Glancing up at the timer, he watched the display click to 9. Time was running out.
“Herobrine alwayssss told ussss you were a coward,” the spider queen said, her eyes glowing bright with hatred. “The Maker’ssss device here and hissss actionssss in the passsst have proven it. He hassss defined you to be a coward, and now hissss prediction hassss come true.”
“No …” Gameknight pleaded, but then something in the Shaivalak’s words struck a nerve.
His actions do not define me, he thought. Only I can define myself. His actions defined the kind of monster he truly was, not me.
Gameknight drew his diamond sword and stepped over the barricade to stand out in the open.
“No. That monster does not define the kind of person I am,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “Only my actions and choices define me.”
He stood a little taller.
Crafter was right. This is not my fault; it’s Herobrine’s, Gameknight thought. I did everything I could, and we ended up destroying that monster in our basement … at least I think I did? But I know one thing for sure: I didn’t build this command block contraption, and I didn’t start the timer; he did. And I refuse to let it continue!
But what if Herobrine is still alive in Minecraft? A stray thought, one of his many fears, spoke up in the back of his mind.
“No, I saw the computer destroyed,” he whispered softly to himself. “I saw the hard drive and computer chips shattered into a million pieces. If Herobrine were still in Minecraft, he would have shown his gloating face by now. That evil virus would have tried to amplify my guilt and would want to revel in my despair. No … Herobrine must be gone.”
It sounded like a plea. He tried to push away his fears, but the uncertainty of Herobrine’s fate still hid in the shadowy corners of his mind like a persistent nightmare.
“No,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said in a strong voice. “I am in command of my own destiny, and I say NO MORE!”
Bravery flowed through his body as he thought of all the things he’d done and all the NPCs he’d helped. He always chose the path that would help the most people, and the User-that-is-not-a-user realized he was proud of that fact.
As the courage pushed away the feelings of guilt and uncertainty, Gameknight glared at the spider queen, then drew his iron sword and took another step closer. The skeletons wanted to attack, but the spider queen held up a claw, holding back the bony creatures.
“I am the User-that-is-not-a-user, protector of Minecraft, and my fate is my own to define, not your pathetic Maker's," Gameknight said, his voice filled with confidence. It echoed off the stone walls and sounded as if it were coming at them from all sides.
“You wordsss are weak, jusssst like Herobrine alwayssss ssssaid,” spat Shaivalak. “My only wissssh issss that the Maker were here to witnessss your desssstruction.”
"Oh, really?” Gameknight replied. “You miss your precious Maker?”
The echoes of uncertainty that still bounced around in his mind all vaporized as the truth surfaced within his head. Herobrine was gone! He glanced at Crafter behind him. The young NPC’s unibrow was raised with curiosity as revelation showed on his face.
“If he were here, he would desssstroy you himsssself,” the spider queen hissed. “But he issss taking hissss revenge on the physsssical world.”
Gameknight laughed.
“Your precious Maker never made it to the Internet. We trapped him in a puny little computer, then destroyed it with an old, rusty hammer.” He paused for a moment, then gave the spider queen a smile. “Do you think I could come back into Minecraft if Herobrine were destroying the physical world? Would I have time to come play a computer game?”
“No!” she cried. “He issss desssstroying the physsssical world assss we sssspeak. He ssssaid he would, and then he wassss going to bring ussss into that world with him.”
“Now look who is being the fool,” Gameknight said with a smile. “I deleted Herobrine like an old, useless program that served no purpose. Everything about him is gone, as if he never existed.”
Shaivalak’s eyes glowed bright purple, filled with hate. They lit the chamber with a lavender hue that allowed Gameknight to see the massive field of command blocks on the next platform.
“You think everything about Herobrine is gone?” the spider queen asked. “Well then, let me sssshow you what he left for you … a sssspecial pressssent dedicated to this moment; our meeting again.”
Reaching up, she placed one of her wicked curved claws on the lever next to the command block and pushed. It moved slowly at first, then clicked in place, activating the redstone around the orange-checkered cube.
The air between Gameknight999 and Shaivalak began to shimmer and sparkle. Then a hundred creatures appeared … and the User-that-is-not-a-user gasped as hundreds of red eyes stared up at him.
CHAPTER 25
SHAIVALAK
Wolves, by the hundreds, stared up at Gameknight999. Their fur was bristling with anger as their tails stuck straight out like white daggers. It was clear these wolves were really, really angry; they could sense their ancient enemy, the skeletons, were nearby. As one, the wolves turned and fell on the monsters. They surged forward, running straight at the skeletons and attacking with powerful jaws, snapping and tearing into the mob with merciless fury.
“YEAH!” Hunter shouted as she fired her flaming arrows at the skeletons. Stitcher did the same.
“You did it!” Crafter yelled over the growling animals. “You changed the command block! The spider queen didn’t get the monsters she expected.”
“And look at her,” Digger added. “She looks a little upset.”
The spider queen’s eyes blazed bright purple and filled with hatred.
Just then, one of the wolves yelped in pain as an arrow pierced its side.
“No you don’t!” Herder screamed.
The lanky boy jumped over the fortifications and charged forward with an outstretched iron sword. This triggered the rest of the NPCs to charge with weapons drawn, smashing into the skeletons.
The spider queen glared at Gameknight, her rage filling every one of her blazing eyes.
“What did you do to the Maker’ssss command block?” she hissed.
“I reprogrammed it,” Gameknight shouted. “You don’t become the King of the Griefers without knowing how to use command blocks.” He smiled at his foe.
A wolf saw Shaivalak and attacked. The spider queen darted to the side, then reached out with her wicked, curved claws. The sharp points tore at the poor animal’s HP until it disappeared with a yelp.
“No, you leave them alone!” Herder screamed, then charged at the spider.
“Herder, NO!” Gameknight said, but it was too late.
Herder ran at the monster, his iron sword outstretched. Gameknight knew the boy had little skill with the blade, so his only choice was to dash forward and get to the monster first.
“FOR MINECRAFT!” he shouted and charged straight at the spider.
Shaivalak turned away from Herder and ran straight at Gameknight999. They both jumped into the air and smashed into each other. The spider’s claws scratched into Gameknight’s already weakened armor, digging deep grooves into its shiny surface. The User-that-is-not-a-user tried to swing his diamond sword at the spider, but one of her back claws deflected the blow. They landed in a heap and quickly separated.
“You have interfered with the Maker’ssss planssss,” the spider queen hissed. “Hissss commandssss were clear. We are to punissssh everyone that oppossssed him. His great device will desssstroy all living creaturessss.”
“Not if I stop you first,” Gameknight growled.
Darting forward, the User-that-is-not-a-user slashed at the monster with his iron blade, then drove his diamond sword forward. He hit one of her legs, making her flash red, but quickly, the spider counterattacked, driving her claws deep into his diamond leggings.
Gameknight screamed out in pain as a sharp claw found flesh.
Not waiting an instant, he charged forward again, bringing both blades down in what should have been a killing blow, but Shaivalak was too fast. She was smaller than her predecessor, Shaikulud, but much faster. Gameknight’s blades found empty air as he smashed into the cobblestone floor. Rolling to the side, he narrowly avoided a claw to his head, but as he rose, the User-that-is-not-a-user found his right foot stuck in a spider’s web.
“Today issss the day you will be desssstroyed,” the spider queen said.
“Just like the former queen, you talk too much,” Gameknight spat.
With both his swords, he chopped at the web, cutting through it with two hits. Moving to the right, he circled his opponent, looking for any weakness to exploit.
“The Maker ssssaid you would be here when the device activated,” Shaivalak said. “He left a messsssage for you. He ssssaid, if you hadn’t oppossssed him, he would have sssspared the villagerssss. He ssssaid the blame for all thissss fallssss upon you.”
Gameknight heard the words and could just imagine Herobrine saying them. That AI virus had a way of manipulating his enemy’s emotions, and he was still doing it from the grave, like some kind of phantom. He knew it was all just a game to Herobrine, but still heard the truth in the words.
“And when I am done with you, I’m going to torture that lanky boy over there, and it will all be your fault,” the spider queen said. “You have forced me to do thissss, and the blame will be yourssss. It will be like you are doing the killing when my clawssss do their damage.”
The music of Minecraft suddenly swelled and filled Gameknight’s mind, the lyrical tones driving away his doubts and fear, leaving only courage and truth in their place.
“Your words do not bother me, spider,” the User-that-is-not-a-user said. “I know now that I control my own fate, just as you control yours. If you lay a single claw on my friends, it will be because you have chosen to do so. And you will be held accountable.”
Gameknight circled to the left, trying to see where the skeleton king had gone, but it was as if he had disappeared into the shadows. Just then, the clicking sound of spiders echoed off the walls as half-a-dozen of the monsters climbed down the walls and joined the fray.
“You see, my minionssss have finally arrived,” the spider queen said. “My great army of ssssisterssss will come and desssstroy all of you.”
Gameknight laughed.
“You know nothing,” he said. “That is all that is left of your army. We destroyed nearly all of them. Your six spiders are all that will come to your aid.” He took a step forward and lowered his diamond sword to the ground. “It’s over. Just surrender and stop the violence.”
“Never!” Shaivalak spat.
She charged forward, but Gameknight was ready. He rolled to his right, then brought up his iron sword as she soared overhead. Its sharp tip tore HP from the monster, making her flash red.
Standing, Gameknight turned to face his opponent and brought up his diamond sword just in time to block one of her claws from striking his chest. But he did not stop the other claw from raking across his leg. He flashed red with pain and stepped back to regain his bearings.
Bringing both swords up, he readied for another attack. But instead of charging forward, the spider shot out cubes of spider webs, trapping Gameknight’s feet. As he swung his swords at the sticky filament, the spider’s claw raked across his back.
Pain erupted along his arm. He tried to roll away, but his feet were still glued to the ground.
Another block of white web shot through the air and captured his left hand, trapping the iron sword in the sticky strands. Gameknight swung his diamond sword at the web, slowly cutting through the strands, but another block of web appeared, making the task harder.
More pain exploded through his body as another claw found a gap between armored plates.
“You don’t look sssso fierce to me now,” Shaivalak hissed.
She attacked again, this time dragging her claw across Gameknight’s leg. His diamond coating shattered as the curved claw destroyed the last of the diamond legging’s strength.
“Now I will do what my predecesssssor failed to do: desssstroy Gameknight999,” the spider queen said as she stood directly in front of him. With her eyes glowing bright with rage, she charged forward.
The sound of two voices echoed through the cave.
“FOR GAMEKNIGHT999!” they cried as two flaming arrows streaked through the air, flying directly over Gameknight’s shoulders. The missiles zoomed so close to his head that his hair was singed. The arrows struck the spider, pushing her back. Then another pair of arrows flew, zipping past his ears, hitting her again. A look of shock and fear filled her purple eyes as the last pair of arrows hit her in the chest, consuming the last of her HP. With a look of surprise in her multiple eyes, she disappeared.
Shaivalak, the spider queen, was gone.
CHAPTER 26
REAPER
“The timers!” Crafter yelled.
Gameknight turned and looked at the display on the wall. It was down to 8. There was no time to celebrate.
He quickly chopped through the rest of the spiderweb that had him immobilized, then ran through the battlefield. With his two swords, he carved a path through the skeletons, sometimes just smashing into them with a lowered shoulder, sometimes kicking them out of the way. He streaked toward the shadowy side of the cavern and the narrow bridge that led to the sea of command blocks. But when he reached the bridge, a pale figure moved out onto the opposite end, emerging from the shadows like a ghostly apparition.
“You may have been able to dispatch that foolish spider,” Reaper said from the shadows. “But now you must face me and my new pet.”
The skeleton slowly moved out of the darkness. His pale bones became quickly visible, but strangely, his legs didn’t seem to be moving.
“You have been a nuisance for too long, Gameknight999. It is now time for you to be destroyed.”
As the skeleton king moved forward out of the shadows, Gameknight thought he saw eight points of red light moving beneath his body. They bobbed left and right while Reaper approached, but Gameknight still couldn’t tell what it was. As the skeleton king moved into the dim light cast by a nearby redstone torch, eight fuzzy black legs materialized out of the shadows under him.
Gameknight was shocked. He was riding a spider. Reaper was now a spider jockey!
Gameknight had heard of these on the Internet, but had never battled one. People said they were difficult to fight; the skeleton’s bow struck at you when you were far away, and the curved claws of the spider hit you when you were near. He shook with fear when he looked at the monstrous duo, then glanced at the timer on the far wall. The number changed from 7 to 6. Pushing away his uncertainty, Gameknight999 glared at the monster.
“Herobrine is destroyed and his destructive influence on the villagers of the Overworld is over,” Gameknight said. “The command blocks that stand behind you are all that is left of his evil ways.”
“So you think, User-that-is-not-a-user.” Reaper laughed, and gave him a knowing smile that made Gameknight999 wonder.
Is this the last of Herobrine’s tricks? he thought.
“But enough talk. It is time for you to meet your doom,” the skeleton king rasped.
The spider jockey charged forward across the narrow bridge that led to the command blocks, then stopped in the middle, denying anyone the ability to pass. The sharp blade of the skeleton’s arrowhead scraped across Gameknight’s shoulder as it streaked by, just narrowly missing him. Rolling under the next shot, Gameknight raced out onto the skinny bridge. He brought his swords forward, slicing at the spider’s head. The giant monster backed up a step, then hissed as her eyes glowed bright red with hatred. Jumping into the air, Gameknight sliced at the skeleton. His attack was not meant to score a hit; he just intended to keep the bony creature off balance. When he landed on the ground, the User-that-is-not-a-user brought his dual swords down on the spider’s shoulders, making the cr
eature screech with pain as it flashed red. Before they could respond, Gameknight swung his swords wildly. The monstrous duo backed up quickly, inching a little closer to the command blocks, giving Reaper time to notch and fire another arrow. The projectile hit Gameknight in the side, causing pain to erupt throughout his body.
“Gameknight,” a voice boomed from behind. He glanced over his shoulder and found Digger running across the cobblestone platform, a concerned look on his blocky face.
“Spleef,” he shouted, then tossed his iron pickaxe into the air.
Understanding his plan, Gameknight dropped his iron sword and reached out for the tool. His sword clattered to the cobblestone bridge, then fell over the side, pinwheeling into the darkness. Glancing at the timer, he saw that it was now at 5. Catching the iron tool in his left hand, the User-that-is-not-a-user slowly advanced. The sword finally hit the ground with a clang, and the sound verified what Gameknight999 already knew in his gut: a fall from this height would be a death sentence.
Reaper fired again, but Gameknight was able to easily bat the arrow away with the pickaxe. He moved closer, then dug up one of the cobblestone blocks.
“If you think that is going to protect you, then the zombie king named you correctly, Fool,” Reaper said.
The pair were still far from the missing block. He had to get them closer.
Gameknight stepped to the edge of the missing block, then put away his sword and shifted the pickaxe to his right hand. Reaper fired again, but the arrow was easily deflected.
“Come closer, coward,” Gameknight said.
Reaper laughed.
“I am not a fool,” the skeleton said, then launched two arrows at him in quick succession. Gameknight deflected the first arrow with a flick of his wrist, but the second arrow landed in his leg, causing his HP to drop dangerously low.
I have to get them closer, Gameknight thought.
“You know, Reaper, the spider queen begged for mercy just before I killed her,” Gameknight lied. The spider stopped backing up and glared at him. “She said she knew her forces were weak and gutless, but in general, all spiders are cowards anyway. Look around you. None of them were even brave enough to come protect her.”
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