Minecraft: The Stranger. Rewritten.
Chapter four.
In the past.
The climb up was exhausting and painful, having only climbed a few feet before taking a misplaced step and nearly falling off the damned death trap, scrambling back onto my feet after pulling myself back over the edge, letting out a quick and heavy sigh in relief after the massive scare."Fuck this place, seriously." I muttered to myself as I got back on the stone path towards the peek, being much more mindful of where I stepped this time.
I wrapped my arms around myself in a poor attempt to keep warm after feeling the temperature drop, the freezing winds from the north picking up the higher I got, and with it a even worse cold, hoping to come across some shelter soon before the ice could lay claims on me, though every so often a bit of warmth broke through from the jungle, but it wasn't enough to end the chilling wraith of the frost.
With thinking about the past events being the only thing I could really do to occupy my mind, I found myself drifting off into my thoughts to pass the time, going over all that had happened in my head to piece together what I could remember, the first thing being of me, injured while pulling an arrow out from my gut while the creatures surrounded me, anything more before that was a complete blank.
Even though the events before that were unknown to me, its all I really had to go off of, the other thing being my swords, so hopefully they could bring back a few lost thoughts, which was the source of my determination and the reason I was putting myself through the harsh battle against the powerful force of the elements, hoping they'd give me some clues as to what happened to me, and that this would not be in vein.
But until then, I was stuck limping up to the top, left with only my thoughts and the cold embrace of the mountain.
Back in the present.
The hidden rivers of the caves took me out to a path that lead directly under a pond near the entrance to the jungle, taking in a silent but massive breath once I breached the surface, as the caves inside had an occasional creature or two, forcing me under the waters for most of the swim over, climbing out and wiping the water from my eyes as well as scouting out the cart tracks and the night stalkers that surrounded them from my spot, concealed enough to not worry about them just yet.
From what I could see, there were two large ships coming in to dock inside while several of the cart's came out, a few of them going in as well, while one ship as waiting to be boarded.
In my experience with this route, I'd learned that every cart going in and out contained something, the best ones to grab being the double's, and who knows what there could be held on those ships, something I'd never actually been able to do.
Feeling a little more brave than usual, with the sun close to shining a little light and when it did I'd have my chance, by then they'd be scrambling to get to the dark, and even though the ships were packed with creatures half of the time, I decided to take my chance, never having had a chance to take them before, but now I had the perfect opportunity to finally gain control of a ship, and not just one, but two if I was lucky.
I was fortunate that these things weren't intelligent enough to plan out what they took in and moved out, because sure, I'd found plenty of crap when I attacked just before the sun was close to rising, and even when it was hours way, and sometimes I got great things and other times not, making it not worth the trouble, showing that these things just unpacked and loaded whatever whenever with no strategy in mind, which was really helpful. And there were very few items that were entirely useless to me as it was, so its not like I couldn't find some use for everything I found, even if it meant holding onto it and finding someone else that it would have more value to.
Moving out closer to the cover of nearby trees and bushes, I could see much more of the area, the ships coming closer to docking while a number of carts were being taken in, with very few coming out. If I passed up the chance and waited until there wasn't as many of the creatures there, then it would be safer for me, yet that would mean passing up on this opportunity.
Knowing I might not got a chance like this again, I drew only my diamond sword out as I stalked forward, the sides of both ships and the decks left unguarded for the moment, my guess being the other creatures were below deck, getting the shipment ready.
Both of the ships anchors were already out, giving me easy an access point. quickly climbing up it and silently boarding the enemy ship, ducking behind a few crates to hide until I was sure I was able to freely move about the ship.
Looking out towards the cave across the small lake, I caught sight of only a few were crossing the ice bridge with carts, nearly finished with the other ship ready to leave. If I could move fast enough on this, than I might just take a third, but only if I could secure the first two without alerting the others.
There weren't that many outside, only a few getting the last of the carts loaded.
Quickly thinking over a plan, I reached into my backpack, taking out long line of collected spiders web and silently making my way over to the ship behind it.
It took only a few minutes to successfully put into place everything I needed, two thin lines of incredibly strong spider's web attached to the mast of all but one of the ships, holding both lines in my right hand was I sat in the cover of a tree, waiting for a few of the creatures to pass by on their way to the ship ready to set sail, the crews of the other two returning for to the caves for another shipment after a short trip to the ships to load more onto one of them, finally launching myself out towards the ice that the creatures used to get across the lake once they were all inside.
Standing close to the ice path, I quickly prepared for what was about to happen, letting out a loud whistle to get the attention of the various creatures, each of them snarling as they all turned to face me. I held my right arm up, slowly pulling forward on the string as well as taking out my right steel blade from its scabbard in preparation for the fight.
Knowing that I was now a threat, they pushed aside the carts as they flew into a crazed blood rage, running over towards me with a murderous urge for the new hunt.
Losing whatever sense they had over the new threat, they let out an ear splitting screech to alert the crews as they rushed towards me.
Though the crew of the ship docked by the ice only managed to gain a few feet before I gave one final tug, pulling the mast down upon those that made the mistake of challenging me, either completely crushing them underneath the massive piece of wood or trapping a few of the wretched things.
Having made quick work of the crew, I doubled back towards the second ship with the rest in tow, the few remaining quickly gaining ground, having made it past the icy walk way and snarling with blood lust.
I held my sword up as they entered my kill zone, giving a heavy pull that brought the remaining mast down on top of the rest of the creatures, though the few zombies that had narrowly avoided being trapped underneath lunged after me after climbing over it.
The closest one's claws plunged into the ground after I stepped back, dealing it a heavy kick into its head, cracking it wide open once its head connected with the mast and my foot pressed down against it.
Another two took its place as soon as the first one fell, finding myself brought to the ground as it pounced on me and began to slash its claws across my chest.
I let out a loud growl as I wiggled my right arm free, bringing it across its face before grabbing onto its shoulder and striking it once more, heavily ramming my head into its face and busting its nose open.
With it dazed, I pulled it down off of me, taking it down as I rolled backwards, switching positions with the zombie and holding it down with my foot before I ended it, taking its head clean off with a swipe from my sword, the now headless corpse thrashing around for a bit before finally going still.
Stepping away from my kills, I looked down towards the remaining one, who hung back as I dealt with its brothers.
The two of us made our way towards an area of the beach free of the bodies and parts from the ships, it glaring hatefully at me as I wiped the blood off of my blade, stepping slowly over towards it as it brought its arms up, its claws extended and ready.
I carefully watched the strange zombie, having never seen one withhold from a fight, having only ever seen them relentlessly attack with no signs off stopping, yet this one took a fighting stance.
Ignoring that fact for the moment and going back to thinking I could handle a single zombie, I charged in foolishly, bringing my sword up towards the sky in my belief that it would simply charge in like I had seen them all do. But not this one.
This one whipped its body to the side, the blade of my weapon hitting the ground where he should have been.
Though before I could react to this, it twisted back to me and lunged out for my right arm, grabbing my wrist and forcing the blade into the ground and giving a quick jab into my forearm which made me release my weapon, being smart enough to disarm me.
It held my arm with an iron grip, having to pull back my only free arm to retaliate, though once more did it surprise me.
Turning his back towards me, spinning around as I failed to land the hit with my fist flying past him, his elbow met the side of my face, knocking me back as he finally released me, only to quickly grab a handful of my hair and the back of my shirt and drag my back, tossing me back onto the ground.
Having gained the upper hand for the moment and finding myself being pushed around by a zombie, it took advantage of its free move and jumped onto me as I fell, its claws digging into my shoulders and getting a loud wail out of me before it fled back, having seen what happened to the other when it did nothing but attack me while I was down, not giving me any short of chance of touching it.
And I wasn't about to let myself remain an easy target especially for this freak, pushing myself up despite the wounds from my arms that I'd been given, looking back towards the strangely skilled fighter, its fist clenched and held up, ready for another round.
Severely angered that for a few moments I'd been beaten down by an Undead monster, I hissed in pain as I began to reach back for my only remaining weapon, having unfortunately learned not to underestimate this one, being sure to remember this the next time I found myself overconfident.
Seeing me become serious, it slowly reached out for my other sword, having finally made his own grave mistake.
Once it laid its unholy hands upon the hilt, that very moment it yanked its arm back with a loud howl as the sound of its flesh cooking followed, giving off smoke from the burn it had received from touching the blade, finally seeing my chance at a swift victory; my steel swords enchanted to repel creatures such as him.
Rushing up towards the injured fighter, I twisted around as I lifted my leg up, bringing my heel across its face, causing a loud snap as a result, assuming I had broken its jaw.
Quickly, I took a hold of it injured limb and raised it as I went under, launching myself up along with my elbow, further injuring its jaw yet making sure it wouldn't recover as quickly.
With it completely dazed from each heavy blow, I latched onto its burnt arm, yanking it over my shoulder and flipping him onto the dirt.
With it unable to escape, I took a hold of its shirt and dragged him towards my sword as I stretched out its arm, taking and diving towards my sword, pulling him with me, the blade easily cutting through the now body-less arm, spraying blood all over me and the ground once I'd taken it off.
Having the chance I needed to finally finish the fight, I snatched my sword from the ground and got back onto my feet, watching as it thrashed about on the ground with a horrible screech as it covered up its wound.
Out of respect for it as a fighter, I walked over towards the suffering creature with the intent of putting it out of its misery.
Though when I went to raise my sword up to deal it the final blow, it reacted violently, using the last of its strength and its remaining arm to roll onto its left side and force itself up, kicking its leg out and connecting its foot with my throat and knocking me away.
Though rather than continue a losing fight, it turned to flee rather than clash with me once more, knowing that if we were to do so, it would die, its stump leaving a trail of blood as it fled.
Gasping for air after receiving the hard blow and reaching up to cover my neck up, I watched as it ran towards the safety of the cave, rushing across the ice as I drew once more my left steel sword, as well as my right and took to pursuing it, believing him to be too dangerous to leave alive, though not able to keep up as I was still struggling to catch my breath.
Though as I reached the ice walk way, I came to a hard and sudden stop as I was welcomed to the sight of over a dozen creatures, ranging from skeletons to armed undead to spiders, the armless one glaring out at me as he hid in the shadows, surrounded by its brothers, all ready to come out and kill me.
I know I should make sure that it died, but I was vastly outnumbered, and injured somewhat from the combat already, both without any other reason to continue the fight, nor want to do so, as I now had the three ships and all of the chest that they had brought out to load onto them, and the ones scattered around from the battle. I chose not to follow for my own sake.
Having won the hard fought battle, I held my swords up to the sky and focused, letting my strength flow into them and summoning the power I held within myself, making both glow a bright orange aura before I brought them down onto the ice, the energy from my swords breaking apart their bridge and making them flee away from the separating ice, the chest on the tracks that they'ed abandoned when they came out to fight falling into the waters, making a mental note to retrieve them in the morning when it was safer to traverse the land.
With their only path to the territory now destroyed, they saw no reason to prolong the fight any longer, retreating back into the darkness of the cave, the armless one being the last to remain. His eyes burning into my skull.
Both of us shared a final look of hatred and anger before he joined the rest, leaving me with the treasure I'd sought out, now with the knowledge that I could do so without fear of the creatures hunting me.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned back towards the ships and those trapped underneath the mast, doing the honorable thing and finishing them so that they would not suffer once the sun rose, which was just beginning to shine a bit of light. This mercy I had shown them was something I would never be given, for they were creatures of death and chaos, nothing more. But then, I wasn't them. And I aimed to keep it that way. Once upon a time, I might have been ruthless enough to have let them suffer such a fate, but my mother had taught me to show some restraint and respect, mainly towards my opponents. They were beaten and could do no more harm to anyone. There was no need to prolong their suffering anymore than I already had. That didn't mean I didn't take delight in executing each and every single one of them. Perhaps a bit too much.
For now, with the ice gone, the route was useless to them, but the lake would freeze over once again sooner than I would have preferred, and with it, the creatures would make their return. To haunt my every waking moment.
Though until that time came, I would not have to worry about the monsters below my home, though I knew I had to prepare for the inevitable event that came back in revenge for those that had been slain and the resources I had stolen.
Yet as I looked towards the rising sun, I felt more sure of my strength and skill, having fought back against the night dwellers and succeeded in my endeavors with my own two hands, not only taking possession of the ships, but having shown the creatures that I was taking back my territory.
Though how long my victory would last was unknown to me, thinking back to the single Undead that had fought with a skill I had never known or seen from a creature so far, and I shivered at the thought of running into him another night. Though if we ever did meet again, I knew that I would have to kill him.
Forgetting about the armless one and the future for a moment, I walked onto the only captured ship that could still sail and relished in the spoils of war. One that I had been on the losing in for some time now.
It was important to celebrate even the the small victories.
