The Wither Invasion Read online

  A wolf howled nearby, the sound cutting through the icy landscape.

  “Monsters coming.” Er-Lan’s voice sounded scared. “A lot of them.”

  “You heard that in the howl?” Blaster asked.

  Er-Lan nodded.

  “Up ahead, I see some extreme hills,” Mapper said, pointing with a wrinkled finger. “Maybe we can lose them in the valleys.”

  “Right.” Watcher nodded. “Anyone too weak to run, the golems will carry you.”

  He glanced at Mirthrandos. The ancient wizard closed her eyes for a moment, relaying the commands to the metal giants, then opened them and nodded. The iron and obsidian golems reached down and picked up the grandparents and grandchildren in their party.

  “Come on!”

  Watcher turned and sprinted for the snow-covered hills up ahead. A wave of silver streaked past him as the iron wolves and their mechite riders charged ahead, making sure it was safe. Glancing over his shoulder, Watcher looked for their pursuers.

  In the distance, he could see dark shapes moving across the frozen landscape. The monsters were clumped together in a large group, making it difficult to tell their number, but however many there were, he was sure it would be too many for them to fight, and they were moving fast.

  It won’t take long for those creatures to catch us, Watcher thought. We need a plan … I need a plan. But there was nothing in his head, no ideas, no strategies … nothing other than the overwhelming responsibility for keeping these people safe. He was terrified he’d fail these NPCs, and his fear of failing all these villagers and letting some of them get injured, or worse, was making it hard for him to think. Watcher knew the only thing that would help them right now was speed.

  The NPCs ran as fast as they could, their feet kicking snow up into the air. Many stumbled and fell as they crossed the frozen river that wound its way across the landscape. Villagers reached down and helped the fallen to their feet, then kept going, fear keeping their legs pumping.

  When they reached the extreme hills biome, Watcher charged into a narrow valley with steep hills lining the sides. Dark shadows covered the ground, the rays from the setting sun already blocked by the high stony peaks.

  “You sure … being in a narrow valley is … a good idea?” Mapper asked, struggling to catch his breath as he spoke.

  “It’ll make a larger force easier to confront.” Watcher offered the old man a bottle of water. “Confined in these valleys, the monsters won’t be able to use their overwhelming numbers to surround us.”

  “But it can make escape for us more difficult, right?” Mapper sounded worried.

  “Don’t worry, Mapper, these valleys always have an exit.” Watcher smiled at the old man, hoping to appear confident, though it was a lie. He was terrified.

  As they ran between the steep hills, Watcher noticed many snow-covered outcroppings extending over the passes. Structures of stone and gravel stretched out from the peaks, forming a strange, patchy roof over the narrow pass, blocking some of the falling snow from reaching the ground. The overhangs were at least fifteen blocks high but appeared only in a few places. Light from the setting sun cast shades of red and orange, decorating them, making the thin layer of snow on the many cubes of gravel and stone shine as if made of gold; their height allowed them to still be kissed by the setting sun, though the ground was already masked in darkness.

  Suddenly, a group of wolves returned to Watcher and the others, then barked and growled to Mirthrandos. Skidding to a stop, Watcher glanced at Er-Lan, unsure what was wrong.

  “The wolves say it is a dead end up ahead,” the zombie said. “There is no exit that way.”

  “Then we need to go back.” Watcher turned around, but he was greeted by more growls at the other end of the narrow pass. He glanced at the zombie.

  “The monsters have entered the pass.” Er-Lan moved to Watcher and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Many are there, blocking the exit.”

  Growls and snarls floated through the cold air as the monsters slowly moved through the cliff-lined pass toward the group.

  “So … we’re trapped?” Watcher glanced at the zombie, hoping for a different answer than he knew he’d get.

  Er-Lan nodded, then lowered his eyes to the ground. “The wolves report there are many monsters approaching.”

  “How many?”

  The zombie took a nervous swallow, then spoke in a hushed voice. “Far too many to fight … we’re trapped, with no hope of escape.”

  Glancing up at the steep hills, Watcher looked for some way out. The hills were made of stone and gravel, with a few blocks of coal-ore here and there. Every flat surface was covered with snow as soft flakes drifted down from overhead. The sides of the hills were steep, in some places completely sheer; they’d never be able to climb their way out.

  “What’s the plan?” someone asked, but Watcher didn’t really hear them. He was completely overwhelmed with the bitter taste of failure. He’d led them into a hopeless position, from which it seemed escape was impossible.

  “What do we do?” a villager asked.

  “Watcher … use your magic,” another said.

  “Watcher … save us.”

  Every terrified voice drove another icicle of guilt deeper into the young wizard’s soul.

  I was trying to save these people, and now I’ve doomed them. Fear and panic dominated Watcher’s mind, making it difficult to think.

  The snarling voices of the monsters were getting louder … they were coming.

  Someone shouted out for the NPCs to build defenses, but Watcher knew they would do no good. By the mismatched sounds of the horde, he knew these were the warped monsters Krael had brought with him from the distorted lands, which were stronger than regular monsters and could do things others couldn’t.

  “Here they come!” Cutter shouted. “Everyone, get atop the barricade.”

  Villagers charged to the top of the hastily constructed defenses, hoping to hold back the flood of fangs and claws, but to Watcher … it seemed hopeless.

  Walls wouldn’t stop them, nor would arrows or swords … there just were not enough NPCs here to stop this mob. It was hopeless, and it was all Watcher’s fault. He wanted to just give up and disappear, but he knew he didn’t have long to wait for that; death was coming for them all.

  This was the end.

  Distorted creatures, built from the parts of different monsters, charged at the cobblestone wall, but their stench assaulted the defenders before the mob did. The smell of decaying flesh, mixed with the musky aroma of spiders and the strange, putrid smell from the slimes, wafted across the villagers’ defenses, making many of them gag. It was a terrible odor that seemed to cling to the cold, still air, the steep hills blocking any breeze.

  As they reached the villagers’ defenses, creepy spidery things with zombie heads or skeleton arms or huge slime-bodies tried to climb the barricade but were knocked back by swordsmen standing atop the ramparts. The warriors, led by Cutter, slashed at the creatures with all their strength, keeping the monsters down … but it came at a cost. Claws and teeth stabbed at the defenders, tearing into their legs and pulling them from the fortification. Warriors who fell onto the monsters’ side of the wall, mercifully, didn’t scream for very long.

  “Watch the sides of the wall,” Blaster shouted. “Some of the monsters are climbing up the steep hills.”

  Running toward the battle, Watcher pulled out his enchanted bow and fired at those scaling the sheer rocky faces. His arrows struck the monsters, but only slowed them down; he wished he had the Fossil Bow of Destruction right now. Firing a rapid succession of arrows, he took out a spider-enderman, then turned his aim to a spider-creeper. The monster was beginning its ignition process, trying to take out the left side of the wall, but Watcher’s arrows silenced it before the monster could explode.

  “We need more soldiers on the wall!” Cutter shouted.

  Immediately, Watcher put away his bow and drew the Flail of Regrets. As he ran to the fortifi
cations, the young wizard allowed his magic to fill the weapons. A bright purple glow wrapped around the spiked ball, so harsh and bright it was difficult to look at. Leaping onto the battlements, the young wizard swung the Flail with all his strength. Watcher smashed the nearest monster, the spikes tearing into the creature’s HP. Squealing with pain, the half-zombie, half-enderman stared up at him with vile hatred in its cold dead eyes. Watcher swung the flail again, but this time, the monster crouched, the spiked ball missing the monster’s head.

  Before he could attack the creature again, the zombie-enderman jumped high into the air and landed atop the cobblestone wall. Surprised, Watcher took a step back. The creature lunged, its dark fists pummeling him in the chest. Staggering, Watcher flashed red as pain erupted through his body. He lifted the Flail, getting ready to attack, when suddenly a sparkling enchanted sword streaked through the air, hitting the monster in the side; Fencer was behind the creature. The zombie-enderman turned to defend itself, but Fencer struck it again, her curved sword taking the rest of the monster’s HP. It disappeared with a pop, fear and rage painted on its dark face.

  “Thanks,” Watcher said. “I thought I was—”

  “Duck!”

  Watcher crouched just as a skeleton arrow streaked over his head. Fencer knocked the pointed shaft out of the air, then leapt over Watcher, her sword slashing through the air. She landed next to the pale, bony creature, her enchanted blade knocking the skeleton’s bow from its grip. With a strong kick, the young girl knocked the skeleton to the ground; warriors below finished it off.

  Mira suddenly appeared on the wall, her crooked staff swinging to the left and right, smashing attackers in their heads. When she’d made some room, she turned the staff’s end toward the horde and fired a cluster of magic missiles. The shimmering projectiles disappeared amid the huge group of monsters, their sharp tips doing little to slow the horde.

  Frowning, Mira glanced over her shoulder and nodded. Instantly, the ground shook as a group of iron golems lumbered toward the wall. They stepped over the barricade and attacked the monsters, their strong metal arms flinging the creatures high into the air. At the same time, wolves darted amongst the attackers. Sharp metal teeth crunched skeleton bones, zombie arms, and spider legs. They zipped through the battlefield as the golems pounded on the monsters; but there were just too many enemies. Grunting with pain, the golems flashed red as they took damage, while the wolves howled in agony.

  Blaster suddenly appeared at Watcher’s side, his two curved swords moving almost too fast to be seen. He attacked a monster trying to climb over the wall, then stabbed at another right behind the first. Nearby, a scream pierced the air as a villager’s HP was destroyed, the poor soul disappearing from sight. More shouts of pain and fear, voices Watcher recognized, stabbed at his soul; villagers who were depending on him to keep them safe were perishing.

  I’m a failure, Watcher thought. These NPCs are dying because I couldn’t—

  “Watcher, there are just too many monsters attacking us.” Blaster grabbed Watcher’s shoulder and shook him. “We have to do something—you have to do something—fast, or we’re all dead.”

  “I know … I know.”

  “Then what are we gonna do?” Blaster jumped down from the wall and glanced at their surroundings, desperation on his face.

  Watcher leaped down as well and stared at the steep valley walls, hoping for some kind of solution to pop into his head. Suddenly, a flash of green streaked past him. Er-Lan ran across the narrow pass and fell upon a giant spider, the creature sneaking up on Watcher and Blaster. The zombie stood directly in the spider’s path, refusing to let the dark, fuzzy monster past. The spider stared at Er-Lan, a confused expression on its hideous face, then turned and scurried away.

  “Thanks, Er-Lan,” Blaster said. “You saved us.”

  “Fortunately, the spider chose to retreat instead of fight.” The zombie quickly looked to the ground, as if he were embarrassed … or something else.

  Cutter suddenly appeared at Watcher’s side, his armor scratched and dented. “You two need to be up on the wall … we need help and standing down here isn’t doing anything.”

  More cries of pain and fear filled the air, each making Watcher quiver with guilt. He tilted his head back, staring up at the dark night sky, hoping to find an answer … and then he saw it.

  “Look up there.” Watcher pointed at the overhanging blocks of stone stretching across the narrow valley. “There’s hundreds of gravel blocks sitting on top of a thin layer of stone.” He glanced at Blaster and smiled. “If we could strategically place a few blocks of TNT along the stone, the explosions would cause all that sandstone to come falling down on the heads of the monsters.”

  “What are you thinking?” Cutter glared at the young wizard. “We’re down here, and the gravel is up there. What are you gonna do, just shoot yourself up there like a rocket?”

  “Well … I haven’t figured out how to—”

  Blaster smiled and interrupted. “I know exactly what to do.” He turned toward Cutter. “Tell the warriors I need just a few minutes; they have to hold out a little longer.”

  “I’ll give you as much time as I can.” The big warrior ran toward the battle, his loud battle cry startling both monster and villager alike.

  “Do I want to know what you’re planning?” Watcher asked.

  “Probably not.”

  Turning back to the fortified wall, Blaster scanned the scene, then shouted, “Fencer, I need you over here.”

  The girl instantly leapt off the wall, her enchanted sword glowing in her hand. She ran to Blaster’s side, a huge smile on her eager face.

  “Just stand back, Watcher, and let us work.” Blaster explained to Fencer what he needed, then pulled out his pickaxe and dug a single-block channel in the ground. Fencer used her father’s pick and dug a second one, intersecting with Blaster’s so they formed a large “+”. Around the two grooves, Blaster and Fencer placed redstone dust, then positioned a block of stone at the center. Then, using six blocks of TNT, they filled the channels and poured water in the rest.

  “With any luck, this should shoot me up into the air. I’ve positioned it so that it’s right next to that ledge up there.” Blaster pointed with a redstone torch. “If I don’t hit it on the way up, and I don’t miss it on the way down, then I should land safely up there.”

  “How do you know the blast won’t hurt you?” Fencer asked.

  Blaster shrugged. “I don’t.”

  Fencer took a step closer. “And what happens if you hit the rock on the way up?”

  He shrugged again. “I suspect that would be bad.”

  “This is too dangerous.” Fencer turned to Watcher, eyes pleading. “He can’t do this … it’s suicide.”

  “I can do it,” Blaster insisted.

  “No.” Watcher shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. I won’t let you do it.”

  “But we can’t hold out much longer against these monsters.” Blaster stared at his friend, his eyes pleading. “It must be done.”

  Watcher nodded. “I agree. That’s why I’m gonna do it.”

  “You can’t … TNT is my thing.” Blaster scowled at his friend.

  “And keeping people safe is my thing.” Watcher placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Besides, I need you there for the last battle. I’m sure we’ll need lots of explosive surprises to slow down the monsters. You have to be there; you’re critical.” He glanced at the villagers on the battle line. “The same is true for Planter, Cutter, Mira … everyone will have an important task in that last battle but me. You all can lead these villagers if I don’t survive.” He stared at Blaster, his bright blue eyes boring into the boy’s soul. “You know I’m right.”

  Watcher moved to the center of the contraption and placed an iron helmet on his head. “Now light this thing, and let’s see if it works.”

  Blaster pulled Fencer to the side, then drew a redstone torch from his inventory. “You sure you want to do thi
s?”

  Watcher shook his head. “I don’t want to, no, but I must, for all of them,” he waved his hand at the embattled villagers, then pointed at Planter, “and for her.”

  A look of anguished pain covered Planter’s face as she held her flaming purple shield in front of the other NPCs, trying to protect as many as possible. She glanced over her shoulder at Watcher, a look of confusion and concern in her beautiful green eyes.

  “EVERYONE, FALL BACK!” Watcher’s amplified voice echoed off the cold hillsides.

  The thunderous volume in his voice shocked the monsters, causing them to stop attacking for an instant. That was all the NPCs needed. The villagers jumped off the wall and retreated, running past Blaster’s TNT contraption.

  Watcher turned to Blaster. “Do it.”

  His friend sighed, then placed the redstone torch on the ground. Instantly, the TNT blocks started to blink as they prepared to explode.

  “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all,” Watcher murmured to himself, then gritted his teeth as the blocks exploded, enveloping him in fire and smoke and heat.

  As the explosive blast shot Watcher into the air, the smell of gunpowder and smoke wrapped around him like a thick blanket. Soaring straight up, the young wizard looked at his feet, then leaned forward, allowing himself to fall toward his target: the rocky outcropping. He bent forward even more, trying to will himself forward a block or two.

  I’m not gonna make it! he realized. The thought filled him with terror.

  The monsters in the valley were moving forward now, slowly approaching his friends where they were clustered at the back of the dead-end passage. If he were to fall back onto the ground, the terrifying creatures would fall upon him, and Watcher knew he wouldn’t last long then.