Gameknight’s back hurt where he had hit the wall, but he stood quickly and faced his enemy again. The zombie king smiled a hideous toothy smile, then advanced, walking menacingly forward. But the User-that-is-not-a-user didn’t wait. He charged at the zombie, taking him by surprise. He slashed to the monster’s right side, then stabbed at his left, then chopped at his shoulder, then attacked his legs. Gameknight999 was a whirlwind of destruction. The zombie king stepped back, blocking some of the attacks, but not all. He screamed in pain as the iron blade found decaying flesh.
The zombie now charged forward, swinging the gold broadsword with all his strength. Gameknight brought up his swords to block the attack, but the force of the blow almost knocked his weapons from his hands. He stepped back, staggered, then yelled in pain as the zombie’s blade sliced into his leather armor and reached skin beneath. He flashed red as he took damage.
“Gamekni … ahh … Smithy, are you alright?” Fencer asked.
Gameknight ignored the question and focused on his assailant.
The zombie charged forward again. Gameknight charged as well, but at the last minute, dove to the side with both swords extended. They sliced into the zombie’s legs as the monster passed. He could feel his blades dig deep into the soft metal armor. The zombie king growled with frustration then swung his blade down. But Gameknight was not there. After all the battles he’d had with all the different monster kings, he’d learned one thing: never stand still.
The User-that-is-not-a-user rolled to the opposite side and stood with his blades already moving. He slashed at the monster’s arm, cutting deep into the creature’s chest plate. The armor made a loud breaking noise as a crack zigzagged across the gold coating. Vo-Lok reached up and touched the crack with his free hand, then snarled at Gameknight as he took a step back to rest for a moment. This gave the User-that-is-not-a-user time to glance around at the defenses behind him.
The wall was complete, as were the devices built by the kids. He could see redstone torches held at the ready. He glanced up the mountainside at Weaver, then held up both swords over his head and crossed them so they formed an X.
That was the signal.
A high-pitched voice yelled from the top of the sandy peak. “NOW!” Weaver screamed.
Gameknight999 quickly retreated away from the zombie king as redstone torches were set in place. On the hilltops all around the monsters, he could see cubes of TNT blinking, held within blocks of cobblestone. Water ran beneath the explosive blocks, protecting the device from destruction. They were TNT cannons: something Gameknight had taught the kids to build.
The weapons roared to life as the first volley flew into the air. Blinking red and white–striped cubes whistled through the air and landed amid the monsters—and then exploded. Monsters flashed red with damage as the fiery blast tore into their HP.
The creatures tried to move forward, but the cannons on the other side of the wall came to life. They launched their bombs toward the monsters, pushing them back. More explosions tore into the monsters, each explosive cube landing in the same place each time.
“Keep on firing!” Gameknight shouted.
More TNT fell on the creatures, digging a hole deeper and deeper into the ground. Soon, the monsters were no longer visible as the hole was now maybe a dozen blocks deep. Only the zombie king stood outside the circle of destruction. Gameknight stepped forward and glared at the monster, then held up a hand to stop the bombardment.
“So, the blacksmith wishes to face Vo-Lok?” the monster growled.
“I don’t want to face you. I don’t want to even look at you,” Gameknight said. “Your very presence here makes me sick. Now get into that hole with your monster army.”
“No,” the zombie king snapped.
“Very well. Archers … ready … FIRE!”
The NPCs drew back their arrows and released. Fifty arrows sped toward the zombie king. The monster, seeing his plight, stepped backward and fell into the hole, landing with a loud thud.
“Quickly, we can move to the edge of the hole and shoot them,” Woodcutter suggested.
“No, we need to leave a monument to remind everyone what happened here this day,” Gameknight said. He peered up at Weaver and nodded his head. “Open fire!”
The TNT cannons came to life again as they threw more red-and-white blocks into the hole. Their explosions carved the pit deeper and deeper into the ground.
“Keep firing until you run out of ammunition,” Gameknight commanded.
The boys kept placing blocks of TNT in their cobblestone cannons and lighting them with redstone torches. Their bombs left the cannons and flew into the hole, drilling deeper and deeper into the flesh of Minecraft. Finally, the desert grew still and the last of the explosive blocks were consumed.
Gameknight moved up to the edge of the hole and stared down. It went all the way down to bedrock, the black and gray impenetrable blocks filling the bottom. All across the bottom of the hole, balls of XP sparkled as pieces of zombie flesh floated off the ground. A pile of armor could be seen lying on the ground at the center of the hole, shining bright gold.
“Looks like the zombie king is gone,” Fencer said next to him.
Gameknight looked at him and smiled.
“Good,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “I wasn’t really enjoying the whole sword fight thing with him anyway.”
“You were holding your own,” his new friend said. “Only Smithy of the Two-Swords could have faced the monster and survived.”
He patted Gameknight999 on the back, then turned and stepped away from the hole. The User-that-is-not-a-user backed away as well, then spun around and faced the army. He could see Weaver and the other kids coming down the mountainside. They pushed through the crowd and stood before their leader.
“Today, my friends, is a great day,” Gameknight said in a loud voice. “We have seen the first victory in the Great Zombie Invasion, but I fear the conflict is not over yet. With the destruction of the zombie king, the villagers have a huge advantage. Though I suspect there will be more zombie kings in the future, this one was a violent beast that got what he deserved.”
Many of the NPCs nodded their heads.
“We stopped this threat to the other villages, and you all helped people you didn’t even know. But sadly, many lost their lives in this conflict, and we must not forget their sacrifices.” Gameknight glanced at Fencer, then raised his hand, fingers spread wide. He watched as the rest of the army followed suit until all hands were extended to the sky in the Salute for the Dead.
Slowly, the User-that-is-not-a-user clenched his hand into a fist and squeezed it tight as he thought about those last moments with Smithy. A tear trickled down his cheek as sorrow and rage filled his whole being. When the emotion had finally passed, he lowered his hand and continued.
“But we must remain ever vigilant and keep watch for the monsters of the Overworld. Communication will be key to survival. My village has started digging a tunnel to the next village. We will lay rails in the tunnel and run minecarts back and forth when needed. All of you must do the same. The villagers of Minecraft must act together to combat Herobrine’s thirst for violence. Rest assured … we will be victorious.”
The NPCs cheered and raised their weapons in the air.
“But for now, I say, let’s go home,” Gameknight added.
The villagers cheered again as they gathered their belongings and began the long trek south. Weaver moved to Gameknight’s right as Fencer went to his left.
“Hey, where’s Gameknight999?” Weaver asked.
The User-that-is-not-a-user reached out and placed a hand on they boy’s shoulder. “He didn’t make it, but he told me that I was to take care of you from now on.”
The young boy stared up at the helmeted leader and smiled as square tears tumbled down his cheeks.
“I liked him,” Weaver said.
“Me too,” Fencer added, “in the end.”
Gameknight gave his new friend a smile.
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“But I have one question,” Fencer said.
“What’s that?” Gameknight replied.
“What did you say to Weaver there before you turned him and all the other young warriors loose?” he asked.
Weaver beamed at being called a young warrior instead of just a kid. Gameknight reached out and tousled the boy’s long hair.
“I told him what a wise man once told me: many problems with monsters can be solved with some creativity and a little bit of TNT,” Gameknight said.
“Who told you that?” Fencer asked.
“An old friend. But I think Weaver should tell all the kids in his family line, so that everyone in Weaver’s family tree can carry that wisdom with them,” Gameknight explained.
“Huh … I like that, but instead of a little bit, I think you should change it to ‘a lot.’” Fencer said. “That’s certainly what you used on those monsters, a lot of TNT.”
“That we did,” Gameknight said.
He looked at Weaver, then Fencer, then glanced at all the villagers around him. Finally, Gameknight999 knew he’d found something that he thought lost when he came to this server. Gameknight999 finally felt at home.
MINECRAFT SEEDS
These Minecraft seeds will show you some of the terrain I was looking at while I was writing this book. They were tested on version 1.9.4; I don’t know if they will work on earlier or later versions.
You can also find these places in the bookwarp room on the Gameknight999 Minecraft server. Just go to the survival world, then type /warp bookwarps. It will take you to all of the bookwarps for all of the books. Information about the server can be found at www.gameknight999.com.
Chapter 3 – Grassland village
634987911987528
Chapter 7 – Oak Forest
58869504534188799870
Chapter 17 – Savannah
-1396165339
Chapter 19 – Birch Forest
-723084018553945556
x: -28, y: 73, z: 939
Chapter 24 – Extreme hills
-4706651163609820240
Chapter 28 – Two-Sword Pass Gameknight999 server
AVAILABLE NOW FROM MARK CHEVERTON AND SKY PONY PRESS
THE GAMEKNIGHT999 SERIES
The world of Minecraft comes to life in this thrilling adventure!
Gameknight999 loved Minecraft, and above all else, he loved to grief—to intentionally ruin the gaming experience for other users.
But when one of his father’s inventions teleports him into the game, Gameknight is forced to live out a real-life adventure inside a digital world. What will happen if he’s killed? Will he respawn? Die in real life? Stuck in the game, Gameknight discovers Minecraft’s best-kept secret, something not even the game’s programmers realize: the creatures within the game are alive! He will have to stay one step ahead of the sharp claws of zombies and pointed fangs of spiders, but he’ll also have to learn to make friends and work as a team if he has any chance of surviving the Minecraft war his arrival has started.
With deadly endermen, ghasts, and dragons, this action-packed trilogy introduces the heroic Gameknight999 and has proven to be a runaway publishing smash, showing that the Gameknight999 series is the perfect companion for Minecraft fans of all ages.
Invasion of the Overworld (Book One):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63220-711-1
Battle for the Nether (Book Two):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63220-712-8
Confronting the Dragon (Book Three):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63450-046-3
THE MYSTERY OF HEROBRINE SERIES
Gameknight999 must save his friends from an evil virus intent on destroying all of Minecraft!
Gameknight999 was sucked into the world of Minecraft when one of his father’s inventions went haywire. Trapped inside the game, the former griefer learned the error of his ways, transforming into a heroic warrior and defeating powerful endermen, ghasts, and dragons to save the world of Minecraft and his NPC friends who live in it.
Gameknight swore he’d never go inside Minecraft again. But that was before Herobrine, a malicious virus infecting the very fabric of the game, threatened to destroy the entire Overworld and escape into the real world. To outsmart an enemy much more powerful than any he’s ever faced, the User-that-is-not-a-user will need to go back into the game, where real danger lies around every corner. From zombie villages and jungle temples to a secret hidden at the bottom of a deep ocean, the action-packed adventures of Gameknight999 and his friends (and, now, family) continue in this thrilling follow-up series for Minecraft fans of all ages.
Trouble in Zombie-town (Book One):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63450-094-4
The Jungle Temple Oracle (Book Two):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63450-096-8
Last Stand on the Ocean Shore (Book Three):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-63450-098-2
HEROBRINE REBORN SERIES
Gameknight999 and his friends and family face
Herobrine in the biggest showdown the Overworld has ever seen!
Gameknight999, a former Minecraft griefer, got a big dose of virtual reality when his father’s invention teleported him into the game. Living out a dangerous adventure inside a digital world, he discovered that the Minecraft villagers were alive and needed his help to defeat the infamous virus, Herobrine, a diabolical enemy determined to escape into the real world
Gameknight thought Herobrine had finally been stopped once and for all. But the virus proves to be even craftier than anyone could imagine, and his XP begins inhabiting new bodies in an effort to escape. The User-that-is-not-a-user will need the help of not only his Minecraft friends, but his own father, Monkeypants271, as well, if he has any hope of destroying the evil Herobrine once and for all.
Saving Crafter (Book One):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0014-7
Destruction of the Overworld (Book Two):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0015-4
Gameknight999 vs. Herobrine (Book Three):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0010-9
HEROBRINE’S REVENGE SERIES
From beyond the digital grave, Herobrine has crafted some evil games for Gameknight999 to play!
Gameknight999, a former Minecraft griefer, got a big dose of virtual reality when his father’s invention teleported him into the game. Living out a dangerous adventure inside a digital world, he trekked all over Minecraft, with the help of some villager friends, in order to finally defeat a terrible virus, Herobrine, who was trying escape into the real world.
Gameknight thought that Herobrine was gone for good. But as one last precaution before his death, the heinous villain laid traps for the User-that-is-not-a-user that would threaten all of the Overworld, even if the virus was no longer alive. Now Gameknight is racing the clock, trying to stop Herobrine from having one last diabolical laugh.
The Phantom Virus (Book One):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0683-5
Overworld in Flames (Book Two):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0681-1
System Overload (Book Three):
$9.99 paperback • 978-1-5107-0682-8
EXCERPT FROM
ATTACK OF THE
SHADOW-CRAFTERS
A BRAND NEW GAMEKNIGHT999 ADVENTURE
Carver led them to the southeast, shifting from walking to running periodically to move as quickly as possible. Rather than heading in a straight path, the NPC took a circuitous path through the empty landscape, curving his way around hills and dunes. This made the trek a little easier and kept them hidden from any unwanted eyes.
An uneasy quiet seemed to wrap itself around the four companions. Perhaps it was caused by the tension generated by Herobrine, or maybe it was the result of Carver’s reluctance to go with them. In either case, the silence was oppressive and they dared not violate the troubled stillness. No one spoke nor did they need to; they were only required to follow their guide and find
food when they reached the forest.
Glancing overhead, the User-that-is-not-a-user looked up at the stars sparkling down upon him. It always made him wonder what was out there—other planets, other dimensions? Or were they just decorations pasted on the ceiling of Minecraft to add a bit of mystery? Though he wondered about that, Gameknight999 never had the time to really do any investigating.
Suddenly, some of the stars disappeared. Surveying the sky, he could see groups of clouds moving overhead, blotting out the heavenly canopy. Thicker clouds were visible in the distance, with the solid grayish-white layer approaching from the east. Right now, the half-filled moon was still shining down upon them, but Gameknight could see it would soon succumb to a blanket of clouds and be blocked from view.
Crunch!
The noise seemed magnified by the silence of the desert.
Gameknight looked down and found he’d stepped on one of the small dried bushes that dotted the arid landscape. Pulling his leather boot out of the dry remains, the bush crunched again, adding another disturbance to the quiet surroundings. Standing perfectly still, he listened for any monsters that might have heard the sound. Fortunately, all was silent; no monsters seemed near.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Gameknight continued following the footsteps of the others.
“Maybe you should watch where you are walking,” Fencer suggested with a smile.
“Big help, thanks,” Gameknight replied, rolling his eyes.
They continued their journey, following close behind the stoic Carver. Suddenly, they were thrust into a deepening gloom as clouds drifted across the overhead canopy and blocked out the moon. Gameknight stopped and looked up. The stars and moon were completely covered, leaving a pitch-black sky. Then, it started to rain, giving the four companions a brief respite from the blistering heat of the desert, even though it soaked them to the bone.
“We’re almost there,” Carver said quietly as he wiped moisture from his flat forehead. “From here on, we go south.” He glanced at Gameknight999. “Keep your eyes on the ground so none of you fall to your deaths.”
The Great Zombie Invasion Page 18