Technoblade knew power. He knew what it was like to be met with fearful, intimidated looks wherever he went. He knew what it was like to have the world know your name, to hear Technoblade, it's him, the one who never dies wherever he goes.

There was something different about these so-called-Hermits. They seemed harmless, playful, definitely not dangerous. Somehow, though, they radiated their own kind of power. Especially the helmeted Hermit, who the others referred to as Xisuma.

Xisuma had a regal air about him, one that radiated benevolence. Not quite a leader, not quite a follower, but stuck in an in between state of having power and not using it.

Technoblade didn't respect a lot of people. As a warrior who could best most people with ease, and an educated individual who could defeat anyone with a vicious diatribe, he had very little reason to. Yet, looking at the helmeted hermit, Technoblade felt a strange sense of esteem.

That didn't make him any happier to be here, though, stuck with those insufferable children and an arguably more insufferable Dream.

"Why do you need to know all this?" Tommy asked quite loudly, cutting through Techno's thoughts. His face held a resting bored expression, his eyes dancing around the room as if looking for something to do.

Xisuma patiently answered the question, something most people wouldn't be able to do with that gremlin child. "I need to know the coordinates of where you were as well as a general description of the area. That's the only way we'll be able to send you back to the correct location."

"How long will it take to get them back?" Iskall questioned. The red in his robotic eye glowed briefly, hinting at the subtle aggressiveness in the question.

Technoblade scoffed. "You mean, how long until we're gone?" he said, earning a jab in his ribs from Philza's elbow.

"They're helping us, mate. Doesn't matter as long as we get home," Philza scolded in a low voice. "Lay off it."

Xisuma's gaze bore into him, analyzing him with an intense stare for long enough that his skin began to crawl. "Forgive us for being slightly disgruntled at your sudden appearance. It's been quite a day for all of us." He looked back at Iskall, and Technoblade quietly breathed out a sigh of relief. "As for your question, I should be able to locate our visitors' previous location by tomorrow evening and send them home immediately, if I start as soon as they give me their home's coordinates. As you know, travelling between worlds is more difficult than just teleporting a distance in the same world."
Technoblade frowned, narrowing his eyes. He spoke up, instinctively resting his hand on the leather hilt of his sword. "What do you mean, what world we're in?" His mind raced at the implication that there were different worlds. Of course, there was the Nether. Everyone knew about the dimension of hell.

But Xisuma spoke as if there were more. Many more.

The eyes that looked back at him, though obscured by purple tinted glass, gleamed with the knowledge of someone who'd seen more than Technoblade could've imagined. You are the Blood God, Technoblade reminded himself. You've seen just as much. So what do these strange 'Hermits' know of that you don't?

It was then that Grian looked at Technoblade with something akin to pity, and it was such a strange expression to see on such a young and childish face that Technoblade nearly faltered. "You've had a long day," the blonde Hermit said, without a trace of the mischievous playfulness Technoblade had seen until now. "Maybe you should rest first."

"Grian is correct," Xisuma replied, standing up. "Provide me your coordinates, then each of you can stay with one of these lovely Hermits who found you, if that's alright with them?" A chorus of agreement from the Hermits signalled yes.

"Hold on now," Philza intervened. The winged man held the concentrated look that Technoblade knew meant he was trying to figure something out. "I'd like to know also. You fuckin' telling me that there's different worlds?" His wings fluttered, their obsidian color contrasting harshly with the modern whites and grays around him.

Making his way around the table towards the exit, Xisuma paused. "It's... complicated." A beeping sound from one of the many buttons and gadgets that adorned his robotic suit beeped, and he glanced down at his wrist. "Oh, that would be Keralis. I promised I would help him with something, so I really must be going. I promise I will explain in the morning." With a ding, the elevator doors slid open and Xisuma slipped inside.

Technoblade blinked. "Wait a minute-" he began, but it was too late. With a frustrated growl, he turned to the smallest of the three Hermits who had greeted them in this strange place. "Where's he going?" He demanded harshly.

Grian wasn't swayed. "Didn't you hear? Keralis needs help. Xisuma's going to assist him with a redstone project." He smiled, gleaming white teeth showing.

Technoblade gritted his teeth. "I wasn't done talking to him." Turning on his heel and not waiting for the blonde to respond, he stormed over to the elevator and pressed the button.

"You won't be able to catch up with him. He's probably already in the air," Iskall provided helpfully from the table. Snarling, Techno whipped around and shot the robot hybrid a glare, opening his mouth to speak.

The words died on his tongue when he saw the entire room staring back at him, with expressions ranging from annoyance to pity to fear. He let out a sigh, letting his shoulders untense. "Fine." A ding from the elevator signalled its arrival. It was ignored.

"Are you done being an overly emotional brute yet?" Dream asked, unbothered, from a spot against the wall, examining his gauntlet. His fingers moved rapidly across the technology, fiddling with it in attempts to get it to work. "I'd quite like to continue on with our lives."

"Hey! Only I'm allowed to talk to Techno that way!" Tommy shouted, a mix of protective and offended.

"No you're not Tommy," Technoblade muttered. "And Dream, you're one to talk."

"If you all would stop arguing for two minutes, we would show you where you can stay," Iskall said cooly, wings flared. Mumbo laid a hand on his shoulder, which seemed to calm the cyborg.

"He's right," the tallest Hermit agreed. Glancing around then back at his two friends, he nodded. "Alright, so, forgive me, I don't remember your names. You and you-" he pointed to Tommy and Tubbo. "Can go with me. You-" he waved at Dream. "Grian." Motioning to Technoblade and Philza, he continued. "And Iskall will take you guys. That good with everyone?"

Agreement rippled through the crowd, and Mumbo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Great, you guys can come with me now, if you'd like. I have plenty of space at my base. Everyone else, uh, good luck," he said with a nervous chuckle.

The two children followed him to the elevator, where they awaited their ride. Meanwhile, Iskall pulled Technoblade and Philza to the side. "Listen," he grumbled, annoyance written plainly across his features. "I am not walking all the way back to my base. Philza, you have wings. We're flying."

In another part of the room, Technoblade could see Grian talking enthusiastically to Dream. The hunter was watching the smaller man bounce off the walls in silence, one eyebrow raised. Returning his attention to Iskall, Technoblade frowned. "And what about me? I'm grounded, if you haven't noticed."

"Just follow me," Iskall replied with narrowed eyes. Glancing towards the elevator, Technoblade saw that Mumbo and the children were gone. He expected Iskall to turn towards there, but the Hermit instead led them both to a ladder hidden discreetly in a corner of the room. The wood stood out amongst the otherwise modern build. Rickety rungs stretched into the ceiling, going through a hole in the roof that led to something on the other side.

"Where's that go?" Philza asked, voicing Technoblade's thoughts.

Not answering, Iskall grips the first rung and pulls himself up. One hand after another, one foot after another, he ascends, leaving the pair no choice but to follow. Philza looked at Technoblade, his eyes filled with as much confusion as the warrior felt himself. Then, shrugging as if to say what's the worst that could happen, Philza followed Iskall.

Technoblade released a sigh. Begrudgingly, he made sure his sword was securely tucked in his scabbard before climbing up after his friend. His palms wrapped around his rungs, clenching them tightly as he mounted the ladder. His toe caught a rung a step up, and he pushed, lifting his weight up another foot.

When his head and shoulders poked through the hole in the ceiling, he hoisted himself up and stood, brushing himself off. Looking around, he bit back an awed gasp. A canvas of trees stretched out below the tower, greens being broken up by other towers dotted around the forest. In one direction, a desert began at the edge of the forest. In another, Technoblade could see the beginnings of a grand city. Roads weaved their way through the jungle, creating a grid against the green.

Collecting his senses, he shook his head. "I still don't understand how I'm getting th-"

Before he could finish, Iskall cut him off. "Two of us have wings. We'll carry you."

Technoblade could feel the color drain from his face. "Hold up-"

Coming to save him, Philza interjected. "He's too heavy. Wouldn't be able to, mate."

"My base is a giant tree, not far from here. It's a short flight, it'll be fine," Iskall assured. "Besides, would you rather walk through that jungle again?"

Before Technoblade could answer that yes, he would rather walk through the jungle, Philza nodded thoughtfully. "Good point. It'll be fine, I'm sure."

"Phiiil," Technoblade groaned, dragging out the word. "Must you?"

Philza smiled, and he looked so carefree and unworried that Techno almost believed it would be fine. Almost. "Yes. It'll be much faster this way. Unless you're scared?"

Technoblade wasn't scared of anything.

Nothing.

Except heights.

But nobody needed to know that. So, meekly, Technoblade shook his head. "I'm not scared..."

"Great!" Iskall clapped his hands. "Philza, go that side." The winged beings each moved to one side of him, each grasping an arm.

Technoblade took a moment to look out at the jungle, focusing on the blazing sun on the horizon rather than the ground far below them. Then, "Ready?"

Taking a deep breath, he gave them the go ahead. The moment he said so, his feet were lifting off the ground and wings were flapping above him, whipping back and forth. The two winged men dove out of the tower, taking a dangling, screaming Technoblade with them as they soared above the treetop canopy.

"I DESERVE 10 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS FOR AGREEING TO THIS!!!"

Author's note
As promised, a 1,832 word update. Somewhere during writing, I realized I have very little idea as to where this is going, but we'll see. It's fine. 
No beta, we die like men.

-May the pog be with you,
the writer person