Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was fog. A heavy suffocating fog, and it was too quiet. All his life Techno could not remember a time where it was this quiet. The annoyingly comforting sound of the all too many voices was but a dull throb in the back of his head now. His mind felt slow, not quite unlike the feeling of just waking up. The world a million miles away. But distantly he could begin to feel the echo of sound reaching his ears again.

It was disturbing. Without the constant noise of everly insistent voices, he almost felt entirely too empty. He swayed slightly and with rising awarity realized he was knelt on the floor. His hands splayed in front of him to help keep his balance. The longer he waited, sat on the floor like he was, the quicker the sounds around him started to reach clearity.

There were people. He was sure of it now. He could hear talking, and it sounded like an argument was about to break out, just by the rise in one of the individuals' voices. It was gruff and sounded extremely annoyed. Distantly he thought he could recognize this voice, but a high pitched ping interrupted that thought. This sound also caused him to twitch slightly and he slowly cracked open his eyes.

He first saw his hands, and they were placed against a cold stone floor. He could feel the comforting weight of his infamous dark fur lined red cloak, and a slight turn of his head confirmed its place upon his back. His mind was slowly coming back to clarity and he instinctively catalogued the position of the sword at his side and the trident on his back. Sparing just a moment to wonder why neither of these items were in his inventory but instead on his person.

Techno forced his mind to pull itself out of this mental fatigue, but there was something there. He could feel it, a physical wall in his mind. It was preventing him from becoming fully conscious. His fingers twitched, and he wanted to so desperately reach around his side to clasp his sword. To protect himself. Everything was too confusing. Where was he? His last memory before this, what was it?

The ground in front of him glowed softly, and he wondered why he hadn't noticed it before. His eyes sharpened, and a crack split its way partially down the mental walls in his subconscious. Carved in the stone and painted in what Techno could assume was blood, were deeply elegant lines and curves. As he took a moment to study them he thought they looked similarly to enchanted runes, but many things were off. For a surface level beginner it would not be hard to mistake these as runes, but Technoblade had spent too long at enchantment tables to see that these were too curved. Many looked like they were missing bits. Important little marks that wouldn't fully complete the enchantment without them. And these runes were set in a circle. Stretching several feet out and around him. Dully, he realized he was placed in the deadcenter.

This sent up many red flags. He huffed out a harsh breath, his nostrils flared with rising fury. Spiderweb cracks swiftly moved along the mental walls enforced in his mind, now he was sure they were placed there by this enchanted circle he sat prone in. Seeping through those tears he could hear them.

Techno!?
How do we get to him!?!
Blood!
Where are we?!
Blood for the Blood God!!
He hears us!
Finally!
TECHNOBLADE!

Relief weighed heavily in his mind before he quickly realised the sounds of people talking had abruptly stopped. He hadn't exactly been trying to keep himself quiet in the presence of individuals he couldn't immediately recognize. Too caught up in his own thoughts and inner struggle. But with half a mind now functioning he slowly raised his eyes and in turn his massive head and snout. Quickly he catalogued the 6 people in the room. Each of them positioned equal distance around the outer edges of the circle he was placed in the center of.

The smallest of the group jumped slightly at his slow movements and the arms he had holding out in front of him quickly folded in closer to his chest. Each of the individuals had long dark robes on with hoods drawn up over the tops of their heads and faces like some kind of cult. ‘Perhaps it is a cult’ Techno thought dryly.

“Hey, keep your hand up!” Shouted the one to the immediate left of the smaller individual. Quickly the boy rushed to extend his arms out in front of his body again. Techno only assumed this was a young boy because of the soft yelp he made when the older yelled at him. And isn't this just the strangest circumstances Technoblade had ever been in. He really should be reacting to this more, but the cracks in the walls around his psyche seem to slowly be mending back together. He felt too docile, too subdued, and it ate at him. The voices slowly faded again to just a dull background noise.

“We can't let all this hard work be for nothing, I thought I taught you better. Stay Focused” The taller gruff man said. He was clearly the ring leader of this little cult group. And he only had one hand up. Techno thought he could see a faint purple light twist and wrap around this man's fingers before they weaved together and alarmingly made their way to rest along his forearm. In fact, each individual had a faint light connecting from their hand to some part of Techno. The ring leader's other hand held loosely onto some kind of staff, or maybe even walking stick? It wasn't very impressive, and was clearly if not a little beat up.

Technos mind lulled and that was the last clear thought he had before the weight of keeping his head up became too much and he reluctantly let it fall. He was staring at his hands again, and that fog, that god awful fog was there and it was all he could do not to slump to the side and fall asleep.

“God damnit Tubbo! What a wonderful time you chose to grow a backbone!” Techno flinched slightly as the gruff man from before spoke up in a harsh tone.

“B-but look at it! This isn't what we wanted right?! That's clearly not him, so why even complete the summ-”

“Shut it! So what if it's not him? Look at this beast! We can still use it!”

Tubbo? Did that man say Tubbo? And the boy, he certainly sounded like Tubbo. Use it? Use him? They were talking about him right? This was so frustrating. Why couldn't he think straight. Why was Tubbo here?

“Make sure you hold him. I wanna see if this thing can talk.” There was a shuffling and what sounded like a metal pipe dragging on the floor. The staff? Two pairs of shoes were suddenly in his field of view. Partially covered by the long robes each of the cloaked individuals wore. They looked distinctly like dress shoes his mind idly thought before the man was suddenly knelt in front of him.

The hand not holding a dirtied staff firmly grasped under his snout and pushed his head up. From what little Techno could see of this man’s jaw he was scraggly. Clearly not pressed into putting that much effort for appearances. But his jaw was strong and he was clearly smirking with too much mirth. Technos eyes were half lidded, and he was sure he looked like a completely docile pet at this exact minute. His fury rose.

“What a fascinating animal. It looks to be some kind of pig or boar?” Technos head was pushed left and right as this man took his time taking in his features. Like some animal at auction.

“Those tusks look menacing.” The man said with clear mockery in his voice. “Tubbo, don't you want a closer look? It's quite fascinating really.”

Out of the corner of his eyes Techno could see the boy stiffen and shake his head. The gruffer looking man tilted his head in the boy's direction before huffing. “Fine, your loss.”

With a loud clang the man had set his staff to the ground in a non-to gentle manner before lifting his now free hand up to pull back the hood of his cloak. If Techno had half a mind to react right now he would have aggressively jerked his head out of the palm of this man's hand but his mind was too muddled to even keep up with anything that's happening right now. Distantly his feeble mind supplied him with the right name to give this individual. Jschlatt.

How, how! Jschlatt was dead! Had been dead for a long time now! The curve of his horns and his greasy dark hair, it was all the same. Just like how Techno had remembered him. Just like how that man had placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a light push in the direction of a boy. A boy stuck between a podium, a wall and himself. “I need you to take care of this traitor for me, Technoblade.”

“Hey, Hey, stay with me bud. I know there's a sentient creature in there somewhere.” Fingers were snapped in front of his snout and he was abruptly pulled from his own mind. Whatever kind of influences had their hold on him it was entirely too easy to get lost in himself. That had felt way too real for his liking.

“Listen here, I'm going to let go of your chin. And you better hold your ridiculously heavy head up on your own got that?” Abruptly the hand was gone and Technos head bobbed slightly before he stabilized himself and was able to stare at the man on his own.

“Good, good. Can you Speak?”

Techno let out a rumbled huff before nodding his head twice. The movement made him slightly dizzy. And he had to squeeze his eyes shut to stop the world from spinning. Looking up at Schlatt again he could see the man had a slight frown that quickly morphed into a terrible smirk.

“I don't know Tubbo,” Schlatt twisted his head, looking back at his smaller companion. “But if I had to guess, I'd say this is a blessing from our beloved god. Certainly not what we originally intended, but I could definitely make this work in our favor.”

It was then that he shifted his full attention back to Technoblade and what Techno he saw in his eyes made his blood run cold. Jschlatt’s eyes were black and filled with a terrible emotion. The intensity nearly caused Techno to turn to the side and vomit. ‘What is this? What is being planned? Why was he here? Why couldn't he move or even think straight?’ There was too much happening, too much confusion.

His breathing began to pick up, and his attention shifted to the side of Jschlatt's face. He was sure his pupils were blown and he slowly, achingly, clenched his hands into fists against the floor. Just vaguely out of the corner of his eyes he could see Schlatt’s eyebrows scrunched together.

“We better complete this summons before this thing gets any bright ideas,” slowly Schlatt lifted himself up to his feet and began to shuffle back to the outer edge of the circle where he originated from.

“Are you ready to end this Tubbo? Once he's fully under my command we won't have to worry about him anymore and we can try another summons in a couple weeks,” Jschlatt reached the edge of the circle before turning around and lifting his arm. The wispy tendrils of light once again wrapped around his fingers and began their descent to reach Technoblade.

This wasn't good. He knew this wasn't good! All of his instinct screamed at him! The urge to fight was a desperate plea in the back of his mind. The urge to defend himself, to stop whatever was happening. His body just wouldn't move the way he wanted it to!
Desperately in a last ditch attempt he lifted his eyes to the smaller figure. Jschaltt couldn't be reasoned with. The man was a maniac and insane. In that brief instance where techno looked into his eyes he could tell something was wrong. This wasn't the Jschlatt he remembered.

Technoblade forced himself to push as many pleading emotions into his eyes as he could, and altho he couldn't see Tubbos face clearly he heard a slight intake of breath. His ears twitched at the quiet noise. The boy flinched back a step, and the wispy tendrils around Tubbos fingers started to break apart and slowly fall to the ground before disappearing entirely. Not unlike the delicate webbing of a spider's thread.

And already the wall was cracking again. Splitting and splintering in all different directions.
Schlatt abruptly turned to face the shaking boy. “What are you doing! We have to finish this, otherwise this beast will just be sent back and we'll lose this valuable opportunity!”

“It-it's not right!” Shrieked Tubbo. “I never should have agreed to this!”

“Agreed? You think you had a choice!? You're my boy Tubbo, you do what I tell you to!”

Abruptly Tubbo stopped shaking. His hands balled into fists, and he quickly turned on his heels. Rushing to the middle far wall of the room where there was a doorway leading out, what Technoblade could see now was the lone entry and exit point.

“Tubbo!” roared Schlatt before he too abruptly turned and began chasing after the boy. Already at the door and pushing through it to follow the smaller individual. A few audible gasps could be heard from behind Techno, the last of the remaining cultists becoming aware of the light of the runic circle surrounding him beginning to dim out.

But Technoblade didn't care. He didn't care at all about the remaining people in the room. His mind was clearing. The wall was tumbling down. Crashing and burning around the edges of his psyche. The fog drifted away and everything was becoming so much sharper. They rushed at him and surrounded him blissfully. The voices once again filled his mind and made him feel whole again.

Technoblade!!
We’re free!!
FREEDOM!
Blood!
Escape!!
We have to get out of here!
Jschlatt?? How??
Blood for the blood god!!
Murder!! How dare they!
But Tubbo...
We have to Kill them!!
Blood!!
BLOOD!!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!

The voices were intoxicating, more so then they had ever been. And Techno could physically feel them begin to move his body without his say so. Slowly he reached around to his side and delicately placed a firm hand on the pommel of his beloved sword. With no effort he positioned his hooves under him and stood in one swift, elegant motion.

There was a soft mangled cry of fear to his back side, and he realized with no short amount of pleasure that with the way the room was set up and the position of the door and runic circle, the remainder of the people in this room were pinned against the back wall. None of them having the courage to slide along either side of him in an attempt at reaching the door and escaping. Schlatt and Tubbo having already left, completely abandoning those left behind. The door, still slightly ajar from their rushed exit.

With the brief absence of the voices, even for as short a time as Technoblades sure it was, their influence over him has never felt this strong. The absolute insanity and confusion surrounding this situation did not help in the slightest and Technooblade could begin to feel his consciousness ebb away slightly as he allowed the voices control over his being. His mind almost taking backseat participation.

Brought up to his full height, Technoblade completely towered over the remaining individuals. With a tilt of his head he gave them all a prolonged side eye. He could see them each cower and push to the two opposing corners of this room. The smooth sound of his sword being pulled from its sheath enough to make one fall to their knees. Head in their hands and a loud sob could be heard. It was then he turned to face them completely. The voice's influence over him had never been this strong. He let out a loud breathy snort before he began to move forward.

--------

Schlatt had a firm grasp of his upper arm and with a hard jerk pulled him along the corridor back to the summoning room. Tubbo didn't put up much of a fight. All of the anger had already fled his body the moment Jschlatt found him not half an hour after his impromptu flight.

“I can't believe you Tubbo! Those idiots better still be holding that beast. I don't pay them to slack off.” Tubbo was sure the mages back at the room would be asking for a raise after this. Having to sit there and hold onto a summoned creature like that can be draining on someone's magic sometimes. Tubbo could still distantly hear his father prattle on about the mages and about him but he elects to drown it out. It isn't anything he hasn't heard before. He knows he must be disappointed in his son, in him. He would be too.

But that beast, it had looked at Tubbo with something so human and not at the same time. He couldn't place it. Binding a creature like that had felt so wrong. He knows he's just going to go back in there and do it anyway. Because that's what Schlatt wants. It's not even as bad as what their original plan is. He shudders just thinking about it and is somewhat relieved their summons had not actually summoned who they originally wanted to bind.

Abruptly Jschlatt stops and Tubbo has to catch himself from tripping over his own two feet. His hood had been pulled back sometime during his mad dash so he had a very clear view of the broken and splintered doorway leading to the room he had just escaped from not too long ago. There's blood smearing the side of one of the doors. The only one left standing in fact. The other must have been pushed so harshly it landed against the opposite wall. And there's a person pushed against it. He must have been flung at the door with enough force to completely fly through the entryway, taking one of the doors with him.

Tubbo quickly shakes out of Schlatts grip on him with surprising ease before he makes a quick look up at the man to see the shock plainly in his eyes. He only gives it half a thought before he's rushing to the side of the fallen magician. The man is slumped forwards in a completely unnatural position. Blood is seeping down his temple and with rising horror Tubbo can see part of his skull is caved in. He quickly looks to the side, hand shaking and he visibly has to restrain himself from puking. He thinks back on that pleading look the beast had given him. Imagining himself in the same position this mage is.
He was a fool.

Tubbo hears footsteps behind him and looks up to meet his fathers cold stare before they both turn to look into the open doorway and the horrors that await them inside.

Chapter Text

It had not taken Technoblade long to escape out of what he realised now was an abandoned temple of some sort. The only individuals he made contact with were the ones that had greeted him upon awakening in this decrepit old building. The ones that had attempted to do something he couldn't even wrap his mind around. Granted the old temple was a maze, very large but entirely abandoned. Once the light of day could be seen it wasnt difficult to follow until he was out.

It took longer for the voices to simmer in their need for blood and vengeance. The deaths of those in the innermost rooms of the ruins had quelled them greatly. Enough so that Techno could wrestle back control of himself but they still whispered words of vengeance and retribution. Which was familiar, and not at the same time. The voices had always been a part of Technoblade. Sense his trials back in the nether, but they were stronger now. He had never been fully taken over by them like that before. Their influences certainly had a modicum of control over him in the past and a lot of the choices he has made has had them play a part in it.

He regrets the massacre of those cloaked individuals. He could have gained valuable information from them. And they could have been innocent. He also regrets fleeing from the ruined temple as quickly as he had. Tubbo could still be there, as well as Schlatt. But he needed to quell his voices. To find his center and re-evaluate his circumstances. And as much as he hates to admit it, he was terrified.

He was terrified of the control in himself, the entirely bizarre situation he was in and the fact that Jschlatt was no longer dead.

The Ruined Temple was surrounded by forest on every side. A thick dark wood that intimidated those of a lesser standing, but all Technoblade could feel was relieved. He stood in the opening between the ruins of the temple and the cool comfort of the forest for only a moment. Taking in a deep breath, he looked down at himself and noted the splattered splashes of quickly drying blood on both his white elegant dress shirt and on the lighter shade of his fur lined cloak. The voices screamed at him, wanting more blood, more violence. Just more. He needed to leave, quickly. Letting the warmth from a late afternoon sun warm his hide just briefly, he pushed himself in a heavy set run towards the trees.

He ran for several hours. Completely losing himself in the thick bramble of the tall trees. The further he got the more he was able to calm himself. To clear his head and quiet the voices. He immersed himself in the familiarity of a forest. Something so common and normal. Compared to the chaos he had just endured. By the time he stopped he had worked up a good sweat and was huffing through his nostrils. It had felt good and worked out excess energy he needed gone from his system in order to fully settle himself. The trees were tall and all encompassing around him. Only the bare flecks of lights could be seen peeking through the thick canopy above. It swayed with a warm breeze and Techno closed his eyes to imagine himself in a more familiar setting.

The forests outside the ruins of what once was Lmanburg, or even more familiar to him the thick woods surrounding the entrance to Pogtopia. Even though those memories were not the fondest to Techno, the thoughts of them grounded him in a way, and brought his mind back to the present. ‘Where do I go from here? Where even was here?’

His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance and concentration. Techno brought his left hand up to pinch the space between his brow as he fought to remember. How had he ended up in this situation? What even was this situation? His memories of the past few days were fuzzy. Small snippets of events he had done slowly breaking through to be remembered. Domestic moments, Moments he found now were a lifeline. Dinners with Phil, Exercising Carl, the soft times in-between sleep and work were he would sit at his desk reading and writing. Unfortunately though, the rest of those thoughts would have to be put on hold. Techno shook his head and glanced up to see the flecks of light streaming through the leafy treetops begin to dim out slightly. Signifying the end of the day. If he didn't want to fight mobs all night he had better get to work creating a shelter. Techno paused, alarm quickly flashing through his eyes. He had just tried to access the system, look at what he had in his inventory. But nothing happened. He tried again and again but to no avail. ‘Was it broken? That couldn't be any good.’

Taking a moment to fully eye his surroundings, Technoblade affirmed himself of his current solitude. If he couldn't access his inventory he couldn't fully protect himself. He huffed frustratedly before taking full stock of what he had on his person and absently pushing himself to walk in a random direction. If he couldn't build himself a shelter by any of the normal methodes he was used to he'd just have to improvise.

Technoblade remembered he had already taken note of both his trident and sword. The thought now makes sense why they were physically here instead of in his inventory. It seems currently the use of that space isn't an option right now, something Technoblade hoped would be fixed soon. Luckily though, strapped along his belt were a few other items that would be useful. Taking inventory Techno noted down in his mind he had on hand two strength pots and one greater healing pot. He also had a small hand axe, covered and strapped to his side, Idly dangling off his belt.

The three potions were in a square pouch on the other side of his belt. This pouch had never been there before. In fact there were a lot of new additions to his otherwise very sparse outfit. The axe and sword at his hip was one of them, but he also had many bits of herb and nether wart hanging from his belt. Potion ingredients. And on his right leg, around his thigh was another satchel strapped in a tight leather band. Inside held many little containers.

Techno had to stop and squint at them in the dying light. These small glass vials held Gunpowder, Blaze powder, Redstone dust and even Glowstone dust. The soft flecks illuminated in the quickly dimming shade. Techno quickly shuffled them back into their pouch. Choosing to worry about what this meant for a later date. Quickening his pace he jogged to the base of a tall tree. If he couldn't wall himself off then it would be best to position himself somewhere with an advantage from most mobs.

Taking no time or effort at all he swung himself up into the higher branches, positioning himself on a thick bough. Techno took a moment to reach out to the nearby clusters of leaves and branches. Wedging them between each other and positioning them around himself in such a way he was decently hidden. Content for now he slumped with his back pressed against the trunk of the tree. Again he tried to contact the system, but with no response. His eyebrows knit together and not for the first time he thought about what his future would hold.

--------------

Technoblade sat up with a start. His heart racing he quickly took in his surroundings. There was a gentle light peeping out from the horizon. With his position still in the upper branches of a tree he could peek through the leaves and see the beginnings of a new day. He had fallen asleep. Which was odd. Techno could remember going days without sleep or even on rare occasions he could go even longer. His times in Pogtopia needed him awake for stretches at a time without the barest wink of sleep. He had planned to stay awake that entire night to ensure his own safety from mobs or anything else that might stumble his way, but the fact that he had fallen asleep. Without a proper bed too, it was unsettling.

The sturdy leather strapped across his chest was a reminder of the trident he had pressed to his back, and the awkward positioning it had been in for him to lean against the tree. He could feel his shoulder was sore too, and so he elected to push himself out of the tree and land with a heavy thump to the forest floor. He gave his sore shoulder a good few circular motions to work out all of the kinks, as he pushed himself from a crouched position to standing at his full height. Has he gotten taller?

All of those cloaked individuals were a lot shorter than him, and even now where he is standing his ear tufts are brushing the bottoms of the tree branches. ‘It must just be a coincidence. I should keep moving, hopefully find a village. Get my bearings. Phil’s probably worried.’ He was putting all of his hopes on a village. Techno dreaded the idea of confronting Schlatt for answers, His best bet was to get connections from the village people. Hopefully they could direct him to where he needed to go. Back to the main hub of the DreamSMP, or even just the anchor point of whatever server he had happened to wake up in. Technoblade chose a random direction and just kept walking.

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It took Technoblade a lot longer than he would like to admit for him to realize that he isn't in the DreamSMP anymore. It took him even longer to realize that he was in a completely different plane of existence too. But that came later. At first he had suspected that perhaps he was on another server of sorts. One that just had different rules, but no matter how long or hard he tried he could not access his inventory, or the system. Having to resign himself to the items he had on his person. Oh, what he wouldn't do for a golden apple, just for the comfort of it in his inventory.

There were a lot of things that just didn't add up for a normal server. At night no mobs spawned, at least not in a normal way, nor were they normal mobs. The things Technoblade had stumbled upon were the likes he had never seen before. Large reptilian beasts. Enormous in size with additional appendages that looked like wings. The one he had seen had been too far up in the air to properly make out. At first Techno just thought it was a large bird, before its scales glinted in the moonlight and it let out a distinctly not bird noise. It was a dragon, something only found in the end. The thought that something like that was just casually traversing the overworld made Technoblade uneasy.

Techno had also spotted large Wolves. A lot larger than the ones he was used to. They were a good distance away and Techno thought it best to just avoid them entirely. The uncertainty of this world makes everything a danger. He also couldn't find many of the normal mobs that would spawn during the day. There was not a single wild bovine. Nor could he find any sheep. He used his trident to skewer rabbits and large pheasants. Sustaining himself on their dried meat and wild berries. He wished he had his bow. If he could find a village he'd set up a temporary base nearby and make himself many of the supplies he was missing as well as trade with the villagers.

Another issue was how tired he found himself after a full day of walking. With the absence of many of the mobs he was used to, the idea of traveling at night was quickly becoming a more and more welcome idea. Especially since he had been walking in this forest for a good week now and the only dangerous encounters he has had so far were those two occasions. But his body would not allow it. He was always forced to hunker down somewhere. He elected to continue to spend his nights in the higher branches, as his body would need the time to rest and the advantage of a higher position put his mind at ease.

It was around his first week of travels he finally accepted the fact he wasn't in the DreamSMP anymore. It was also around this time he just thought of turning around and heading back. There was nothing out here and he desperately needed to get back to Phil. If that meant confronting Schlatt he’d just have to bear with it. Just as he was having these thoughts though his ears pricked at a distinctly non forest sound.

Technos head swiveled in the direction of the noise. It was a quiet thud, thud, thud. He recognized it almost immediately. It was the sound of someone chopping down a tree. Steeling himself, Techno quickly began jogging in the direction of that sound. What he found was indeed a village. Although it didn't look at all similar to any of the villages he was used to. It was larger than a normal server size settlement, and the buildings general design and shapes were different. He stopped at the very outskirts, just as the tree line broke. It looked as though the village was in the process of a slow expansion. The forest surrounding it was very slowly being whittled away at by the residents.

There was a man several feet out in front of him, focused intently on a tree halfway to being chopped down. It was here Technoblade realized he wasn't on a server anymore. The fear and shock in the man's eyes when he saw Techno made him stop his attempts at approach. His hoof stilling, before being taken back a step. The poor man stumbled backwards before losing his footing entirely and ending up splayed on his backside. He was trembling, sweat streaming down his face and tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Techno stood stunned, his words of assistance stuck on his tongue as he watched the man struggle to breath.

It was certainly uncommon to have a pigling wandering the overworld, Technoblade knew that. Any of the new villages he’d visit they'd all give him a lot of space whenever he’d enter their town. But eventually they’d get used to him. Warm up to him even, as he brought business and trade. Never had Techno seen this reaction.

“D-Demon…” The man stuttered the words out before scooting backwards and clumsily turning himself around before half crawling half running back to the houses. Skidding onto a half finished stone road before running out of sight.

“DEMON! It's a demon!! Call the guard! Help, help! It's a demon!”

Technoblade continued to hear the distant yelling as this man ran further into the settlement. Shortly after there was the sound of loud bells ringing. And Technoblade jolting where he stood. Still stunned from such a visceral reaction. The distinct chime sounding like it was coming from a far off building that looked somewhat like a church. He swiveled his head in that direction. Distantly, he realized it looked similarly to the building he had escaped from just a week ago. Albeit not in ruins and a lot smaller. Still unbelieving of the situation, Techno just stood there. Processing the events that were happening. If he couldn’t get assistance from a village, how was he going to leave? If he couldn't even ask one of them a simple question before they screamed and ran off, how was he supposed to get back to Phil?

It wasn't long though before a new sound joined the melodic chimes of the bells. It was another noise Technoblade could distinctly recognize. It was the sound of metal armor clanking together. And not just one person either. This was the sound of a lot of individuals approaching. Instinctively Techno gripped the pommel of his beloved sword and looked towards the houses the terrified individual had run towards. ‘Perhaps I can just talk to them, even just get a few words in.’

He wasn't given any time at all to explain his story as a dozen or so guards rushed from behind a building. The first six taking up position in a row before kneeling down, their shields pushed in front of them to create a barrier. The remaining guards set up position right behind, bow and arrows in hand. Techno gawked at the efficiency of them. Already they were drawing back their arrows and at the shout of one of the ones knelt in the front, their arrows were let loose. Technos eyes widened in surprise. Not even any form of communication? Just straight to murder. Quickly he pushed himself to stand in a position behind the tree the villager had been cutting. Thankful that it was only a step away from where he had been left standing.

The sounds of the arrows impacting the tree and the land surrounding him made Techno realize how truly outnumbered he really was. Twelve to one. They had armor he did not. This situation was not ideal. He pressed his back to the trunk of the tree, looking out at the forest just several steps away.

Technoblade.
We can take them!
These poor humans don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into!
WE CAN MASSACRE THEM!
BLOOD!
Blood for our god!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

Techno shook his head at the sudden influx of noise. They had been noticeably quiet these last couple days. Never truly gone but subdued. Techno felt the arm holding his sword begin to pull the blade from its sheath. And he watched in morbid curiosity as he positioned the blade in front of him without himself actively wanting to. If anything this was a time to flee. There's no harm in running from a fight you can't win and this was definitely one of those times.

NO!!

His head swayed, He stumbled forwards. His body hunched over his blade. ‘W-what.. What is happening?’ Distantly he heard another shout and the thull thuds of arrows hitting the tree and surrounding shrubbery. This was the moment, This would be the ideal time to sprint in the opposite direction. While they were busy loading their next round of arrows. With one heavy hoof he took a step in the direction of the forests beyond. Desperately pleading with his body to take cover in the direction of safety. His sharpened Hooves digging into the soft dirt. Before promptly turning on his heels and delivering a devastating blow to the trunk of the tree he had been taking cover under. His body betraying his mind.

It gave with a loud splinter and snap. The villagers previous chopping aiding in the heavy evergreens downfall. It tilted and began its descent directly towards the guards. They shouted in alarm, the ones kneeling desperately struggling to right themselves. Technoblade jumped onto the still falling tree and in the chaos none of the soldiers saw or expected Techno to come down with it. Many of the knelt guards did not have the time to move and were pinned under the branches of the tall evergreen, while the rest stumbled to combat Technoblade.

But it was laughably easy to dispose of the remainder of them once he was inside their guard. Lost to the whims of his influencers. His Netherite greatsword makes quick work of their flimsy iron, and it doesn't take long for him to be standing in a field of bodies and downed men. He breathes heavily. Hot breathy snorts leaving his maw as he stares blankly at the twelve guards he had disposed of or incapacitated.

There's a soft pained cry to his right and his attention shifts to see one of them pinned underneath heavy branches. He's struggling to free himself. bow and arrow lost as he pushed desperately on the bough pinning his lower torso.

Amazing!
That was so much fun!
Technoblade really is the best!
Still one left!!
More BLOOD!
MORE BLOOD!!

Technoblade pivots his hoofs and begins walking towards the downed soldier. His netherite longsword trailing behind him, leaving a slight groove in the dirt as he pushes forward. The man stills, panting heavily. Sweat clinging to the back of his neck. The soldier's helmet is gone. Having fallen off or been taken off sometime after the tree had fallen. With every heavy step Techno took the man flinched and further curled in on himself. Soon Techno stood over him, completely blocking out the sun.

Tightening his grip on the pommel, Techno lifted his greatsword in an elegant arc. Preparing to swing it down and deliver the killing blow. Fearful eyes looked up at him and he faltered. This man, no this boy, looked at Techno with absolute fear, but also resignation. He was going to die. He knew that. Tears streamed down his face. The lad laid back and closed their eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

A quiet gasp left Technos parted snout and he stumbled backwards, his sword cutting down to imbed itself in a thick branch. He had almost done something he would have truly regretted. This guard couldn't fight anymore. At this point he was a non combative. But he had also killed and heavily injured the others. By all rights they had attacked him first, but this didn't feel right. With a heavy tug he removed his sword and sheathed it.

The sound caused the young boy to snap open his eyes and he give Techno a disbelieving look. Techno just stared at him before stomping in the direction of the forest. He could feel eyes on his back, not just from the downed soldiers but by other villagers brave enough to gather close to the commotion.

The voices had influenced him once again. They were a lot stronger here then they had ever been. He needed to look into that. He couldn't be lost to their control at every high stakes situation. He needed to find someone reasonable enough to talk to as well. He was so blind here. And with each passing day he was getting more and more desperate.