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.

166. Enemy of my Enemy (Part 2)

AN: I like this Chapter better than the last one. Make of that what you will.

Also, someone asked about the My Craft Minecraft Server. It's currently turned off as it was expensive to keep on and the guy running it had other things to focus on. No idea if it's coming back.

Moving on...

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Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd make My Craft a game.

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Chapter 166

Enemy of my Enemy (Part 2)

[Noman]

Cobb didn't get much sleep that night.

We took shifts at Cobb's insistence that Carys could strike at any moment, but I could hear him awake when I woke up for my shift and also when I swapped shifts with Soul. Despite the dark circles under his eyes, he wasn't sleeping a wink.

What's more, during my shift I could hear the familiar shrieks of the new flying Mobs—the Phantoms. I left the Inhouse to check and saw them circling in the sky above. They occasionally divebombed the grass, but it didn't seem like they were going for me. They were targeting someone else. Someone still in the Inhouse.

I dispatched them quickly, not wanting them to reveal our location in case the Paragons were hunting us. Or the few Ringwood guards left for that matter. We were harboring three wanted criminals: Cobb, Floyd, and Lenz.

The Phantoms dropped more Phantom Membranes, but I was still no closer to figuring out what they were for. I suppose I should have been thankful they were so weak. More pests than anything like the apocalyptic Wither.

When morning came, four out of five of us were well-rested and there had been no sneak attacks by Carys. We left the Inhouse, almost all of us full of nervous energy. Only Cobb remained eerily calm. Or maybe distant was the better word. He didn't say a word to anyone and the far-off look in his eyes returned.

Navigating the burnt remnants of the Northern District, we made our way to the base of the plateau, intending to return to the Crystal Catacombs where we first encountered Carys.

She and the Paragons met us halfway, between the plateau and the Northern District.

"Good. You didn't run." Carys smirked in approval. "We had the exits watched in case you tried anything. Though, I won't deny I was secretly hoping you'd give me an excuse." She let the threat linger, but Cobb didn't rise to the bait. "So? I take it you have an answer?"

"We do." I nodded, stepping forward. "We'd like to—"

"I don't want to hear you say it." Carys dismissed before facing Cobb. "I want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth."

Cobb chewed on his inner cheek, silently glaring at Carys. I could feel the disdain radiating off him. Carys must have felt it too for she rested a hand on her hip, close enough to draw her scythe if she had to.

But then Cobb cast a glance to the rest of us. His friends. His Beginners. He recalled the conversation we had yesterday. The concession that we had to work with Carys only until we had the artifacts and the power to fight the Endward Cult ourselves. It was the excuse we gave just to have him onboard. The truth was we needed Carys for longer if we wanted to finish the Endward Cult, and lying to Cobb like we did was merely a quick fix to get us to today. We'd need results to convince him to stick with it. Same went for Carys. If we could prove the alliance was beneficial for both parties, it would go a long way to ease distrust.

Finally, Cobb spoke to break the tension.

"We'll ally ourselves with you." He accepted, every word sounding like it had to be dragged kicking and screaming out of him. "Grudgingly."

"Very grudgingly." Carys agreed, her hand leaving her scythe and resting casually at her side. She seemed to accept the answer. "Then it's official. The Paragons-Beginners Alliance is formed."

"Is that what we're calling it?"

"You've got a problem?"

"Yeah, you gave yourself top billing. Why not Beginners-Paragons Alliance?"

"Well it's only natural the side doing most of the work should get top billing."

"There's that modesty I heard so much about. Hey, why don't we just call it the Carys-and-the-lowly-extras Alliance?"

"I love it. Make it a brand."

"Couldn't we just combine the names? Like… the Beginagons?"

"…"

"Alright, well, you get the idea."

"The very stupid idea."

"Let's," Baltic raised his voice, "just agree to refer to this alliance however we wish. The only ones who'd seek to assign a name for us are the populace and our enemies. We'll leave it to them. In the meantime, call it whatever you prefer."

"Paragons-Numbskulls."

"Beginners-Hoe-Toters."

"Fantastic." Baltic sighed. "Now, if we can move right into discussion—?"

"Not here." Carys advised. "It's not safe to discuss our plans out in the open. We need someplace quiet and secluded."

"We have a place." Lenz piped up, causing Cobb to whirl to face him and glare with a silent shake, no.

"What place?" Anibal asked.

"It's not…" Cobb trailed off when he saw the clear interest. He sighed angrily. "It's nothing, it's… our base."

"You have a base?" Carys scoffed. "I can't imagine it's as impressive as Lunar Castle."

A nerve twitched in Cobb's forehead.

"Actually," he said slowly, "I'd wager the Inhouse is ten times the base you have. Definitely better than some dusty old castle."

A nerve twitched in Carys' forehead. "Hoh? That's quite a claim. I'd love to see just how it compares to our secure fortress."

"Now now. I wouldn't want to show off and belittle you." Cobb drawled before adding quickly, "But if you insist—?"

"I insist."

"You insist?"

"I insist."

"Well, then." Cobb clapped his hands. "I guess we're all going to our super awesome base."

"Lead the way. I bet it's just some shithole."

---

Carys and her Paragons pointedly stared at the wooden outhouse in Wynn's backyard.

"I wasn't being serious when I called it a shithole." Carys spoke flatly.

"Is this some kind of joke!?" Perry shouted angrily. "You wasted our time for this!?"

"I hope you don't expect us all to fit in there." Anibal sniffed slightly before pinching her nose. "Disgusting."

"Yzgsilln." Z7 announced, prompting Lenz to attempt to translate.

"I guess it's fitting your base is an outhouse." Wing taunted while Floyd opened the outhouse door and stepped inside. "Really shows the difference in our—hey, where'd he go?"

Soul opened the door to reveal to all that Floyd disappeared. He gave the watching Paragons a condescending smirk before shutting the door and clicking the button within. Then, he vanished into the Inhouse below as well, revealing an empty outhouse to the baffled audience.

"Drgxsxizug." Z7 muttered breathlessly before darting forward ahead of Lenz and examining the inside of the outhouse through her curtain of hair. "Ezmrhsrmt ylc."

"It is not a—wait a second." Lenz flipped through his notebook, deliberating on what to say. "'Press button' would translate to… kivhh… y-yfgglm."

Z7's head snapped up to look at the engineer before her gaze slowly gravitated to the lone button inside the outhouse. She lifted her hand and pressed a single digit to the button. There was a cha-chunk of a piston retracting and Z7 vanished from the outhouse.

"What'd you do with her?" Kalmarin demanded. Lenz held his hands up defensively.

"It is just a secret entrance! I built it myself, it is safe. Watch." He then stepped inside, keeping the door open the whole time, and clicked the button. The floor retracted and the engineer fell into the Inhouse like all the others before the floor sealed back up.

"Let's move it along." Cobb waved them forward, though none of the Paragons dared to approach it. They were cautious to trust something of Cobb's. His eyes lit up watching Carys' hesitance. "What's the matter? You chicken?"

Carys' eyes narrowed. "You wish."

It did the trick as she bowled past Cobb and into the outhouse without a fuss before punching the button and dropping out of sight. Then Cobb right after her. Seeing their leader take the plunge, the rest of the Paragons were more willing to enter the strange vanishing outhouse. I went in between Anibal and Baltic, dropping down into the shallow pool acting as a cushion.

The Beginners dried off without complaint—used to the Inhouse's entrance—but the Paragons put their wet clothes at the back of their minds as they gazed upon the interior of the sprawling Inhouse. The pristine nether quartz walls. The redstone machinery hanging off the ceiling. The fully stocked kitchen. The notice board with the full map of Minecraftia and the Beginners' proud banner on display.

One of the Paragons whistled appreciatively.

"You've got to admit, these guys got style." Anibal leaned over to whisper to an annoyed Carys.

"Please, hold your applause." Soul taunted dramatically. "We've yet to show you the cake button."

"Cake button?"

Soul casually walked over to the kitchen and clicked the cake button, allowing a single cake to shoot out onto the floor. The Paragons tried to act like it was no big deal, but in a purple blur, Z7 scooped up the cake and set it down on the kitchen table before digging into it with gusto. Through the curtain of purple hair, I could see her eyes crinkling in delight and hear her hums of appreciation.

"Yorhh…"

She consumed slice after slice of the sugary cake until her Hunger Meter was full. Then she quickly ran around the table to empty it so she could finish the rest. All of this done while the Paragons admired the furniture and décor.

"They have brewing stands." Baltic noted with an aged smile. "Fully stocked. Looks like it's never been used." He fondly ran a hand over the equipment.

"Check this out." Heather waved to Wing and Luis. "This enchantment corner has a switch to retract bookshelves." She clicked it on and off. "You can choose whether you want high-tier enchantments or low-tier enchantments. That's pretty clever."

"Heather! We can't sound too impressed." Wing admonished.

"Screw that. I'm not afraid to admit when I'm beat." Anibal smiled in appreciation as she gazed down the halls. "Ooh, what's down there? Bedrooms?" Cobb and Floyd barred her path. "Oh phooey. I'm just curious." She stepped back with a shrug.

The Paragons were definitely impressed. It took four or five minutes for them to fully appreciate everything the Inhouse had to offer. Carys alone kept quiet, her arms folded and an annoyed frown on her face. Instead of being upset by it, her irritation seemed to bring light back into Cobb's green eyes.

They soon settled down, and by the time Z7 finished her third cake and returned to Carys' side, we were all ready to start discussions.

"Alright." Carys and her Paragons stood across from us. The sides still clearly split despite Cobb's acceptance of the alliance. "To start off, we should exchange information."

By our confused glances with one another, Carys could tell we needed further explanation.

"It's typical in alliances," she spoke in exasperation, "for both sides to exchange intelligence. Everything and anything of importance about their shared enemy. In our case, the Endward Cult." She spat the name as if it were foul. "Therefore, I'd like to hear what worthwhile information you have as well as any solid leads on Division Headquarters. Of course, I'll repay you in turn with our information."

Cobb kept silent, actually turning away from Carys and the Paragons and taking more interest in the redstone contraptions on the ceiling. His clear disregard had Carys' blood-red eyes narrow threateningly. To avoid hostility right off the bat, I stepped in.

"We'll be happy to share what we know." I nodded happily until Carys backed down before turning to the others in a hushed whisper. "What do we know?"

"I got this." Soul assured before stepping away from us and addressing the Paragons. "The Eastern Division!" He boomed impressively. "We know that they're stationed in—"

"Oak Docks." Anibal cut him off, her expression impatient. "That's what you were going to say, right? We already know that."

Soul's mouth hung open, the words having been stolen out of him. Was that our only lead? Judging by the embarrassed expression on Floyd's face, it must have been.

Soul just stood there, silent, soaking up all of the Paragons' attention without anybody to bail him out. Cobb was still staring determinedly at the redstone devices hanging from the ceiling. I wished he would say something, even just to draw Carys' ire off of Soul.

After a minute of awkward silence, Carys sighed with a roll of her eyes. "Since I'm hearing a lot of dead air, I'll just go first." Her gaze sharpened as she reported information in a clear, no-nonsense tone. "Expanding on what was just stated, we know that the Eastern Division is based somewhere in the Kingdom of Oak Docks. We've gotten this information from a reliable source—a defector from the cult named attila_akrasia." The name sparked recognition amongst Floyd and Soul. "The Eastern Division is a notable problem, particularly with its Executive."

"You… know who the Eastern Executive is?" I asked.

"No." Carys shook her head. "We know he's a skilled archer—we encountered him during a recent raid on a weapons outpost. He wore a mask, concealing his name and face. But he's more of a threat with the portals he can set up. I'm sure you're all aware of the cult's use of Nether Portals to get around?" A few of us nodded. "We have reason to suspect the Eastern Executive is the mind behind the Endward Cult's precise transportation network."

"But that is impossible." Lenz piped up. "Nether Portals warp space in unpredictable ways. It is impossible to predict where they will transport a Crafter in the Nether or in Minecraftia. And if they take you outside the Border—"

"We're well aware of how the portals work." Carys snapped. "I don't care how impossible it sounds. That Executive was able to create a doorway into the outpost while we were assaulting it. He set it up with surgical precision as if he knew where it would exit. It allowed him to bring in reinforcements and force us to retreat."

"You mean you ran with your tail between your legs." Cobb sniped, obviously listening in even if his attention was on the ceiling.

"Kind of like how you fled from us in Zeppil!" Carys fired back in a sickeningly sweet tone. "Anyway, as unlikely as it sounds, the Eastern Executive can somehow set up portals to connect any two points in Minecraftia without having to worry about teleporting outside the Border. As you can imagine, this poses a threat for any future raids or attacks, since the cult can just warp over reinforcements at any time. It also means a Kingdom's security measures are futile as they can simply be warped around. No chance of keeping the cultists, or their Withers, out."

We all understood the gravity of the situation. If the cult could be anywhere at anytime in full force, they could cause untold death and destruction.

The Eastern Executive had to be taken out.

"Which brings us to our current objective." Carys stated. "To locate the Eastern Division, cripple their Nether Portal transportation hub, and eliminate the Executive behind it. We do that and the cultists will be cut off from one another. No more surprise reinforcements." She nodded to show she was done. "Now, do you have any leads you wish to bring to our attention?"

Again, we were caught on the backfoot. We had been paying rapt attention to Carys and her concrete objective. She explained it so concisely so that we could understand why it had to be done. But we had been so engrossed that we didn't bother to think up any other leads.

Telling them about the Hack Clan's artifacts wouldn't help, since they were asking for Endward Cult information. Not to mention, obtaining the artifacts was more our concern than theirs.

"…Teal has an artifact." Floyd threw out more for lack of anything else to offer.

"The Voda Shlem. We're aware." Anibal nodded, once more making our information worthless. "She was at the weapons outpost too, along with the other Lieutenant of the Eastern Division. Is there anything else you have that we don't already know?"

Her words earned a ripple of chuckles from the subordinate Paragons in the back. The four of us racked our brains for some useful piece of information, all while our fifth member stared at the ceiling.

"I think I've heard enough." Carys sighed, shrugging her shoulders in indifference. Then, a bit louder so Cobb could hear her, she added, "I should have guessed intelligence would be more from our side than theirs."

I thought I saw Cobb twitch with annoyance.

"If that's all you have, we can move on to—"

"Exter." Cobb said

Carys paused as Cobb finally turned around and paid the scythe-wielder his full attention. He stepped past us, his emerald eyes firm.

"The Western Division is in Exter." He clarified. The rest of us shared a glance, wondering where he pulled that information from. This was the first we were hearing of it.

"…Bold claim." Carys replied after a while, her gaze turning skeptical. "I hope you've got something to back that up besides, 'Exter is west of here'." Another round of snickers from the Paragons.

"Diamond Rapier." Cobb suddenly said. Ember's weapon. Carys must have thought the same for her eyes narrowed. "Iron Dagger. Diamond Battleaxe." Leadstripe and 4Blite. "…Diamond Cutlass." He added almost reluctantly. "Have you noticed that many of the higher-ups of the Endward Cult possess a Tinker's weapon?"

"That's hardly evidence." Carys dismissed, gesturing to her scythe and Z7's daggers. "Or are you suggesting that we're cultists for having these?"

The chuckles were cut off before they could start. "4Blite had a diamond axe. When we last encountered him during the Creeper Herd attack, he wielded a standard diamond axe. And in only a few short months, he somehow got his hands on a Battleaxe of the same material." His words gave us all pause for thought. Paragons and Beginners alike. We only told him about 4Blite's Battleaxe yesterday. Had he been thinking about it this whole time?

"…There is a theme, I'll admit." Carys conceded. "The Northern Division all had diamond Tinker's weapons. But it could just mean that the cultists coveted them. They have infinite durability and possess unique abilities. They can recognize the work of a fine craftsman just like anyone else."

"But Tinker's weapons are expensive. Not just in terms of emeralds." Cobb went on. "I've heard that you need to offer Tinker something rarer than money before you can request a weapon from him. Was it the same with your scythe?" Carys' blood-red eyes regarded the fisherman before nodding slightly. "And yet, the Endward Cult have no trouble getting their hands on them. 4Blite got his axe in a few months following his Creeper Herd attack on Ringwood. Almost as if—"

"—He was awarded it." Carys finished with a soft gasp. By the movement of her eyes, it was clear she was considering the information.

"Do you concur, Carys?" Cobb asked, trying to sound professional.

"Tinker is a craftsman." Anibal supplied. "Every weapon he's ever made is a work of art. He'll remember who he gave them to if we asked."

"Hm. Maybe there is a connection. At the very least, Tinker better have an explanation on how his weapons keep ending up in cultist hands. It doesn't guarantee the Western Division's HQ is in Exter." She clarified, sending Cobb a look. "But this is a lead worth investigating."

"You're welcome."

Crimson eyes narrowed. "If you're looking for a 'thank you', come back to me after you've taken out an Executive."

"Yeah right." He scoffed before adding in a hushed whisper, "You wouldn't thank me if I brought your pig back."

She heard that.

"Fuck you!" Carys darted forward and grabbed Cobb by the hoodie before he could escape. "You ignorant little—!"

"Wah! Hurtful behavior! Hurtful behavior!" Cobb pointed at Carys to her Paragons before she grabbed at the corners of his mouth and pulled to shut him up. "Huwtful behafior!"

Both the Paragons and Beginners rushed forward to pull the two off of one another. Cobb had managed to grab fistfuls of Carys' spiky hair whilst trying to bite her thumb off while Carys opted to stretch his mouth until his lips tore.

"They were doing so well." Soul tsked before helping to pry the two apart.

"Stop it you two! STOP IT!" Baltic barked after finally pulling the two apart. Carys fixed her hair while Cobb rubbed his sore cheeks. "My God! You two are behaving like children!"

"If we fight, the Endward Cult wins." I spoke up, doing my part in curbing the animosity. This was what my Aikido trained me for. Diplomacy. "Now we've shared information. That's already a huge step forward in this alliance." He glanced between both sides, earning an approving nod from Baltic. "We've got two leads. Oak Docks and Exter."

"Both of which are on opposite ends of Minecraftia." Kalmarin added.

"We'll split up." Cobb and Carys said simultaneously before glaring at one another.

"Two targets, two groups." Cobb spoke. "We can take Oak Docks and you can take Exter. That way we—"

"No." Carys shut him down, shrugging off the Paragons and fixing Cobb with crimson eyes. "This alliance is to use the Billionths as bait. No way are we putting all our eggs in one basket. When I said split up, I meant you two."

"What!?"

"One of the Billionths will be going to Exter with me." She said plainly. "I don't care which you choose so long as it's not Cobb." Well that narrowed it down. "The further away I'm from him, the better."

"Noman's a part of my team!" Cobb protested with wild eyes. "I'm not trusting him to you! I don't trust you as far as I can throw you!"

"Same goes for me. Though, for the record, I can throw you pretty far."

"Yes, yes. You have Iron Golem arms. No argument here."

While Carys' eye twitched, Soul leaned over to whisper. "Damn, Cobb's killing it with the roasts today."

"Language." I whispered back.

"Why do you need Noman, anyway? You're already bait yourself." Cobb argued. "We can't afford to spare such a valued member of the Beginners. We're not going to loan him to you!"

"The Executives and Lieutenants are wary of the Billionth. Your fake girlfriend could have killed you in your sleep, but she left you alive. They need you. Whether it's you or him." Carys argued back, not nearly as frenzied as Cobb. "Sending you in two different directions will split their focus and give us an advantage should we get ambushed. They'll be expecting the might of the Paragons, not the resourcefulness of the Beginners." Despite the compliment, Cobb remained unmoved. "And anyway, we won't be taking him for free. I'll loan you some of my Paragons to make up the difference in combat prowess."

"What? No! I don't want any of those guys!" He waved his arm dismissively at the guild behind her. "I want people I can trust! My guild! My friends!"

"I'm not giving you a choice." Carys threatened lowly. "We shared information, now we're sharing resources. If I think this is our best bet in surprising the Endward Cult, then you better follow my lead. Otherwise you can forget about this alliance."

"Carys!" Baltic argued only for an arm to cut across his chest.

"NO." She barked. "If he can't see the value in this, then he's not as smart as I gave him credit for. Doing what he suggests—Beginners one way and Paragons another—would be the same as not having an alliance at all. He needs to grow up and face the facts."

Cobb looked ready to shout something before I pulled him back.

"If you'll excuse us, we need a minute to discuss." I stammered back before pushing Cobb into the waiting bodies of the other Beginners. Cobb was stuck staring at Carys with utter hatred.

"I hate this. I told you I'd hate this. She's already trying to split us up."

"...Cobb, I can go with them." I assured, making his head jerk. "She's not wrong. Mixing our forces might help give us an edge."

"I'm not going to know any of those grunts!" He hissed, pointing to the Paragons in the back. "I'm going to have to trust strangers again and we all saw how wrong that went."

He was thinking about Jade again. It was that that bothered him more. This alliance really had come at a bad time. Maybe within a few years, he would have gotten over it and learned to trust again, but so soon? He'd be a paranoid wreck.

"It's the only way to keep this alliance going. Please, Cobb. I have to do this."

"No…" He shook his head, though his eyes were darting between us and the Paragons. "You can't…"

"I'll be on guard. Though I doubt they'd go through all this just to kill me." I joked badly before taking out the Severe Shield and turning it over. He stared at the diamond chestplate, eyes wide. "Here. I'd feel safer if you guys have it. I won't be needing it with Carys around."

"…You're not going."

"Yes I—"

"Not alone." He clarified, making my breath hitch. "And not without the artifacts." He pushed the chestplate back towards me. "You'll need this for when she turns on you."

"Cobb…"

He turned to the others. "Floyd. Soul. Would you two mind going with him?"

"You got it." Floyd nodded, the sclerae of his eyes darkening momentarily before going back to normal. "They'll think twice about challenging a Hacker."

"I'm coming too, not that anyone cares." Soul shook his head with a smirk. "Exter, huh? I hear it gets toasty out there."

Cobb turned to Floyd, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Hey. You're in charge." Floyd made no move to protest. He simply nodded, understanding and accepting the responsibility. "I trust your judgement. If things fall out, have Noman use the Severe Shield and just run away. Tell me now that you can do this or else I'm going to worry the whole time—"

"I can do this." He nodded, more resolutely than before. "I promise to keep them safe. You don't have to worry."

He sighed, the stress clearly getting to him. "Good."

When we were done, we spread out and Cobb faced Carys. "You can have Noman. But we're also sending over Floyd and Soul."

"Your strongest fighters." She noted. "Awfully generous of you. Or is there an ulterior motive? Afraid something might happen while they're out of sight?" The way Cobb clenched his fists made Carys' lips curl. "Fine by me. Come along you three. You're part of our side now."

She waved us over and we glanced back to Cobb worriedly.

"Good luck loser." Soul bumped his fist to Cobb's. "We'll look after one another."

"You be careful, now." Lenz nodded to Floyd and me.

"Was about to say the same to you. We're not the ones planning on robbing a blue-haired psychopath."

"Right." Lenz looked worried." Any advice on dealing with Teal_Larkspur?"

"Protect your neck." Soul grunted. Floyd, however, had more to say.

"She likes games." He advised. "She gets distracted by them easily. She's also a battle-maniac."

"And a maniac-maniac." Soul added. "Really, just avoid her in general."

"That might prove difficult considering we are planning to rob her." Lenz sighed. "I promise, Nowhere, we will recover the Voda Shlem."

"…Just make sure you get back alive." I said, making sure they understood the real priority.

"If we can be done with this by today…?" Carys drawled condescendingly. We offered each other some final farewells before parting to join Carys' side.

"Baltic." She announced. "Perry. Luis. Wing. Heather. Witige. Trenay. Dwight."

With each uttered name, a Crafter stepped forward and away from Carys' group—some more reluctantly than others—and joined Cobb's side. There were no fond farewells from them, I noticed. No parting words. The ones staying on Carys' side only offered smug grins, deeming Cobb's side as the undesirable option. Baltic nodded in greeting, but Cobb didn't dignify him with a response. Instead, the fisherman looked between the two sides and glared when Carys stopped announcing names.

"You call this offsetting? You're stocking us full of grunts! What about that assassin or the Hacker?" He pointed to Z7 and Kalmarin respectively, but Carys shook her head.

"It's enough."

"You expect us to go after the Eastern Division with an army of nameless extras?" The Paragons on Cobb's side bristled at the insult and Lenz gave himself a wide berth from the incensed Perry. From what I remembered, he had been the one to beat Lenz up back in Zeppil. "This is way too uneven!"

"Oh me oh my, is that an inconvenience for you?" Carys asked in fake concern that had Cobb's teeth grating.

"I don't get why we don't just stick together." Floyd said. "We'd be a greater force and we can focus on one direction at a time—"

"And it would take us three months just to visit both Kingdoms." Carys interrupted. "Exter and Oak Docks are on opposite ends of Minecraftia. It'll take us a month to reach them by foot. We could get there faster if we still had our airship."

"Oh me oh my," Cobb parroted Carys' words, "is that an inconvenience for you?"

Carys' eye twitched before she marched straight for Cobb. The fisherman didn't flinch or draw a weapon, but only because Carys was unarmed. The Angel of Death stopped right in front of Cobb and stared him down. Beginner and Paragon alike held their breath as the tense silence stretched on.

Suddenly—so fast it was a blur—Carys' fist shot forward. Cobb flinched, despite the blow shooting over his left shoulder, clearly not intended to hit him. The displaced air rustled his clothes and hair, but Carys never laid a hand on him. Then, two fingers extended from her outstretched fist and she, very delicately, reached down to pinch something off of Cobb's hoodie. She retracted her arm and held up her fingers, showing what she had pinched between them.

"Bit of dust." She explained, grinning smugly at how she startled him. She gave the dust a contemptuous flick before turning on one heel and strutting back to her Paragons. "I believe we're done here. Now if you can just point us to the exit...?"

While Floyd demonstrated the slime block process involved with leaving the Inhouse, I spared one last look to Cobb and Lenz. Cobb was glaring daggers at Carys' back and seemed to ignore whatever Lenz was trying to whisper to him. I thought on Cobb's distant expression and his general mental state following Jade's betrayal, silently wondering if he and Lenz could keep their wits about them while surrounded by Paragons.

"Move it." Anibal hurried me along and blocked Cobb from sight. It was the last I'd see of him for quite a while.

---

[Lenz]

It was while Carys' half of the 'alliance' was filtering out that Baltic approached Cobbert.

"King_Cobb." He spoke professionally. "My name is BalticSkies, Head of the Paragons' Potion and Attrition unit, Team Beta. With your permission, I'd like to discuss our travel route to Oak Docks as well as go over the combat prowess of the Paragons Carys left you. I think you'll find that we can handle any—"

"Don't talk to me." I winced at how callously Cobbert shut the old man down. He walked away from a stunned Baltic, the dismissal clear, and returned to his room without another word.

That left me alone in a room full of Paragons. I gave an audible gulp, but that only seemed to draw everyone's attention like a magnet.

Oh, Cobbert, why have you abandoned me?

"What an asshole." Perry complained loudly, his voice chasing Cobbert away. "Who needs him. This just makes it easier for you to be in charge, Baltic."

Baltic watched the door Cobbert slammed behind him and shut his eyes tiredly. "I suppose it does…"

He then turned his attention to the large map of Minecraftia on the notice board. The seven other Paragons gathered around to see better, and I was left on the outskirts. Fortunately, my exceptional eyesight made it a small concern. I watched as Baltic touched the point of Ringwood before tracing his finger east.

"We'll travel to Daymonte, first." I felt a small thrill of excitement over returning home. "Part of the Ringwood-Daymonte Cross-Kingdom Railway has already been constructed, so we can hitch a faster ride three-quarters of the way over. We can go on foot from there, rent horses, or take boats down the Kawa River."

My heart started to hammer in my chest at the mention of boats. I knew it was only a matter of time with us going to Oak Docks, but if I could put off touching the water for as long as possible, I would. I kept my voice calm as I raised my hand.

"A-Actually, instead of boats, I have a faster mode of transportation with ender p—"

"When we want your opinion, we'll ask for it, nerd." Perry shut me down instantly. The way he called me 'nerd' was not like the way Soul called me. It was not friendly or joking. It was disrespectful.

"Yeah, just sit back and keep your mouth shut. You might learn something." The man named Dwight—a man with long, sand-blond hair, brown eyes, and a snub nose—remarked just as disrespectfully.

I stammered for words but went largely ignored as Baltic kept making plans for the journey. Plans that Cobbert should have been a part of. Instead, the fisherman left the task to Baltic and stayed sequestered in his room.

I silently listened as Baltic outlined the villages we would stay in and the general route we would have to take to avoid Endward Cult spies. I was not even aware the cultists had spies outside of AceOfJades, but apparently the Paragons were. Despite the lack of an airship, they knew how to swiftly travel under the radar. I deferred to their experience on the matter, but I knew I could cut our travel time through my ender pearl cannon. I just had to speak up.

…Speaking up was never my strong suit. Faced with so many strangers I was not comfortable with, I reverted back to my old ways. It was just like that time I traveled with all those meatheads to Daymonte so many years ago. I wanted to curl in upon myself, act as small as possible, and not be noticed.

I really wished Cobbert was there to say something. He could speak up whether the Paragons listened or not. And he would hear me out. He could even vouge for my ender pearl cannon.

Instead, I was back to when I first spawned. Surrounded by intimidating thugs who cared not for what I had to say.

Back then, I had to use the thugs to fight my battles while I ran to live another day. Would this be the same?

---

[Soul]

"Where are they off too?" I scowled, pointing to Carys, Z7, and a handful of others as they split off from our group. We just reached the plateau after returning from the Northern District.

"She's got important meetings elsewhere." Anibal waved one hand. "Don't mind her. We need to prep supplies anyway." She then turned to Noman with a grin, throwing one arm over his shoulder and pulling him close. "Say, how's about you tell me some more details about the nine artifacts?"

"A-Ah, you're interested in them?" Noman tried to shrug her off to no avail. His cheeks heated up at the close proximity.

"You better believe I'm interested! I've heard the legends and I just love rare weapons!" Anibal laughed. "The name's Anibal. Anibal_Whiteclaw. I'm the head honcho of Team Gamma. That's the Theft and Arms unit." At the word 'theft' Noman quickly grabbed one of Anibal's questing hands before it could reach into his backpack for an artifact. Her other hand, however, came away with Noman's Artifact List, which she perused leisurely. "Wow, they're all here in such detail! Herobrine really went all out. I think my personal favorite is the Arcticum Arma. Whoa there!"

She danced out of the way as Noman tried to swipe the list back. Floyd and I were about to force the issue when Kalmarin snatched it himself and delivered a swift chop to the back of Anibal's head for her antics.

"Quit fooling around." He admonished before handing the list back to Noman. His gaze went to Floyd for a second—the two Hackers sizing one another up—before turning to the Southern District. "It's as Anibal says, though. We better stock up on supplies. Carys'll have us heading out before the day is done."

"Don't mind Kal. He doesn't like introducing himself." Anibal rubbed at her head. "He's in charge of Team Alpha, the Combat and Offensive unit."

"You have enough people for separate units?" Floyd asked.

"Well, we are one of the Big Three." Anibal smiled. "I suppose compared with a small-time guild like the Beginners, it does seem overwhelming to think about."

"Huuh?" Soul growled, jutting his chin out. "Who you calling small-time? If you heard all the things we accomplished the last few months, you'd be showing us the proper respect."

"Carys not killing you straight away is the proper respect." Kalmarin answered coolly, his reply making us tense. "Your leader must be something to keep a Hacker in line. Unfortunately, he doesn't hold a candle to Carys."

"He doesn't keep us in line. We're friends." Floyd shot back. "Equals."

Kalmarin smirked. "Looks like you've fallen into the same pitfall I have. Guess that means you don't have Regen either."

Floyd recoiled at the insinuation, realizing Kalmarin had the same knowledge the Hack Clan possessed about how Hacks associated with emotions and the mental state. He had the same knowledge, yet he was working for the Paragons? What was his story?

Whatever it was, he didn't feel like sharing. Instead, he took some of the other grunts to go gather supplies from the ruined markets. Floyd hesitated for a second before tagging along. He needed supplies too, after all.

Noman and Anibal followed after them—the latter pleading with the former to borrow the Bottes Zephyr and fly around. Noman kept his distance and his eyes on Anibal's wiggling fingers.

As for me, I had to swing by an old friend for a little chat.

---

Behind the haybales of the Granger Barn. Down the secret ladder. Into the base of the Silver Intent. Cara and Brett were there. Good.

I greeted them with a wave and Cara dropped everything to give me a warm hug. "Soul! You're back! It's so good to see you. What's it been, like, three months?"

"Something like that." I smiled genuinely at her. My smile held as I turned to Brett. "Sir." I nodded stiffly.

"Soul. I'm glad you made it back. Though I wish it were under better circumstances." The silver-haired man referred to the state of Ringwood. Over by the bulletin board of wanted cultists, I saw he added Jade and Ember's full names to the list beside posters of 4Blite, Teal, and Leadstripe. No Snow Prints for Ember or Jade, but they were likely coming from Lazuli in a matter of weeks.

"How was your mission in Akasha?" He asked.

"It was…" I was about to say 'good', only to remember how bad everything had been when I fled on horseback. Ringwood was still recovering, so there was no guarantee the Kingdom would hear about Akasha's fate. I paused for only a second before deciding to stick with what they sent me out for. "The cultist arrests were only half-genuine. You know the ACC? Well, their boss, Councilman McGahn, was framing citizens as cultists whenever they tried to oppose his laws."

"Oh, Notch!" Cara gasped, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. "That's deplorable!"

"It is." I nodded, my gaze never leaving Brett's. "What kind of man lies to his subordinates to further his own ends?"

Brett blinked back, calmly. "Perhaps a man who was thinking about the greater good. From what I heard, McGahn worked tirelessly to appease the Hack Clan. He had to for the sake of his Kingdom."

I narrowed my eyes, moving forward to place my hands on Brett's desk. "He manipulated Captain Obsidian into killing and torturing a lot of innocent people suspected as cultists. The ends don't always justify the means."

"I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on the matter." Brett answered back. His face perfectly serene.

I narrowed before deciding to just go for the jugular. "I went to Zeppil with Floyd as well."

Cara gave a start. "Floyd? Floyd's a—!"

"A Hacker. I know." I cut her off, my gaze resting solely on Brett and his impassive frown.

"What do you mean you knew? Soul, he killed three Silver Intent members!" Cara exclaimed. "He riddled them spikes without any kind of warning! He unleashed that power without once thinking of his allies!"

"He made a mistake and he's sorry." I apologized on his behalf. "He's still trying to get a hang on his Hacker powers since he doesn't have the scumbag Hack Clan holding his hand through it. He's not like them. He never intended to hurt his allies. Unlike someone else in this room."

Cara raised a brow in confusion while Brett remained impassive.

"What do you mean, Soul?"

"I've been thinking, Brett." I growled. "I've been thinking about how you wanted me to go to Akasha and insisted you wanted Floyd to go to Zeppil. I've been thinking why the mission in Zeppil was a false alarm—there was no assassination attempt by the Endward Cult. No hint at a return of the cult's Southern Division."

Brett blinked back, his tongue wetting his lips nervously.

"I've been thinking about how you had Cobb target that Endward Cult outpost without concern for his safety. I've been thinking about how you knew he and Floyd were friends. I've been thinking how you knew the two would go together to Zeppil, and I've been thinking about how Carys_Angel jumped us completely by surprise there. She would have had us—she had everyone accounted for—except for Noman… and ME."

Brett sunk a little lower in his chair while Cara put the pieces together beside me.

"But most of all," I growled in the back of my throat, "I've been thinking about something you once said. About how you would do anything to have the Angel of Death backing you. To join forces with the Paragons in a united front against the Endward Cult. You'd sacrifice anything for that." I leaned forward a little bit more. "Even your own allies."

Brett shut his eyes, his throat struggling to swallow. "…It was the only way, Soul—"

My hands were on his collar before he was through, yanking him out of his chair so that his knees scraped against the table and his face was inches from mine. Cara looked betrayed at the implications, not even going to Brett's defense.

"You sold us out to Carys." I snarled dangerously.

"It was only Cobb and Floyd. You were never meant to be there."

"Those are my friends, you cocksucker!" I dragged him off the table and slammed him into the notice board, his face right beside our other enemies. "We almost died!"

"Wing and Luis approached me." He stammered. "They followed Cobb here but showed interest in the Silver Intent's information network. When they proved they were Paragons, I-I had to seize the opportunity!"

"You made up a fake mission to get Floyd to Zeppil, knowing Cobb would follow!" I accused. "You were just going to let Carys work them over! You gave Floyd that mission without batting an eye!"

"And in exchange, the Angel of Death agreed to include us in her information network." Brett thought that would override all the bad, but it didn't even come close. "We have an 'in' with the Paragons now! We can finally make a difference in the fight against the cult! You should be grateful! How much have you admired the Angel of Death and her brutality? Now, we have her in our corner!"

"If any one of them died, I'd be splitting you in half with my axe." I threatened, half-reaching for my weapon. I let it go with a growl, dropping Brett so that he slid down the wall. "You can consider this my resignation from the Silver Intent. The Beginners have a better retirement plan and they're not reptilian sell-outs like you."

I made to leave, but Brett called out.

"Sacrifices have to be made, Soul. You can't win a war without them." He huffed.

"You crossed the line. You Jaded us."

"There are no lines that can't be crossed when it comes to victory." He argued. "The Endward Cult didn't think so. Did you know that they instigated a feud between two neighboring villages in Exter? They kept slaughtering civilians and then planting their Heads and belongings in people's homes. It got to the point where both villages waged war on one another in a brutal conflict where only a few survived."

"Then the Endward Cult swooped in and mopped the rest up." He declared savagely. "All but one. One alchemist who used his potions to escape with his life and dedicate his life to avenging his fallen village. No matter the cost."

I spared a glance to the one alchemist who survived. The Silver Intent he built wasn't as impressive as a guild like the Paragons, but he built it with his blood, sweat, and tears. If he saw an opportunity to advance his influence and deal a bigger blow to the Endward Cult, he'd take it. No matter the cost.

"…There's more than one kind of right." I spoke coldly before climbing up the ladder and leaving the Granger Barn.

I returned to my house and cleaned out all my belongings. It was the Silver Intent's and I didn't want to owe them anything. Once I had everything that mattered, I stored it in my ender chest with the intent of taking it to my room in the Inhouse later.

When I got back with Noman and Floyd, I told them everything about Brett and the Silver Intent. Floyd was visibly angry if his Hacker smoke was any indication, but I calmed him down so the Paragons wouldn't think he was about to attack. Noman, who didn't know about Brett but knew about the Silver Intent, looked disappointed to hear of the silver-haired man's betrayal.

Fuck Brett. He could take his sob story and shove it up his ass. Nothing was worth betraying your friends.

That's why the three of us were going to hunt down Jade.

We'd track her down and kill her for what she did to Cobb. Floyd was one-hundred percent on board, though Noman was still reluctant about any killing. Imprisonment would be better, he said. Let her live with her mistakes, he said.

"Well, is she believes in that Next Life crap, she can live with her mistakes in the Next Life." I reasoned quite sensibly.

We'd ask any cultist we encountered en route to Exter. One of them would have a lead on the green-haired snake. Hell, the Paragons might even help if it meant taking out the Lieutenant that exposed Carys' identity.

And wasn't that the biggest irony? That despite Brett trying to sell us out to Carys, we were now working beside her in an alliance, closer than the Silver Intent would ever get. So close it was dangerous.

Regardless, after what happened with Jade and Brett, trusting people was the furthest from my mind. I wouldn't trust the Paragons with my life. Neither would Floyd or Noman. No, the only ones we could trust were each other. That's why there were no secrets between us.

Well… almost no secrets. I'd keep what happened in Akasha to myself. Floyd and Noman didn't need that burden right now.

---

[Wynn]

The meeting with the envoys of Nitebane would take part in one of the tents on the plateau, far enough away from prying ears and eyes. Veronica was the only one I trusted to be there with me for it.

I tried to feign shock when Carys_Angel presented herself to the meeting, flanked by a handful of Paragons. The effort was wasted, however.

"Drop the act, Captain. I know you and Cobb are close and that he's likely informed you about my connection with the Paragons and Nitebane. You'd be interested to know he accepted the alliance." Just like that, the Angel of Death set the mood and proved she wasn't unintelligent. I schooled my features back to neutral and listened attentively. "He sees the merit in falling under my protection. As should Ringwood."

"What's your proposal?" I asked, already having an idea based on the hints she was dropping.

"I'll keep this short and sweet. I want Ringwood to consolidate what's left of its forces and join in an Inter-Kingdom alliance with Nitebane and Zeppil." Carys nodded to Veronica. "While I'm at it, I wish to extend the same offer to Daymonte. Together, the four Kingdoms could become a massive superpower—a dominant presence in the east."

It took a few moments to compose my thoughts. Ever since the founding of the Kingdoms, it had always been an unspoken rule that all ten were on the same side. Whether against Mobs, bandits, or Griefers. Then, when Nitebane fell and the Endward Cult rose to power, they had been added to that list of common enemies. Not the Hackers, though. The Hackers were to be feared and avoided.

Kingdoms never waged war on one another. If they had, Inter-Kingdom alliances would have cropped up eventually. Sure, some Kingdoms were friendlier than others or else working together with a shared goal in mind—Ringwood and Daymonte or Jolin and Oak Docks to name a few—but there had never truly been an alliance like what Carys was suggesting. Four Kingdoms combining their manpower and resources had never been done before.

I considered her words carefully before speaking. "You want an alliance of Kingdoms? I imagine you have a certain foe in mind."

"The Endward Cult." She nodded. "They're growing more dangerous and bolder by the day. Their Northern Executive saw fit to reveal herself and lead the attack. You experienced firsthand how dangerous she can be."

That was one way to put it.

"We need to join forces now if we want to stop them." Carys continued. "There's not a Kingdom out there that hasn't been wounded by the Endward Cult in some way. If they witness four Kingdoms joining hands and declaring war against them, they'll follow suit and we can unify all of Minecraftia under a common enemy."

"Crafters already oppose the Endward Cult." Veronica pointed out.

"But they don't actively seek them." Carys clarified. "The guards are trained, but the sheeple—ah, the civilians—that inhabit the Kingdoms devote their time to softer occupations. Mining, trading, crafting, redstone, building. How much different would the Tragedy of Ringwood have been if the populace were trained and equipped to defend themselves? Every citizen in Nitebane is learning the skills to put them on par with one of my Paragons. I want the same for every Kingdom."

"You're saying you want to turn every citizen into a soldier." I surmised.

"During the Stigmata Wars, King Zipshin drafted every citizen in Exter to repel both the Hackers and the Stigmata threatening them. He succeeded in driving them back at the cost of his life." Carys nodded respectfully. "This is a similar situation. Minecraftia is threatened by the Endward Cult and the Withers they possess. Unless we elevate the average combat ability of all Crafters, we're sure to face similar tragedies but on a larger scale."

"…You're not wrong." I conceded. "If every Crafter had the same level of training as guards, they'd stand a better chance against Mobs and cultists. Furthermore, they'd be able to cope with difficult situations."

"The Paragons' training is of a higher caliber than what the guards are taught." Carys boasted. "I can assure you of improvement with a sword and bow within a few short weeks at the hands of our skilled instructors."

"You should know, however, that the Kingdom's population has been gutted." I spoke bluntly. "Even if we were to consolidate, I'm not sure our forces would be much of an addition to your alliance. We were even considering sending refugees to Daymonte."

"The main Capital Kingdom is only about half of any Kingdom's population. Your villages are still whole and untouched. Ringwood isn't dead yet." It had to be a coincidence that she used Miles' personal mantra. Not Dead Yet. It filled me with a dull ache, but I stamped it down to hear Carys out. "And we'd be willing to offer aid to help the Kingdom get back on its feet."

"Same with Daymonte." Veronica supplied. "You have allies if you want to rebuild, Wynn."

"I know, Veronica." I smiled to her, but dropped it upon turning back to Carys. "What I don't know is what it'll cost."

The Paragons behind Carys stiffened, but Carys remained calm as she outlined her demands.

"Ringwood is without a monarch, most of its Captains, and the entirety of its council. In exchange for Nitebane's aid, I propose you allow some of my handpicked Paragons to apply for the vacant positions. Two Captains, four councilmen, AND the opportunity to stake a claim to Ringwood's monarchy."

"You can't." I said immediately. The Paragon with the long, purple hair and the scarred face narrowed her eyes at the refusal. "No one would accept a Paragon as a monarch. Captains and councilmen are one thing, but there'd be no claim to the throne. It would be the same as letting a stranger rule us."

"It's unprecedented," Carys allowed, "but not fantastical. With Captains and a council, you can elect a new monarch and work from there. There'd be plenty of candidates—yourself included. I'm just asking for one of my people to be considered for the role. Whether they're picked or not is up to the populace to decide."

Never mind that a candidate from Nitebane would already have a swell of support following the charitable and timely aid. Resources and troops would buy the people's approval.

Still…

"I'm not entirely convinced." I said, folding my arms.

Carys shrugged. "I've outlined my terms and I feel like I'm being more than generous. A little influence in Ringwood in exchange for Nitebane's support."

"Oh no. I agree. You're being completely reasonable." I hurried to assure. "I see the appeal in joining hands in an alliance against the cult. You're right that the average Crafter needs to learn how to fight on an advanced level."

"I'm glad you agree."

"However," I said, "I wonder if you're as sensible as you sound."

"…Excuse me?" She asked, her voice dangerous.

"Where was this Carys_Angel when she sent out Snow Prints for two innocent Ringwood Citizens and led all of Minecraftia on a wild goose chase?"

Carys' crimson eyes took on a sharp glint. "They were hardly innocent."

"They weren't cultists either."

"Didn't Ringwood make up one of the posters for Lenzington? I had no hand in that."

"He was only hunted because Cobb and Floyd were hunted." I shot back. "So you very much had a hand in it."

"And you had a hand in my wanted status, Captain." Carys narrowed her eyes. "Oh, yes. I remember how you and I fought and I handily trounced you. You made me a wanted criminal when my only crime was wiping out cultists."

"There was no evidence that those innocents you killed were—!"

"Of course there wasn't evidence! None that the guards would ever see. But I saw their handiwork. I saw what they did. They were cultists, and I wasn't about to let them go just because I didn't want to waste time on due process."

"You can't just dole out vigilante heroism like you own the place." I scowled. "This isn't Nitebane, where you can just call anyone a cultist and watch them get hunted down. Cobb might never be able to show his face in a Kingdom again."

"Why do you care so much for an immature newb?" Carys accused. "Or are you after his heart? You might have a chance considering he's on the rebound after his last girlfriend betrayed him."

"We're good friends and that's all there is." I spoke firmly. I wasn't going to get baited into her juvenile taunts. "And you think him immature? He accepted your alliance despite you trying to kill him and his friends. That shows he's more mature than you."

"And, by extension, more mature than you." Carys countered coolly. "For he would never jeopardize talks of aid over a meager friendship. You've angered me, Captain Wynn, and I don't like cutting deals with those that angered me." Carys narrowed her eyes further. "One-thousand sets of diamond armor will be added to the list of demands." Veronica and Wynn balked. "You better hope there are some blacksmith Testificates to trade with because there aren't enough diamonds in the world to fulfill my demands."

I swallowed my protests and held out a hand to stop Veronica from doing the same. Carys would only make more demands if we argued. And, as much as I hated to admit it, Ringwood needed Nitebane's aid. It would be different if Mann were here. He'd be able to negotiate something more appealing. As it was, I had no choice.

"…I accept your terms." I sighed, reaching over the table and shaking her hand to make it official. "Give me a list of the Paragons you want approved and for which positions and I'll see it done. The diamond armor might take longer…"

"It's October now, right?" Carys asked. "I'll give you until the end of the year." I scowled at the short timeframe but accepted with a curt nod. It could be done. We just needed a lot of emeralds. Using the gear of the fallen, we could probably amass enough through trading with the Testificates. It would only cost, roughly, about sixty-six thousand emeralds.

Ugh.

Maybe we could trim the cost by finding some diamond gear lying about.

"Well then, this has been a productive discussion." Carys smirked, pushing herself out of her seat. I remained seated. "I'll send over a list with the recommended Paragons. As for aid, I'll send out a message to Nitebane to bring over troops and supplies. It'll get here in around two or three weeks. In the meantime, you'll have to rely on Daymonte to repel the Griefers."

"We can handle that." Veronica nodded. "AND we won't gouge Ringwood for it."

Carys shrugged indifferently. "Pass on my call for an alliance to King Rotjes if you would?"

"Can't do it yourself?"

"I'm not going that way." Carys answered vaguely before filing out with her Paragons. "Good luck, Captains."

After they were gone, I lowered myself into my chair, wondering how I could amass enough diamond gear in two-and-a-half months.

"I can't believe you agreed to that." Veronica noted.

"I didn't have a choice. Daymonte's aid alone won't be enough. And if Cobb is willing to suffer an alliance with Carys, then I can too."

Veronica hummed in assent before pausing for a moment. "Wynn?"

"Yes?"

"I just want you to know… I'm not into raven-haired girls. I prefer your ivory locks and amber eyes to Carys' black and crimson. She hasn't swayed me."

"That's not… ugh, thanks." I gave up.

"But that purple-haired chick with the scarred face and the cold, black eyes?" Veronica said next. "Oooh, chills! She's got that mysterious, cool-girl look down pat. Even if I can't pronounce her name."

"Veronica. Stop."

"I'm still into you!" She was quick to assure, much to my chagrin. "But, I mean, you might have some competition. I wouldn't mind allying with Nitebane if it meant seeing more of that cool beauty and her exposed midriff."

"Why don't you hit on her then and spare me your misguided affections?" I shot back before sitting up. "I need to get ready to say my goodbyes to Erin."

---

[Baltic]

We never left the Beginners' secret base. The Inhouse, they called it. We stocked up on supplies separately from King_Cobb and Lenzington—the former maintained a cold distance from us—but we decided to sleep in the security of the underground base. It hadn't been King_Cobb's decision, but he made no move to protest it. Neither did Lenzington.

I would have to ask them later about their combat ability and talents. Hopefully by then King_Cobb would be more open with conversing with us.

I was honestly surprised Carys sent me with him. I was more an advisor, though I could fight and knew potions like the back of my hand. I wasn't as formidable as Kal or Anibal or Z7, but I was wiser. Years of surviving Minecraftia would do that to a Crafter.

I did think King_Cobb had a point, however, about the uneven sides. We were short-handed for a group aiming for the Eastern Division of the Endward Cult. I thought Carys made a mistake.

Until Z7 and three of her elite assassins returned under the cover of night. Team Epsilon. The Covert Ops, Stealth, and Assassination unit.

They approached me quietly, their attention on King_Cobb's room where noises could be heard. He refused to sleep and lower his guard, thinking he was surrounded by enemies. Or maybe it was something else. Either way, it wouldn't do to have a conversation that King_Cobb might overhear.

I whispered as much, but one of the assassins merely handed over a book signed by Carys. After that, they silently exited the Inhouse the same way they came in… though Z7 took a small detour to the kitchen before leaving last with her arms full of cake.

I sipped a Potion of Night Vision so I could read better.

[Baltic]

[I didn't abandon you to a suicide mission with a pair of wimps. Z7 and her team of assassins will covertly accompany you to Oak Docks. They are under orders not to be seen by Cobb or Lenzington. They will observe you at all times and will only reveal themselves and intervene in case of emergency or should Cobb break the alliance.]

[I don't believe for a second that he would willingly join forces. Having Z7 tail you is as much to test his loyalty as it is reinforcements against the Eastern Division. Separating him from the rest of his friends will provide a subtle warning for him not to step out of line. If he tries anything that would endanger you, your team, or this mission, kill Lenzington on the spot and apprehend Cobb. Contact me via our linked maps if there are any developments I should be aware of. In this way, we can have half the Beginners assist us, even if the other half works against us.]

[We'll see just how much Cobb is willing to work together.]

[There's more. Since you are traveling east, close to Nitebane, there's a good chance bounty hunters will crop up to apprehend Cobb or Lenzington. If so, you have my permission to let them be captured. Cobb and Lenzington will be imprisoned in Nitebane—right where I know where to find them—and your team can continue to Oak Docks without them. Take their linked maps so our group of Beginners won't suspect anything. I doubt they've bothered to learn Morse Code or how to send map messages, so it shouldn't be much of a problem.]

[You might think it cruel of me to allow them to get captured, but I'm sure Cobb is already contemplating how to stab me in the back. This way, I can hit him before he hits me. And I'll use his forces better than he ever could.]

[Good luck, Baltic. You're going to need it.]

[BURN AFTER READING.]

[-Carys_Angel]

I did as commanded, burning the book and burning its orders into my brain. I was satisfied that Carys had sent backup, but I was disturbed by how distrustful she was of King_Cobb right away. This alliance gave new meaning to the word, 'rocky'.

But even if the alliance was on the rocks, Carys was right to be cautious. Based on King_Cobb's cold distance and callous dismissal, he wasn't too enthused about joining forces either. He was a cold, quiet man when Carys wasn't around to aggravate him. He refused to discuss anything, leaving it up to me to lead. All the Paragons saw how he acted.

If he wasn't going to cooperate, then maybe it was for the best he get locked away in Nitebane where he wouldn't cause any more trouble. If a bounty hunter came looking for him, I wouldn't stop them.

---

[Cobb]

I sat on my bed, a leather tunic in hand, as I rubbed the green dye onto it in slow, steady strokes. With each one, I replayed bits of information in my head. My brain working at optimum capacity, unhindered by softer emotions.

"Ember…"

'She's a better fencer than me. She wasn't even trying and was able to fend off two Captains. I caught sight of her EXP Level. It's… it's unreal, Cobb. She's at Level 105. I don't think she's ever enchanted anything in her life. She's just been stockpiling for however long she's been alive.'

'You can't win against Ember, Cobb. She's even stronger than Carys and she can see through lies greater than my own. She can read anyone like a book.'

'You can't fight her, Cobb. Please. If you have to listen to anything, listen to this. She was faster and stronger than me without trying, and that's with fighting two Captain-level opponents at once. She could have easily killed me like she did Showers. You don't stand a chance.'

"Carys…"

'I will stop at nothing to avenge Mr. Piggles and make you suffer for what you did to me.'

'The Paragons have the numbers, the military might, the organization, and the general superiority. Given enough time and information, the Paragons can prepare for any scenario. The only times we lose are when outside reinforcements intervene. Factors we can't account for.'

'You can't deny that she's been at this longer than we have. She's had the time to build up her forces. She's strong. I haven't fought her like you, so you probably have a better idea on that. But like it or not, we need the Paragons to destroy the Endward Cult once and for all.'

'Cobb, I know you're scared of her. I really do. But you need to shelf that fear, because there's only one way this can go with Carys. You have to kill her.'

I pressed more of the dye into the tunic until it was a solid green. Ringwood's colors.

…And the color of apple-scented hair.

I fell back on my bed, though I refused to shut my eyes and dream. My mind was a flurry of activity—a runaway minecart with no brakes. Already it was hard at work solving the riddles of my two greatest enemies.

"Lies…" I mumbled under my breath. "Stamina… Endurance…" I paused, glancing at my arm and the green, shimmering number representing my Level. "EXP…"

My thoughts wandered to a different conversation amidst a brutal, no-holds-barred fight.

'And your creativity! Oh, Herobrine, your creativity could make me swoon! You always find some ridiculous new way to fight! You always find a way around a problem! That's your strong point! But it's also your greatest weakness. Because it means your basic skills—the skills polished by the greats of Minecraftia—are sorely lacking!'

"Creativity…" I mumbled at the last before I sat up and double-checked what I grabbed from the market.

Sand. Plenty of sand.

---

[Obelisk]

When Entity 303 had the citizens of Akasha build the Obelisk, he wanted a place that his future brothers and sisters could call home. He wanted them each to have a room of their own with plenty of space and he made the deal with Akasha to provide them the food they needed.

He planned for the Obelisk to house around four-thousand of his brothers and sisters. He always thought long-term, figuring it would be better to have empty space than to try and magic up new space. The Obelisk extended down into the earth, reaching all the way to bedrock to ensure maximum occupancy. Sixty-four floors, sixty-four rooms to a floor (with exception to the top, sixty-fourth floor which had two rooms for Null and Entity 303 respectively). Considering they only had around two-hundred Hackers—about five percent of the Obelisk's housing capacity—most of the floors were empty (particularly the underground floors).

The Obelisk was meant to be a safe haven for Hackers, far away from the lesser mortals that breathed the same air as them. It was where freshly spawned Hackers could be taught about their powers in safety. No one dared approach the imposing stone monument that towered over the savannah. And if they did, they wouldn't live long.

Sdraw defied both expectations when he was allowed an audience with Entity 303 and Null. Other Hackers looked on in confusion while those that had been present for Sdraw's appearance explained what was going on. Boric was taken inside the Obelisk by Hannah while the meeting between Sdraw and the Hackers took place outside.

Food and drink were passed around to keep everyone awake (it was late, after all), but no one offered Sdraw anything. The Executive didn't seem bothered.

After the murmurs from the watching Hackers died out, Entity 303 let his voice be heard. "Count your blessings that we offer you our treasured attention. Our time is valuable, and the only reason I'm entertaining this is because you brought one of our lost brethren to us. Know that if I, for any reason, believe you to be a threat to my brothers and sisters gathered here, I will not hesitate to kill you where you stand. Do you understand these terms?"

Sdraw's eyes remained closed, but he nodded seriously.

"Then you may begin."

Sdraw folded his arms behind his back, channeling every tip and trick he knew for political speaking. It would be best to get the bad news out of the way.

"My name is Sdrawkcab, King of Exter." He spoke it for the benefit of the Hackers listening. "Secretly, however, I am the Executive of the Endward Cult's Western Division, and a student of Herobrine."

His words instantly set the crowd off. Some of them, who had been present when Herobrine approached them three-hundred-and-sixty-six years ago, recognized Herobrine as an existence that challenged the powers of Hackers. They remembered how Herobrine withstood attacks from 303 and Null with hardly a scratch. They also recognized that Herobrine's 'warning' about the artifacts was a way to manipulate the Hackers into taking out the original kings for him. He had made pawns of them all, and they didn't like that. The story had been passed down to every new Hacker that joined the clan so that everybody had reason to despise Herobrine and, by extension, his Endward Cult.

"I'm here to appeal to you for help." Sdraw continued, earning a couple of sneering jeers from the crowd. "We have common enemies in the form of the Billionths and Carys_Angel—more commonly known by her sobriquet, the Angel of Death."

The watching Hackers went quiet at those names, though their anger could be felt by Sdraw. King_Cobb had exposed Carys as Ocan and Urson's killer, and Cobb and Noman were responsible for the deaths of Alec and Winslow respectively. Sandra's death at the hands of Floyd would be a bigger can of worms Sdraw had to carefully open lest he anger his audience.

The Hackers were free to speak up. This meeting wasn't purely between Entity 303 and Sdraw. Everyone had a voice, so Thed_Hearst let his be heard.

"You say Billionths, plural. How can that be? No two Crafters have the same number." His distinction earned some murmurs of agreement, so Sdraw clarified.

"In our case, 'Billionth' is not restricted to a Crafter of a given number. It's more like a title, feared amongst the Endward Cult since the Billionth was prophesized to be the cult's undoing. However, the prophecy only refers to those called Billionth. Two Crafters fit that description. A Darker Billionth and a Lighter Billionth."

"And which of them was responsible for Halstatt?" Null asked. "Which of them foolishly challenged us?"

"Halstatt was the Darker Billionth's doing, but the Lighter Billionth earned your ire in a similar manner. It was him who slayed Winslow_Downes." There was an eruption of dissent from the Hackers, forcing Sdraw to go quiet.

"There's no evidence of his death!"

"Our brother had Regen! He was invincible!"

"This man is full of lies, brothers! We shouldn't suffer his voice any longer!"

Entity 303 held up his hand for quiet, his eyes staring out from his pale hood and watching Sdraw closely.

"How are you certain of Winslow's fate?"

"We had one of our Lieutenants infiltrate the Billionths group at great personal risk." He explained. "She heard who killed the Hackers as well as their connection to Bounty Days, which I will explain in further detail later. Her testimony regarding your slain brothers and sisters has been proved. I'm sorry to break this news to you, but Winslow_Downes and Sandradra both perished on the same day."

More roars of denial. Entity 303 had to glare people down to keep them in line.

"They both had Regen. How could they have died?" Null asked.

"Before, Herobrine warned you of eight artifacts possessed by the kings of Minecraftia." He waited for Null and 303 to nod. Some of the audience paused to stare at the artifacts in their possession: Arcticum Arma and Stivali Magma. "There was a ninth. Possessed by Notch and passed down to his successor, the Lighter Billionth. It's a diamond chestplate called the Severe Shield, and it possesses many powerful enchantments, including Thorns powerful enough to wipe out a Hacker's Health Meter in one shot." The silence was palpable as the Hackers digested the information. "So long as the Lighter Billionth has that chestplate, Regen is useless."

"Did Sandra die to the chestplate as well?" One Hacker demanded.

At this, Sdraw hesitated. "…Sandra died to another of the Billionth's group, but this information would greatly upset you. I implore you not to ask any further."

"What!? Don't keep shit from us!"

"Keeping Sandra's death a secret is tantamount to aiding and abetting her killer! You are to tell us what you know immediately!"

"I don't intend to be disrespectful." He apologized profusely. "But this information will upset many of you—"

"Don't presume you know our feelings! You may be a king, but you're merely a king of worms! You have no understanding of Gods! What could possibly upset—!?"

"It was Flawwed_Floyd, wasn't it?" Null guessed, his words silencing the incessant rabble in an instant.

Reluctantly, Sdraw nodded.

It was the only explanation for why he kept it a secret. The unspoken rule of the Hack Clan was that brothers don't kill brothers. Hackers could spar to train their powers, but never kill. Killing your own blood was the highest sin one could commit, and it'd never been done before Floyd.

Entity 303 was beside himself in rage. Smoke radiated off of him in large spurts, the destructive missiles firing off into the sky and spiraling to the ground far away from their meeting.

"Those worms… manipulating siblings into killing each other…" 303 growled/echoed. Many Hackers stepped away from his rage, but Sdraw saw an opportunity and spoke up without fear.

"I'm aware of the circumstances regarding your missing brothers and sisters. I'm aware that a Hacker neglected his duties and refrained from collecting your siblings when they spawned at the Origin Zone. The Hackers lost in the world—Floyd and Boric among them—have not been raised in the Hack Clan like many of you here. They've since adapted to a lower standard of living. Gods raised to be mortals."

"Our brothers and sisters are not ordinary men!"

"No, they're extraordinary, but they lack the encouragement of their family to believe in themselves." Sdraw clarified, making many of the audience pause in thought. "I say this for Boric's sake. He has been on his own without your presence. He didn't believe he had anyone looking out for him. He grew on his own and grew accustomed to life as a Crafter, which will only make it harder to accept his powers. There is a significant difference between joining the Hack Clan after spawning and joining the Hack Clan after living as a Crafter for several years."

"Boric won't just be nervous when he awakes, he will actively fear you." The statement had many Hackers—including Serafina—shrink into themselves. "He's learned of the Hack Clan's history from the Crafter's side—the side he thinks he should be on. He didn't believe me when I claimed he was one, and I daresay he wouldn't have come out here with me had I told him my full intentions. I had to conceal the truth to bring him here. That alone should tell you how he and many of the lost Hackers will perceive you. The same could be said for Flawwed_Floyd."

"Don't analyze us." Entity 303 growled/echoed.

"I'm merely offering my opinion."

"I never asked for it. I already know how to address lost brothers and sisters. I did so in the first few years of finding my family." He shut his eyes and got lost in nostalgia. "I had to be as unyielding as bedrock to earn their trust. I had to protect them from the dangers of this world and the worms seeking to manipulate them." His eyes opened to focus on Sdraw. "Always trying to manipulate…"

"Do you have names for the Lighter and Darker Billionth?" Null asked.

Sdraw offered a wry grin. "Would you believe me if I told you?"

"…Good point." Null tilted his head. "You could just lie and get us to kill anybody. Is that why you're only calling them Light and Dark?"

"I can't imagine why you'd want to risk yourselves going after them. I already told you Regen is useless—"

"Regen, perhaps, but not Invulnerability or Invincibility." Entity 303 noted.

Sdraw wanted to snark that only extended as far as their mindset believed they were invincible, but he held himself back. His instincts were telling him that outlining the Hackers' greatest weakness would be pushing too much. It would sound too much like he was calling them weak and it would result in his death. He could see the Dominoes.

Instead, he addressed a different topic. "I trust you all understand the risk the Billionths pose to your family, but there is a greater concern that could unite the rest of Minecraftia against you."

That earned some raised eyebrows. Minecraftia knew to fear the Hack Clan and never infringed upon their land. Nitebane and Akasha aside, the Hack Clan never really bothered anyone unless provoked.

"And what would that be?"

"The connection between Hackers and Bounty Days." Sdraw saw the confusion on many of their faces. Even 303 and Null. So they hadn't been aware of it. That was good. Jade's information was truly valuable. "Do you know what Bounty Days are?"

"We do." Thed_Hearst spoke up. "It's the swell of new information slamming into one's skull as the world adapts and evolves to contain it. Each Bounty Day brings new items, new Mobs, new food, new recipes, etc." The Hackers nodded in understanding, clearly having felt the intrusive burst of knowledge.

"How many Bounty Days have there been?" Sdraw asked simply.

A few Hackers counted on their fingers, but Null was quick to answer.

"Five."

"And how many of your brothers and sisters have been confirmed slain?"

303 and many Hackers had their eyes go wide at the insinuation. Many of them bolted out of seats, shouted, or else gnashed their teeth remembering those that had fallen.

Alec_Bishop. OcanDecagon. UrsonThePerson. Winslow_Downes. Sandradra.

Five.

"That can't be…" Null muttered. "It… it has to be a coincidence."

"It's no coincidence. Anytime a Hacker dies, a trail of smoke shoots out from their disembodied Head." Sdraw explained succinctly. "The smoke flies back to the Origin Zone where it swirls dormant before unleashing a Bounty Day exactly seven days later. This information comes from the Lieutenant we had infiltrating the Billionths' group. They uncovered this secret and understand that slaying a Hacker can trigger a Bounty Day."

"Lies!" One Hacker shouted. "PoulsenPowderkeg is still unaccounted for! He was sent to Nitebane to avenge Ocan and Urson. If he perished as well, there would have been a sixth Bounty Day!"

"I know nothing of any Poulsen." Sdraw admitted. "However, the Bounty Days have been proven to have a connection with Hacker deaths. If there has been no sixth Bounty Day, it is safe to assume that Poulsen is alive."

"What proof do you have?" Another demanded. "How can you—?"

"Enough." Entity 303 growled/echoed. "He is telling the truth. There is a connection."

"But… how can you be sure, brother?"

"The last four Bounty Days were in sets of two." He said. "Ocan and Urson in Nitebane. Winslow and Sandra in Akasha. The times correspond with the week-long dormancy. The connection is real."

"So then…" One of the Hackers—a newer one recently brought from the Origin Zone and without a handle of his powers—looked at his arms worriedly. "Minecraftia only evolves when we die? What… what does that mean for us?"

He looked at his brothers and sisters. Before, they had been eating beetroot soup, but now that they knew the foodstuff resulted from a brother's death, they tossed it aside or tried to induce vomiting to clear it from their stomachs.

Every new thing they enjoyed or saw in their visions came at the expense of Hacker blood. And it would continue to be like that so long as there were Hackers to die.

Many tried to shrug it off, internally telling themselves that they couldn't be killed. They were invincible.

And yet, five of their brothers and sisters who undoubtedly thought the same were now gone forever.

Sdraw watched carefully as a few Hackers' smoke diminished. Mind over matter, just as Jade reported. If they had doubts, they'd have weaknesses. Weaknesses that could be exploited as Floyd had done to Sandra. Their armor had chinks.

303 and Null, however, remained annoyingly impenetrable. The news affected them, but only in how it jeopardized the safety of their brothers and sisters.

"It is only a matter of time before the other Kingdoms learn of this Hacker-Bounty Day connection." Sdraw soldiered on, getting to the meat of the meeting. "They've already proven that you can be killed. How long before they try and pick you off to trigger more Bounty Days? How long before they post sentries at the Origin Zone and seek out Crafters with lines over their eyes?"

"I get the picture." 303 snarled/echoed. "What do you want? I don't believe you'd care about our security."

"The civilizations of Minecraftia have clung to this realm for two long. What do I want?" Sdraw asked rhetorically. "I want to liberate all present and future Crafters from this realm so that they can find a better hereafter in the Next Life. That's what I want."

"Wouldn't that include us?"

Sdraw smiled wryly. "I made a point to reference 'Crafters'. Unless, of course, you are likening yourself to them—"

"Absolutely not!" Null denied vehemently.

"Ah, then Crafters will suffice. Understand that the Hack Clan makes up ten-thousandth of a percent of the Crafters that have spawned. Leaving you here makes little difference. Furthermore, I can't guarantee you'll have your unique powers in the Next Life—such a thing may only be tied to Minecraftia and not your souls. I can't imagine you'd go for such an unattractive future."

"What of the Griefers?" 303 asked suddenly.

Sdraw quirked an eyebrow, confused. "What about them?"

The confusion was shared by many of the Hackers. 303 always had a soft spot for the Griefers, but at the end of the day they were still worms. Lesser worms. The bottom feeders of Minecraftia. Even the Jibbermen ranked higher as they were smart enough to craft things. Griefers lacked the intellect or drive.

"I see." 303 growled/echoed, though what he saw, he wouldn't say. "So you want our help to wipe out the Kingdoms?"

"Among other things, yes." Sdraw nodded. "Even your help to exterminate a few key Kingdoms would benefit us and strike fear into people's hearts. It'd serve to warn them off trying to trigger Bounty Days. Also, admittedly, we were hoping you could eliminate Carys_Angel. She's been a thorn in our side for quite some time."

"And the Billionths?"

"I ask you leave the Billionths to us." Sdraw assured. "They have… something we need, and I'd not ask you to throw bodies at the Severe Shield."

"We've already sent a group to Nitebane." Null spoke. "We did so after learning about Carys, intending to find out Poulsen's fate at the same time. They'll decimate her Kingdom and settle things, so I wonder what we need you for?"

The question had been an insult as well as a subtle threat. They would kill Sdraw unless he had something worth keeping him around for. Fortunately, he had a prepared response.

"I am aware of the two Hackers you sent." Sdraw wiped the smirk off Null's face by addressing the exact number. "The Endward Cult has eyes everywhere. While you stay secure in one place, our cultists are free to travel to the furthest reaches of Minecraftia. We have a larger information network with underlings far superior to Griefers. I'm aware of your destructive force following the siege of Akasha, but I wonder if you've heard of Ringwood's fate at the hands of our Withers?" Sdraw gave an apologetic smirk. "Ah, but do you even know what Withers are? Nevertheless, don't presume you're the only ones who can decimate a Kingdom."

"Information and manpower." 303 reflected, rubbing at his chin beneath his pale hood. "And you can exterminate Kingdoms on your own?"

"Not as rapidly as you and your brethren." Sdraw threw out a compliment. "But with enough preparation, yes. We can also create Nether Portals to connect any two points in Minecraftia. You send your brothers and sisters with your Griefer armies to attack a Kingdom on the other side of the world. With our Nether Portals, such a journey can be undertaken in a day. You could waltz through a portal and step out right in the heart of Nitebane if you desired."

"And we'd only have your assurances that the portal doesn't open up outside the Border?" Null asked dryly.

"That would be the quickest path to an early grave and destroying any alliance I struggle to build." Sdraw countered coolly. "I know you think of me as lesser, but, if I'm allowed to boast, I consider my intelligence extraordinary. I wouldn't so stupidly throw away your trust with both hands. I'm here making this offer because we have common enemies. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say."

"This still seems like a better deal for you." Thed_Hearst piped up. "You may have the manpower, the portal transportation, and greater knowledge of Minecraftia's items, but we have the greater destructive power. We're the ones who'd do most of the fighting."

"We'd be fighting as well." Sdraw assured. "We have many skilled fighters to help."

"Do you think more of our brothers and sisters will die to Carys and the Billionths?" Entity 303 asked seriously. In the end, that's what it boiled down to for the protective man. If he saw them in danger, he'd do whatever it took to save them. Even if it meant killing every Crafter in Minecraftia.

…And taking back Floyd from the Billionth's manipulations.

Sdraw wetted his lips as he considered his answer carefully. "If you want your brothers and sisters to live forever, you must have them isolated here at the Obelisk. That is the only certainty in which you will remain safe. Out there, it might not be the Billionths or Carys. It could be others. It could be bad luck. It could be any of the things that resulted from the Bounty Days that even we don't know about. Your safety can only be guaranteed if you stay here forever." Sdraw allowed a pause before saying, "But there's always a chance the Kingdoms will strike first for a Bounty Day. And then maybe they'll get a weapon that'll be a match for you. A weapon like the Severe Shield."

"So in the end, this is the same ultimatum Herobrine gave us: Attack first or die." Entity 303 shook his head humorously. "One big circle. Down to how we heeded it."

Sdraw's ears perked. "Does that mean—?"

"Let me finish." Entity 303 growled/echoed. The Executive went quiet. "Herobrine made pawns of us. He made us do his dirty work in attacking the Kingdoms and killing the Kings. His 'warning' was a manipulation we fell for. I'm not foolish enough to repeat my own mistakes. You want our help, you're going to have to earn it. With servitude above and beyond what is to be expected. This alliance is going to start off entirely one-sided in our favor until I decide otherwise."

Sdraw considered his words before nodding.

"You mentioned you can find our lost brothers and sisters?" Entity 303 tilted his head in contemplation. "Well put your money where your mouth is. Deliver ten of our lost brethren here in thirty days."

Sdraw didn't betray any shock or frustration. He kept his eyes passively closed and his mouth tight. He was the master of his own emotions. Ten Hackers. Thirty days. He nodded to show he understood.

"Additionally," 303 went on, "as King of Exter, you should have no problem arranging monthly tribute for us. With Akasha gone, we need a new source of food, right siblings?" The Hackers guffawed collectively. "Food for two-hundred by the end of the month. No Bounty Day foodstuffs." He clarified to much assent from his brethren. "Am I understood?"

Again, Sdraw nodded. The food would be easier than finding ten Hackers, even with the month half over.

"And just so we're clear," 303 began with an echoing growl as he walked up and stared face-to-face with Sdraw from beneath his pale hood. "If you fail either condition, not only will Exter and your Endward Cult share the same fate as Akasha, but I will find you and deprive you of the Next Life you so fervently believe in. I'm not one to keep pets, but I assure you I'll make an exception, keeping you alive not only as long as possible, but as painfully as possible. Do you accept the terms of this 'alliance'?"

Sdraw kept his eyes shut as he regarded the Hacker. The threat was clear and the terms were next to impossible to fulfill and very one-sided. And yet, Sdraw could feel his heart pumping with excitement. For he had wheedled supermen into believing he had something they needed. Both sides recognized that the other had something of benefit, and that cooperation was necessary. Not since Herobrine had Hackers been swayed into action on such a scale. It would cost him, sure, but this was pushing him past his limitations. His soul would grow from this experience and it would forever be etched in every incarnation after Minecraftia.

There was no greater purpose than testing your limits. Expanding your experience. Nurturing your skills. The memory would fade, but his soul would always remember this moment.

And Sdraw could proudly proclaim he had negotiated with the Hack Clan.

He stuck out a hand and gave one of his charming, political smiles to seal the deal. "Shake on it."

---

[The Void]

"W-wh...hy...y..."

A feeble voice, weak from disuse, begged the smothering darkness for an answer to his suffering. His empty stomach was the only sound that replied, and his only response was the consistent feeling of pain as it felt like his body was being slowly ripped apart. Over and over again.

He had long since run out of food and water. He didn't pack much, but even if his whole Inventory had been full of food, it wouldn't matter. He would have run out eventually. After weeks... perhaps months of this unending torture. He didn't even know how much time had passed. Eternal darkness and suffering were his only hints on the passage of time. However many times his Hearts were ripped from him, only to refill instantly.

"I'm... invin... vinci...cible..."

He kept trying to reason why invincibility could be such a curse. Cast into the Void by his own powers, the Hacker could only rely on those same powers to keep him alive. His Regen fixed him whenever he wasn't hurt. But he got hurt every other second. And he was falling. He knew that. Falling deeper and deeper into the Void.

For PoulsenPowderkeg had doomed many Crafters in the same way. His Creative Control that could wipe out large tracts of land and banish worms to the Void beneath the bedrock. He had always felt a thrill of power whenever he stole the ground out from under them and watched them fall out of existence.

Now he envied them. Their deaths had been quick. No more than a few seconds of pain as the Void ripped them apart. Whereas he kept his body swathed in dark smoke, his Regen perpetually working to mend the damage being done by the Void.

The hope had been to manifest a Flight Hack and escape. But Poulsen had no inkling of which way was up or down anymore. He had fallen for so, so long. Suffered for so, so long. His stomach clenched tightly from the lack of food, starving him to death if his Regen wasn't fixing that too. He couldn't sleep lest he relax his powers and end up dead. His nerves were strained past madness, numb to pain that never ended. This was hell. And he couldn't fathom how this could have happened to someone as godly as himself.

Aren't Hackers the superior being? If I'm a Hacker, why do I suffer like this? I should be invincible with my powers. I should fear nothing!

Yet all the while, he continued to fall further and further into the endless Void. He was going mad from the hunger. Mad from the pain. Mad from the leaden drowsiness that tried to lead him to sleep like a lamb to slaughter.

He wanted it to stop. He wanted a way out. But he had nothing. No flight Hack and no way of telling where to go. Enduring was all he could do.

That wasn't quite right, though. After a while, he had come to realize there was another option available to him, but his desire to live had outwighed his desire to stop the pain, so he refrained from surrendering.

But as the pain continued, and the darkness and drowsiness encroached upon his sanity, the scales steadily began to tip for the Hacker.

He held out valiantly, desperately wishing for his brothers and sisters to save him, calling out for them in the darkness, pitifully. He cursed Kalmarin for doing this to him. He cursed his own powers for dooming him like this. His voice grew feebler and feebler still as his body was shreded anew, only to be fixed just as fast. He couldn't eat. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't do anything.

Why is this happening to me? What did I do that was so wrong!? I was trying to avenge Ocan and Urson! WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?

"WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?"

...

"I gi...ve..."

The tortured Hacker shut off his Regeneration Hack. The dark smoke, almost undiscernible from the Void, flowed back into his eyes as he could no longer stand the pain. His Hearts would no longer mend. His body was torn apart and he welcomed the sweet embrace of death. The promise of no more suffering.

PoulsenPowderkeg expired eighty-two days after getting dropped into the Void, approximately one-hundred-forty-one-million six-hundred-ninety-six-thousand blocks below bedrock.

And, following his death, a burst of dark smoke swirled around his discarded Head before shooting up through the Void, back towards the Origin from whence it came.

---

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green], 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 [Sweeping Edge III], 1 Banner {Beginners}, 64 Cobblestone, 64 Sand, 64 Sand, 64 Sand, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Bed, 5 Coal, 18 Flint, 12 Jungle Wood Logs, 48 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 16 Ender Pearls, 16 Ender Pearls, 64 Snowballs, 8 Ender Chests, 8 Obsidian, 9 Gunpowder, 64 Steak, 64 Steak, 15 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 30]

Inventory (Floyd): 1 Mob Head {Creeper}, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 2 Iron Ingots, 64 Steak, 64 Steak, 2 Sticks, 31 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 16 Ender Pearls, 2 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {6:00}, 1 Bucket, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 33]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Leather Boots [Dyed Brown, Curse of Binding I, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 1 Bed, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 48 Cobblestone, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Bow, 1 Bow [Infinity], 64 Arrows, 11 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 7 Ender Pearls, 64 Steak, 23 Steak, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}

[EXP: 15]

Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Iron Pickaxe, 64 Iron Ingots, 28 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 12 Gold Ingots, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate, 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, 32 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Armor Stand, 64 Steak, 14 Cooked Mutton, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}

[EXP: 27]

Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Green Shield [Beginners], 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Milk Bucket, 6 Buckets, 2 Cobblestone, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 5 Ender Chests, 16 Ender Pearls, 5 Ender Pearls, 1 Nether Star, 64 Steak, 3 Phantom Membranes, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple, 1 Diamond Helmet, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Diamond Leggings, 1 Diamond Boots

[EXP: 27]

---

AN: NEVER. SPLIT. THE PARTY.

Yeah, I'm having both groups split up. One goes to Oak Docks. The other goes to Exter. Of course, neither side is trusting the other. Same goes with the Endward Cult and the Hack Clan.

I touched on this a little, but Sdraw has a very interesting philosophy regarding Next Life. Since Crafters retain feelings and instinct from the world before the Void, Sdraw reasons that the soul will remember the experiences even if the mind does not. It's sort of like a reincarnation philosophy. He's just trying to make himself the best Sdraw he can be by testing his limits and becoming a political presence over and over. He's cutting his teeth on the Hack Clan, believing that even if he dies, he'll be able to learn from the experience and acknowledge he was not yet ready for negotiating with superhumans.

More Cobb and Carys pissing contests before I separate them. They'll still have chances to challenge one another. I'm hoping the comedy is shining through.

RIP Poulsen. Who's he you ask? Reread Chapter 100.

The next couple of Chapters will be part of an Arc I'm dubbing the Triplex Arc. You'll get why as the Chapters come out. I've a lot to set up. Things are accelerating for both good and evil, and these next Chapters will show it.

FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. POPTARTS.