Hermitcraft/Empires oneshots/drabbles

The Tyrant (Pride month special) Pt 5

Etho's communicator clicked softly. Pulling the device out of his belt, he tapped the hologram until the messages showed up. Reading it, his eyes widened, and his mouth fell open underneath his mask. At the same time, Doc turned to him. 'Those idiots.' Etho said, before he could stop himself. Iskall's hand went to their neck, then remembered their communicator didn't hang there anymore. The others shot Etho and Doc quizzical looks.

'We need to get out.' Doc continued moving. 'Xisuma is calling the others to go attack the Tyrant. We have to leave before that happens.' More potion, and the seven were invisible again, running out of the palace and towards safety.

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The closer to the Tyrant's safety bunkers that they got, the more guards that populated the halls.

They were all no match for the Hermits, all invisible, fanning out around the routes. One by one, they were all killed, the Hermits slowly working their way to the centre, undetected.

Until their invisibility started to flicker out at the wrong time. A guard noticed the weird, ghostly spectres, flicking in and out of view for a few seconds, and opened her mouth, yelling for backup. The only noise that left her throat was a strangled gargle as a arrow buried itself in her neck, but it was too late. The sound had alerted people further up the halls, who took up the call, discovering the intruders.

'Damn it!' Scar cursed from the rafters, bowstring vibrating from his shot. He hadn't been fast enough to kill her in time, but he did manage to kill a few more people as they scattered. 'Hermits!' Xisuma's voice rang from one of the other rooms, voice echoing through the building. 'We need to get there, now!'

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The Tyrant stood in the centre of his bunker, scowling. His gloved clinked as he steepled his fingers. He hated this. This waiting around, waiting for someone to kill him, or for the guards to kill them. He wasn't scared. He didn't cower in a hole like a mouse.

Just as he was about to open the door and charge outside, there was a quiet noise above him. Almost miniscule, but he knew it was the vents. He could barely look up and throw his hands up before a shape descended on him.

With a cry, Grian flared his wings and landed on the Tyrant's back, slashing with his talons. The man screamed, bringing a hand up and punching at his face. Grian blocked with his wings, and the Tyrant's spikes gauntlets buried themselves in his feathers, sending spikes of pain through his shoulders. His inner Watcher churned, sending a feeling of mild nausea over him. No. He thought, wrestling the Tyrant to the ground. No, not now. You can't emerge now.

There was a quiet shattering noise, and Bdubs and Stress dropped through the vents as well. The three were the only ones small enough to fit in the tiny pipes. Grian watched in horror as the Tyrant snapped his head up, then threw the bird hybrid right off his chest with a yell. 'You all thought you could defeat me? Just three of you?' He snarled. Stress charged at him, throwing harming potions from each hand, but he just caught them. Her eyes went wide as she discovered her mistake, but she couldn't dodge when he threw one back, hitting her in the face. She collapsed with a shriek, deep cuts appearing in her flesh. Bdubs lunged out away from the second potion, but it caught his shoulder and sent him reeling as well. The plants hanging from his shoulders started shrivelling.

Something inside Grian snapped. Roaring, the purple rose up, spreading across his limbs. What am I DOING? He screamed internally. No! Stop!

I'm free, answered another part of his mind. The Watcher is free. Kill the Tyrant, Grian. Feed the inner demon.

Vision tinted red, Grian rushed forward, barely noticing the look of horror on the Tyrant's face as he was thrown backwards. Panting, Grian loomed over him, then threw his head back and screamed as the Watcher transformation completed. His claws curved, growing sharper and longer. Talons burst out of his feet, shredding his boots, and a second pair of holographic purple wings sprouted from his back, jagged and above his natural wings.