Corrupted - A Hermitcraft (and Empires) Fanfiction

10: Cub

Yes, skulk talking is still bold but an entire conversation in bold would look weird and the skulk would just hear it as talking normally 

I need to kill something.

I'm barely flying straight away from my failed attack, dizzy and almost blind in the scorching light. I need to kill something and then get underground... the vexling hit me hard. Harder than it should've. And now, trying desperately to cover the bleeding with skulk, unable to see the ground and slowly growing faint, I know I've stayed out too long. Put myself in danger. Already... I dive, skulk wings spread behind me... the ground appears... nearby, there's a whole set of cows in a fence. 

Perfect.

I glide over, landing, burying a catalyst below the ground before killing the whole pen... skulk spreads beyond the fence, starting what will soon affect the whole server. The souls start to heal my injuries, but I still need to get into the dark before I faint from the light. How far is it to the base? I take to the air again, flying low to the ground in case I blackout and drop from the sky , trying to connect to Xisuma and the haven of skulk... there. I'm heading the right direction, connecting to the skulk, and letting it lead me into the dark to safety.

'Xisuma!' I call as I hit the ground, sending a signal through the skulk. 'Help!' I stagger along, further and further towards the safety of darkness, regaining some but not much strength and vision... I know which way to go, but I'm still weak to get there alone, injuries still burning despite the help of the souls.

My knees hit the ground, but I can feel his approach, running closer until he's here... a flicker of souls at his fingers, healing the rest of my injuries, bringing me a little more strength before he drags me to my feet and forces me alone.

'What were you thinking? Staying out so long?'

'The vexling nearly killed me. I needed to heal myself.'

'Not in sunlight like that... come on. I see you're come back alone as well.'

'It got away.'

'Then you will try again tomorrow and succeed... come on.' 

I follow Xisuma down into the darkness, collapsing onto a bed of skulk the first moment I can.

'Regain strength for a while. And don't be so stupid in future. 

I don't have the energy to reply, instead falling into unconsciousness.

As much as Xisuma wants success as soon as possible, I'm not risking dying to the sun again and wait until night to strike. And it's as I'm disobeying his commands for the greater good of skulk that I hear it. 

Invaders.

I pause at the ripple in the skulk, listening to see if I can hear any conversation. 

'...we could just See them from the surface.'

'It's because skulk is basically anti-magic. It stops our watcher magic.'

So there are 2. 2 watchers, new allies, venturing down where I'm already stronger. A better and easier catch than I was anticipating. Gathering more skulk as I go, I head off to confront them, silent. 

'This place is creepy...' I hear through the skulk, louder. Closer. They're not that far, just around the corner where I hide, waiting to hear their footsteps echo past. But a flicker of light is the first sign. Of course. They can't see without it yet.

I slip closer as they pass, unnoticed until-

'PIX!' The smaller, winged, Watcher screams as I hold him back. Skulk around his wrists to stop magic, sword against his neck to stop escape. Easy.

'Wrong way,' I hold the sword closer as he struggles, blocking the way out behind with a wall of skulk. 'Pity you can't turn back.'

'Let him go, Cub,' The other demands, still holding onto his torch like it'll do any good. 'I don't want to hurt you.'

'Neither. A pair of Watchers like you would be perfect for the collection. Especially after I messed up getting the vexling yesterday.'

'Scar's better than you!' The watcher I'm holding spits. 'And so are we!'

'Are you?' I hold the sword even closer until he can't speak, continuing failing to escape. 'Now, I'll bring you safely over to Xisuma who'll properly deal with you. No damage done, no fighting needed. Or, you can try and fight and I'll drag you screaming and bleeding back to the same result.'

'Let him go.'

'Did you not hear my options or are you weak Watchers deafer than I remember?'

'Let him go or I kill you.' A diamond sword appears in the other  hand. I laugh.

'How would Scar react to you killing his precious best friend? And how would you even get me?' Another tendril of skulk, up the other Watcher's legs. 'I could just let the skulk take over now. It's this one here who'll tell us what we want.' 

'Pix...' 

The other watcher - Pix - struggles, trying to cut himself free before switching weapons to a bow, aiming and-

Pain. 

An arrow hits my shoulder and I fight a yell of pain, stumbling back, forced to let go of the Watcher. He falls to the ground. I pull the arrow free, letting the wound cover with skulk before I bleed too much... but the winged watcher's already crossed the room, trying to cut the other free. 

'Grian, let me free you first.' Pix mutters. Just before my skulk can trap the winged Watcher, he stands, letting Pix cut through the skulk around his wrists. Purple Watcher fire bursts from Grian's hands, burning through the skulk. I charge, sword in hand, shield in the other catching another arrow. But the pair are running for the skulk wall already. I turn to attack, risking the massive loss of energy of shooting soulfire towards them... a scream as it hits Grian. The other keeps him up as he almost collapses. They're through the wall. I follow slowly, regretting the failed attack. All  I have left is the skulk, and even that is useless as they run faster than I can summon it, sprinting up and up and away their footsteps quieter until they're out.

They escaped.

Hehehe skulky magic funnn