“Are you talking to yourself?” Hunter asked, but Crafter placed a hand on her arm, silencing her questions.
Gameknight glanced at the Hydra. The monster spat a burning fireball at them. The glowing sphere fell to the ground before reaching them, then exploded.
Ghasts … of course. I can do that!
And then, suddenly, the puzzle pieces started to tumble around in his head, his newly remembered belief in himself driving away the haze of uncertainty. There was a solution here, and the User-that-is-not-a-user was going to find it.
“Ghasts … it’s just like the ghasts,” Gameknight said as the solution solidified in his mind.
Empech nodded, a smile creasing his gray face.
“I know what to do, but I need all of you to stay here.” The User-that-is-not-a-user stared at all his friends, making sure the message was clear. “It’s important that the Hydra is focused just on me, so all of you stay here and watch my back. Do you understand?”
“You want us to stay here while you go out there and face an undefeatable monster with your fancy green Naga armor?” Stitcher asked. “Is that it?”
The User-that-is-not-a-user nodded his boxy head.
Drawing his diamond sword, Gameknight999 charged toward the Hydra, the monster’s six eyes glaring straight at him.
CHAPTER 22
FLAMES AND FANGS
The Hydra’s burning red eyes tracked Gameknight as he approached. The central head let out a thunderous, growling roar, causing the other two heads to join in. The sound echoed across the desolate fire swamp and rippled out into the surrounding forest, but Gameknight ignored it. He had a plan, and he was going to see it through.
The monster launched a barrage of attacks when he was in range. It opened one of its mouths and belched fireball after fireball at its attacker. Gameknight stopped running and waited for the flaming spheres to descend upon him. With his sword held like a bat, he swung at the balls, knocking them back at the beast.
The first couple shots went wide, but the next one bounced off his sword and went straight back at the monster. It exploded near the open mouth.
The Hydra flashed red.
Yes!
It bellowed in pain and stomped its tail on the ground, then fired another volley. Gameknight didn’t move a single step. He wanted the timing to be perfect. With beads of sweat dripping down his forehead, he waited for the balls of fire to reach him, then swung again, knocking the explosive orbs right back at the monster. Again, it roared in pain as more of the firebombs detonated near its head. The Hydra attacked one more time, this time launching the balls even faster. But Gameknight was ready; he’d done this countless times in the Nether with ghasts. He knocked the spheres back as if he were in an easy tennis match, sending the flaming balls right into the monster’s mouth. It screamed in pain as the head flashed bright red, then disappeared.
“One down!” Hunter yelled from behind.
Gameknight smiled, but then was shocked as another head emerged from the monster’s body, followed by a second head; the head that had been defeated was now replaced by two. The hydra now had four heads!
Sparkling embers danced around one of the mouths. Before he could move, a torrent of fire flowed from the monster, bathing the landscape in flame. Gameknight jumped backward, then turned and ran as a wave of fire crashed toward him. The heat from the attack was so intense it singed some of the hairs on the back of his neck. But as quickly as it started, the stream of fire stopped.
Suddenly, Hunter was at his side.
“I told you I need the Hydra focused on me,” Gameknight said. “Go back.”
“Nope,” she replied with a smile. “I’ll make sure the Hydra is focused on you, but it will also be focused on me … WATCH OUT!”
A fireball streaked down at the pair. Hunter knocked the projectile aside with her sword. Gameknight turned and swung at the next one, sending it back at the beast. But now, two of the heads were attacking from opposite sides of the monster’s body. If he’d been alone, likely Gameknight would have been overwhelmed.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, they batted back the burning spheres, aiming for the open, tooth-lined mouths. Another of the heads turned toward the duo and opened fire. Suddenly, Woodcutter was on Hunter’s shoulder, his iron axe smashing into the burning sphere. And then Crafter came forward, followed by Digger. The stocky NPC held both pickaxes ready in his hands, but out of the corner of his eye, Gameknight could see them shaking.
Slowly moving forward, the group pressed closer to the monster, batting more and more of the burning spheres back at the Hydra. Another head flashed red one final time and disappeared, only to be replaced by two more. Now there were five of the hideous heads either launching fireballs at the companions or spraying the landscape with sheets of flames. Smoke billowed into the air, making it difficult to see. The air was warm and tasted of ash. Deep breaths hurt Gameknight’s chest a little.
One of the center heads tilted upward to the sky and let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the scorched landscape. It was joined by the others … a chorus of deadly animalistic screams all singing together. The heads then tilted toward its attackers and opened fire. The burning spheres were coming at them from all sides now, some landing on the ground at their feet and sitting there for an instant before exploding.
Suddenly, Herder sprinted in front of the group, his iron shovel in his hand. As he ran past, he swung at a burning sphere that sat on the ground in front of his friends. The firebombs leapt off his shovel and shot into the air, some of them exploding before they reached the monster, but others hitting home. Another head flashed red and disappeared, but this one was not replaced.
“One down!” Gameknight shouted. “Everyone forward.”
They moved closer to the Hydra, making it easier to hit the monster with the deflected fireballs, but they also had less time to react. A fireball slipped past Crafter’s sword and smashed into his armor. Gameknight could see cracks forming across the chest plate.
“Hunter, Stitcher, get behind us and use your bows,” Gameknight said.
“Empech said they would do no good,” Hunter replied.
“Aim for their mouths,” Gameknight replied. “If the fireballs hurt them, then maybe a flaming arrow in their mouth will do the same.”
The two girls stepped back and pulled out their enchanted bows.
Herder shot across the front of their formation again, and struck at a burning sphere that sat on the ground. It flew into the air, but exploded right after leaving his shovel. The blast knocked him to the ground. Digger sprinted forward, picked the boy up and carried him away, the edges of his iron armor glowing slightly with heat.
Another fireball made it past their weapons, this one smashing into Woodcutter. The tall NPC screamed in pain and fell to one knee as another fireball streaked toward him. Gameknight dove to the side and hit the flaming sphere just as it was about to strike the NPC. It bounced off his sword and flew into the mouth of the Hydra, destroying another head. Only four remained.
Glancing at his friends, Gameknight could see all of them were getting wounded. If they didn’t end this battle fast, someone was going to perish.
Pulling out the blue-green steeleaf shield, Gameknight charged forward.
“All of you stay there. I’m ending this.”
With the stout shield held out in front of him, the User-that-is-not-a-user charged, closing the distance to the beast. The monster’s heads all tracked him, their bright red eyes burning with hatred. It fired more firebombs at him, but with Gameknight so close, all of the deflected shots went straight back at the monster. Glowing embers sparkled in the mouth of the left head. Gameknight held up the shield as a spray of flames spewed from the monster’s mouth. Gameknight quickly ran around the monster’s feet, moving to the right side. The left head continued spraying its fiery breath, but now it was hitting the other heads. The center head flashed red as it took damage from the flaming spray, causing it to disappear with a
pop.
The right head opened its mouth to spit more fire at Gameknight. Suddenly, two flaming arrows streaked into its exposed throat, causing it to flash red, then disappear; only two more heads remained.
The steeleaf shield was getting hot and beginning to glow. Cracks were forming across the back; it wouldn’t last long. When the shield disappeared, Gameknight would have no defense against the spray of fire.
The monster turned to get a better angle on him. It swung its massive tail across the ground, likely intent on knocking him to the ground. Gameknight jumped into the air just as the tail hit his feet. He stumbled for a moment and had to drop his diamond sword to reach out to the ground and cushion his fall. Bouncing quickly back to his feet, he drew his enchanted iron sword.
Another fireball streaked down at him. Swinging the blade with all his strength, he hit the burning sphere right into the mouth of the left head. It flashed red just as two flaming arrows streaked into its open mouth. The head disappeared with a pop, leaving behind only one terrible set of burning eyes and razor sharp teeth.
Intelligence seemed to flicker within the bright red eyes. Gameknight could tell the monster was studying him, deciding which attack would be best.
And then it struck.
Instead of shooting out fireballs, the creature lowered its head and snapped at Gameknight with its massive teeth. It tore the leafy rectangle out of his grip and tossed it aside.
The Hydra growled victoriously.
Gameknight rolled away from the head, then gripped his sword with both hands. Over the monster’s ridged tail, he could see his friends watching. Digger held his pickaxe in his hands. He then gripped the handle with both hands and held it over his head as if he were going to throw it.
“Of course!” Gameknight said to himself.
The Hydra turned toward him and opened its massive jaws, getting ready to bite down on its next victim. But as the Hydra opened its mouth wide, Gameknight threw his enchanted iron sword with all his strength. It tumbled end over end, narrowly missing a large tooth, then stuck into the monster’s throat. The creature closed its mouth in shock, causing the blade to dig into the vulnerable flesh.
The monster flashed red.
It bellowed an ear-splitting roar, then snapped at Gameknight, who was already moving. The sharp teeth narrowly missed him, but the sword, still stuck in the Hydra’s mouth, dug in again, causing it to flash red one last time. The beast gave off a sorrowful moan of pain and sadness, then fell to the side, writhing in agony. With one final, sorrowful roar, the Hydra shuddered, then exploded. The blast threw Gameknight backward a dozen blocks, and when he hit the ground, everything went black.
CHAPTER 23
KEYS TO THE CASTLE
A silvery mist swirled around his legs. It was cold and clammy, like the tentacles of a squid … or a ghast. Strange trees began to emerge from the mist, stretching high into the air. Their branches spread out, forming a canopy that covered the twilight sky in places, blotting out the sparkling stars.
A firefly buzzed past, then settled on the dark skin of the canopy tree, the glow from the bug creating a yellow circle of light that spread through the forest, driving away the darkness.
I’m in the Land of Dreams, Gameknight thought. I’m not awake.
But if he wasn’t awake, then where was he?
Suddenly, he saw someone dressed in sparkling white armor, the blue stripes across the chest plate and leggings standing out in stark contrast to the pale surface. Six blue extrusions stood out from the iridescent helmet, giving the impression of being some kind of monster … like the Alpha Yeti.
Entity303! Gameknight suddenly realized it was his enemy.
He saw the user running through the forest with Weaver in tow, a rope wrapped around the boy’s body, pinning his arms to his side. Their bodies were partially transparent, as they were awake and not in the Land of Dreams. Suddenly, Gameknight’s favorite bow, with the Infinity, Flame and Punch enchantments, appeared in his hand. Gameknight drew back the string, the Infinity enchantment making an arrow instantly appear. He aimed it at Entity303, but slowly lowered the weapon; his arrow would have no effect on someone that was awake.
“If that three-headed monster hurt any of my friends, I’m gonna make you sorry,” Weaver said.
“Ha ha ha … you’re funny, villager,” the user replied.
The boy growled, his eyes burning with anger.
Gameknight floated through the forest, following the pair. They ran toward a massive chunk of ice that was maybe thirty blocks tall. He figured it was the Snow Queen’s glacier; that was where Entity303 wanted them to go next.
“Well, if I can’t hurt you, at least I can follow you and see where you’re going,” Gameknight mused to himself.
The pair reached the foot of the glacier, then Entity303 removed his chest plate, and put on what looked like a jetpack.
Industrial-craft, that must be one of the mods he added, Gameknight thought.
Entity303 yanked on the rope and pulled Weaver close, then slowly lifted off the ground. Gameknight drifted after them, rising in the air.
Suddenly, a massive wave of chilly water crashed down upon him, forcing him to the ground. Gameknight tried to stand, but another wave fell on him, knocking away the trees and the glacier and everything around him until …
Gameknight999 woke with a start. He was on his back, staring up into a twilight sky where stars were just beginning to peek through the darkening heavens.
“Is he awake?” a voice asked.
He sat up and glanced at her. Hunter cast him a smile, then put the empty bucket back into her inventory, square droplets of water still lining the rim.
“About time,” she said.
“What happened?” Gameknight asked.
“When the Hydra exploded, you were blasted through the air until you finally landed here,” Crafter explained. “I guess you passed out for a bit.”
“Well, I’m awake now.” He shook his head as a dull ache filled his skull, the pain blossoming with every beat of his heart. Gameknight stood and glanced back to where the Hydra had been standing. “Where’s Weaver? He was going up to the top of the glacier and …”
Finally, clarity came to his mind, and he remembered he’d been in the Land of Dreams. Weaver and Entity303 were far away from here.
“He’s gone,” Stitcher said. “What’d you expect? Entity303 would just be standing there, waiting for us?”
“Stitcher, be nice,” Hunter chided.
“Well … if we didn’t have to stand around and wait for him to wake up,” the younger sister added, sounding frustrated, “we’d be following their trail now.”
“I know where they are now, but we aren’t gonna follow their trail,” Gameknight said.
“What do you mean?” Crafter asked.
“He said they were heading to the Snow Queen next,” Stitcher said. “They left a clear trail through the forest. It’ll be easy to follow.”
“I don’t care,” Gameknight said. “We aren’t playing his game anymore. We’re gonna play our game now.”
“How hard did you get hit in the head?” Stitcher asked.
Gameknight looked down at the young girl, expecting to see a playful smile, but instead he found an angry scowl growing across her square face.
“Entity303 is gonna lead us past all the bosses until he manages to get more of us destroyed. I’m not letting that happen. You see, I played this mod a long time ago.”
“You mean you knew about all this stuff?” Stitcher asked, a tone of accusation to her voice.
“No, I only explored the smallest amount, but I did see one thing.”
“What was that?” Crafter asked.
“The White Castle.”
“The White Castle?” Hunter asked. “What’s that?”
Gameknight spotted his sword on the ground and moved to it. He bent down and picked it up, then put it back into his inventory. A sputtering sound filled the air for just an instant, then a ge
yser of flame shot into the air far to their left.
“The White Castle was supposed to be the end of the Twilight Forest mod,” he explained.
“So what about the White Castle?” Woodcutter asked. “Why go there?”
“Weaver yelled that to us right before Entity303 hit him over the head and knocked him out. It made me remember what the trophies are for, to unlock that castle. Instead of letting Entity303 lead us around, we’re gonna go to the White Castle before he gets there.
“But there are three challenges to the white castle. First, a deadly thorn forest surrounds it. If you fall into it, you have no chance of survival.”
“That sounds lovely,” Hunter said with a smile.
“Second, to get in, you must have three trophies to open the doors, which we already have.”
Empech pulled off his huge pack and set it on the ground. He opened the top and pulled out three square golden tiles, each with a different symbol on them. The first had the face of the Naga, complete with leafy skin and bright red eyes. The second shining square had the face of a skeleton on it, a golden crown adorning its head: the Lich King. And the last one had the blue and green face of the Hydra staring out of the tile: the drop from the gigantic monster after it was destroyed.
“Perfect,” Gameknight said. “These are the keys to getting into the castle. If we get there before Entity303, then we’ll have the advantage of surprise.”
“But where do we go when we get into the castle?” Crafter asked.
“The dungeons under the castle were set up to hold lots of creatures,” Gameknight explained. “Some say there are multiple levels that go deeper underground, but I’ve never seen them. I’ve heard there is a huge hidden chamber under the castle, built for some kind of monster.”
“And what waits for us there?” Digger asked, his voice shaking just a bit.
“That’s the strange thing. This mod was never completed, but I bet Entity303 has something there waiting for us. Probably he needed us to get the keys for him so he can get in, for some reason.”
“But we’re gonna get there first!” Stitcher exclaimed. “And this time, we’ll be waiting for him.”
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