Suddenly, the iron door opened and a familiar face appeared, peeking out and smiling a mischievous grin. It was Shawny.
“Hi, there,” he said playfully. “You wanna come in or what?”
“Shawny!” Gameknight yelled, then grabbed Crafter and pulled him inside, the iron door slamming shut behind them.
This triggered a burst of activity outside, moans and growls of frustration and hatred. Pounding instantly commenced as the zombies reached the door, their blunt fists trying to smash in the iron barrier.
“Where have you been?” Gameknight asked as he backed away from the door, moving farther into the tunnel.
“I’ve been here,” Shawny answered. “Just waiting until you had the monsters all riled up. We need them nice and angry for this thing to work.”
“Is everything prepared?” Crafter panted as he tried to catch his breath, sweat beaded on his face.
“Of course,” Shawny replied. “But it wasn’t easy getting some of the users to help. You’ve pissed off a lot of people, Gameknight. You don’t have a lot of fans.”
Gameknight looked to the ground, ashamed of his behavior for maybe the first time in his life. Looking up at his friend, maybe his only friend, he was grateful that he was here. Glancing up at the ceiling, Gameknight noticed the shining silvery thread that stretched up from Shawny’s head through the rocky ceiling, connecting him to the server, his name floating overhead suspended on nothing but glowing bright in the dimly lit tunnel.
“I know,” he said solemnly. “I wasn’t very nice to other people.”
“Not very nice?” Shawny said, laughing. “You were a complete jerk.”
“Yeah, I know. I was disrespectful and offensive and hurt other people for my own enjoyment. I was out for myself and only myself.” He sighed. “It’s a wonder anyone would even come to help me after the way I treated everyone . . . even you, Shawny. Thank you.”
Shawny looked at Gameknight with a curious look.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Shawny said, a smile growing on his face.
“What?” Gameknight asked.
“You saying thank you,” his friend replied.
Gameknight patted his friend on the back, but was quickly brought back to reality as the sound of endermen at the door echoed through the passage.
“Come on,” Shawny said. “We need to get to the cavern before they break through. The endermen will quickly take away the blocks of dirt around the doors, and then they’ll be in.”
Shawny led the pair deeper into the passageway, torches placed sparingly in the walls to provide some light. It slowly led downhill, deeper underground, curving this way and that, the tunnel cooling as it descended. At times it was two to three blocks wide, at other places only a single block, forcing the group to follow single file.
“You need to know something,” Shawny said in an unusually serious tone as they ran through the tunnel. “Something is wrong with Minecraft.”
“What do you mean?” Gameknight asked.
“Respawning is messed up somehow.”
“Respawning?”
“When we die, we don’t respawn,” Shawny explained. “We just get kicked off the server and can’t reconnect, like we’ve been cut off or banned, but not just on this server, on all servers. Our Minecraft gets corrupted, somehow and won’t connect. All the other users on the Internet are talking about it.”
“Does the screen mention the ban hammer?” Gameknight asked.
“No, we just can’t connect to anything. The servers show in our server list, but we can’t get to any of them. All of these users here know this; if they die here, they won’t ever be able to get back into Minecraft. If we all die, then you’ll be on your own.”
“That’s encouraging,” Gameknight said sarcastically as they moved quickly through the tunnels.
“It’s the war,” Crafter interjected, as they moved through the tunnels, the sounds of monsters in the distance adding more haste to the journey. “The mobs have taken enough XP to destabilize this world, changing the mechanisms that control this server. They’re getting ready to move up to the next server plane, closer to the Source. They need this battle to destroy this server and move up to the next level.”
“What happens if you die?” Shawny asked his friend, concern in his voice.
“I don’t know, but it hurts . . .” Gameknight paused for a moment as the memories from that first spider flooded his mind. “It hurts to get hit by the mobs, hurts like it’s for real. I don’t think I want to know what it feels like to die; it’s likely unpleasant, to say the least. I’m not sure what will happen. Maybe I’ll respawn or maybe I’ll get kicked from the game and end up back in my basement, or . . .”
“Or what?” Shawny asked in a quiet voice, almost a whisper. The shuffle of their feet filled the tunnel with hushed echoes.
“Or maybe I just die . . . you know . . . for real.”
Just then, the narrow tunnel ended, opening up to a massive cavern filled with lava, an island of stone and sand in the center surrounded by a sea of burning rock. A sulfurous smell filled the chamber, instantly assaulting the senses while the blast of heat from the molten rock hammered the trio in the face, making them take a step back. The size of the place filled Gameknight with awe. The massive island at the center would likely be able to hold a thousand people, but more impressive was the incredible volume of lava, the lake stretching out deep into the recesses of the cavern, at places flowing out of sight. Roughly hewn walls and ceiling surrounded the lava lake. Clearly mined by the users with their pickaxes, the gigantic chamber had been carved out of the flesh of Minecraft just for this battle. Tunnels could be seen at the back of the cavern, each carved by an army of users, the passages lit with torches. Where they led Gameknight wasn’t sure, but for some reason he felt reassured that they were there.
A circle of torches ringed the cavern, each placed four blocks high and spaced five blocks apart, but the burning embers offered little light compared to the orange glow of the lava, their existence likely left over from the incredible building process for this massive chamber. A set of stone stairs descended from the narrow tunnel to the cavern floor, the steps leading to a narrow bridge of stone that spanned the boiling lake and opened to the huge island in the center. On the other side of the stone island was another bridge, its construction similar to its twin, one bridge to get on the island, and one bridge to get off. All the way on the opposite side of the burning lake was a small ledge, ten blocks wide, ringing the far side. The shelf was large enough to hold perhaps a hundred defenders, though currently there were none, now.
“Where is everyone?” Crafter asked, fear in his voice.
“They said they’d be here,” Shawny replied, his voice sounding agitated and a little scared.
The sounds of monsters could be heard in the tunnel behind them. Gameknight could almost feel their malice and hatred. He was scared.
“Quickly, across the bridge,” Shawny said, running across the stone path, lava flowing on either side.
The three companions crossed the stone bridge and reached the large central island. They could feel the heat from the lava as sparks and ash leapt up into the air, the molten rock lighting the chamber as if it were day.
“How are we gonna do this?” Gameknight asked. “We can’t hold the bridge with just three of us.”
“We don’t want to hold the bridge,” Shawny explained. “We need to lure them all onto this island. Then we’ll have a little surprise for them.”
Just then the sounds of the mobs filled the cavern, the tunnel opening filling with zombies and cave spiders, white skeletons and glowing green slimes showing between the arms and legs of those in front. A chill flowed down Gameknight’s spine as fear—no, terror—filled his soul. There are so many, hundreds, maybe a thousand. How can we do this? How can we survive? If only I hadn’t been so selfish, so arrogant and disrespectful, so . . .
Suddenly, a presence appeared next to him, popping into existence noiselessly. It was a user. Gameknight could see letters hovering above his head, a long silvery thread reaching up and piercing the stone ceiling as if it were not there. The letters spelled out “Disko42,” the famous redstone master. Then another user appeared, another silver thread stretching up into the air, “PaulSeerSr.” And in an instant, the island was flooded with users appearing from nowhere, each one with sword drawn, many with diamond armor, some shimmering with enchantments, others just dull iron, but all ready for battle. The island was now crowded with probably thirty to forty users, their sudden appearance making the mobs at the tunnel opening stop, their hungry eyes focused on the new threats. More people were appearing in the cavern, some adding to their numbers on the island while others appeared on the rocky ledge on the opposite end of the chamber. A look of determination was painted on every face.
The users were ready for battle.
Gameknight999 looked about him and was stunned at the high-level players he saw: AntPoison, SkyKid, HoneyDon’t, Zefus, Sin, Pips, SgtSprinkles . . . the most prominent and most skilled players in the game, and they were here to help him; he felt honored.
“Thank you all for coming and helping me out,” Gameknight yelled so that all could hear.
Some of the players laughed.
“We aren’t here for you, Gameknight,” scoffed one voice off to his left.
“Yeah, we’re here because of the weird things happening with Minecraft,” said another voice.
“And because of Shawny,” said AntPoison next to him. “He said this was important and that someone needed our help. He didn’t tell us it was the great Gameknight999.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.
A few more grumbles could be heard throughout the crowd, the thought of helping the worst griefer in Minecraft not sitting well.
“Look, the mobs are trying to take over Minecraft, and we need to stop them,” Gameknight pleaded. “Forget about me. Right now we need to save Mine-craft or these mobs will break through into the physical world.”
Some laughed, but most just stayed silent, glaring at Gameknight999.
“I hear that laughter and see the disbelief in your faces,” Crafter snapped, “but there is more at stake here than your silly game.” The users were shocked to hear this NPC speak and even more surprised to see a sword in his hand. “The NPCs in Minecraft are alive, like me. We are self-aware, know that we exist, and feel a sense of self-worth. We have hopes and dreams, and you griefers and trollers think this is just a game and that NPCs are expendable. Well, here’s a news flash for you: WE FEEL PAIN. We feel despair when our wives or children are killed. We feel sadness when our homes are destroyed by your careless use of power. But right now, all the NPCs across this server are fighting the mobs, putting their lives on the line to save this world and yours as well.
“There are servers above this world that are closer to the Source, each level having stronger and stronger mobs, and the zombies, spiders, endermen, and creepers want to destroy it all—everything, all the way up to the Source. And when the Source goes, everything goes, and the mobs will be released into your world, the physical world.”
Crafter turned to glare at those on the island, pointing an accusatory finger at the users. “So you keep laughing at me and Gameknight, but remember this moment, the time when you had a chance to stand against the flood. And when the creepers come to your house and blow a hole in the wall to let the zombies and spiders come into your bedroom, you can remember that you had a chance to make a difference, but instead of fighting, you just laughed . . . and in the end, when the black claws of the spiders are shredding through your bedsheets and the zombies are tearing at your flesh for real, you’ll probably hear their moaning laughs. Remember this moment then and despair.”
“He’s right,” Shawny said. “I’ve seen what’s going on here, and it’s something bigger than just us. We need to stop these mobs right here, right now, or who knows what will happen.”
The users listened to Crafter and Shawny, considering their words, then talked amongst themselves, some of them stopping their debate to glare at Game-knight. Then they continued to argue, the mobs still holding their position on the other side of the bridge, unsure, waiting. Finally, a voice of reason, HoneyDon’t, rose above the rest. His voice normally sounded funny and silly but the seriousness of his words and his commanding tone swayed the masses.
“We’ve talked,” said HoneyDon’t, “and we’ll help, but not for him,” he said, gesturing at Gameknight, “for Minecraft. We can all tell there’s something brewing on the servers, and if this battle will help, then let’s get it done.”
Gameknight breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the presence of these users might make the difference, tipping the scales in their favor, hopefully.
“Thank you all,” Gameknight said, then turned to face the mobs, sword drawn, ready for battle, but the monsters still remained motionless at the mouth of the cavern, sensing the trap.
“Why won’t they attack?” Shawny asked.
“They suspect a trap,” Crafter whispered. “We have to get them onto this island.”
“How?” HoneyDon’t asked. “Maybe we could offer them some Jaffa cakes?” His laughter filled the chamber.
“Get serious,” Zefus snapped, giving his friend a shove. “What are we going to do?”
“We have to draw them to us,” Crafter said in a low voice, “but how?”
“Like this,” Gameknight said as he stepped forward toward the monsters. “EREBUS, SHOW YOURSELF!”
Nothing happened. Gameknight walked across the island and stood near the end of the bridge, the monsters glaring at him from the other side, their moans and growls filling the air.
“EREBUS, SHOW YOURSELF OR BE KNOWN AS THE MOST COWARDLY ENDERMAN IN MINECRAFT!”
This insult caused the zombies to cease their moaning and the slimes to stop their bouncing. All of the mobs were shocked at the challenge. Suddenly, a dark red presence appeared at the other end of the stone bridge, a purple haze floating about him; it was Erebus, the leader of the mobs on this server. The enderman glared across the bridge at Gameknight999, its eyes burning white hot with rage. Gameknight quickly looked down.
“What did you say, User-that-is-not-a-user?” Erebus cackled in a high-pitched screeching voice. “You want to come over here and talk? Well, come on over.”
“I have nothing to say to you, beast, I just pity you and your little pets behind you. Your cowardice will be known across all the servers of Mine-craft; a thousand mobs afraid of a few users . . . you’re pathetic.”
This brought forth a grumbling from the mobs, the zombies being the loudest. A few stepped forward, wanting to attack, but Erebus held out a long arm, holding them in place, his tall, dark form blocking the bridge.
“Ha ha ha,” Gameknight laughed. “You can’t even control your own beasts. I pity you the most. You were no match for me back at the village, and you’re no match for me here. You are wise to stay out of this battle, though your death will be no loss to this world, just another insignificant bug getting squashed.”
He could see the enderman start to shake, his eyes now burning red.
“You endermen are nothing but thieves, taking a block of dirt here, sand there. Is that all you can do, steal? You have no purpose, just like your little pets. You are all pathetic, a programming mistake. Well, you will go no further. I forbid it.”
Gameknight drew a line on the ground with his diamond sword, a long scratch visible at his feet.
“You have terrorized villages all across this server, taken the lives of NPCs and users for no reason other than to satisfy your thirst for death . . . well, you are now forbidden from causing any more misery. I draw the line, here,” Gameknight yelled. “None may pass unless they go through me first, though I doubt any of you are strong enough or brave enough to try.”
Erebus was about to burst; he was now shaking visibly.
Filling his mouth with saliva, Gameknight spit toward the clusters of monsters, a scowl on his face, and then he laughed at the mob, a disrespectful, mocking cackle that echoed throughout the chamber.
And that was the last straw. The rusty wire that held the cork in place, that kept all of that anger and rage bottled up in the passageway, suddenly broke free. Rushing forward, the mobs charged toward the users with only one thought in mind: kill. Gameknight drew his bow and fired missiles at the oncoming wave of death, killing a zombie, then a cave spider, then a skeleton, but then he was pulled back across the island by a set of strong hands, firing as he was dragged away. Turning, he saw Shawny on one side of him, SkyKid on the other. Releasing him, they both drew their swords.
“Remember the plan,” Shawny yelled, then turned to face the onslaught that was rushing toward them.
Gameknight notched another arrow, then moved to the front of the group of users, the eyes of a thousand monsters focused on him, and to his surprise, he was not afraid. For the first time, he was doing something to help others instead of himself, and it felt good. He hoped it would still feel good when the mass of fangs and claws started to tear into his flesh. Sighing, Gameknight stood his ground and waited.