Hidden Powers

The Great Duel

Phoenix versus Wither. A battle of the strongest powers to be found in the Nether. Grian could have never imagined what a duel to the power of the throne could look like. It was magnificent and horrifying all the same.

Tango had fully transformed into a flaming phoenix, his colors molding together in the blaze of fire. Flaming swords lay grasped in his talons as his wings held him aloft. The king had turned into a Wither, floating from some unseen force. He was a covered in black robes and had a silver mask covering his face. The black light was still in his cupped hands.

Both of them landed on the ground and a stare off ensued. No one could tell what the king was thinking, his face was covered. Tango shifted ever so slightly, making his wing feathers flutter a little.

"Attack!" One of the guards broke the tense silence and charged Grian. The other guards followed his lead and proceeded to fight the two intruders.

However, the Netherite potion, and possibly their blood, made them stronger than ever. Grian was a raging dragon, still human, but with his wings and a sword as his weapon. Mumbo surprisingly had a bow and took to the air. Some of the guards followed suit and tried to follow him. Mumbo's arrows flew true and soon the guards decided not to rush him.

After twelve guards lay unmoving at Grian and Mumbo's feet, the Netherite guards decided to leave them alone.

While the guards attacked the intruders, Tango and the King had started their duel. Dark magic flew from the King's hands, while fire blazed from Tango's sword. Wither King shot a blast of lava poison at Tango, making him screech out in pain.

The sword was thrust into the old king, instantly killing him. The king was no more, but Tango was dying. Mortally wounded, he was going to leave the mission in jeopardy.

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The searing pain, the agony, the poison. The lava poison. Only pain filled Tango's mind as he fell to the floor after delivering the final blow. His transformation crumbled away, leaving his weak body. His wings were no longer flaming, and they drooped at his sides, making his condition even more evident.

Mumbo knelt by his side, his red eyes observing where the poison hit. A direct blow to the heart, it looked grim for Tango. He knew that he wouldn't be able to survive this, as he saw the bright red-orange of the poison making its way across the veins and arteries of his body.

"Oh no...." Grian whispered as Tango felt himself slipping away.

"The stone," He rasped, surprised at how quickly his voice had deteriorated. Rasing his hand took more effort than he had, so he settled for simply opening it and letting the stone float out. Even that motion almost made him black out, but he would hang on as long as possible. "Take it."

"I can't." Mumbo shook his head, Tango was not going to die on his watch. He put his palm on Tango's heart and closed his eyes.

"What..." Tango tried to speak, but he was slipping away.

"Shh." Mumbo kept his eyes closed and put his finger to his lips. From the spotted vision Tango had left, he saw a green glow appear around his heart. His brain started to throb less, and it took him a second to realize that the lava poison was no longer spreading. In fact, it was starting to retreat, even the old poison stuck in his system from before.

As it all got sucked away, Mumbo's eyebrows drew closer and closer together. In one final blast, the poison got sucked out of his body and into the air. It floated in a evil orb, encircled by green light before vanishing in a poof.

Mumbo fell backwards, his tail and wings crumpled beneath him.

"Mumbo!" Tango's energy came back to him as the pain faded and sat down beside Mumbo. "How did you do that?"

"I've been learning a lot of things lately." Mumbo said, his voice quieter than usual. His eyelids fluttered, a representation of how much of toll his body had taken.

Grian sat down on Mumbo's other side and looked at Tango. "So you're a phoenix. That's extremely rare."

"One in a million generation." Tango agreed, fishing out another energy potion. He tipped the liquid into Mumbo's mouth, making him sputter a little before he gulped the healing juice down.

Once Mumbo had recovered and dragged his body up, they were ready to go.

"I need to stay here," Tango told them, trying to give them the stone again.

Grian studied him, reminding him with shock that Grian no longer had his green eyes. "Tango, I realize that you cannot leave, but if we do not have your help, there will be no Nether or End or Overworld. Is there anyone you can trust to take care of this place while you are gone?"

Grian's words made Tango realize that he would have to come along. Only he could use the Nether stone, and to unite the stones they would need every guardian.

"Yeah," He nodded thinking of his best friend in this dimension. "I think its high time you meet my best friend, Fireren Mingral."

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Mumbo hadn't known who he would meet, and he certainly wouldn't have guessed Tango was talking about the beautiful person standing in front of him.

"Guys, this is Fireren." Tango draped an arm of his fellow female Netherite. "She is the smartest, bravest person I've ever met. "Fire, this is Grian and Mumbo."

"A pleasure to meet you, miss." Grian gave a small bow, a curtesy for meeting a Netherite.

"She is the only other Netherite currently living that has the full phoenix transformation." Tango looked at her firey red wings that complimented her bronze colored hair. Her green eyes sparkled, and her figure perfectly curved around her slim tail. Instead of horns, pearl colored feathers popped out of the crown of her head, somehow making her seem even more majestic. "Fireren will be ruling the kingdom while I'm away, since now I'm king."

Tango didn't seemed the most pleased at that fact, but it was the only way they could get the stone back. "She will also be escorting us back to our dimension, to ensure that no one will get in our way."

"I heard that you have created a double, Grian." Fireren's voice was melodic and carried around the room, even though she hadn't spoken loudly. Grian rubbed the back of his neck a little shamefully. "Best of luck getting him back to his universe."

As they prepared to take off, Mumbo wondered if he would still be able to fly. Thankfully his wings did not fail him, and soon enough he and Grian were soaring after the two phoenixes.

"They are on the road about a mile down." Mumbo shouted out, since the two Netherites were more experienced fliers and therefore faster fliers.

"I think I see them!" Tango shouted back, diving downwards. At this point everyone had spotted the huddled group of humans on the side of the road. When they landed, everyone stepped back a little, leaving Xisuma in the front.

"It's good to see you Tango," Xisuma looked warily at the small group of Netherites.

Tango turned towards Mumbo and Grian, motioning for them to come forwards. "I will be joining you. Grian has also come aboard.

"Grian?" Iskall stepped forwards making everyone else come forwards as well. "What happened to you? You look so different."

"Well we got transformed into Netherites, and Grian decided it was time to grow a beard and cut his hair." Mumbo replied, making Iskall spin towards him.

"Woah, just gotta say that that mustache does not go well with the whole dragon vibe."

"So I've been told." Mumbo muttered.

Xequla remained behind, the only one who hadn't stepped forwards. Wels looked back and forth between the Grians from alternate universes. "Wait...."

"Long story," Mumbo interrupted. "How about we tell you all about it when we get back to the Overworld?"

Fireren handed Tango an emerald. "Safe travels, Tango."