Work Text:
The Nether is a infernal place of monsters and blistering conditions that hardens every living thing that comes in contact with it. The barbarous reality of life unfolds at alarming rates to strangers and is known in instinct to those who were born of it. The melting, hellish home had carved out the beasts that reside within the crimson walls and flooded floors of lava. All these fiends knew one thing for certain, an unshakable truth that persisted till they withered away into a void so polar from their own life.
Survival is determined by strength, those that breathe prove their worth to continue.
Technoblade was one of many children growing up in the bastion. Litters were kept together to be protected against the outside, away from pest attracting vaults and boiling temperatures. He was not given a name at birth, none of his siblings were, he did not receive his name until he was 10. When he had plunged his sword into the man that had come to steal the gold from an inner wall, when his training had proved useful in defending the bastion.
All of this matters little in the end. Techno barely remembers these times, flashes of a smaller shoat he called sister or a mother that braided his hair with small beads of gold mean nothing to him now.
The only memories that clearly stick are ones he wished never stayed.
When Technoblade turned 14 he heard the bastion raise the alarms, a human party had infiltrated the deeper vaults and outnumbered the main warriors 1 to 5, but he would not let his home fall today.
When his head had drained itself of adrenaline, when the ache of gripping sword and shield settled into his arms did he realize that something had changed. In the form of small whispers in his ear from no creature in the Nether. They simply demanded one thing and only asked in unison.
Blood for The Blood God
After years of a steady increase in the voices number and volume did he dare to venture from home, into a glowing portal of violet that placed him in an empty field with a forest behind him and a sky above.
He would learn, maybe a a few decades after tolerating humans enough to learn their languages, that he had teleported during the night on a full moon. That there were stars that mapped the travels and tales of many like him, how they were there to last longer than he.
Or so Techno thought.
Safe to say, when he thought he was dying on a flower field the overwhelming mix of anger and fear was not unexpected. The part that was so unexpected was the voices that kept chanting in a language he didn’t understand, or how the restful sleep that came after breathing his last breath was halted by a feeling of being pulled to sit up straight. How the blood from his wounds, both deadly and superficial, kept pouring crimson as his enemies looked on in horror at what Techno probably imagines to be a terrible sight.
Like a puppet hanging by a few strings, or a zombie taking its first step, he moved slowly as a spare iron sword was summoned into his hand.
He no longer moved like a warrior, a piglin that hunts and protects, he was no longer the creature of hellish nature. He was a demonic beast that moved only to devour and destroy with the fury of a holy being.
He was the Blood God.
When Philza popped into the picture, a century of isolation had already settled into Techno like a blanket you always wear despite it only being a little chilly.
Technoblade was rarely superficial, despite the cultural significance of gold he was rarely so gaudy in displaying his status or pride, but seeing the winged man with earrings and pins, with small intricate chains that just grazed his pitch black wings, or the halo of similar colored hair along his face, made something in Techno rise in height.
If gold could not be used to show strength his body of scars and tusks would have to do.
“Hello.” The winged man had spoken so lightly, tilting his bucket hat back to stare Techno directly in the eye. “I’ve gotten a bit lost and was hoping you might know a way to any villages near here?”
Techno had nodded at the strange man before him, pointing in the general direction of East. Watching as the man tracked his outstretched arm and squinting before turning back to Techno with a wide grin.
"Thanks, mate." The man left towards the village and Techno didn't pay it any mind.
Techno ran into Phil a few more times after that, even fighting in a few wars as mercenaries together, every time the man was infuriatingly easy going. Like the world could wait while he had a nap or tea or something calming like that. Techno didn’t really know how to approach him. He was different he guesses. Safe to say he wasn’t given a choice in how their relationship was defined because over the next couple of decades the man had perfectly weaseled his way into Techno’s heart. Phil had bleed for him, killed for him, and lived for him. Technoblade had done the same and they just . . . clicked.
Techno had proposed an alliance. Phil agreed.
Phil had proposed they conquer the world. Techno agreed.
The war was over a decade or two long, they had only a country or two left to go before they had completed their goal, but Techno was tired.
“I could not drive out the greed from the hearts of man.” Techno had said after leaning over an oak table covered in maps and documents, glancing at Philza from over the rim of his glasses to see the sad smile on his equals face. “We have tried to take their values of selfishness and facetious worlds to show them the mirror, Phil. Yet I fear we will only leave the ruins of a colossal wreck, a barren and empty land.”
Techo would finally sit and stare at Phil, the man moving to sit beside him and stretched a hand for him to take. He does.
“I wanna retire.” The chirping laugh of Phil at Techno’s statement brought the piglin immense joy for the first time in a year or so. “Let’s take a break.”
“Alright, mate.” Phil had said, brushing his untucked hair back, allowing Techno’s eyes to catch the custom emerald earrings he had made by hand for him. Pride at knowing Phil was in his pack made his heart sore with joy. “We’ll take a break.”
Safe to say that didn’t last.
Within the century they decided to build an empire. One not founded on blood and ash, but on prosperity and hope. A strange concept to both men of anarchy, but the joy of their citizens was all worth it when they held their first festival on the frozen lands of their home.
Perks of being a few centuries old, you have a lot of money to spend.
Schools, hospitals, libraries, and castles were all built in the name of peace and innovation; attracting many artisans and scholars to their empire. As their population grew so did their impatience for something greater than themselves. Techno had taken to military affairs while Phil handled diplomacy and politics. The winged man didn't like it but always attested to the many wonders he got to see in his travels across the world. Fueling an instinct Techno knew was so possessive of him that he never had the heart to ask Phil to stay longer and longer.
It was one such trip, this one lasting two years, that had stumped Techno completely.
Phil brought something back with him. A baby.
“Phil?” Techno said as he slowly leaned over the man to see the sleeping creature. Pulling a face as it whined a piercing screech. “What is this?”
“My son, Techno.” Phil lightly laughed as he moved to adjust the baby, giving techno a better view.
“Oh.” Techno continued to stare, not really knowing how to process the information that his life long companion had a kid. Especially one so small and fragile as a human. “That’s weird.”
“Techno! Oh my gods.” Phil cackled so loud the child woke with an even louder screech, all attention turned to the small thing now.
Safe to say after a lengthy discussion, involving a Goddess and grief, Techno made the painful adjustment of accepting a screaming baby into his life. Even if it was annoying at times, the joy it brought Phil made it an easy sacrifice.
Doesn’t mean it was easy at times.
The snow was warmer today than usual for an autumn day. William had been so excited to play in the snow that Techno had to pick him up and carry the 6 year old on his shoulder to make sure he wouldn’t lose sight of the kid. Gods know that’s happened way too many times already.
“Techie!” Will was bouncing up and down while gripping tightly to Techno’s hair, Techno tried not to instinctively push Will away at that, gap toothed smile wide and bright as they finally exited into a training ground plaza. “Put me down, I wanna play!”
“One sec, kid.” Techno adjusted the wooden practice swords from his lower back to his sides. Gripping the kid’s arms and letting him slide down as Techno bent down, until the kid could safely be dropped the rest of the way to the ground. “Go play for a bit.”
Will was off to build snowmen while Techno set up a straw dummy, brushing snow and mud from its head and body. Untying the swords from his belt he let himself relax into a neutral battle stance, legs wide and one back with knees bent, arm and sword ready for the attack. Hitting the dummy in slow and controlled movements as he looked every once in a while towards Will. He was none too surprised after Will made his third snowman he was just staring at Techno with an arm load of snow. Will’s eyes were wide with awe as his mouth was slightly parted as fogged gasp escaped his little lungs, warm breath freezing in the tundra’s air and being tied up by a bright yellow scarf, watching every move the piglin made.
“I want to!” Will yelled dropping the snow and marched over to where Techno was standing, sword in hand as he watched the small boy approach. “I want to sword fight!”
“Sure.” Techno shrugged and picked up the spare sword he had brought in case his first one broke. “You wanna spar with me?”
“Yes!” The kid nodded so violently Techno worried his head would roll off his neck, but quickly passed a smaller sword to William. Holding the blade and watching as Will quickly grabbed at the handle. “Thank you!”
Techno watched Will examine the sword then quickly move to swing at the straw dummy like Techno was doing earlier. Looking back after the first hit with stars in his eyes, smile wide and teeth missing, so kid-like to Techno he couldn’t suppress a smile.
“No Will,” Techno picked the kid up and put him a bit farther away from the dummy, adjusting his stance and grip. “Like this, so you don’t fall over. ”
“Okay!” Will adjusted but didn’t stay in that stance for long as he just wanted to hit the straw figure over and over.
Techno let out a frustrated sigh, letting William play like that a second longer before moving and repeating his instructions again. “Will, you need to listen.”
“But that’s not fun!” The kid huffed, crossing his arms and turning away from Techno. “Why do I have to stand like that!”
“So you don’t get hurt.” Techno tried to remain calm but the voices were also getting antsy at the lack of hitting things.
Will Willby Small baby Shoat protect
Silly silly kid Spoiled brat
E E E E E E E E E E E Stupid Kid
Will Will Will
Will Protect Will
Will Will Will
Small Will Will
Will Will Will
Will Will Will
Yeah, they were bein’ weird.
“But I’m not getting hurt!” Will said, turning toward Techno.
Not yet. One voice whispers so loud the other just echoes the phrase for a bit until they find more things to say. Gushing over William, chastising Will, or spamming E. Typical Chat.
The comment made him pause, an idea came to mind.
“Yeah?” Techno crouched to be at the kid’s height. “But if you don’t then I can do this.”
Techno pushes lightly at William's shoulder. Making the 6 year old stumble. He lands in a pile of snow and a chirp so high pitched it immediately puts Techno on high alert.
He didn’t mean for that to happen. Techno just wanted him to stumble, not trip.
He didn’t want to hurt him.
Techno stands to reach for the kid, panic high in his throat but he refuses to whine out for a kid that isn’t his, then bright giggling makes him pause as Will pops up from the snow. Hair damp with melted and melting snow, brown eyes warm as he stands. Techno moving to help. Apology on his lips but before he can the kid cries happily.
“Again! Again!” Techno looks as the kid rushes to him. The fear and anxiety still high as voices laugh and whine at William getting pushed down. He sighs, Techno slowly picks him up as the kid makes grabby hands up towards him. Techno slowly raises him above the snow pile and drops him in.
They continue like that for a while. The kid laughs as the soft snow flies when he lands in the piles. Techno repeating this a few more times before Will grew tired and the sun dipped toward evening.
Safe to say Technoblade remembers to be more careful with Will from then on out.
It’s Will’s 9th birthday when he finally decides to explain piglin traditions.
“Gold is a symbol of power and belonging.” Techno slides the gold and quartz bracelet onto the boy’s wrist. Watches with delight as it slides down to his mid forearm, the shine and glimmer on someone he considers family makes him preen. The voices humming low in agreement. “It means we’re family and that I will protect you no matter what.”
“Why gold?” William fidgeted with the bracelet, the gold and ore flashing in the light. “Our main exports are emerald and iron, aren’t they?”
“Yeah.” Techno watches carefully as Will takes off the bracelet to look at it in the light, now wishing Philza would let him pierce the kids ears so he wouldn’t remove the gold so easily. “In the Nether we don’t have that though.”
William hums and puts the bracelet back. Smiling widely he hugs Techno, knocking the pig backwards slightly, then pulls away.
“Thank you, Techie.” Techno nods in response. Smiling all the while.
William loses the bracelet two days later. Telling Techno through his tears.
He convinces Phil to let him pierce the kids ears and make him start wearing outfits inlaid with golden thread.
“I don’t get it.” Techno looks up from his reading, glasses sitting low on his nose to see the 12 year old in front of him brushing his hair out of his face. He’s refused to get it cut for a month now and has yet to take care of it in general.
“What don’t you get?” Techno glances at the book William is reading, recognizing it as Hamlet. A classic and one Will complained about reading.
“Why no one mourns Ophelia for who she was and not what she represents.” Techno made a small hum but continued reading. Not an uncommon question when it comes to the works of Shakespeare, the man was complicated and decisive in his writings. He says as much to Will. “He probably meant to show how she was treated as a person.”
“Valued for what she meant but not as her own character?” Techno shrugs as William pinches his brow. “So when they call her innocent they don’t mean she’s innocent. Rather she was meant to be?”
“Possibly.” Techno flips to the next page of his own book, something or other about a fantasy war. “More or less she’s meant to show how terrible her family and the person she loves treat her.”
“So she just exists as an extension of everyone’s cruelty?” Will scrunches his nose, looking back at the book. This version included the painting by Millais, and Techno sees Will stare at it. The boy brushes his finger along the flowering banks of the river, staring at the drowning Ophelia. “So she kills herself for what? She doesn’t plot revenge like everyone else.”
“Perhaps it was revenge.” Techno places his book down and takes off his glasses, realizing that this conversation wasn’t going to end anytime soon. “Pain over losin’ someone you love is a terrible fate. Like never bein’ able to walk right again, losin’ stability.”
“But why?” Will looks distressed at Techno’s response, his fist curling around the book but never harming the pages. “Why kill herself?”
“Cause maybe that was the only choice she felt she could make.”
“That’s bull shit.”
“Don’t curse.” Techno feels his ears pin back slightly, both at his own words and William’s. Too parental. “Phil will be mad if he catches you.”
“But she had choices.” Will looks down at the painting again, frown deepening as he rants over the story. “Been with her family, or fled to Hamlet even if he’s gone completely mad. She so obviously loves them all, enough to pick living.”
“Well, let’s see.” Techno grabs the book from Will, just sliding it up the table so the kid would look at him. “She had been cast aside by everyone she loved. Her family is dismissive of everything she is, only caring for her obedience. Her lover is so consumed by revenge he sees her as a tool for power, as only a way to kill all of the men on his blacklist. Goin' crazy over losin’ her father and her lover to revenge. Where is the choice if everyone proves to be the enemy?”
They sat quietly, Will staring deeply at the painted edges of the heavy gown. Flowers and rue float down the stream as Ophelia’s face lays peacefully at the surface, innocent without her grief.
“I guess she loved them all so much that she couldn’t pick a side.” Will finally relents, his eyes sad as he picks up the book and leaves the library.
Techno sits for a second, sighing as he stands up, grabbing his long blue cape and following Will in exiting. After walking along the hallway for a bit he spies Philza on a balcony. Sighing once more, he stands next to the man he considers his equal.
“You're staying up late aren’t you?” Phil looks back with kind eyes and a bright smile. Hat tilting back, golden hair glowing in the midnight sun. “Reading again I see.”
“Will wanted to make progress on his book and I wanted to start a new one.” He holds up the book for emphasis. Pulling his cloak closer he steps up to meet Phil’s shoulder.
“I see.” Phil turns back at the setting sun and the capital below. The wind breezes by, the chill not as biting during the summer months.
Techno glances to his side, watching the man. Details are important in battle; who needs to eat, where the enemy could come from, was it raining the day before, how can they surround their prey. All important questions asked. So Techno was used to studying the man beside him. His smile is just a little more upward, even relaxed, his eyes not squinting against the sun but resting peacefully, and his back not stiff in politeness but in pride.
“You look happy.” Phil turns to look at Techno, head tilted in curiosity, face scrunched up in amusement.
“What?” The chirping laugh in his question.
“Nothin’. I guess you look happier.” Phil just laughed, Techno watched as the laugh made his emerald earring shake. Once more the voices hummed pleased, encouraging him to say the next few words. “For you Phil, the world.”
Techno watched the man before him look up slightly surprised. Smile growing as his wings puffed up in a similar fashion, joy obvious in every movement.
“Aw, mate.” The shorter leaned forward to hug the piglin, head getting buried in his chest and arms wrapping around his chest.
They stood like that for a moment, Techno settling his hand along the others back. Even as Phil teased him he just held the other. Philza was the only man he trusted so much. Had bled and died for this man, watching the other do the same for him.
A companion to defy death and brave life with. Together.
He will never be alone again.
When Captain Sally Soot enters their lives he doesn’t think much of it, her reputation as a leader and privateer don’t do her complete justice. Her work and information during the war work towards their advantage and all she asks is for a position in their military. They had no reason to refuse her.
They should have.
It was obvious Will had been acting off since the war ended. He snuck around the same time Sally took her breaks ashore. Niki, now a baker’s apprentice and trained soldier, reported to the Emperors directly about the letters William made her take to Sally and the ones she sent back to him.
Techno knew the greed of men well, it was obvious what she was doing to the kid. He refused to let her play her game any longer.
“What’re you doin’?” Safe to say finding Will packing and sneaking around at midnight was not what he wanted to happen.
“I’m leaving.” The conversation only goes downhill from there.
“No you’re not.”
“I wasn’t asking.” Now Techno glanced around the room again. As Will said a few more words, he moved from leaning against the wall to stock forward, pausing once more as he tried not to laugh at how Will started to stumble backwards.
“Stars above Will.” Techno pinched his nose, holding back a cruel laugh. He knows it would be cruel laughter. “Sneaking around these past few months, it was so obvious what the two of you were doin’. Gods I can’t believe this.”
“What?” William crossed his arms like a child, a habit he’s always had as a child, face red in anger. “Sally is good. Better than you at least.”
Techno looked at Will in shock, making a confused and angry noise as Will said that. Really? Him? Now Will was just being ridiculous.
“What has she done in the past year that Phil and I haven’t? Please enlighten me with your mature insight.” Techno didn’t mean to snap but with what Will was saying he really needed Will to explain what was going through his head to make him think that.
The voices stared to whisper in curiosity.
“Really?” Will huffed, now raising his head like he was sneering at what Techno questioned. Anger is always the disadvantage in these situations. “You treat me like a child-”
“Then stop acting like a child.” He was, 19 is so young even for piglins. Techno was raised in hellish conditions but he relied on his home bastion until he turned 25. Even after Philza explained humans mature faster than piglins Will was shielded from a lot, entitled to a lot. He never matured the same way other kids his age did. He was still a child.
“I’m almost 19, I’m not acting like a child Techno.” The ‘you are’ went unsaid, but Techno knew he wanted to say it. Only serving in making him more angry.
“Your current actions suggest otherwise.” Techno moved closer, a hand hovering above Will’s arm. He held his arm out softly, trying not to show he was a threat. “So stop.”
“I am not acting like a child!” He slapped Techno’s hand away sharply. The kid now yelling in his face making Techno’s ears flinch back at the volume. “I am angry and I am hurt because of you- you left me alone I love you and you don’t care- about me or anything beside your stupid fucking empire and my dad and what ever war game of the week it is!”
“Calm down-”
“No!” Will stepped away in time with Techno’s steps. “I will not. You have to listen to me for once. So in case you didn’t fucking hear me the first time. I. Am. Leaving .”
“William, you don’t get to leave by yourself-”
“I do, I’m not leaving alone.” Techno scoffed. Really?
“That woman doesn’t count.” He growled low in his throat, possessive of his family and distrustful of the woman who laid a claim on his shoat.
Kill her Skin her Sally become soot lol
Fry the fish Blood Blood red hair for us
Blood for the blood god Kill Kill Kill
Don’t take shoat don’t hurt runt
Kill the betrayer E E E E E E E E
Shut up. He needed to think and keep calm.
Kill them both
Make the sea run red with their blood
“You don’t get to have a say in my life after not being here for me.” Techno snapped his head up, watching as the teenager glanced at his bags. Will moved forward, Techno didn’t step back. He just glared down at the kid, snorting out a huff as his brows creased.
“I have always been here-”
“No you haven’t! You haven’t even listened to me this entire conversation!”
“Yes I have. You want to leave because a pretty girl bats her eyelashes at you? That’s what you’re leavin’ us for? Like I said, you are actin’ like a child. Whether you like it or not, compared to your father and I, 19 is still a child, so you will stop this now.” Techno moved until he was leaning over William, voices fueling his charge forward. “Or I will make you.”
Kill them Kill them NO DON”T HURT SHOAT
Shut up lol E E E E No E’s chat
Baby Wilby Technosoft
Techno weak Blood god
Blood god
B͑ͅḷ͘ŏ͕o̫̕d͙͋ ̫͗G̲͑o̡͝d
“No.” Will glances at his bags a few feet away, lifting his head high to glare at Techno. “You don’t get that right anymore. So move.” Will takes a deep breath and a step away, moving forward and away from Techno. “I’m tired of waiting for you. Waiting for you to love me or even want me-”
“Don’t say that-”
“What? The truth?! I’m done.” Will is stopped by Techno.
“No.”
STOP HIM Shoat is leaving sadge STOP HIM STOP
Do we kill him? We’re killing someone? Sally Soot
Kill Them Blood for the Blood God
Blood for the Blood God Blood for the Blood God
Kill them Kill them Ṟ̸̩̋̉̑͜Ẹ̷̡͐̉̂D̵͉̞̙́̀ ̵̲̾̍S̶̨̳̊̓͝Ë̸̮͚̚͝Ã̴̻S̵͖̅̆
BLOOD FOR THE B̴̯͕̚L̸̲͐Ơ̵ͅO̶͕̖͗̍D̶̪̞̀̎̾ ̶̤̤͘͜Ǵ̵͙͕̫̂Ó̶̜̱D̸̛̥͗͋ BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BL̸̲͐Ơ̵ͅO̶͕̖͗̍D̶̪̞̀̎̾ ̶̤̤͘͜Ǵ̵͙͕̫̂Ó̶̜D̸͗ KILL THEM KILL T̵̗͊H̸̥̚Ḛ̵̈M̴̢͠
K͍̤̅İ̖̐L̖̈́L̘͒͗̀ ̛̤̣̩H̤͊̈́̽I̻̰̍̓M̧̍̔͝ K͍̤̅İ̖̐L̖̈́L̘͒͗̀ ̛̤̣̩H̤͊̈́̽I̻̰̍̓M̧̍̔͝ BLOOD FOR THE B̴̯͕̚L̸̲͐Ơ̵ͅO̶͕̖͗̍D̶̪̞̀̎̾ GOD
B̴̯͕̚L̸̲͐O̴̫͑O̶͖̮͆͋D̸͓̂͐̎ ̸̛̬̑̍F̵͕͎̈́̃O̶̘͝ͅR̸̛̩͉̬̅̏ ̷̳͝T̵͓͉͉͆́H̷̝̐͛Ȇ̷͓͍̅̚ ̵͖͊B̵̨̗̈ͅL̴̻͕͂Ơ̵ͅO̶͕̖͗̍D̶̪̞̀̎̾ ̶̤̤͘͜Ǵ̵͙͕̫̂Ó̶̜̱D̸̛̥͗͋
“Yes.”
Then, they’re scrambling. Voices getting louder and louder
Shoat sadge KILL HIM Will is mad pepelaugh
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
What did I miss? Kill Kill Kill
Skin them Get Sally next
Fishy Fishy F̢̑i̹̓s̥͑ḫ̈y̭͗ BLOOD GIVE US Ḇ̎L͚̀̂̒Ò̬O̟̎D̲̪͐͜
RED R͕̿E͔͝D̤̍ R̰̓Ȇ̹̘̭̿̌D͓̒
“Will-”
STRUGGLE IS USELESS STOP HURTING SHOAT
KILL HIM Guys wtf
KILL KILL HE ISN’T FAMILY
BETRAYER B̝̅E̝͊T̞͒R̼̾Ä͖́Y͈̏E̮͠R͌͜
BETRAYER KILL HIM
B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ ̠̽F̦̕O̠͑Ř̖ ͙͆T͖̄H̩̀Ȇ͚ ̖̑B̺̕L͎͌O̲̾Õ͈D̲̾ ̖̽G̝̓O̤̕D̘̍
“Let me go!”
PATHETIC CHILD STUPID TECHNOBLADE
TECHNOSOFT KILL
DEATH FOR THE GODDESS KILL
THE SON OF DEATH
KILL KILL KILL
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
KILL THE SON OF BLOOD
STAB HIM SKIN HIM KILL THEM BOTH
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD CUT HIS THROAT
RED SEAS RED OCEAN OF BLOOD
STAIN THE WALLS RED D͍͛R̡̈́O͙͆Ẁ͕Ń̬ ̺́H͜͠I̗̔M̬̉ ͇͋Į̛N̝̐ ̟̍T̼̈H͉͑E̲͒ ̢͘C͙̎O̹̒L̤̾Ŏ̘R̡͋
BLOOD FOR THE B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ GOD
B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ ̠̽F̦̕O̠͑Ř̖ ͙͆T͖̄H̩̀Ȇ͚ ̖̑B̺̕L͎͌O̲̾Õ͈D̲̾ ̖̽G̝̓O̤̕D̘̍
BLOOD FOR THE B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ GOD
B̙͋L̬̈́O̲̩̓O̦̥̊D͍̎̍ ̭͆͋F͓͑̕O̻̖͂R̯̖̈́ ̯̻̀̚Ṫ̫Ḫ͈́Ḛ̬́̏ ̩͖̈́B̛͕L̨̡̂Õ͔O͍͌D̪͐̊ ̘̻͊͑G͇̒͝O̰̖͌̉Ḓ̍͂
B̢͖͒L̲̂Ô̯O͚̥͂͜D̽̆̒͜ ̣̙͂̚F̦͠Ȯ̬̭ͅR̠̣̲͒ ͍͗̒T̲̩͆Ḩ̛̗̟̃͝E̤̰̯͂ ̢̗̖̆B͕̼̻̀̉̐L͍̱̜̃̆́Ö̼́O̡̺̙̾̇͘Ḍ͉̣́̋̒ ͕̼̆ͅG̣͎̋Ǒ̟D͔̗̜͌
“Stop this-”
BLOOD FOR THE B̺̕L͎͌O̲̾Õ͈D̲̾ ̖̽G̝̓O̤̕D̘̍
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR ̟̍T̼̈H͉͑E̲͒ BLOOD GOD
B̷̬̑L̶̹̈Ȍ̵̱O̶̞͛D̴̤̓ ̶͔͗F̵͙͌Ȯ̵̦R̷͙̉ ̴͈̈T̸͙͗Ḧ̵́ͅE̶̥̊ ̵̧̽B̶̘̄L̷̜̕Ō̶̢Ȍ̶͚D̴̟̒ ̵̣̀G̵̙͝O̵͎̐D̸̨͝
B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ ̠̽F̦̕O̠͑Ř̖ ͙͆T͖̄H̩̀Ȇ͚ ̖̑B̺̕L͎͌O̲̾Õ͈D̲̾ ̖̽G̝̓O̤̕D̘̍
B̢͖͒L̲̂Ô̯O͚̥͂͜D̽̆̒͜ ̣̙͂̚F̦͠Ȯ̬̭ͅR̠̣̲͒ ͍͗̒T̲̩͆Ḩ̛̗̟̃͝E̤̰̯͂ ̢̗̖̆B͕̼̻̀̉̐L͍̱̜̃̆́Ö̼́O̡̺̙̾̇͘Ḍ͉̣́̋̒ ͕̼̆ͅG̣͎̋Ǒ̟D͔̗̜͌
B̙͋L̬̈́O̲̩̓O̦̥̊D͍̎̍ ̭͆͋F͓͑̕O̻̖͂R̯̖̈́ ̯̻̀̚Ṫ̫Ḫ͈́Ḛ̬́̏ ̩͖̈́B̛͕L̨̡̂Õ͔O͍͌D̪͐̊ ̘̻͊͑G͇̒͝O̰̖͌̉Ḓ̍͂
“NO!”
KILL HIM BLOOD GOD K̼̞͆İ̱L͕͑L̤̾̓ ̳̲̀H̨̰̍I̬̚M͎̒
BLOOD GOD BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
K̼̞͆İ̱L͕͑L̤̾̓ ̳̲̀H̨̰̍I̬̚M͎̒ BLOOD GOD BLOOD
F͓͑̕O̻̖͂R̯̖̈́ ̯̻̀̚Ṫ̫Ḫ͈́Ḛ̬́̏ ̩͖̈́B̛͕L̨̡̂Õ͔O͍͌D̪͐̊ ̘̻͊͑G͇̒͝O̰̖͌̉Ḓ̍͂
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD KILL HIM
B̢͖͒L̲̂Ô̯O͚̥͂͜D̽̆̒͜ ̣̙͂̚F̦͠Ȯ̬̭ͅR̠̣̲͒ ͍͗̒T̲̩͆Ḩ̛̗̟̃͝E̤̰̯͂ ̢̗̖̆B͕̼̻̀̉̐L͍̱̜̃̆́Ö̼́O̡̺̙̾̇͘Ḍ͉̣́̋̒ ͕̼̆ͅG̣͎̋Ǒ̟D͔̗̜͌
B̙͋L̬̈́O̲̩̓O̦̥̊D͍̎̍ ̭͆͋F͓͑̕O̻̖͂R̯̖̈́ ̯̻̀̚Ṫ̫Ḫ͈́Ḛ̬́̏ ̩͖̈́B̛͕L̨̡̂Õ͔O͍͌D̪͐̊ ̘̻͊͑G͇̒͝O̰̖͌̉Ḓ̍͂
B̷̬̑L̶̹̈Ȍ̵̱O̶̞͛D̴̤̓ ̶͔͗F̵͙͌Ȯ̵̦R̷͙̉ ̴͈̈T̸͙͗Ḧ̵́ͅE̶̥̊ ̵̧̽B̶̘̄L̷̜̕Ō̶̢Ȍ̶͚D̴̟̒ ̵̣̀G̵̙͝O̵͎̐D̸̨͝
B̢͐L̝̂Õ̢O̝͘D̦͛ ̠̽F̦̕O̠͑Ř̖ ͙͆T͖̄H̩̀Ȇ͚ ̖̑B̺̕L͎͌O̲̾Õ͈D̲̾ ̖̽G̝̓O̤̕D̘̍
B̢͖͒L̲̂Ô̯O͚̥͂͜D̽̆̒͜ ̣̙͂̚F̦͠Ȯ̬̭ͅR̠̣̲͒ ͍͗̒T̲̩͆Ḩ̛̗̟̃͝E̤̰̯͂ ̢̗̖̆B͕̼̻̀̉̐L͍̱̜̃̆́Ö̼́O̡̺̙̾̇͘Ḍ͉̣́̋̒ ͕̼̆ͅG̣͎̋Ǒ̟D͔̗̜͌
B̙͋L̬̈́O̲̩̓O̦̥̊D͍̎̍ ̭͆͋F͓͑̕O̻̖͂R̯̖̈́ ̯̻̀̚Ṫ̫Ḫ͈́Ḛ̬́̏ ̩͖̈́B̛͕L̨̡̂Õ͔O͍͌D̪͐̊ ̘̻͊͑G͇̒͝O̰̖͌̉Ḓ̍͂
Will pulls on his h̆͜ä̖ì̱ȓ̥.̝̋
B̢͍͈̝͆̿L͈̣͚͔̣̚͝Ö͈̭̘̮̤́̎̒̂͑Ó̥̙̲͙͛̀̐̉D͚̺͂̄̎̾̽ ̛̛̦͒̚F̢̈́̅͒͑̑O͍̯͇̮̅Ŗ̲̔̒ ͈͚̐̄̃̚͝T͔̮͐H̭͒͒͛Ę̢̻̙̲̓͗̒̆͝ ̳̌͌B̩̿̂̏̂L̛͙͓͂̉̕͜͠Ǒ̡̲͉̘̻̉͠O̹͑̍̽̈́̍D͇̠̬̬͒͛̐͜ ͇͖͎̱̦̎̉G̢͈̓̀̒̆͝Ó̗̀̌͜D͔͉̭͋̏͘ͅ B̢͍͈̝͆̿L͈̣͚͔̣̚͝Ö͈̭̘̮̤́̎̒̂͑Ó̥̙̲͙͛̀̐̉D͚̺͂̄̎̾̽ ̛̛̦͒̚F̢̈́̅͒͑̑O͍̯͇̮̅Ŗ̲̔̒ ͈͚̐̄̃̚͝T͔̮͐H̭͒͒͛Ę̢̻̙̲̓͗̒̆͝ ̳̌͌B̩̿̂̏̂L̛͙͓͂̉̕͜͠Ǒ̡̲͉̘̻̉͠O̹͑̍̽̈́̍D͇̠̬̬͒͛̐͜ ͇͖͎̱̦̎̉G̢͈̓̀̒̆͝Ó̗̀̌͜D͔͉̭͋̏͘ͅ
-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̅̑ -̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
Ä̴̯̜̱͎̼̳̞̥̟̹̜̀̉̈̕A̷̜͉̙̪͚̒̿̀̑̽́͒̊͠͠͠Â̴̯̤̜̦̦̯̗̬̤͜A̷͍͈̬̘̹͍̺̦͚̝͗̽͒̈́̐̑͆̃͐̕͜͝ͅÅ̶̢̨̛̭͖̹̞͙̘̩̹̻̑̈́̋̂̋̀͐̓͘͘A̷̢͖̦̍̃̕Å̷̧̨̧̨̛̛̼͕̪̣͍̹͈͔̲̺̖͌̈́̌̆̑̐͘̕͜͜͝Á̴̹̖̩̗̜̟̦͙͖̬̈̀́́́͋̎̓̽̽̚Ȁ̶̡̜̫̺̺̹͇̪̳̯̼̩͖͕̭̟̺̇́̾̆͒̔͗̂̎͛̒̇͋͠Â̶̢̲̩̈̀̏̍͊͝Ą̵͙͎̫̺̳̞͈͇̬̭͈̒̓̔̐̆̽̊̿̽͑͆̉̚͘͜͜Á̸̬͉̖̩̻̙͈̬͓A̶̡͉̲̥̦̞̞̪̦͇͚̗̣͓͗͝ BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
BLOOD B̢͍͈̝͆̿L͈̣͚͔̣̚͝Ö͈̭̘̮̤́̎̒̂͑Ó̥̙̲͙͛̀̐̉D͚̺͂̄̎̾̽ ̛̛̦͒̚F̢̈́̅͒͑̑O͍̯͇̮̅Ŗ̲̔̒ ͈͚̐̄̃̚͝T͔̮͐H̭͒͒͛Ę̢̻̙̲̓͗̒̆͝ ̳̌͌B̩̿̂̏̂L̛͙͓͂̉̕͜͠Ǒ̡̲͉̘̻̉͠O̹͑̍̽̈́̍D͇̠̬̬͒͛̐͜ ͇͖͎̱̦̎̉G̢͈̓̀̒̆͝Ó̗̀̌͜D͔͉̭͋̏͘ͅ Ä̴̯̜̱͎̼̳̞̥̟̹̜̀̉̈̕A̷̜͉̙̪͚̒̿̀̑̽́͒̊͠͠͠Â̴̯̤̜̦̦̯̗̬̤͜A̷͍͈̬̘̹͍̺̦͚̝͗̽͒̈́̐̑͆̃͐̕͜͝ͅÅ̶̢̨̛̭͖̹̞͙̘̩̹̻̑̈́̋̂̋̀͐̓͘͘A̷̢͖̦̍̃̕Å̷̧̨̧̨̛̛̼͕̪̣͍̹͈͔̲̺̖͌̈́̌̆̑̐͘̕͜͜͝Á̴̹̖̩̗̜̟̦͙͖̬̈̀́́́͋̎̓̽̽̚Ȁ̶̡̜̫̺̺̹͇̪̳̯̼̩͖͕̭̟̺̇́̾̆͒̔͗̂̎͛̒̇͋͠Â̶̢̲̩̈̀̏̍͊͝Ą̵͙͎̫̺̳̞͈͇̬̭͈̒̓̔̐̆̽̊̿̽͑͆̉̚͘͜͜Á̸̬͉̖̩̻̙͈̬͓A̶̡͉̲̥̦̞̞̪̦͇͚̗̣͓͗͝
-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
B̢͍͈̝͆̿L͈̣͚͔̣̚͝Ö͈̭̘̮̤́̎̒̂͑Ó̥̙̲͙͛̀̐̉D͚̺͂̄̎̾̽ ̛̛̦͒̚F̢̈́̅͒͑̑O͍̯͇̮̅Ŗ̲̔̒ ͈͚̐̄̃̚͝T͔̮͐H̭͒͒͛Ę̢̻̙̲̓͗̒̆͝ ̳̌͌B̩̿̂̏̂L̛͙͓͂̉̕͜͠Ǒ̡̲͉̘̻̉͠O̹͑̍̽̈́̍D͇̠̬̬͒͛̐͜ ͇͖͎̱̦̎̉G̢͈̓̀̒̆͝Ó̗̀̌͜D͔͉̭͋̏͘ͅ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋ _̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
B̢͍͈̝͆̿L͈̣͚͔̣̚͝Ö͈̭̘̮̤́̎̒̂͑Ó̥̙̲͙͛̀̐̉D͚̺͂̄̎̾̽ ̛̛̦͒̚F̢̈́̅͒͑̑O͍̯͇̮̅Ŗ̲̔̒ ͈͚̐̄̃̚͝T͔̮͐H̭͒͒͛Ę̢̻̙̲̓͗̒̆͝ ̳̌͌B̩̿̂̏̂L̛͙͓͂̉̕͜͠Ǒ̡̲͉̘̻̉͠O̹͑̍̽̈́̍D͇̠̬̬͒͛̐͜ ͇͖͎̱̦̎̉G̢͈̓̀̒̆͝Ó̗̀̌͜D͔͉̭͋̏͘ͅ Ä̴̯̜̱͎̼̳̞̥̟̹̜̀̉̈̕A̷̜͉̙̪͚̒̿̀̑̽́͒̊͠͠͠Â̴̯̤̜̦̦̯̗̬̤͜A̷͍͈̬̘̹͍̺̦͚̝͗̽͒̈́̐̑͆̃͐̕͜͝ͅÅ̶̢̨̛̭͖̹̞͙̘̩̹̻̑̈́̋̂̋̀͐̓͘͘A̷̢͖̦̍̃̕Å̷̧̨̧̨̛̛̼͕̪̣͍̹͈͔̲̺̖͌̈́̌̆̑̐͘̕͜͜͝Á̴̹̖̩̗̜̟̦͙͖̬̈̀́́́͋̎̓̽̽̚Ȁ̶̡̜̫̺̺̹͇̪̳̯̼̩͖͕̭̟̺̇́̾̆͒̔͗̂̎͛̒̇͋͠Â̶̢̲̩̈̀̏̍͊͝Ą̵͙͎̫̺̳̞͈͇̬̭͈̒̓̔̐̆̽̊̿̽͑͆̉̚͘͜͜Á̸̬͉̖̩̻̙͈̬͓A̶̡͉̲̥̦̞̞̪̦͇͚̗̣͓͗͝
-̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋_̸̥̞̻̅̑ -̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒ -̷͍͝_̶͋͑ͅ-̴̢͍̩̀͋ _̸̥̞̻̅̑-̶̞̞̪́̓́̐͒_̴̡̙̭̲́̑͂-̴̨̗̱̅̇̓͒
Crack.
The noise was small.
So quiet.
Like dropping a pin to the floor.
The sensation of a bone snapping and the sound it makes was nothing new to Techno. Used to violence, he knows a bone break when he hears one.
Then he hears the body fall back. Hears William hit the bedside.
He’s watching in horror at what he’d just done coming to him like water down his spine.
You hit him.
Just one voice, maybe his own for once, drowns out the enraptured cheers and grieving screams of his head.
YES POG CHAT NOOOOOOOOOO
AAAAAAAAAAAAA CHAT WHY
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
You hit him .
It’s barely even a whisper above his own stuttered breaths and rushing heartbeat.
Will is on the floor, assessing the damage that Techno did to him. Scared eyes and fear is on his face and all the piglin can do is stare at William.
Chat screams at the blood, in disgust and delight, watching as the dripping sound echoes in the polished room. Techno can’t look away from William’s face. It feels blank.
All he can see is the 5 year old that ran to him with a scraped knee, in tears over something so small because he was trying to pet the stray cat outside the palace walls.
He sees the 10 year old that brought him back his English test that Techno had helped him study for with a big 100 along the top, smile so wide he had to blink back at how bright this kid was beaming at him.
He sees the young scholar at 15, being carried by Techno back to his bed when he passed out in the library over a book the piglin had suggested to him on Greek myths.
Most of all, he sees the small and fragile thing Phil had wrestled him into hold for just a moment while he got the bottle from the staff.
That peaceful face that wiggled and whined at having been moved from his father’s arms, eyes opening to the rather intimidating sight of a piglin leering over him. Yet William, in all his delicate splendor, smiled with gums and clear, warm brown eyes at Techno. A beast from the Nether, the Blood God that brought nations to their knees , and this child just smiled at him. Like he was something worthy of that peace he tried to build with Phil all those years ago.
Like Technoblade deserves it.
Now he sees that kid, so scared of what he is, with tears and blood all down his face, that Techno can’t bear to see that honest look of fear on his face.
He looked away. A shaky breath leaving him as he does so.
It wasn’t until he heard the cannon fire that he realized William ran out of the room with his bags, and the city was under attack.
This time he let the voices lead the charge as he captured or killed the attackers.
Mercenaries and soldiers under captain Sally’s command alike all fell to their knees, either in fear or death. Prisoners were taken, only for their information.
William was gone.
As the city recovered and the ships were sent to find Sally and her crew, Techno walked back to the castle. He walked to the throne room where he saw Philza staring out the window.
Phil was wearing his normal outfit, pale blue shirt and navy pants. The back opened to give his wings more mobility, gold chains hanging off the pitch black feathers, his head vacant of the modified blue and white bucket hat. He just stood staring out the large stained glass windows, a clear vain right at his eye height.
“They’ve escaped.” Techno says as calmly as he can, but the voices have exhausted him. Their constant yelling and encouragement of bloodshed has left him so tired, so his voice is clipped and more firm than steady. “Will-”
“Don’t say it.” Techno watches his head drop forward. Wings tucking tightly against his back. “Please.”
“Phil-”
“It’s my fault.” Techno steps forward to comfort his friend when he sees a letter in the elytra’s hand. Will’s writing is clear across the page. “I did this.”
“No.” Techno finally pushed for Phil to face him. The man didn’t meet his eyes. “Will is just scared and confused-”
“But he’s not!” Philza sharply looks up, tears staining his face as anger burns in his eyes, pupils thin in the storm of emotions that fly across them. “I know my son! He wasn’t stupid he-”
He looks at the paper.
“I-” Phil hiccups on the next word and Techno moves his arms to comfort him. “I hurt my son.”
Techno catches Phil as he collapses in grief, his body shaking so violently the chains jingle along with it. He takes the letter slowly from the man’s hand.
Dear Emperors of the Antarctic Empire,
I renounce the throne of this land to revoke my title as crown prince. I want nothing from you ever again. I am obviously nothing to you and you are nothing to me. I have been alone my entire life because of you. I don’t want anything to do with you ever again.
Emperor Philza, my father in only blood, I will never be good enough for you. Your attention is only for the Empire and the man you rule it with. I have never felt loved by you, I have never felt acknowledged by you. I deserve better than you.
Emperor Technoblade, the Blood God, I have been your student long enough to know all you feel towards me is disappointment that I’m not a warrior like my father. My mentor of battle and someone I will never measure up to. I need better than you.
Don’t look for me, I won’t be found. I’m finally going to be happy no thanks to you. I hope you find happiness, as I will now be as well away from you both.
William Craft
Techno looked out at the smokey city, watching and slowly rubbing circles into his friend’s back. The words were final, the hurt to read but he knew they weren’t completely Willian’s. Sally had poised him, that must be the truth.
The voices were revived in bloodlust at his next thought, ringing loud and clear in his ears and they all hummed an agreement.
Sally Soot will die by his blade or spend her life running from it.