Chapter 8: The First Painful Death

 >8 Scissors 8<

This part of the arena was different. It's marshy, reeds brushed past Scissors' feet as he carefully treaded through the wet ground. Shark walked ahead of him, holding the bow he'd manage to find in the Cornucopia. They only have three arrows. We have to use them wisely.

No one was nearby. Scissors relaxed once they reached a bit of dry land in the middle. Ahead of them, the ground faded into a marshy lake. "It'll be perfect for fishing." Scissors remarked.

"That's all you talk about these days." Scissors could hear the eyeroll in Shark's voice.

Scissors was about to reply when something on the ground caught his eyes. Sharp sunlight glinted off of the equally sharp object. He attempted to pick it up, only to realize it tied to something much longer. "Come help me with this." He called to Shark.

"Ugh. Okay."

The two worked together, pulling out the surprisingly durable string from below. "It's a fishing rod! This is amazing!" Scissors exclaimed.

"Great Skyheights, if you say fish one more time-"

"Do you know what this means? It means we don't have to worry about food anymore!"

"Okay. I guess." Shark had nothing to say to that. "Sure. We just need to defend ourselves better."

"The fishing rod is also a weapon." Scissors started.

"I do not want to hear fish-"

"Let me teach you the art of fishing rod wielding." Scissors skipped to the front, turning around to speak to Shark. "With enough strength and practice, it's possible to pull someone in without moving a block! If you've ever seen Pixel do it - you know who Pixel is right?"

"Yes, I know, I know." 

Scissors continued on as if Shark didn't answer. "He's pretty amazing at using fishing rods! Accurate and precise! I mostly use it casually though, like fishing. You know, for actual fish. I did practice it just for the simulation though."

"Scissors," Shark said.

"So like what I was saying, this little thing can be pretty powerful-"

"Scissors!" It was a quiet but sharp warning. "Behind you."

Scissors turned. They are at the other edge of the lake now, but the swamp still stretched on for as far as his eyes could see. Giant mushrooms sprouted on the horizon. "Is that a dark oak forest?"

"No, that's still the swamp."

"Weird. Anyways, I was saying-"

"No, Scissors. I mean those two, behind you."

Scissors whipped around again. Two figures stood out against the muddy water. One of them held a diamond axe, glinting in the second day's morning sunlight. "They're from ConCraft. The one in the lead is Conhadda, and the one with the diamond axe is Omega." Scissors recognized them.

"I know." Shark said. "We're no match against them."

"They don't see us yet, we can ambush them!" 

"Duck!" Shark called.

"Huh?" Scissors turned to face him, confused.

"The action, not the animal!"

"Oh."

The tall reeds hid them well. Not too far away, Scissors could feel Conhadda in the lead, brushing the reeds aside as he carefully made his way through. "I thought we're going to the mountains." He muttered when he almost tripped over.

"Trust me, this is the right way." Omega cut the undergrowth down with his diamond axe.

"Why?" 

"Because I've read a lot of books." 

"I got this, watch." Scissors whispered to Shark. 

"No you don't-"

Scissors stood up, whipping out the fishing rod, not even a swoosh in the air. The tip caught onto Omega's axe, and he pulled.

He didn't expect Omega to react so quickly, tearing onto the string just as fast, and suddenly, they're on a tug-of-war. Shark leaped out of the marshes, helping Scissors. Omega's diamond axe spun through the air without warning, and Shark caught it. 

A shadow flashed, and swiftly Omega had Scissors pinned. Scissors writhed under his grasp. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Shark and Conhadda, in battle as well. 

Panicking, Scissors realized that he had almost nothing - except that fishing rod. Omega had nothing, and he took over the fishing rod as he left Scissors on the ground for the air. When Scissors struggled to stand up, Omega had lashed the fishing rod against him. You're not making me taste my own medicine. Scissors ducked, sliding too deep into the marshes. When the next round came over, Scissors was too slow for it. Luckily for him, Shark had sent an arrow over just in time. Not at Omega, but it stopped the fishing rod.

Shark had Conhadda on the ground. When Shark stood up, Conhadda fell still. Is he dead? 

Scissors took a deep breath. Shark sent the diamond axe forward, and Omega does the same with his fishing rod. The diamond axe is back at Omega's hands. Shark didn't seem to care that much, something touching his arrow when he aimed at Omega. Omega was ready, blocking it with his axe. A loud clang sounded as both fell to the ground.

I'm supposed to help. If only Scissors knew how. He watched as Shark forced the last arrow ahead. The air seemed to waver as it passed through. Omega had barely anything. It's going to pierce his heart. He's going to die. 

We're going to win. 

None of that ever happened. Scissors watched in slow motion as Omega sent something through the air. That something was nothing, as clear as the blue skies, as clear as a deep, dark blue water that seemed to come from somewhere so far away, as clear as an ancient valley through an equally ancient forest, where water tumbled down through, streaming till the end of time. 

That something was terrible. And Omega had it.

Shark was struck. He crumbled to the floor, and was ashes. Scissors didn't realize what was going on until he heard the lightning strike. 

Omega walked forward. His steps were steady. His breath was calm. He stopped until he's on top of Shark - where Shark would have been if Omega hadn't completely melted him - and bent over. "He had it in him too. Nobody taught him how to use it well, that's why."

Out of the corner of his vision, Scissors can see Conhadda, slowly standing up. Run. That was the only thing on his mind as he slipped through the wet ground. He almost tripped a couple times, but he only continued on.

The sky had darkened when noon arrived and the sun was supposed to be peaking. Perhaps it would rain soon, but Scissors couldn't tell.

He was at the edge of the swamp, under a giant mushroom. No one was near him. It was comforting and unsettling at the same time. 

Omega's a monster. He thought. He still can't quite describe what he saw. And what did he mean by Shark having it too? Do I have it? 

He stared at the stem of the mushroom, willing his mind to come up with something.

He had nothing.