Then the NPCs cheered!
It was reinforcements from other villages, not monsters. Gameknight realized he had been holding his breath and finally exhaled. Looking down at his hand, he could see his knuckles were white from gripping his sword so tightly. He relaxed and put away the weapon.
The new villagers came forward, clasping hands with the warriors. There were maybe fifty to sixty of them, all well armed and supplied. Some of the newcomers handed out loaves of bread to those that were hungry, while others distributed pieces of leather armor. One of the villagers approached Smithy and Gameknight.
“We’re glad we found you in time,” the villager said. “I’m Woodcutter, the leader of this community. When word went out that you were gathering an army to stop the monsters from destroying NPCs, everyone in our village volunteered.”
“We’re glad you’re here. I’m Smithy, a blacksmith, and—”
“He’s the leader of this army,” Fencer interjected from behind. “He’s in command.”
“Yeah!” shouted many of warriors.
Smithy turned and raised his hands for quiet.
“We must keep quiet in case the monsters are near,” the blacksmith chided. “No sense in advertising our location.”
“Smithy, you are as wise as your reputation suggests,” Woodcutter said. “Where’s Tanner from our village?”
“Here,” croaked an old voice.
An ancient NPC pushed his way through the crowd of warriors. He had long gray hair that hung down past his shoulders. His brown smock with a black stripe had rips and tears and at places was threadbare. The only thing that seemed to be holding the clothing and the wearer together was luck.
Tanner shoved villagers out of the way as he walked straight toward Smithy, Woodcutter, and Gameknight999. When he reached the leaders, the old NPC reached into his inventory and withdrew something shiny, giving it to Smithy.
“I heard we were coming to meet Smithy the blacksmith, so I made this for you,” Tanner said. “It is the first of its kind, and I don’t know if I could craft another. It took a lot out of me.”
“What is it?” Smithy asked and he stared at the object in his hands.
“Put it on, you fool,” Tanner said. “It’s a helmet. The first iron helmet ever made in Minecraft.”
Smithy’s steel-blue eyes grew wide with surprise. Slowly he lowered the helmet onto his head. It fit snug onto his square head, a broad nosepiece extending down his face, completely covering his bulbous nose. The new NPCs cheered when they saw their leader with his new equipment.
“Shh …” Smithy said, but to no avail.
“Now we have a proper leader,” Woodcutter said. “Smithy, what are your orders?”
Smithy glanced around at all the warriors looking up at him. Gameknight could tell the blacksmith was overcome by the adoration of the NPCs. There was a time when villagers had looked up to Gameknight like that, but that was far in the future. The thought made him sad.
“Let’s keep going,” Smithy said. “I want to hit the monsters at sunrise.”
Gameknight checked the western horizon. The sun was sinking below the horizon and only half of its bright yellow face was still visible. The skyline was blushing a deep red, the square clouds glowing orange against a darkening sky.
The army moved through the rest of the birch forest in near silence. With the added numbers to the army, the warriors felt more confident. They still knew there would be a massive army of monsters waiting for them up ahead, but with their swelling numbers, the villagers began to feel victory was an actual possibility.
Gameknight999 was not as confident. He knew Herobrine had some plan in store for them, and if their strategy didn’t work, then every one of these warriors would be in terrible danger. He scanned the sea of square faces. They all looked grim, each determined to see this through. Every one of the NPCs knew this battle was not just to protect their lives but also the lives of all the villagers across the Overworld, and defeat was not an option.
Gameknight had a different thought: He knew that if they were not successful, then the grandparents of his friends would likely be killed, and his friends would never be born. Crafter, Hunter, Stitcher, Digger, and Herder—he had to see this through so they would exist in the future and he could see them again.
This must work, Gameknight thought. This plan was used in World War II to give the rangers on D-Day the element of surprise. It has to work here … I hope. Crafter and Digger and Hunter and Stitcher and Herder are all counting on me!
Thinking about his Minecraft family, Gameknight suddenly felt very alone, but then a hand brushed up against his arm. Weaver had moved to his side and stared up at him with his bright blue eyes.
Gameknight smiled.
“You make sure to stay close to me when the fighting starts,” he said.
“I can take care of myself,” Weaver replied.
“I don’t care … you stay close,” Gameknight replied. “Promise me.”
He scowled down at the young boy. Weaver sighed, then rolled his eyes in a way Gameknight had done so many times to his own parents.
“OK, I promise,” the boy said.
“Good.”
As the army drew closer to the looming mountains, they became quieter, partially to avoid being heard by any nearby monsters but also because of their fear. Every villager knew this would likely be the fiercest battle they would ever see, and they were all scared.
When they reached the edge of the forest, the army gathered together and gave each other nervous glances. This was the point of no return.
“For Minecraft,” Smithy said in a low voice.
“For Minecraft!” the villagers whispered.
Half the army moved off to the east, staying hidden in the forest, while the other half charged forward. Glancing over his shoulder, Gameknight could see those heading to the east had all pulled out ladders and were getting ready to put the plan into action.
“Just like the history show I watched with my dad about World War II,” Gameknight said aloud to no one. “We’re going to do the same thing those US rangers did at Pointe du Hoc on D-Day.”
“What are you talking about?” Weaver asked.
“Ahh … nothing, never mind,” he replied.
The army moved out of the birch forest and crossed over into the narrow strip of extreme hills. A range of steep mountains stood in their path. By the looks of them, they seemed unclimbable, but Gameknight knew better, as did those rangers on D-Day.
Ahead, the villagers could see a narrow path cut into the side of the mountain. It seemed as if some giant had dragged a mighty axe across the mountain range, gouging a curving passage through the jagged terrain. The tight route disappeared into the darkness, the moon’s silvery light unable to penetrate the steep walls. Regardless, the moon would offer little illumination tonight; Gameknight knew it was only a quarter moon, if not less. It would do hardly anything to light the narrow chasm.
Silently, they entered the pass. Smithy began to place torches on the walls to give those behind him some light. They followed close, every warrior completely silent. Many of the villagers looked back at the birch forest with a longing expression on their faces. This passage had a spooky feel to it, as if something were going to jump out of the walls and ensnare them, like FNAF. Most knew they were likely falling into a trap, but Smithy was a tower of bravery, encouraging the warriors forward.
“Don’t worry, friends,” the blacksmith said in a low voice. “We have a surprise of our own. The monsters will be shocked when we spring our own trap on them.” Some of the warriors nearby laughed and cheered quietly, but it was a strained sort of response … like it was not terribly sincere. “We just need to give our friends time to do their part, then the trap will be sprung.”
No one said anything else. Gameknight could feel the tension in the air. The courage of the villagers was hanging by a thread; the NPCs were terrified. They needed something to get their spirits up.
“Come o
n everyone, it’s time we taught these monsters some respect!” Gameknight exclaimed loudly.
His shout stunned the NPCs, the loud voice echoing off the walls of the pass.
A few of the villagers tentatively shouted their agreement.
“We need to teach them that they can’t just come into our villages and start attacking our friends and families.”
“Shhh … the monsters will hear us coming,” Fencer complained.
“They already know we’re here, I’m sure,” Gameknight replied, his voice booming through the passage. “Besides, I’m not afraid of a few stinking zombies.”
More NPCs yelled out their agreement.
“Minecraft is for all creatures, not just monsters,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “They can’t come into our land and take it from us. We aren’t gonna allow that!”
Gameknight drew his iron sword and banged it against his leather tunic. It made a thumping sound. Others drew their weapons and did the same, following Gameknight’s cadence.
Thump … thump … thump.
“The villages are for your families. It should be a safe place for your children and their children,” the User-that-is-not-a-user shouted even louder.
Thump … thump … thump.
“We are a community,” Gameknight cried, “and we will protect our children from Herobrine’s madness.”
The villagers cheered, the nervous edge to their voices now changing to that of courageous anger.
“We can do this, friends,” Smithy shouted, his commanding voice filling the rocky passage. “With courage and strength, we’ll work together and defeat this monstrous plague. All of Minecraft will remember the day that NPCs stood up against hatred and refused to back down. I say no to the monsters and their hatred. I say no to their wanton violence. I say NO MORE!” Smithy’s voice was filled with such a rage, many whispered as if his words had scorched the very walls of the pass with their intensity.
Turning, he glared at the warriors around him. “I have faith in all of you, and I know we will be successful!”
Thump … thump … thump.
Smithy’s words spread down the line throughout the entire army; Smithy was mad, really mad, but he knew they were going to win! It rallied the troops to a fever of courage. With the blacksmith at the tip if the spear, there was nothing that could stop this army.
They followed the last curve in the passage and saw it open up into a vast desert. And at the other end of the pass stood the largest zombie the villagers had ever seen. Vo-Lok, covered with golden armor, stood with a giant broadsword in his hand. Behind him shuffled fifty monsters, all of them snarling and growling.
“Welcome, blacksmith, to your doom,” Vo-Lok yelled, his booming voice filling the pass with thunder.
Gameknight moved to Smithy’s side and cast him a glance.
“Any last suggestions?” Smithy asked.
“Yeah,” the User-that-is-not-a-user replied. “FOR MINECRAFT!”
Gameknight charged forward with Smithy fast on his heels, the rest of the army shouting as loud as they could, “FOR MINECRAFT!!!”
The battle had begun.
CHAPTER 25
SMITHY OF THE TWO-SWORDS
Smithy charged forward fast on Gameknight’s heels, yelling at the top of his voice. The User-that-is-not-a-user drew his sword and sprinted straight for the zombie king.
“Come on everyone!” Gameknight yelled. “ATTACK!”
He could hear the pounding of footsteps behind him as the rest of the army surged toward their foe. And then the two armies met. The sound of them smashing together was like thunder. Swords crashed against claws as arrows zipped between zombie bodies. Monsters growled as villagers cried out in anger and pain and fear.
As they had been trained, archers quickly placed blocks on the walls of the pass, then built platforms on which to stand. In minutes, the archer stands extended over the opening of the pass, with warriors crowded together on top. Their arrows rained down upon the monsters with a vengeance.
The NPCs surged forward as the archers thinned out the attackers. Gameknight was surprised at how few monsters Herobrine had here, but the fighting was intense. Zombies slashed at warriors while creepers drew close to clusters of attackers and were detonated by the handful of blazes that still survived. Explosions dotted the battlefield, destroying both NPCs and monsters alike. The skeletons fired their arrows at the archers on the platforms but also aimed their pointed shafts at the warriors on the ground. Half the time, they hit their own zombies, but many arrows also found NPCs. Even with the ferocity of their fighting, the monsters gave way, letting the villagers extend their battle line farther out of the pass and into the desert.
“Look, they’re retreating,” one of the villagers said.
This isn’t right, Gameknight thought. Herobrine is luring us into a trap.
“No, it’s a trick,” Gameknight said. He quickly moved to Smithy’s side. “We need to pull back. The monsters are drawing us out of the pass for some reason.”
“What’s wrong, is the First-User afraid?” Fencer said as he battled with a zombie.
Gameknight saw a nearby skeleton taking aim with his bow, pointing it toward Fencer. He rushed forward and knocked the bow out of the creature’s hand, then slashed at it until its HP was gone. The skeleton disappeared with a pop; Fencer never even knew the danger he’d been in.
“Smithy … this is foolish,” Gameknight said. “We have to fight our fight, not theirs. Keep to the plan or I fear we’ll be facing a disaster.”
“Perhaps you are right,” the blacksmith said as he slashed at a zombie.
Rays of light from the rising sun finally made it over the horizon and cast light down upon the scene. For a brief instant, the battle paused as the sunlight reflected off Smithy’s iron helmet and made him appear to almost glow.
“Everyone pull back into the pass!” Smithy screamed.
The warriors slowed their advance and moved backward. But then, a clicking noise seemed to explode from deep in the pass.
“Monsters coming!” one of the archers shouted from atop the platform. “They are—”
Before the NPC could finish, a skeleton arrow hit him, taking the last of his HP. He disappeared, his armor and weapons falling to the platform then tumbling to the ground.
“What’s coming?” Fencer asked to the archers.
The villagers tried to stand and look, but skeletons were firing a hail of arrows at them, forcing them to duck behind blocks of stone for protection.
“It’s spiders,” Gameknight said.
“Quickly, use the water!” Smithy commanded.
Warriors beneath the archer platforms ran back into the pass and pulled out buckets of water. They poured them onto the ground, the blue liquid flowing outward to a distance of six blocks.
“That will keep the monsters back,” Smithy said. “Archers get ready.”
“It won’t stop the spiders,” Gameknight said. “We’re in trouble. We must pull back all the way into the pass before the spiders get past our flanks.”
Suddenly, a great howling roar burst forth out of the desert. The small group of monsters they had been fighting seemed to multiply, growing right up out of the sands. Monsters flowed out of hidden holes and passages carved into the sand dunes until the dry landscape was covered with a sea of zombies and skeletons and creepers. There were probably two hundred of them filling the desert, all of them glaring at the villagers with hatred in their dark eyes.
As one, the monsters charged forward while the spiders began to scurry down the walls of the pass, easily avoiding the flowing water.
“Archers, fire at the spiders!” Smithy yelled as he backed up.
Gameknight ran to the mouth of the passage and began placing blocks of cobblestone on the ground.
“Quick, build some defenses!” the User-that-is-not-a-user yelled. “We have a couple hundred monsters coming at us from the desert and spiders attacking from behind.”
Warrior
s lowered their bows and pulled out blocks of dirt and wood, but Weaver and his friends snapped into action. The kids ran forward and began building a makeshift wall to hold back the approaching storm of fangs and claws, allowing the other NPCs to focus their bows on the fuzzy nightmares that were moving down the sheer walls.
Quickly, the fortified wall grew up out of the desert floor. It was a curved sort of structure that bulged out of the pass opening, allowing more warriors to mount the ramparts and fire down on the monsters. The kids left gaps open in the wall to allow the retreating NPCs to get past the barricade. Once they were all behind the fortifications, the holes were filled in with cobblestone.
Clicking echoed all throughout the landscape and the spiders crashed down upon the villagers. Gameknight drew his bow and aimed at the nearest monster. Firing three quick shots, he destroyed the spider before it could reach the ground, but it was immediately followed by two more. The fuzzy giants fell on an archer that was facing the opposite wall. He didn’t stand a chance.
“NO!” Gameknight screamed.
He charged toward the spiders, firing two quick shots with his bow, then dropped it and drew his sword. The monsters saw him approaching and clicked their razor-sharp mandibles together excitedly.
As he neared, one of the monsters leapt into the air, hoping to land on him, but Gameknight knew the monster would try that. He ducked just as a dark claw zipped over his head. Rolling to the left, he waited until the monster landed on the ground, then leapt on its back and slashed at it with his sword. The monster’s HP dropped quickly until the spider disappeared, leaving a tangle of string at Gameknight’s feet.
Before he could move, Weaver streaked past him and fell on the second spider. He pushed back the monster while Gameknight disentangled himself from the pile of white thread. Then he stepped up to the young boy’s side, and they fought back to back as the spiders scuttled down the sheer walls.
The Great Zombie Invasion Page 15