The Blood God's Disciple

Chapter 1

Many years later, Techno still had trouble coming to terms of how he got here. Walking through the server hub, royal cloak draped over his shoulders, making his way to the MCC server for season 2.

He might not have grown up in war like his little brother Tommy, but that didn't mean he was less of a soldier. From the young age of three he'd been introduced to true loss. From age eight, he'd made a promise to protect his family. After many years of training, both mental and physical, he'd gone into a bloody battle for the first time.

Sometimes he wondered if joining Dream's server had been a mistake. Then he would remember his promise to keep his father safe. 

"There it is!" The man is question startled him out of his thoughts. "I think we're here a bit early."

"Ehh, more time for practice, Dad." Techno answered.

Philza chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go see who's been put on our team."

The two stepped into the portal and Techno let out a quiet sigh as it whisked them away to the server.

It was silent for some time as the two made their way to the event building.

"Do you need to make an offering before the game?"

Techno nodded. "Let's check in first, then I'll head to the nether."

"Okay." Philza waved over one of the even coordinators. "Where's check-in?"

"Oh! It's just down the hall. You two are pretty early today, but a couple veterans have already checked in."

"Alright. Is there an easy-access nether portal nearby?" Philza added.

The coordinator nodded. "We set one up by the volcano area."

Soon enough, the two were checked in and making their way to the volcano.

"We actually got FruityB and TapL on our team." Philza grinned. "I'm glade they're actually splitting up our server more."

"Tell me about it. Just wait until the Dream Team gets here. I really hope Dream doesn't cash in his favor during this."

"What's another crown to a king." Philza sighed. "At least you fought for your titles."

Techno shook his head. "I'd rather not think about the SMP. It only makes the voices worse."

"Speaking of, " Philza stopped in front of the nether portal, shooting Techno a concerned glance. "Everything okay concerning them? Not too bad?"

Techno stepped up onto the obsidian platform. "I'm fine, they're not overbearing right now. Just a bunch of E's."

"Well, good luck on your offering, or whatever you do. I'll be back at check-in, getting our team together."

Techno smiled, stepping into the purple vortex. "See you in a bit."

_____

The nether was always calming to Techno. Not as a home, not as a place of peace, but as a place to just be. To exist.

The voices always quiet as he gets closer to his patron's land.

The land of the Blood God.

Techno breathed in the bitter, hot air as he trekked through the landscape. Soon he spotted what he was looking for. A sacred bastion, a place of worship for Piglins.

He made his way to the grey temples, greeting the caretakers. They were called brutes by overworld dwellers, fiercely protective of the structure. Techno walked inside calmly, knowing he was in no danger. The Piglins weren't scared of him, but they knew better than to get on his bad side.

Finally, he reached the gold room. Carved into the back wall was two faces. One, was piglin. The Blood God himself. A retired ruler who was gifted immortality by the watchers. And the other...

Techno swept his cloak to the side as he bowed. Xelqua, the Blood god's disciple. Not many players knew about the child the God had taken interest in, but those who did, the few Nether Spirits and those of Piglin blood, often dream of meeting him.

It was strange, knowing the Xelqua could be his age. A young man, taught by the Blood God himself. Techno had trained for many of his adolescent years, learning about his new heritage. He was born human, after all. Just like Xelqua.

Techno still remembered that day, if only vaguely. He, Wilbur, and their late brother had been playing in the garden of their father's world. Philza had just gone inside to retrieve a picnic basket. He remembered a Piglin, one of the outlaws he'd later learn, had attacked the three boys.

He remembered putting himself between the Piglin and his brothers, despite how young they were. He remembered his arm flaring up in pain. He remembered being thrown backwards, Wilbur letting out a scream.

He remembered Philza running out of the house, sword in hand.

He remembered his father was too late.

Techno let out a quiet sigh as he pulled out the block of gold he kept in his inventory and placed it with the others. He knelt down and bowed before the carvings.

"I present this offering to the Blood God and his Disciple. I do not ask for much, just for bravery to go ahead with this competition. I will be the only one with Nether blood who is competing this time. Give me courage so I may represent our realm well."

He waited for a few seconds before standing up. He always made offerings before every war that meant something to him. He never asked for raw strength, never asked for an easy win. He knew he had to work for those.

He only ever asked for courage and wit.

Techno made his way down, to the edge of the bastion. He hesitated before stepping out, drinking in the rare peace he had from the voices. It was a curse, one he'd taken on when he was young. Cursed by one of the Blood God's foes. Back then, the voices were too much. Calling for blood, to kill everyone he held dear.

He remembered his deal. He was fourteen, maybe, kneeling in a bastion. Praying for a solution.

A young boy, wearing a blood red cloak had appeared. His eyes were dark and his hair was a mousy blonde.

He'd spoken quietly, an odd British accent coming through.

"My name is Xelqua. Your god has sent me to make a deal. He might not be able to get rid of the voices, but if you swear your allegiance to him, he can change the message."

Not once had Techno ever regretted that deal. From hat day on, the voices only called for blood for his god. They never called for the blood of his family, except when deserved.

And he had Xelqua to thank. And maybe... maybe he would be able to.

His mind ran back to a few MCC's ago. A man his age, with dark eyes and mousy blonde hair, wielding an axe as he singlehandedly took down the Lime Liches. Techno hadn't gotten many glances at the player, but the similarities had piqued his interest.

Then, last MCC, he saw the player again. Winning two dodgebolt matches in a row, only to be targeted in a reverse sweep.

His heart beat faster at the thought.

It was all too possible. The physical similarities, the raw ability to even take down Dream? Maybe, just maybe, Xelqua was closer than he thought.

Techno stepped out of the bastion, the voices returning is whispers.

Xelqua was the Blood God's second in command. Techno would not let his rulers down.

He had a championship to win.