Attack of the Goblin Army

by Winter Morgan

“Know what?” Miles asked. “I can hear you.”

  “It’s nothing.” Matthew was annoyed.

  “If it’s nothing, you can tell me,” demanded Miles.

  The fight didn’t go on very long. It was interrupted when Lila wailed, “Oh no!”

  Miles stopped in his tracks and pointed at a large block in the sky. “What’s that?”

  Matthew replied, “It’s a meteorite.”

  Lila cried, “And it looks like it’s heading in the direction of our homes!”

  They sprinted toward the house, trying to outrun the meteorite, but they knew this might be an impossible task.

  Chapter 9:

  CRASH

  The trio rushed back to the homes. “Are you okay?” Lila asked her friends.

  John stood by his house. His gaze was still transfixed on the sky, “It just missed us.”

  “We could have been destroyed,” Shelly clung to Isaac. “It was so scary. I’ve never seen a meteorite before.”

  “I’m relieved that everyone is safe,” Matthew said. “There’s one positive from this experience. Now we can mine the meteorite crash site.”

  “Where do you think it landed?” asked Lila.

  John pointed off in the distance. “It went in that direction. I assume we’ll find it over there.”

  “Before we go,” Miles walked over to Isaac and pulled coins from his inventory, “can I purchase rocket boots?”

  “Yes.” Isaac counted the coins. “You have enough.”

  Miles grabbed the boots from Isaac’s hands. “I’m going to use these now!”

  “Not now,” Matthew said. “We are going to the meteorite crash site first.”

  Miles looked up at the sky, “But night will be here soon.”

  “Remember what I said in the cavern?” asked Matthew. “I told you that you have to listen. I’m your guide and I know what’s best for you. You have to trust and believe me.”

  Miles recalled the incident with the bats and he also remembered the conversation between Matthew and Lila. “I won’t go to the meteorite site unless you tell me what you’re hiding from me. I know you are keeping a big secret.”

  Matthew sighed, “I didn’t want to tell you this, but we’re not like you. When we get destroyed, we don’t respawn.”

  “What?” Miles was horrified.

  “We get replaced,” Lila told him.

  “And when you defeat the wall—” Isaac said, but Matthew shot him a dirty look and he stopped talking.

  “When I defeat what?” asked Miles.

  “No, I was about to tell you something, but I realize I might not have my facts right. But Lila was right. When we get destroyed, you never see us again,” said Isaac.

  John added, “But we don’t get destroyed completely. We actually do respawn, but in another world and working with another person.”

  “So, you were a merchant for someone else before me?” asked Miles.

  “Yes,” John sighed. “I’ve been a merchant for a lot of people.”

  “Don’t you miss them?” Miles questioned, his eyes filled with tears.

  “I do,” John replied. “But that’s the way it’s always been for me. However, I try to survive as long as I can in one world. I don’t want to start over and have a new person build me a house. And I don’t say this to just anyone, but I really like this group of people and I hope we can work together for a very long time.”

  Miles began to feel protective of the group. He knew it was his job to watch over them and to make sure they didn’t get destroyed. “Thankfully, you weren’t hit by the meteorite.” Miles also understood the reason Matthew wanted him to join them at the meteorite crash site was to protect them.

  “Let’s go to the site,” Matthew said.

  The group let out a collective gasp when they spotted the site near their house. Isaac remarked, “I thought it landed further away. But it looks like we just missed it.”

  Miles didn’t waste anytime. He grabbed his wooden pickaxe, but Matthew stopped him. “You need to use a gold pickaxe.”

  Miles mined the site, remarking, “This crash site is so much bigger than the meteorite.”

  Matthew explained, “When the meteorite hits, it makes quite an impact and creates a very large dent in the earth.”

  “Why does it crash?” asked Matthew.

  Lila said, “It usually happens after someone breaks the Shadow Orb.”

  “Oh my!” Miles shrugged. “Like the goblins. It’s my fault, again. I feel awful. This crash could have destroyed you all.”

  Matthew spoke calmly, “Please don’t blame yourself for any of this. It’s all a part of the world. You had to break that orb. If you do nothing, nothing happens. If you do something, you never know what might happen. If we didn’t mine for gold, you’d never be able to mine at this site. Your other pickaxes weren’t strong enough and now you have a gold one. You are advancing and this is all normal.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Miles replied and looked down at the ground. “Should I pick up this brown ore?’

  “Yes, that is meteor ore, it’s very useful,” Matthew explained.

  Miles filled his inventory with the ore, and asked, “When can I go to the Floating Island? Do I have enough ore?”

  Matthew inspected the crash site. “Just a few more bars of meteor ore and you’ll be fine. You’ll be happy to have a bunch in your inventory.”

  As Miles placed the last pieces of meteor ore in his inventory, he looked at the untouched rocket boots. He picked them from his inventory.

  “Can I put these on now?” asked Miles.

  Matthew nodded.

  Miles put one boot on and then the next, and his friends crowded around him.

  Lila said, “You have to find that lucky horseshoe.”

  Shelly said, “Tell us everything you see there and report back every detail.”

  Isaac said, “Those boots are sure to get you there.”

  Matthew said, “Don’t forget the key. And also be on the lookout for harpies.”

  “What are those?” Miles asked, but he couldn’t hear Matthew’s response; the boots had already catapulted him high in the air.

  Chapter 10:

  THE FLOATING ISLAND

  The world looked smaller from high up, and Miles could spot the Floating Island high above the trees in the forest. However, before he could reach the scenic island, his boots lost energy and he started falling toward the ground. Miles thought to grab onto some branches, but instead he landed on the water. He put on flippers and swam back to shore.

  Miles wasn’t ready to give up. He dried himself off and used his energy to jump toward the Floating Island. He flew through the sky and the Floating Island was mere feet from him, when the boots failed him for a second time. Miles landed in a lake and stared at it from the water. He never thought getting to the Floating Island would be so difficult. As Miles stared at the incredible island, he noticed the sun was setting. He had to get to the island and back before nightfall. He feared leaving his friends alone at night. Now that he knew they were extremely vulnerable and wouldn’t respawn, he grew quite anxious about their safety.

  “I can do this,” Miles said to himself. “I will give myself one more try. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just head home.”

  Although Miles didn’t want to go home and tell everyone he failed. He knew his friends would understand, but he’d be very disappointed with himself. Miles wanted to make it to the Floating Island. Miles used the boots again. They shot fire from the bottom as he flew all the way toward the Floating Island. He instantly received a message that he earned an achievement, which he couldn’t wait to tell Matthew.

  Miles explored the island, but stood frozen in terror when he saw a swarm of man-like birds fly toward him.

  “Those must be the Harpies that Matthew told me about!”

  Miles grabbed his bow and arrow and aimed at one of these strange birds. He struck one, destroying it. Miles shielded himself behind a tree as he continued
to aim at the birds. He missed Matthew instructing him during battle.

  As Miles struck another bird, he spotted a chest. It looked like the sort of chest that might house the lucky horseshoe, but he couldn’t inspect the chest until he obliterated these half-human birds. Miles shot more arrows. He couldn’t think of any other strategy, and he was annoyed at himself. He didn’t deserve to be a noted warrior when he could barely destroy a flock of birds.

  More arrows flew through the sky. Miles marveled when he destroyed the final bird. He quickly raced toward the chest. He opened it and found the lucky horseshoe. He cried for joy, but he was so distracted by the find that he didn’t notice another cluster of birds fly in his direction. Before Miles could fight back, he was destroyed. There was no one there to see his gravestone. He just faded back to his friends.

  Miles respawned in his bed. He was still wearing his rocket boots. Matthew stood above him.

  “I see you met the Harpies.”

  “Are they birds with human heads?” Miles asked, still weak from the defeat.

  “Yes,” Matthew said. “I tried to warn you about them.”

  “Even if I heard you, there wasn’t much I could do to avoid them. But I do have some good news.” He pulled out the lucky horseshoe, “I found the lucky horseshoe. I did want to explore the island a bit more, but I was destroyed.”

  “You can go back. Now that you know the way,” Matthew smiled.

  Miles sat up when he heard a loud cry. “What is that? It sounds like someone is in trouble!”

  Matthew sprinted to the door, and as he opened it, he cried, “Goblins!”

  Chapter 11:

  REALITY BITES

  Miles raced from his house, running past spiky balls Isaac threw at the goblins. The balls hit the goblins, weakening them, and then the balls would vanish. Miles grabbed his gold sword, slaying as many goblins as he could. This goblin siege was larger than the last and now that he knew his friends wouldn’t respawn, he knew he had to defeat these green enemies.

  Lila protected herself with the leaf barrier and drained energy from the goblins, but it wasn’t powerful enough. Miles ran to her side to help her. Hitting any goblin that stood in his path, Miles was quickly diminishing the goblin army.

  Matthew stood by his home, shielding himself and shooting wooden arrows at the goblins. Shelly threw as many wrenches as she could at the goblins. Miles was exhausted, but he couldn’t give up. There were signs that the goblin army was weakening, and it wasn’t long before they destroyed them. He struck three more goblins, ripping into their green flesh and annihilating them.

  “We can do it,” Matthew called out weakly.

  Miles worried about Matthew and sprinted toward him as John called out, “Help!”

  John was throwing knives at the goblins, yet his weapons weren’t as powerful as the goblin army. They were inching toward John in great numbers and were intent on destroying him. Miles was torn. He wanted to help all of his friends, but he knew that was impossible.

  Shelly threw wrenches at the group of goblins that charged at John, obliterating half of the troops that headed toward him. John unleashed a sea of knives as they pierced through the goblin’s bodies, destroying them; Miles defeated every goblin that made its way toward Matthew.

  “They’re gone!” Isaac exclaimed. “I told you they were easy to defeat.”

  “Easy?” Miles questioned. “I hope you’re joking.”

  “Ah, come on. You can’t say they were that hard to get rid of. I mean there must have been over a hundred of them and there are only six of us, right?”

  “I thought that battle was tough,” Lila said.

  “You’re a very skilled fighter,” John looked at Miles.

  Matthew said, “Miles wants to be the most skilled warrior in the world.”

  Miles blushed. “Guys, I do want to become a better fighter, but I see it’s not as easy as one would think.”

  “Who would think it’s easy? That’s crazy,” remarked Shelly. “Our enemies are crafty and wise, they aren’t easy to defeat.”

  “Except for the goblins,” added Isaac.

  “Well, I disagree. I think the goblins were hard to destroy,” said Lila.

  Miles said, “Not to change the subject. And I don’t want to gloat, but I did get to the Floating Island.”

  “I knew those rocket boots would get you there. I sell good products,” said Isaac.

  “Yes, they did the trick,” said Miles. “And when I was there I found the lucky horseshoe.” Miles took it out of his inventory and showed the group.

  “Wow!” Shelly exclaimed. “What a fantastic find!”

  Miles looked at Matthew. “I do want to defeat the Eye of Cthulhu, but what should be my next challenge? I want to advance.”

  “If you really want to advance,” said Isaac, “you have to destroy the Wall of Flesh. However, you know that once you do your friend here is—”

  “Stop!” Matthew demanded as he interrupted Isaac.

  “What? Don’t stop, Isaac,” protested Miles. “What are you talking about? What friend?”

  Lila looked at Matthew. “You keep important information from Miles. I know you’re his guide, but if you really want to be a good teacher, you have to tell him everything. It’s not going to do you any good keeping major secrets from him.”

  Miles was annoyed. “Seriously? Again? Matthew, I want to know everything.”

  “If you want to know the truth,” Matthew took a deep breath, “once you summon the Wall of Flesh, I’m destroyed.”

  “And a new guide spawns?” asked Miles.

  “No,” Matthew replied. “Nobody else spawns. I don’t get replaced. You will be strong enough that you won’t need a guide anymore.”

  Miles was just processing the idea that once one of his friends were destroyed, they’d go into another world, and he’d meet a new mechanic, tinkerer, etc., but this news about Matthew gone to him forever was entirely different and earth shattering.

  “This can’t be true.” Miles’s eyes swelled with tears. “What will happen to you? I need you.”

  “Like the others, I will go into another world and will be the guide for a new person, but you will be on your own. You will have enough knowledge to make it through the world without me.”

  “I don’t agree. I will never defeat the Wall of Flesh. I will live with you guys forever.”

  “But then you’ll never get to hardmode,” Shelly explained, “Everything’s harder there, but there are a lot of great challenges, too.”

  “That is meaningless to me,” remarked Miles. “Without you, nothing matters. It just won’t be the same.”

  Matthew said, “The same? You’re speaking nonsense. You told me with great confidence that you want to be one of the most famed warriors in this world, and I believe you can achieve it. If I’m the one holding you back, then I failed as a guide.”

  “But I’ll miss you,” Miles sniffled.

  “I’ll miss you too, but that’s a part of my job. I teach people how to survive and when they prove they’re strong enough, I help another person.”

  “I don’t want you to do a bad job, but—” Miles wept.

  “It’s normal to feel this way,” Shelly comforted him.

  “Yes, I know I’ll miss Shelly when she’s gone,” added Isaac.

  “Hey, you won’t miss anybody else?” John called out to Isaac.

  Even Miles chucked, but there was no time to think. Lila accidently incited a group of slimes and they were under attack.

  Miles brushed the tears from his eyes and sprinted toward the slimes with his gold sword, striking the gelatinous beasts, and grabbing gel as each one was struck with a fatal blow.

  As he slayed the final slime, he didn’t have that sense of pride that he usually felt from battle. He felt empty. Miles was walking back to the house, when Matthew hollered, “Look behind you!”

  Chapter 12

  ZOMBIE ATTACK

  Miles was so distracted by the slime invas
ion, he hadn’t noticed the sun had set and zombies were spawning. With Matthew’s warning, he turned around and spotted six zombies inches from him. Fresh from his victory with the gelatinous wormy slimes, Miles pierced two zombies with his gold sword, as his friends battled by his side.

  The gold sword ripped through two more zombies, and with one final strike, he destroyed the last remaining zombie. The gang sprinted back toward their homes.

  Matthew closed the door. “We have to keep a close eye on the door. There might be more zombies tonight.”

  Miles nodded. “I’ll watch out.”

  Matthew commended Miles on his swift zombie battle. “Not many people could stop a zombie invasion as skillfully and quickly as you did. Miles, you have a true skill in battle and you can’t pass it up. I must prepare you to battle the Wall of Flesh.”

  “But once I summon the Wall of Flesh, I’ll never see you again.” Uttering those words left Miles feeling heartbroken.

  Matthew explained, “Every good teacher wants to see their students succeed.”

  “Do you think I have what it takes to defeat the Wall of Flesh?”

  “Yes, but not yet. There are still many other skills you need to perfect and weapons to craft.”

  “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really going to miss you,” Miles looked at Matthew, his eyes once again filled with tears.

  “I’ll miss you too, but I’ll be happy knowing what you are accomplishing in the world. I know you’re going to do something great.”

  Miles’s heart swelled with pride. He never imagined he’d do something great, and Matthew truly believed in him. Miles decided he’d try to learn everything he could to prepare for his battle with the Wall of Flesh and his subsequent new life on hardmode.

  “I think we should go back to The Corruption,” suggested Matthew. “You need to acquire demonite.”

  “Why?”

  “You have to craft a demon bow.”

  Miles asked, “Is there any other way to get demonite?”

  “Yes, from the Eye of Cthulhu. If you destroy it, you will get demonite,” explained Matthew.

  Miles recalled the failed battle with the Eye of Cthulhu; he was nervous for a second one. Although he had perfected his fighting skills, he was still nervous about battling these insidious floating eyes.