“Crafter!” he yelled down the hill. “Send up the first rocket.”
The young NPC had a huge smile on his face as he planted a small red and white striped object on the ground. As soon as he released it, the rocket shot high up into the air, then exploded, forming a gigantic sphere of glistening orange sparks that danced around like fireflies. That was the signal for everyone to get ready, especially for those hidden from view.
Running down the hill, Gameknight found Crafter and pulled on his sleeve.
“Iron . . . how much iron did the miners get?” he asked.
“Only enough for two,” Crafter answered.
“Fine, get them ready,” Gameknight explained, “but don’t complete their construction until I give the word.”
Crafter nodded as he pulled out blocks of iron and started stacking them into the shape of a T, then placed two pumpkins on the ground nearby.
The clicking grew louder, and Gameknight could see the look of fear on many of the NPCs’ faces.
“Hold your ground!” he shouted to all of them. “We’re here to defend Minecraft and everyone that lives on all the servers. We won’t let these monsters take that from us!”
The NPCs cheered.
Looking to the second defensive wall, he could see Tiller in her dented iron armor, her sword gripped firmly in her hand. She gave him a warm motherly smile that filled him with guilt.
I hope this is going to work, Gameknight thought. I can’t bear to be responsible for even one more death.
And then the mystical words that he’d heard down in the stronghold echoed through his mind again.
You can accomplish only what you can imagine.
He didn’t understand what it really meant. Gameknight999 knew that this was somehow important, but he couldn’t figure it out.
Accomplish what you can imagine? he thought to himself.
He still didn’t get it, but maybe the villagers would.
“Be strong friends,” he yelled. “We can do this . . . I can feel it, and you should too.” He then walked up to the swordsmen who stood at the first wall—these would likely be the first to lose their lives. That’s where he would stand . . . with them. “We will swat this mob aside as if it were made of annoying insects. They will feel the sting of our swords and arrows, and go back to Herobrine with their tails between their legs!”
The warriors laughed and cheered as the image of the defeated army retreating back to their masters filled their minds. But then the laughter stopped as the monsters moved into view.
The horde covered the plain before them, the mass of bodies all crowded together. Gameknight looked up at Monet and Stitcher and hoped that they would not miss.
The monsters came closer. They could now hear the zombies growling and moaning, their stench wafting on the gentle breeze and assaulting their senses.
Gameknight raised his hand, signaling the two archers to get ready.
One of the skeletons launched an arrow at the front rank of NPCs, but the shaft missed its target and stuck in the snow-covered ground.
Almost there, he thought, just a little closer.
The warriors started to yell at the monsters, casting insults as if they were projectiles. The monsters growled back. Gameknight could see a look of utter hatred in their eyes and knew that this would be a fight to the death; none of these monsters would surrender.
The creatures passed the blocks of snow that had been carefully placed on the battlefield, none of the monsters looking to see what was hidden behind the frozen cubes.
“NOW!” Gameknight yelled.
Stitcher and Monet both fired their flaming arrows at the hidden arrow bombs. Stitcher’s hit its target on the first shot, but Monet’s missed and stuck into a zombie instead. The green monster burst into flames and started running around, then fell over and disappeared. Firing another arrow, she hit her mark on the second, the black and red cubes instantly starting to blink.
The first arrow bomb went off, throwing a hundred arrows into the air. Then the second one exploded, adding another group of projectiles to the deadly rain. Not watching what was about to happen, Gameknight turned and signaled to Crafter. The young NPC placed the pumpkins on top of the stacks of iron blocks, and instantly, two iron golems came to life. Looking at the collection of monsters, the iron giants instantly headed toward their enemies.
Signaling Crafter again, the young NPC fired another rocket into the air. This one exploded high overhead, showing the face of a sparkling green creeper—it was the signal to the cavalry.
“Archers, open fire,” Gameknight yelled, then turned to the warriors on the first defensive wall. “All of you stay here and keep the monsters from advancing. Hold this wall, but don’t take any unnecessary risks . . . got it?”
They all nodded back to their leader.
Screams of pain echoed from the monster horde as the arrows fell down upon them, rending HP from monster bodies. Gameknight turned and watched, but could see that some of the spiders had moved forward, out of the deadly rain. They were charging toward the defenders on the wall.
Suddenly, Gameknight999 was filled with an uncontrollable rage.
You aren’t going to hurt my family!
“OH NO YOU WON’T!” he yelled.
Drawing his iron and diamond swords, the User-that-is-not-a-user leapt over the wall and charged at the spiders, attacking the lead spider with both blades. It disappeared quickly. Turning, he attacked the next one with his diamond blade while he was swiping at another with his iron sword. Spinning to the side, he struck at another monster while blocking razor sharp claws. Jumping and leaping, he was impossible to hit as he hacked at one monster after another. Then suddenly there was a warrior at his side . . . then another and another, a flash of black and gray showing out of the corner of his eye. Not bothering to look who it was, Gameknight pressed the attack, tearing at the spiders, refusing to let them advance any further.
The ground shook with thunder as the cavalry arrived, smashing into the back of the monster formation. Fifty NPCs attacked on horseback, some with swords, some with bows. The large horses, with their heavy armor, pushed through the horde as if wading through a violent river. Their hooves became weapons as they also joined the fray.
Then the iron golems reached the battle lines. The mighty giants swung their arms through the mass of monsters, throwing spiders and zombies high into the air, their bodies flashing red. Stepping back, Gameknight signaled to Crafter one last time. Another rocket soared into the air and exploded, forming a sparkling orange and blue star.
Howling filled the air as Herder and his wolves sped forward. The monsters heard the noise and a look of fear covered their hideous faces, but they had no place to go. They were surrounded by warriors at the front, cavalry at the back, and iron golem in their midst. Gameknight could hear arrows whistling past his head from the archers up in the towers, but they stopped their barrage when the wolves arrived, the furry white animals leaping at the monsters with lethal efficiency.
In minutes, it was over. Not a single monster survived. Looking at the scattering of items across the ground, Gameknight noticed an absence of armor, swords, and bows.
Could it be? he thought.
And then he heard Crafter’s voice shouting out.
“We’ve defeated the monster horde without losing a single person!”
The NPCs cheered and shouted, their weapons held high in the air.
“Hail the User-that-is-not-a-user, wielder of the two-swords!” Digger shouted with his deep voice.
The NPCs cheered again, but Gameknight raised his hands to silence his friends.
Suddenly, a scream pierced through the cheering crowd.
It was Monet113.
Turning to look at her, Gameknight could see her streaking down the last steps that hugged the Father, then sprinted across the battlefield to someone in dented iron armor who was lying on the ground.
Oh no . . .
Running to the fallen NPC, he reache
d her at the same time as his sister.
Falling to her knees, Monet carefully pulled off her iron helmet to expose the salt-and-pepper hair, a pair of hazel eyes staring up at her in agony. Gameknight knelt to her side and could see that her armor was battle damaged, deep tears in it from spider claws. Huge chunks of metal were missing where the monsters had attacked her. He could tell that her HP was nearly exhausted . . . she would not survive.
Tiller looked up at Gameknight999.
“You should be . . . careful out there on . . . the battlefield, dear,” she struggled to say to him. “There were a . . . lot of monsters around you. I couldn’t . . . couldn’t leave you . . . there alone.”
It was you at my side, he thought.
As his memory played it back, he realized that Tiller had rushed to his side, causing all the other warriors to charge forward. She was a hero.
“Tiller, you should have stayed where it was safe,” Monet said. “You’re hurt, but I’m sure you’ll be alright . . . right?” She looked up at Crafter.
The young NPC just shook his head.
“I couldn’t stand there . . . and watch your . . . brother fight all . . . alone,” Tiller said between coughs. “I did that when . . . Rider went out to . . . fight on that terrible day. I couldn’t do that again.”
The woman was raked by a series of violent coughs. Once they stopped, she looked up at Gameknight, then Monet. Reaching out, she took Gameknight’s hand, then took Monet’s.
“You two are . . . brother and sister. Rely on each other, for there is . . . no bond like that held by siblings. You have to . . . support each other no matter what. Gameknight, trust your . . . sister. Monet, listen to your brother. You are both in this together, and when it comes time to face impossible . . . odds, you will only have each other. Remember . . .”
And then Tiller disappeared as the last of her HP evaporated, causing her armor to just fall to the ground and float as if riding on unseen waves.
An anguished wail came from Monet1113 as she yelled and screamed and cried, overcome with grief. Gameknight stood up and lifted his sister, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. The two of them stood there, holding onto each other for strength as they both cried. And then a pair of arms wrapped around them. Stitcher enveloped the pair of them with her short arms and held on tight, supporting them with all her strength. Another pair wrapped around the brother and sister; Crafter lending his own support. The supportive arms of the entire village of NPCs stepped forward to hug some of the pain away from the pair; the family taking care of its own. And as one, the entire village wept.
Finally Gameknight released his sister. Slowly, he raised his hand high over his head, fingers held out wide, he spoke to everyone.
“Let us not forget Tiller, the only casualty of this battle, and those who we lost down in the stronghold,” Gameknight said solemnly. “Good friends and family will be remembered for their sacrifice on this day.”
Slowly, he squeezed his hand into a fist, clenching it tighter and tighter until he could hear his knuckles crack and pop. Every bit of anger and rage was held within that fist, and he squeezed it with all his might. Gameknight then slowly lowered his hand as he bowed his head for a moment, then raised his head and looked about the camp.
Suddenly, the ground shook as the two iron golems approached. The two metal giants stopped in front of Gameknight999 and looked down at him, their dark eyes looking at him with sympathy and respect.
“Thank you for your help,” Gameknight said to the pair. “You did well protecting these villagers from the monsters of Minecraft . . . you should be proud.”
The metal giants smiled.
“But there is one more thing that you could do to help protect the NPCs,” Gameknight explained. “Go to the king of the golems and tell him what is happening. He knows me and knows that I would not ask for his help if it were not necessary, but I feel that we will need the help of the golems before this war is over. Tell him that I will give a signal, somehow, and that he should send all his golems, for the very survival of Minecraft may depend on his haste. Do you understand?”
The golems nodded, then turned and lumbered across the icy landscape, heading for their home and their king.
Gamekight999 then turned and faced the other NPCs.
“Break camp,” the User-that-is-not-a-user commanded as he wiped tears from his eyes. “Herobrine will send more monsters after us, as this was just the smallest taste of his wrath. We are still in a race for our lives and all the lives in Minecraft. Today we won a battle, but the war still rages on.” He paused as he turned and looked across the battlefield at all the NPCs. “Everyone get ready . . . we head to the Oracle in the Jungle Temple.”
CHAPTER 14
HATCHLINGS
Shaikulud moved about the chamber, checking on her precious eggs. Some were starting to hatch, but very few. She could see the baby spiders gorging themselves on the green moss the Brothers had been retrieving from the dungeons and could almost see them bulge outward and get bigger while she watched. The green moss made the young hatchlings grow faster than any other plant life; it was their favorite.
Moving toward the entrance, the spider queen had a yearning to warm herself in the sun. She wanted to climb up on the top of the tall junglewood tree and bathe in the warming rays of the sun, but she couldn’t leave the nest . . . not right now.
Sighing, she moved to the side of the cavern and started climbing up the wall. Before she could make it half way up, a bat flitted into the cave and headed straight for her. Seeing it, she dropped to the ground and waited for the little messenger. The dark bat moved erratically through the cave; why they couldn’t fly in a straight line was a mystery. Flying a zigzag course, the shadowy creature finally landed on her front leg. Moving close to the spider queen’s head, the bat whispered his message. Shaikulud gasped in surprise.
Suddenly, there was a presence next her. It was an evil presence, boiling over with hatred and spite. Turning her head, she saw Herobrine standing before her, his appearance again changed to that of a new NPC, his latest victim.
“What news is there, Shaikulud?” Herobrine asked.
“Thissss bat tellssss me that the User-that-is-not-a-user hassss been spotted.”
“Where?” he snapped.
“He wassss seen going into the stronghold,” she replied.
“The stronghold?!” he snapped. “They must be looking for the library.”
“Some of the Sisterssss went out to meet him in battle, but they were few in number.” She paused to toss the bat into the air. It flitted about, then flew to the cavern opening. “It issss unlikely that they were able to vanquish the NPCssss.”
“It is of no concern,” Herobrine said as he paced back and forth.
Pondering this news, his eyes grew brighter and brighter until their evil radiance nearly lit the whole chamber. Shaikulud had to look away so as not to be blinded.
“Very good,” he said, his eyes starting to slowly dim back to their normal evil level. “Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.” He then cackled an evil knowing laugh that echoed through the chamber.
“What are your instructionssss, Maker?” Shaikulud asked as she bowed her head.
Herobrine looked about the chamber at all the eggs that were yet to hatch, and a guttural growl came from his throat. He then moved to the nearest one.
“I thought the hatchlings would be here by now,” he grumbled.
“Not yet,” Shaikulud answered as she followed her master.
“They have to be ready now!” he snapped. “Open the eggs and bring forth the hatchlings. I will have use of them very soon.” He then spun and glared directly into Shaikulud’s multiple purple eyes. “That’s an order!”
“But opening them too soon may damage the hatchlingssss,” Shaikulud said in her meekest voice. “Would it not be better to wait until the eggssss are ready?”
“The User-that-is-not-a-user marches on you right now. His only intent
is to destroy all of your children. Are you going to let that happen?” Herobrine glared at Shaikulud, his eyes glowing brighter. “Because of this Gameknight999, they must be hatched NOW!”
Herobrine’s shout echoed off the walls of the cavern and made the many bats hanging on the ceiling scatter for cover.
“I will ask one more time,” he continued as he moved closer to the spider queen. This time his voice was at a dangerously low volume, one that only Shaikulud could hear. “Do you understand me?” he growled.
“I understand the Maker . . . and will follow hissss commandssss,” she replied.
“Excellent,” he replied as his eyes dimmed. “You will allow the User-that-is-not-a-user and his friends to reach the old hag’s temple. Do not stop them. Let them through, but take the opportunity to make them suffer a bit so that it doesn’t seem too easy. Use the creepers; they will be hard to see in the jungle.
“When they reach the temple, with their backs against the sea, we will close the trap and surround them. You will then signal the attack and leave none alive except for Gameknight999. If the hag is brave enough to venture outside of her temple, then destroy her as well. We will destroy them all with the same stroke. And when this pathetic User-that-is-not-a-user is mad with grief, then I will confront him and teach him what true suffering really is.
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