As the group followed Herder’s animals, the forest became denser, with large ferns blocking many of the paths. This forced the party to take a circuitous path across the terrain, slowing them down.
“We should just go straight through the bushes instead of taking all these curves,” Stitcher grumbled. “This is slowing us down.”
“It’s the path the wolves are following, so Entity303 must have gone this way as well,” Herder replied.
“I don’t care; this is too slow!”
“The young one is impatient, yes, yes,” Empech said, his high-pitched voice filled with squeaks and bird-like chirps. “But impatience leads to rash decisions. Careful thought is always better, yes, yes.”
Stitcher grumbled something under her breath as she turned away from the tiny gnome.
They continued through the dense forest for an hour, seeing more animals cross their path, all of them harmless, so far. The clicking of spiders could be heard high overhead, the monsters hiding in the leafy rooftop, but with the trees being so tall, the fuzzy monsters were not a threat for now.
Eventually, when the forest opened into a new biome, the companions had to stop and gaze upon the landscape in amazement. Before them stretched a mushroom biome, but it was nothing like the mushroom islands of the Overworld. Everywhere, broad white stalks extended in clusters of a dozen or more high up into the air. Some were thick and squat, while others were unbelievably tall and skinny. The mushrooms’ caps, some of which were easily twenty blocks off the ground, if not more, were red and white and beige, some with bright spots and others all solid colors. The bright red and pristine white domes were like brilliant beacons in the half-light of the Twilight Forest, the colors almost shocking to their eyes.
As they moved through the strange biome, a new cluster of thick white stalks emerged from the haze, the spotted red domes capping the structure high up in the air. Holes that almost looked like windows were carved into the sides of these fungi, some filled with flickering light that could only be from a torch.
“Are those bridges between the giant mushrooms?” Digger asked, his normally booming voice quiet and withdrawn.
“I think you’re right,” Gameknight said.
“The wolves are heading straight for them,” Herder said. “Entity303 must have gone near those things.”
They moved toward the giant mushrooms, following the wolves. The furry white animals were like ghosts, their soft padded feet allowing them to move noiselessly. Everyone in the party tried to mimic the majestic animal’s quiet nature, but the clanking of their armored plates and the jingling of Empech’s pack made it impossible. As they neared, more walkways and bridges could be seen extending from one large mushroom to the next. There were wooden railings on the sides of the raised causeways, clearly indicating these were not naturally occurring things.
“I think it’s some kind of mushroom castle,” Gameknight said.
“Yes, yes, the Mushroom Kingdom,” Empech said, his blue eyes glowing bright. “They are kind creatures, the Mushrites, kind and peaceful, yes, yes.”
“Come on, let’s keep up with the wolves,” Hunter said.
The wolf pack streaked across the forest floor, weaving around the bright and dark stalks. The strange plants gave an almost alien appearance to the terrain, as if this were a different planet; Gameknight imagined it was a mushroom planet in outer space somewhere. The pack leader gave off a loud howl, then stopped at an open door that led into the mushroom structure. Gameknight stood next to the door and drew his enchanted diamond sword.
“These are peaceful creatures,” Empech said. “Weapons will not be needed.”
“We don’t know what Entity303 might have left for us in there,” Gameknight said. “It’s best if we’re prepared.” He glanced at Digger and Woodcutter. “I think you two should stay out here and guard the exit with some of the wolves.”
He glanced at Herder. The lanky boy pulled some long, tangled strands of dark hair away from his face and nodded. He knelt next to the pack leader and whispered something. The mighty animal barked once, and several of the wolves fanned out to guard the entrance.
Gameknight went in first, followed by Hunter and Stitcher, their enchanted weapons casting an iridescent purple glow on the white walls of the mushroom. Behind them came Herder with the alpha male, and then Crafter, Empech and Fletcher bringing up the rear. Stairs spiralled their way up the massive stalk. At intervals along their ascent, passages extended out of the stairwell and across bridges to the neighboring mushrooms. Moving from one level to the next, the companions explored all the rooms and bridges, searching for any of the mushroom people. In every chamber, they found the same thing … nothing.
“There should be Mushrites here, yes, yes.” The blue glow in the little gnome’s eyes was getting dimmer. “Something is not right.”
They went higher up into the mushrooms, exploring the spotted red cap of one. A large red chamber, complete with tables, chairs, and beds was found completely empty, but bowls of beetroot stew sat on the tables, still steaming.
“What happened here?” Hunter asked. “Their food is still warm.”
“They either ran away, or …” Fletcher began.
“They were destroyed,” Stitcher concluded. “Look, some of the chairs are overturned, and a couple of bowls of soup have been spilled. These people didn’t just run away, they were destroyed during their meal.”
The companions looked around the room and saw the truth in her words. This was a battlefield for a very one-sided battle. Gameknight glanced at all the soup bowls, some of them large and some smaller, likely for children, and felt sad. With no weapons lying on the ground or discarded tools, it was clear these gentle people were unarmed, and didn’t have a chance. This had been a massacre.
“Why would Entity303 destroy these people?” Gameknight asked. “He didn’t need to do that. It would have been easy enough to just go around the Mushroom castle.”
“Perhaps causing the suffering of others masks his own pain, whatever it might be,” Crafter said.
“Check the throne room, yes, yes,” Empech said. “We must check on the King.”
The little gnome turned and headed out of the room, back toward the central stalk. Gameknight followed him with the others searching some of the side rooms and chambers, hoping to find survivors. The pech began moving faster, running up the stairs that spiraled to the top of the gigantic structure. Gameknight sprinted, trying to keep up, but the little creature moved unbelievably fast.
They reached the top of the castle after climbing what seemed like a hundred steps. The stairs ended at a set of large, ornately decorated doors. Empech swallowed nervously, then pushed the doors open. Before them sat a large hall occupying probably half the red and white spotted dome of the giant mushroom. Tall columns of wood stretched up to the ceiling with flickering torches decorating their sides casting a warm yellow glow on the surroundings. At the far end of the chamber sat a large chair made of gold, and on it a creature sat slumped over, its short arms hanging off the sides.
“The king!” Empech screeched with alarm.
They dashed across the hall, the pech moving even faster than before. He stopped next to the golden throne and carefully lifted the King’s head. His head was large and round, colored bright red with a smattering of white spots on the side. His body was thin and lean, with short stubby arms and equally thin legs. The mushroom creature wore an elaborately decorated robe with sparkling gems sewn into the garment’s delicate stitching.
“Your Majesty,” Empech said as he carefully lifted him to a sitting position. “What happened here?”
“User … attacked …”
The Mushroom King stopped speaking as his red eyes fell upon Gameknight999. He tried to scoot backward in his chair, but there was no place to go.
“This is a friend, yes, yes,” Empech said. “He is here to help.”
“Your Majesty, who did this?” Gameknight asked. “What did this user look like?”
“The user wore steeleaf armor,” the king said. “He had a … a sword that glowed yellow and …” He struggled to breathe for a moment. “A prisoner, there was a prisoner.”
“Weaver,” Gameknight hissed. “Where did they go?”
“Nag …” the king struggled to say, but he was getting weaker. He struggled to breathe again, his health dangerously low.
Gameknight pulled out a loaf of bread and handed it to the ruler, but he pushed it away, shaking his head.
“I did not protect my people,” the king said, an unspeakable sadness resonating in his voice. “This is the end.”
“No, your Majesty,” Empech said. “Take the food and be healed. Your kingdom can be rebuilt.”
“But can the lives …” he strained for breath.
The white spots that adorned his red mushroom head seemed to fade, turning slightly gray.
“Can the lives of the lost be rebuilt?”
He took another difficult breath, a labored wheezing sound coming from the ruler.
“Can the horrors that my … my subjects endured be … erased?”
“Your Highness, you must eat, yes, yes.”
The king shook his head, then turned and gazed into Empech’s eyes. Gameknight999 could only imagine what reflection he saw in those two dark blue gems. An expression of horror came across the monarch’s face, and then finally his HP gave out, and the ruler disappeared with a pop.
“So passes the great Mushrite King,” Empech moaned as tears streamed down his gray face. “A great tragedy, yes, yes.”
“He will be avenged, Empech,” Gameknight growled. “I promise you, Entity303 will be made to pay.”
“Careful what you seek,” the sad gnome said. “Revenge can punish the predator as well as the prey, yes, yes.”
Gameknight looked down at the strange gray-skinned creature. The User-that-is-not-a-user saw his reflection in those dark blue crystalline eyes, but he still had that same frail appearance, his guilt over Weaver’s capture deflating his confidence. Now, though, there was a new feature to his visage; his face appeared angry and evil, as if the thirst for revenge was corrupting his very soul. Gameknight quickly glanced away.
“We must leave this place, yes, yes. There is nothing left here but emptiness and pain.”
“I agree,” Gameknight said. “We continue the hunt.”
They ran down the stairs, collected their companions, and followed the wolves onward through the mushroom forest. But the whole time, something the mushroom king had struggled to say was bouncing around in Gameknight’s head, warning him of danger.
CHAPTER 8
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Entity303 and Weaver moved through the snowy forest, leaving the large walled enclosure behind. The scraping of hard scales across the frosty ground filled the air as the angry creature behind them continued to search for its assailant. The sound reminded Entity303 of sheets of metal being dragged across a stony path. He smiled.
I hope you enjoy my little surprise, Gameknight999, he thought.
The hissing of the gigantic monster grew quieter as they moved farther from the enclosure, but the pain-filled wails of the zombies were still audible. Suddenly a loud cry of pain pierced the air, followed by another and another, then grew silent.
“Apparently that massive thing doesn’t like zombies or the other mobs very much,” Entity303 said with a laugh. “Did you see how it went after the skeletons? That thing really wants to destroy everything.”
Weaver said nothing; he just glared at his captor. Entity303 could see the fear had faded from the boy’s eyes. The villager had been terrified when the huge beast had charged. It made Entity303 laugh at the time, though he’d been a little concerned as well; he certainly wasn’t going to tell the villager that.
Their feet crunched on the frozen blades of grass, a light dusting of snow coating everything. Pine trees dotted the landscape, at some places their branches spreading wide and touching. A frosting of white covered the leafy blocks, creating a serene and peaceful landscape. Entity303 smiled. He’d worked on the snow when he’d still been on the Minecraft programming team, but the lead developer didn’t like his idea of creating snow serpents that would devour users and villagers … cowards!
“What was that about back there?” Weaver asked.
“I just wanted to get that creature nice and angry for when your little friends came by.”
“Not that,” the NPC snapped. “I meant back at that giant mushroom. You killed all those creatures for no reason.”
“I did that for two reasons. First—to show you the depth of my resolve. I will do anything to see my plan through to fruition, and destroying a few programmable mushrooms is nothing to me.”
“Those were living creatures like you and me!” Weaver’s square face turned red with rage. “You had no right!”
Entity303 drew his sword in a quick motion. Instantly, Weaver stopped walking and stood still. When the blade cleared Entity303’s inventory, it began to glow a bright yellow, as if some kind of power source resided within. The user moved it close to Weaver’s face. Tiny cubes of sweat formed on his square face as the heat from the blade washed over him.
“My strength and my superior intelligence give me the right, villager,” Entity303 growled. “Do you want to question my rights any further?”
Weaver said nothing; he just glared at the user.
“And second—I wanted your little friends to also know that I’m serious. I’m going to lay waste to this land and there is nothing those fools following us can do about it. My actions in the mushroom castle were done just to clarify my intent to my prey.”
He put away his sword and continued walking, yanking on the rope to get his prisoner moving. Entity303 glanced to the left. In the distance, he could just make out the edge of the glacier that hid in the haze. They would be going there soon to pay a little visit to the queen, but not yet. There were other places he needed to lead Gameknight999 and his foolish companions first.
“You know you’re all alone in this,” Weaver said to his captor.
Entity303 could see out of the corner of his eye that the boy was dragging one boot in the snow as he walked. He was likely trying to leave a trail so his friends would be able to follow them … good.
“Smithy probably has an army of villagers with him,” the NPC continued. “He isn’t gonna stop chasing you until you’re caught and punished for your crimes.”
“You are such a fool, villager.”
“My name is Weaver!”
Entity303 laughed. “A program with a name, how delicious. But names are for living things, not computer-controlled toys.”
“I’m not a toy,” Weaver snapped. “I’m a living creature like you and that tree and that animal over there. We are all alive, and no amount of insults will change that.”
They reached a stream that was too wide to jump across, but it was only one block deep and could be waded. Entity303 moved into the slow waters and pushed through the liquid, the stream only coming to his waist. As he forded the stream, he jerked the rope, causing Weaver to fall face first into the waters, getting completely soaked. The user smiled, then pulled on the rope, dragging the fool out of the water and onto the banks.
Weaver coughed as he struggled to his feet. He was now freezing and started to shiver. His yellow smock clung to his arms and legs, and his chest was now covered with a light dusting of snow. Entity303 had made him discard his armor after the mushroom kingdom, making the villager more vulnerable.
He smiled down at the boy. “You’re a little wet.”
Weaver growled, then shook his brown hair, flinging water in all directions. Some of it landed on Entity303.
“You see, villager, you aren’t real, you’re just a random collection of electrical impulses zipping through a CPU in a computer somewhere.”
Weaver’s body stiffened with anger, his rage causing the shivers to stop for a moment.
“My virus, Herobrine, modified your code
ever so slightly, giving you the ability to have some memory and make decisions and choose where you want to go, but that doesn’t make you alive. You’re just a program with some artificial intelligence sprinkled on top. But soon I’ll correct this situation and put all of you back to how you were, a bunch of mindless segments of computer code shuffling about through the landscape. And then, just when the developers of Minecraft think my mischief is complete, I’ll tear apart the connections between worlds, causing the whole pyramid of servers to come crumbling down, destroying everything. They’ll learn not to mess with Entity303.”
“Smithy will never allow that!”
Weaver took a step closer to the user and glared up at him with his bright blue eyes, refusing to look away. The boy’s defiance amused Entity303.
“Smithy?! You are truly a fool.” Entity303 stopped and faced the young NPC. “You think that he’s Smithy? Ha … what a laugh; this is going to be fun. That user you yelled to in front of the village wasn’t your famous leader, Smithy. That blacksmith died during the Great Zombie Invasion. I watched it happen in the narrow pass through the mountains. The person you think is Smithy is really Gameknight999, a user like me. He took Smithy’s place, put on his armor and stole his sword. How do you think your great leader was able to use two swords? Magic? It wasn’t one of your pathetic villagers; it was Gameknight999, a user … like me!”
“No, I refuse to believe it!”
“Ha ha, you can deny it all you want, but that’s the truth. It’s unfortunate you’ll probably never have a chance to confront the liar, since I doubt he will survive what I have in mind for him, but then again, you might not survive either. Now be quiet, I have a little business with a Yeti.”
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