The Phantom Virus

by Mark Cheverton

  Reaper nodded, appreciating the deviousness of the plan. If Gameknight was able to get past the spiders out in the Overworld, and get past his skeletons, then the spider queen would summon hundreds of her minions to finish off what was left of the User-that-is-not-a-user and his friends. Their victory was guaranteed.

  The skeleton king leaned his head back and laughed a dry, hacking laugh that echoed off the rocky walls.

  “Perfect!” Reaper said as he looked down at his fuzzy ally.

  And as he stared at her, Shaivalak’s eyes began to glow bright purple with evil intent.

  CHAPTER 9

  FANGS AND FUR

  They emerged from the tunnels and into the crafting chamber of the next village. Gameknight was the first to leap out of his minecart. Drawing his diamond sword, he scanned the room for threats. The NPCs working in front of crafting tables stared at the User-that-is-not-a-user with quizzical looks on the faces.

  Then Digger was at his side, two pickaxes held at the ready. He, too, surveyed his surroundings, knowing that another trap could be waiting for them, but lowered his huge tools when he saw they were safe.

  “Herobrine’s command block must be somewhere up on the surface,” Gameknight said.

  Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the rest of his friends had emerged from the tunnel.

  “Come on, everyone,” Gameknight shouted. “To the surface!”

  The User-that-is-not-a-user charged up the steps that led out of the crafting chamber. Surging through the iron doors at the top of the stairs, he sped through the tunnels that would take him to the secret entrance in the watchtower.

  As he ran through the subterranean passages, Gameknight could hear the footsteps of his friends behind him. He was glad they were there. The last sign supposedly left behind by Herobrine made him wonder if all this suffering really was his fault. Had he, by battling with Herobrine, brought all the pain and death to the NPCs of the Overworld? Images of those who had perished came to his mind: Baker, Weaver, Stonecutter, Builder, Tiller, the Woodcutter twins … the list was endless, and they all had suffered because of his war with Herobrine. Had he been the cause? Feelings of uncertainty circled his soul like a predatory cat, getting ready to strike.

  Without realizing it, Gameknight had climbed the tall ladder and emerged in the watchtower. He moved quickly to the door and looked out the inset window.

  What he saw made him shake this head in disbelief.

  Villagers were going about their normal lives in this grassland village. They were tending crops, caring for livestock, repairing tools, everything you’d think a village would be doing when it was at peace.

  Gameknight opened the door and burst out into the courtyard, his diamond blade held at the ready. Scanning the area, he quickly realized there was something strange about this village, but he couldn’t quite figure out what.

  “You notice it?” Crafter asked.

  “What are you talking about?” Gameknight replied, his eyes darting from left to right, looking for threats.

  “No walls,” Crafter said, a perplexed smile on his face.

  Turning in a circle, Gameknight finally realized what had seemed off: there were no fortifications of any kind around the cluster of buildings. The village had been built on a small swath of grassland completely surrounded by a mega taiga biome. The incredibly tall spruces and gentle leafy ferns formed a protective cocoon that kept the village from view, acting a bit like a natural wall. This town, Gameknight realized, was a little hidden pocket of peace within the server.

  “It’s likely the monsters don’t even know about this village,” Crafter said.

  Gameknight nodded, then smiled.

  “That’s exactly correct,” said the village’s crafter as he approached. He glanced at Gameknight999, and his diamond armor and sword, and scowled. “And that’s the way we like it as well.”

  He walked forward to face the visitors.

  “I’m this village’s crafter, as you can see by my clothing. We have managed to avoid all of the trouble that has been brewing across the server because of our unique location in the middle of this mega taiga biome,” the crafter said, gesturing to their surroundings. “We have no arguments with the monsters of the Overworld, and they leave us alone. So I mean no disrespect when I ask, what do you want here?”

  “There is reason to believe that your village will be attacked,” Gameknight said.

  “That seems unlikely,” the crafter said. “Just what do you believe will be attacking us?”

  “Well … we don’t know for sure,” Gameknight replied, embarrassed.

  Hunter giggled, then grunted when Stitcher punched her in the arm.

  Herder stepped forward, moving past the village’s crafter, then paused and stood still.

  “You hear them?” he said, casting a smile at Gameknight.

  “Hear what?” the User-that-is-not-a-user replied.

  “Friends!” the lanky boy said excitedly.

  Just then, the faintest of howls could be heard drifting out of the forest: wolves. They sounded full of strength and pride. Long ago, the wolves had been brought into Minecraft by the Oracle. She was an anti-virus program that had been added to Minecraft to combat Herobrine and his monsters. In an attempt to battle the Maker, the Oracle had crafted the wolves, using them as her personal army of hunters that pursued Herobrine across the server. They were added in the Beta version, long before Gameknight ever transported into the game, but after the Great Zombie Invasion of the old, pre-Alpha days, when the awakening of Minecraft had first occurred.

  The wolves were staunch allies and friends to Herder. He had an uncanny way of communicating with them, the furry creatures always willing to do his bidding. Reaching into his inventory, Herder pulled out a handful of bones and looked longingly into the forest.

  “You should wait,” Gameknight said, seeing the expression on his friend’s face. “There’s a trap somewhere nearby. Herobrine has some command blocks buried in this village, but they aren’t working yet. We should stay together until we know what might happen when they are activated.”

  The howls became louder as the wolves approached the village from all sides. By now, the NPCs had all come out of their homes and congregated with the newcomers at the center of their village, faces filled with welcoming smiles. They looked excited at the sounds of the animals in the forest, many of them holding bones in their blocky hands; treats for the unexpected guests. Gameknight imagined the creatures smelling the bones that awaited them and zipping around the spruces and ferns of the taiga, their fur making them look like bolts of white lightning.

  But then the sound of the wolves grew strange. The majestic howls changed to angry growls. In the distance, Gameknight saw a large group of the animals skid to a stop just at the tree line of the shadowy forest, their white fur standing out against the dark shadows.

  “What are they doing?” Herder asked, frowning. “Why aren’t they coming into the village?”

  Gameknight squinted, straining to see the animals more clearly. Strangely, he realized that the wolves’ eyes were bright red. They growled and bared their teeth. The wolves were hostile for some reason, the User-that-is-not-a-user realized, and it made no sense that they would be acting like this.

  The snarling creatures walked slowly out of the forest and toward the village, their sharp teeth showing behind drawn lips, eyes like bright pinpoints of crimson fire.

  “Everyone back up slowly,” Gameknight said as he drew his sword. “There’s something wrong with these wolves. They’re angry for some reason.”

  “The wolves have always been our friends,” one of the villagers said, ignoring the warning as he ran out to meet them, a bone in each hand. When he reached the animals, they fell on him, a dozen wolves attacking all at once.

  “NOOOO!” Herder screamed.

  Gameknight wanted to go out and help the NPC, but he knew the villager didn’t have a chance. In seconds, he was gone.

  “What’s happening?�
�� Crafter said.

  “I don’t know,” Gameknight replied. “Everyone be careful!”

  The creatures came even closer. Turning in a circle, Gameknight could see the wolves had the village completely surrounded. There were probably a hundred of them, all red-eyed, their fur bristling with anger.

  “It’s Herobrine,” Hunter said. “He’s doing this, somehow.”

  “We have to find the control blocks, fast, or the village will be wiped out!” Crafter cried.

  “Run for the crafting chamber!” one of the villagers cried.

  “No, stand still!” Herder screamed. “They will attack anyone that moves. Stay perfectly still.”

  But the NPC that yelled didn’t listen. He ran for the watchtower, a look of fear on his face as he sped away, trying to outrun the dangerous beasts. But instantly, ten wolves shot out of formation and fell on the fleeing villager. As before, the doomed NPC disappeared in seconds, the wolves destroying the villager’s HP. Then they turned and faced Gameknight999.

  Drawing his second sword, Gameknight scanned the village for the sign that he knew would be there.

  “I see it,” Digger said, having the same thought. “Over there.”

  He pointed with his big pickaxe. Gameknight turned and saw a sign standing next to the blacksmith’s shop.

  “That must be where the command blocks are buried,” Gameknight said. “Herder, take out your shovel. Your job is to dig up the dirt and break the redstone circuit.”

  “What do the rest of us do?” Crafter asked.

  “Protect Herder,” Gameknight answered. “It’s the command blocks that are making the wolves angry, I’m sure of it. We need to cut the power to those blocks so that we can save this village from complete annihilation. Everyone ready?” They nodded. “OK … RUN!”

  The group sprinted for the blacksmith’s shop, weapons held at the ready. The wolves instantly responded, charging toward the party. Angry growls filled the air as the wolves streaked toward them. Gameknight was the first to reach the shop. Turning, he saw a wolf closing on Stitcher. Dropping his sword, he pulled out his bow and fired, sadness filling his soul. His enchanted arrow instantly burst into flames as it leapt from his bow and streaked through the air. When it struck the wolf, the furry creature yelped in pain as the flaming arrow tore into its HP, forcing the animal to abandon its attack and veer away. Gameknight’s heart broke at the sound of that animal’s yelping, but he couldn’t let it hurt his friend.

  Picking up his sword, he charged forward, swinging it before him. The others reached the blacksmith’s shop and formed a protective circle around Herder, who was already digging feverously. A wolf shot forward and snapped at Gameknight’s leg, its sharp teeth carving deep marks into his leggings. Striking with his diamond sword, he hit the wolf with the flat edge of the blade. The animal growled, then bit him again, scoring another hit.

  “Hurry, Herder!” Gameknight screamed as he kicked at the animal. “I don’t want to hurt the wolves, but soon we won’t have much choice.”

  The wolf lunged at him again, but suddenly, Digger’s big pickaxe hit the creature, the side of the tool sending the animal flying. Before Gameknight could thank his friend, two more wolves attacked. They leapt up at him, sharp teeth bared. Without any other option, Gameknight brought up his diamond sword and slashed at the majestic animals. The attacking pair yelped in pain as his blade bit into their HP, making them flash red.

  “I’m so sorry,” Gameknight said, but the animals turned and attacked again. This time, he drew his iron sword, which would cause less damage, and swung it at the two wolves, tearing more HP from their furry bodies. They yelped in pain and backed off, glaring up at Gameknight, their eyes burning bright red with hatred. Crouching, they readied another attack, but Gameknight knew that they could not survive another hit from his sword.

  “Please don’t,” Gameknight begged. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He took a step back as the two wolves advanced.

  “Hurry, Herder,” he said, pleading. “HURRY!”

  The two wolves growled, crouched even lower, then sprang into the air, their fanged mouths aimed directly for Gameknight999.

  CHAPTER 10

  BLAME

  Herder cried out, “I found it!”

  There was a loud, cracking sound as the young boy destroyed the redstone circuit, turning off the command blocks. The wolves instantly stopped their growling. The eyes of the two wolves flying through the air went from violent red to peaceful black as their bristling fur fell back against their bodies, their tails sagging. Gameknight dropped his swords and caught the two animals in midair, then fell back as they landed in a heap. Herder was there almost immediately with bones, quickly taming the animals.

  As Gameknight stood up, he pulled out a steak and gave one to each wolf, allowing their HP to regenerate. He then reached down and petted each one of them.

  “Is everyone OK?” Gameknight asked, wiping sweat from his brow.

  He glanced around at his companions and could see that they were all still standing, though many looked like they’d taken damage.

  “How could this happen?” the village crafter cried. “The wolves have never attacked us before!”

  Gameknight spun around and saw the villager sitting on the ground near the items of those that had lost their lives.

  “They’ve always been our friends,” he said as he wiped tears from his eyes.

  “They’re still your friends,” Herder snapped. “This was Herobrine’s doing. He warped the minds of the wolves with his command blocks.”

  The crafter stood and collected the items, then moved to the sign that stood next to the blacksmith’s shop. Gameknight walked to his side and looked at the sign.

  “What does it say?” Stitcher asked.

  “It says, ‘THIS ONE IS THE FIRST OF MANY,’” Gameknight read.

  “There’s another message on the back of the building!” Digger yelled from the other side of the shop. The NPC carefully dug around the bottom of the sign to see if there were more command blocks lying in wait. The stocky NPC breathed a sigh of relief when he saw there were none.

  “What does it say?” Gameknight asked, afraid that he might already know.

  Digger looked up at the sign and read the words silently. When he finished, his face took on a worried look as he stepped away. He looked at Gameknight with concern in his eyes.

  “What is it?” Gameknight asked. “What does it say?”

  Digger just looked back with compassion in his eyes. Gameknight feared the worst. Moving to the side of the building, he looked up at the sign.

  Digger spoke in a sad voice. “It says, ‘ALL THIS IS GAMEKNIGHT’S FAULT. HE SHOULD HAVE SURRENDERED EARLIER.’ It’s signed ‘—HEROBRINE.’”

  Gameknight stepped away from the sign and sighed.

  This is a nightmare! he thought. If I had figured out a way to defeat Herobrine earlier, would the people who were suffering be safe now?

  His train of thought was derailed as Digger’s pick tore into the sign with a loud crack! and it splintered into a million pieces.

  “This isn’t your fault,” Crafter said. “This is Herobrine’s doing and is not your responsibility. I won’t let that evil virus make me think otherwise.”

  “But what if I’d brought my dad into this sooner instead of hiding it from him? Maybe we’d have captured Herobrine sooner,” Gameknight said quietly, looking down at the ground.

  “You don’t know that!” Hunter snapped. “Who knows how things would have played out if things had been done differently? Maybe things would have come out worse. Maybe he would have won. We don’t know. But you don’t get to take all this guilt onto yourself.”

  “But if—” Gameknight tried to continue, but was interrupted.

  “There is no if, there is just now,” Hunter snapped. “And right now, we need to figure out where the next attack might be, and get there before any villagers are hurt.”

  “Agreed,” Crafter said. />
  Gameknight sighed as he saw the determined looks on his friends’ faces. They were all so confident that they could solve this problem. He wished he had that same hope. How could they possibly know where the next incident would occur?

  “Let’s get to the crafting chamber, then we’ll figure out which way we need to go,” Crafter said.

  But before any of them could move, villagers streamed from the watchtower, each of them dripping wet.

  “What’s going on?” Hunter asked.

  One of the villagers ran to her, then stopped to catch his breath. He was completely soaked, and Gameknight could see his HP was dangerously low. Reaching into his inventory, he handed the NPC a loaf of bread. The villager quickly ate the loaf, then nodded at Gameknight, thanking him.

  “What happened?” Crafter asked.

  “The crafting chamber is flooded,” the NPC said. “Water is pouring in from all the tunnels, and the chamber is underwater. We tried to find the water source and block it off, but it seems like there’s more than one. We’ve contained the water, but the tunnels are useless. We don’t know how far the water extends along the minecart tunnels, and the rails are destroyed. If anyone uses the minecart network here, they might drown.”

  “It seems we still dance to Herobrine’s tune,” Crafter said, grimacing. “He clearly doesn’t want us using the minecart network.”

  “Then we proceed on foot,” Digger said, hefting his big pickaxe over his shoulder. “But what direction do we choose?”

  “Which way is the nearest village?” Crafter asked the soaked NPC.

  “That way, through the taiga and then through the mesa,” the villager said, pointing to the northeast.

  “OK then, we have a direction. Let's get moving,” Crafter said.

  “Everyone gather the supplies that you’ll need,” Digger said.

  “Herder, I think it’s best if you leave all these wolves here with this village,” Crafter said to the lanky NPC. “They’re going to need the creatures’ protection until they can build a wall around their community.”