Freeze or Fall

Chapter 43: Thaw

Hey guys!

Okay so, I missed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Some things happened, stuff out of my control. I do have the next two chapters drafted however, just not published. Tomorrow I will attempt get 2-3 chapters out, but I can't make any promises.

Even so, it's been a wild ride, and I can't wait to finish off this story :D

Also adsgfhjkj there is so much narration in this chapter wh oops

__________

They'd gone over the plan many times.

It had been revised, reworked, and rethought altogether.

They'd been stuck, trying to figure out what to do. That was when Joe had pulled out a concoction of crystals, and explained how he'd collected them and had been experimenting for a time. He hadn't had a breakthrough, but perhaps if Scar and Grian worked together, they could figure something out.

Zed had then ran over, excitedly chatting about his own findings from talking with the void again. Apparently, after the void hadn't found anything the first time, it had reached out to the End and had searched for any non-voidling creatures.

In doing so, the void had discovered that the enemy hivemind goop had in fact been born from the End, and as such had the same weaknesses in the overworld as any other pure voidling like Xisuma.

Not only had it explained the weirdness about ET keeping to the End, but had given Scar and Grian a head start in their work.

Grian was doing a bit better after the events of the day before, thanks to a lot of encouragement and tons of hugs. He was faring way better than he would have a year ago, when this whole mess had started.

Before long, the Hermits had broken into groups to come up with a better plan, already intent on getting this over with.

Ex had made a comment about "hermit resiliency" before getting dragged into Scar and Grian's experiments. Scar had let out Wizard Scar, embracing his job.

Before long, they had a new plan.

Main team was Grian, Doc, Scar, Mumbo and Impulse. Backup was Zed, Iskall, Keralis, and Joe. Everyone else was ground support.

This time, the goal was to find Taurtis and get him out. Both Grian, Scar, and all of Backup were armed with Scar's newest concoction: a crystal full of everything voidlings hate. Made with Ex's input, of course.

And now, the main team was hiding near the base, waiting for the signal.

"I think this is gonna actually-"

"Grian! Don't jinx it!"

"Sorry Impulse."

"Shh." Doc whispered harshly. "Hear that?"

The group of five fell silent for a few seconds. The sound of swords clashing and fighting could be heard in the distance, along with the sound of three fireworks going off in quick succession.

Mumbo jumped up. "That's the signal! Let's hurry."

The team ran over to the base, breaking in as quietly as they possibly could. Once inside, they split up, Grian slipping Scar and himself under some glamour with an invisibility potion just to be sure. Impulse and Mumbo took the rear and Doc the front, forging ahead in hopes of coming across somebody.

It wasn't long until Wasp was standing in their way.

Doc and Impulse leapt into battle, Mumbo playing the support character. The three managed to back Wasp into a wall, allowing Grian and Scar to sneak past.

Unopposed and confident, the duo hurried farther and farther into the base, finally ending up at the doors to the main room.

Renbob, after he'd recovered, had drawn out a map of the place, drilling it into Grian's mind. If ET and Taurtis were anywhere, it was gonna be in here.

Taking a deep breath, Grian pushed the door open, ready to rescue his best friend.

There was only one person in the room.

And it wasn't Taurtis.