“If there is a later,” Hunter mumbled.
Suddenly, a group of spiders flowed over the edge of the chasm. With little effort, they scaled the steep walls and charged. Climbing out of their holes, the NPCs drew their weapons and attacked. Gameknight was grateful to see there were only six monsters in the group. Charging, he pulled his shield out and ran straight through the mob, using the shield like a snowplow. It shoved the monsters aside, allowing him to streak by. When he passed the last monster, he turned and fell on the back ranks while the rest of the company attacked the front.
A spider charged at him, slashing with its dark claws. Gameknight blocked the attack with his shield, then slashed at the monster with his diamond sword. The creature flashed red, then attacked again. Claw met diamond as he brought his sword up, but a second claw curved around from the other side and found his chest plate. Fortunately, his armor had protected him. Spinning, he dropped the shield and drew his iron sword. Spinning like a mad, razor-sharp top, he dove into the spider formations, slashing and hitting everything within reach. As he fought, flaming arrows streaked through the air, hitting the monsters near him. In seconds, it was over.
Bending down, Gameknight picked up his shield.
“Why did they attack with only six spiders?” Herder asked.
“They split up their forces to find us,” Gameknight said. “That’s what I hoped they would do.”
“But there are still more creatures out there looking for us,” Crafter said.
“Yeah, and we need them to go to the wrong place,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “Crafter, do you have any of your fireworks with you.”
“Of course,” the NPC replied. “My great-great uncle . . .”
“Please, not now,” Hunter said, rolling her eyes.
Crafter stopped, looking embarrassed, then pulled the red-and-white striped rocket from his inventory.
“Hook it up to a tripwire,” Gameknight said. “We’ll know when more spiders get onto our trail, and if we move fast enough, it will draw the monsters away from us.”
“Set it up and let’s keep going,” Digger said. “The sun is getting lower.”
Crafter set up the trap, then started running, following Digger and Hunter through the twisting pathway. They had only run for a few minutes when they heard an explosion high overhead. The green, sparkling face of a creeper looked down upon them as they followed the curving pathway.
“Everyone, sprint!” Digger said.
As they ran, the chasm straightened out to the point where they could see the end of the biome. Just past the Bryce were rolling grassy hills: a grassland biome.
“Come on!” Gameknight said.
But suddenly, a clicking sound, like a thousand crickets, filled the air ahead. A wave of spiders then filled the end of the chasm, blocking their exit to the grasslands. In the now-dimming light of dusk, the bright red eyes of the spiders looked like hateful burning coals, all of them focused on their prey.
“What do we do?” Stitcher asked, her voice shaking.
The spiders behind them hadn’t closed on them yet, but Gameknight was sure that the clicking of the spiders would carry through the curving passes. Soon, the other half of the spider army would be on them.
“Gameknight, what do we do?” Stitcher asked.
“Maybe we should turn around and run for it,” Digger said, his voice edged with fear.
“What if we climb the walls of the chasm?” Crafter suggested, his voice on the verge of panic.
“What do we do . . . Gameknight, tell us . . . save us . . .”
But Gameknight could not come up with a single idea. He was consumed with fear and regret. He’d led his friends to this point and their deaths would be his fault, just like the fate of the villages from Herobrine’s command blocks. He’d just made everything worse. Around him, his friends were panicking, yelling out ideas they all knew would never work. This was the end, and all Gameknight could do was stand there, consumed with terror. Suddenly, the spiders started clicking faster and faster, then charged forward, a black fuzzy wave of death flowing through the narrow chasm.
COMING SOON:
THE PHANTOM VIRUS: HEROBRINE’S REVENGE BOOK ONE
A BRAND-NEW GAMEKNIGHT999 SERIES FROM MARK CHEVERTON AND SKY PONY PRESS
Gameknight999 vs. Herobrine Page 18
