next crafting recipe. Three sticks plus two string made…

The items combined into a well-crafted fishing rod. My signature weapon.

I quickly made another one with my supplies. I only had enough string for two. Hopefully, it would be enough.

"Heads up!" I threw one spinning into the air, where Soul caught it in his free hand. The other was lobbed to Lenz, where it hit him in the glasses and bobbled between his hands before he finally caught it.

I collected my table before lobbing an ender pearl to a chasm ledge. The moment I took my eyes off the monster, it blasted me in the legs. The diamond leggings held, but the boots took a serious thrashing, as did my Health. I was blasted back and would have smacked into jagged stones if not for the pearl landing and warping me away.

I took damage from the warp and took a second to reorient myself before chancing a peek over the edge. The monster was below, and hadn't yet realized I was above it. Instead, it targeted the noisiest annoyance. Namely, Soul.

"That all you got? My granny can shoot better!"

Lenz lobbed his pearl to the chasm ledge opposite mine, but equally as high up. I saw him flail and kick a spawned Endermite, but he looked ready to go. He reared back his arm, fishing rod in hand, and whipped his wrist forward.

The bobber fell pathetically, not even reaching halfway to the Hybrid.

"Comparators, how do you make this look so easy?" Lenz reeled in the bobber and tried again, only for the same result. He clicked his tongue in frustration.

"It's all in the wrist!" I instructed. I narrowed my eyes at my own fishing rod, Backlash, still hanging from the hybrid's lowest tentacle.

Twice, the hybrid whizzed by, chasing Soul, fireballs deflecting all the while. One almost hit me, but it wasn't Soul's fault they deflected weirdly. On the third pass, I dove.

My palms caught fast against Backlash's handle, the added weight forcibly and unexpectedly dragging down the creature. I swung and the tips of my boots grazed the floor, but I clung to my signature weapon determinedly.

The hybrid wailed horribly and darted every which way. But before I could worry if I was going to be swung into sharp rocks anytime soon, Soul warped onto the chasm ledge via ender pearl before whipping out a bobber and catching one of the creature's many tentacles.

Soul pulled the line taut, and the Ghast Hybrid's movements became one-sided, all leaning to his side of the chasm.

Then a second bobber caught a tentacle.

"I got it!" Lenz cheered, amazed at his accomplishment. "Hoppers and Repeaters, I got it—Wah!"

In hindsight, Lenz's feeble EXP strength made him a poor choice to anchor the hybrid to the wall, a fact I was made painfully aware of when Lenz was pulled off the wall, swung by the fishing line, and smacked into my dangling body. The two of us hung there while the Ghast Hybrid thrashed more wildly, but…

It was a struggle.

It couldn't fly well with three people hanging on and pulling it in two different directions. Its movements became sporadic, and when Soul pulled with all his strength, the monster spiraled into the flowing lava.

"Yes!" I cheered.

The hybrid came out of the lava, unburned.

"No! What!?"

Despite the lava gushing over the thing's head and tentacles, it may as well have been flowing water for all the damage it did. The hybrid had made a point to avoid it and even seemed surprised not to have been burned, if its widening eyes were to be believed.

But then, what did I know about Ghasts? They were an unknown Mob I'd never encountered before. Nothing in Herobrine's books about them. For all I knew, they could be fireproof. What sort of environment did they live in?

"Youuuuuu…" The Ghast howled in that horrible, demonic rattle. "Try to kill meeeeeeeUehuehEEEIH!"

A fireball struck Soul's ledge, causing the axe-wielder to fall with a yelp. His fishing line was still wound tightly around the hybrid and he swung like a pendulum from it, smacking into Lenz and I. The three of us were left dangling, dragging the hybrid down. Its howls took a desperate, mourning turn.

"Help me… Nan… Help me, Nan. My beloved husband, Nan! Naaan! They're hurting me Nan! Where are you, Nan!?" She heaved a horrible, wailing sob, spitting out a fireball in the process. "He promised… we'd be together if I let him… if I let him… UehuehEEEIH!"

"What is this thing talking about?" I wondered aloud.

"I don't know, but it's sounding like a whiny ex-wife." Soul replied callously before securing his grip on the fishing rod. "Hey, Noonwraith knockoff! We're not interested in hearing about your husband! So either come down and fight us or go pig out on cookies and cake!"

"Noooooo! I'm watching my figure for Naaaaaan!"

"Your figure!? I don't know if you've noticed, but your body shape is big, terrifying, and tentacly! Try hooking up with a squid."

"Soul, could you please not try and antagonize the eldritch abomination suspending us when our lives literally hang in the balance!" Lenz snapped.

"No, wait, I think I get Soul's plan!" I caught on.

"My plan?" Soul asked, confused.

"Hey, nightmare fuel!" I called up. "Nan is never gonna take you back. You're so ugly, if you tried to join an ugly contest, they'd say, 'Sorry, no professionals'!"

"NOOOOOOOOO! I can't be ugly! I can't be!"

It thrashed about in grief, taking us along for the ride. The three of us hung firm, however, and gained some altitude in the chasm.

"Ooooh, I get it now. My plan is awesome!" Soul grinned before joining in. "You're so fat, when you haul ass, you have to make two trips!"

"You're so ugly, when you look out a window, you're arrested for mooning!"

"You're so fat, I bet you buy clothes in three sizes: XL, Jumbo, and OH MY GOD IT'S COMING TOWARDS US!"

"You're so ugly, when you look at Endermen, they flee from you!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

With every clever barb, the Hybrid ascended higher and higher, wailing piteously and, unknowingly, ferrying us out. We just needed one more push.

"Lenz, bring it home!"

"Wh-what? No way! Those were pretty mean insults."

"Lenz, this thing tried to kill us! Think about how many Crafters it's killed! Beatrix, Cormac, Mirabelle. It has to be stopped!"

"B-But… It's not really my thing…" He clung to the fishing pole for dear life. "Oh, oh alright… ahm…" He wracked his brain for some clever insult. "You… You're so stupid… I bet you can't rig up a simple RS NOR latch! Ha!"

Soul and I turned our heads in unison to fix the engineer with as flat a deadpan as we could manage. Even the Hybrid paused in its thrashing to look upon him with confusion.

Lenz sweatdropped. "A-And!" He tacked on. "You are ugly."

---

"HOOOOOAREGGGHH!"

The Ghast hybrid burst from the ground, scattering dirt and cobblestone in its rage. Instead of the dry cavern air, our faces were pelted with rainwater. The stormy sky never looked so good. Even the hybrid took a moment to bask in the open air.

"Yes! We're out! Now, Soul, what's part two of your brilliant plan?"

"…Um."

"You call meeeeeee faaaaaaat?" The hybrid moaned. "Then why don't I looooose some weight!"

The hybrid began to spin rapidly while in midair. The three of us clung firm to our respective fishing poles, but with the rain soaking our fists and slickening our grip, we slid helplessly under the centrifugal force. It was like we were on a horrible flying swing ride.

Lenz slipped off first, then Soul, but I refused to go without Backlash. Through some masterful wrist flicks, I was able to unhook my signature weapon from the hybrid before getting sent flying into the soaked earth.

I rolled with the fall, skidding to a halt with my back against a tiny hill. Lenz and Soul had been launched in different directions, though they were still alive.

The hybrid floated towards me, picking up speed.

"Oooooh, Nan could never love what a wretch I've become! I'm a monster! And it's all your fault, Herobrine!" It accused, a deep hatred in its voice. "It's all your fault! UEHUEHEEIH!"

I was struck dumb by its words. Even as a trio of fireballs hurtled towards me, all I could think of was the name. Herobrine? Why'd it think I was Herobrine? I was King_Cobb. Couldn't it read the name over my head?

The author of the Mob books. The creator of the nine artifacts. The first Crafter to spawn. I was as far from Herobrine as night was from day.

And it was my fault? It was… Herobrine's fault? What was the thing talking about?

"…No."

What was the hybrid trying to say?

"…No!"

If it was Herobrine's fault, then Herobrine was a—

"NO!" I shot to my feet and darted between two of the fireballs, the third one coming up right to my face. I readied Backlash. "YOU'RE WRONG!"

"I never would have known how to block Creepers without this book. It's a lifesaver!"

The author never let me down.

"We can slip by those Endermen by wearing these pumpkins! It says so right here!"

He had an answer to everything. Handy hints, tips, and cheats.

"The Severe Shield…? This… this is just what I need to beat Carys! I can win! I can protect everyone! Herobrine, you've done it again!"

I wouldn't let that thing talk ill of the man who had helped me so much.

"CAST!"

The bobber whipped forward at insane speeds, striking the incoming fireball dead center. It rebounded immediately upon the Ghast hybrid that had foolishly closed in. Its red eyes widened at its mistake, moving too fast to dodge the return to sender.

It struck the Hybrid's body and detonated in a cloud of fire and smoke, the creature uttering one last dying wail before vanishing to oblivion.

All that was left of it was a single Head, which fell upon the rain-soaked ground, skittering to a stop at my feet.

It was of a woman. A beautiful women with rich chocolate-colored hair and sad, blue eyes. Different from the horrible visage the Ghast hybrid held. Just like the Creeper hybrid from Daymonte.

And just like the Creeper hybrid from Daymonte, the Head began to spastically contort upon itself. The beautiful features were sucked into a tiny prick of space at the Head's center, claiming more and more of the hybrid's one proof of existence until, finally, it vanished completely.

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed ominously as I just stared at where that Head had been. It was the second time I had seen such a phenomenon. Both times after a hybrid died. The Head would just… implode.

Where are these things coming from?

"Cobbert!"

I was brought out of my musings by Lenz, knelt down next to Soul. The engineer was badly banged up (his cursed cap fell apart and his cursed pants were weakened), but at least he was awake. Soul had slid into a rock wall after getting thrown off, and he wasn't stirring. Their fishing rods were gone, tossed into the darkness by the hybrid.

"Is it gone?" Lenz asked nervously. "The hybrid. Is it… dead?"

"Yeah. Yeah, she… it… is very dead. We're safe." Lightning struck dangerously closed, making Lenz jump. "Relatively safe. Come on, help me pick him up." I took one of Soul's arms and threw it over my shoulders. Lenz did the same with the other, though looked like he was puffing under the weight. He didn't complain though, a fact I was grateful for.

"The airship is beyond those hills." Lenz gestured with his head. "There was an ender chest aboard. I can retrieve the coal blocks we collected and get us moving. Noman and Jade should be back by now."

"…They better be." I said under my breath. "We'll pick up Floyd, Delaney, and the Testificates in town." I grimaced slightly, not looking forward to informing them about Mirabelle, Beican, and the rest.

"What did it say to you?"

"Huh?"

"The hybrid." Lenz clarified. "I thought I heard it shout something at the end. The thunder was too loud. What did it say?"

"It…" I paused, frowning slightly, before continuing.

"…Just more ravings. Nothing worth thinking about."

---

[Noman]

"You know, I talk better when I'm speaking at eye level." Carys called up lightly. "It feels like you're talking down to me. Why don't you come on down? We can talk over cookies and milk."

"No, thank you. I'm perfectly comfortable up here." I called down politely, my Bottes Zephyr keeping me suspended. I watched Carys pace like a tiger on the prowl, her eyes never leaving my form. Her fingers drummed against her scythe, itching for a fight. No way was I getting within arm's reach of her.

Behind her, Heather, Luis, and Baltic watched with bows drawn. They had stopped shooting per Carys' orders, but I couldn't ignore how outnumbered I was. Fighting Perry, Wing, and Baltic had already taken so much out of me. Equal parts sweat and rain stuck to my shirt. I couldn't fight another battle, especially against the infamous Angel of Death.

"So, to start negotiations, I'll lay out my terms." The Angel of Death in question called up. "Point me to Cobb, his girlfriend, and the Asmodeus. I'll sate myself on that and keep the rest of you alive for later."

"I already told you I'm not selling them out. You're not killing anyone today."

"You seem to be confused on how negotiations work." She shot a flat look. "You need to offer something or we go back to square one. Right now, you're just wasting my time."

"…If you want to talk about wasting time, I'd refer you to your current vendetta against Cobb." I countered, earning a small frown from the woman. "We both know he's no cultist."

"This again?" Luis groused from afar. "You can't sway us, Nowhere. We trust Carys—"

"If I were truly a cultist," I interrupted, "would I not have killed Baltic instead of returning him to you? Would I have spared Wing and Perry?"

Luis and Heather went quiet at the points I raised. Yes, there was no reason a member of the Endward Cult would let three Paragons live. The two were mortal enemies.

"I practice Aikido, the Art of Peace." I continued. "And one of the cardinal rules of Aikido is that all life is precious. Even the life of your most hated adversary." I looked to Carys as I elaborated. "While it takes great strength to slay your enemies, it takes greater strength to defeat them AND keep them from harm. Sparing enemies intending to kill me is a testament to my own strength. I kept people from dying today."

"The day's still young." Carys called up darkly, though I could see my words were having an effect on her subordinates. Maybe, just maybe they'd see us in a different light. "As for your flimsy philosophy—with the exception of Cobb's chatter—I don't think I've heard anything more stupid in my entire life." Ouch. That was a good insult. "Sparing people trying to kill you only gives them more chances to kill you. You want to talk about real strength? Real strength is stamping out a threat so utterly and completely that people will wonder if they ever existed at all. It's the fate of the Endward Cult. The fate of Cobb. The fate of you, if you don't stay out of my way."

"But Cobb is innocent!" I protested. "He is no mortal foe seeking your demise!"

"Oh, really?" She asked. "Can you honestly tell me Cobb has no interest in killing me? Will he adhere to your 'Aikido' and spare me to prove he's stronger?"

"Welll… uh…"

I thought back to Cobb's interest in the Severe Shield and his plan on ending Carys once and for all.

"Okay, so, maybe he does want to kill you—"

"The feeling's mutual."

"B-but he was only pushed to this point because you hunted him down. You went after his friends!"

"And he went after Mr. Piggles." She replied darkly. "The difference is he succeeded while I still have yet to even the score."

"It was an accident! He's sorry for—"

"DON'T!" She bellowed fiercely. "Don't tell me he's sorry! Any remorse he's feeling is because I've sworn to make him pay! He doesn't have a speck of it for anything other than himself! He's a selfish, asinine moron and I will take immense satisfaction in his anguish right before I rip his head off!"

"And what will that solve!?" I shouted back. "Killing Cobb won't bring your pig back. Nothing will change!"

"It will change!" She countered. "It has to…"

"…What do you mean it has to?"

"I mean, I've never done it before, so it has to work."

I tilted my head, baffled. What was she talking about?

"How will you know something won't work unless you try it?" She asked. "Wiping out the Southern Division didn't settle things, so I swapped targets to the whole Endward Cult. Killing GardenWalker right away was nice, but didn't cure the ache." She clutched her chest as she said this, a shadow passing over her face. "And now this new ache Cobb's caused—a wound reopened—who's to say inflicting my pain upon him won't work?" She grinned evilly. "It might be just what the doctor ordered."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Her only reason for causing Cobb pain was to set an example and see if it got rid of her ache, which I was certain was grief.

"What if there was another way?" I asked, surprising the Angel of Death. "A different way to get rid of your… ache. A way that spares Cobb and his friends, but settles everything for you."

"Oh? And what would you suggest?"

"Forgive him."

"…Forgive him?" Carys asked, as if the words were foreign to her.

"Yes. I know it won't be easy, but… but if Cobb just knew how much Mr. Piggles meant to you, I'm sure he'd understand why—"

"Aha…"

I stopped cold as Carys spat out a chuckle that escalated into a full-blown laugh.

"Ahahahahahaha!"

Though she was smiling, her crimson eyes held no light. They were empty. A laugh with little mirth. It unsettled her fellow Paragons.

"Forgive Cobb. Forgive him for killing Mr. Piggles and stealing my airship and humiliating me. What a lovely idea." She smiled up at me. "Just wash away all feeling and start fresh. Why should anything matter when you can just forgive people for everything!"

I didn't like the way she was phrasing it.

"And why stop there, hm? Why not see just how much I can forgive? Theft, blackmail, murder. It can all be swept under the rug so long as there's forgiveness! Is this another life lesson of Aikido? Become a walking, talking doormat?"

"That's not—"

"Should I forgive the Endward Cult as well? They continue to kill Crafters without remorse, but to hell with that! Forgive and forget. Let them continue their little murder spree."

"Cobb isn't the Endward Cult!" I tried to argue. "You're right, they have no remorse, but Cobb isn't going around killing people. He wants the cult gone just as much as you."

"Oh, I very much doubt that." She said easily. "Nobody wants the cult gone as much as me. But while we're on the topic of forgiveness, is it their lack of remorse that labels them unforgivable, or your personal bias?" I blinked, my mouth open, stumped. "I think it's the latter. You defend Cobb and rebuke the cult, so it's only natural that one deserves forgiveness over the other. Because it's what you want."

"N-No…"

"You want me to forgive Cobb. You want me to destroy the cult. Just like every other spineless Crafter too lazy to do it." She spat. "They're content to let me struggle against them because they see the Endward Cult as a band of killers. Just like in Zeppil and Nitebane. Those docile sheeple were all too eager to accept what I've done because I solved problems they were too weak for. But guess what? I don't exist to solve their problems. It's not my job and I wouldn't want it anyway."

Her words jarred loose a memory, my role as the Billionth. My responsibility to destroy the cult.

"I'll tell you what I told Zeppil. I fight for me! I kill cultists for me! I liberate Kingdoms for me and I get revenge for me! Nobody else!" She pointed her scythe at me. "I intend to make Cobb suffer because it's what I want! And, as unbelievable as it sounds, my needs matter more than what you or any other pathetic wimp I've never met has to say!"

The way she said it reminded me of someone else. Someone selfish, who put his friends over the needs of the world.

"…You sound like Cobb."

"I take that as an insult. Now, if you're done wasting my time… Z7!"

My eyes widened as a purple blur shifted out of the corner of my eye. I had been distracted by Carys' words and failed to notice the bedraggled assassin until it was too late. She had the angle. A dagger struck the center of my back and caused me to fall forward off the air block. I was in a nosedive—the Bottes Zephyr not activating in such a state—and Carys caught me like the lion catching its prey. A scythe dug into my gut, drawing out a scream of agony.

I tried to turn her over in a grapple, but she was too strong. I paled when I caught a glimpse of her arm and her EXP Meter tattoo. The shimmering green number that gave her physical abilities a substantial boost.

Fifty-seven. She had fifty-seven levels of EXP. My twenty-five, while impressive, couldn't compete.

"I suppose now you'd say I should follow Aikido and spare you. Be the bigger person or whatever." She grabbed my face and grinned darkly. "But slashing you to pieces sounds more my speed."

The scythe slashed my shoulder, emitting a high-pitched shriek as diamond scraped diamond. I grit my teeth.

"If you hit me… you'll die!"

"Oh really?" She laughed, slamming her boot onto my free hand and pinning it. She raised her scythe again. "I'll die? What was that Aikido rule about all life being precious?"

Another slash, taking out three Hearts of Health and my chestplate. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed.

"Please!" I shouted, desperate. "Don't make me!"

She was an enemy of the Endward Cult. A powerful enemy. I couldn't… I wouldn't…!

"Go ahead. Break your rule and kill me. I'd like to see that." She raised her scythe for one last slash.

"CARYS!"

My one free hand flew to my belt, putting on the only other chestplate I had.

My last resort.

Carys' scythe struck the Severe Shield.

There was an explosion, as if the air between us was blasted apart, followed by a burning scent and the unmistakable sound of something breaking. That something was Carys' armor exploding off her body as she was blown off of me faster than Floyd's Hacker speed.

My eyes widened and I sat up, staring at the crater Carys found herself in fifty feet away. Her eyes were wide too, disbelieving, but for a different reason. To her, she couldn't fathom how I'd hurt her.

To me, I couldn't fathom how she was still alive. She struck the invincible chestplate head on. It was the last thing I wanted, but… she had survived! It was a miracle, and I thanked whatever God watching that I wouldn't have to add another body onto my conscience.

But why? How was she still breathing?

More like coughing with how she was breathing. Her Paragons shouted out in worry and went over to help her. Even Z7, in a rare show of protectiveness, rushed over and knelt beside the smoldering Angel. A hand was extended to prop up her back.

Her unarmored back.

I thought back to the artifact's properties.

[…a Thorns Enchantment with enough defensive force to wipe out any attacking Crafter or Mob unless said Crafter/Mob was wearing full diamond armor with Protection Enchantment…]

Of course. That had to be it. Carys' diamond armor must have had the strongest protection she could afford. But the Thorns enchantment on the Severe Shield put all of it to shame, wearing through her diamond armor's durability in an instant. It snapped off her like dry twigs!

Looking at the recovering Angel, it was clear the damage had added injury to insult, shaving a good portion of her Health. She was on one knee, clutching her chest, but with one eye locked upon me. Gone was the mirth. Gone was the blatant disregard of me. Now, I was someone dangerous. Cobb had been right when he said the Severe Shield was the only way to stop Carys.

Maybe now she'd listen.

Although I didn't plan on her surviving the Severe Shield, I couldn't have asked for better. The damage she inflicted was healed with interest, the chestplate quadrupling my Health and filling me with a sense of unbridled strength. And fear. One wrong move could kill any of them.

As if to prove my point, Heather fired an arrow at me, which I was quick to throw myself away from. For her sake.

"Stop!" I commanded. An order echoed by, of all people, Carys. Her Paragons looked to her questioningly, except for Z7 who lunged forward, stopping only when Carys snagged her hair and yanked back so strongly that the assassin's legs were flew up.

"Thorns…" She muttered, still clutching her chest and wincing. She had to be in more pain than she was letting on. She survived a one-hit kill. "He… he has a powerful Thorns Enchantment on that armor. It blew through Protection IV. Don't touch him." She gnashed her teeth over admitting it. "No arrows. No swords. No fists."

"How… how are we supposed to fight him, then?"

"You don't." I called out, commanding their attention. I took an experimental step forward and was pleased to see Heather and Luis shirk away. Carys just struggled to a stand.

"First the flying boots, now the chestplate. What gives?" She asked. "Where did you get your hands on those things?"

Should I…?

After a moment of thought, I looked up to lock eyes with her. "I was entrusted them by Notch."

At my revelation, Luis, Heather, and Carys all took a step back. "Wh-what did you say?"

"Notch gave them to me." I repeated.

"But… that's a lie. Notch has been dead for years. He couldn't of—"

"He passed them on to me, because he entrusted me with a mission. A mission to save Minecraftia. Because," I took a deep breath as rain pelted my hair and drenched me to the bone, "I am the Billionth."

"What… What are you talking about? Cobb is the Billionth." Carys stated. "It was on his information."

"It's more than a number." I amended. "It's a title. One given to Minecraftia's savior. The one destined to defeat the Endward Cult."

Maybe it was wrong to reveal this much to them, but I doubted it would get back to the Endward Cult. The Paragons hated them, after all. Plus, I wanted Carys to understand just how different she and I were.

"I'm out to destroy the cult, just like you." I continued. "However, unlike you, Carys, I have a responsibility to the millions of Crafters I don't know. You act for you, but I act in the interests of Minecraftia. It's not revenge. It's not for personal gain. It's because they need to be stopped, and it's my job to stop them."

"So," I brought out my blade and pointed it at them, "if you continue to pursue Cobb, I won't hesitate to put you down, because you're not fighting for justice, but because you take pleasure in it. I don't need you to fight for me. I can do it myself!"

The Severe Shield glimmered impressively from the lightning reflected off its mirror-like, diamond surface. I stood before them like an immovable fortress. With the Severe Shield properly demonstrated and my intentions clear, Carys would have no choice but to—

"All of you stay back. He's mine."

—get right back up and face me. Okay. Uh. Maybe I wasn't clear…?

"It's clear you can't win." I said, trying to sound arrogant for the first time. "You've lost. Turn back now and you can all live."

"Ma'am, you don't have any armor." Heather reasoned. Thankfully one of them was thinking straight. "If you try to land another attack, you'll die."

"All his bravado came from that chestplate." Carys shot back, sipping a Healing potion and catching her breath. She was no longer favoring one side as she stepped forward with her scythe. "If what he's saying is true, and it really is some super-powered item, all I have to do is rip it off and then he's finished."

Was she… really going to keep fighting?

"This is your final warning!" I tried.

She took a step forward, brandishing a set of splash potions.

"…This is your second final warning!"

"This isn't anything new." She stated, circling slowly. Looking for a chance to throw her potions. The Severe Shield's one weakness. She'd deduced it so fast! Her intuition was too good. "One of the Hackers in Nitebane had a One-Hit-Kill Hack. I trained for months prioritizing evasion in those situations while dealing damage. This is only slightly different, and I'm not one to run from a fight like Cobb."

"Third final warning!"

"Sounds like you're more hesitant than you let on. More of your self-righteous Aikido crap?"

"Language!"

My exclamation was like a trigger and she shot forward without a speck of armor. I brought out my shield and watched those splash potions carefully, but she pulled back at the last second, circling me. Her scythe tore up gravel in a wide circle I could barely follow. There was a blur of color and I brought up my shield in time to block a smashed bottle.

Carys didn't stop there. She sidestepped and darted close, her scythe aiming for my eyes. My breath hitched, knowing she would die upon contact, but she surprised me by flicking her scythe out of her hands. It spun, slicing at my face, but with nobody attached to the end of it. I flinched and Carys stepped under my shield arm and slid behind me. Two hands lowered to either side of my torso and I could feel the Severe Shield shift as she tried to lift it off me.

I threw back an elbow and she gave up, flipping overhead and catching her scythe. When she landed upon the gravel she struck down, creating a shockwave that actually hit me. There was only half-a-Heart of damage due to the Chestplate's protective enchantments, but the fact she could hurt me while I wore it without dying was nothing short of incredible.

Another splash potion was chucked at me and I brought up my shield again. The potion splattered against it, sparing me whatever debilitating effects she planned on using. She was probably going for the Paralysis combo so she could remove the chestplate with ease. Prolonging the fight would only give her more chances.

Notch, why couldn't she just retreat!?

Do I… really have to kill her?

"What's wrong?" She taunted, smirking slightly. "Don't tell me I've found a chink in your armor—"

Without warning, a dagger was flung to Carys' right. It was Z7 who had thrown it, but not as an attack. It intercepted an ender pearl and, from it, Floyd popped out, his sword swinging in a wide arc that hit nothing. There was a slight moment of confusion before he realized the assassin had stopped his sneak attack.

Carys, seeing a target she could attack without worry, struck out with her scythe. It caught Floyd by his shoulder, but he was already jumping back towards me. He skidded to a stop at my side.

"My bad. Thought I could surprise—"

"Don't touch me!" I exclaimed, jumping away from Floyd's outstretched hand before it could slap my shoulder. Even a friendly chuck on the shoulder could activate the Severe Shield's Thorns defense. I couldn't take inadvertently killing an ally.

Floyd didn't linger on my unusual reaction in favor of keeping an eye on the Paragons before us. He held his sword firm. "Where are Cobb and the others? Did you find Mirabelle?"

There was a sharp pang in my heart. "Not exactly. We need to get back to the airship." Ensuring Floyd's safety was the whole reason I came back. That and trying to get Carys to stop, but that was a bust.

"Oh, by all means, lead us to the Asmodeus." Carys called, having heard our exchange. "I take it Cobb and all his other friends are waiting there?"

I grit my teeth, knowing she had us. We could run—Floyd's speed would make us uncatchable—but then Carys and her guild would follow in their airship. The battle would take to the sky. One lucky shot to the bridge would leave us stranded and at their mercy.

While I was busy thinking on what to do, Floyd faced the Angel with a slight smirk that I couldn't understand. What did he have to smile about? We were in big trouble!

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed, yet, the buckets of rain coming down only moments ago suddenly stopped. Floyd and I held out our hands curiously. Had the storm stopped?

No, it couldn't have. Because Carys and the Paragons were still getting soaked. The rain fell down in great torrents around us, and after directing our attention above, we discovered why.

The Asmodeus descended, fully fueled and shielding us from the rain.

From the loading bay doors, Cobb and Lenzington appeared, waving their arms frantically. I could just make out their urgent cries.

"Get in!"

"NO!"

Carys and Luis both flung ender pearls up towards the loading bay doors, but they were promptly sniped out of the sky by Lenzington. Carys and Luis warped in the air a few feet shy of the Asmodeus, much to their chagrin.

While they plummeted, a new ender pearl was tossed up. The spectacled archer allowed it, since the thrower was none other than Floyd. I followed shortly after, riding the Bottes Zephyr to the open loading bay doors.

"What's wrong, Cobb!?" Carys called up, desperate to bait him. "Too frightened to come down and face me!?"

"YES!"

Cobb went back to the speaking tube and shouted something into it as soon as we were safely on board. The airship started to lift and Lenzington kept shooting down the Paragons' ender pearls, frustrating them to no end.

I hastily shoved the Severe Shield into my backpack. I had no other chestplate to wear and my unarmored chest looked awkward, but I couldn't have Cobb asking questions about an artifact he thought I didn't have.

Not a second too soon, as Cobb came over and smacked the side of my head. "Are you crazy!? What were you thinking facing Carys alone!?"

There was a surprising amount of anger in his tone. And worry. The anger was expected—he tasked me with caring for the unconscious Jade—but the worry…?

I thought he hated me. I wasn't one of his friends. I was one of the millions he didn't know and couldn't care for. So why—?

"S-Sorry." I replied automatically, too stunned for anything else. Cobb let out a noise of frustration before turning to Floyd.

"And you! You should have returned to the ship the second you shook that crazy beast. What the hell were you doing?"

At his words, Floyd smirked. "Securing our escape."

"…What do you—?"

"Cobbert," Lenzington reported, closing the loading bay doors and shutting out the howling wind and thunder. "We are out of ender pearl range. Permission to resume my responsibilities as Skipper?"

"Yeah, yeah. Go."

"Thank you." He promptly scurried up the ladder and the three of us followed.

Moving down the corridor, one of the bedroom doors was occupied with Soul, laid flat on the bed, and a weeping Delaney. Sue and Clyde were trying to comfort her, and it was then I realized that Cobb and Lenzington must have told them what happened down in the mines.

The Ghast… and her friends. Mirabelle, Cormac, Beatrix, and Beican. Gone.

I spared her a sad glance before continuing to the bridge.

I was just in time to see Jade hand over the controls to Lenzington. Looks like his piloting lessons paid off; she got the airship to ascend and descend all by herself. She was a little shaky, still not fully recovered from her brush with the Ghast, but Cobb was there to support her. She leaned into him, loving the attention.

"Battle stations, friends." Lenzington ordered, flicking levers and pressing plates frantically. "The Paragons will be pursuing in their airship—I did not think they could obtain a replacement so quickly—and we need to be ready! Cobbert, be ready to refill the bomb bay with TNT. I shall try and maneuver over their ship so we can—"

"Lenz, Lenz!" Floyd stepped forward, easing his hand on his shoulder. "Relax. They're not going to be chasing us."

"I think you're underestimating Carys' determination. 'Giving up' isn't in her dictionary, right alongside 'put that scythe down you crazy bit—'!"

"Language!"

"I was gonna say bitterbrush…"

"Liar."

"Trust me," Floyd repeated, a confident smile on his face. "She won't be able to follow."

"How do you know?"

"Because," he laughed, "I did the one thing I could do."

---

[Carys]

"Battle stations, all of you!" I commanded. There was no time to waste—a fact my Paragons were quick to acknowledge—and we boarded the Anemoi in record time. Four of us were unaccounted for—Dorian and Shroud searching the village and Wing and Perry supposedly knocked out by Nowhere and left somewhere—but we couldn't wait for them to board and lose Cobb while he was so close. So close! So close I could taste Cobb's fear! He was afraid of me, as he should be, for I would enact delicious vengeance.

I slung Baltic off my shoulder and onto the piloting plates. He was sluggish and probably not fit for piloting after fighting Nowhere, but I slapped him awake, shaking him slightly until he was cognizant.

"Baltic, wake up! We need you to fly. Come on!" Another hard slap had him standing on his own.

"Right… flying…" He massaged the bridge of his nose and braced himself against the controls, flipping a lever.

Nothing happened.

After a moment, Baltic flicked the lever again, confusion etched across his face. Still, the Anemoi refused to budge. Where was the ascension? Where was the forward propulsion? Why were we still docked? Why? Why? WHY!?

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice breaking near the end. "Baltic?"

"I-I'm not sure… I'm…" He flicked the lever several more times before testing the other controls. "The ship was working fine when we… arrived…"

"Baltic. Baltic, they're getting away. Baltic. This is the third time I'm watching them fly away with my ship. Baltic. BALTIC!" I lifted my foot and brought it crashing back down in a devastating axe kick upon the controls, yet they still refused to do what I commanded! "WHY WON'T THIS THING TURN ON!?"

"I-I don't know! The-the redstone might have been severed, or-or…" He trailed off, an expression of dawning realization coming to him. "The Command Block." He whispered before pushing off the controls and hobbling towards the engine room. I followed.

My movements were sluggish, as if I was in some drunken stupor. There should have been more urgency, but somehow I knew we'd never catch up with Cobb. Just like how I knew this 'malfunction' was no accident. I kept replaying the moment Floyd interfered tonight. Upon hearing how we'd pursue him in the Anemoi, he smiled as if privy to a hilarious inside joke.

I shouldn't have left the ship unguarded.

Reaching the engine room, I saw Baltic inspecting the Command Block that controlled all of the ship's movements. It was all in that one, complexly coded block.

When he touched it, a keyboard and screen popped out the side, enabling him to examine the code. He shut the keyboard a second later, his face pale.

"What is it?" I asked, already knowing.

"The-The code's been, uh, tampered with, Carys." He stuttered, turning and trying to guide me out of the room. Away from the Command Block. "I'm sorry to say the Anemoi won't be flying anymore. Not unless we get an airship specialist to rewrite the proper—"

"What did Floyd write in it?" I interrupted, watching as Baltic flinched.

"N-Nothing. He just messed the code up. You don't need to see—"

I pushed him aside and strode over to the Command Block before pulling the keyboard and screen back out. My eyes moved left to right, taking the entire message in…

No discernible words were uttered. Just mad screams of rage.

---

[Cobb]

"You did what!?" I laughed, hardly believing the brilliant, blue-haired bastard.

"Lenz gave me the idea." Floyd admitted, his smile mirroring mine. "The delicate Command Block codes that should never be tampered with. Well, the ship was unguarded so I ender pearled aboard, went to the Command Block, and typed in 'CARYS SUCKS BALLZ' over and over. Did you know they have a copy and paste function?"

"Oh my God, that's the funniest thing I've ever heard!" I howled in laughter, just thinking about Carys' face when she saw it. I should have been more terrified, as this would only add fuel to the fire, maybe make her target Floyd more, but… but…

It was just too good!

I laughed so hard I had to lean against the wall, and I wasn't alone. Jade was pounding the floor and even Lenz was chuckling. If Soul was up, I'm sure he would be roaring beside us. Noman let out an indulgent sigh, sticking his hands in his dress pants.

It felt like forever since I laughed like this. It was great. And it was in the aftermath of dealing with that horrible Hybrid in the mines and all the stress of the night. All the tension just released itself, and we were in the clear.

"That was some good thinking." Jade remarked. "You had our escape all figured out, even way back then."

"Yeah, but… that wasn't the only reason why I did it." Floyd turned to me as he said that. "I did it to prove a point."

My laughter died down to a few weak chuckles as Floyd approached, looking serious.

"I wanted to prove we could handle Carys."

I raised a brow, confused. "What…? What do you mean?"

"I know you've been stressed the past few days, Cobb. Worried about Carys and what she'd do to the rest of us." The blue-nette gestured to everyone gathered. "I know you blame yourself for killing her pig, but this is our problem, not just yours. We don't need you fretting over us 24/7."

"You can't beat Carys." I said automatically. They just didn't realize what I'd seen. "I fought her myself, she can't be stopped."

"We just stopped her." Floyd said, making me pause. "She's stopped. Completely, one-hundred-percent, off our heels. She doesn't have another airship to tail us. No horses in that abandoned village. It won't be easy for her to find us again."

"But she will find us again."

"Maybe." He admitted. "And we'll be ready for her when she does. Just like we were ready for her now. She won't get the jump on us ever again."

"He's right, Cobb." Jade supplied. "We outmaneuvered her again. Not many can claim to have escaped the Angel of Death so many times. We should be proud."

"But… but she's too strong to—"

"We are strong enough to fight back." Lenz added. "To frustrate her and stay one step ahead. And until you are ready to deal with her for good, we can buy you all the time you need." He patted the controls fondly. "We have an airship, after all."

"Yeah, not to mention Noman and his crazy chestplate."

"You guys…" I looked to the Beginners. My guild. My friends. My World. After everything that happened tonight, I was all too aware of how easily you could lose people. Beican was a harsh reminder…

But… I couldn't deny their strength.

No matter what, everything seemed to work out for us. It was never easy, it always required a clever idea here, a bit of madness there, and a ton of hard work throughout, but… but we always pulled through.

Why?

Why was it that our ragtag band of misfits could evade the deadliest killer in Minecraftia, take down a Hacker, uncover a conspiracy of Bounty Hunters, and tangle with high-ranking cultists?

It should have been obvious.

"I… can trust you guys to fight."

It was hard to admit, especially with all the threats still out there, but Floyd had a point. I couldn't worry forever. I couldn't protect them forever. At some point, I just had to accept that… my World could care for itself.

I just had to factor in their strength and rely upon them more. That way they'd know.

"I trust you." I repeated, feeling a weight lifting from my back.

Floyd smiled. "Glad to hear it."

Now, with that out of the way, there was one more weight that needed to be dealt with.

"What did you say about Noman's crazy chestplate?"

Noman wasn't on the bridge anymore.

---

I rushed down the corridor and threw myself down the ladder, bouncing off the rungs and walls before crashing in a heap at the bottom level. The loud noise made Noman jump, a foot away from opening the loading bay doors.

He had been about to leave.

"Noman, wait!" I called out desperately. The Bottes Zephyr were in his hands, ready to be put on. His chest was still unarmored, displaying his white dress shirt.

"I take it Floyd told you about the Severe Shield." He muttered, refusing to look at me. "I figured he'd have seen some of my fight with Carys." He placed his hands on the doors, ready to open them to the storm. He wasn't going to wait for it to die down. "That's right. I had the Severe Shield the whole time. It was my first, obtained from Helena. A gift from Notch for being the billionth to spawn." He shook his head. "You can go ahead and despise me."

I knew what he meant, but before I could get to that, I walked over and brought him over to the side of the doors. I gestured down to the wall, asking to sit down and talk. Like people.

After I sat down, he joined shortly after, drawing his knees up and staring straight ahead.

"You say I should despise you," I began, "because you had the Severe Shield in Zeppil and could have used it to kill Carys. Am I right?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, I probably should hate you." I agreed. "I have this thing about my allies holding back during life-or-death fights. Jade recently did it, and I got mad at her so it wouldn't really be fair to let you off."

Jade had been skilled enough with that cutlass to be a legitimate threat. But she held back because she was afraid we'd use her. Treat her like some kind of tool.

Noman had to be the same. He had a fear. It always boiled down to fear.

"Was it because of your Aikido?" I guessed. "All life is precious, so you didn't want to wear a killer chestplate?"

"…No." He said after a moment. "I've only picked up Aikido recently. I admired the philosophy of non-violence… even if I used it as an excuse." He frowned as he took out the invincible artifact. My eyes were drawn to it. I couldn't help myself. "I never wanted to use the Severe Shield ever since I killed those Crafters by accident. They were cultists." He tacked on. "I probably would have had to kill them at some point, but… but seeing how easy it was to end a life… It terrified me. Just like that," he snapped his fingers, "and they were gone."

"So you didn't want another accidental death." I summarized. "But you knew you had to use it. I just can't understand—"

"Let me put it to you this way." Noman interrupted. "If you had worn it, and one of your friends gave you a playful smack on the shoulder… and that killed them," my blood ran cold, "would you still want to wear it."

"Okay, no, that's…" I ran a hand over my face. "Geez, I understand perfectly now."

"It almost happened, you know." He admitted, much to my shock. "Down there, Floyd almost smacked me while I was wearing it. It would have been that simple. Nobody's fault, but mine."

"I see what you mean about it being dangerous." I rubbed my temple, the thought stressing me out. "And yet, you donned it anyway to fight Carys. Even though she was your ally against the cult."

"She's not an ally." Noman stated matter-of-factly. "She's doing it for herself. She abhors being thanked for it."

"Still, what changed?" I asked, desperate to know. "Why'd you put it on to fight her?"

"…I wanted to deal with it, I guess." He shrugged. "You were busy with the Ghast—"

"Ghast Hybrid." I corrected.

"…Hybrid?" Noman questioned, his eyes darting back to some past memory before he shook his head. "Anyway, it was a problem I could have solved with the Severe Shield… but didn't. I could have solved all your problems with the artifact, but I kept… dodging it. I felt like I wasn't ready. Even when facing Carys, I didn't want to do it. She just forced my hand."

"So you weren't sure you'd use the invincible chestplate when you went to face her." My brow lifted in surprise. "That makes you a braver man than me. I wouldn't face Carys unless I was sure I could win."

He was shocked at being called a brave man. Sheesh, he really needed to learn how to take a compliment.

"So, why were you about to leave?"

"I thought you'd blame me for holding back." He said, hunching over into his knees.

"I'd probably blame you more if one of my friends got killed. I'm selfish like that."

"Just like Carys."

"What?"

"Sorry. Just thinking…" He said. "I spoke with her, trying to get her to leave you alone."

"And how'd that pan out?"

"She still wants to kill you. But I got some insight into her reasoning. She's selfish. Destroying the cult is more for her wants than Minecraftia's. But… I also think she doesn't know what she wants. It's hard to explain."

"Carys and the Cult." I hummed. "The Cult and Carys. Two enemies. Two Billionths."

"Hmm?"

"I'm just... wondering if we should be friends." I admitted.

"You want to be friends… with me?" He asked before making a noise of comprehension. "You just want the support of the Severe Shield, right? You don't care about me—"

"No, actually…" I sighed, flashing a smile. "I talked with my guild. They're… not as defenseless as I first thought, and it took Carys trying to kill them again for me to realize it." I rested my chin on my knee. "Even when we were caught off guard in Zeppil, they still turned it around… with your help."

"Well, I owed you. It's my fault the world thinks you're the Billionth."

"I don't see why we can't both be, though."

"Hmm?"

"It's about time I trust my guild to handle themselves. That means I can't keep letting my fear get in the way of their growth. So… here's the deal." I turned to him, my expression genuine.

"Your mission will be my mission—our mission. The whole guild hears about it, because you'll officially join the Beginners. Stick with us, and we'll find the other seven artifacts so you can defeat the Endward Cult. But in return, you need to help us with our Carys problem… which at this point is your problem too if Carys' pride has anything to say about it. And… we become friends."

"Friends...? After all we've fought?"

"Meh, I've fought most of my friends. Wynn would tell you if she were here."

"You really want me as your friend? You're not… just using me?"

"What? No! If anything, you're using me! I'm promising to find and gift-wrap seven all-powerful artifacts for you and all you have to do is help me with Carys. Not to mention all the perks of becoming a Beginner. Use of our airship, a decent allowance, and a guarantee that if your life is in peril, one or all of us will swoop in and save you."

"And your guild will be fine with this? They won't kick me out?"

"I mean, you've saved most of them once or twice, so no, I don't think they're stupid. The only one against it was me, and... I'm starting to realize that you're just as much a misfit as the rest of us. A pacifist with a killer chestplate? You'll fit right in with the rest of the weirdos."

He gazed down at his hands, palms up. He was weighing his decisions.

"Before, I was forcing you to stay, but now I'm leaving the choice up to you. Stay or leave. I know, either way, my guild will survive. They're just that awesome. But having you around will put my mind at ease."

"You want me around?" He asked, hesitantly. "You… you really need me?"

His words struck a chord, reminding me of our earlier talk in the mines.

'…what I wanted more than anything was to matter.'

'What could matter more than saving the world? That one impossible mission gave me purpose, and I vowed to see it through. So that one day, I could look upon Minecraftia, free of any and all threats, and contentedly think to myself, 'I mattered'.'

"Yes, we need you." I nodded. "And we'd be happy to have you."

He took another moment to think it over, leaving me to look at Noman—actually look at him—for the first real time. He was a good guy. Too good, if his intolerance to profanity was any indication. He could face the most terrifying killer in Minecraftia and somehow worry about her life. Befriending him was asking for trouble, considering how often we found ourselves in kill-or-be-killed situations. Sometime or another, he'd have to compromise his beliefs to survive. The Endward Cult wouldn't respect Aikido.

But, at the same time, I couldn't deny how much he'd helped us. A lot of the people upstairs wouldn't be breathing without his aid. He was essential.

And friendship was a funny thing. So much so that two people, opposites in nearly every way, could get along. So long as they were both willing to reach out and try.

"Okay. I'll do it."

A smile spread naturally across my face.

"Welcome to the Beginners, then."

Just as we shook hands to seal the deal, a crackle came from the speaking tube. Lenz's voice filtered in.

"Cobb, Noman! Outside, quick!"

Me drew our respective weapons and rushed to the loading bay doors, tearing them open and expecting the worse. Carys, cultists, Hybrids, and a million other terrors…!

Sunlight blazoned across the sky, streaming through the storm clouds already fading away. Goodbye dark, violent gray, hello calm, downy white.

"The storm has cleared up!" Lenz reported. "It is finally over!"

Relaxing, Noman and I sheathed our weapons and sat along the threshold, our legs dangling off the side as we watched the golden sunbeams light up the hills. The gentle breeze felt nice.

"Yeah." I nodded, leaning back and glancing at my newest friend. "It's all cleared up."

---

[?]

Journal Entry: November 29th, 0115

I have set up a lab in the coal mines beneath Shansi Village. The monthly casualties are particularly high; the miners risk rockfalls and Creepers trying to get at the veins of coal. Makes for a good source of materia for my experiments. Nobody would look twice at a pile of gear without a Head. I don't even have to do anything.

Journal Entry: October 12th, 0117

I've been discovered. Yesterday, a moronic woman set off a Creeper and opened the chasm to the outside. Miraculously, she survived the fall that had claimed so many others, but not without injuring her leg. She faded in and out, moaning about her 'precious Nan'. Her husband no doubt. I recognized the name from the Head I gathered three weeks prior. Her grief is such that I doubt she even recognizes who I am, but I couldn't let her leave and risk alerting the villagers of my presence. I nearly killed her then and there until I remembered…

I needed a guinea pig.

Her cooperation is essential, however. I need her cognizant to test how Hybridization affects the mind. I brought her to the lab and showed her Nan's Head in an attempt to convince her. Her sobs as she clutched the Head to her chest filled me with pity, but I told her my experiment could join the two forever. I wasn't lying, technically, and after the testing is complete, she will be with her beloved again.

She latched onto my words and agreed without a second thought. I've gathered what I hope to be enough materia and have constructed the ritual circle. Now I just need to pick a Mob...

Journal Entry: October 13th, 0117

The experiment was a failure. The ritual circle was flawless, but the problem arose from a lack of materia. The cost exceeded my assumption and Subject Aisu had to pay for my mistake. Needless to say, she is quite upset. Perhaps I should have chosen a more docile Mob. Something smaller that couldn't float.

Ah, but the fact she can float—even with the lack of materia—proves that Hybridization is no myth. It can be done.

Subject Aisu has ballooned in size and turned pale, taking characteristics from the Ghast. However, her features are nightmarish, with tentacles that squirm like snakes. Her form is only partially humanoid (if you can call it that). I expect an increase in materia can create a fully humanoid Hybrid. As for her mental state, it's unclear whether her instability is due to the hybridization or her grief over not being reunited with her husband and looking like a gruesome monster.

I'll run more tests tomorrow… if I can sleep through her infernal wailing.

Journal Entry: October 19th, 0117

It seems the only thing equal to my genius is my negligence.

Subject Aisu has escaped.

The Hybridization took more traits from the Ghast than I thought. The Subject shot fireballs and broke out of the lab, escaping into the caves. Her wails echo so badly I can't track her. Worse, I think the villagers can hear her. It's only a matter of time before they send someone down here to investigate.

I've gathered my notes and initiated the Cleansweep Protocol. Nothing from this lab or my work will be found… except Subject Aisu. Hopefully the villagers will clean up that mess for me. Preferably without asking too many questions.

Still, it wasn't a total loss. I now know I need more materia, and to choose my Mobs more carefully. Zombies and Skeletons should be a good start. The bigger problem is finding a lab away from prying eyes. Perhaps Jeb can give me some ideas.

---

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Mending I, Unbreaking I], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Boots, 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Sword, 1 Banner {Beginners}, 64 Cobblestone, 61 Cobblestone, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 4 Gravel, 1 Bed, 36 Dirt, 7 Coal, 24 Flint, 12 Jungle Wood Logs, 56 Jungle Wood Planks, 2 Sticks, 7 Torches, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 String, 21 Emeralds, 2 Ender Pearls, 4 Snowballs, 9 Gunpowder, 33 Cooked Mutton, 27 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 2 Maps {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 33]

Inventory (Floyd): 1 Leather Cap [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Leather Pants [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 3 Iron Ingots, 47 Dirt, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 27 Cooked Mutton, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Emerald, 1 Iron Sword {Weak}, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Leggings, 16 Gunpowder, 4 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {6:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {6:00}, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 32]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Leather Pants [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 2 Levers, 5 Redstone Torches, 1 Bed, 9 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 28 Redstone, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 48 Cobblestone, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 32 Arrows, 16 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 47 Cooked Mutton, 2 Ender Pearls, 16 Sugar Cane, 8 Paper, 5 Ink Sacs, 3 Leather, 5 Emeralds, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 15]

Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Iron Ingots, 52 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Milk, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crafting Table, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 24 Torches, 34 White Wool, 58 Dirt, 64 Cobblestone, 62 Cobblestone, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 18 Gravel, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 3 Ender Pearls, 28 Emeralds, 59 Cooked Mutton, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 26]

Inventory (Jade): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Pants [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV], 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Cutlass, 1 Bed, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 16 String, 32 Cooked Mutton, 14 Torches, 30 Jungle Wood Planks, 64 Cobblestone, 64 Cobblestone, 24 Obsidian, 2 Buckets, 1 Compass, 1 Clock, 23 Emeralds, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Dover Plains Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Lazuli Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 36]

Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Black Shield {Slight Shield} [Blue Cross] {Weak}, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Bow [Infinity], 28 Birch Wood Planks, 34 Iron Ingots, 18 Sticks, 1 Bucket, 1 Crafting Table, 23 Cooked Mutton, 7 Ender Pearls, 1 Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Potion of Water Breathing {8:00}, 1 Bed, 1 Book {Artifact List}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Zeppil}, 1 Compass, 1 Arrow, 3 Sugar, 14 Bookshelves, 6 Enchanted Golden Apples, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots, 10 Emerald Blocks, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 18 Bones, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 64 Gravel, 49 Gravel, 9 Flint

[EXP: 25]

---

AN: The storm clears, and so too does the 'storm' between Cobb and Noman. Nothing but smooth sailing... For now.

That concludes the Wailing Vale Arc. Very much a Cobb and Noman centered arc. They're both dealing with an enemy. The Ghast Hybrid and Carys.

And Noman officially joins the Beginners. He'll get the nametag, the complimentary coupons, and everything.

Carys is as steamed as a lobster. She's lost two airships and has been foiled once more.

Now, we go into the Akasha Arc. And then...

THEN BAD STUFF.