The Wither Invasion Read online

  The scared expressions on the tiny creature’s three faces faded away. Kobael glanced down at Mirthrandos, then smiled and moved closer.

  “Kobael, I’ve missed you so much.” Mira smiled. “I told my friends here all about how we met so long ago and—”

  “There’s no time to talk. I must tell you what I’ve learned.” Kobael moved closer to Watcher. “You’re the wizard Krael hates, right?”

  Watcher nodded.

  The tiny wither smiled. “Krael thinks he killed you. I can’t wait to see the expressions on his faces when he learns he’s wrong.”

  “You know I can’t let you go back to Krael and tell him.” Watcher’s voice resonated with conviction. He gripped the Flail tight, just in case.

  Kobael shook his three skulls. “I’m never going back to them. I’d rather live alone for the rest of my life than be around those terrible monsters.”

  “Well, Kobael, what did you learn about Krael?” Mirthrandos put a hand on the wither’s shoulder, then pulled him close.

  With each skull looking at a different wizard, Kobael spoke. “Krael isn’t just planning on killing all of you. He wants to kill every villager in this entire world.”

  “You mean in the Far Lands?” Planter asked.

  The tiny wither shook his three heads. “No, he wants to destroy every NPC in this plane of existence. After he destroys the NPCs in the Far Lands, he plans on moving into the Overworld, growing his army as he does. Krael wants to destroy every NPC in this plane of existence. And when he’s done here, he plans on going to every other plane of existence in the Pyramid of Servers. Krael wants to destroy every NPC in every world all across Minecraft. And when he’s exterminated the NPCs, he’ll likely turn on the monsters, until only withers remain.”

  The wizards gasped.

  “He’ll destabilize the whole Pyramid of Servers.” Mira’s voice sounded weak as the shock of this news settled in.

  “What does that mean?” Planter asked.

  The ancient turned and looked at the two young wizards. “If the Pyramid of Servers collapses, then all of Minecraft will be gone … forever.”

  Planter gasped. “Oh no.”

  Kobael nodded.

  “He must be stopped.” Watcher’s magic grew brighter, as did his anger at the thought of Krael’s plans.

  Suddenly, a whooshing sound, just barely audible over the rustling of the leaves, drew his attention back into here and now.

  “They’re here,” Watcher whispered.

  “What?” Mira leaned forward.

  Another whoosh sounded high overhead, this one louder. Some leaves fluttered to the ground.

  Mira turned and glanced up at the oak, her staff held at the ready. “Did you hear that?”

  Another whoosh, this one followed by an evil chuckle, caused more leaves to fall to the forest floor.

  “They’re here,” Watcher warned.

  He drew his enchanted bow and notched an arrow. Another whoosh pierced through the darkening forest. Without waiting, Watcher turned and fired at the sound, though his target was invisible in the shadows. A chuckle was cut short, and then there was another whoosh.

  “It’s the endermen; they found us.” Watcher drew another arrow and pulled it back, waiting for another shadowy creature to materialize nearby. “Krael will be here soon. We must—” Another whooshing sound drew his attention. Watcher spun and fired without even looking, allowing his hearing to guide his shot. “We must warn the others.” He looked up into Mira’s eyes, an expression of fear etched into his iridescent face. “The Great War is here, and it’s time to fight … or die.”

  Not waiting for an answer, Watcher ran to the edge of the sinkhole and stared down into the darkness. As the NPCs followed the rough-hewn steps into the pit, Watcher imagined everything that might happen tonight. Images of death and destruction filled his mind as waves of terror smashed into his soul.

  What if I can’t do it? he asked the magical weapons in his inventory. What if I can’t stop Krael?

  Then all is lost, the ancient wizards said in unison.

  For a moment, Watcher looked for a place to hide; a hole that he could just crawl into and disappear. But then Planter moved next to him, her shield blazing with purple flames. She glanced at him and nodded at him, then stared out into the forest, a look of confidence and strength on her beautiful face.

  “I have to do it, somehow,” Watcher said. “I have to make my little trick work, or else …” He didn’t want to finish the sentence. A feeling of dread enveloped his mind as he thought about what might happen tonight, but, shaking his head, he pushed the feeling away. Gritting his teeth, he ran down the stairs leading into the ancient structure, hoping the impossible would happen, and they’d somehow live through the night.

  The rest of their army made it into the Wizard’s Tower without any more endermen appearing; the message was likely already being whispered in Krael’s ear that the NPCs were at the Tower. Hoping to avoid having anyone attack Kobael, Watcher amplified his voice and told all the NPCs that the tiny wither was a friend. Then Mira went in with Kobael and hid him within the underground passages to avoid detection by any other endermen.

  Watcher was the last to enter the Tower. When he finally stepped off the stairs and entered the ancient structure, he was greeted by complete silence. The gentle tickle from the Tower was now an annoying itch spreading everywhere; the magic from the ancient structure seemed to be infusing itself into Watcher’s body, its energy filling every space within him. He could feel the great power, but had no idea what it did, nor how to use it. For now, all he could do was try to push the sensation aside and focus on their battle plans.

  Their army stood uneasily on the ground floor, many villagers shifting nervously from foot to foot. The expressions on their square faces was self-explanatory; everyone was terrified. They all knew Krael was out there somewhere, and Cleric still hadn’t returned with the all-important cavalry, if he would be able to return at all.

  Taking slow steps through the crowd, Watcher grasped hands, patted villagers on the back, and smiled reassuringly to the NPCs, trying to ease their worries, but he knew it had little effect. These people were rightfully scared; the biggest and most lethal army in all of Minecraft’s history was descending upon them. They were outnumbered three-to-one or four-to-one or … who knew for sure? Whatever the ratio, it wasn’t good.

  “I know you’re all scared.” Watcher’s voice was soft and calm. “But we’re gonna weather this storm and keep Minecraft safe from these monsters. We just need to have faith and work together, then we’ll—”

  “I saw the endermen,” someone shouted in a panic from the back of the crowd. “They materialized in the trees. When they saw we were all here, they disappeared. The monsters will be here soon.”

  “You’re right. The monsters will be here soon. But we have a plan, and—”

  Suddenly, a pulse of energy flowed out from the Tower and surged through Watcher. He’d never felt so much power in his life; it was almost too much to contain. His body gave off a bright flash of iridescent light as his legs buckled, and he fell to his knees. The other NPCs had to shield their eyes from the intense burst of energy, many turning away.

  “What was that?” someone asked.

  “Was it an attack by Krael?”

  “Maybe it was the Crowns of Skulls?”

  Panicked arguments broke out amongst the villagers, their fears amplified.

  Then Watcher felt something soft rub up against him. He opened his eyes and found one of the wolves leaning against him, its fine silver fur softer than a feather. Fixit sat atop the wolf, peering at the young wizard, a worried expression on his metallic face.

  Reaching out, Watcher patted the wolf on the side and smiled at Fixit, then slowly stood. “It’s okay, everyone.” The young wizard held his hand up into the air, silencing the crowd. “That wasn’t an attack, it was just some of my magic reacting to the Tower. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  �
��Nothing to worry about?” Planter glared at him. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  He just shrugged and smiled at her. She returned the smile with a scowl, then moved to the back of the crowd, clearly frustrated with him.

  Turning, Watcher scanned the crowd for a certain NPC, and when he spotted him, he moved to his friend’s side. “Blaster, you think you could prepare some surprises for when the monsters arrive?”

  “No problem.” They boy smiled as he put on his black leather armor. “We just gathered all the materials. I have a few ideas that’ll be fun to watch.”

  “The monsters will attack from the east,” Watcher said. “The first wave will come when the sun has completely set, but the moon hasn’t risen yet; it’ll be the darkest part of the night.” The room became very quiet. Turning, he found every NPC staring at him, terrified expressions on their faces. His explanation had just made this real for all of them. “So Blaster, put your traps to the east of the tower. They’ll do the most damage there.”

  “You got it, sir. Wizard.” Blaster did a graceful, sarcastic bow and gave his friend a smile, then ran up the stairs, with Fencer and eight NPCs following close behind.

  You must use the Answer to defeat the monsters, Dalgaroth said in the wizards’ minds. You can destroy all of the monsters that way.

  Mira and Planter turned toward Watcher.

  A strange look spread across Er-Lan’s face, as if a profound sadness had just spread through his being.

  But the Tower is too low. I’d have to wait until they’re right on top of us, Watcher thought. That’ll be too dangerous.

  It’s the only way, Mira added with her mind.

  Planter glared at the other two wizards, then turned and stepped out of the Tower for a moment, with Fixit and his wolf following close behind.

  Use the cape, Taerian said in Watcher’s mind.

  “What? I don’t understand.”

  While you’re using the cape, no one else can hear our thoughts. Taerian’s scratchy voice felt abrasive in the back of Watcher’s mind, as usual.

  Watcher nodded, then gathered his power and sent it into the cape. A brief tingling sensation spread across his body, and then he disappeared as the NPCs around him gasped in surprise.

  Baltheron, you were here when Tharus made the Tower. Tell him.

  Tell me what? Watcher asked.

  Tharus stored huge amounts of energy in this tower; you just tasted the smallest bit. Some of it was meant for the Answer, but there is still enough power in the Tower to do many other things.

  Like what? Watcher asked.

  Baltheron’s voice became a whisper as he explained all the surprises hidden within the Tower, and with each new revelation, Watcher smiled wider. When the ancient wizard was done explaining everything, Watcher pulled his magic from the wizard’s cape and reappeared. Instead of a scared expression on the young wizard’s face, a look of excited confidence stared back at the NPCs. Some of the villagers smiled and stood a little taller.

  “You sure like disappearing in front of everyone!” Planter looked furious. “People were scared, and we thought … why are you smiling? We’re about to face our greatest battle and you’re standing there grinning like an idiot. What’s going on?”

  Watcher moved to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’ll be alright. I have a few surprises in store for Krael and his army, starting with this.”

  He pulled out an iron pickaxe, then moved to the far wall of the tower, where he could tell, now that Baltheron’s instructions had alerted him, that one of the quartz blocks making up the floor sparkled faintly.

  “What are you doing now?” Planter stormed across the room, her footsteps pounding the ground as he swung the pick with all his strength. “There’s no time to be digging. We need to get ready and—”

  The block shattered, throwing shards of quartz into the air. Watcher dropped the pick and knelt, peering into the hole. An ancient chest lay hidden in the darkness, a thick layer of dust covering its top. Reaching down, Watcher opened the lid, and instantly, Planter put her hands to her ears, trying to block out sounds no one else could hear.

  “What’s in there?” Cutter asked, moving to the boy’s side. He knelt and reached into the chest, pulling out stacks of shields, each one bright red with three dark skulls emblazoned across their centers. They sparkled and shimmered with magical power just like the ones carried by Planter and Fencer.

  “I can hear them all,” Planter moaned. “They’re all talking to me at the same time. I can’t understand what they’re saying, but I hate it. I hate all this magic!” She turned and staggered away, Mapper going with her and helping her find a seat.

  “Everyone on the ground gets a shield.” Watcher distributed the shields to the villagers. “Don’t touch them together unless the situation is truly dire. They’ll protect us only once, so it must be when things seem hopeless.” He walked to Planter’s side. “Planter will be at the center of the wall of shields. She’ll know what to do.”

  “What are you talking about?” Planter scowled, confused.

  “Baltheron just told me you’d know what to do when you bring the shields together. We have to trust him.” Watcher shrugged. “We have no other choice.”

  She glared at him. “I hate this.”

  “I know.” He nodded, then turned to Cutter. “Let me explain my plan.”

  And he explained what he had in mind. Each step in his battle plan was described, the pieces like a choreographed dance. Watcher told them what to do, and what not to do … like run away. And as he went through the plan, the NPCs seemed to stand up a little taller. The strategy, though incredibly dangerous, gave him the smallest bit of hope.

  “It’s time.” The young wizard held his fist in the air. “Strength and courage.”

  “Strength and courage,” the NPCs replied, the mechites squeaking and the wolves howling.

  Turning, Watcher charged up the stairs that led to the top of the Tower. When he reached the top, he found the forest bathed in darkness. The sun had set and the moon had not yet peeked its lunar face above the horizon; it was the darkest part of the night … and that meant that the battle was almost upon them.

  A shiver of fear slithered down his spine, but he pushed the emotion away and looked to the east. He gathered his magic and poured it into the wizard’s cape, causing him to disappear from sight.

  “I’m ready for you, Krael. It’s your move,” his voice ringing with strength.

  Just then, a majestic howl cut through the air; it was a warning from one of the wolves patrolling the forest: the wither king and his army were here.

  And the Great War began … again.

  Watcher stared out across the dark forest, the sparkling canopy of stars overhead shining down at him as if each of the glistening pinpoints of light were eager to watch the terrible spectacle about to unfold. A chill spread across the land as the constant east-to-west breeze seemed to whisper into his head the names of those already fallen in this horrible conflict. Watcher knew the wind wasn’t really saying anything; it was the guilt over failing to protect these villagers that was creating the haunting voice in his mind. He knew he couldn’t save them all, and that many would lose their lives tonight, but he also knew he had to take responsibility for what was about to happen. If he couldn’t save these villagers, then no one could.

  Reaching under his chest plate, Watcher pulled out Mira’s blocking stone and stared down at the inky-black gem. A faint sparkle of magic surrounded the artifact. Holding it higher, he raised the stone to eye level and peered into its faceted surface. There seemed to be tiny faces staring out of the ancient artifact, thousands of them, all swirling around within it like grains of sand in a windstorm.

  Are those the faces of the dead? Watcher thought. Just then, he saw the face of Fencer’s mother, Saddler, come into view, her dark brown eyes filled with compassion, just as he remembered them. She tried to say something, but her words were trapped within the stone. Watche
r moved the artifact closer, but still heard nothing.

  “I can’t block out the voices of the injured or dying,” he said to himself. “Hiding from my responsibility won’t help anyone. I must own this and face my fear of failure.” Then he yanked on the stone hard, causing the thin chain around his neck to snap.

  Instantly, the voice of Saddler whispered to him in the back of his mind. When he heard what she said, he gasped; it was her last words before she died in that terrible battle with the spiders.

  “I know you can do it. Save my daughter, please …” she said, and then she disappeared for a second time and the stone grew dark. As always, Saddler had had complete faith in him, regardless of the odds.

  Leaning over the edge of the tower, Watcher looked down at the defenders on the ground. Wolves and golems and villagers all turned and glanced up at him, somehow sensing his need, although he was invisible. Though they were scared, the fear etched plainly into each square face, the villagers and metal creatures also had faith in him. Below, Planter and Mira glanced at each other, then each raised a fist into the air as a salute to the Wizard of War. They too believed Watcher could see them through the terrible battle about to crash down upon them.

  If all of them have faith in me, maybe I should have faith in myself as well, Watcher thought.

  That’s the smartest thing we’ve ever heard you say. The wizards in his weapons seemed to smile, somehow.

  Watcher nodded and stood a little taller, then turned and gazed into the forest to the east, where redstone torches placed against the trunks of oaks and birches burned a dull crimson in the darkness, casting a faint glow that Watcher hoped would go unnoticed. He knew they were part of Blaster’s TNT contraption, likely intended to bring a redstone signal into the treetops to trigger some kind of lethal surprise.

  The sudden crunch of footsteps on the ground drew everyone’s attention. Archers standing atop the cobblestone towers notched arrows and took aim, warriors standing atop the fortified walls drew their weapons, and NPCs with buckets of water stood ready on the barricade, ready to pour the liquid onto any attackers.