The New Order by Sean Fay Wolfe Page B

Leonidas.
    â€œI never said that,” replied Caesar coolly. “As the apprentice of Lord Tenebris, I naturally have access to more information than either you or Minotaurus.”
    â€œSo why can’t ya tell me?” asked Leonidas, exasperation ripe in his voice. “I’ve done all this stuff that seems ridiculous to me! Takin’ over this base, sendin’ half my guys into Element City just to kill themselves. And now you’re takin’ even more of my guys back with ya?” For that was the reason Caesar had made the journey out to the Jungle Base. He was to collect half the men remaining there with Leonidas for use in a separate mission of his own.
    â€œNow see here, Leonidas—” started Caesar, but Leonidas cut in.
    â€œNO!” he bellowed, his anger over running around the server on blind instructions finally bursting forward. “I will
not
see here! The three of us went into this as equals, ya know! There is no reason why ya should get to be best pals with Lord Tenebris while I go around and do your dirty work!”
    â€œEnough!” yelled Caesar aggressively, whipping his glowing diamond sword from its sheath and driving it forward into Leonidas’s leather armor, pinning him against the wall. Leonidas was dumbstruck. He had not expected the conversation to turn hostile.
    â€œLeonidas, when we joined this organization,” spoke Caesar, a fearsome power radiating from him, “we pledged that we would do whatever it took to return Elementia to its former glory, and to subjugate all the lower-level scum! Your role in the plan of Lord Tenebris is to be a field commander, while mine is to be an adviser and an apprentice. If you take issue with that, then you are a threat to the Alliance, and you know how I deal with threats to the Alliance,” he finished with a growl, punctuating each word with another poke of the sword into Leonidas’s armor.
    Leonidas’s and Caesar’s eyes were locked, neither player willing to back down. Leonidas was conflicted. He was not scared of Caesar. He was positive that, if the need arose, he himself would win in a fight. That being said, he was terrified of Lord Tenebris, having heard rumors of his limitlesspowers from his first days in Minecraft. As much as he hated to admit it, Leonidas realized that he had locked himself into a position of no escape. To contradict Caesar was to contradict the Noctem Alliance, and by extension Lord Tenebris himself. If he did that, he would die, plain and simple.
    Recognizing defeat, Leonidas lowered his eyes. “Fine,” he mumbled, humility forced into his voice. “Take half my men. Go do whatever ya have to do.”
    Caesar smiled, and slowly drew back his sword, returning it to the sheath at his side. “Now that is what I like to hear.”
    Leonidas refused to give Caesar the satisfaction of a response to the quip. That, at least, was still in his power. Instead he asked a question: “So what does Lord Tenebris want me to do?”
    â€œHe wants you to stay here at the base,” replied Caesar simply. “The army of Element City will be here soon enough, as soon as they’ve recovered from the offensive on Elementia Day. When they arrive, let them take the base. Put up a fight, take as many of them down as you can . . . but let them win.”
    Leonidas looked up. This was far too ludicrous for him not to question. “So, what? Ya want us all to die for no reason? Ya just want to give them this base back? Why? What is the point of that?”
    â€œOh, so silly of me! I forgot to mention one thing.” Caesar’supper-class accent was prominent in the statement, and he followed it up with an amused chuckle. “All who remain at the base must die . . . except for you, my friend. When the attack comes, lead your defenses, but when you are beginning to fall behind, use Ender Pearls to escape from the base, and then make your way back to