Chapter Text
INSTABILITY - L0V3M1ST
“Join Vanguard.”
The words rang in Nufuli’s head as he stared at the invisible player, now revealed as Vanguard 1. Evpark blinked slowly, his green axolotl tail brushing the grassy ground.
Nufuli blinked slowly and as he opened his eyes, his pupils were slotted. Evpark turned to him, watching the leviathan’s jaw tighten.
Evpark stifled a giggle, the sound that broke the uneasy silence. “So…” Nufuli started, looking at Evpark, “This is…”
Evpark's face broke up in the biggest smile, “Oh my God, you just fucked up so bad.” Nufuli grabbed pots and splashed them below both him and Evpark and immediately grabbed his mace.
“I think we can work together this ONE TIME!” Nufuli exclaimed, wind charging up. Evpark laughed as he held onto his spear and went for V1.
V1 moved back, making Nufuli hit the ground with his mace, cracks spiderwebbing across the dirt Tide sticking into the ground. Evpark stopped beside Nufuli, holding his spear pointed out.
V1 Wind charged up himself, going straight for Nufuli with own mace. Evpark moved back, using his spear to lunge. Nufuli braced as the mace hit his head. Nufuli lost almost all his health, fear pitting deep in his low stomach.
He immediately steadied himself, though he didn't look that good. Evpark lunged with his spear the same time V1 did, the spears connecting. V1 grabbed Evpark's spear and used it to throw him. Evpark hit the ground hard, scrambling to get back up.
“So, here's the thing, Nufuli!” Evpark's voice cracked just slightly as he dodged a hit from V1, “I have, about…An hour of my cooldown left, so I'm kinda useless!”
“An hour?! Oh my.”
Nufuli switched to his axe, swinging it at V1. It made contact with the helmet, the resemblance of a grunt coming from the invisible player. Nufuli’s short lived victory ended quickly as V1 stabbed his sword into Nufuli’s side.
The leviathan backed away, hissing lowly as the blue blood dripped from his wound. V1 got closer, grabbing his sword for the impaled wound and attempting to hit Nufuli again.
Nufuli, luckily, moved out of the way. “Okay- so earlier, he told me- SHIT- he told me some of how his power worked!” Nufuli yelled at Evpark, while still dodging and attacking V1.
“So, earlier, back at the City of Lifeeeee!” Nufuli’s voice trailed as he tried to hit V1 with his mace.
“He broke all my armor-”
“HE BROKE ALL YOUR ARMOR?” Evpark screeched, immediately looking horrified. “Well, yea,” Nufuli laughed nervously then started talking quick, “But he told me that he gets stronger by trading something, like, he's as strong as he is now because he's more weaker then another place- I don't fucking know!”
Evpark groaned, spearing towards V1, which the other immediately blocked. V1 took the advantage to grab the flat of the spear’s tip and thrust it back towards Evpark, making the wooden part hit Evpark's chest.
It didn't do much damage but it did hurt like a bitch. Evpark hissed, side stepping to try to help Nufuli. Nufuli shoved Evpark back, ego still high even as he struggled to stand.
The fight felt like hours on. Nufuli's chestplate and helmet were broken, while Evpark had his chestplate and boots broken, only leaving him in his netherite pants.
Nufuli was sure they were going to die. V1 was strong, different from Mugm, but still, very strong that rivaled them both in a 2v1.
But V1 abruptly stopped. Evpark kept his shield up. He clearly couldn't fight, his armor was broken and his arms and legs were covered in purple brushes. Nufuli kept his hand on his axe, the weapon trembling in his grip.
“You two are very strong… Evpark, I will be coming back for my restrictor," V1 slowly turned his helmet/head towards Nufuli, tilting his head, “For you, Nufuli… We- I want you in Vanguard. And if I have to force you, I will… but for now? I will leave you guys alone.”
“But don't expect to be alone for long.”
V1 equipped his elytra and flew off. Evpark immediately exhaled heavily, like he was holding his breath. He stuck the spear in the ground and used it for support.
“Fuck…” Nufuli hissed, clenching his jaw. He felt horrible. He was just used for his skills by his enemy! And Vanguard 1 at that!
“I'm leaving… I need to find Awof,” Evpark got off the spear, ready to use its lunge. He stopped for a second, looking towards Nufuli.
Evpark pulled out the restrictor and clicked it, the gears moving. “... See you later, Nufuli.”
Evpark speared away. Nufuli stared before grabbing an ender chest and opening it. He instinctively grabbed the netherite sword, bracing for the sharp zap it gave him. But it didn't. He held it without problem.
Huh.
He turned it around in his hand. His body was still tense from the fight and he was still hyper aware. Then… Out of the corner of his eye, he saw what looked like sparks of lighting.
He looked over to see somebody running towards him. Was that… Slushly? But… the human looked…Different. Not in a bad way. Just… odd?
Nufuli couldn't place it as Slushly ran towards him, another figure not too far behind. “Hello? Are you okay?!” Slushly grabbed his arms, squeezing the brushes on accident.
Nufuli immediately flinched. Why would Slushly be helping him after the leviathan betrayed him? It didn't make sense. Then, the player behind Slushly appeared. Long brown hair, a pale beige and brown sweater on.
Aspen.
Aspen who betrayed Slushly.
Aspen who was working for Stormz. She also… looked different. Nufuli still couldn't seem to place it. They looked as if they were from…
“Slushly, come on, we have to go back!” Aspen pointed over his shoulder.
“He's hurt though!”
“But we could get killed!”
“I'm willing to risk that.”
Nufuli looked at where Aspen was pointing and his eyes immediately widened. There was a portal. It was… green? And it was shrinking. Fast.
“What the fuck.”