The magical enchantments on the armor cast an iridescent blue glow on his surroundings. But as soon as the cerulean light touched the ground, it was extinguished, as the black magic of the Eldritch Altar overpowered it with its dark hue.
With his powerful infused sword in his hand, he stepped up to the portal and stared into the dark abyss.
“So begins the end of Minecraft,” Entity303 said in a loud voice, his self-inflated ego growing even bigger. With a malicious grin on his square face, he stepped into the Eye and headed for the Outer Lands, where he would light the fuse of the destruction of Minecraft. And not even the great Gameknight999 would be able to stop what he was about to start.
CHAPTER 29
TO CANDY LAND
“Gameknight, get up, get up,” someone said in his ear.
He was still tired and sore from the battle with the Eldritch Guardian. Throughout the evening, he’d had terrible dreams: armies of Eldritch guardians, strange red knights, gigantic armored robots … it had been impossible to get any peaceful rest. Now, he was paying the price for his restlessness: he was exhausted.
Suddenly, a cold nose rubbed against his cheek, followed by a rough, wet tongue. Gameknight shook his head and sat up, wiping his cheek with a sleeve.
“What is it?” he said, annoyed.
Herder was standing before him with one of his wolves, the alpha male and pack leader.
“Herder, what are you doing? I was sleeping.”
“I know, ahhh … sorry, but I think you should come see this.”
Without waiting, Herder darted out of the house, leaving the door wide open. Gameknight glanced at the other end of the room. Crafter and Digger were still fast asleep and Tux was curled up on the floor.
He stood up and stretched, trying to get a knot out of his back, then put on his armor and followed Herder outside. The NPCs in this Fronos village were already awake and doing their chores. After the battle with the monsters and the Eldritch Guardian, the villagers had welcomed them into their homes, but just like on the moon, these NPCs were unable to communicate with them; they likely only spoke Fronosian and weren’t able to understand the User-that-is-not-a-user or his friends. But the villagers could tell their defenders were hungry, and had given them food and places to sleep in exchange for their help chasing away the monsters.
“Come on, Gameknight, come on.” Herder’s voice sounded far away.
Woof! the wolf added.
Turning, the User-that-is-not-a-user found the lanky boy atop a nearby hill behind the blacksmith’s shop. Gameknight ran to his side.
“Now tell me, Herder, what was so important that you had to wake me?”
“Look.” Herder pointed out onto the grassy plain.
Gameknight stared out at the green, rolling hills. Instantly, he noticed something was wrong. All of the animals were moving in the same direction, heading southward. It was like watching a parade.
“Why are they all heading to the south?” Gameknight asked.
Herder just shrugged.
“They feel it,” a voice said from behind.
The words were fast and short, like three quick shots from a gun. Trupech stepped up from behind, the tiny little gnome gazing out upon the plain, his wrinkled face creased with worry. His steely-gray eyes took it all in as if he were recording every detail in his mind.
“Feel what?” Gameknight asked.
“The power,” the gnome replied. “Some kind of portal opened near dawn. It is bleeding power into Fronos, but also sucking life out of this world. The animals feel its presence.”
“Can you feel it?” Herder asked.
Trupech nodded his head. “I can hear its song through the fabric of Minecraft. I know what it is.” He stared up at Gameknight999. “And you know as well. It is related to last night.”
“The Eldritch Guardian, you mean?”
The gray-skinned gnome nodded his head, his oversized backpack jingling as items inside the dark blue pack banged against each other.
“You think it’s a portal?” All the features of the Thaumcraft mod cycled through Gameknight’s mind; all the creatures, all the magic, and … “You think Entity303 opened the Eye?”
Trupech nodded his head, causing more jingling from his pack.
“But why would he want to make one of those portals?” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “All it would do is give him access to the Outer Lands.”
“Wait, what are the Outer Lands?” Herder asked.
“They’re another dimension within Minecraft,” Gameknight said. “Some say the Outer Lands exist on a separate server plane within our pyramid of servers, some say it’s on a totally different pyramid … no one is sure. But what everyone agrees is that the Outer Lands materialize far, far away from the portal that sends you there.”
“You mean the Eye?” Herder asked.
Gameknight nodded. “The Outer Lands are so far away that the sky and land no longer exist; it’s just a series of tunnels built from ancient stone bricks that are floating in nothingness. The endless void wraps around the structure, and in some places even leaks into the passages. Touching the void will kill you.”
“If our enemy opened the Eye out here, in the Far Lands, far away from the central core of Minecraft, then the Outer Lands that was created by this Eye portal will be the farthest point ever loaded into this universe.” A worried look came across Trupech’s oversized face. “If a tear in the fabric of Minecraft starts out there in that evil and unforgiving land, nothing will be able to stop it.”
“We have to stop him.” Gameknight turned to Herder. “Go wake up the others. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Herder whistled. All of the wolves converged on him. The skinny boy pulled his long hair from his face, then held a finger up in the air and moved it in a circle. Instantly, the wolves fanned out, forming a protective circle around the village. Herder then took off running for the wooden buildings, yelling at the top of his lungs.
Gameknight shuddered as icy chills ran down his spine. He knew the terrors that lurked in the Outer Lands. They would be tested to the limits of their strength and courage in those twisting and confusing passages. But on top of that, they’d need to stop Entity303 as well. Gameknight never imagined that the evil user would try to do this. No sane person went into the Outer Lands on purpose, yet now they had no choice but to follow their enemy there. It was likely that many of their party would not survive. But he knew they had no choice.
How can I protect my friends in those shadowy passages? the User-that-is-not-a-user moaned to himself. How many lives will this cost because of my decisions? This is too hard, it’s too dangerous … it can’t be done.
Gameknight glanced down at the pech and was terrified.
“Fear not, child … it can be done. We have not given up yet,” Forpech said.
The pech looked up at him with those ancient gray eyes. There was something hauntingly familiar about them, as if he’d seen them a hundred times before. But how was that possible? He’d only just met this creature.
Just then, the rest of their companions came running up the hill, their armor polished, their weapons sharp and ready, courtesy of the Fronos villagers.
“What’s up?” Hunter said. “What’s the deal with the animals—they’re all heading the same way?”
“They’re leading us to Entity303,” Gameknight said. “He’s built a portal to a dimension called the Outer Lands, and it’s likely he’ll try to destroy Minecraft from there. We have to go stop him.”
“Let me guess, there are tons of monsters there?” Hunter asked.
Gameknight nodded.
“And you have no idea how to defeat them?”
He nodded again.
“This does sound like fun. Another great plan by Gameknight999.”
Stitcher aimed a punch for her arm, but this time Hunter was quicker and dodged her sibling’s attack. She flashed her younger sister a smile, then turned to the User-that-is-not-a-user.
�
��If that’s the plan, let’s get going,” she said. “None of us are getting any younger, and quitting isn’t an option, regardless of the odds.”
She took a step closer and stared straight into Gameknight’s eyes.
“You lead and we follow, that’s the deal. So let’s get it done.”
“I like her,” Trupech said.
“You just haven’t gotten to know her yet,” Stitcher added with a rueful smile.
This time, Hunter was the one doing the punching. Stitcher rubbed her arm, then smiled at her sister.
“Hunter’s right,” Crafter added. “It’s time to go.”
“You all need to know something. There are terrible monsters in the Outer Lands,” Gameknight explained. “I don’t know if we have the armor and weapons to defeat them. This may be a hopeless cause.”
Just then, Trupech took off his huge backpack and set it on the ground. He reached into its dark interior and began pulling pieces of orange armor from the sack and tossing them on the ground. He then pulled out swords, each made from the same orange material.
“Now we’re talkin’,” Hunter said as she removed her iron armor and replaced it with the shining, ornate new armor. She banged her hand on the orange chest plate. It rang like a gong.
“What is this stuff?”
“It is Ichorium armor. This metal is the strongest and hardest in Minecraft … the best Thaumcraft has to offer,” Trupech said. “It will give us an edge.”
The others removed their iron coating and replaced it with the glowing orange armor.
“Wait, there is more,” the tiny gnome said.
Trupech reached into his pack and pulled out something made of the same glowing orange metal at the end of a long handle. He extended it to Digger. The stocky NPC dropped his pickaxe, then reached out and took it into his muscular hands.
“It is an Ichorium pickaxe,” Trupech said as he pulled another out of his backpack and extended the handle to the villager.
Digger took the second pick, then held them both out in front of him. A wry smile crept across the big NPC’s face as he swung them through the air.
“I like!” he exclaimed.
“Great, now let’s get …” Gameknight said but was interrupted.
“There is one last thing,” Trupech added.
He pulled two Ichorium longswords from his pack and extended both, handles first. The User-that-is-not-a-user’s eyes lit up as he took the swords. There was power in these blades, power put there not just from enchantments, but also from the dark magic of Thaumcraft.
Gameknight smiled.
“We’re gonna use Entity303’s mod, Thaumcraft, to ruin his plans. He won’t know what hit him,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said.
With his new Ichorium swords held at the ready, Gameknight999 headed off across the landscape of Fronos, following the spellbound animals toward the portal that would take them to the deadly Outer Lands.
CHAPTER 30
THE OUTER LANDS
They followed the animals through the morning. It seemed as if every creature on Fronos was answering the call of the Eldritch Portal. Nothing seemed to stop the strange animals; the candy and fruit creatures waded through lakes and forded rivers, regardless of how difficult the crossing.
At one point, the companions entered a forest with silver, mirror-like leaves, a large pool of lava near its center. As they approached, Gameknight saw a group of strawberry-like creatures walk right into the lava, the boiling stone directly in their path. In their trancelike state, they never even saw the pool of death. When he closed his eyes, the User-that-is-not-a-user could still hear their screams, though they were mercifully cut short.
Approaching the lava carefully, Gameknight placed blocks of cobblestone along its edge, making a covering over the lava to protect other creatures from meeting the same fate. Herder came to his side and helped by adding blocks of dirt to the structure. The two companions covered the pool just as a group of kiwi-looking animals approached. The green creatures crossed the newly-made lid without harm, though some of the heat from the lava underneath still bled through the stone.
Satisfied the animals would be safe, the party continued running to the south, following the direction dictated by the beasts of this planet.
When the sun had just passed its zenith, a snowy-looking biome appeared in the distance.
“We draw near,” Trupech said.
Empech nodded his gray head. “Yes, yes, we are close.”
“Hmmm … it is in that white land ahead,” Forpech growled, his voice deep and gravely. “I can feel it pulsing like a dying heart.”
“Come on, let’s speed it up,” Gameknight said.
He sprinted across the landscape, the rest of the party following close behind. They moved through a forest, then past a fluorescent swamp and around a group of small mountains.
Finally, they reached the snowy landscape, only to realize that it wasn’t snow that covered the biome … it was frosting! Incredibly, the ground was made of cake, and spread on top was frosting decorated with candies of every color. Tall, multi-colored trees stood like sentinels over the landscape. As Gameknight neared one of the striped trees, he caught the aroma of sweet candy. Stepping to the tree, the User-that-is-not-a-user touched his tongue to the bark to taste.
“It’s not a tree … it’s candy … really good candy!” Gameknight reached down and pulled off a clump of a pink bush and put it in his mouth. It tasted like the best cotton candy he’d ever had. “This biome is probably called Candy Land. I wouldn’t be surprised to find Princess Bubblegum here surrounded by her Banana Guards.”
“What are you talking about?” Hunter moved to a nearby candy pillar and ran her hand down its sticky length. “Sometimes, you are so weird.”
“It’s from a show I used to watch, called—”
“Look, this one’s been cut down.” Herder was staring down at a fallen candy tree.
Gameknight moved to the boy’s side and gazed at the ground. One of the candy trees was cut in half, the severed end melted a bit as if it had been cloven in two by a hot knife.
“Entity303,” Weaver hissed softly. “He used his glowing blade on this.”
The User-that-is-not-a-user nodded. “Come on, let’s keep going.”
They ran over the next hill, the constant stream of Fronosian creatures still marching toward the distant portal. After cresting the frosted knoll, they came across another hill of cake, this one topped with pink frosting. When Gameknight was almost at the top, he thought he heard something; a chanting of voices drifted to his ears. It sounded as if they were right behind him. The User-that-is-not-a-user glanced over his shoulder and found Digger behind him, his green eyes filled with fear; he heard it too.
Suddenly, a chill cut through his new armor, making him shiver. Gameknight moved to the top of the pink-frosted hill and gazed down the other side. At the foot of the cake-mound sat that which they sought: the Eldritch Portal.
The dark stones that made up the structure were similar to obsidian, but somehow darker. Small, carved stones, known as capstones, marked the perimeter of the altar, with a similar stone at the very center. The tiny pedestals had ornate carvings on them, giving the dark little blocks a magical appearance. Above this central stone floated a tall column; it was the Eldritch Obelisk. Below the obelisk floated what looked like a hole in space; it was a dark portal with a sinister blue halo marking its edge; it was the Eye. It pulsed as if it had some kind of undead heartbeat. Though it looked the same from any direction, Gameknight felt that the Eye was staring straight at him. Surrounding the shadowy gateway were four NPCs, each cloaked in bright red robes.
“Who are they?” Stitcher asked.
“They’re Crimson Clerics,” Gameknight replied. “They aren’t hostile, but they’ll summon Crimson Knights through the portal if we’re not fast enough.”
Just then, a bouncing green jelly-slime approached the altar. Without stopping, it jumped through the dark portal and disappeared.
It was followed by a blueberry creature, then a strawberry one.
“They’re walking right into the thing,” Digger reached down and turned the blueberry creature around. It quickly turned and headed back toward the Eye. “We need to stop them.”
“The only way to stop them is to defeat the enemy,” Trupech said.
“Come on, we can’t wait,” Gameknight said.
They ran down the hill, then drew their new Ichorium weapons and slowly approached the portal. Suddenly, the Crimson Clerics began chanting louder, their incantations no longer just a whisper. Hunter notched an arrow and aimed it at one of the cloaked NPCs.
“Don’t worry,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “They do that. All we need to do is …”
Suddenly, a gray fog floated across the landscape. A sad, mournful whispering came from the fog, as if a thousand souls were trapped within the smoky cloud, struggling to get out—or maybe draw new souls in. Gameknight suddenly felt numb, unable to feel his health.
“It’s another Eldritch Guardian,” Gameknight shouted. “Quick, everyone through the portal.”
He stood by the ominous eye as his friends dove through. In the gray fog, he saw the Guardian approaching, its smoky body like a formless apparition. The monster threw a ball of dark magic at him. Gameknight rolled to the other side of the portal, allowing the shadowy sphere to pass by overhead. He then dove into the Eye, just after the last of the wolves.
When he materialized in the Outer Lands, the User-that-is-not-a-user found himself in a stone-lined chamber, the walls, floor and ceiling all a dark, lifeless gray. Stepping away from the dark portal that existed on this side as well, he glanced at his friends. They all had terrified expressions on their square faces. This place had an ancient feel to it, as if it were the oldest thing in existence, but there was also an inherently malevolent feel to it as well. It had been made with dark magic, and everything in this place was dangerous … and evil.
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