The smell of rot and ash permeated the air, the clacking of bones, the clinking metal of armor plates grinding against one another, deep grunts, hissing, guttural moans, and high-pitch screeches sounded throughout the forest.

Stephanie ran as fast as her legs could carry her, panting aloud and quickly maneuvering around trees and fallen logs as she hurriedly raced through the woods. She couldn't believe it, Herobrine's mob army was indeed stationed not too far from her village as rumors had stated. None of the village guards seemed to believe in these rumors though and no one even attempted to go out and see the truth for themselves; believing that some bunch of kids were just making it all up for attention.

But they were wrong, so wrong. Now she was glad that she took the time to investigate out of her paranoia for her brother's sake.

The young woman knew she had to get back to her brother Steve as soon as possible, she was acutely aware of his and Herobrine's great rivalry and there was no doubt that the white-eyed demon was heading toward their village to take revenge on him for being his arch nemesis and for foiling his last attack on some trader's post a while back. Of course, the god-like being escaped after his small bands of mobs were ambushed and vanquished, not retreating out of fear or intimidation; but merely prolonging the inevitable. Herobrine was not only a powerful and seemingly immortal figure, but he was a man of revenge and many grudges. An entity that enjoys the chase, a game of sorts.

Herobrine himself was a one-man army with unimaginable power, but Stephanie; knowing all about Minecraftia's Legends, knew that he was also a man of pride, arrogance, and influence too. The villain-ish being could have easily wiped her brother out a long time ago, or even at that trader's post, but Herobrine liked to cause immense suffering more through his legions of mobs than his own two hands just to flaunt his status as the King of Mobs.

For an impatient man, he sure loved taking his time exacting his need for revenge. Probably just savoring the build-up to the great event where he actually causes mass destruction... like perhaps tonight!

This is not good, no one in the town is ready for an attack of this scale and Steve is probably at home sleeping at this late hour after a long day in the mines. She had to get back and warn him, and warn the town's guards to protect the civilians. Stephanie was inwardly panicking greatly as she had never seen such an army amassed like this one, there were numerous amounts of mobs, many in armor with weapons that she couldn't even put a number on the many she saw down in a valley.

This must be the day when Herobrine will get his revenge and fully conquer the Eastern Province once and for all. He has already laid waste to several villages of the west and some to the south according to some apparent refugees that passed through the region, that was a warning sign, and yet no one but a select few seemed to take the matter seriously; the leader of the village and the guard sure didn't.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she sprinted for dear life, the younger Stonewall sibling couldn't bear the thought of her brother nor the people of her town being slain so mercilessly nor losing her childhood home and all of her friends Alex, Luna, Carson, Stanley, and her friendly old neighbor Nigel. She couldn't live with herself if she lost those she loved and cared about most. They must leave though, everyone must evacuate, go into hiding, or go on the run. There was no way that their small village could take on throngs of undead and skeletal soldiers, large arachnids, End dimensional beings, and masses of living TNT crawlers.

Not this many.

In her run Stephanie began to slow as she made her way down a large incline towards a river at the base of the hill, she needed to stop; not just to get a drink of water but to also catch her breath.

Once she reached the small patch of trees at the base of the river, she carefully kneeled at the water's edge and scooped some up in her hands to drink; once she had her fill she stood back up and leaned her back against the bark of a birch tree as she inhales and exhaled loudly with her chest rising and falling as her heart thundered; her eyes closed as she took a moment to rest. She brushed her auburn bangs behind her ears and combed a hand through her long ponytail, she then waved a hand in her face to cool off since her magenta-pink zip-up jacket made her feel a little hot at the moment. As her breath steadied her eyes quickly snapped open, she then blinked and glanced around; she suddenly heard voices nearby and they both sounded particularly ... inhuman and unnatural.

Glancing around, Stephanie then crouched down and weaved between the trees quietly as she silently made her way toward the voices. She knew she should just keep running to warn her people, but she thought she heard the name of her town being spoken about and her curiosity was beginning to get the better of her.

She stayed low and ducked behind a fallen log and slowly and cautiously peered over it, her violet eyes widened and she threw her hand over her mouth in shock.

Not even a few yards away was Herobrine in the flesh, a tall and more bulky and sinister-looking version of her brother with sharp features, an evil-looking goatee, and glowing white eyes shining in the fading dusk of the day. He stood tall, strong, stoic, intimidating, and handsome. Curse him for being so good-looking, she thought to herself as she noticed how long she gazed over his features. She then noted that he had a diamond blade in its scabbard belted around his waist, Steve said he had one; one of Herobrine's weapons of choice other than his diamond pickaxe.

Next to him was his rumored top general, Kankaal, the legendary skeletal leader of the ancient jungle temple ruins of Yltoixlt; a skilled warrior of the bow and dagger. Not a mob boss to mess with if there ever was one, his aim was rumored to be the greatest there ever was, and he never missed his targets either. Dangerous indeed.

Two really powerful figures of Minecraftia were just right there, she has never been so close, nor has ever seen one with her own eyes before until now. Though it was her dream to meet some of the Minecraft Legends, these two were not who she had in mind. Both were hyper-aggressive and infamously renowned beings that were rumored to be completely merciless, and one of them was an extremely high-level threat; Herobrine being one of the most wanted for his long list of cruelty and crimes. He was the driving force of the mob army, her brother's sworn enemy.

Stephanie's heart raced as she listened in on them; praying to Notch that they couldn't hear her heart beating in her throat since she was so close and certainly right within death's grip should she be caught.

"All preparations are complete lord Herobrine, we stand at the ready and await your command." The dark armor-plated skeleton says with a formal and yet raspy tone and makes a light bow of respect to his superior. His ebony armor was encrusted with silver lining and it chinked as he bowed, as well as his bones rattling from every slight movement. Stephanie noticed the dark Oakwood bow strung over his back along with the matching quiver of crimson arrows.

"All we know is to await your word. But if I may speak master; I still think we should split forces and send half towards the west, that way when we invade from the east we can ambush the ones that try to flee. And since the ocean is to the south and this wide river out here cuts through the north, they'll have nowhere to flee to, we'll completely cut them off and effectively wipe these people from the face of the world and bring their lines of lineage to ruin."

Kankaal gestured with a clenching fist. "No more will there be a Stonewall, no more will the village of Oakridge even exist. Your revenge will be fully carried out and no one shall stop us, all of the mobs know that the miner is yours and will not kill him, only capture him. The time has finally come."

"Excellent." A deep and smooth echoing dual-toned voice sounded. Herobrine grinned with lightly narrowed white eyes and placed his hands on his hips. "But there will be no need to split the army, they are not aware of our advances or numbers; they won't even see us coming before it's too late. There is no need to waste time in splitting the infantry, we shall overtake them in one fell swing of our might and numbers. Then once we take that pitiful village, the others around it shall be the next to fall in our wave and we shall conquer the rest of this province and move on to the next in our conquest. And Steve, hmm hmm hmmm, he will fall at last."

"Of course my lord." The general nodded and placed his hands behind his back with a stately posture. "We are ready to move at your call, sir. I'm personally so eager for the mobs and I to finally aid in fulfilling your dreams of taking this world and for you to put that mortal in his place finally, ... in the grave." He finished more sinisterly with a chuckle and vile grin.

"Prepare the army to move, we will begin the attack as soon as the sun disappears over the horizon; right as most of the humans lie their heads down to rest. There will be hardly any time to react, it's the perfect time to strike."

Stephanie quietly gasped, they were attacking that soon?! She was almost out of time, she needed to get moving and fast! She lowered herself a little more and began a swift crawl as quietly as she could away from the log.

"Ah yes, I shall inform them at once." The general made another bow and began to turn away.

"Hm, say Kankaal."

The skeleton archer turned back around. "Yes, master?"

"Got a dagger to spare?"

"Of course." The mob general ambled back over and pulled a blade from his belt, he placed it into Herobrine's palm. "May I ask what you need it for?"

Herobrine then smirked as he eyed the weapon and fidgeted with it. "What a fine and sharp blade this is, just what we need for our guest here."

'He knows I'm here?!' Stephanie's eyes widened and she crawled more quickly.

The skeleton lifted his head and watched as Herobrine turned to his side and threw the blade with precision, it swiftly planted into the tree behind Stephanie and just barely grazed the top of her head; she gasped in fright after nearly being impaled in the head. Did he miss on purpose?

She fell back onto her rump and stared in shock as the two figures began trudging towards her, Stephanie blinked and snapped out of her shock and quickly attempted to jolt off, but tripped. As she scurried back onto her feet she felt a hand clasp roughly around her wrist before she could dart away.

"And just where do you think you're going, human?" The man chuckled darkly, his dual-tone voice made it sound as if he was speaking the same words twice at once, they sounded dark, deep, silky, and baleful.

Things couldn't have gotten any worse, she had just been captured by her brother's enemy and one of Minecraftia's vilest entities; this was a death sentence. She finally turned her face towards her captor and tried to yank her hand free; although to no avail, his grip was like iron and she couldn't even budge his arm at all.

"Is she a spy? Hahahaha!" Kankaal cackled. "Listening in on some rather private information that should not be known, I bet she's from that village too."

"No doubt about it," Herobrine smirked and yanked the woman from the tree line and out into the small clearing of the woods, he then proceeded to force her down at his feet with a careless shove. "You've got some nerve to get this close to me, woman, that was a mistake you will certainly pay for. Heh."

Stephanie stared back up at him in horror, too afraid to move; let alone speak.

"You do realize who I am, don't you?" He asked with a toothy grin and arms held out at his sides, the air around the three began to grow chilly and there was a heavy weighty feeling forming in the atmosphere. "Well mortal?!" He asked with his voice raised.

Stephanie feigned ignorance and refused to speak, too scared to even talk back and be punished for doing so. Herobrine was a cruel man, after all, he was known to kill anyone who even looked at him in the wrong way.

Kankaal huffed angrily and stepped forward with a dagger now pointing at the lady. "Speak you pathetic worm, you are in the presence of the King of Mobs! The one who had singlehandedly slain all of the great mob lords to become the grand ruler of us all, you pitiable humans are next on his line of conquest but shall not be spared. Useless, unruly, unyielding, disobedient, disrespectful, and the most miserable of creatures. The only foolish beings that don't deserve to live in the world lord Herobrine will recreate. Now... speak! Answer!"

Stephanie narrowed her eyes and coiled her fingers against her palms as she stared up at the two. Herobrine was not out just for revenge against her brother, but for something more on a much greater scale. World conquest. Knowing now there was no intent on sparing any humans whatsoever, she had no intentions of entertaining these monsters in any shape or fashion. Herobrine truly was a merciless and heartless fiend, just as the historical books of legends stated.

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"Hmm?" Herobrine raised his brow as he stared down into the woman's eyes. "There's a look in her eyes, something quite familiar. Something... I despise." He said lowly with his grin fading to a light sneer and arms falling to his sides. "I've seen that look before, those eyes. She looks... vaguely familiar too, I can't help but wonder-"

The general looked over at Herobrine with a slight tilt of his head. "You've seen this human woman before my lord?"

"No. But... there's just something about her that I recognize. Those dark blue-violet eyes. Hmm." He hummed with a steely gaze.

This was bad. Stephanie knew that not only was her village in grave danger, be she was too, and if she was slain here then there would be no one to warn her people and her brother. They'll suffer a fate just as bad; if not worse than her. Her fate was already sealed, Herobrine was going to have everyone killed and she failed to warn them. Guilt began to weigh on her heart heavily, but not for long, the thought of how she'd die soon plagued her thoughts; there would be no mercy.

Herobrine huffed. The woman barely moved in her place, only lightly quaking in fear. "You, Mortal." His words snapped her out of her fearful stare and she gaped. "What is your name? Your full name?"

What and tell him that she's 'Steve's' sister? There was no doubt in her mind that she was already dead at this point, but if he knew that she was a Stonewall then she'll likely be tortured or treated far worse before death. She couldn't tell him. Should she make up one and lie?

"And don't lie, woman, I'll know if you do." He says rather darkly.

Stephanie gulped. 'Never mind that.'

Kankaal tramped closer and grabbed her by the hair of her ponytail then yanked it back and rested the blade of the dagger under her chin and on her throat. "Speak human as lord Herobrine commands, or die." He coldly warned with the smell of death and decay on his breath, the woman wanted to gag.

Stephanie lightly hissed as the bony fingers dug into her scalp and ruthlessly tugged at her brunette roots forcing her head back, she scowled as she felt the blade bite her flesh and cause a dribble of blood to slowly ooze down her neck and seep into the fabric of her jacket. She was as good as dead, she would have remained silent had Herobrine not stepped closer and raised a hand and had a ball of flames forming in his palm. He was not a patient being by any means.

"I'll get you to speak one way or another if necessary. I can cause you a great deal of pain without actually killing you. Now, your name? Or should I slowly burn it out of you?" He asked more angrily.

"Steph- Stephanie... Stonewall." She finally muttered and trembled out of fear as the heat of the fire drew close to her face.

"A ... a Stonewall!? It's one of them curs!" Kankaal jeered and released his hold on her and took a step back with a surprised expression and loud chuckle."Hahaahaha! I can't believe it!"

Stephanie rubbed her head and wiped the blood from her neck with the sleeve of her jacket.

Herobrine gaped for a short moment before a devious smile crept upon his lips and his eyes lightly narrowed and glowed brighter, the fire in his hand dispersed into small flickering flames and vanished. "A relative of Steven Stonewall? Here? Ah, then you must be his cousin? Hmm no, his ... sister perhaps? ... ... No objections? So you are then. How very fortunate for me to have that damned miner's dear sibling here before me, at my mercy and in the palm of my hand." He darkly grinned and stepped forward with a hand reaching out. "How not so fortunate of you to stumble into me, however."

The woman tried to crawl backward but a hand swiftly shot forward and snagged her by the neck just under her jaw, he was too fast to avoid. Stephanie grabbed the strangulating force and tried to pry at his fingers with her own but his grip was just too strong, she was hauled up from the ground and kicked about in the air as she was lifted off her own feet and dangling.

"A feisty one she be." The general noted.

Herobrine tilted her head from one side to the other as he looked over her features, he then looked her up and down and smirked. "Quite a nice and shapely looking one too. And yet..." He chuckled as she glared at him. "You know, Stephanie... was it? I thought there was something about those eyes, just like a Stonewall with that staunch and dead-set gaze. Despite being powerless in my grasp; I can see great willpower and resolve within those orbs of yours, pure fight despite the fear. Hmmm hmm hmmm, just like your brother." He said lowly with a toothy grin as he pulled her closer.

"Well I'll have you know mortal, that I like a little fire, ... some bite." He finished with a low chuckle and tightened his hold on Stephanie's windpipe, causing her to kick and flail as she tried to get free from the strangulating force cutting off her air.

"Ha, maybe you should throw her corpse at the miner's feet when you confront him? I'm sure that'll be a true moment to savor his grief."

"Perhaps." Herobrine agreed with a slight tilt of his head as he observed the struggling woman. "But perhaps, I'll do something else. I have many ideas already of what I could use her for, there are many options, too many to break both her and Steve for the vermin they are. I feel like killing her now would be a wasted opportunity."

"Of course master Herobrine, though I'm sure nothing could hurt the miner more than to watch you ravish his dear sister with him being unable to do anything about it. The perfect kind of revenge to take once you have him half dead and incapacitated."

"Hm, that does sound like a fun idea." He grinned sinisterly. "Wouldn't you agree woman?"

Even lightly choking, Stephanie swayed her head back and forth. 'Anything but that!'

"No?" He feigned a frown of disappointment. "Well, as my prey you don't get a say in my plans. But neither can I let you die so soon on me, for now, cherish the air, while you still can." He said with a smirk and let her go.

Stephanie fell onto her feet and stumbled backward as she tried to keep herself from falling, she then panted loudly and held her neck with her hands; trying to engulf as much oxygen as she could.

"I suppose you'll just have to take her with you general, tie her up, and keep her hidden somewhere until Steve is subdued; I'll come to get her once I have him on his knees. For now, however; it's time to get moving." He said as he turned on his heel and began walking away.

Her eyes widened. Stephanie couldn't let that happen, killing her and her brother was one thing, but tormenting him psychologically before his death through her was another. If they tortured and killed her then fine! But she was not going to let them use her to hurt Steve, not after everything he's done for her growing up! She had to think fast and prevent him from going about his plan regarding her, there wasn't time for rational thoughts.

But he was a god in comparison to all creatures in the world.

Still, Herobrine was a prideful being and never backed down from a challenge, or so one of the books about him that she had read a little while ago had stated. She hoped that this information still held to be true.

"Wai-" Stephanie coughed a few times and began to mutter as Kankaal started walking towards her. "I-I challenge you... Herobrine!" She says, now leaning back upright and drawing her iron sword from its sheath at her side.

"Hm?" The white-eyed man came to a stop then turned his head and gazed at her from a side glance with a raised brow of sudden interest.

"That's... that's right." Steph coughed again and inhaled sharply. "I challenge you to a battle." She finished more clearly.

"What was that human? Are you daft? Fighting lord Herobrine?" Kankaal's jaw dropped and raised his pitch disbelief. "You dare to face his might? You must have a death wish or half a brain."

Herobrine turned back around and beamed in astonishment and intrigue, this inferior creature was sure something. "Well isn't that something I haven't heard in a while? Someone having the gall to call upon me to test my strength... and so willingly? I must admit mortal, it has truly been quite some time since I've been called to a challenge, especially by a human. A woman no less. You stand there shuddering like that of a young terrified whelp-ling, yet you talk so boldly in this request? Impossible." He folded his arms and laughed aloud from the ridiculousness of it all.

Stephanie swallowed back her fears the best she could and fought to keep her trembling limbs as still as she could muster. "Are you just going to stand there and laugh all night, or are you going to face me?! You coward!" It was obvious who the coward was, but Stephanie knew she needed to do anything to get him to accept, also to get under his skin and have him end her life before Steve became a witness to a horrific event. He should never have to be forced to watch her be tortured or worse. Steve was the only family she had left, he'd already sacrificed so much for her and meant the world to her.

She also really didn't want to die, but there was no way out of her predicament when it came to standing before these monsters. She can't escape a god-like powerful immortal, nor Kankaal's aim, she definitely can't best Herobrine in any form of combat, and the mob infantry would eventually get her even if she did manage to escape and run away. It's a lose-lose situation, but at least one option was better than the other.

"What a joke." The general huffed.

"You? Against the likes of me?" Herobrine bellowed out in amusement with a smug grin on his face, everything about Stephanie being a challenger seemed so wrong, even her stance and the pathetic weapon that she couldn't even hold right. "Why look at you woman, you're weak, you'll be standing in against a god; you, a lowly wretched mortal! You stand no chance.

You're not even holding your sword properly. Who taught you how to wield one?" He gestured. "Certainly not your brother, that much I know for certain. And your fighting posture is severely weak and makes you extremely vulnerable, it wouldn't take any effort at all to knock you off your heels. ... And your arms, they are quite thin I might add. Have you any muscle at all? You stand there quaking like a small pup, yet you think you can best me like that in the shape that you are? You jest."

Kankaal laughed along with Herobrine. "This one is a fool indeed master."

"Steven Stonewall is one of the only few mortals that has ever faced me and lived, multiple times at that. You might have the same tenacity and nerve to stand against me as he does, but there's no way you can even come close to compare with the likes of him in combat. I won't need a sword to fight you, ha! I won't even need two hands; actually, not even that to subdue you." He says with his hands held out before him as his diamond blade and scabbard magically lift from around his waist and float into the air above him and disperse into dust.

"It would take no effort at all." Herobrine laughed.

Stephanie's cheeks flared up in heat from inadequacy and embarrassment and her posture sunk a bit. She wasn't anything near worthy of an opponent like her brother as fighting was never her strong suit; but she'd do anything to protect those she loved, just like he would do for her and their people. As long as she at least tried, then maybe she'll go out with a clearer conscience for failing to warn the village.

"The challenge would be over in seconds, there's nothing she can do to you, my lord. Why you won't even need to move from your very spot to strike her down, just send a bolt of lightning her way or a fireball. Right now she's nothing but a shaking leaf in the wind. This challenge is a waste of time. It's fine master, I'll wring her in and proceed with the orders."

'No, you won't.' Stephanie thought as the bony fiend steadily began to approach her. "You never back down from a challenge Herobrine, so the legends say! Or is that a lie and you're okay with backing down from a mere feeble human woman?!" She said aloud with narrowed eyes, hoping to provoke him.

Herobrine's laughter slowly began to die down and yet the Stonewall sibling did not move from her place and kept the willingness to try in those resolute eyes of hers, even with all the odds stacked against her and her being very frightened, this woman wasn't backing down. "Hmmm. Knowing your impossible chances; you still intend to face me?" She didn't respond. "I admit, that's quite admirable, mmm." He hummed. "But if you think goading me to fight with you is going to work, well it's not; I will not be taunted. Hmph, trying to get me to kill you now instead of using you to get at your brother? I'd prefer not."

Stephanie gaped in surprise.

"By the look on your face, I can confirm my suspicions. Interesting. Yet you want to die that badly? I doubt it."

"Heh heh. Patience mortal, death for you come. Slowly and soon. So foolish and predictable you are." The general added more quietly as he shook his head.

So he wasn't accepting the challenge? This is bad. Stephanie grimaced and took a few steps back as Kankaal drew closer.

The white-eyed man put a hand on his chin and raked his fingers through the short bristles of his facial hair as he thought to himself, he began to think of something quite entertaining to do with his bold beauteous captive.

"Now come along human or else, don't make this more difficult and painful than it has to be." The bony general demanded as he neared the woman. "If you comply then there will be less suffering, so give me your hand before I shoot an arrow through your leg and drag you away myself."

"I- I can't. ... I won't." She whispered in defiance and fright before lifting her trembling hand and the sword in it in a defensive position.

"Kankaal," Just before he reached her, the skeleton archer stopped in place and looked back at him as he was addressed. "Hold up." Herobrine lightly commanded.

"Eh?" He stopped his pursuit of the human and turned to face his master. "But sir, she awaits her fate; no one escapes your grasp and lives to tell about it. She even dared to oppose you."

"Even so, it has been a very long time since I had been so entertained like this; to laugh as much as I've had in such a way. ... It's been many long years. I am greatly amused." He gestured. Herobrine beamed as he stood there, grinning like a madman. "You know what mortal? You have amused me so much that I've decided to accept your challenge; ... with a bit of change to it of course."

Stephanie blinked in surprise and lightly gaped. Kankaal expressed astonishment in the best way a walking bony corpse could.

"So instead of us having a battle and me crushing you like a bug in a mere instant, I propose a more interesting challenge; since I'm in such a good mood tonight." The Mob King declared, wanting to see more from this weak yet courageous mortal and what she could do since strength was not her boon.

"And th-that would be?" The frightened woman asks with a small stutter.

"If you can put even one small mark on me, draw even just one drop of my blood from damage, then I'll spare your miserable life. I won't even fight back or move from this spot, I'll do you no harm in this challenge or so I'll try not to. Of course, I doubt you'll be able to pierce my flesh, and I won't simply allow you to cut me with that sword of yours, but if you do damage me then you'll live and I will let you go."

Stephanie blinked and then narrowed her eyes as she tensed up. "You will not only spare my life, but my brother's too, and our village! You will also not invade our village tonight and will make your army leave if I manage to hurt you!"

And throw his plans aside after all of the preparation? Herobrine lost his smile.

Kankaal scoffed and pointed at the woman. "And just who said you are calling the shots here you ungrateful and insolent cur?! Did you forget who you are speaking to human?! Lord Herobrine has already set the terms and reward of the challenge, his word is set in stone. You should bow and thank him for allowing this challenge to happen at all."

Herobrine stared with a light frown on his lips that soon curled back into a smirk. "You are very daring trying to make demands of me woman, normally I would have already silenced one like yourself for speaking against me like that; but then again, you've got me in such a good mood. But you know, I suppose I'll humor you; just this once. It'll be fun to see you fail and watch as you wallow in misery and beg for mercy." He darkly chuckled. "What can one such as you do to a god?"

Stephanie said nothing but kept her defensive stance, wondering what she had just got herself into.

"Come now, human, entertain me."