Scar didn't sleep well that night. He kept waking up in cold sweats, his heart racing. It wasn't exactly surprising though, he expected a hard time sleeping. That's why it was surprising when he woke up. He felt full of energy. Not exhausted, but strong.

He sat up out of his bed. They had used the underground section of Tangos dungeon crawler game, decked out as a temporary home. Turns out that ravagers aren't always bloodthirsty when Tango is in charge.

As he stood up he noticed something on his left forearm. A bracer with a screen on it, like Xisuma's. Had Xisuma made him admin? It would make sense that he would have to pass down that role, but why to Scar?

He shook those thoughts away. Xisuma chose him to fill his shoes. He had to be the leader. He walked out to the main room they were staying in. The first person he walked to was Pearl.

"Scar. Hey." Pearl didn't seem very injured. Only a few scratches and a couple light burns.

"Pearl. How are you doing?"

"I'm holding up. Xisuma was my friend, he didn't deserve to die."

"I know. Listen. We can't leave, this is our home. But you can. You can go back to your people, live with them. I'm sure there's chaos over there too but there's no Iskall or Hels trying to kill you at every turn."

"I'm standing with you. I'll fight, do whatever is necessary."

Scar smiled. "We'll as far as I'm concerned, you are a hermit."

"Thanks. That means a lot. I just have one thing to do. I need to check on my home. Make sure everyone survived. My family, Doc, Ren, False. I'll catch them up and give them the help they need."

"Of course. I just have one thing to ask of you. Don't let them come here. Especially Ren, Doc and False. Don't let them return. I'm not dragging anyone else into this."

Pearl nodded. "I'll see if I can find a ship that floats, there's a lot of wreckage."

"Good luck, Pearl. I'll see you soon."

Pearl ran out and Scar looked at the rest of the hermits.

"Everybody! Can I have your attention please?" He called out.

Scar stood on an elevated part of some ruins. "Xisuma has chosen me to be admin. Listen, we've lost so much. Things we'll never get back. But that ends now. We'll hit 'em hard and won't let them touch us back. We will not lose another life. We can't. Let's show them what hermits are made of!"

Cheers erupted and Scar smiled. "Alright. Here's the plan."

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Evil Xisuma stood by Hels as he looked over the server, at what he had done. They were standing on one of the towers at the fortress that Grian had made as a base for them while their group was still together.

"Jeez. You really did it." Evil looked at the chaos.

"I did. It really worked." Hels started to smile.

"I'm guessing Wels isn't exactly happy."

"Actually, he's been weirdly quiet. You still there?"

Hels waited for a second before speaking. "Yeah he's still here. Just not speaking much."

"So your plan was to just destroy the server? What are you going to do now you've succeeded."

Hels chuckled. "Oh this is just the start. There is so much more to come."

Evil noticed that whenever he's was around Hels he felt scared. He didn't like that feeling. He didn't feel safe around Hels. "What did this do then?"

"This? This was to just get their attention."

"Who's attention?" Evil made sure to keep his distance.

"You'll find out soon."

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When Hels went to sleep that night he had a dream. Except he knew it wasn't a dream, something had entered his mind to speak to him.

Hels was standing in a black void with Wels next to him.

"Hels? What is this?"

"Hard to explain. I guess you'll see."

Suddenly a bright light appeared. Bright gold energy formed into the silhouette of a man. He looked down on the two knights.

"Helsknight!" His voiced boomed.

Hels smiled confidently. "I got your attention now, huh? Now you care."

"What do you want Hels? If all this was to get our attention. Well, now you've got it."

"I want you to know. I'm not done. This is just the start. I'm coming for you. I'll destroy you and everything you've built.

"Why? What have we done to you. I gave you life! When your world was lost you got a second chance."

"You call that life?" Hels growled. "It was torture! Don't you dare call that a gift. And you left my world to die."

Hels calmed himself. "I'm doing it. I'm destroying it all and there's nothing you can do. I want you to watch as I tear it all down."

And with that Hels woke up, Wels no longer beside him.

He had work to do.

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All things considered, Ren could be a lot worse. Sure,  he and his friends were definitely taken by surprise when hell rained down on them and spirits were down after his new friends watched their homes destroyed. But no one at all was hurt. Every resident of the island has made it out with minor injuries and has all regrouped at Jimmy and Scott's house. They stood outside in the yard, looking over the monotone landscape.

It was Doc who broke the silence. "I hope the hermits are ok."

False was staring at the ground. She started to speak but cut herself off.

Ren stood up. "I'm sure they're doing just fine. I think we all know how capable they are."

"Nothing as bad as this though."

Ren wanted to reassure her, but he knew that she was right. The group spent time setting up camp. Ren was getting to know everyone, they were all incredibly kind. He'd share story's with Fwip and laugh with Sausage. Laughing was nice, it distracted him from the horrible situation they were in. It worried him if it was ok for them to be joking at a time like this.

"Ship on the horizon!" Lizzie called out.

Everybody excitedly rushed to the docks, begging to see a familiar face. Pearl jumped off the ship.

"Oh my god. You guys are ok." As she walked down there were two figures behind her.

"I picked up some extra help on my way over."

Everybody seemed to recognise the two. Everyone except False and Doc. Ren recognised them instantly and stumbled backwards.

Scott looked at him. "Ren, what's wrong?"

"I-I've seen these two before." Ren walked forwards and stood infront of the visitors.

One has blonde hair and was mostly dressed in green, including a bandanna. He gave a smile. "I'm Martyn."

Ren didn't say anything. He just stared.

The man next to him chimed in. "And I'm Bigb. You don't seem like much of a talker."

Doc stepped in. "Usually we can't get him to shut up. Ren's been figuring things out lately.

Ren found his words. "Can you two come with me?"

The three walked off. Ren hesitated before speaking. "I've seen you die."

Bigb paused. "I don't follow."

"I don't really understand what it is, but I'll explain it best I can." Ren spoke about what he saw in his mind. How behind ever door there was a different version of him. Then he recounted the one he didn't recognise.

"Wow. Ok. That's a lot." Bigb stopped in his path.

"We were there? And you mentioned Skizz?" Martyn turned to Ren.

"Yeah. You know him?" Ren asked.

Martyn nodded. "He's a buddy of ours."

"You got any idea about it?"

"No. But it sounds like we were good friends. I'm sure we're going to get along well."

"Yeah. I'm sure we will. I just don't get what it is though."

Bigb shrugged. "We'll find out eventually."

They walked back to the house. Jimmy and Joel were bickering but it was friendly, like they were just having fun.

Joey pointed over to the dock. "Was that boat always there?"

Everybody looked over. There was indeed a small boat there. Apparently no one had seen it come in. Scott ran down and checked it. It was empty.

"Someone snuck in? Why would someone need to sneak in? And who?"

Fwip shrugged. "I wouldn't have a clue. Keep your eyes peeled and be ready for anything."

Ren uneasily settled into Scott and Jimmy's living room, unable to shake the feeling he was being watched.

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I wrote most of this chapter in the middle of the night so there may be an error or two
Oh well

Next chapter: Game of Blood