13

NEVER IN THE NETHER

“Where did Pablo go?” Robin questioned, “and what is he planning for us?”

“We can’t worry about that.” Mr. Anarchy pointed at a group of white ghasts that darted across the sky toward them. “We have to destroy these ghasts.”

Robin looked up as the ghasts unleashed high-pitched sounds and shot fireballs. Robin used her fist to deflect one fireball, striking the ghast and destroying it. She was confident that she would win this battle. However, when she was struck by a fireball and lost a heart, she was humbled and quickly called for help.

Michael, Simon, and Mr. Anarchy used a combination of snowballs, arrows, and their fists to help Robin destroy the white flying fiery mobs.

When the last ghast was destroyed, Robin gathered the ghast tears that had dropped. “Ghast tears are very valuable. We can use these to brew potions of regeneration.”

“And other potions, too,” Simon reminded her.

Michael called out as he spotted a Nether fortress in the distance. “We have to travel to that fortress.”

The gang dashed past a couple of zombie pigmen and avoided making eye contact with them, as they navigated their way toward the luminous Nether fortress.

A group of blazes guarded the fortress, and the gang shot arrows at the flying mob until they were destroyed, but one of the blaze fireballs hit Mr. Anarchy, leaving his health bar dangerously low.

Robin handed him milk, and he took a quick sip, eyeing the sky for other powerful mobs that had the potential to destroy him.

Robin was the first to enter the fortress after she gathered netherrack from the side of the stairs. The others joined her and picked the remaining netherrack. Simon stopped and pulled his diamond sword from his inventory. Suddenly, he heard a noise. “Does anyone hear that bouncing sound?”

“Magma cubes!” Robin called out.

Simon leaped at the cubes, slicing one in half, while Robin clobbered the halved cube alongside Simon.

More cubes bounced toward them and the gang stabbed them with their swords. Robin called out in pain as she felt a sword slam into her back. She turned around and gasped as two wither skeletons lunged at her. Robin was sandwiched between the magma cubes and the wither skeletons. She didn’t have any potions in her inventory and barely enough milk to make a proper recovery. She tried to fight back, as her friends came to her aid, but it was too late; Robin was destroyed. She respawned in her bed in the jungle and looked at the other bed for Mr. Anarchy. She wanted to TP back to the Nether, but she really didn’t want to go there, and in any case, TPing to the Nether was impossible.

Mr. Anarchy spawned in the bed next to her.

“Mr. Anarchy!” she called out. “You’re back!”

“Yes,” he spoke quickly. “We have to TP to Lisimi Village. I have the command blocks and we must get everyone off this server as soon as possible. I think Pablo is ready to destroy it.”

Robin didn’t ask questions; she followed Mr. Anarchy back to Lisimi Village and gathered the townspeople.

“Everyone! Meet in the center of town! We’re going home!” Robin exclaimed.

Michael and Simon stood outside Mr. Anarchy’s lab and asked each person to write their name on a slip of paper.

Juan rushed over and gave a thumbs up, “You guys are back! I’m so happy to see you and to be able to say good-bye.”

A townsperson cried out in alarm, “A skeleton!”

Robin looked up at the sky. Night was approaching and it was dark enough for skeletons to spawn. She announced, “We will leave first thing in the morning. It’s too dangerous to leave now.”

Mr. Anarchy bolted from his lab. “Who gave you the power to make that decision?” he shouted at Robin.

At that moment, the townspeople fled to their houses as an army of skeletons invaded Lisimi Village.

Robin pointed to the endless sea of skeletons and replied, “They did.”

Michael cried, “We have to brew those potions.”

“This isn’t the best time for making potions,” Simon retorted as he battled three skeletons.

Lily reappeared, to their relief, and doused all of the skeletons with potions, weakening the entire army.

Everyone slammed their swords and arrows into the bony beasts until the final skeleton was destroyed.

“Can we wait until morning? Or do we have to leave now?” Mr. Anarchy looked at Lily. He needed answers.

“You can wait until morning, but you must get out of here the minute the sun rises,” she warned them.

“We will,” Mr. Anarchy promised. Lily vanished.

The names of the townspeople littered the ground. Everyone headed back to their home, wondering who would be the first to be chosen in the morning.