Minecraft (Masters of Minecraft Box Set Book 1)

by Terry Mayer

  Reaching into his inventory and removing cobblestone Jay starts building another wall as fast as he can. "Jethro you old dog, I thought you said you only played on creative mode? Where did you learn these tricks?"

  "Dear boy, just because I like to build does not mean I don't understand the fascination of survival mode. I played it for many months on many different servers, I used to be quite efficient at it too," he replies smiling.

  "Efficient? Where on earth do you come from Jethro? I've never met anyone who speaks like you."

  "Later, dear boy. If we survive this night I will regale you with my story, but for now, build as fast as possible as I suspect we are about to get company."

  *****

  "Right, that should hold them for a while. Jack, you stay here and guard our rear. I don't think those other players will be back but let's not take any chances. Nate, you come with me, I think Jay and Jethro could use a little help."

  Rushing to the forward defenses, they find Jethro and Jay building cobblestone walls. They quickly explain their plan and both Natasha and Nate join in building.

  "Look out Jay, here they come," shouts Hailey from the watchtower.

  "Thanks for the heads up Hailey. If any get through this wall, it's your job to keep them busy while we retreat to the village."

  Just as he finishes shouting his instructions the first creeper makes it to the top of the slope, starts to fizzle and throws itself against the wall. An ear-shattering explosion nearly deafens the defenders, but as the dust settles, it is clear that Jethro's idea is correct.

  "Look, only one block destroyed. You are clever Jethro, this might actually work. I'll repair it," Jay shouts dashing towards the wall.

  "Wait Jay. Let them attack the wall first, let's not show our hand just yet. Everyone, build a step so you can climb onto the wall then get your cobblestone ready. On my mark run forward and repair the wall closest to the trench, then work back as quick as you can. If a creeper comes at you get off the wall quickly."

  Watching the creepers attack the wall, Jay quickly realizes the genius of Jethro's plan. As each creeper makes it to the top of the slope and detonates against the wall it blows just one block of cobblestone but also takes out two or three soil and sand blocks below itself, so destroying their own slope and slowing the attack from the next creeper. After over 200 creepers have detonated, either destroying wall sections or just trying to repair their own slope Jethro gives the word and all four dash forward, jump onto the wall and start placing cobblestone blocks as fast as possible. Nathan is the first to retreat as a creeper runs at his section of wall and detonates. Shortly after the other three are also forced to abandon their positions.

  "So, how'd you all do? I managed to place 24 blocks," asks Jethro.

  "28 for me."

  "Only 22 for me, sorry," replies Nathan.

  "46 at last count."

  "Wow! Jay Lightingbuilder strikes again. Way to go Jay!"

  "Thanks Natasha. So we repaired 120 blocks, and their trench is caving in, making it harder to build ramps. We might just have licked them, what do you think Jethro?"

  "I don't know Jay. It all seems a little easy. There are thousands of creepers against us. I get the feeling that things are only just getting going."

  As Jethro finishes his sentence, multiple detonations sound from the rear of the village.

  "Jay, the creepers are coming in through the rear, over the bridge," warns Hailey from the watchtower.

  "Have they breached the walls yet, what were the explosions?"

  "No, they are still outside, I just shot a couple, and they blew each other up."

  "Way to go Hailey. Ok guys, same plan as before, let's build some more walls."

  Rushing to the rear of the village, they start thickening the cobblestone walls that Jack is guarding.

  "Jack, build cobblestone walls, quick before the creepers get here."

  "Sorry Jay, I'm all out."

  "Me too," shouts Jethro. "Has anyone got any left?"

  "Here, take some of mine," replies Natasha, throwing 64 cobblestones on the floor and turning back to the wall she is strengthening.

  Grabbing half each, Jethro and Jack head off in different directions to help with the wall.

  "Ok everyone, gather around. We now have a wall 6 blocks thick. Who has any cobblestone left?"

  "I've got 4."

  "None."

  "Me neither."

  "I've got 10."

  "Right, 14 blocks, and I've got 4, so 18 in total. That's not a lot to defend this place. Jack, Natasha, and Nate, take 6 blocks each. You're in charge of repairing the walls. Steal some from other sections if you need to, just do not let the creepers in or we are finished. Jethro, come with me."

  As the others prepare themselves for the creeper assault, Jay and Jethro climb the stairs of the watchtower.

  *****

  5 - The Last Stand

  Gazing out over his surroundings, Jay is shocked at the sight that greets him. Thousands upon thousands of creepers fill the surrounding fields and at least five hundred zombies are milling around at the tree line.

  Gasping, he splutters. "We're doomed. Where did they all come from?"

  "Spawned in hell by that thing," replies Jethro pointing at the huge black creature directing the battle from the top of the hill.

  "What is that anyway?" asks Hailey.

  "No idea, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it has something to do with Herobrine. It's no coincidence that it's here and trying to kill us."

  "So, what do you think Jethro, what's the next course of action?"

  "Die, more than likely, old chap," he chuckles.

  "Nice, thanks Jethro. How about you Hailey. You've been here longer than any of us, what do you suggest?"

  "I say let's take the fight to them!"

  "WHAT!" Both Jethro and Jay splutter, not expecting that answer.

  "Exactly! They will never believe that we will do anything other than sit here and die, so I suggest we attack them. We burst out of the village and strike the creepers with flaming arrows and spears, then when they explode..."

  "But they won't explode just because we set them on fire."

  "Of course they will Jay, just like when I shot them earlier, they exploded and set each other off."

  "But that does not happen in minecraft."

  "But it does here, and that's all that matters. Right, as I was saying. We burst out of the village and set as many on fire as possible, as they start exploding they will detonate each other, and in such an enclosed space this whole place is going to go up in one huge explosion."

  "Nice Hailey, but I never really saw you as they type to go out in a blaze of glory."

  "Neither do I Jay, and that's why I have a second part to the plan," she replies with a cat like smile playing on her lips.

  "Ok, don't keep us in suspense Hailey."

  "Right, the moment we have all thrown our flaming spears and shot our arrows, we run back into the tower, down the tunnel and hot foot it out of here. When the village explodes we can escape in the confusion."

  "Nice plan. It might just work. How about it Jethro, you on for a little detonation party?"

  "Well dear boy, it certainly sounds a lot more appealing than my idea now, doesn't it?"

  "It surely does. Right, let's fill the others in, we don't have much time."

  Just as Jay utters these words the first creeper explodes against the cobblestone defenses below, followed shortly afterwards by yet more detonations.

  *****

  "Ok guy's, on the count of three, two, one, move it!" screams Jay above the deafening explosions.

  They all jump up onto the low walls, using a block they placed previously, and throw their flaming spears as far into the creeper hoards as possible. Each person have two quickly constructed spears and some make shift sharpened torches. From above, Hailey lets loose a barrage of flaming arrows, striking one creeper after another, and setting them fizzing and bumping into each other.


  "Now!" screams Jay as he jumps from the wall and dashes into the tower. Running in swiftly behind him are Jack and Nathan, followed closely by Natasha helping a slower moving Jethro. Hailey dashes down the steps from the watchtower just as the first explosion rips through the night air.

  "Quickly, into the tunnel, we don't have much time."

  Running down into the escape tunnel Jay turns as Jethro comes through last and seals the entrance with some soil. Not a great defense but at least it will stop any creepers following us down, he thinks. Running to catch up with his friends, he is thrown from side to side as the detonations increase in volume and frequency up above. Sounds like the world is ending, I just hope Jethro and Natasha built this tunnel deep enough or this is going to a very short run to nowhere.

  After running for over 300 blocks, Natasha comes to a halt and holds up her hand. Pushing past the others Jay moves to the front of the tunnel and whispers to her.

  "What's up, why are we stopping?"

  "Trouble. Our tunnel emerges right under that huge monster on the hill. I don't know about you but I would rather not confront it unless I had too."

  "So what are you suggesting?"

  "I've been counting the blocks since we left the tower and I think we are just about parallel with that river that runs through the woods behind the village. If we can come up in the woods then jump in a boat we could sail out of here before anyone even knows we are gone."

  "Bit chancy don't you think, hoping to find enough boats to just sail out of here?"

  "You're not serious are you?"

  "What?"

  "Holy Notch! Come on Jay, where do you think we are. We build the boats and take them with us."

  "Oh, of course. Sorry, I think I must have been hit in the head or something, really thick moment."

  "Duh yeah!"

  "Right, here's the plan guys," says Natasha turning to the others. "Our original escape route is now compromised so we need a new exit route. I suggest we dig here," she points at the wall on her left, "for 150 blocks, which will bring us up in that little wood behind the village. Once we come up there will be a fast flowing river, we jump in our boats and sail the heck out of here."

  "Uh, but we don't have any boats?" chirps in Jack.

  Looking at Jay, Natasha replies. "Guess it runs in the family." Looking back at Jack Natasha answers. "Jay and Jethro are going to make some boats while we dig the tunnel. Jethro, you have everything you need?"

  Reaching into his inventory Jethro looks up and replies. "I've got everything apart from a crafting table."

  Reaching into her inventory, Natasha pulls out her crafting table and hands it to Jethro. "Right, six boats as fast as possible." Turning, she pulls two stone pickaxes from her inventory and hands one to Nathan. "Come on kid, you're digging with me, I'll dig the top block, you dig the bottom. Jack, follow on behind and place torches every 20 blocks, let's move."

  Like a well-oiled machine, Natasha and Nathan start digging into the tunnel wall and are soon moving towards the river. Immediately, Jethro and Jack set to work making boats. On his crafting table Jethro places a block of wood, turning it into planks which he quickly arranges three on the bottom and one on either side. Amazingly, when he lifts this from the table he is holding a small canoe like boat in his hands. A gasp from behind alerts him that Hailey is still with them.

  "It never ceases to amaze me how you do that," she smiles.

  "I know, cool right?"

  "Way cool."

  Smiling, Jethro bends back to the table, quickly making five other boats. Jay has his own crafting table and is working furiously when Hailey moves over to him."

  "What you making Jay?"

  "Just one second more. Right, here, it's not much but it will help." Handing Hailey a leather breastplate and leggings he looks sheepishly at the floor. "Like I said, it's not much but should stop an arrow if it has too."

  Hugging and kissing him on the cheek, Hailey grabs the armor and throws it on over her clothes. "Thank you Jay. That's the nicest thing anyone has every done for me in minecraft."

  Blushing, and looking bashful, Jay replies, "You're welcome Hailey."

  Chuckling in the background Jethro smiles. Young love, now isn't that sweet.

  Putting his crafting table back in his inventory, Jethro turns to Jay. "You good the go?"

  "Yeah, let's do it." Grabbing 3 boats each, they put them into their inventories, receiving a shocked gasp from Hailey.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing, sorry. It's that you both just picked up three boats each and shoved then inside yourselves. It's just so freaky weird."

  Looking at each other, they both shrug.

  "Suppose it is but it's starting to just seem normal to us. Let's move. I don't know how much time we have before they discover we're not dead."

  Running down the lighted corridor, Jay grabs the torches as he passes and puts them back into his inventory. Never know when they might come in handy again.

  *****

  "Right guys, you all set?" asks Natasha, standing at the end of the tunnel. "Good, I'll go up first and take a quick look around. If I'm right, the river should be just a few blocks on our left. When I give the signal, all come up, get in your boat quietly, and head down stream. All good?"

  Everyone nods in agreement.

  "Good, Jethro, pass out the boats, everyone take your own so we can move quickly."

  "Uh, sorry to be a pain Natasha, but I can't carry mine."

  "No worries Hailey, I'll carry yours for you," replies Jay.

  "Right, that's sorted, let's move."

  Digging as quietly as she can, Natasha breaks a block above her and moon light floods the tunnel. Gingerly she pokes her head out and looks around. Dropping back into the tunnel, she whispers all clear and continues to break an exit hole. On her signal, they all grab their boats, silently exit the tunnel, and creep to the waters edge. Through the trees, fires burn in the distance and small explosions continue to detonate in what remains of the village. As the last person exits the tunnel, Natasha fills in the entrance with soil and hides their escape route. Quickly boarding their boats, they are swiftly swept down stream, away from the night's terrible destruction.

  *****

  6 - New Strategies

  "Slow down boss, I need to take a break, my leg's killing me."

  "If you don't shut up and keep moving I'll kill you myself. Now be quiet."

  Suitably chastised, Warlord continues to trudge along behind the others. He never imagined how painful an arrow wound could be. Normally, when he played, he killed everything in his path, mobs, players, whatever, it made no difference to him. Now he was starting to question whether he would be able to use this tactic here as getting hurt really, well, hurt! He was getting pretty fed up with PowerGlide too. After all, they had all been invited here because they were great minecraft players, but here he was acting like the sidekick in some bad superhero movie. Ordered around, insulted, and treated like an idiot. Making up his mind, he gradually dropped behind the others until they were out of sight, then took off into the forest, determined to make a go of it on his own. Finding a small clearing, he digs a 2x2x2 hole and jumps in. Turning, he covers the roof with soil, lights a torch and settles in for the night, planning to wait out the rest of the night and assess his new situation in the morning.

  *****

  Barreling along at a good rate of knots, Jethro removes a coil of rope from his inventory and ties it to his boat. Catching Natasha's eye, he throws her the coil, "tie the boats together so we don't get separated," he shouts above the noise of the rushing water.

  "Good idea Jethro." Tying her boat, she attracts Nathan's eye and throws the rope to him who repeats the process until all six boats are tied together.

  "So, what now Hailey, do you know where this river goes?" asks Jethro.

  "Sorry, I've no idea. I haven't ventured too far from the village since I've been here and the villagers never go very far. A few players came
from this direction a few years ago but they were more interested in killing than talking."

  "Yeah, I get that. Most players seem to take delight in killing everything, mobs, villagers, other players. Makes no difference to them, that's why I turned to creative, much more peaceful."

  Strangely, as the river widens it starts to pick up speed and the scenery suddenly starts to change from lightly wooded plains to densely forested jungle. Almost immediately, the temperature soars and the air becomes thick and wet with moisture.

  "Well I guess we just entered a new biome, jungle if I'm not mistaken," announces Jethro to the group.

  "You think? What gave it away?" replies Natasha sarcastically to numerous giggles.

  "The increase in temperature and humidity is indicative of a jungle biome plus of course the jungle foliage as exampled by ...."

  "Jethro, we know, ok. She was being sarcastic," interrupts Jay.

  "Oh, sorry. I really did not realize. My bad, I think that's the right expression, is it not?"

  "Yeah J-Dog, it's cool," replies Nate.

  "J-Dog, I quite like that, thank you Nathan. I feel quite hip and cool."

  "Hip and cool? man Jethro, you really need to tell us what century you're from," laughs Nate.

  "Ok guys, keep it down, we don't know what's around the next bend but we better expect the worst."

  Quietening down, the six companions nervously sit in their boats as they rapidly approach the river bend. Expecting trouble, they remove swords, spears, and bows from their inventories and prepare for battle.

  As they round the bend, they confront a gigantic monster, but not the one that they were expecting. Ahead of them, the river begins to fall away, until it crashes over a precipice as a raging waterfall.

  "Quick Hailey, we need a safety line."

  Looking at where Jethro is pointing she immediately grabs the end of the rope, ties it to an arrow, and fires it into a huge tree growing on the riverbank. Immediately the line draws taught and the boats swing around, dangling off the line.