“Everyone get out your bows and be ready,” Gameknight shouted. “Does everyone going into the Monument have doors and boots?”
“You still haven’t told us why we need a stack of doors to go underwater,” Stonecutter said.
“You’ll see when we get down there,” Gameknight explained. “Put on your boots now.”
“What is this Depth Strider enchantment?” Crafter asked.
“It’s something new from the bountiful update to Minecraft,” Gameknight said. “It will let you move faster underwater, and I think speed will be important when we get inside the Monument.”
“Ahhhh!”
A scream pierced the air and drew Gameknight’s attention to one of the NPCs. A beam of light had shot of the water and hit the NPC in the back; a strange buzzing sound filled the air.
“Archers, fire into the water!” Crafter yelled.
Suddenly, the air was alive with arrows streaking into the water. In a second, the guardian was gone, the NPC’s screams having stopped.
“Everyone watch the water for the guardians,” Gameknight said. “Try to keep out of range of their lasers, but if you see one, shoot it, fast. Those who are going into the Monument with me, come on. The others, we need you to keep the guardians busy and try to thin them out. Stay in pairs, so that one of you can shoot while the other is being attacked. Let’s do this!”
Without waiting for any of them to respond, the User-that-is-not-a-user turned his boat and headed straight for the glowing underwater structure in the distance. He veered his boat to the left and right to stay out of range of the lasers, but he had to pull out his bow and fire a few arrows, driving off but not destroying the one-eyed creatures. As he drew over the structure, Gameknight999 turned and spoke to those following him.
“Drink your potion of night vision before you jump in the water. We’ll have eight minutes to get in, destroy Herobrine’s monster, and get the Book of Wisdom. We then drink the second potion and have eight minutes to fight our way out of the Monument. When the night vision wears off, it will be complete darkness down there, and we’ll get lost. So, once we jump in the water, we have to move fast.” Gameknight peered over the side of his boat toward the structure underwater. “Remember—keep a door in your hand unless you are fighting,” he said.
He pulled a glass bottle out of his inventory and put the potion to his lips, drinking the bitter-tasting liquid in three huge gulps. Gameknight instantly saw his vision change; features that were normally dark on the ocean floor were now clearly visible. He pulled a door out of his inventory, then jumped out of the boat and splashed into the cool water.
Instantly, he began to sink. Looking down, he could see the Ocean Monument clearly. It was built out of some kind of blue-green blocks, some darker, some lighter—prismarine blocks as he remembered. The entire structure stood on thick columns that were at least eight blocks high. The roof of the Monument was built sloping upward, with darker blocks placed at regular intervals along its perimeter. At the top of the building stood an ornate structure, with strange white glowing blocks decorating the tall pillars and open roof. Along the front of the Monument, Gameknight could see glowing arches that spanned an open region, with one side showing a small opening … that must be the entrance.
Guiding his descent, he landed softly on the roof of the structure. Behind him he could see his four friends, Crafter, Stonecutter, Hunter, and Builder, slowly settling down as well. Feeling that his air was almost depleted, Gameknight pulled out a door and placed it on the Monument. Instantly, a huge square bubble of air formed around the door. Gameknight stepped next to the door and found air to breathe. The others, seeing what he had done, placed doors themselves to catch a breath of air. Hunter moved next to Gameknight and placed her door so that their bubbles of air merged into one.
“You know, you could have told us this was what the doors were for,” Hunter chided.
“But then I’d wouldn’t get to see that look of surprise on your face down here,” Gameknight explained with a smile.
“You know, you’d think that … look out, behind you!”
Gameknight spun, drawing his sword. Directly behind him was a guardian, its one eye filled with anger at their intrusion. Sharp orange quills stood out brightly against its blue-green body as it swished its wide tail. The prickly fish shot quickly through the water, leaving a trail of bubbles in its wake as it circled Gameknight999 warily. Suddenly, the guardian surged forward, trying to impale the User-that-is-not-a-user with its long, deadly spines. Swinging his diamond sword, Gameknight landed a blow on the creature’s side, causing it to pull back. Then, drawing his iron sword, he advanced, swinging both weapons at the creature. It disappeared after he landed two more hits. Without stopping to see if the creature dropped anything, he rushed back to his door.
“Did you enjoy that?” Hunter asked as Gameknight gulped down huge breaths of air.
He gave her a frown, then headed across the sloping roof and toward the glowing arches. When he reached the edge of the roof, he jumped off and slowly descended. He could see a door in the side of the structure, and aimed for that. As he neared the opening, he pulled out another door. His lungs were starting to burn as his oxygen level decreased.
A guardian shot out from behind a block and attacked, lunging at him with its orange spines sticking straight out. Gameknight hacked at it with the door that he held. It didn’t do much damage, but it drove the monster back. Kicking his legs, he moved himself into the shadowy opening in the side of the building while keeping his eyes on the angry guardian. As soon as he was inside the entrance chamber, he placed a door in the corner of the room and gulped down some air, filling his lungs. He then drew his sword and waited for an attack … none came.
Stepping away from his door, Gameknight looked at his surroundings. The entrance chamber was only a dozen blocks across in each direction and three blocks high. Wide doorways trimmed with light green blocks were cut into each wall, the openings leading deeper into the labyrinth of the Ocean Monument. Suddenly, a guardian swam into the chamber, then through one of the three doorways that led from the room. Not wanting to encounter that creature again, Gameknight999 moved across the room to the first doorway. Pulling out blocks of red brick, he sealed up the exit, then moved to the others and sealed them as well, keeping any more of the spiny sentries from entering the chamber. Faint light streamed through the opening on the outer wall, the illumination from the outside sea lanterns barely driving back the darkness of the chamber.
Moving back near the entrance, Gameknight placed doors throughout the room, then drew his sword and readied himself for any more of the spiky fish. As his friends entered, they each ran to the closest door, sucking in precious gulps of air. Gameknight moved to Crafter’s door and placed four more doors right next to him so that everyone could be in the same airspace. Motioning for the others to join, he moved next to his friend.
“You see how fast those things are,” Builder exclaimed. “They’re like thorny missiles shooting through the water.”
One of the guardians shot into the entrance and attacked, its laser striking Crafter in the shoulder. Gameknight shot toward the beast and attacked it with one of his swords, but he could only swing his blade at half the normal speed. Pulling out his iron sword, he continued to attack the beast.
The monster lunged toward him, trying to impale him with its long orange spines, but Stonecutter was there, smashing into the creature with his pickaxe. He, too, seemed to be moving in slow motion, but between the two of them, they were able to destroy the beast.
Going back to grab a breath of air, Gameknight closed up the last opening, sealing the group in the room.
“Why were you swinging your sword so slowly?” Crafter asked.
“It’s called mining fatigue,” Gameknight explained. “I think the guardians do it to us with their lasers. We’re going to have trouble digging through the walls.”
“Digging won’t be a problem,” Stonecutter said. “But w
hich way do we go?”
Looking around the room, Gameknight could see the three doorways that he’d sealed up with brick. Each one led in a different direction through the Ocean Monument, but only one would get them to the Elder Guardian … but which one?
Go to the right, then up, then straight ahead, a voice said in Gameknight’s mind.
It was his friend, Shawny.
What? he thought, imagining his fingers typing in the chat.
It’s a maze, Shawny said. I’m looking at a map online. Apparently most people try to stay on the same level, but they always get lost. Just follow my directions … I’ll get you to the Elder Guardian.
The what? Gameknight asked.
The Elder Guardian—that is what’s waiting for you … have fun.
Gameknight laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Hunter asked.
“Nothing … just something Shawny said,” Gameknight replied. “But he told me which way we have to go.”
“And then we’ll find your book?” Hunter asked.
“No, but we’ll be closer. And with Shawny’s help guiding us, we might just have a chance of doing this and surviving.”
Moving to the wall of brick across the hallway to the right, Gameknight placed a door so that he could start to dig, but Stonecutter pushed his way past the User-that-is-not-a-user and started to swing his big pickaxe. As he dug, Gameknight placed another door next to the stocky NPC and drew his swords, ready to fight anything that came through the doorway.
CHAPTER 21
THE ELDER GUARDIAN
Moving as quickly as possible, Gameknight led the way through the Ocean Monument, taking directions from his user friend in the physical world, Shawny. Following close behind was the steadfast Stonecutter. The stocky NPC refused to be more than a block or two away from the User-that-is-not-a-user, his pickaxe always at the ready.
Gameknight could see how people could easily get lost within the Monument; every room looked nearly the same. Each one was built from blue-green prismarine blocks, darker ones outlining the room, lighter ones filling in the walls and floor. Every other room had the strange pale glowing blocks called sea lanterns. They cast a dim, harsh light throughout the room but did little to brighten the surroundings. With their night vision potions still working, the team didn’t worry about the glowing cubes, but if they didn’t get out before the potions wore off, these blocks’ light would prove important.
Guardians shot out of the shadows at every opportunity, charging with spines extended and laser beams firing from their single eye. All of the NPCs took some damage as they wove their way through the structure, but quickly they figured out how to battle the prickly fish.
Working in pairs, they attacked the guardians that came near. Gameknight would act as the bait and charge at the animal, then retreat as Stonecutter moved up next to the monster. With his heavy pick and Gameknight’s dual swords, the fish stood little chance. Bringing up the rear, Hunter, Crafter, and Builder were continually assaulted by the swimming beasts as well. Hunter, though, came up with the idea of placing doors across the chamber entrances, blocking the fish from attacking, but allowing them to easily move through the chamber again when it was time to retreat and head to the surface.
Gameknight placed a door in the entrance to an adjacent chamber and peered inside. A strange set of green columns stood at the center of the room, with glowing white sea lanterns connecting the pillars. Moving along the walls, he placed another door and took a gulp of air, then continued, following Shawny’s directions.
You’re almost there, Shawny said through the chat, the words forming in Gameknight’s mind.
Which way do we go now? Gameknight asked.
Around the square thing that’s ahead and then to the left, Shawny explained. You should see an opening that looks out onto a big room that’s two stories tall. I’m pretty sure that is the treasure room … the Elder Guardian should be there.
OK, thanks, Gameknight replied, then turned and faced his companions.
Pointing to the next room, Gameknight motioned for them to go around to the left. The others nodded their boxy heads and followed as the User-that-is-not-a-user moved forward.
In the next room was a large square structure built out of dark prismarine blocks. Across the top and bottom, he could see lighter aqua prismarine blocks, with sea lanterns on the corners. The faces of the lanterns glowed brightly, the edges of the blocks outlined with a seafoam green. Under other circumstances, the chamber would have been beautiful and magnificent. But with monsters lurking somewhere in the shadows waiting to destroy Gameknight and his friends, the beauty was hard to appreciate.
Moving around the blocky structure, Gameknight walked down a narrow passage. Suddenly, a single eye was staring at him, the dark pupil filled with rage. As the orange spines of the guardian flared out, the monster charged. With no choice other than to fight, Gameknight rushed forward, both swords slashing with all his strength. His iron sword found the side of the guardian, but not until one of the spines pierced through his armor, stabbing into flesh. Pain radiated down his right arm, and only the strength of his will kept him from dropping his diamond sword.
Turning to protect his right arm, Gameknight prepared to charge again. But before he could move, Stonecutter’s hulking form suddenly sailed over his head and landed directly in front of him. Without slowing a step, he charged at the guardian. The spiny fish moved backward, then fired its laser at the NPC. It hit Stonecutter square in the chest, but he did not slow. Swinging his mighty pickaxe with his incredible strength, Stonecutter smashed into the monster and destroyed it with just three blows.
Checking around the next corner to look for more attackers, Stonecutter placed a door and took a breath of air. Moving next to him, Gameknight stuck his head into the volume of air and faced his friend.
“Thanks for that,” Gameknight said.
“I won’t let anything hurt you,” Stonecutter said as he rubbed the spot where the laser has struck.
“Are you OK?” Gameknight asked.
Stonecutter took out an apple and ate it quickly, then nodded to his friend.
“Come on, let’s keep going,” the stocky NPC said. “Lead on.”
Gameknight nodded, then streaked past Stonecutter and continued around the blocky structure. When he reached the other side of the room, he found an opening in the wall that looked down into a huge chamber. Inside stood a large cube made from dark green blocks, glowing white lanterns on every corner. Cubes of prismarine were placed in groups of three throughout the chamber, with pillars stretching up to the ceiling. The floor of the chamber was partially lit but did not illuminate the top of the chamber very much. Anything could be hiding in those deep shadows near the ceiling.
In the darkness, Gameknight could just barely make out something moving. A tail fin swished into the light but quickly disappeared into the shadows. He could see only the faintest impressions of the creature below, but not the whole thing.
He was confused.
He figured it would be the Elder Guardian … a fish like the other guardians they’d encountered so far. But from the tantalizing glimpses of the animal below, he could tell that it was gigantic. It was probably twice the size of the fish guarding the Monument’s exterior, if not larger. Was that even possible? he thought.
A purple spine sparkled in the light of the sea lanterns near the floor of the chamber as the huge monster moved along the perimeter. The razor-sharp spike was easily as long as his sword, maybe even longer.
Hunter moved up next to Gameknight and peered down into the treasure room. She placed a door right behind her so that they could both stand in a bubble of air.
“Did you see that?” Gameknight asked.
“What?” she replied.
Suddenly, something pale streaked past the opening, a long trail of bubbles marking its path. Gameknight saw the faint image of a single eye on the creature’s square face, its pupil glowing an angry red. Its body was covered with a
dozen of the long pointed spines, each colored a soft lavender, every one of them a lethal weapon.
Hunter took a step back and drew her sword. “What was—”
“That was the Elder Guardian,” Gameknight interrupted.
“But the size of that thing—” she stammered.
“I know.”
“And all those spines, they’re bigger than … I mean, they were needle-sharp and as long as … me.”
“I know,” Gameknight said.
“Did you see how fast it moved?” she asked. “How are we going to catch that thing?”
“I don’t know.”
Suddenly, the creature was floating in front of the opening, staring directly at Gameknight999. His blood turned to ice.
Before he could even move a muscle, a beam of light shot from the creature’s angry eye and blasted into Gameknight’s chest. Pain enveloped his body as the Elder Guardian’s laser carved away at his HP. Looking straight into the creature’s eye, he saw hatred radiating from the beast, directed through that laser beam and directly into him.
Gameknight999 was terrified.
Bringing his diamond blade up in front of him, he blocked the blazing shaft of light with the flat of his sword, making it reflect away and melt a glowing scar into the pristine walls. Moving back from the opening, he found a door around the corner and caught his breath.
Crafter moved next to him.
“What was that?” he asked.
“That was the Elder Guardian,” Gameknight explained, panting for breath, “and he just blasted me with his laser.”
“You OK?” the young NPC asked.
Gameknight nodded.
“I’m not sure how many of those attacks we can take,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said.
Last Stand on the Ocean Shore Page 15