AN: This Chapter coming in faster now that I don't have to worry about tedious backstory. Snore-fest amirite?
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Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add War Pandas.
Chapter 235
Fire and Ice
[Obelisk: 61st Floor]
A stream of yellow flames summoned by Serafina's artifact splashed harmlessly against the bottom of the invisible air blocks Noman summoned with the use of his artifact. He kept his arms close to his sides to avoid even a spark of fire from catching on his clothes. One spark and he'd be burning for eternity.
The rest of the sixty-first floor was wreathed in golden flames. Serafina wasn't kidding when she said she had no attachment to the building. If not for the Bottes Zephyr providing him a safe foothold, he'd be in serious danger. Still, the heat and smoke were making him dizzy, worsening the savannah humidity he had barely been tolerating. Serafina's immunity to fire was just another advantage to her burning the floor down.
"You're not flying, but rather standing on something I can't burn." Serafina remarked offhandedly. "What's up with that?" Her face darkened. "It better not be a Bounty Day addition."
"You have to stop this!" Noman shouted over the roaring flames consuming the floor. His body was dripping in sweat as he coughed. "Your frozen siblings are three floors below us! This could endanger them!"
"That's sweet of you to concern yourself with, housefly, but I know what these boots are capable of more than you." She chambered a kick before shooting out a jet of yellow flames. Noman got on his hands and swung his legs down to summon air blocks to shield himself. He couldn't block the heat, however, which had become unbearable. Even in just his white dress shirt. If he went shirtless, Serafina would call him out, he just knew it. "Flames won't spread down. If anything, they'll spread up, and Null and Xavier are more than capable of looking after themselves." Sure enough, yellow flames started catching along the mezzanine above. Noman needed to watch his head.
The shield-bearer wiped his neck and chest with a block of packed ice to try and cool off while Serafina launched her latest surprise attack. Noman panicked when the woman ran along the wall with her Spider Hack until she was level with him, then she kicked off the wall with a smoke-clad leg - the impact shattering the wall - and propelled herself towards Noman. She swung her body around and unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick of yellow fire and black smoke that Noman barely caught with his shield. He felt his arm creak painfully, but the assault wasn't done, as Serafina followed up with a barrage of fast kicks that pushed Noman off his air block platform and sent him hurtling into the opposite wall. He crashed through it outside, his body flipping once and falling a floor before he righted himself and landed on air blocks. His arm and back ached.
Serafina peeked through the Noman-sized hole in the wall and snorted down at him. "Are you even trying?"
"I'm trying not to hurt anyone!"
Noman quickly assessed the damage. His shield arm hurt but wasn't broken. Surprisingly, his wooden shield had withstood the Stivali Magma's flames. He half-expected it to be burned to ashes, but, apart from the usual loss in durability, it was unaffected. His Hearts were lower from getting kicked through a wall, but that was what cooked mutton was for. He gobbled a piece of it and appreciated no longer being in a burning building. Out there, he could breathe.
Noman cautiously air-walked away from the Obelisk as Serafina climbed out of the hole and stood perpendicular to the Obelisk with the use of her Spider Hack. Her hair hung sideways as she defied gravity.
"It's times like these I wish I had a Flight Hack." Serafina complained. "Hey. You sure you came for these boots?" She called out to him. "Because you're going to have to rip them off my little feeties, and you can't do that from way over there. You'd be going with momentum if you kept fleeing. Just fly off into the sunset."
"I'm not going anywhere without those boots!"
"Then - stop me if you've heard this one - you're going nowhere, Nowhere."
Serafina lashed out with a kick that sent a great gout of golden flames roaring towards Noman. The shield-bearer sidestepped it without trouble, his body tense in preparation for the follow-up that never came. Serafina seemed satisfied using her flames to ward him off while he was at a distance. She'd only attack if he got closer to the Obelisk.
Noman knew fighting at a distance was the safest way to deal with the Arcticum Arma, but he also knew he had to get close to nail Serafina in the back of the head. Aside from her boots, she had no armor. No head protection. One solid thwack to the back of the skull. That's all he needed. It'd be easier if he slowed her down first with his prepared splash potions.
His plan set, Noman took a deep breath before sprinting on air up and towards the Obelisk. A wide crescent of yellow fire came to greet him, which he barreled through with shield raised. The heat and flames washed over him, but he remained unburned.
Once he got above Serafina, he backflipped over a sweeping kick of fire and descended towards her, his shield down to deflect further fire. Jets of yellow flame struck and dispersed around him. The flames were so intense that the metal parts of the shield heated up white hot and scalded the flesh on his arms. He gritted his teeth through the pain as he hurtled towards the Hacker like a meteor.
He crashed into her. He could feel it through the shield. However, Serafina was strong enough to stop and support his weight before she brought her leg up and delivered a punishing axe kick. Noman adjusted his shield enough to catch it at the top, but the kick sent him through the Obelisk's stone brick, back inside, and sent him rolling along the floor of another Hacker's bedroom. Serafina jumped after him, prompting Noman to throw out a Splash Potion of Weakness that landed right where the Hacker landed, inhibiting the Strength she prided herself on.
She paused to consider whose room she was in. "Sorry, Quentin." Then she unleashed a double kick that sent two spurts of fire at Noman. Her kicks looked to be lacking their usual strength, but the fire was just as deadly.
Noman sidestepped with his shield raised and taking care to avoid stepping on the yellow flames. Already, the room was feeling like an oven, but he used the blind spots made by her flames to sneak around and get behind her. His last Splash Potion of Slowness was ready.
This should make things simpler. He thought before throwing the potion at her exposed back.
Quicker than a whip, Serafina snapped out a back kick that sent a burst of fire into the thrown potion. The potion evaporated with a hiss and Noman had to narrowly duck to avoid getting hit by the same fire. He was too close to chicken out. His momentum was already carrying him forward. He brought up his shield and swung it flat-side into the back of Serafina's fiery head of hair.
Resound! He named the Aikido one-hit stun technique.
There was a dull thunk of wood on skull, and Serafina lurched forward. She jerked around almost instantly, still conscious, her yellow eyes unforgiving.
Noman brought his shield between them just in time before a jet of flame crashed into him and sent him sprawling atop Quentin's bed. Another stream of fire followed, prompting Noman to use the Bottes Zephyr to leap for the ceiling. The stream of fire followed like a flame thrower, sweeping the room and scorching everything to ash. Noman, overheated and sweating, had to keep moving to avoid it before finally escaping to the above floor to catch his breath.
Why didn't it work!? He thought worriedly as he looked to his shield. I hit the back of her head. I heard the impact. Why isn't she knocked out?
He hurried out of the bedroom and onto the mezzanine as smoke started to fill the room. Serafina walked up after him with her Spider Hack, her eyes scanning for him. The smoke and fire didn't bother her thanks to her AntiFire Hack, whereas for Noman it was a constant environmental hazard.
Out on the mezzanine, Noman did a couple more swings with his shield. Swinging with the flat-end of the shield produced the greatest surface area. It also had the most air resistance or drag, since his shield had to swing through a mass of air before hitting Serafina's occipital bone. He needed to cut back on the surface area. It would be harder to land a hit, but the hit would have more impact.
He tilted the way he held the shield so it swung edge-side. The test swings were faster as the shield could now cut through the air in a solid line. Also, the edge was made of iron, not wood. Stronger material, stronger impact.
It also meant he'd be more vulnerable since his shield wouldn't be flat in preparation for defense. He was taking a risk.
Okay, I'll do it this way. He decided, cooling himself off with more packed ice before readying himself.
Serafina burst out of the bedroom with her legs swinging. Noman blocked the flames with his shield only to freak out when Serafina took advantage of his blind spot to shorten the distance. The flare kick that followed knocked him over the mezzanine railing, forcing him to use the Bottes Zephyr to keep himself from falling. The Hacker lunged after him from the railing, wrapping an arm around his neck and choking him while dragging him down.
Serafina twisted her body to free up a leg for a kick, but Noman flailed his own legs and countered with an air block before the flames could touch him. He fished out an ender pearl and chucked it at a lower floor to escape her hold. Without anything to support her, Serafina plummeted.
"NO NO NO!" Noman shouted in raw panic, fearing the Hacker would fall to her death. However, Serafina was able to catch herself on the railing of a lower floor before hauling herself up. She glanced up at Noman's relieved face with a questioning look.
"You almost look happy to see me save myself." She called up before using her Spider Hack to casually walk up the walls. "I thought you wanted these boots? Where are the weapons? Where is the bloodlust? I haven't needed my Regen yet."
"I'm hoping you'll see the error of your ways and return-"
"Error of my ways? I've done nothing wrong. You're the one breaking into my home looking to steal what's mine."
"Those boots were Ferriday's and you know it." Noman countered as she climbed up to face him. "You killed him and stole the boots."
"To unfreeze a sibling. What would you do to save someone you care about?"
"Then why are you leaving your siblings frozen!? They don't want to be here!"
"SHUT UP!"
Serafina lashed out with a series of flying kicks that sent yellow fire screaming towards the shield-bearer. Just like before, Noman capitalized on the blind spots. He threw an ender pearl at the ceiling and warped above and behind Serafina just before her fires hit him. It was already so hot in the space above her, but Noman endured as he threw another ender pearl straight down, warping within the Hacker's guard. He tilted his shield edge-side as he swung for her occipital bone.
Resound!
The shield cut through the air faster than before, the metal edge of the shield striking in a horizontal line across the back of Serafina's skull. There was a sharper crack as Serafina stumbled forward.
She recovered quick, a hand clutching her head as she turned with an incensed fury.
It didn't work!
Noman brought up a leg to meet hers, the air blocks of the Bottes Zephyr blocking the yellow flames of the Stivali Magma.
Serafina's free hand held a sword, which she buried into Noman's gut. He hadn't been expecting a sword. He was too focused on her legs and the flashy flames.
His diamond chestplate lessened the damage, but the sword came as a surprise when Serafina was using kicks all the time. Noman leapt back as the Hacker followed up with jump back kick that unleashed a burst of fire upon Noman's shield. The burning metal seared his skin as his back struck a bedroom door and left him a little dazed.
"OOOUGH! These wretched things!" Noman raised his shield, expecting more fire, only to find Serafina's hands grip the edges of his shield and try to pry it away from him. Noman held strong, able to match her while she was still inflicted with Weakness. "Alec died for these damned shields! I never had a problem burning insects before, but here you are, blocking my every fire!"
Why didn't the technique stun her!? Noman thought desperately as he and Serafina wrestled the shield between them. What am I doing wrong?
"Gimme that shield!" Serafina wrenched it left and right, unable to extricate it from Noman's grasp. She tried kicking him in the struggle, but her Stivali Magma was thwarted by Noman blocking with his own Bottes Zephyr kicks. "Ugh! Enough!"
She spun in place, her boots summoning fire along the floor. Noman kicked into the air and narrowly avoided a floor full of flames that did nothing to Serafina.
The smoke and heat made Noman feel feverish, his head swimming as he felt faint and coughed forcefully. His vision grew hazier by the second. His brain struggled to think.
I can't stun her. I can't... stun her. I can't stun... her. I can't... think... or breathe... I can't breathe. He stumbled out of reach before dropping through the hole in the mezzanine, Serafina screaming after him.
A few floors down, Noman cooled off enough to toss an ender pearl and warp to safety. An Endermite spawned and nibbled at his ankle, but he quickly kicked it off the mezzanine before tending to himself. He placed a bucket of water down and stuck his head under it, feeling the difference immediately. He gorged himself on cooked mutton and rubbed more of the packed ice on his neck and chest.
That was too close. Another second and I would have passed out from heat stroke. Hovering above her while she's spewing fire is just a bad idea. Noman looked at the Bottes Zephyr on his feet regretfully. I can't evade her with these. Not without overheating or choking on smoke.
The other thing dogging his thoughts was the one-hit, back-of-the-head strike that wasn't doing as advertised. It connected and was sharper, but not enough to knock out Serafina.
I need less drag. Less resistance. Noman thought as he inspected his shield and turned it sideways. Even less.
Instead of asking himself what he was doing wrong, Noman thought back to what Master Bailey used on him. He knocked him out with just a stick.
...
Just a stick...
Noman held his shield up to his eyes. Flat-side, it was a rectangle coming at you. Edge-side, it was a line coming at you.
He angled the shield towards him.
Corner-side, it's a point coming at you.
That had to be it. Using a stick, Old Man Bailey had the least amount of resistance as he put all his force into a single point. A thrust that had all his power concentrated in one point. That's what it took to knock someone out. A single, sharp blow to the back of the head.
Striking with the corner edge was the closest his shield could come to that kind of force. If it didn't work, then the shield could never pull it off.
But none of that mattered if Serafina never gave him another chance. The Weakness had to have worn off; she'd be at full Strength. She had been struck twice to the back of the head already. She was likely expecting it now. Her sword got him the last time, and striking with the corner of his shield gave him even less time to bring it back to defend himself. The definition of maximizing offense by sacrificing defense. If he missed, or it didn't work, he knew he'd catch fire and it'd be over.
I just need a window. He thought as he wiped himself down with packed ice. Something to catch her off guard.
As luck would have it, he had the very thing in hand.
[Obelisk: West Side]
Triggerbot!
Kal shot an insanely fast, scorching beam of smoke from his left eye. It was a Hack he remembered seeing from his former siblings, young and old. The ability to attack what one was looking at. All it required was eye contact. The beam of smoke was half as strong as a standard hit, but five times as fast. Furthermore, it could be kept on as a continuous stream of smoke, wearing away at an opponent like a stream of hot water melting an ice cube. While Kal wasn't quite at that level, he could at least hit Null from afar. The downside being that a newly awakened Hack was generally more taxing and less effective until being properly trained and tempered.
"You awaken a new Hack," Null spoke slowly in his usual soft echo, "just to hurt me...?" Dark smoke flared from his eyes, scaring the watching Griefers into taking ten more steps back. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
Null vanished in a rush of wind only to be met by Floyd's equally as fast and powerful tackle. His Speed cooldown had finished following Kal and Null's shouting match over Adina, and now he was back in the game.
"What's wrong with you!?"Floyd gritted out as he and Null partook in a brief contest of Strength. "You kill people for nothing like it's nothing!"
"You act like you never squashed a bug in your life! Millions of living things die inconsequential deaths every day. Why should this be any different?" Null shouted back, his fist enlarging and swallowing Floyd's. "Crafters are selfish, pathetic parasites! Lowering yourselves to their level, it's a wonder you two have any Hacks at all!"
A Triggerbot beam weaved through Floyd's legs and struck Null in the blackened flesh where the sun don't shine. The moment's distraction allowed Floyd to free up an arm and launch MultiAura spikes into Null's face and neck. They all bounced off harmlessly.
"My Hack isn't Vulnerability, children!" Null put more force into the oversized hand and grabbed Floyd's whole body before shoving him into the ground. Then he used Speed, dragging Floyd before him and leaving a groove in the savannah dirt and grass. "And that's what you are! Children!" Null tanked a Triggerbot beam before seizing Kal in his other oversized fist and slamming him into the ground. "You're both rebellious children who have no idea the sacrifices your family has made for your sakes!"
Null brought up both Floyd and Kal in his oversized fists before smashing their heads together and dazing them. Kal's Enderport activated and warped him behind Null, but the fedora-wearing Hacker was left reeling from the attack. Floyd's head throbbed and felt a bruise blooming. Still, he vainly shot more MultiAura spines into Null. The older Hacker was unamused.
"Nothing is more precious than family!" His words were at odds with his actions when he swung Floyd around like a ragdoll before hurling him into an acacia tree. Floyd slumped to the base, stars dancing in his vision. "Yet you two killed your own brother and sister - people who would have done anything for you-"
"If they would have done anything, they would have left well enough alone." Kal coughed out, one eye glaring hateful at Null. "They gave me everything except my own problems to solve. Because God forbid, I start having feelings for anyone other than my sister-!"
There was a sound like a spinning jet engine as Null used his FightBot Hack, his body spinning and generating so much smoke he resembled nothing more than a black tornado as he came hurtling towards Kal. Like the Tasmanian Devil. The fedora-wearing Hacker tried pouring down water to slow his rotation, but Null used his NoSlowDown Hack to speed through the water unimpeded. NoSlowDown, AntiSlip, FightBot, Strength, Speed, Invulnerability. They all combined to create Null's unstoppable attack.
Kal chucked his last two splash potions just as Null made contact, the tornado pummeling Kal to within an inch of his life before throwing him over the watching Griefers and into Kivu Lake.
As Kal went under and ripples spread on the surface, he would have drowned if not for Null walking on water with his Jesus Hack and hoisting Kal out, dripping wet and beaten, by his leg.
"303 wouldn't have given up on you like you did him." Null noted grudgingly. "And neither will I. But you two problem children definitely deserve a frozen timeout."
[Obelisk: East Side]
"Don't I know you from somewhere?"
Soul grimaced, both at the question and at the massive iron cleaver stabbed into the ground near and over where his neck lay. Giovanni was standing over him with a puzzled expression, his boot pressed next to Soul's chest as he peered down at his face.
He wore the Severe Shield and the Arcticum Arma. Particles of Slowness and Weakness were swirling around him along with his smoke. The Paragons had managed to splash him...
Soul tilted his head and let out an aggrieved whimper as he saw the remains of Dyson and Stayer. Splashing Giovanni with Slowness and Weakness had been their dying act before the Hacker's empowered Reach bifurcated them.
He looked to his other side and saw Anibal still encased in ice, a triumphant expression frozen on her face. The Griefers watched from a distance, not one daring to defy Giovanni's orders to leave her be. They didn't risk getting close either, even though the battle looked wrapped up.
"I swear, I've seen you somewhere before." Giovanni repeated as he scrutinized Soul's face. Was that the only reason he wasn't killing him? Plain curiosity? Soul hated being singled out when everyone else was dead. Why was he so lucky? "It's odd because most bugs I come across end up dead, but you look like someone. Who do you look like?" He racked his brain for the answer. It wasn't hard given how eerily similar the situation was.
Once again, Soul was the sole survivor of Giovanni's efforts. Anibal didn't count since she was basically as good as dead to him. He was on his own, just like when Giovanni froze and shattered Captain Obsidian. That's where he knew him from, but Soul was afraid to reveal it. Giovanni's curiosity was the only thing keeping him alive. Or maybe it was caution meeting a familiar face.
Still, Soul had options. Options that amounted to running away like he had before. Like he got on Floyd's case about when it came to Silent. God, he hated himself.
Soul's fingers brushed against the Stasis Map ready at his belt.
'Floyd. Ciro. Kal. Noman. Anibal. And me. 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.'
Those had been Carys' preventative measures - the whole reason for the Stasis Chambers in the first place. And yet, neither Dyson nor Stayer were willing to throw down their maps while Anibal was a frozen captive. They threw down potions instead and died for it.
What must Spaatz and Reuben be thinking back at Tinker's mansion, seeing Dyson and Stayer's blips go off and activating Stasis Chambers only to come up empty and realize they were dead? What must they be wondering seeing Anibal's blip still active when she was really frozen and at Giovanni's mercy? Were they considering bringing Soul back or questioning why he didn't drop his Stasis Map?
Dyson and Stayer were dead.
And for what!? For the flawed notion of infantry? A thousand soldiers dying would be worth it just so one could capture the flag? Was that what they died thinking!? Was that what Captain Obsidian and Silent died thinking!?
They were three people now down to one! There was no chance Soul could make the most of Giovanni's slowed and weakened state. Not while he wielded two artifacts and was more powerful than ever! Soul almost wished he was dead to not have this damn pressure on his shoulders - he couldn't finish the mission! He wasn't skilled or smart like the others! He was a single infantry against a tank that couldn't be harmed, couldn't be damaged, couldn't be killed, and couldn't be overpowered! Escape was the only option! To hell with Anibal for losing the Severe Shield in the first place!
Yet, for all his disparaging thoughts, Soul merely toyed with the Stasis Map at his belt. He didn't toss or withdraw it. He didn't even grab it. His fingers just played with the paper as his red eyes stared in wide-eyed fear into Giovanni's orange and black.
"This is bugging me, where have I seen this bug?" Giovanni thought aloud, his memory pulling a blank. He didn't even remember him, and it was with indignation that Soul finally broke the silence.
"Outside of Akasha." He gritted out, fed up with the waiting.
"Outside of...?" Giovanni's eyes lit up and he laughed. "Oh, the bootlicker, that's right!" He slapped his knee as he doubled over in hysterics. "Here I am thinking you're some kind of pivotal person from my past or whatever, but you're that guy I let go! Hahaha, what are the odds, right? Unless..." He paused. "Did you come for revenge for that giant?"
Soul gnashed his teeth as he kept silent.
Giovanni wore a skeptical expression. "You're not the Lighter or Darker Billionth, are you? No, how can you be when you were willing to lick my boots clean as polished mirrors?"
Soul's face twisted at the shameful memory. "If you're going to kill me, just get it over with!" He tried to be brave, all thoughts on the Stasis Map forgotten. No matter how badly Anibal screwed up, he couldn't abandon her to be raped by Xavier, or to be shown off as Giovanni's latest trophy. He couldn't live with himself leaving someone to a fate worse than death. Neither could Dyson or Stayer.
But Giovanni wasn't about to kill him. Not yet. Not when he was known for humiliating his victims, as Kal described and as Soul experienced firsthand.
"Now don't be getting ahead of yourself. Maybe I feel like letting you go again, Spitshine." Giovanni taunted. Soul knew it was a lie as soon as it came out of his mouth. "Only, I feel you know some people, given how you came with Miss Snow Miser chilling over there." He inclined his head towards Anibal. "You know who gave her this chestplate. Calls himself the Lighter Billionth?" He questioned as he rested a hand on the cleaver stuck hanging over his neck. "Maybe you know the Darker Billionth too? Or the wayward brother of mine who took my girlfriend from me? Know where I can find him!?"
Soul kept quiet. He wasn't gonna sell out his friends. He wasn't going to die begging either. No more licking boots. He'd go out a man.
"I pin insects like you, you know! You wanna be a display piece!?" Giovanni continued. "Are your buddies around here or not!?" He hauled Soul to his knees by his brown military jacket. One attack and the axe-wielder would be killed by the Severe Shield. "Talk, Spitshine!"
"Come on, Hacker!" Anibal's voice rang out fearlessly. "Let's play!"
Giovanni whipped his head around in disbelief, a fistful of Soul's jacket held in his grip. How had Anibal gotten unfrozen? Did Serafina arrive and thaw her by mistake? There was no other way!
Giovanni was left perplexed when he saw that Anibal was right where he left her, still frozen. There was, however, a certain scarlet macaw pulling off a damn good approximation of Anibal's voice.
"What's wrong, you Godly superbeing?" Christopher Squawken squawked in Anibal's voice. "I thought you were going to make me pay, but here I stand, remorseless and unapologetic!" The parrot flapped its wings and flew over Giovanni's Reach slash. "Raaawk! You must not have liked Marshall much if this is the extent of your revenge."
"Bounty Day vermin!" Giovanni snarled. "My brother died so you could-!"
Giovanni was distracted enough not to notice Soul willing off his seized military jacket in motes of light and slipping away in his gray undershirt. Giovanni turned to him with a look of derision.
"Oh, this is rich. You think you can do anything?" He guffawed. "Go ahead, Spitshine, show me what you got!"
Soul stumbled away on shaky legs. Cat-Face meowed loudly as it ran in to stand before Soul and face the Hacker with raised hackles and lips drawn back in a snarling hiss. Christopher Squawken flapped over to join in the defense of its master.
What are these stupid animals thinking? Soul thought hopelessly. They can't be my cavalry, can they? I mean, a killer panda would hit right now, but-
Soul looked around desperately for anything he could use and went still spotting the broken black frame of the Nether Portal he and the others disabled so that the Hack Clan in Nitebane couldn't return right away. It was broken, but Soul had the missing piece.
Artifacts don't work in the Nether.
Soul sprinted towards the portal, his hands picking out an iron ingot and a flint from his backpack. Cat-Face and Christopher Squawken followed in his wake, a series of Reach slashes pursuing them.
Soul ran serpentine and looked over his shoulder so as to change direction or dodge anytime one of Giovanni's slashes was close to killing him. The Hacker was still afflicted with Slowness and Weakness, and it was dulling his movement speed. As he was, he was unable to stop the axe-wielder from reaching the portal frame, inserting the missing block of obsidian, and crafting a flint and steel.
"That's your brilliant plan? Running away to the Nether?" Giovanni taunted with a harsh laugh. "You were fine sticking around when the girl was doing the fighting. Crafters will abandon anyone to save their skin. Not like our clan."
Soul didn't immediately light the portal. He paused at the threshold, turned to face Giovanni's sneering grin, and uttered four words.
"I watched Sandra die."
The Hacker's grin became strained, black smoke billowing out of his wide eyes.
"I was there, and I watched her die." Soul repeated, slow enough to stick. "I swung your girlfriend around so that she'd get pierced by hundreds of Floyd's MultiAura spikes. Reduced to a human pincushion." Soul lit the spark and activated the portal (and Giovanni's wrath). "I was holding her when she died. My hands were the last touch she felt before the end." Soul spit in the Hacker's direction. "You think about that."
Soul gathered his pets and entered the portal moments before a massive ebony crescent struck the frame. The obsidian could not be broken so easily, but Giovanni wasn't trying for that. The Hacker was beside himself. Transported by wrath as he slowly slogged towards the swirling purple portal with the intention of beheading Soul with one swing of his iron cleaver. Or even getting hold of Soul and his pets and squeezing the life out of them with the chestplate's effects.
Giovanni's vision was swimming and taken up by purple swirls as he was sent to the Nether. However, as he stepped out from the other side, his vision was then taken up by two outstretched paws with claws extended.
*MREOW!*
"AAAAUUUUGH!"
Giovanni recoiled and flailed his arms as Cat-Face tore into his smoke-producing eyeballs and ran all over his face. He couldn't understand why the cat didn't die from the Severe Shield he wore, but he tried in vain to pull the cat off him as it squirmed and clawed at any exposed flesh on his face.
"Raaawk! Fuck him up!"
Giovanni tripped and faceplanted into netherrack as Soul tackled his legs and clawed at his Arcticum Arma chainmail leggings. Giovanni threw out knee kicks to freeze the attacker, but the leggings wouldn't activate no matter how much he tried. He couldn't fathom what was going on, and the claws raking across his eyeballs didn't help matters. It didn't matter if he healed almost immediately; clawed eyeballs freaking hurt!
He banged his fist against Soul's back, but his Hacker Strength was still inhibited by those potions. The Chestplate wasn't killing him like it was supposed to! He moved slower too, unable to snag the cat scoring deep gouges in his face.
Fed up, Giovanni blindly took off into the air with Flight, his head banging on the low netherrack ceiling with Soul and Cat-Face clinging for dear life. Soul hung on by the chainmail leggings, his weight working to slowly peel them off.
I'm... not... letting... go!
Giovanni flew erratically to try and shake them, his body swooping dangerously close to a sea of lava or else pinballing against narrow netherrack landmasses.
As Giovanni took a sharp turn, the Arcticum Arma slipped off with Soul still clinging to them. He tumbled head over heels through the air and slammed into a rugged netherrack column before sliding down to a stop, the chainmail leggings held securely in his arms. He groaned as he shifted, his back screaming in pain.
*MREOW!*
Cat-Face howled above, echoed by the caterwauling screams of the nearest Ghasts who called this realm home. Soul fought to his feet and limped a few steps towards the portal before Cat-Face and Christopher Squawken teleported before him.
That meant Giovanni was no longer encumbered.
Soul didn't bother looking back as he limped hurriedly back to the portal, his hands ripping off his diamond leggings and tugging on the Arcticum Arma as one might with a stiff pair of pants. He hopped and wiggled his hips putting it on, all the while getting closer to that swirling portal.
There was a guttural howl of rage from above and behind. How far back, Soul didn't check. His every thought was focused on that portal. He forewent limping and jogged through three busted ribs and grinding agony, picking up speed as he felt Giovanni flying close. A Reach slash went right by him, sailing into a netherrack mound and cleaving through it like butter.
"Raaawk! Haul ass, bitch!"
Soul did, in fact, haul ass. Half-limping, half-jogging, the axe-wielder sucked in great breaths of air. The hellish heat made him sweat bullets as he pushed his strained body to its limit, his pets flapping and gamboling behind him.
"SPITSHIIIIIIIIIINE!"
Soul dove the last few steps, his body sailing through the purple swirling portal and back to Minecraftia. Back to the savannah in the shadow of the Obelisk. Cat-Face and Christopher Squawken landed beside him.
He felt a tingle in his legs that now wore the Arcticum Arma.
Without a second thought, Soul rolled onto his back and kicked out towards the portal with the chainmail artifact, the air freezing before it.
Giovanni emerged from the portal a split-second later.
And froze.
Soul scrambled on hands and knees backwards as the Hacker's weapon and armor were forcefully frozen off. The Severe Shield slid along the grass and the massive iron cleaver was sent spinning high into the air before it came down blade first and stuck in the dirt.
Giovanni the Hacker was frozen in ice just like his many victims, an expression of utmost fury petrified on his face as he was left unaware of what had befallen him.
The Griefers that watched it happen were silent as the grave, even as Soul shakily got to his feet and grabbed the iron cleaver.
The weapon that had once belonged to Captain Obsidian was heavy, which was to be expected given its size. Only a mountain of a man, or a Hacker with a Strength Hack could wield such a weapon. Soul had to throw all his weight into wiggling it loose before then dragging it behind him as he approached the petrified Giovanni.
He could have done it with his axe, but this felt right.
Soul hefted the cleaver with all his might over his shoulder, his face and muscles straining from exertion, before he swung with a guttural roar and shattered Giovanni into pieces.
The cleaver kept swinging before digging into the dirt and sticking there. Giovanni's gear scattered onto the dry grass like seeds in the wind. His Head stared lifeless before exuding a trail of smoke that whipped around it with mounting speed until it shot up into the sky and darted towards the Origin.
"I made you wait for it, Captain, but I got him." Soul panted, his body hunched over and his hands planted on his knees.
Not bad for poor fucking infantry.
"Lord Giovanni!"
It was like the sound turned back on. Soul canted his head and saw the thousands of Griefers bemoaning their fallen God. Many of them were paralyzed by fear or else putting distance between themselves and Soul.
A fair few were looking at the weakened Soul and readying their makeshift weapons. They were also maliciously eyeing the frozen Anibal now that Giovanni's orders not to touch her were now moot.
Soul scooped up the discarded Severe Shield and swapped out his iron chestplate, throwing away any spare armor to free up space for Captain Obsidian's cleaver. His Hunger Meter and Health Meter were low from the fight, and he had no food because he gave it all up infiltrating as a pretend Griefer. However, when he put on the Severe Shield the Hearts on his Health Meter quadrupled. Noman never let him wear it - for good reason seeing how Anibal went power-crazy - but he felt energized wearing it. Invincible.
He fought the heady feeling as he used his second wind to march towards the frozen Anibal while wearing two artifacts. The Griefers were closer, so he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"BACK AWAY FROM HER!" He injected as much raw, guttural anger as he could into his voice to frighten the Griefers into backing off. He was coming off a Hacker kill, so they had to be scared at some level. Even saying those words - He was a Hacker killer - was hard to believe.
While many Griefers were cowed, all it took was a few brave ones to get up close to Anibal and poise their weapons over her fragile, frozen neck. These guys best exemplified infantry. All it took was one out of a thousand to win. In this case, it was the desperate courage to hold Anibal hostage.
"Y-You take off that chestplate or I-I'll kill her!" One female Griefer called back. She was scared, but determined, her wooden shovel shaking as it was held over Anibal.
"You kill her, and I'll kill every last one of you!" Soul threatened back and without any of the Griefer's hesitancy. "Don't think I can't! You saw what she could? Well I can make that look like nothing!"
It was a bluff. Soul could probably kill as many if they all attacked him, but not if they ran away. He was too low on Hunger to chase anything. He had to appear strong, however, or they'd kill Anibal.
"D-Don't come any closer!" The Griefer warned.
"If anything happens to her, you're all dead!"
They were at a stalemate. Anibal getting frozen really was the worst. Stalling would've been fine if not for the fact the other Hackers might show up and kill Anibal regardless! Either from Nitebane or from the ones left in the Obelisk. Xavier, or Serafina, or Null. Soul glanced at his linked map and saw that Noman was in the Obelisk and Floyd was on the west side of it. They, at least, were fine, but what of Carys and the other Paragons?
I can't wait around all day! Soul thought worriedly, his red eyes straying to Anibal as he licked his lips thinking of a plan. His pets stood behind him, awaiting his move.
For God's sake, he just killed a Hacker! He was wearing two artifacts! Everything should be fine now, but it wasn't because the Hackers still had infantry. Pawns left for a Rook to tidy up before they got across the board and promoted. Dyson had been right about infantry being the decider after all.
So unfair! When Cobb did it in Halstatt, they all just fled. Soul thought as the seconds ticked by in tense silence. Someone get over here! Anyone!
Soul noticed something about the Obelisk, as did many of the Griefers pointing in alarm to it. The middle floors looked to be burning green.
[Obelisk: 58th Floor]
As time passed, and afternoon bled into dusk, the flames summoned by the Stivali Magma changed color in kind. Between the Obelisk's sixty-first and fifty-ninth floors, the golden flames burning without end became an emerald green. Yet the color change in accordance with time did not detract from the danger they posed, nor the heat they generated.
To Serafina and her AntiFire Hack, the heat was nonexistent. Aside from the acrid smoke (ironic coming from a Hacker), the temperature and humidity were standard for the savannah at dusk. Things were only starting to cool off as the sun dipped towards the horizon.
Serafina peered down over the railing of the mezzanine. The Weakness had worn off, and now she could focus her energy towards locating the fly in the ointment. Setting him ablaze should have been child's play, yet the infuriating fly kept slipping through her fingers. He blocked her fiery kicks with either his shield or with those strange boots of his.
Adding to that, she had to wonder where Null or her other siblings were. It was impossible to miss the fires along the east side of the Obelisk. Maybe if they were all standing lakeside, they'd miss it, but the yellow flames - now green - were bright and unnatural and drew the eye. Someone - even one of those pathetic Griefers - would have noticed and sent for aid. Giovanni would have flown up, Espen would have phased through, Xavier would have warped in, or Null would have ran down. Where was everybody?
It didn't sit right with her. The Nowhere guy had to know something. If her siblings were hurt or worse-
Serafina's head jerked as she heard a noise from the stairwell on the opposite side of the mezzanine from her. Noman stepped up the stairs, his suit still willed off and his white dress shirt drenched in sweat. He looked disheveled but determined.
"Finally decided to show up. Was afraid you buzzed off." Serafina called across before narrowing her eyes. "You know what's taking my siblings so long to react, don't you? What's happening?"
Noman ignored her as he adjusted the shield on his arm and walked to the side. Serafina walked with him towards the same side.
"You're not a lone attacker are you?" She questioned more firmly. "Hey! LISTEN TO ME!" Her smoke flared from her eyes as she went ignored. She was about to lash out with a jet of green flame when she stopped herself upon noticing the room Noman was moving towards.
Giovanni's room.
"...What are you doing?" Serafina questioned sharply before Noman took off in a sudden sprint that the Hacker matched. He was closer, however, as he wrenched open Giovanni's door and slipped inside to where the eleven frozen and fragile lost ones stood helpless. Her precious siblings.
"Don't you DARE!" Her voice could shatter glass as it broke into a desperate sob at the end. Her legs moved faster than her body in her haste to reach Giovanni's bedroom door, and she was amazed not to have manifested a Speed Hack with how desperately she wanted to beat Noman there. As it was, it took her thirty agonizing seconds to race to the door and break it down with her recovered Strength.
She barreled inside the cool, semidark room, her smoke-churning eyes scanning first for the intruder she couldn't find, then counting the eleven frozen statues in rapid succession.
Onetwothreefourfivesixseveneightnineteneleventwe-
She faltered on her count and started over, this time more patiently.
One... Two... Three... Four...
Five... Six... Seven... Eight...
Nine... Ten...
Eleven...
...
Twelve?
No, she counted right. An even dozen figures frozen in blocks of ice. There should only be eleven last she checked. And where was Noman?
Serafina stepped further into the room as she counted the statues, reminding herself of who was who. There was Boric, Ralcolm, and Nyabi, she shuffled between Zaire and Nick_Chaos, Talcott was over in the corner. Vanessa, Caesar, Isaac, Shaan, Lennox-
She tilted her head as she found the odd man out. Then, after confirming what she saw, she smiled as a wave of satisfaction and relief hit her.
Noman was frozen.
The pesky fly was frozen.
There he stood, against the wall, petrified in blocks of ice, his arms held up defensively - probably caught bracing his shield against her brother - and with all his armor frozen off. He was in nothing but his clothes, his hands empty. Another trophy for Giovanni.
Serafina giggled happily at the state the intruder was now in. She powered down her smoke and walked right up to gaze cheekily into his frozen, unaware face. "Well look at you, buster. Freeze! Ahaha, looks like Giovanni caught you first."
She had half a mind to shatter him for all the trouble he caused, but she wouldn't begrudge Giovanni his latest statue. Speaking of which where was he?
"Hey, bro?" Serafina called out, her head turning away, expecting to find him in the room or for him to reveal himself. She missed how Noman blinked behind the ice, or that it was packed ice in a column before him and not regular ice that should've encased him. She failed to notice how he quietly withdrew the shield from his backpack. "Have you been here guarding or something? The above floors are-"
Noman swung around the ice pillar with his shield reared back, corner edge out, aimed for Serafina's occipital bone.
RESOUND!
There was a loud, audible crack at the same time emerald flames burst between the two - a reflex by Serafina. The Hacker lurched forward like a puppet with its strings cut, her eyes unfocused. When she hit the ground, she didn't recover. She didn't get back up. She. Was. Out.
Noman could only wish he was out, or rather put out, as he was now swathed in emerald flames that seared his flesh and burned steadily through his Health, all the while casting the room and the frozen Hackers in a green, ethereal glow. He howled and recoiled, throwing water down out of reflex before remembering it was useless against the eternal flames of the Stivali Magma. He didn't even have the time to celebrate his successful Resound Aikido technique, or that his plan to lure and trick Serafina had worked near-perfectly.
Instead, he fell to his knees beside Serafina and wrenched the golden boots off her unconscious body. Then he slid his feet into them, the artifact's passive effect extinguishing the flames and sparing him any more fire damage. He could've passed out then and there in sheer relief.
*Yif! Yif!*
"Oh, I agree, Shiroyuki. Noman has outdone himself."
Noman's eyes snapped open as he turned to the doorway and saw Carys with a satisfied smirk on her face. Shiroyuki was in her arms as she pet the snow fox soothingly. Her eyes took in the unconscious Hacker before roving amongst the eleven Hackers left frozen in the room. Carys was an ally, but instead of giving him ease of mind, her presence put him on edge.
"Carys. You're unharmed." Noman said instantly, making her snort.
"Of course I am. I didn't fight Null, though not for lack of wishing." She added dispassionately. "I only just got here through a few floors full of green fire. The guy I went against was a real sleazebag. Glad to wipe him off the board. We can expect a new Bounty Day in seven days."
"As a matter of fact," Carys continued, setting Shiroyuki down and withdrawing her diamond scythe, "if my math is right, we got a dozen easy Bounty Days I can reap right here."
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, 59 Cooked Salmon, 55 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}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying
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, 59 Cooked Salmon, 56 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, 51 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}, 1 Totem of Undying
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 Diamond Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 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}, 40 Cooked Cod, 46 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}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying
[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, 33 Cookies, 52 Baked Potatoes, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 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, 7 Cooked Mutton, 1 Furnace, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Minecart, 1 Bed, 1 Boat, 1 Diamond Boots [Projectile Protection IV], 16 Gunpowder, 10 Ender Pearls, 1 Splash Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Slowness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}, 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 Iron Cleaver, 1 Diamond Pickaxe, 60 Iron Ingots, 19 Flint, 1 Flint and Steel, 5 Ender Pearls, 8 Gold Ingots, 11 Blocks of Diamond, 16 Blocks of Emerald, 1 Shears, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate {Severe Shield}, 1 Iron Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings {Arcticum Arma}, 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, 14 Jungle Wood Planks, 4 Bowls, 23 Red Mushrooms, 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}, 1 Splash Potion of Slowness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Slowness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}
[EXP: 42]
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 Golden Boots {Stivali Magma}, 1 Iron Helmet, 1 Diamond Chestplate, 1 Iron Leggings, 1 Iron Boots, 1 Diamond Pickaxe, 3 Cooked Mutton, 56 Nether Warts, 15 Soul Sand, 1 Flint and Steel, 10 Cobwebs, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 5 Buckets, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Brewing Stand, 15 Glass Bottles, 4 Ender Pearls, 60 Glowstone Dust, 23 Gunpowder, 12 Redstone Dust, 60 Blaze Powder, 62 Gold Nuggets, 43 Brown 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, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}
[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}, 15 Cooked Chicken, 18 Apples, 1 Bow [Power I], 36 Arrows, 7 Ender Pearls, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 40 Torches, 31 Sand, 12 Cobblestone, 21 Oak Wood Planks, 1 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: 43]
AN:Dead Hacker Count: (4) Giovanni. Respective Bounty Day: 1.19 (The Wild Update).
I'm just going through the whole list of updates, lol. To put it in perspective, 1.20 (The Trails and Tales Update) is the latest Java update that came out, like, last week. My Craft is incredibly close to being up-to-date.
I loved writing Noman and Soul's parts the most, which was basically most of the Chapter. Third person really is better for large, multi-stage fight scenes. Soul used his noggin remembering artifacts don't work in other dimensions, and Noman really used his noggin pretending to be frozen with those packed ice blocks I foreshadowed for like two chapters. You might remember he first purchased those packed ice packs as a deterrent against Captain XoX back in Chapter 210 or 211. He also had a RESOUNDing success with his new Aikido Technique. He can KO any foe not wearing a helmet! Soul and Noman both got an artifact, giving them a power boost.
And then there's Floyd and Kal, getting picked on by their jerky big brother.
One thing I'd like to mention, I drew inspiration for the Hackers' names from the manga Bleach, during the 1000 Year Blood War Arc. The Quincies each had a power based off a letter. Well, the Hackers' names - lost ones and indoctrinated ones - are all derived from letters of the Spanish alphabet, as well as combinations of letters that make certain unique sounds. Run through the list of Hacker names and you'll see what I mean.
Only one chapter to go before Part VII concludes, then hiatus. Should be out before the eight year anniversary of this story. It's crazy I've been typing this for eight years between jobs and real life. I wonder how many of you readers stuck with this story that long?
FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. FORUM. DISCORD. ITALIAN CHOCOLATE DIPPED COOKIES.