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“ARE ALL OF YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING?!”
Rat’s voice pierced Galaxy’s ears. It didn't scare him too much though. This was his first time seeing V1 up close. If anything, he felt a need to prove himself. Prove himself harder than he did with Mugm.
Speaking of the voidling, he stood off to his side a few feet away, completely silent.
“I have the 3 strongest players right in front of me and you can't seem to kill TWO players. FOUR PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE.” Rat exclaimed, her axe sitting by her side. Boomie visibly flinched, trying to stand as far away from Rat as possible.
“Did you not see what they did? What they had? They weren't dying.” Galaxy pushed, his posture straightening as he kept his face blank. He himself was pissed at Rat for swinging and using her abilities on them during their fight. It might've been by mistake, but Galaxy didn't seem to think so. He noticed Rat sliced at them a few times with no reaction, no apology.
Emotions weaken you. Make sure your opponent can't use them against you.
Rat moved her cerulean gaze to Galaxy, stepping forward.
Galaxy buried his building anger and kept his ground, but the eyes of V1 staring into his soul with malice made him want to step down. The stare made him feel..
Lesser.
Lesser, lesser, lesser. Nufuli said that word to him earlier today. Called him a replacement, almost as if that would make him feel ashamed. It did, for a brief moment, but he knew he earned this spot as #3. He didn't go through those brutal training sessions with Mugm and the tournament for nothing.
He shouldn't be ashamed.
The demon hybrid was a few inches taller than Rat, his horns poking through his hair giving him a little more height. He managed to find some small chains and tied the broken revival eye around it, which now hung in between his two horns.
His dark eyes didn't move, didn't wilt from V1 gaze, and he had confidence to continue. Afterall, Mugm told him to run with his confidence, especially in battle.
If your opponent sees your confidence, your unwavering stance, and your strong mentality, they will slip up eventually.
“You are getting mad at us for no reason. You were here too, the almighty Vanguard #1 and you couldn't do anything about it either!” Galaxy snapped.
Boomie screeched when Rat raised her axe, immediately running behind the voidling. Mugm’s eyes, for the first time, widened with fear.
Fuck. He’d done something wrong for Mugm to be afraid.
His adrenaline skyrocketed, the pain from his wounds fading away. Galaxy buzzed, his hands shaking ever so slightly when Rat swung the axe down with tremendous force, almost enough to stagger him and fall back.
The axe sliced through his netherite like butter, the pieces crumbling off his skin and shattering on the floor.
Galaxy froze, his face twitching with fear as Rat came closer, her face near Galaxy’s as she muttered the words:
“I have no problem with replacing you. I've done it before.”
Rat's eyes almost seemed to darken as she kept them trained on Galaxy’s. The amount of dissatisfaction, annoyance, and coldness radiating finally made Galaxy’s form wilt ever so slightly. Galaxy’s iris shrunk, sweat dripping from under his hair as the eye that hung from his horns hummed.
“Don't speak like that to me again. I won't hesitate to kill you myself.”
Rat put on her elytra.
"Useless. All of you are useless."
She flew up to follow in the direction Nufuli and Slushly took.
Galaxy breathed a shaky sigh of relief once she was gone, his adrenaline running out. His leg shook from stress, Mugm steadying his shoulders once he realized V1 wasn't coming back.
Boomie made his way forward as well. The pinkish devil’s eyes were glowing a bright neon pink, his arms hesitantly hugging Galaxy.
“Don't ever do that again!” Boomie’s voice wavered, his hands gripping the back of Galaxy's shirt collar. The deer shook more than Galaxy which only made the demon's legs give out from anxiety.
Mugm didn't say a word once he knew he was okay, the voidling staring up at the area Rat was last seen as she flew away.
Galaxy quickly stood back up, clearing his throat and fixing his hair.
Moment of weakness.
He couldn't show it.
He changed his face back to a similar neutral one like Mugm’s, his posture tall and strong once again.
The voidling stared at him, as if he’d done something wrong. He shook his head the smallest bit before flying up, gesturing to him to follow. Boomie moved away from him, fixing his own sleeves before following, waiting for Galaxy to come up as well.
Galaxy looked back at the tower, an antsy feeling filling him.
V1 didn't seem him as equal.
That made his chest tighten, just like it did when Mugm found him with Finlo in the spruce trees that one day.
Made him feel like he wasn't good enough.
He..
..
He could prove he was good enough.
He noticed the damage Slushly and Nufuli were taking during their hectic fight. How neither of them died even when they both came close to death.
They must have #4’s old item.
The demon hybrid noticed how the voidling avoided the conversation most of the time. Mugm talked about the old Vanguard members if Galaxy pushed hard enough, the voidling’s tone normally catching on a hint of sadness when reminiscing.
Galaxy’s grip on Index tightened as he shook his head to Mugm and flew in the direction Rat took.
He proved himself to Mugm. He could prove himself to V1 as well.
Galaxy didn't notice how his head liked the validation. The feeling of pride filling his bones when someone told him he did something right. Reviving Sharpness and losing only seemed to amplify that trait.
Once he put it together that Rat entered Stormz’s old base– now his– Galaxy potted invis, walking through the halls of command blocks. He grazed the glass of one as yelling hit his ears.
Coming from the throne room.
He made his way forward slowly, his invisible head peeking past the wall at Nufuli and Slushly diving down on Rat, smashing their maces into her fur.
It didn't seem to affect V1 much, but Galaxy still descended the steps. He barely dodged Slushly being launched into the steps, inches away from where he was walking. The man didn't seem to notice him, his full attention on Rat as he went back into the fight.
Galaxy wandered a bit, walking behind the pillars as he examined the fight from a distance. He still held Index in his hand..
A thought came to his mind.
He reached into the bag, feeling a part of him separate from his body as a translucent hand only Galaxy could see reached for Nufuli. His eyes caught a purple glinting book in Slushly’s pocket, but focused on Nufuli. He found the blazerod necklace he was wearing, struggling to grab it for a second.
Cling.
He found the cord in the chaotic movements of the leviathan. He ripped it off, pulling his hand out of the bag. A weird feeling washed over Galaxy, a quickened pulse sounding in his ears.
He could hear Slushly’s heart rate.
The man with lightning bending around him panicked when Rat slashed open Nufuli’s chest and red appeared on the blade. Galaxy stood there uneasily as his invis ran out.
He stared at Rat focusing her attacks solely on Nufuli, her sword slicing through his scales, his arms.
His horn.
The top part of Nufuli's horn was sliced off with the force Rat was using, the leviathan crying out in pain.
Galaxy watched as Slushly tried to block Rat’s attacks away from Nufuli, desperation and fear on his face.
Galaxy watched as Nufuli lost his energy and blood rather quickly, the leviathan moving backwards as he made his way to the throne.
Galaxy watched as Rat’s face seemed to smile.
Smile.
Galaxy..
He did something really wrong this time.
The validation with Rat’s words of approval, which he could barely hear over the pulse in his ears, only made his chest tighten. Nufuli was his friend; the person he beat the server killers with, the person who revived him in the first place. He would probably still be floating in the void if the leviathan didn't save him.
He had to do something. Fix his actions. He messed up with his decision on Sharpness, he could fix it with Nufuli.
Vanguard was now a second thought with his..
Friends.. in danger.
Galaxy put Index away, gripping the amethyst bracelet in his hands as he charged into the fight, shoving Rat off the side of the throne.
The demon hybrid quickly moved to Nufuli’s surprised face as he forced the bracelet back on the leviathan’s wrist, a small smile on Galaxy's face.
“I got this.”
Galaxy turned to V1, Rat’s face now furious as she stared into his red eyes. Galaxy stood in front of Nufuli as the leviathan got his bearings.
He was glad the pulse was gone from his ears. He could hear the voices around him again.
“Galaxy, Galaxy, Galaxy! You came back, did something RIGHT for once then ruined it almost instantly! Almost makes me think of Sha–”
Galaxy didn't hesitate to run towards her, his sword stabbing into Rat’s side.
When he was zoned out watching the fight, he didn't even realize he was using Mugm’s trick to analyze someone’s movements before entering. He wasn't watching Nufuli or Slushly’s fighting though.
He was watching Rat’s.
She let out a small squeal as Galaxy grazed his sword just making it in between her armour, blood falling from the small wound.
Galaxy looked back in surprise, almost taken aback with what he just did.
Rat grunted, grabbing Galaxy’s hair and throwing him into the pillar. The quartz dented and cracked, Galaxy holding his tongue as he almost let out a cry of agony. His eyes gave away the pain he felt, anger leaking into them slowly as he barely dodged Rat's punch.
Her fist hit the pillar, Galaxy quickly taking advantage by grabbing Rat's arm, throwing her on to her back. He held his sword with one hand, the other wrapping around his stomach as he panted.
That took a lot of unnecessary energy out of him.
“Seriously Galaxy? You are seriously going to leave your new family behind?” Rat exclaimed, grabbing Galaxy’s foot before he stomped on her chest.
“Well, that's no issue for me. I warned you.”
She twisted Galaxy's leg, the demon hybrid finally letting out an agonizing cry. Rat pulled herself up, holding a sword to his neck.
Nufuli and Slushly stared at Galaxy in fear.
“Now that I have the traitor–” Rat tightened her grip on Galaxy, “in my hands, what are you going to do? Kill me?”
Slushly slowly took steps forward, staring at Galaxy’s face.
The demon hybrid slowly nodded.
“Don't hurt him.. just let him go.” Slushly put his mace away as if Rat would follow suit. She laughed, Galaxy wincing at the pain in his leg.
“You think you can talk ME out of this? Everyone is replaceable, I'm not worried about killing him– especially a person just like him.” Rat’s cold voice returned, Slushly stopping a few feet in front of them.
“Galaxy..” Slushly’s voice cracked as he took one more step forward to be in radius.
“Do it Slushly.”
The man didn't hesitate, small tears falling down his face as he opened the Book of Knowledge, flipping to–
“Wait what are you–”
An explosion ripped through his ears, Galaxy feeling the grip of V1 loosening around him. The hybrid screamed, the sound of his body and bones breaking only made him collapse. He felt hands grab his sides, a spike of pain from doing so only made him cry out again.
He could feel that one of his horns hung by a thread on his head, that his arm and leg were now broken in multiple little places. Galaxy coughed, black clouds leaving his mouth as he weakly grabbed at the person holding him.
This pain..
It was worse than floating in the void alone waiting to be revived.
Tears left his eyes as an angry voice echoed through the room.
It sounded like..
Mugm.
Galaxy whined as he moved his head to find Mugm’s, another wave of pain going through him.
“What are you doing to him?!” Mugm yelled at Nufuli and Slushly, stomping towards them. Slushly stood up and held his sword which only meant Nufuli was holding Galaxy.
“Just kill him! It's.. hurting him.” Mugm moved to kneel next to Galaxy only for Slushly to point his sword at the voidling.
“Don't come any closer.”
“Look at him!” Mugm practically pleaded, Galaxy’s heart breaking.
Nufuli looked down at Galaxy, guilt in his eyes.
“You didn't have to–”
“I did.. and I don't.. regret it..” Galaxy wheezed out, another wave of pain making binary slip out of his wounds.
“Kill me.”
Nufuli froze, gripping Galaxy closer.
“It.. that.. hurts..” Galaxy whined, lazily watching the binary slip from his hands, his skin tainting black. Nufuli let go instantly, Galaxy laying in his lap.
“Nufuli…”
The leviathan turned to Slushly, his eyes watering as he looked at Galaxy.
“Just do it.”
Galaxy cried out again, his tail stiffening as he tried to breathe through the agony. Nufuli raised a dagger to Galaxy’s chest, a choked sound leaving his mouth.
The demon hybrid’s eyes found Rat’s body by the throne, the other limp and unmoving. Her heart count was already lowered to two hearts instead of three.
Galaxy smiled slightly.
He did something right.