Who Lies in the End?

Ch 54: 27 "We'll be fine,"

"Is the coast clear?"

Sapnap peaked his head down the neatherrack halls, and when he saw nothing, he leaned out the window to his two companions, "Nothing so far."

Dream nodded before taking a step back. He got a running start before jumping up to the windowsil. His hands gripped the ledge where Sapnap helped him up the rest of the way. Once he was in the fortress, Sapnap went back to watch duty and Dream turned back to George.

The outlaw steadied himself on the crumbling window sill and held out his hand for George to take. The duke took a running start before leaping onto the wall. He clasped onto the offered hand and Dream lurched forward with the added wait; however, he braced himself on the wall, but the blob on his shoulder wasn't lucky.

George managed to catch the falling blob with his free hand, "You didn't put this in your bag?" he leveled Dream with a serious look.

"It didn't like it in there," Dream huffed as he heaved his partner into the fortress, "Maybe you should hold onto it."

George nodded and went to place the creature in the bag, but it wiggled in protest, "Alright, alright," he ended up setting the blob in the small space between his neck and his armor, "but don't move too much."

It nodded in response and nestled down in its spot. Beside them, Sapnap began to creep down the hall, motioning for the others to follow when the coast was clear. They knew the plan: the three of them were to infiltrate the fortress and hunt down blazes. As soon as they had nine blaze rods, then they would run back to the portal. If things got dicey, they had Ranboo and Tubbo waiting on the Nether side of the portal as backup.

For the most part, the plan hadn't changed, but there was one thing that did. It confused Dream, but he was unable to stop it.

"Okay, so Sapnap, Dream, and myself will go to the fortress," George explained as Ranboo passed out the prepared gear, "We'll keep it just the three of us for stealth; however, if we need help, Tubbo and Ranboo will remain at the portal," he turned to Bad with an apologetic look, "I appreciate you staying behind."

Bad waved off the concern, "It's fine. It's not often you get to go out, so I'm glad to do this for you," he smiled.

"Wait," Dream furrowed his brows as he glanced over the group, "Where's Fundy, Sam, and Karl?"

"I sent them out on a separate mission, so they won't be joining us," George explained as he donned his diamond armor.

"Wouldn't it be better to have them with us? The more people we have, the safer we will all be," he kept his tone matter-of-fact, but there was a hint of irritation.

"We'll be fine," mocha eyes never looked at Dream as George spoke, "It's important."

Dream had wanted to push the issue, but he knew it wouldn't solve anything. Especially not when the trio had already left that night. He didn't want to admit that the lack of help made him nervous, but it did. The thought that they're shorthanded plagued his mind with grim thoughts and dark possibilities. The worry only stirred his anxious feeling more.

But he couldn't linger on them now. He had to stay focused and aware as they snuck through the empty halls. Monsters here were deadly, and while blazes were fearsome, the withered skeletons were Dream's biggest concern.

Sapnap rose his hand as they rounded another corner, "Do you hear that?"

They all fell silent and listened. A few moments later, they heard the metallic sound of roaming blazes. Dream raise his shield and readied his axe. Behind him, George slipped his bow from his shoulder and knocked an arrow, while Sapnap wielded his diamond blade. With a simple nod from the outlaw, Sapnap sprinted forward unleashing the first swing upon the blaze.