AN: Alright! I'm actually feeling pretty good about the next six chapters. Part VII has lasted a bit longer than usual since I've dragged my feet for a lot of chapters. However, I can promise that Part VII will conclude on Chapter 236 before I'll take my scheduled hiatus break.
I'm genuinely excited for what I have in store. I don't usually enjoy writing for Carys' side, but I have since focused on that half of the characters to a point I'm satisfied with. Got a raise at work too, which I'm happy about.
Also, been playing Hogwarts Legacy. I'm playing it on Hard Mode because I wanted a challenge to keep me busy.
Enjoy the Chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add Revelio.
Chapter 230
Stacked
[Noman]
The choice was made. The plan was set.
Then why did I feel like I had been roped into something I'd rather not?
We called the others into the mansion after ensuring there were no enemies. Floyd looked disturbed upon learning of our planned attack on the Hack Clan's home turf. Nearly all of the Paragons (and Soul) looked eager at the prospect. The only exception was Kal. Though his worries were somewhat alleviated by Carys' proposed plan, he was as put off by the idea as Floyd. It was clear neither of them wanted anything to do with the Obelisk. I shared their worries for different reasons.
I didn't want a bloodbath. Not even for a pair of artifacts.
We stayed in the mansion for the night, Shiroyuki curling next to its frozen, half-naked master (whom I covered with a couple of banners in the interest of decency). The rest of us stayed in the vacated servant rooms and took care not to shatter the Crafters petrified in ice. We took turns on watch, and it was after I rotated with Kal and Floyd that I slipped out of bed, put on the Bottes Zephyr, and air-walked out of one of the numerous holes in the wall and into the night sky. It was frigid cold in the Lacquerlands at night, but I bundled up in my dark suit and soldiered on, my map held before me.
Based on his speed and bearings, Ciro would arrive tomorrow morning. That's why Carys was waiting in Tinker's mansion. I planned to intercept him on my own that night and convince him against Carys' bloody plan.
My flight path went straight for Ciro's blip under the light of the crescent moon. It was past midnight, which meant it was officially December now; Last month of the 500th year. Despite only being around for half of it, it had been a tumultuous and crazy year, and with crazier things coming before it was through. I didn't want that, though. I didn't want the year to end with an attack on the Obelisk.
How much of Carys' decision to attack was motivated by a lust for powerful artifacts? Probably zero. She made her disdain for the artifacts clear. She saw them as a crutch for the weak. She'd use them to thaw out Tinker and kill cultists, but that was only a minor factor. She wasn't doing this for my sake either. If anything, what was primarily motivating her towards this suicide mission was effectively a pissing contest between her and Cobb. Cobb's triumphs in Nitebane had upset her - made her and her achievements look weak in comparison. Attacking the Obelisk was a means to shut down Cobb's boasting and prove to her Paragons that she was the superior of the two.
What a load of cow poop.
It didn't matter to me who killed more Hackers. I was prouder of Cobb for sparing most than killing one. Life was precious, and Carys frivolously waging an attack on Hackers with the full intention of killing some was horrible. It couldn't be allowed to happen.
Hence, why I was trying to intercept Ciro. If I could get him on my side, we could both veto Carys' plan and prevent needless bloodshed. Carys wouldn't dare attack without Ciro and his Destierro del Palillo.
I almost cried in relief when I spotted the small airship in the sky. It was at a higher altitude but illuminated by the faint moonlight. I compared it with my map and confirmed it was Ciro's blip on it before ascending. I was right in its blind spot, so I made a mental note to announce my presence beforehand so my boarding wouldn't be a surprise.
As I took off the Bottes Zephyr and stepped aboard through a small doorway on the side, I came to realize how small this airship really was. It was a third the size of the Asmodeus with blue sails and two rooms: the engine room and the bridge. The engine room doubled as a loading bay, but it only had one measly furnace to place coal blocks in, and it couldn't have been larger than five-by-three meters. The small room was made even smaller by the stacks of double chests crammed in a corner and piled to the ceiling. A simple door separated the engine room from the bridge.
"Hello?" I announced my presence as I faced the door, though I didn't dare approach it. I felt the whole ship come to an abrupt stop while I steadied myself. "Ciro_Che? It's me. Noman." I raised my shield at the silence. "Please speak up if it's you."
There were faint footfalls before the door creaked open. A pair of mismatched eyes stared back.
The Millionth Crafter was just as I remembered him as he stepped into view. A billowing crimson trench coat with frayed edges at the tail. A black undershirt adorned with a white skull. Black jeans, red shoes, a white belt and a midnight-black backpack. Half of his face concealed by a black facemask. Heterochromatic eyes, one black and one grey. His black hair done up in his signature long ponytail. He was well-equipped as always, enchanted diamond armor and sword hanging off of him.
Ciro_Che held up a stick and a bow in each hand. "Show me yours if I show you mine?" He spoke through his face mask.
I scrambled to take out the Severe Shield and the Bottes Zephyr in response to his Destierro del Palillo and Yanhua Gong. I thought he'd be satisfied, but the former Ringwood Captain's mask wrinkled down in a barely perceptible frown.
"Was hoping you got one more." He sighed in disappointment. "Well, you at least deserve credit for not losing them-"
"I did get one more. Or rather," I added as his eyes snapped open, "Cobb did."
"...Which one?" Ciro's voice couldn't contain his excitement.
"The Vivlio Zythopoiias."
"Impossible. Trish had that one."
"Not anymore." I grimaced.
"She's dead, then?"
"Not dead. Just... floating in the heavens?"
"She's floating in heaven? What, like an angel? An obnoxious, self-entitled, bratty, dead angel?"
"No, no. She, uh, well..."
"I won't care if she's dead. Is she earthbound or six feet under?"
"She's currently in the clouds."
"Sounds like nothing short of dead."
"She was blasted with Levitation and sent floating up to the sky." I hastily explained. "That was four days ago, so she's not dead yet, but when the Levitation runs out-"
"It won't run out. Don't you know the Vivlio Zythopoiias' effects are infinite? Though this is the first I heard of a Levitation effect-"
"The effects do run out." I corrected. "Trish lied about their potency to appear more dangerous. Effects run out after a week."
"...Huh." Ciro scratched at his chest. "I mean, it's still potent, but I guess that rules out my idea of making the Executives suffer for all eternity." I wrinkled my nose disapprovingly before Ciro continued. "I figured Cobb came back to you guys from the map blips," he tapped the map at his belt, "but then I saw you split up? Cobb's with your group, right?"
"Cobb's in Nitebane." I explained.
"Then... how do you know he stole the artifact off Trish?"
"Hoo boy. There's a lot I need to fill you in on."
"Can't be that much." Ciro knelt down and sat on his legs, ready to listen. His arms parted his billowing crimson trench coat behind him so it wouldn't constrict his sides. I went for sitting cross-legged. "What's it been since Ringwood, six weeks? What can happen in six weeks?"
"More than you think." I sighed before launching into a lengthy retelling of our journey and our alliance with the Paragons.
[Floyd]
"Stupid question," I asked my fellow Hacker as we sat across each other in the ruins of Tinker's foyer. We were on watch duty. Our only other companion was the frozen servant by the door. "But how do you feel about Carys' crazy plan?"
"I think it's crazy," Kalmarin replied, his hat titled to cover his eyes, "but it has merit. Sandra and Winslow's disappearance - note I say disappearance as this was even before they confirmed they were dead - whipped the Clan into a fury the likes of which I've never seen. They razed Akasha to the ground in search of answers they never found. Now they'll know a Hacker passed in Nitebane. They'll come running - or flying - and try to do to Nitebane what was done to Akasha. The Clan's protective instincts are surpassed only by 303. They'll all come en masse and leave the Obelisk vulnerable. They wouldn't even consider anyone attacking their stronghold. We'll catch them off guard following Carys' crazy plan."
"So, you think it'll succeed."
"If Carys has put some serious thought into this, maybe. I mean," Kalmarin leaned back, "when we were planning Operation: Overshadow, we spent months preparing. We found out which two Hackers were in charge, I gave everyone a rundown of their Hacks and personalities, we looked into the skyscraper communities and had Jillian address them, Carys got herself a scythe to help combat Urson's KillAura, we positioned our Teams, we studied the layout of Lunar Castle, we trained and trained and trained. By the time we pulled the thing off, we were as prepared as we'd ever be." He pushed his hat up to look beseechingly at me. "Here, her strategy sounds more like rushing the Obelisk, hitting hard and fast. I won't deny we've amassed a serious fighting force with the combination of Hackers and artifacts, but this plan is devoid of her usual preparedness."
"I know what you mean. It feels more like one of our plans." I told him. "Cobb never spent more than a day on a plan - a consequence of always being hunted and never having the time. He has a rough plan, but he mostly plays it by ear and thinks on his feet, with others lending their strength to make it work. He's been getting better now that he's training for potential opponents and picking up skills - he absolutely dominated in Nitebane even with his rough plan - but I'll admit he isn't one to study floor layouts or make intricate schemes. He broke into the Berserkers' base the very next day to get me out."
"Yeah. Carys never usually initiates a plan without first verifying all the variables. Only once she has all the facts does she launch a surefire attack. It's like she's adopting Cobb's method, though don't ever tell her I said that. I only hope she has more up her sleeve if we're really doing this."
"I get why she's in a hurry, here. The upcoming Bounty Day will get the Hackers out of their stronghold. This is the one time they'd be vulnerable." I held up a finger to emphasize this. "I just don't think Cobb's way of doing things will work for her."
"The plan will work." Kalmarin made it clear. "It'll work now. I'm just worried Carys is neglecting the after. 303's love for his family - for us - is ironclad, but no one's ever pushed him this far. He's never had to make desperate choices while his siblings are picked off. What if, when he goes to Nitebane, he decides to cut his losses and erase the place - Cobb, Hackers, and all?"
"You think attacking the Obelisk might push him over the edge?"
I don't know. Again, 303's never been pushed this far. He never had to make a choice like this. To us, it's a simple matter of amputating an arm before the infection turns gangrenous."
"Or Cobb being told to choose between killing or sparing Jade." I noted with a degree of bitterness. Cobb never should have let her go, but I knew he had to be regretting it to this day. Jade was still out there doing who knows what for the Endward Cult. Aikido be damned, hers was a life neither precious nor worth sparing. Same with Spring_Fever. I could feel my MultiAura spines prickling under my skin at the thought of those two.
"I'm more nervous about returning there." Kalmarin revealed. "I vowed never to set eyes on that glorified nursery. Not after what Null took from me." He added somberly, his thoughts likely on his murdered girlfriend, Adina. "And here I am going back. I hate how Carys is making me go."
"I feel the same." I admitted. "You know, Thed tried to drag me there. Said I'd be better off surrounded by my own kind. I, of course, told him to shove it. Kinda funny how the one thing he had to do to get me to the Obelisk was to become a hostage." I hugged my knees close. "A part of me always feared going to that place. Innocent Hackers are brought there and made into uppity Gods. Brainwashed. They're unable to spare compassion or kindness to any other than their own kind." I shrugged a shoulder. "Scared that would happen to me."
"You won't lose sight of who you are." Kalmarin reassured me. "It's easier to sway someone when they're a blank slate. Freshly spawned from the Origin. I didn't think twice about being treated like a God until Adina smacked some sense into me." He smiled fondly as he remembered her before it morphed into a grimace. "I remember how much of a jerk I was too. It's still clear in my mind. If you have a clear vision of the Hack Clan's cruelty, that more than anything will help you stay a good man. You won't get brainwashed."
His words had the desired effect of reassuring me. A tiny smile slipped onto my face. "Thanks, Kalmarin."
"You can just call me Kal. Short and sweet."
"Sure, Kal." I nodded. "So, what did you do at the Obelisk anyway? It's so far out from civilization."
"Ah. You're right there." Kalmarin - Kal - scratched his cheek. "Let me think... we always had ample food on hand because of monthly tribute from Akasha, so we didn't need to hunt or farm or forage. Honestly, most Hackers were as unskilled as Griefers, though many took up the occasional hobby in their free time." He leaned back as he reminisced. "303 and Null would go out with hunting parties of Hackers and bring back books, ores, armor, lumber, or anything we asked. Especially Hannah and Serafina. Those two big sisters spoiled us rotten."
"We had Griefers as servants - slaves, more like - and they pretty much forgave anything we did to them out of reverence. And when I say anything, I mean the dark stuff too. The unmentionables." He shuddered noticeably. "The older clan members acted as teachers for new Clan members brought in by guys like me. They trained Hackers in Tempering or Evolving their Hacks, prioritizing some form of Regen or Invulnerability to stave off death. Teaching Hackers they were invincible gods was lesson one."
"Sometimes, when we were lacking in entertainment, the ones with Flight would bring in outside performers to enthrall us. One time, 303, Hannah, and Thed brought home the entire cast of a popular Lazuli musical and ordered them to perform for our amusement. Messing up a line is that much more stressful when it could mean life and death."
"That's terrible."
"Yeah, any performer would rather have rotten fruit thrown at them than Hannah's MultiAura missiles."
"Huh." His description left me baffled. "And nobody ever wanted to leave that place? It sounds kind of boring."
"To us, yeah. We know what outside civilization is like. We've been to kingdoms. Not these freshly spawned gods in training. They didn't have a taste of the world outside the Obelisk until they were firmly on the megalomaniac mindset. Though 303 never forced anyone to stay, most chose to live in comfort. Hackers were allowed to leave the nest once they'd proven themselves able to protect themselves. Ocan and Urson went to Nitebane to arrange their own little safe outpost for Hackers, so sometimes we had siblings visiting there. Alec was banished for his obsession with Command Blocks. The rest just visited other villages or else did as they pleased."
"I suppose the Kingdoms should consider themselves fortunate they weren't too badly terrorized." I remarked. After all, it seemed the Hack Clan cared little to police their brothers and sisters. They trained them to harness dangerous powers, then left them free reign to do what they wished. I still considered it a little weird how more Hackers didn't just set off on their own. Just go and leave the Obelisk behind. I told Kal as much.
"That's because they had that whole family bond brainwashing going on." Kal explained. "I don't expect you to understand - I didn't understand it myself until Jillian analyzed it for me - but any new brothers or sisters were subjected to something Jillian calls 'Attention Brainwashing'. Basically, it's when new recruits are swamped with so much attention and companionship that they're never allowed a moment by themselves to think. A Hacker is always accompanying them to classes, to shared bedrooms, getting stuff for them, even waiting outside of bathrooms. They're never allowed a moment of privacy and they're constantly asked what they're doing or how they're feeling. They're constantly told they're invincible gods or that Crafters are lowly vermin or that their siblings are all that matter and have their best interests at heart. The new Hackers aren't allowed even a moment to their own thoughts, day in and day out, until the Clan mentality sticks. Very manipulative."
"Oh my God." My face twisted in disgust. "That's sick!"
"Yeah. It's mental and emotional manipulation at its worst. I'm not even sure who started the tradition, it's just how things are done there."
I was quiet for a moment as I let what Kal told me sink in. Hackers really were brainwashed in a sense. Exter was gathering the lost ones for the Clan - likely to avoid erasure - but that meant those lost ones would be subjected to the same brainwashing. That was their fate. It would have been Pheodora's fate if Captain XoX took her.
It would be my fate if they caught me. However, if blank slates were easier to brainwash than those who've branched out into Minecraftia, maybe the lost ones wouldn't be swayed as easily. Giovanni, after all, had come to Tinker for a bribe for a lost Hacker who didn't want to be there.
"...I wish Hackers could've just struck out on their own." I said after a while. "They could've allied with groups like you and me. I'm sorta glad you abandoned the freshly spawned ones, Kal." Kal looked at his hands contemplatively. "They may have been at greater risk, but at least they had free will and freedom. I don't think life is worth living without them."
What will did they even have? They were just like every pretentious Hacker. They treated Crafters like bugs and felt no empathy for the lives they ended. I wished desperately that they could see the errors of their ways and cease their ideals of superiority, but it looked like nothing but a pipe dream so long as the Hack Clan kept brainwashing new Hackers.
Hackers could be good. Kal, Pheo, myself. We all turned out alright, so it was possible. But only if the Hack Clan's way of doing things was buried.
"We have to show them they're not invincible." I swore resolutely. I could feel my Hacker smoke rising from within and seeping out of my eyes. My determination made the power flare out.
Kal gave a sudden start and I turned to him, my dark smoke winking out. "What is it?"
"You-" Kal cut off as he narrowed his eyes to scrutinize me closely. "I could've sworn you..."
"What?"
He stood up and craned his neck to look at me in the light. After a few moments of silence, he sat back down. "Trick of the light. Never mind."
"What did you see?"
"I don't know." He admitted. "It looked like your smoke... pulsed or something."
"Ah. Sorry." I looked at my hands, even though there was no smoke enveloping them. "It's hard to control my powers when my emotions flare up. I'm not as good with it as you."
"That's not - well, it might've been it." He said to himself, though he sounded uncertain. "Whatever. Sorry. Anyway, you'll master your powers with practice. You just need to discipline your emotions. You're good enough with Strength that you can match me - and anyone you might encounter with that same Hack."
"I better be." I sat back in my seat. "Because we're likely to fight them before the week is through."
[Noman]
Once I was done bringing Ciro up to speed on our alliance with the Paragons, the possible connection between Tinker and the Western Division, and Cobb's thrilling battle in Nitebane, the former Captain was thoroughly impressed. However, he was more than a little upset that Cobb gave away the Vivlio Zythopoiias to Queen Jillian.
"That's a powerful treasure. You have any idea the powerhouses Trish brought in with that book, and he just gave it away?"
"Jillian needs the book to keep the Hackers hostage." I defended. "Them being alive is the only thing keeping the Hack Clan at bay."
"Well, Nitebane better be a damn good ally. Otherwise-"
"Language!"
"Ah, there it is. I almost forgot." Ciro remarked tiredly before continuing. "Otherwise, the book is put to waste. Even an army might pale in comparison to that particular artifact."
"I wanted it too." I agreed. "For more... peaceful reasons."
Saying such a thing reminded me of what I truly wished to discuss. Billionth to Millionth.
"Well, we better not keep Carys waiting." Ciro half-turned to the door leading to the bridge. "I know how impatient she can be-"
"Don't go back to the bridge just yet."
He turned back to face me. "It's not a bridge, it's a cockpit." Ciro corrected. "Bridges are bigger with room for multiple people to stand in, usually reserved for larger, more expensive vessels. Cockpits are smaller and can only fit two."
"Then don't go back to the cockpit." I said aloud while internally thinking what he just said was a factoid that wouldn't be strange coming from Lenz's mouth. "There's something else I need to talk to you about away from Carys' ears."
"...Very well." He leaned his back against the wall. "Continue."
"Right. Well." I needed a bit more time to gather my thoughts. "This isn't the important stuff, but how did you get this ship?"
"It's a mail ship."
I paused as I remembered one of Lenz's many airship factoids. "...While I fail to see why the ship's gender has any relevance, I thought ships were considered fema-"
"A mail delivery ship." Ciro was exasperated. "Zeppil has them go out to deliver mail between kingdoms. They're small vessels packed with letters and gifts. Zeppil has a few of them on routes."
"Oh." I flushed in embarrassment. "So, how'd you come to pilot one?"
"I decided to hang up my artifacts and take up my true calling: delivering letters to far-flung villages."
"Really? Well, that's quite the humble-"
"No not really what the hell do you think this is?" He grumbled tiredly. "I happened upon this ship in the skies near Daggerstake Ridge - that's the one spot where the Lacquerlands meet Dryrock Mesa. No pilot, but plenty of mail and fuel. I took it for myself. This is the guy Notch chose?"
"Nice to see you again too, Ciro." I spoke cheerfully, choosing to ignore his comment. "So, you stole it."
"I stole it from an invisible ghost who wasn't there."
"Like how you stole the fake Voda Shlem from the auction house?"
"Don't get preachy on me. That family kept caged Testificates."
"How did you know the airship was abandoned?"
"It was hundreds of feet up with no nerdpole. No one would park it there and just leave."
"So, it was left there? That seems less likely." Lenz always said airships were valuable.
"I suspect a flying Hacker stumbled upon it and killed the pilot for fun." Ciro's words reminded me why I was there and made me shift uncomfortably. "The pilot was steering clear of the Savannah, but this could've been following Akasha's destruction."
"...You know about Akasha, huh?"
"I saw what's left of it." He spoke mournfully. "I pray the day never comes when I see Ringwood like that. Blasted Hackers. There were residual flames from the Stivali Magma-"
"Carys is planning to attack the Obelisk." I blurted out, stunning Ciro into silence. "I know. It's a suicide mission. I just know it'll be costly on both sides, but Carys is determined to recruit you for this fool's errand. She saw you approaching from our maps and is waiting for you at Tinker's."
"...She is, is she?" Ciro asked after processing my words.
"Yes, but this plan will lead to bloodshed. So much blood will be spilled, I just know it. Here's the thing, though." I stepped closer, my voice lowering as if Carys was listening. "She doesn't know I'm here. She would have downplayed the dangers telling you the plan, but, now you've heard it from me, you can turn around and I can go back, and nobody has to know I warned you off. I guarantee Carys will be less likely to do this without you and your artifacts. If not her, Floyd or Kal will call it off. They don't want to go there either."
"Noman."
"She guessed you have an airship and she's probably counting on it for transportation. That way we can reach the Obelisk in time for the latest Bounty Day. You're integral to this whole thing, so if you don't show up-"
"Noman!" Ciro gripped my shoulders with both arms and got on my face. His heterochromatic eyes looked into my blue ones. "I'm going through with this."
"...You what?" I asked in a small voice.
"Why do you think I was flying towards you in the first place? We made plans to make a play for the Hack Clan's artifacts back in Ringwood. That's why we shared maps in the first place. I figured this was for that." He let go of me and held his arms out. "But with Carys and two Hackers, and you and your two artifacts, how can I say no to what could possibly be our best chance to nab the Arcticum Arma and the Stivali Magma?"
I felt the blood drain from my face. I came here planning to dissuade him when really, I just hooked him into Carys' aggressive scheme.
"People will die." I croaked futilely. "Ours will die and theirs will die. A-And all l-life is precious, Ciro."
Ciro jerked his head back in derision. "Noman, Notch 'chose' you," he made sure to use air quotes, "as Minecraftia's savior. To put a stop to the Endward Cult. Have you forgotten? Do they deserve to live after the precious lives they took? Do the Hackers? Good lord, how do you expect to save anyone without getting your hands dirty?"
"By saving lives!" I snarled, furious. "Billionths save lives! Or did you forget your oath?"
"I'm not a Captain anymore. Haven't been for years." Ciro countered. "But even I knew killing was a necessity when it came to self-defense-"
"What about this is self-defense!? What about invading their home and killing their people is about self-defense!? We're the aggressors!"
"One could argue the Hackers were aggressors first. They attacked the Kingdoms, killed kings and countless others-"
"Only because Herobrine manipulated them!"
"That's no excuse! They made the choice to attack. They deserve to be held accountable." Ciro turned his back on me. "We're reclaiming the artifacts they took from C418 and Ferriday. We're avenging them-"
"This isn't about justice. It's about getting the artifacts no matter who you have to step on."
Ciro tilted his head. "You better hope that's not true. Otherwise, I wouldn't be comfortable letting you hold onto them." Ciro let that sink in before continuing. "Anyway, I'm going through with this plan. I'll let Carys use me if it means prying those artifacts away from the Hack Clan. They do enough damage on their own. I won't be doing this for free, though. Like I promised in Ringwood, we split the artifacts we cooperate on 50-50."
I didn't care about the artifacts right now. Ciro could have both of them if he just didn't kill anyone. He was already on board for Carys' plan. The attack on the Obelisk was happening. My last shot at convincing them otherwise would have to be from Cobb's side, and even I knew it was fruitless - Carys wouldn't listen or be deterred now that she had Ciro's aid.
Everything was spiraling out of my control. This would only serve to put the Hackers more firmly on their warpath. We were pushing them towards the Endward Cult with every defiance. Hammering them to the point of desperation.
"Aikido... my way... it means that all life is precious... even the evilest person... nobody deserves to die." I stumbled back in a daze, my mouth regurgitating all the things I read in The Art of Peace.
"Well maybe Aikido just isn't relevant here." Ciro gave a final comment before returning to the cockpit and starting the engines. The airship lurched forward and continued its flight unimpeded to where Carys was.
The attack was happening with or without me.
[Cobb]
It was a blistering, windy day at Lunar Castle - caused in no small part by its location by the sea cliffs catching the breeze off the ocean. I was in the courtyard stood before a group of fifty Crafters including Captain Attila. The Captain was bouncing in place with an excited smile on. The others with her were Paragons and citizens unfamiliar with me. They ogled me with a mixture of disbelief, curiosity, and wonder.
"Okay!" I clapped my hands to begin. "My name is King_Cobb. Queen Jillian has kindly asked that I teach a little bit about my style of fighting to better prepare you for the fearsome enemies of Minecraft. Cultists, Hackers, Pig-lovers, etc."
Now that everyone knew about Carys and Mr. Piggles, I was pleased that my joke earned its fair share of snorts from the citizens and a few embarrassed looks from the Paragons. I smiled, reassured.
"As such, I'll be spending the morning instructing you on my style of fighting. Whether you incorporate it into your own style is up to you, I'm just here to show you've got options."
There had been a clamor for lessons from many citizens and Paragons. Everybody wanted to know how to fight Hackers from the original Hacker-Slayer himself. I tried not to let it get to my head. I didn't want to be as cocky or haughty as Carys, but it was a heady feeling when people idolized you as the best.
Captain Attila raised her hand. "Will you be teaching us-"
"I will be teaching you about _-" I frowned as the Scouts' censor came up. "About those." I corrected, earning an excited noise from Attila. "But I'll also be teaching you about being unpredictable, how to weaponize common, seemingly useless items, and even-" I paused for dramatic effect as I dug through my belt and withdrew an item. "-how to use totems."
That drew quite a bit of excited murmurs from the crowd. Everyone had been too scared to use the totems Jillian had been farming. Even now, the Queen was at the capital wall triggering multiple Raids with the Vivlio Zythopoiias. She was honoring her promise of arming the population with totems as soon as possible, even on top of everything else she was doing.
As I prepared to give the lesson, I caught a shift of movement from the courtyard's outskirts. I glanced aside, as did most of the present crowd, and watched as ten more Crafters approached. They wore white-leather caps, which meant they were Zeppil guards. The delegation from Zeppil that arrived via airship and were staying in the castle. Leading them was a rather familiar face: Captain Fo.
The female Captain of Zeppil, victor of this year's Parkour Games, and champion of Prince Yukuo, Captain Fo had a large presence when we last visited Zeppil. She had a well-known rivalry with the champion of Princess Daji, Captain Bak. She was competitive and confident during the games, but proved herself a capable Captain, and, evidently, a capable successor to former Captain Jillian. She was friendly with us after we rescued her stolen airship from some sore losers but had turned on us at Cloud Castle after Carys' framed us as cultists. Now that I was proven innocent, I was certain her animosity towards the Beginners would have evaporated.
"Captain." I greeted with a polite nod. I decided to act like her aggression at Cloud Castle never happened. Fo, sensing no ill will or resentment, came nearer with her retinue of guards.
"Don't mind us. We simply wish to sit in on this lesson... if that's alright with you?" She asked tentatively.
"Go right ahead." I waved airily. A relieved smile broke out on her face before she and her guards joined the Paragons and citizens. I wasn't going to hold what happened against her. She only acted on false information. Besides, if a large-scale alliance between kingdoms was in the works, playing nice would net us some powerful allies.
"To begin!" I shouted suddenly, startling people to attention before I held up a devastating weapon that I picked up from the kitchens this morning. "Eggs. Like snowballs, these things are a formidable projectile-" I caught a few snickers from the crowd. Frowning, I placed down an End Crystal, stepped back a fair distance, and chucked an egg at it to blow open a massive hole in the courtyard. The watching crowd shut up instantly. "I know what I say may seem a joke, but that only means my foes have foolishly dropped their guard before the real punchline reduced them to spilled gear and an empty Head. These skills have saved my life and you will listen to them seriously."
My words had the desired effect. Everyone was quiet and appropriately humbled by my display. It was best to get all the doubt out early. Now everyone knew to take me seriously or end up like the crater in the ground.
Probably should fill that in before Jillian sees.
"All those who chuckled before, please fill in this hole." I ordered without looking embarrassed. Ten citizens and half of Zeppil's group - including Captain Fo - hurried forward to gather the dirt and patch up the crater. As they toiled, I continued with my lecture. "I personally use snowballs because they stack higher, but eggs are perfectly fine in a pinch. They don't do damage, but their rate of fire is leagues above arrows. Useful for unbalancing an opponent or holding them back under a hail of fire. I've also since proven they can intercept the Hackers' MultiAura missiles, which some of you may have seen at that battle a few days ago. They're also useful for setting off these volatile _. Now, moving on-" I paused as a citizen raised their hand. "Question?"
"Why don't you ever say what those crystals are called?"
"Good question. Captain Attila? Care to answer for me?"
"Gladly. He can't answer because he's been cursed by SutsCo after discovering the secrets behind their operations."
The shocked gasps from the crowd were expected, and I held out my tongue to show everyone the black 'X' tattooed there which prevented me from speaking of what I learned. Even then, Jillian, Carys, and the Paragons were able to guess that those of us who went to the End learned something we shouldn't have about SutsCo. How I wished to tell them it was the Scouts, but they would learn that, eventually, after the Scouts triggered an economic collapse by declaring SutsCo bankrupt. If anyone ever found out SutsCo was backed by the Scouts, they wouldn't invest their money in those idiots and pull out immediately.
I sure as hell wasn't investing in their stock.
"I can at least show you how to build it. The recipe is simple and they're more destructive than TNT." I explained before showing to the crowd, using item frames on a wooden pin board, the arrangement of glass, Eyes of Ender, and Ghast Tears. They were able to see themselves that the glowing purple crystal with mysterious runes was called an End Crystal.
"These things leave a lot of devastation in their wake and are easy to set off. Highly volatile - Attila, wipe that smirk off your face, this isn't a toy! - and should be set off at a safe distance. Arrows, snowballs, eggs, fishing rods. Any projectile is enough to set these off." I began taking off my armor and stowing it away. "Everyone stand back. I am now going to demonstrate how deadly these _ are by setting one off. I will also be demonstrating the totems of undying, so try to pay attention."
I had the full attention of the crowd as everyone took several steps back from the purple crystal I set down. Once they were a safe distance, I held up my totem. Jillian had given me one for this demonstration, though she assured me I could take as many as I needed from their growing supply.
"Totems of Undying are dropped from Mobs I call Evokers. The details of these Evokers - and other Raid-related Mobs - can be found in the Mob book I will be passing around." I gave Mobs of the Bounty Days a toss to the nearest listener before continuing. "Evokers are a challenge, but this drop is more than worth it. You can consider it a 1UP or an extra life. Any one can save you from death, which is why the people of Nitebane are hard at work farming them. I know some of you have doubts to their effectiveness, but they're reliable and easy to use, as I shall now demonstrate." I bundled my fist around the totem and clenched it tight as I approached the End Crystal without worry. "Merely hold the totem firmly in hand - not in your backpack or belt, but in your hand - and upon dying-"
I smashed my fist and the totem into the crystal.
Next thing I knew, I was sneezing, my body laid against the side of a crater. The crowd gasped in shock, their eyes peering into the crater at my survival. My Health was already ticking back up thanks to the potion effects swirling around that came with a totem revival.
"-you come back good as new. Now this uses up the totem," I held up my hand just as the last traces of the golden statuette vanished, "so you'll have to grab a new one of you're still at risk. Fortunately, using a totem grants you a couple seconds of Absorption II, Regeneration II, and Fire Resistance I, so you have time to regain your bearings. Yes, question?" I pointed at a hand.
"Why do you sneeze when you use it?"
"Good question. No idea. Maybe I'm allergic to death."
I climbed out of the crater and asked for a few volunteers to patch it up while I put my armor and gear back on. Jillian had gotten me a Paragon set of enchanted diamond gear as well as a new green-dyed leather tunic to replace the one I lost to the Hackers. I was dyed in Ringwood's proud colors once more. Better still, the tunic had some quality Nitebane enchantments that helped bring up its protection to diamond level. Both Lenz and I received premium enchanted gear courtesy of the piles of EXP harvested from Nitebane's grinders.
"I have a question." Captain Fo raised one hand while the other held open the Mob book that's been passed around. "I've seen this among the citizens who've participated in the Raids, but they appear to have light green particles around them. Those involved also have the adoration of the Testificates. Know anything about that...?"
"Oh. That. Yeah..." I scratched my marred cheek awkwardly. "See, it's a side-effect of stopping a Raid. The effect's name is 'Hero of the Village,' and it grants you a better standing with the Testificates. I suppose it's a reward for sparing them from Evokers and Ravagers, but they positively fawn over you."
Jillian had been using the ethically questionable effect to secure better trades with the Testificates. It was questionable because we ourselves were triggering the Raids ad nauseam, and therefore taking advantage of what one would generously call a protection racket. It reminded me too much of Desideratum. I would have objected more if not for the fact some of the enchantments on my new gear came from that. I didn't approve of taking advantage of the Testificates, but I at least accepted it was an unfortunate byproduct of securing the totems we were really after.
"Why do you ask?" I questioned, taking a break from lecturing while the Mob book went around.
"Just curious. A few of those Pillager outposts sprung up in our territory as suddenly as that bamboo forest. Hoping we could farm totems in Zeppil. They're a real lifesaver." She joked with a grin. "We'll pale in comparison to Nitebane's method, though. Your grinders are too good. Ah well." She sighed dramatically. "Guess importing them will be the next best thing."
"Shouldn't be a problem when you have airships to barter with." I chuckled. "I can tell you Carys is in the market for a new one."
"I already gave her the Anemoi."
I smirked. "She'll need another another one. She seems to go through them a lot - hang on!" My smile fell. "I just realized! You told us you wouldn't give up your hard-won airship for anything, but you gave it to Carys at the drop of a hat? What gives!?"
"When your kingdom's hero asks for something, you don't refuse her." She folded her arms in a valiant attempt to appear unbiased. "It was an honor to donate my airship... even if it was rendered inoperable not a week later."
Thank Floyd for that one.
"Well, if it's for your hero, who am I to argue?" I shrugged, a bit of heat leaking into my voice. It made the Captain flinch.
"Y-Yes. Hey, so," Captain Fo lowered her voice, looking repentant, "about the business at Cloud Castle-"
"Forget it." I waved her apology aside. "You were only going off who you believed."
"But I should've-!"
"Forget it." I insisted lowly. "You can make it up to me by trusting me to be a good guy next time around. Fair?"
"Fair." She nodded with a relieved smile. "Now that you've been exonerated, I expect we'll see a lot of each other. More so when we've ironed out the details of our united alliance. I'd love to challenge Jade again; I've been practicing my parkour."
"I... am sure she would love that." I marshalled a painful smile before excusing myself to resume the lesson. "Next up... next up is fishing rods." I announced to the crowd before whipping my newly enchanted one out. "Simple hunting tool or best weapon ever? These things are very versatile in terms of grappling-"
I cut off when Trenay and Lenz appeared in the courtyard at the back of the crowd. Trenay's eyes were wide as she hurried forward, and I could sense a nervous energy radiating off of Lenz.
Brain: This can't be good.
"-and stunning. Despite their... humble appearance, they've... helped me their fair share... of times." I was distracted as Trenay made her way to the front of the crowd. She leaned in to whisper something to me and I tried to remain discreet.
"SHE'S FUCKING WHAT!?"
Tried.
"Bwuuh, sorry everyone! I'm gonna have to cut this lesson short!" I snatched the Mob book that had been passed around and crammed my fishing rod back into my backpack. Trenay had her arm hooked with mine as she tugged me along to where Lenz was. "Really sorry... something's come up... we'll try this again tomorrow... Attila, you better come too..."
Aware that the eyes of everyone were upon us, the four of us fled the courtyard to address Carys' latest terrible idea.
Namely how she was dragging Floyd, Soul, and Noman into it.
Lenz filled Attila and I on the finer details of Carys' report - him having been with Trenay when it came in - while Trenay led us into the castle to the large map room that served as the information center for Team Delta. There, Jillian, Baltic, Z7, Ines, and Shroud were waiting, a linked map on the table before them. Aside from Z7, they all had tense expressions.
"She's fucking what!?"
"I see you're up to speed." Jillian countered coolly. "You heard right. Carys is going to attack the Obelisk. She aims to use the Hackers' knowledge of Bounty Days against them. After the Bounty Day on the 3rd, they'll rush here, like they did to Akasha, and she'll use the diversion to launch an assault on the Obelisk and abscond with the Arcticum Arma and the Stivali Magma."
"That's a horrible, reckless, stupid idea!" I shouted, the charred skin on my cheek straining tight from the effort. "She's going into the hornet's nest - put her on. Relay for me."
"Already on it." Baltic moved to the map. The old alchemist looked deeply troubled by Carys' rashness. His was one voice I could count on my side in warning Carys off this. "She's been on standby since this morning. Hasn't moved yet."
"Good. Are you ready?" I awaited his nod before giving my message.
"Listen you crazy bitch, if you want to kill yourself in a 'Who's-a-bigger-badass' pissing contest, more power to you, but don't drag my buddies into it! This is Cobb." I finished, both pointlessly and rather lamely.
"Is antagonizing her the best way to start negotiations...?"
"Yes." I answered Ines.
Carys' reply came back as a flashing blip that Baltic relayed.
"Egocentric, aren't you? What makes you think this is me wanting to prove something? I already know I can fold you like a plastic cup. This isn't some macho contest. This is about Tinker being a human popsicle and being unable to answer our questions until we get the Stivali Magma to thaw him out. I just figured I'd be extra generous securing the Arcticum Arma for your peace-loving pal since you did me a solid saving Nitebane. That's all."
"Bullshit that's what this is about!" I snarled back. "Admit it. You just can't stand I fought more Hackers than you."
"Shut up, massterbaitor! You're way off!"
"It's pathetic! It shouldn't matter how many Hackers you have under your belt! It's not worth getting killed over. Leave my friends out of it!"
"No can do. Your friends are instrumental. Two of them are Hacker-level and I need all the hands I can get. It's why I have Ciro in on this."
"Ciro...? As in Ciro_Che?" Lenz asked in surprise. He checked his own map and confirmed that Ciro's blip was on top of Floyd's, Soul's, and Noman's.
"I see I've left you stymied." Carys' message continued. "That's right. This isn't as reckless as you think. I thought this shit through, unlike you. I recruited Ciro for this little party and he's accepted under the condition we split the artifacts. He gets one and Notaman gets the other. He even has an airship we can all use to get us to the Obelisk shortly after the Bounty Day occurs. We'll have another artifact user and we'll be in prime position to attack."
"...Walk me through the details of this plan." Jillian interrupted, sending her own message. I couldn't believe she was humoring this nonsense. Even with Ciro's Destierro del Palillo, attacking the Hackers' stronghold was biting off more than they could chew.
"It's simple." Carys answered. "First, we fly the airship close enough to the Obelisk while avoiding detection. Next, we send some of our own in - disguised as Griefers - to confirm most of the Hackers are gone and that the artifacts are even there. No sense initiating the siege if what we're after isn't there. After we have confirmation, we launch a surprise attack, hit hard and fast, and make out with the artifacts before the Hackers or Griefers can mount a proper counter-attack. Nice and simple. No different from the raids on cult outposts we've done a million times."
"Except these are Hackers, not cultists." Baltic sent. "Even you have to admit there is a greater degree of danger in this instance. Have you given a thought to the risks towards your guild members?"
"Like how you all considered the risks of returning to Nitebane against my orders when you knew Hackers were coming?" Carys countered.
"I thought you said this isn't a contest!" Baltic snapped.
"I'm just pointing out how much of a hypocrite you're being. We have Kal, Floyd, Noman's artifacts, Ciro, and me. Surely you see we're a stacked squad. Only thing that could make us stronger is if we had Cobb, Z7, and Jillian with the Vivlio Zythopoiias. We can't wait that long, however, and you guys need to be in Nitebane to distract them. This is our best chance to deal a blow against the Hackers and secure some serious combat strength. The rewards outweigh the risks."
"This will radicalize the Hackers against us." Captain Attila spoke to our benefit and off the map. "If they haven't joined the Endward Cult already, this will only push them together-"
"Damnit, my friends aren't pawns!" I cut her off, my words getting relayed. "Don't do this, Carys! If someone dies, I swear to Herobrine, it'll be your fault!"
"Have a little faith, Cobb. Not just in me but in your guild. Don't you think they can do this? Or have you coddled them into becoming helpless, sheltered weaklings?"
"That's not it!" I refuted. I knew Floyd and Noman had Hackers under their belt. I knew Soul was capable. But after fighting multiple Hackers at once, it made me realize there are some things you can't ever be ready for. That feeling of being overwhelmed - how many more Hackers will be at that base? 303 wouldn't be foolish enough to leave it defenseless while everyone else attacked Nitebane. "This is too reckless."
"No more reckless than what you've done the past few days. I'm not saying it like it's a contest." She clarified immediately. "I'm just saying you helped create this window of opportunity. Defending Nitebane fed into this. I haven't forgotten you gave Jillian the Vivlio Zythopoiias. Securing an artifact for Noman is just me returning the favor. I would've gotten him two if I didn't need Ciro's support. Just trust me when I say your friends will be fine. I'm not nearly as reckless as I seem."
Her words were almost kind in that last message. Was it even Carys saying them? I didn't want to take a chance with my friends' lives. I felt helpless on the other side of Minecraftia like this.
Carys had risked her life to save Noman's once. I had to believe she'd do it again, if only because she'd look weaker if she let my people die when I saved hers.
"Cobb," Jillian spoke aside to me, off the map, "I can tell when Carys is going to do something regardless of what we advise. This is one of those moments. There's nothing any of us can say or do to call her off. You know it too, Baltic." The alchemist frowned at the floor. "All we can so is offer our support. Try and make this plan foolproof. From what she's told us, it has a good chance of working. I'm pleased they're at least sending people in beforehand to confirm the artifacts' whereabouts."
"...If all we can offer is our support, then that is what they shall have." Lenz spoke firmly.
"Lenz..." I murmured helplessly.
"I understand your reluctance to go along with this, Cobbert, but we have to trust our friends can handle this. Just as they trusted us to handle things here." Lenz reassured. "Besides, I know a way we can fix it so that they will never be at risk. There is a crucial redstone machination that Carys is lacking in this endeavor." He smirked as he turned to Ines. "I think it is time we show Team Zeta has its merits."
"You read my mind, pen pal." Ines smiled along. "That would work perfectly in this instance."
"Relay for us, please." Lenz asked of Jillian before he and Ines stepped closer to the table. "Carys, this is Lenz-"
"-and Ines-"
"-and we have an indispensable bit of redstone tech you will absolutely need for your assault on the Obelisk. You are to set it up before departing Tinker's, as it will allow for a quick escape either once your mission is complete or when things get hairy."
There was a long pause from Carys' side before she replied. "Go on."
"It is simple to build - you should be able to procure all the necessary materials." Ines continued. "Lenz and I can instruct you via map how to construct it. Grab a book and quill and jot this down. It's called a-"
[Noman]
"Stasis Chamber...?" Spaatz questioned the device's name aloud while Carys barked orders. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"When have any of us bothered with redstone?" Anibal shrugged. "Let's just give the newly minted Team Zeta the benefit of the doubt, eh?"
"Fine, but why do we have to dig eight-block-deep holes in Tinker's dining room?"
If Lenz had a part in this, I knew it wouldn't be useless. So did the other Beginners. I tore up planks and dug in silence, still sullen over Ciro's decision to follow Carys' plan. I had gotten back before Ciro's airship pulled in, yet Carys gave me a look upon my return that made me think she knew I tried to warn the former Captain off her crazy plan. She didn't say anything, but I had a feeling she guessed I had snuck out - probably because of Ciro's subdued reaction to hearing about our plan to attack the Obelisk. It didn't matter to Carys, though, since Ciro agreed regardless.
Ciro pretended he was being told everything for the first time, but he only agreed to follow Carys' lead on the condition that he got to pick and choose which of the artifacts he'd take for himself after we thawed out Tinker with the Stivali Magma. He probably had some idea which one he wanted, but he still wanted to gauge their strength before making a decision.
The other artifact would be promised to me, and I'd be allowed to wield or grant it to whomever I wished. It was Soul and Anibal who seemed particularly interested in that caveat. Both of them craved an artifact of their very own.
Including Ciro, we now had a dozen Crafters. A quarter of us dug ten holes in Tinker's dining room, another quarter went to his backyard pond to carry back water. The Beta-males and I threw in the soul sand we used to farm Nether warts, and Soul and Dyson used the planks we pried up to make wooden trapdoors. Floyd, Kal, and Ciro stood on watch outside the mansion's grounds.
The final piece of the Stasis Chambers we were building was ender pearls. Ten of them. Same as the number of holes we dug. Shiroyuki wagged its tail idly as it watched us work in its master's dining room.
When we had all the pertinent materials, Carys and the Paragons entered the ten holes we dug and replaced the bottom block with soul sand, then filled the hole to the brim with water. It wasn't enough to have flowing water; the hole needed to be filled with water source blocks. At the top, a wooden trapdoor was placed like a cap, then left open. This was all done to Lenz's and Ines' specifications.
The soul sand affected the water in much the same way it had when Mona used it against us inside that cult outpost. It caused a bubbling current that propelled upward. Magma blocks created a downward current while soul sand created an upward current. The reason for the upward current became apparent when we started throwing the ender pearls straight down into the waterlogged holes. A few times, they went off unintentionally by touching the sides and warping is into the waterlogged holes, but, eventually, we hit the sweet spot so that the thrown ender pearl slowed to a stop from the water current before bobbing back up to the surface like a cork. That's where we needed to get the pearls at.
Stasis Chambers: A way to instantly teleport by setting up a stationary ender pearl. If that pearl ever made contact, like with the closed trapdoor, it would teleport whoever threw it into the waterlogged hole, even if we were miles away when it happened. It was the perfect way to escape the Obelisk after we obtained the artifacts.
There was a catch, though.
"Why are there only ten holes when there's twelve of us?" Reuben asked warily.
"Because you and Spaatz aren't going." Anibal replied. She didn't look at her Gamma teammate, Spaatz, when she said that, and, thus, didn't see his look of betrayal and hurt.
"What!?" Reuben bellowed, outraged.
"For the Stasis Chambers to work, we need someone stationed with them." Carys fanned out a handful of blank maps she had made. They were all labeled 'Stasis Map'. "These maps will be used exclusively in tandem with our respective Stasis Chambers. Everyone take one, use it, make a copy, then stick the copy on the item frame under your name." She gestured to the dining room wall where ten evenly spaces item frames hung, each with a sign hanging above it. She handed out the maps to Floyd, Soul, Kal, Anibal, Ciro, herself, Dyson, Albert, Stayer, and me. Everyone who threw a pearl and had a Stasis Chamber labeled by a sign with their respective name. The maps would be in clear view of the Stasis Chambers, ensuring a close proximity. "This way, we'll have ten unique blips to track. No chance of mix ups between maps and chambers."
"How is this gonna help us?" Soul asked.
"Lenz and Ines were quite clear." Carys slotted her map copy into the item frame below her name. "If any of us think we're about to die or we achieve our mission, we simply have to throw our map on the ground to signal these guys to shut the trapdoor for the respective Stasis Chamber. The trapdoor will make contact with the ender pearl, and the ender pearl will warp us back here. Safe and sound."
"...Are we sure that will work?" Ciro asked cautiously. "I don't mean to doubt, but our lives could very well hinge on this thing."
In reply, Carys kicked Soul's trapdoor shut and the axe-wielder immediately teleported into his Stasis Chamber, before shooting up to the surface and through the trapdoor, sputtering and looking livid.
"It works."
"Damnit, Carys! That took four pearls to get right!" He grumbled to himself as he hauled himself out of the hole before turning around with his ender pearls and taking careful aim now that he had to reset it.
"We'll send a map message to Reuben and Spaatz to alert them right before we begin the assault on the Obelisk." Kal added. "That way they won't have to stick to these Stasis Maps every waking moment."
"Make sure you can differentiate between the Stasis Maps and our synced personal maps. We don't want to ditch those." Anibal advised.
It wouldn't be hard for Ciro or the Beginners. The Stasis Maps only showed the southern Lacquerlands and the Savannah region, not all of Minecraftia. We could spot the difference.
"You can't do this! You can't leave me out!" Reuben protested.
"Someone needs to stay behind, Reuben." Carys spoke seriously. "You two are manning the tether while we climb the treacherous rock face. It's a very important-"
"With all due respect, ma'am, I'm tired of 'important' support roles!" Reuben snapped. "I was roped into Team Beta because I knew my way around a brewing stand, but I've hated it ever since! I'm tired of staying back and brewing! I'm tired of being looked down on as a Beta-Male! I can fight too! I want to fight!"
"I want to fight too!" Spaatz exclaimed at Anibal. "We hear about our guys risking their necks in Nitebane, fighting and dying for glory, and yet I don't deserve any of that? You put me back here, away from the action, and think I'll be cool with that!? Screw you! You're going after Hackers!"
"It's precisely because we're going after Hackers that you can't come!" Anibal snarled back, her voice lowering as she grabbed Spaatz by the wrist and steered him outside of the room. I could barely make out their conversation since I was the closest.
"Listen to me, Spaatz. You're - No, listen! You're the last member of my crew. Buckner and Devers are gone, and this Obelisk business is going to be even more perilous despite these Stasis Chambers acting as safety nets. Cobb is right to be worried for his friends; I feel the same way with you. We don't have any of those fancy totems to keep us alive. I'm not jeopardizing the safety of my last teammate, so do as you're told and stay here."
Spaatz was understandably sullen, but it looked like Anibal had convinced him not to go. The two continued arguing in hushed whispers while Reuben took a bit more convincing from Carys and Kal.
"Don't be a baby, Reuben. This is about more than watching the Stasis Chambers. If Griefers show up, they'll rob this mansion, raze it to the ground, and smash all the human popsicles trapped in ice. Tinker included. You're guarding them as much as you're guarding the chambers, and if things become too difficult, you have my permission to recall people, with exception."
"...What sort of exception?" Floyd asked before having Carys' finger point at him.
"Floyd." She declared before turning her finger elsewhere. "Ciro. Kal. Noman. Anibal. And me." She finished with a hiked thumb. "I consider the six of us to be Hacker-level. If any of us are to encounter a Hacker, we six will have the best odds at beating them. Therefore, if there's trouble here, recall all but the six of us first. By the same token, anyone going to the Obelisk is to withdraw immediately - throw down your Stasis Map - if you find yourself alone with a Hacker without one of us six present."
"Uh, wait, what was that?" Anibal cleaned out her ear. "I may have misheard - I mean, I'm flattered you think of me on the same level as Hackers, but I'm not sure my skills-"
"That's not it." Carys shook her head. "Noman will be loaning you the Severe Shield for the duration of this mission."
My eyes snapped open at once, my blue orbs wide and registering shock as I stared at Carys. An innate fear gripped me, leaving me at a loss for words.
"Oh, fuck yeah! I am all for this!" Anibal beamed. She made eager grabbing motions towards as she was ready to receive.
"Hold on one second." Surprisingly, it was Ciro who came to my aid first while I was too stunned to speak. "I may think he falls short as Minecraftia's savior, but Noman's a worthy wielder of the Severe Shield. He doesn't abuse or boast of it like others might-"
"He doesn't use it like others might, either." Carys snapped with a venom born from her exasperation at my repeated pacifism. "Notaman - as I've taken to calling him - refuses to use the Severe Shield to decimate those trying to kill him. He's too hung up on Aikido to wield the invincible chestplate against enemies, if at all. If we go to the Obelisk, I guarantee you he'll keep that thing in his backpack. I'd rather have someone I know who'll use it, use it. Anibal is familiar with the artifact and knows how it works. It makes more sense to loan it to her and add another Hacker-level fighter to our roster, rather than leave it with a guy who doesn't have the balls to kill anybody."
Ciro spared me an appraising glance. I could tell he was remembering our talk on the airship. How I wanted to avoid a conflict with the Hackers. Everything Carys was saying was in line with how I acted. Ciro couldn't find the words to refute Carys' points.
"That's Noman's chestplate." Soul argued on my behalf. "He earned it."
"He was handed it for being the number one billion, get a clue."
"It's still his! He's defended it all this time!"
"It'll still be his. This is a loan, and I'll pay him back, with interest, in the form of a second artifact, depending on whichever one Ciro claims." Carys countered.
Their voices came to me muted, like there was wool over my ears. My face felt uncomfortably hot, and I felt dizzy. There was a lump in my throat that I felt was choking me.
Carys was going to use the Severe Shield to kill Hackers. If I didn't protest this, it would happen. Here was my chance to stop unnecessary bloodshed, and I was just standing around being helpless! I felt sick. Like the world was closing around me.
"How will Noman even be considered Hacker-level if he's not going in with the Severe Shield?" Floyd asked.
"He'll still have an artifact. The Bottes Zephyr will at least give him an edge, though I'll admit he's the lowest ranked of the six of us. His Aikido training and budding potion skills are what helped put him over the top." Carys appraised. "The fact remains that I'm not leading an attack on the Obelisk at a fraction of our full strength."
There! A small glimpse of hope to cling to. Carys wouldn't attack without the Severe Shield!
My eyes wandered towards the front entrance of the mansion. My ender chest was still there where I set it yesterday. My eyes were fixed upon it as I took a sluggish step forward. Numb hands fumbled in my backpack for the cursed chestplate.
"Noman...?" Floyd asked with worry as I started walking away.
Carys looked between me and the ender chest for a second before a spinning scythe was hurled at my legs. The impact sent me stumbling to the ground, though my eyes were still fixed on the ender chest as I crawled on hands and knees.
Carys cut across me and flipped me onto my back, her scythe blade tickling my neck. Floyd and Soul shouted in fury, Kal and Anibal bewildered beyond words.
"Noman." Carys spoke lowly. "Hand over the Severe Shield."
My eyes flicked between Carys and the ender chest. The Angel of Death made sure to place herself between me and the chest so I wouldn't be able to store the artifact in a place she couldn't reach.
I held on to the Severe Shield to tame it. To use it for good as Notch had intended. To not kill indiscriminately as so many others would. I understood the pain of ending a life. Only in my hands could the artifact be strictly controlled. Giving it up meant... letting her take it meant... for the Hackers it meant... it meant...
"Noman." Carys repeated more firmly. "Don't make me beat you till your legs don't work."
I dropped the Severe Shield onto the floor - I wasn't about to kill with it - and laid back in resignation while Carys removed her scythe from my throat, stooped down, and picked it up. She made sure it was the actual chestplate before shooting me a look.
"This is just a loan. The situation demands it." She stepped over me on her way to Anibal. "You'll have the artifact I promised you, and this back, once the situation has passed. In the meantime, grow up." She spoke the last words with such loathing and disgust.
I watched helplessly from the floor as the Severe Shield changed hands. Anibal held it reverently as it was bestowed to her. She didn't tug it on immediately. Instead, she slipped it into her backpack and offered me a sympathetic look. I didn't care that I didn't have the invincible chestplate. I cared that it would claim more lives.
I felt in a daze as more of my precious ideals were ripped away. I couldn't stop this. Being with Carys was the worse environment for a peace-loving guy like me.
Like Ciro said, Aikido just wasn't relevant.
The ten of us set off for the Obelisk late that night. The mail delivery airship was small, but we were all able to squeeze in, including one stowaway snow fox, who decided to tag along for the ride. Only Reuben and Spaatz reluctantly stayed behind in Tinker's mansion, stationed beside our Stasis Chambers. It had been a big argument with Reuben until Carys shut his protests down. She was doing a lot of that, lately.
Floyd, Soul, Albert, and Kal all tried in vain to cheer me up. I sat in a daze above the airship, the freezing night winds chilling my body numb, my eyes scanning the stars for an answer to what I knew in my bones would be a bloodbath.
There would always be a bloodbath in the wake of the Severe Shield.
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness III, Fire Aspect I, Sweeping Edge III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Efficiency II, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling III, Unbreaking III], 18 Obsidian, 8 Ender Chests, 43 Chorus Fruit, 60 Cooked Salmon, 61 Cooked Chicken, 7 Rotten Flesh, 64 Oak Planks, 64 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 1 Bed, 30 Blocks of Coal, 64 Torches, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Potion of Night Vision {8:00}, 64 Snowballs, 64 Snowballs, 16 Eggs, 11 End Crystals, 16 Ender Pearls, 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash 2.0} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Lure II, Unbreaking III], 1 Trident {Awe} [Riptide III, Unbreaking III], 1 Trident {Shock} [Loyalty II, Channeling], 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 36 Eyes of Ender, 32 Blocks of Emerald, 8 Emeralds, 1 Diamond Cutlass, 25 Lapis Lazuli, 64 Books, 64 Glass, 64 Glass, 64 Glass Bottles, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Fishing Rod, 2 Books, 1 Enchanting Table, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}
[EXP: 34]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Dragon Head, 1 Chainmail Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Chainmail Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Chainmail Boots [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 16 Ender Pearls, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Compass, 1 Bow [Power IV, Flame I, Punch II, Unbreaking III], 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow [Piercing IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Multishot I, Unbreaking III], 64 Arrows, 64 Arrows, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Small Ball x 7, Gray x 7}, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Large Ball x 7, Gray x 7}, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 62 Dark Oak Planks, 50 Chorus Fruit, 63 Cooked Salmon, 60 Apples, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 2 Fire Charges, 36 Charcoal, 4 Torches, 32 Pumpkin Seeds, 1 Book {Redstone Textbook}, 1 Book {Notebook}
Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 53 Arrows of Poison {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 57 Arrows of Harming II, 52 Arrows of Weakness {0:30}, 49 Arrows of Slowness {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Fire Resistance {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Healing II, 64 Arrows of Invisibility {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Leaping {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Slow Falling {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Night Vision {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Strength II {0:12}, 64 Arrows of Swiftness {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Swiftness II {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Water Breathing {1:00}
[EXP: 25]
Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 10 Arrows, 3 Brewing Stands, 1 Water Bucket, 64 Bones, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 20 Emeralds, 64 Cooked Chicken, 57 Cooked Chicken, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Healing II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Regeneration II {0:05}, 1 Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 41 Glass Bottles, 64 Dragon's Breath, 59 Dragon's Breath, 64 Blaze Powder, 64 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 62 Phantom Membranes, 64 Blaze Rods, 64 Fermented Spider Eyes, 64 Carrots, 64 Melon Slices, 64 Rabbit's Feet, 64 Gold Ingots, 64 Gold Nuggets, 64 Gunpowder, 64 Redstone Dust, 64 Glowstone Dust, 64 Ghast Tears, 64 Sugar
[EXP: 32]
Inventory {Jillian}: 1 Book {Vivlio Zythopoiias}, 1 Bow {Artemis} [Unbreaking III, Punch II, Power V, Knockback II, Curse of Vanishing, Infinity], 1 Bow {Apollo} [Unbreaking III, Flame I, Punch II, Knockback II], 1 Crossbow, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 35 Torches, 1 Book and Quill {Planner}, 1 Book and Quill {Notebook}, 41 Cooked Cod, 53 Cooked Salmon, 56 Arrows, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Small Ball x 7, White x 7}, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Large Ball x 7, White x 7}, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}
[EXP: 53]
Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 40 Torches, 59 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 35 Cookies, 58 Baked Potatoes, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 1 Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}
[EXP: 47]
Inventory (Floyd): 1 Mob Head {Creeper}, 1 Diamond Pickaxe, 1 Iron Sword, 1 Diamond Helmet [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Shears, 2 Iron Ingots, 24 Coal, 20 Torches, 1 Fishing Rod, 12 Cooked Mutton, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 11 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Bucket, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Map {Stasis Map}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 48]
Inventory (Soul): 1 Diamond Axe [Sharpness V], 1 Diamond Pickaxe, 61 Iron Ingots, 20 Flint, 5 Ender Pearls, 15 Cooked Mutton, 12 Gold Ingots, 11 Blocks of Diamond, 16 Blocks of Emerald, 1 Shears, 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 Jukebox, 1 Music Disc {chirp}, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 24 Torches, 22 White Wool, 61 Cobblestone, 19 Jungle Wood Planks, 4 Bowls, 1 Armor Stand, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Map {Stasis Map}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter Entry Pass}
[EXP: 41]
Cat-Face the Cat
Christopher Squawken the Parrot
Inventory (Noman): 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness I], 1 Shield, 1 Leather Boots {Bottes Zephyr} [Dyed White], 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Diamond Pickaxe, 11 Cooked Mutton, 60 Nether Warts, 15 Soul Sand, 1 Flint and Steel, 1 Shears, 10 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 5 Buckets, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Brewing Stand, 33 Glass Bottles, 4 Packed Ice, 8 Ender Pearls, 3 Phantom Membranes, 61 Glowstone Dust, 29 Gunpowder, 18 Redstone Dust, 61 Blaze Powder, 62 Gold Nuggets, 49 Brown Mushrooms, 23 Red Mushrooms, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Exter Entry Pass}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Map {Stasis Map}, 1 Book {The Art of Peace}, 1 Book {Artifact List}, 1 Enchanted Golden Apple
[EXP: 35]
Inventory (Kalmarin): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Mob Head {Skeleton}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sharpness III, Unbreaking I], 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Map {Stasis Map}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 18 Cooked Chicken, 22 Apples, 1 Bow [Power I], 36 Arrows, 9 Ender Pearls, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 40 Torches, 31 Sand, 12 Cobblestone, 21 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 43 Coal, 1 Clock, 1 Compass, 1 Iron Pickaxe [Unbreaking I], 1 Wooden Pickaxe {Old Reliable} [Unbreaking III, Efficiency V], 1 Book {Meetup}
[EXP: 42]
AN: Poor Noman. Maybe you all think he's too whiny with his pacifist stuff. I wouldn't blame you. I just think it's important to have a character that sees the good in all people. All it takes is a person like Noman to change someone for the better. Honestly, I'm curious what you think of him as a character.
The bit about totem users sneezing upon revival has to do with a superstition about sneezing and being blessed (people say 'bless you' when you sneeze). Taken in the reverse sense, you could say they're sneezing because they're being blessed and granted an extra life. Just a fun little bit of pointless lore for ya. All that matters is they're given another chance for every totem.
Ciro joins the group. They truly have a stacked squad.
Cobb got a new fishing rod. He named it 'Guess Who's Backlash' before changing it out of cringe to 'Backlash 2.0'.
See if you can guess how many, if any, Hackers are killed in the next six Chapters. Whoever guesses the right number before Chapter 336 will be acknowledged in the closing Author's Note of Chapter 336 and will receive a Victory Cookie (::). Reminds you of the old days, doesn't it?
FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. FORUM. DISCORD. RICOLA.