They were now eight blocks away and closing fast.
“Don’t be scared,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “We’ll wait until they’re almost on top of us, then we’ll attack.”
He could see nervous glances from many of the villagers. Most of them were the very young or the very old; the majority of the stronger adults were out fighting in the forest. Gameknight knew that these were not warriors; they were grandparents and shopkeepers and children. But they were the only defenders the village had right now.
The blazes were only four blocks away.
“Ready … wait … wait … NOW!”
As one, the villagers all stood and started throwing splash bottles at the blazes. The bottles exploded on contact. But instead of a healing potion, or poison, or a potion of weakness, the splash bottles were just filled with water. The fragile containers burst on the glowing creatures, drenching the blazes. Their internal flames sputtered and dimmed. Some went out completely, while others barely flared back to life.
When all of the splash potions had been used, the villagers drew their bows and started to fire. Being so close, it was nearly impossible for the villagers to miss; unfortunately that was true for the blazes as well. Gameknight and Stitcher fired their enchanted bows as fast as they could draw arrows. Their flaming shafts pierced any of the blazes that seemed ready to launch an attack. In seconds, all the fiery monsters were destroyed.
“Everyone, help put out the rest of the fires in the village,” Gameknight said before he turned to face Stitcher. “Come on, let’s get out to the forest.”
They ran down the stairs and streaked across the grassy plain. The occasional blaze drifted out of the smoky clouds and headed for the village, but they didn’t last long. Gameknight and Stitcher fired just as each one floated out of the dark haze, multiple arrows striking the monster before it could even form a single fireball.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Gameknight was shocked by the destruction he saw. The glassy ground crunched under their feet as they walked through the burned-out landscape. Tree trunks lay on their side, their charred remains barely intact. It was like the scene of a terrible, horrific crime; words couldn’t describe the devastation. Through the haze, they could see the glowing monsters floating high in the air, far out of reach of swords or axes. They glowed bright in the rising smoke, casting a brilliant orange circle in the sky. It was difficult to judge the distance, but Gameknight and Stitcher tried their best, firing arrows at the moving creatures of flame.
“I hit one!” Stitcher exclaimed.
“How can you tell?” Gameknight said as he coughed up what felt like a lung full of ash.
“They get dimmer for just an instant when the arrow hits,” she explained.
The User-that-is-not-a-user watched as the young girl fired another arrow at the blaze. The monster flashed just before throwing a volley of fireballs, and then grew dim. She fired two more quick shots before it could move. The flaming arrows extinguished the monster’s internal flame.
“There’s more of them over here,” Gameknight said, pointing. “Stay close so we don’t get separated.”
They moved off to the left, running past burning trees and smoldering patches of ground. Ahead, they could see a large group of blazes floating high off the ground. The smoke above the forest glowed a bright orange, lit by the monsters’ flaming bodies. Radiant balls of fire streaked down to the ground, exploding on impact. Screams of pain sounded through the forest.
“Come on, there are NPCs out there,” Stitcher said.
“Hold on. We need to go carefully and not just run into a trap,” Gameknight said. “Follow me. I have an idea. Do you have any blocks of dirt with you?”
Stitcher nodded her head as she wiped ash from her eye.
“OK, come on.”
Gameknight ran through the burning forest, careful to avoid any trees that were fully engulfed in flame. When they drew near the blazes, Gameknight found an oak tree that hadn’t been set on fire yet.
“Stitcher, go to that tree over there,” he said, gesturing to a nearby birch. “Climb up, but stay hidden. We need to get above the layer of smoke so we can see clearly.”
Jumping into the air, Gameknight placed a block of dirt under his feet; he repeated the process again and again until he could climb into the leaves of the tree. With his axe, he carved a place out to stand on, with blocks of leaves still in front of him. Stepping up onto a green block, he peeked out across the top of the forest. Before him was a large collection of blazes, all of them launching their balls of fire at the ground. Occasionally, a flaming arrow would shoot up from the forest floor and strike one of the blazes, but not very often. There were so many balls of fire falling to the ground that the archers had little time for counterattacks.
“They have Hunter and the other villagers pinned down,” Stitcher said as she drew an arrow back.
“Aim for the closest one,” Gameknight said. “Shoot three arrows, then duck down, understand?”
She nodded.
“Ready … NOW!”
Stitcher fired her three arrows in quick succession as Gameknight did the same. They crouched immediately after the last arrow left their bowstring and listened. A loud clanking sound resonated in the air as the monsters took damage and then disappeared.
“Don’t move,” Gameknight said. “They’ll be searching to see where the shots came from.”
He stayed low and kept his ears open for any of the monsters. None drew near.
An arrow shot up from the ground and hit one of the blazes. It screamed in pain, then fired a shot back in return.
“Ready … AGAIN!” Gameknight instructed.
They sprung back up and let loose another quick three shots, each aiming at a different blaze, then ducked back down again as their arrows flew. Clanking sounds greeted their ears as the pointed shafts struck home.
Gameknight peeked around a leafy block. One of the blazes was coming in their direction. If it saw them, it would open fire and likely ignite the tree. They would be trapped.
“Get ready to jump,” Gameknight said softly as he pointed to the ground.
Just then, a mechanical wheezing sound filled the air. The blaze was nearby, closer than he’d anticipated. He had to move … fast.
Suddenly, a flaming arrow streaked up from the ground and hit the blaze. The monster turned to face its attacker. This gave Stitcher the chance she needed. Standing back up, the young NPC fired a series of arrows into the blaze, extinguishing it.
Gameknight stood and fired three arrows at one of the blazes in the distance, then shifted targets to another and then another, not stopping to hide behind the leaves any longer. The blazes saw him in the tree and opened fire.
“Stitcher … JUMP!”
They leapt to the ground, taking damage when they hit.
“This way,” Gameknight said. “Into the smoke. Put away your bow and enchanted armor. The smoke is so thick that they won’t be able to see us.”
They removed their armor and replaced it with mundane iron. With all their enchanted artifacts safely tucked away, the two warriors became shadows in the smoke, impossible to see. The User-that-is-not-a-user charged through the haze, Stitcher fast on his heels.
“Find another tree,” Gameknight said. “We can do the—”
“DUCK!” Stitcher yelled before he had time to finish his thought.
The User-that-is-not-a-user hit the ground, just as a fireball streaked over his head. Stitcher pulled out her bow and fired three quick arrows at the attacking creature, making it disappear with a pop, its blaze rods falling to the ground like golden rain.
“That was a lone blaze, not one that was a part of the rest of the group,” Stitcher said as Gameknight stood up.
“Thanks,” he replied.
They found another pair of trees. Drawing their bows, they climbed into the leafy foliage and executed the same plan again, whittling down at the number of monsters that had their friends trapped. As t
he monsters’ numbers decreased, the NPCs on the ground had more time to fire back at the airborne threats. With arrows coming from both sides, the remaining creatures were quickly overwhelmed and destroyed, leaving that section of the forest clear of blazes.
“Come on, they’re over here,” Stitcher called.
Gameknight notched an arrow and followed her. They put on their enchanted armor as they ran toward the sounds of their friends. When they reached the source, Gameknight found the NPCs trapped in a hole, fires smoldering all around them. With their hoes, the two companions extinguished the flames that surrounded the trapped villagers, then moved to the edge of the tiny cavern.
Hunter was the first to be helped out of the hole, her bow pointing skyward.
“They’re gone,” Stitcher said. “Are you all OK?”
The older sister said nothing. Soot and ash covered her face and smock. She watched the sky as the other NPCs escaped from the hole. Gameknight reached down and helped the villagers while Stitcher joined her sister, both of them standing guard and waiting to see if the blazes would return.
The last to leave the hole was Butch. The big NPC had his enchanted iron sword in his hand. He barely acknowledged Gameknight’s help in getting him out of the hole. When the big NPC was free, Gameknight stared down into the pit and sighed. There were a dozen swords and bows and sets of armor left behind … maybe more. They had paid dearly in this battle.
He could see the ornately-carved wooden sword that young Builder liked to carry. He had been just a boy. And there was the elaborately-painted chest plate of Planter. She had just gotten married to Carver, and they were going to start a family. Then he saw Carver’s bright red axe next to the colorful armor; they'd perished together.
People he knew had died here today and Gameknight had been powerless to stop it.
How can we stop these blazes? They’re too strong, he thought. Look at what they’ve done.
“What happened?” Stitcher asked her sister.
“We were following the genius over here,” she gestured to Butch. “In the smoke, we couldn’t see the hole. We realized it was there when some of us in front fell in. We stopped to help them get out, and that’s when the blazes showed up. The only cover from their fireballs was in the hole, so we all jumped in. Many NPCs never made it in … safely.” She glanced down at the items that still floated at the bottom of the hole, then cast an angry glare up at Butch.
Staring down into the hole, Gameknight grew angry and sad, tears beginning to sting his eyes. He cast his gaze across the smoky remains of the forest. It looked like a scene from some horror show, the fallen trees twisted and distorted by the terrible heat that had destroyed them. Black soot covered the NPCs’ faces like ashen funeral masks. They all peered down into the hole at the items of those that lost their lives. Some wept, their blocky tears carving out little rivers down their dirty cheeks, while others burned with rage.
Gameknight999 was so overwhelmed with sadness that his heart ached. He wanted to cry and scream at the same time. These were members of his Minecraft family, and they’d been destroyed by the blazes of the Nether—and for what? To burn down a forest? He had to stop this destruction … but how? The blazes were more powerful than he remembered, their fireballs hotter and more deadly. He knew if they went to the Nether, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Looking down at the enchanted bow in his hand, Gameknight shook his head.
How do I stop all this violence? he wondered.
The User-that-is-not-a-user slid his bow back into his inventory, but as he did, his hand brushed against something cool and smooth: one of the splash bottles. He held it out before him, the blue liquid within so clean and pure compared to their charred surroundings. The puzzle pieces started to tumble around in his head. There was a solution here … he could feel it. He just had to get past the grief and despair so he could see it clearly.
With a sigh, he wiped away the tears with a sooty sleeve, then turned and faced his friends.
“This was careless,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said, his grief slowly being replaced by rage. “These were our—”
“They must be avenged!” Butch interjected as he stomped back and forth through the ashen remains of a birch tree. “The blazes fired on us without warning. They are criminals—no, they are rabid animals and must be put down. They took our friends from us, burned neighbors and family members, and we will not stop until every one of them are extinguished.” Some of the villagers growled their agreement. “Everyone, back to the village so we can prepare for our counterattack.”
The NPCs cheered, their eyes filled with rage at the destruction of their friends and neighbors.
“Back to the village!” Butch roared as he charged through the shadowy remains of the forest.
The NPCs ran after the big NPC, anger and hatred ruling their minds. As they bolted out of the village, Hunter and Stitcher stood at Gameknight’s side.
“They’re going to follow him again?” Stitcher asked. “He’s reckless and dangerous.”
“The villagers won’t listen to me anymore,” Gameknight said, lowering his head. “They will only listen to him.”
“Perhaps they crave action right now, to satisfy their need for revenge,” Hunter said. “I can understand that.”
“You think they should follow Butch, huh?” Gameknight snapped. “He’s going to get them killed with his rash desire to attack.”
“I didn’t say I thought it was a good idea. I only said I understand,” Hunter replied.
“Well, we have to do something,” Stitcher said. “We can’t just let them go off into the Nether. They won’t stand a chance, not against these blazes.”
“Yes, we have to do something,” Hunter confirmed.
Gameknight’s heart was heavy. He felt unimportant and insignificant. But then he glanced back at the hole in the ground and saw the handle of a sword floating above a stone block.
Maybe they don’t listen to me anymore. Maybe I am unimportant in the villagers’ eyes. But that doesn’t matter, Gameknight thought. I’m going to save them, regardless.
And as his heart was filled with hope, the puzzle pieces fell into place. Gameknight999 gazed up at his two friends and smiled.
“You have a plan, don’t you?” Stitcher asked.
He nodded.
“I assume it’s incredibly dangerous,” Hunter said.
“Probably,” Gameknight replied.
“I like it!” the older sister exclaimed.
“Then we better get moving,” Stitcher said.
“Let’s get back to the village … fast,” Gameknight said. “We have an attack to delay.”
The trio shot out of the ruined woods. As they ran, Gameknight could hear the soft music of Minecraft in the distance.
“Don’t worry Minecraft,” Gameknight said in a low voice. “I won’t let you down.”
CHAPTER 15
PREPARATIONS
When Gameknight entered the gates of the village, his ears were greeted with the sounds of despair. Wives cried for husbands that did not return from the torched forest; parents mourned the eternal loss of their children; friends wept for their missing neighbors. It was a level of grief that had not been known in this village for a long time.
Many looked to the User-that-is-not-a-user for answers—why had their loved ones been taken from them? But all he could do was put his arms around them and comfort them in their time of need.
“We must avenge our brothers and sisters,” Butch ranted as he paced back and forth among the villagers, his sword held up over his head. “The blazes are trying to destroy the surface of Minecraft, and they must be stopped.”
“Butch, we all know what the blazes are doing,” Crafter said. “But we must also realize—”
“The only way to end this is to attack,” Butch declared in a loud, booming voice. “We must go to the Nether. The blaze king is there. He must be destroyed.”
NPCs cheered as their grief slowly morphed to rage.
“We can’t go out there. We’re unprepared,” Hunter protested.
“No … we need to attack!” Butch shouted. “If you are afraid, you can stay behind.”
“AFRAID?!” Hunter snapped. “I’m not afraid of anything, other than stupidity. Didn’t you notice what just happened? Those blazes trapped us in that hole, and we couldn’t get out. If there had been more of them, they could have gotten behind us and we all would have been goners. Without the help of Gameknight999 and my sister, we’d still be trapped … or worse.”
“Butch, we need better armor and more potions,” Gameknight said. “Without those, there is no chance for success.”
“Those things will only slow us down unnecessarily. We have to go—now—and destroy them,” Butch said.
“At what cost?” Crafter asked. His wise voice calmed the NPC mob. “Gameknight speaks the truth. Now is the time for preparations, not attack. We need a plan that involves something more than charging straight into the Nether.”
“That’s right,” Stitcher agreed. “Gameknight, do you have any ideas?”
Before he could answer, Butch butted in.
“We will get the NPCs from neighboring villages,” Butch said. “They will increase our numbers so that we can overwhelm the blazes. We’ll then get new armor and weapons made, and stock up on arrows so that we can shoot the blazes from far away.”
“There are other mysteries here to consider,” Crafter said.
Some of the NPCs nodded their boxy heads.
“Gameknight, you saw the blaze portal a day’s ride from here,” Crafter said. “Blazes can’t move faster than a horse. So how did the blazes get here so fast?”
“I don’t know,” the User-that-is-not-a-user replied.
“And how is it that their fireballs are so much hotter than normal?” Stitcher asked. “Look at our cobblestone wall … the balls of fire went right through it. How is that possible?”
“I don’t know that either,” Gameknight answered. “But what I do know is that arrows and swords are not going to defeat the blazes. We need something else.”
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