Attack of the Goblin Army

by Winter Morgan

  Matthew shrieked as a zombie tore their door from its hinges. Cries were heard outside the house.

  “It sounds like Lila is in trouble,” Miles said as he banged into the zombie who stood in their entranceway, instantly destroying the beast.

  Matthew shot arrows at the zombies clustering around their house, as Miles sprinted toward Lila.

  “Help!” Lila cried as six zombies surrounded her.

  John threw knives at the zombies that attacked Lila, but he only struck one of the undead beasts. Miles leapt at the zombies, repeatedly striking them with great force, and annihilating them one by one.

  “Oh no!” Isaac yelled. “There are more zombies!”

  An army of zombies marched in their direction. Miles sprinted toward the army of zombies, lunging at them, but there were too many zombies, and his friends’ weapons were weak in battle, and Miles slowly faded away.

  “Miles!” Matthew cried, as Miles’s tombstone appeared.

  “We’ll have to battle these on our own,” Shelly hollered and unleashed a flood of wrenches at the zombies.

  Isaac threw spiky balls and, using all of their collective powers, the gang attempted to stop this zombie army from destroying their newly crafted, small, peaceful town.

  Miles respawned in his bed, jumping up as he heard his friends cry for help. As he raced from the bed, an ominous message appeared: An evil presence is watching you.

  He knew this was a message from the Eye of Cthulhu, but he had to help his friends. They couldn’t survive the zombie attack. Miles sprinted toward them, striking every zombie he could before the evil eye spawned.

  “Miles!” Matthew hollered. “It’s here!”

  Miles gasped as two large eyes floated toward him. The pair of eyes stared at him, as he took a deep breath and jumped toward the eyes with his gold sword. He tried to block out the sounds of his friends’ cries, but it was nearly impossible. At any moment one his friends could be destroyed and ready to respawn in another world, but he couldn’t help them.

  The eyes floated toward Miles, ramming into him. His health decreased. Miles struck one eye with the sword, but it made no impact. He leapt at the other eye, slamming his sword against the gruesome eye, which looked as if it had just been ripped from someone’s head. Miles wasn’t weakening the eyes and was worried.

  “Miles,” John called out as he shot knives at the zombies. “Use the shuriken I sold you.”

  The day before Miles had made a large purchase from John. The merchant convinced Miles that he needed all sorts of unusual weapons. Miles thought the shuriken would be a useless purchase, but he was wrong. As he grabbed the star-like weapon and flung it at the eye, he marveled as it considerably weakened the bloodied eye. Miles leapt at the eyes with his gold sword, pounding into them until they were destroyed.

  He was rewarded with an Eye of You Achievement, but this wasn’t a celebratory event; his friends were slowly losing the battle with the zombies, and he had to race toward them.

  “Grab the demonite!” Matthew shouted at Miles. “The Eye of Cthulhu dropped it on the ground.”

  Miles picked up the demonite drop and returned to the zombie invasion. Confident from his victory with the tricky and powerful Eye of Cthulhu, Miles slayed the zombies until his friends were safe from the creatures of the night.

  Everyone thanked Miles for his help. Matthew said, “It’s been a long and awful night. Although you battled well and received an achievement.”

  “And saved us,” added Lila.

  “It’s time to get some sleep. In the morning, we’ll travel to the Corruption.”

  Chapter 13

  EATER OF SOULS

  “Do we have to travel to the Corruption? After defeating the Eye of Cthulhu, didn’t I get enough demonite to craft a demon bow?” Miles questioned.

  Matthew replied, “You might, but we should still travel to the Corruption. I don’t want you to be afraid of that biome.”

  Miles couldn’t sleep, he was nervous about the trip to the Corruption. The last time he traveled there, he broke the Shadow Orb, which unleashed goblin invasions and launched a large meteorite, one that narrowly missed crashing on their homes. He wasn’t sure what he’d do on the next trip. If he asked Matthew about the Corruption, he’d probably just say something vague, telling him that this was all a part of learning and growing, and he had to face challenges or he’d accomplish nothing. The sun shined through their small window, and Miles felt a lump in his throat and a pit in his stomach; he wasn’t ready to travel to the Corruption, but he had no choice. Matthew stood above him. “Ready to go?”

  Miles nodded. He wore his gold armor and trailed behind Matthew as they walked past the large meteorite crash site and to the purple Corruption.

  “Are you sure we have to travel to the Corruption today? I don’t feel like I’m ready.” Miles made one final plea to cancel their trip.

  “Yes,” Matthew replied. “There is nothing to worry about. You’ve done such a great job battling the zombies and the Eye of Cthulhu, this will seem easy in comparison.”

  Miles didn’t agree. He wished there was some sort of distraction to stop them from traveling to this creepy dangerous biome. As they approached the entrance to the Corruption, his wish was granted when a voice called out, “Hi, looks like you’re in need of a cure.”

  “A cure?” Miles stopped to stare at a man with a red beard, wearing a yellow helmet, and carrying all of his belongings in a bag tied to a stick. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Jack,” he smiled proudly. “I have dynamite. It’s my own recipe for whatever might bother you. It can cure anything.”

  Miles didn’t know what to make of this funny little man. He eyed him and looked over at Matthew. “What should I do?”

  “Introduce yourself,” Matthew ordered. “This is a demolitionist. He’s a very useful person to know in this world. Demolitionists have all types of explosives, which are potent weapons when battling hostile enemies.”

  “Will they help me battle the Wall of Flesh?” asked Miles.

  “Dynamite and grenades will help you battle anyone. I’ve got something for everyone. What do you need?”

  Miles paused. “Um, I don’t know.”

  “Okay, here’s a better question. How much do you got?” Jack perused his inventory, organizing items by price.

  Miles stared at Matthew. Matthew said, “I’m Matthew and this is Miles. Miles needs grenades.”

  Jack pulled a bunch of grenades from his inventory. “Here you go. Good choice, they’re da bomb.”

  Miles handed him some coins and said, “Thank you.” He placed the grenades in his inventory.

  “You know how you can really thank me?” Jack asked with a sly smile.

  “I think I have an idea,” Miles chuckled. “Do you want me to build you a house?”

  “Wow, how did you know?” Jack exclaimed. “Yes, that was exactly what I wanted. I think we’re about to start a great friendship.”

  “I will build you a house, but we’re on our way to the Corruption, and I wanted to travel there before night. Would you like to come with us?” questioned Miles.

  “The Corruption isn’t my favorite place, but I’ll go for you,” Jack replied, and the trio entered the dangerous and deadly purple biome.

  Matthew pointed to the ground. “I see a piece of demonite ore off in the distance. You are very lucky. Most people don’t find it that quickly. You must use your gold pickaxe to mine for it. It’s much too dangerous for us to stay here.”

  “But I can’t do it alone,” Miles pleaded.

  “Yes, you can. Go to the demonite ore,” Matthew said and he left the Corruption.

  Miles was alone. He raced to the brick of demonite and banged his pickaxe against the ground, breaking the block of demonite ore from the ground and placing it in his inventory. He had unearthed the bar when a swarm of flying beasts with tentacles surrounded him. Miles quickly lost his health. He didn’t have time to trade his pickaxe for his sword, and wi
thin seconds Miles’s energy depleted. The swarm of flying bug-like creatures destroyed Miles. Again, there was nobody there to see the tombstone, and when he respawned in his bed; Matthew wasn’t even at the home.

  “Matthew!” he called out, but there was no reply.

  As Miles left the house, Lila noticed him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Corruption? Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I was destroyed by a swarm of flying bugs with crazy tentacles that shook really fast. I had no time to fight back.”

  A familiar voice called out, “That was the Eater of Souls.”

  Miles smiled. It was Matthew. “What’s that?”

  “It’s a very hard enemy to battle. But don’t worry, they only live in the Corruption.”

  Jack stood behind Matthew and asked, “Since you’re done with your trip to the Corruption, can you build me a house?”

  The others emerged from their homes, while Miles used his remaining resources to construct a house for Jack.

  Matthew stood by Miles. “Did you have enough time to mine for the demonite ore?”

  “Yes,” Miles proudly displayed his demonite ore.

  Matthew inspected the ore. “You still need a little more.”

  “But I don’t want to go back to the Corruption,” Miles cried. “I was destroyed within seconds by the Eater of Souls.”

  Matthew understood Miles’s apprehensions, but explained, “You only need a little more demonite.”

  Miles was finishing crafting a table when Shelly screamed, “Goblins!”

  Chapter 14:

  THE THIRD BATTLE

  This goblin invasion was the worst of the three.

  “Oh no!” Matthew screamed as they descended upon the group. “There have to be at least one hundred and fifty goblins.”

  The green beasts leapt at his friends. Isaac threw a spiky ball at them, striking two goblins. “I told you they were easy targets,” Isaac joked, as he threw another spiky ball.

  Miles grabbed a grenade and flung it toward the goblins. The loud explosion frightened his friends and destroyed a multitude of goblins.

  “Am I right? These are da bomb!” Jack smiled while he also launched grenades.

  Lila protected herself with a leaf barrier. Isaac remarked, “Man, why purify the world and use nature when you can just blow it up?”

  “I’m all natural,” Lila retorted as her leaf barrier weakened a gang of goblins approaching her.

  Powerful explosions rocked the town as a flood of knives, wrenches, and wooden arrows shot through the sky. The goblins forces were quickly diminishing. Miles leapt at three goblins with his gold sword, but he was quickly outnumbered. The goblins zapped his energy and he respawned in his bed. Miles was shocked by the eerie silence and worried his friends were destroyed. He sprinted out of the house.

  “We were worried about you,” Lila said.

  “Where are the goblins?” asked Miles.

  “We destroyed them,” replied Matthew.

  Miles was happy his friends destroyed the goblins, but he also felt useless. He wondered how his friends, who were much weaker than him, survived and defeated the goblins, while he was destroyed.

  “I am beginning to question if I am truly a skilled warrior,” Miles announced to his friends.

  “Losing is normal and you can’t win every battle.” Matthew comforted him.

  “But I feel like I’ve lost every battle. Today I lost a battle with both the Eater of Souls and with the goblins.”

  Isaac joked, “And we all know the goblins aren’t too smart.”

  “Isaac!” Shelly reprimanded. “That’s not nice at all.”

  “I was only joking.”

  “Still, can’t you see Miles is very upset?” Shelly was irritated with Isaac’s behavior.

  “Miles,” Lila, said standing beside him. “I have an idea. I think you should go back and defeat the Eater of Souls.”

  “No way!” Miles reasoned, “If I couldn’t destroy the goblins, how can I defeat the Eater of Souls? I barely survived the last attack.”

  Shelly smiled, “Miles, when we met, you were very brave. I want to see the old Miles. The one that was too confident.”

  Lila added, “I really believe you learn a lot by going back to old battles.”

  “Really?” questioned Miles.

  “Yes, when you repeat something, it helps you prepare for the next challenge. I think once you defeat The Eater of Souls, you will be better prepared to battle the Wall of Flesh,” Lila reasoned.

  Matthew pointed out, “You have a lot more resources now. I’ll help you craft the demon bow.”

  The sun was setting and Miles knew they were right. He must travel to the Corruption the following morning. It was the only way to prepare for his battle against The Wall of Flesh. He must defeat the Eater of Souls.

  Chapter 15:

  REPEAT

  The Corruption was lined with purple grass and trees. Miles’s heart beat rapidly as he clutched his gold sword. He didn’t want to miss another stealth attack from the Eater of Souls. He traveled deep into the creepy biome and shrieked when he looked back and didn’t see where the Corruption started. He felt trapped in the hostile biome. In the distance, Miles eyed a block of demonite ore and sprinted over to mine. He walked passed a chasm, but didn’t dare enter the bowels of the Corruption. He was still a novice, and knew a trip down a chasm wouldn’t benefit him until he was on hardmode. However, every time he thought about being on hardmode, he remembered about losing Matthew.

  Miles banged his gold pickaxe into the ground, and leaned over to pull out the block of demonite ore, when he spotted a swarm flying toward him.

  “The Eater of Souls!” he cried out and quickly switched his pickaxe for a sword and swung it at the creatures.

  Miles struck two of the flying beasts, but many remained. They rammed into him, weakening him, but he wouldn’t let them destroy him. Miles leapt at a cluster and slammed his sword as their bodies floated past him. The Eater of Souls surrounded him and he was ready to give up, when he remembered the enchanted boomerang he crafted with Matthew. He recalled Matthew telling him to use it when he met the Eater of Souls. Miles grabbed the boomerang and flung it at the Eater of Souls that circled him. He instantly obliterated three flying terrors, and when it returned he swung the boomerang for a second time, annihilating the remaining ones.

  Miles raced out of the Corruption to tell Miles the good news, but as he approached the familiar landscape of his town, he heard chilling cries.

  “My friends!” Miles shrieked as he sprinted as fast as he could back to the homes.

  Miles gasped as he watched the largest army of goblins he’d ever seen overrun their small town. There were countless green goblins attacking the gang and they were running out of energy. The knives, wrenches, spiky balls, grenades, wooden arrows, and leaf barrier were no match for this large goblin army.

  “Help!” Lila called out.

  “UGH!” Matthew screamed as four goblin surrounded him.

  “Oh no!” Isaac hollered when five goblins raced in his direction.

  Miles didn’t know where to go and who to help first. He attempted to strategize, but there wasn’t time. A half dozen goblins sprinted to his side, as he detonated a grenade.

  Kaboom!

  “Help!” Lila called again, and Miles ran toward her, but was stopped by a crop of goblins. He was out of grenades and used his sword to pound against the goblins

  Matthew called out weakly, “Use your spear!”

  Miles fumbled with the sword as he grabbed the spear and struck the goblins that cornered him. He looked over at Lila, who was struggling to drain the goblin’s energy with her leaf barrier. The barrier was far too weak for battling the multitude of goblins that crowded around her.

  “Help!” Lila cried out again.

  Miles sprinted to Lila, he banged his spear into the pack of goblins that huddled around the dryad. But it was too late.

  “Lila!” Miles let out an agoniz
ing cry.

  “It’s okay,” Matthew called to him. “You can’t stop fighting.”

  “But Lila,” Miles wailed. “She’s been destroyed!”

  “And so will the others if you don’t battle the goblins,” Matthew said as he shot wooden arrows at the goblin soldiers.

  Miles was infuriated with the goblins and used his anger to crush any goblin that walked within an inch of him. He used his spear and his sword to destroy the cutthroat army. Along with his friends, Miles finished the battle. A message was sent announcing the Goblin invasion was over.

  Matthew congratulated Miles, “You did it. You stopped the invasion.”

  However, Miles didn’t feel like a hero. “I failed you all,” he addressed the group. “I couldn’t save Lila.”

  “That’s not your fault,” Matthew explained. “The goblin attack was intense.”

  “He’s right,” Isaac remarked. “I know I joke that the goblins are dimwits, but they aren’t and that attack was lethal. I barely survived and I was armed with spiky balls. Lila was vulnerable.”

  Nobody could say anything to make Miles feel any better. He was distraught over losing Lila.

  Shelly called out, “There’s someone in Lila’s house!”

  Matthew said, “That must be the new dryad. Let’s go meet her.”

  Miles was opposed to meeting the new dryad. “Not me. I’m staying here. I don’t want to meet her.”

  “I know this is tough. But I don’t want you to feel guilty about Lila. There was nothing you could do to help her. Remember, you stopped the attack. This is the way our world works, and the more time you spend here, the more things like this will occur,” Matthew explained.

  “But it just doesn’t seem fair,” Miles sniffled. “Lila was so nice and helpful.”

  “I’m certain the new dryad will be the same, but we have to meet her first. It’s not her fault she’s the one who replaced Lila. I bet she was destroyed in another battle and just landed here, the way Lila will appear in someone else’s world,” Matthew spoke, but Miles wasn’t feeling better. No matter how reasonable Matthew’s logic was, he still felt a dent in his heart.