Something streaked overhead; it was one of the short-winged demons. The monster’s claws reached down at Gameknight at it approached. He shoved the block of dirt he had in his hand at the monster, pushing it away. Then, with a quick, fluid motion, he drew his swords and swung at the next one that swooped down on them.
Suddenly, Crafter was at his side, his bow buzzing. Woodcutter appeared off to the left with Digger at his side. The stocky NPC put Tux safely on the ground behind him, then exchanged his pickaxe for a bow and added his arrows to the fray.
Herder moved up next to Gameknight999, then put his fingers to his mouth and made a shrill whistling sound. The lanky boy pointed at a group of zombies. Instantly, his wolves dashed across the ground and fell on the monsters, tearing into their decaying legs and snapping at their sharp claws. Some of them yelped in pain, but they refused to retreat until their attack was completed.
“Call them back, Herder.” Gameknight grabbed the lanky boy’s shoulders and turned him so they were face to face. “The wolves are outnumbered and are getting hurt.”
A look of crazed violence filled the boy’s eyes. Herder too was lost to the fever of battle.
Gameknight shook him. “Call the wolves back!”
Another yelp filled the air, then a great, sad howl echoed through the chamber and was suddenly silenced. This snapped the boy out of the violent trance. He whistled again, bringing the now-smaller pack to him. As soon as the wolves were at his side, he whistled and pointed again, this time to a group of creepers.
More monsters charged toward them, creatures never before seen in Minecraft, and all of them angry and lethal-looking. The mixture of all their growls and snarls and cries of rage filled the chamber with a cacophony that was both terrifying and painful to hear.
“We’re completely outnumbered,” Crafter said. “We can’t keep this up.”
“Crafter’s right,” Hunter said as she fired three quick shots at a creature made of ice that floated in the air, razor-sharp crystals of frozen death slowly revolving around its core. The creature flashed red, then shattered in a spray of ice-covered shards. “We have to do something different, fast, or …” She paused to shoot down one of the flying demons, then ducked as a skeleton arrow streaked over her shoulder. “Gameknight, do something,” she pleaded.
A group of short blue monsters came at them from the right, followed by a squad of creatures that spun spiked balls over their heads, the deadly weapons held at the end of whirling chains. The ball-and-chain monsters charged at them, each one howling like a crazed animal. In front, green hobgoblins, each with a vicious golden spear, approached the defenders. Their group was at least twenty strong, and the tips of their spears gleamed like a field of shining stalks of corn. More creatures, all stranger than the next, poured out of the shadows, each intent on their destruction.
“Gameknight, we do we do?” Digger asked, his voice soft and shaking with fear.
Squawk, squawk!
Fear and doubt crashed down upon him like an endless monsoon, drenching him with uncertainty. But when he glanced at Empech, he found the little gnome smiling.
“The Lich King, yes, yes. Use that which you took from the Lich King.”
Gameknight thought for a moment, then with sudden clarity he laughed as the storm of fear suddenly evaporated.
I know what to do, he thought. I believe!
And then he reached into his inventory and pulled out either the weapon that would either be their salvation or their destruction.
CHAPTER 34
ZOMBIES
The bone handle of the Zombie Scepter felt cold in his hand, but the green jewel at the end glowed bright with magical energy. Gameknight moved to the dirt wall and climbed to the top.
“Everyone get back,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said.
“Gameknight, we really don’t know what that thing will do,” Crafter said. “The zombies that it creates may turn on us and make the situation worse.”
“Worse? Can it …” Hunter stopped speaking to shoot at another of the flying demons. “Can it get any worse?”
“Well …” Crafter said.
“Here goes,” Gameknight said, then flicked his wrist just as he remembered the Lich King doing. The green gem flashed bright, blinding him for just an instant. When his sight returned, there were nine zombies standing before him. They stared up at the User-that-is-not-a-user as if waiting for instructions.
“Protect us!” he shouted, the cold feeling of fear slowly growing from within.
The zombies growled and moaned, then turned and shuffled toward the approaching monsters.
“It worked!” Stitcher squealed. “I never thought I’d be glad to see one of those stinking monsters.”
“Send some over here!” Woodcutter shouted.
A group of kobolds were about to reach the defenses, their bright blue skin standing out against the dreary deadrock floor. Woodcutter put away his bow and drew his axe. He began cleaving away at the tiny creatures as they slashed at him with their sharp claws. Gameknight saw Digger look down at Tux, then pulled out the glowing battle axe that had once been the Lich King’s. It shook in his hands, but as he swung the massive weapon, it tore through the blue demons, causing them to burst into flames.
Gameknight flicked the wand in their directions. The zombies that suddenly appeared fell on the kobolds, then moved out and attacked other monsters. Flicking the wand all around their position, he made more squads of zombies, each one willing to battle the monsters of the Twilight Forest to protect the wielder of the Zombie Scepter.
But eventually, the green gem on the end of the scepter grew dark.
“It doesn’t work anymore?” Gameknight asked.
“It has served its purpose, yes, yes,” Empech said.
“What now?” Crafter asked.
“We fight!” Gameknight shouted.
Leaping over the dirt wall, the User-that-is-not-a-user charged at a group of monsters, his blades swinging through the air in a blur. Suddenly, Digger was at his side, the glowing axe cleaving through skeletons and destroying ice-shard creatures that had likely belonged to the Snow Queen.
Flaming arrows shot past them and struck more demon-like creatures, causing them to burst into flames. Before they could reach them with their swords, the tiny red monsters disappeared with a pop.
Gameknight saw no more monsters before him. He turned and rushed to Crafter, who was battling a group of fire beetles. Herder’s wolves bit at the insects from behind, careful to avoid the sheet of flames that came from the insects’ mouths. A group of zombies also fell on the monsters, tearing into the beetles with their razor-sharp claws.
Slowly, the snarls and growls of the different monsters began to be drowned out by the sorrowful moans of zombies … which meant they were winning.
“Hunter, Stitcher, look for more netherrack blocks and light them with your bows,” Gameknight shouted.
With the potion of swiftness fading, the User-that-is-not-a-user streaked across the battlefield, the Moonworm Queen now in his left hand. The royal insect seemed to glow bright on his wrist; it must have recharged its energy somehow. He placed glowing, squirming worms on the ground as he searched for the small pockets of creatures that now tried to hide in the darkness. As soon as they were found, zombies shuffled toward the creatures.
More blocks of netherrack burst into fiery life as Hunter and Stitcher found the remaining obsidian columns that held the rusty blocks on top. With their flames and the surviving moonworms, the massive chamber was now completely lit. Across the floor, maybe fifty of their zombies still survived, all of them milling about in the center of the huge cave. The attacking monsters were all destroyed.
Gameknight ran back to his friends, then glared up at Entity303.
“We passed your test, now give us our friend,” Gameknight growled at him, pointing at the user with his diamond sword.
“Passed my test … ha!” Entity303 reached out and petted the manticore, which had settled
itself again at his side during the fighting. “That was just the opening act. If you want your little villager back, you must defeat my pet here.” He patted the monster on the side, then glanced down at the radiant enclosure that sat near his feet, his eyes focused on the sparkling chest trapped within.
“You would sacrifice your companion, just to test us?” Crafter asked.
“My companion? Ha! You are a fool, villager. This isn’t a companion; it is a servant to be ordered about … it is a tool to be used and then discarded when no longer useful … it is a weapon to point at a target, and when the target is destroyed, the weapon is useless. This creature is not important. Do what you can to protect yourself, though most of you will certainly perish. Say hello to your destruction.”
Entity303 patted the beast firmly on the back, then spoke in a clear, angry voice.
“Manticore … destroy!”
The beast bellowed a great roar that made the walls of the chamber shake, then leapt into the air. Its massive, leathery wings lifted the creature higher and higher. It streaked to the small hole in the ceiling and smashed into it as if trying to escape, splashing steams of water in all directions, then turned in a great arc, its eyes focused on its prey far below. With another roar, the monster pivoted and dove straight at the User-that-is-not-a-user and his friends, its razor-sharp claws extended, a snarling expression on its vile, NPC-like face.
Gameknight999 stared up at the manticore as chilling fingers of terror instantly wrapped themselves around his body, making it impossible for him to move. All he could do was watch as his destruction descended down upon them.
CHAPTER 35
STITCHER
The monster dove at Gameknight999 and the other NPCs, but banked away at the last second and attacked the remaining zombies. The manticore landed amidst the decaying green bodies, swiping at them with its massive paws, the sharp claws tearing at the monsters’ HP. Its scorpion tail darted from one creature to another, skewering the helpless zombies with its long, poisonous stinger.
Wails of pain and sorrow came from the rotting creatures as the manticore quickly destroyed one after another. Gameknight wanted to go out and help them, but he knew there was nothing he could do; Entity303’s monster would easily overpower him.
“You have any ideas?” Crafter said as he watched the slaughter.
The User-that-is-not-a-user didn’t reply. His mind was trying to find a solution to this puzzle, but he’d never seen a creature in Minecraft as strong as the Manticore. It made the Hydra and the Naga seem like playful little puppies in comparison.
This creature was like three monsters in one. The manticore’s scorpion tail stabbed at the zombies, while its claws tore into the HP of the zombies closest to it and its sharp, clawed wingtips sliced at those farther away. It was impossible to fight it up close and impossible to fight it from far away. This was the perfect machine of destruction; it had no weakness to exploit.
“Gameknight … you’re thinking of something, right?” Crafter asked again, his voice shaking.
Again, Gameknight did not reply. Every thought going through his head was focused on the monster before them, but he wasn’t coming up with anything.
“Well, I have an idea,” Stitcher said fearlessly.
“What is it?” Crafter asked.
The young girl didn’t reply. Instead, she marched forward, her arrows streaking through the air, striking the creature in the side and shoulder and leg. They flaming arrows continued to burn as they embedded themselves into the manticore’s thick hide, but the monster did not flash red. The arrows were doing no damage at all. In fact, the huge monster didn’t even seem to notice them until one of the arrows bounced off one of its huge, protruding teeth.
After bringing its thick, poisonous stinger down upon the last of the zombies, the monster turned and faced Stitcher. Gameknight and Hunter ran forward, trying to reach the young girl’s side before the monster pounced. Suddenly a wave of furry wolves shot past them, barking and growling at the monster. One of the wolves ran up to the manticore and bit at the creature’s leg, but the massive giant didn’t even notice.
As Gameknight and Hunter closed in on the manticore, arrows streaked over their heads; Woodcutter and Crafter were following, each of them firing their bows as they ran. The manticore glared down at its attackers and growled, then swung a clawed fist at Gameknight and Hunter. To Gameknight, it felt as if a speeding bus had hit him. He flew through the air, landing a dozen blocks away, his head ringing. Hunter landed next to him, flashing red with damage.
Woodcutter and Crafter landed in the pile shortly after. Wolves yelped and flew in all directions as the beast flicked its barbed tail like a whip, knocking the animals through the air.
“That creature is unstoppable,” Hunter said. “What do we do?”
“We go protect Stitcher,” Gameknight said.
The young NPC was still standing before the monster, firing her arrows at the creature, but now the manticore was beating its wings, knocking the projectiles out of the air. With a great roar, it stomped its huge paws on the ground, making the entire chamber shake, then slowly approached Stitcher, its scorpion tail ready to strike.
“Stitcher, the arrows aren’t working!” Gameknight shouted. “Get out of there, please … RUN!”
She glanced at Gameknight, and he could see she was consumed with anger and violent rage. But then she gave him a strange, knowing smile and calmly put away her bow.
“What are you doing?” Hunter screamed. “Run away!”
Stitcher pulled out Empech’s magical fishing pole.
The manticore took a step closer, its growls growing louder and louder, the stench from its foul breath washing over them.
Stitcher glared at the monster and held the fishing pole out in front of her. Seeing the harmless tool in the girl’s hand, the manticore’s eyes grew wide with surprise, then it crouched and prepared to pounce.
“Stitcher … run!” Hunter begged, but her younger sister stood her ground.
Time seemed to slow as Gameknight watched the great beast leap into the air, heading straight for Stitcher. But at the same time, the NPC flicked the fishing pole at her target. The shining golden hook embedded itself in the monster’s thick hide. Instantly, bolts of magical energy ran down the fishing line and enveloped the great beast. Its roar became a cry of pain as it stopped in midair, then fell to the ground, writhing in agony. At the same time, Stitcher screamed, as if she too were being tortured.
“Yes!” Entity303 shouted with sick glee.
Gameknight glanced at the evil user. He was standing next to the yellow enclosure. Cracks were beginning to spread across its glowing surface.
Suddenly, the cries of pain stopped. Stitcher had lost her grip on the fishing rod and it fell to the ground, just out of reach. The manticore shook its large, furry head, then stared down at the young girl and wagged its horrific barbed tail. Stitcher glanced up, then reached out and grabbed the wooden pole before the mighty giant could move. She flicked the hook toward the creature, and more waves of magical fire shot down the line, causing both the wielder and target to cry out in anguish.
Stitcher screamed as the waves of magic shot down the fishing line and slammed into the manticore. The gigantic beast flashed red as it took damage.
“Hunter, fire your bow,” Gameknight shouted as he drew his enchanted bow. He advanced across the chamber, joining his companions as he fired.
Pulling back an arrow, he aimed at the monster and fired. The arrow streaked through the sparkling envelope that surrounded the manticore, then struck it in the side. The beast howled in pain, as did Stitcher. Hunter fired her arrows as well, and with each strike, both beast and girl screamed in anguish.
The winged nightmare’s HP was gradually being blasted away by the waves of magic. Slowly, the manticore fell to the ground, its muscular legs no longer able to support its own weight.
“She’s doing it!” Woodcutter shouted. “Go Stitcher!”
Both monster and girl screamed again, but then Stitcher flicked the fishing pole, pulling the hook from the creature’s hide.
“What are you doing?” Hunter asked. “It’s almost destroyed.”
“No more … I can’t bear it,” Stitcher said as tears flowed down her face.
“Go on, kill the beast,” Entity303 shouted. “Kill it or it will destroy you!”
Gameknight glanced at the terrible user. The enclosure before him was cracked even more, light from the glowing chest leaking through the fissures. Entity303’s eyes were lit with a cruel joy. Behind him, Weaver struggled with his bonds, but the rope around his body held him firmly, its free end still in the user’s hand.
“I refuse to destroy this creature,” Stitcher moaned as she struggled to stand. “It is too special, too rare … too alive.”
The manticore raised its massive head and looked at Stitcher, its eyes filled with sorrow and fear. Stitcher stepped forward and placed a hand on the creature’s furry mane. It closed its eyes, as if waiting for the end to come with cold, heartless finality. Instead, Stitcher looked up at the small hole in the deadrock ceiling high overhead, streams of water still falling from the opening. Extending her arm, she sent the fishing pole’s hook high into the air, where it snagged the opening and held firm.
Bolts of magical lightning shot up the taught line and smashed into the ceiling, tearing huge chunks out of the deadrock. Blocks flew in all directions as the magical energy carved a massive hole overhead. She threw the line again and again, sculpting an opening that was getting bigger and bigger. As she did this, the manticore moved to her side and just watched, its massive head tilted upward.
“What do we do?” Digger asked. “The monster is right next to her!”
“Do nothing,” Empech said. “Stay perfectly still. Stitcher has learned what the manticore needs. Relax and watch.”
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