[Alexa POV]

I quickly empty the magazine that is currently loaded in my weapon, making Entity 303 eat more lead than is surely healthy. It doesn't seem to do much damage, but enough to make him stumble back after each hit. Just as he starts to regain his composure, I switch out guns for an AR-15 filled with armor-piercing ammo. I aim dead at his head and let off multiple rounds. The first few hit before he drops with a scream of pain. I take this moment to check on Mobius and Joseph.

Both were standing and carefully moving back to the enderman we arrived with.

Reginald is nowhere in sight.

At the faintest sound, I turn and raise my weapon up just in time to block a sword slice from Entity. He growls, black goo dripping from one eye onto my rifle. It sizzles when it makes contact, and I quickly push him back and away. The goop was seeping through, nearly melting the gun. I unstrap it and toss it away quickly before bringing out an axe that was seated in a strap on my hip.

Glad I actually added weapons to my skin...

With an enraged shout, I go on the advance. Entity meets me halfway, and our blades meet. It doesn't make as big of a shockwave as Aria's did way back when, but it's enough to make the island shake. I react first, pulling my axe up then twisting it to get underneath Entity's. Catching him off guard, I am able to wrench the sword from his grasp and slice down-

Only to get slammed back by a small, black, blocky fist to my face.

With a shout, I tumble and quickly flip back onto my feet, only to drop and backflip again to avoid another hit. When I am finally able to regain footing, I find myself locking eyes with Reginald, who was visibly struggling to regain control of his body. His movements are rigid but swift, and he is before me to attack again at a moment's notice.

I parry and dodge, doing my best not to harm him while also trying to help him snap out of it. "Reginald! Come on, fight him!" He warbles painfully back, and I see his face contort in agony, but his attacks continue. I am able to tear my eyes away for a moment to see Entity struggling to stay standing. He was leaning heavily against his scythe, but one hand seems to be moving still. I glare at it, then return to dodging.

'Hit.... me...'

My eyes widen as I turn to face Reginald completely. Ducking down to avoid his swing, I sputter out a single word. "W-What?" I couldn't be sure if I heard it from him, but the accent-

'I... respawn.... Hit me!'

My eyes narrow as I see his face finish speaking. I am already shaking my head, narrowly blocking his fist with the flat part of the axe head. "No, I won't kill you, Reginald-"

Before I can finish, Reginald screeches in pain as a bullet implants itself between his eyes. He collapses to the ground in front of me, and I turn to see Joseph lowering his gun. His eyes meet mine, and his gaze is hard but worried. I just shake my head and rush to him. Can't exactly tell him about who he just shot right now...

"We need to get out of here!" I slightly shout, and I spot one of the endermen nod before freezing. His eyes flash, and I curse before quickly attacking. He falls away injured with a screech. Turning my head, I spot Entity glaring directly at us. "You can call all the friends you want... You will never win." I try to hold back a growl, but Mobius apparently doesn't have the same control. Joseph holds Mobius' good arm, keeping him from charging forward.

However, something suddenly rips the axe from my hand and ties my arms behind my back. The cool skin on my arms means one thing, and this time I growl. Mobius and Joseph both end up in a similar situation, Mobius slightly yelping in pain as one of them holds his cybernetic arm a bit tighter, despite the wound. As Entity walks over, using his scythe almost like a cane, he glares each one of us down. His eyes stall over Mobius for a moment, and the avali snarls.

I growl as he nears me, stopping just before all three of us. He holds his weapon a bit tighter now, and I could see he was regaining his energy. It wasn't much... but it was just enough to do damage.

"You... are the most... obstinate of all players I have ever encountered. It is a shame... but I have a job to complete."

He raises his scythe a bit, ready to attack.

A sudden surge flows through my entire being. Before I can ask if the others felt it, a figure appears before us and Entity suddenly releases a scream. It quickly disappears and a soft thud follows as the screams echo dies. The figure lands, straightening their stances. The grip on our arms suddenly becomes lax, and I shift out of the enderman's grip. Joseph and Mobius turn and push the enderman away just in case, but I know we are safe for now.

The back of the figure is to us, but I know that creeper blue and black hoodie from anywhere. Not only that, but Entity's body suddenly collapses while its head was resting on the ground. Her head moves slightly to spot the lifeless body of Reginald. Her stance shifts, but she doesn't react any other way. She turns to us, and I feel my heart stop at the bright white that was shining directly back at me. Her gaze locks with mine, and when she blinks, her eye returns to normal. I can see the hurt and weariness in her gaze, but she gives me a single head shake.

"We need to go. He can respawn."

My eyes widen, but I can only nod. Aria extends her hand, and I feel the familiar sensation of her teleportation magic wash over me. I close my eyes and swiftly reopen them with a gasp as heat hits me like a brick wall. We all seem to be back in the nether fortress I know all too well. We are in the throne room, and I see the one and only Wither King walk over to our group.

"I see Anthony's plan worked... to a point." His gaze moves from me to Mobius. The avali looks away, and I already know why. The original plan was to be able to keep Anthony and Anastasia I bet. However, before I think about it more, Aria moves towards the wither king. It seems harmless until she suddenly decks the skeleton in his face. Andrew clacks in pain and he stumbles back. Angry piglin and skeleton noises echo around the massive hall, and I feel my blood run cold. I have no idea why-

"You knew about this?"

Her voice was low, dangerous. I could feel the glare flowing from her gaze and her back was to me. Andrew regains himself, holding his chin with one hand. I can see the cracks along his jawline. His gaze is narrow and cold, but he stands straighter to be at eye level with Aria. He says nothing for a moment, his jawline still recovering. Once it seems close enough, he lowers his hand.

"Yes."

That is all he says, and I can tell that Aria was doing her best not to hit him again. Her fists are held tight and her stance is rigid. I can see a single tear evaporate in the air, vanishing before it ever hits the nether brick below. Aria sucks in a breath. She lets it out slowly, and I can spot a light dimming. Only then do I realize the light was indeed coming from her.

Suddenly, Aria turns and leaves, muttering out a single sentence.

"Tell me when Reginald respawns. I'll be in the base room."

She disappears down the hall, and I turn to look at everyone in the room. Of course, I already knew Aria didn't know. Mobius' message said enough:

Entity 303 is trying to kill Aria. Need back up now!

He was lucky that I was already sitting at my computer with Joseph right next to me. We had just booted up Minecraft when the notification came through. It was only a moment before we were loaded in and greeted by an enderman escort.

I shake my head, then turn to follow Aria. She may be great at hiding pain from the others, but I was always one to see through her little facade.

I'm at the familiar door sooner than I expected, and I push it open. As I expected, Aria was standing in front of the fireplace, arms crossed and head slightly down. Her breathing was even, and I would have guessed she was asleep if it wasn't for-

"Took you a bit longer than I thought."

The voice catches me off guard. It was Aria's, but not just hers. I try not to act surprised, but when she turns around, I suck in a breath. Her eye was glowing white again, and the ender eye beneath her hair was softly emitting purple smoke. I could almost feel him radiating from her body. It was overpowering. However, I could tell that Aria wasn't just sitting idly by. She was there as well, just as strong, if not slightly stronger...

But only slightly.

Aria nods her head once. "You want the long end or short end of it?" She asks, and I shrug my shoulders since I really don't know what to say. Carefully, I move forward and sit down on the couch. Aria stays standing, contemplating where to start. She tells me the long version, ending with how she can't leave without taking Herobrine with her. Not only that, but it seems like when Reginald... well, got knocked down for the count, her control over him slipped. Somehow, their telepathic bond holds him steady from taking over, and his power is only subdued by the ender-half being boosted by Reginald, even if he doesn't even know it.

"So, when he respawns, you will be back to normal?" Her gaze over me is crippling, and I can barely hold back a small shiver of fear. "Okay, mostly normal." Her eyes widen, and I see her shake her head. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean-" She holds her head and huffs. Her eyes close, and I can see her fighting in her mind for full control. When her eyes open again, I'm shocked to see it back to the blue it was before. Her face shows the strain, but she gives a half-smile.

"Hopefully, yes. When Reginald returns, then it should be easier to maintain him." Her gaze drops for a moment, then she turns away. I could tell she was hiding information, but I was also growing tired. Aria was as well, and I knew better than to question her while someone else was listening. "Well, listen," I start, standing up and stretching. She looks me over, then lets out a yawn. I feel my heart skip at the sight of her canines being abnormally sharp, but I shake it off. 'The longer we are here, the faster we become our avatars.' It still applied, apparently.

Good thing I'm not just a penguin now.

Shaking my head, I return to what I had been saying. "I'm going to rest and make sure Mobius is resting as well. You should try to get some rest, too. I can tell you're still recovering from the previous battle you had." This time, Aria catches herself from protesting and only nods her head. "You always could see right through me." I only softly laugh before walking out, until-

"Alexa."

I turn to Aria, and her face was down. I couldn't see it completely, but she keeps talking. "I need you to promise me something." I tilt my head, confused. If she's going to ask me to leave her here, then that's a solid no. However, her head lifts, and her eye is glowing once more. I suck in a breath.

"If something happens, I need you to promise me you won't let me hurt anyone."

Her gaze is hard, and I can tell she was being serious.

"Aria, I can't do that. I-"

"ALEXA!"

Her voice booms, and I take a step back. Her narrow eyes widen, and she looks away. Her hand covers her face and she sighs. "Just, promise me. I... I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to hurt you." She looks up once more, the eye still glowing, but a single tear falling from it. I know she won't rest unless I give her the answer she wants.

Even if I don't mean it...

"I... I promise, Aria. I'll keep them safe."

Her eyes narrow, and I continue.

"I'll... do what is needed, only if necessary."

Her eyes soften, and she nods. I take that as my leave and exit. Closing the door, I lean against it, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

This can't be happening...