I do not own Minecraft.
Overrun
The skeletons began to drop rapidly as arrows rained down on them. The moment a student released one, they would draw another and fire. Kendrick gave John a ten second class on archery and a moment later, John was also firing, though, his arrows only actually made it to the skeletons about every other shot. After a few moments, he stopped firing, slinging the bow across his back and drew his sword instead as the skeletons drew near. A moment later roughly thirty iron golems stormed past the students, blasting into the horde of skeletons, slaughtering them rapidly as the other students drew weapons. Master Shun held only his staff, but John had gotten to see him spar before and knew what he could do with the thing.
Finally, all of the iron golems fell, being swarmed for a moment before getting up, hurling the skeletons off, continuing their rampage. This time, however, the skeletons not close enough to attack them went around them, instead charging at the town. The students all charged to meet them, John hanging back with his family.
"We should go too," Jack stated.
John gulped and nodded but couldn't make his legs move.
"They're wearing no armor," Jack pointed out. "Your sword can cut through them with ease. Besides, they're not as fast or strong as those other two."
John nodded, leaning forward. Then, as he began to fall, he managed to get his feet moving, allowing his wait to force him to sprint into the fray, slashing his way through the skeletons. Jack and Martha hot on his heels. He stopped after a moment and began to spin and slash, dropping them rapidly. Two stabbed at him and he ducked, allowing them to kill each other. Then, he stood, spinning and slashing three more. He ducked under a blade and stood, stabbing the skeleton as another blade sparked against the back of his chest plate. He spun, slashing the skeleton then ducked as a diamond sword passed over his head. He spun, backing away as three skeletons with stone armor and diamond sword began forward. John waited for a moment before stepping forward, blocking two of the swords and ducking under the third. He spun past the three, slashing at their backs but his sword only scratched their armor. He backed away, growling in annoyance as they began forward.
"I hate monsters," John growled, ducking under three stone swords before sprinting forward, sidestepping a diamond sword and decapitating the owner, taking the sword and throwing it at the last skeleton while blocking the next sword.
The diamond sword drove itself through the skeleton's armor and killed it and the last jumped back then charged. It slashed at John and he sidestepped the slash, sweeping its legs out from under it then stabbed it through the back of the spine when it landed. He stood and smiled. Fighting was getting a little easier, and a little less terrifying. He picked up the diamond sword, putting his iron sword in its sheath and fought his way through the horde until he found his family. they were with Master Shun and were fighting against the skeletons quite effectively, slaughtering anything they could reach, but the iron golems had finally died and the remaining five sixths of the horde was swarming toward them now.
"Fall back!" Master Shun shouted as the battle began to go south. "Fall back into town!"
The students began to back off before finally turning and fleeing into town, heading for smaller streets where numbers wouldn't mean as much. Soon, they found what they wanted and branched off in teams of two or three into the side alleyways while John, Master Shun, Jack, and Martha all stayed on the main road to stop the horde from reaching the arena where all of the villagers had fled to.
"We'll stop them here," Master Shun stated.
The horde split, chasing the seemingly fleeing prey but the majority of it went straight at John and the others. The horde stopped when it reached them, not a single skeleton getting past, admittedly more from Jack, Martha, and Master Shun than John, but that was okay with him. They were better fighters. What few got past them he killed himself. Then, suddenly, there was an extremely tall shadow over John. He froze. Not daring to look back. He knew what he would find. After a second, though, his body moved on its own, slowly turning around and looking up at the Enderman behind him. It opened its mouth, roaring in rage and batted him aside. The shriek made Jack and Martha spun around and both charged at the Enderman upon seeing their son on the ground. The Enderman vanished a second before being hit and reappeared behind Master Shun. It kicked Master Shun, sending him flying over the skeletons and away from the others, then spun, smashing Martha into the wall of a house. Then, it spun, slamming Jack straight down into the ground. John fired an arrow at it but it vanished just before the arrow hit. John stood, picking up his sword and slinging his bow just as the Enderman appeared beside him, kicking him and sending him flying again. By now, the skeletons were streaming past rapidly but there was nothing John could do. He pushed himself up and looked to his left to see the Enderman standing over Jack, arms slamming down again and again into him. He sprinted forward but it appeared in front of him, smashing him away. Then, it appeared over Martha who was beginning to stand and smashed her into the ground, beginning to beat her as it had been Jack.
After a moment, John and Jack both reached it, slashing at it only for it to vanish, reappearing behind them and kicking John away. John landed beside Master Shun who was doing his best to slow the flood of skeletons entering the city but he couldn't do it alone. John stood, looking around for his lost diamond sword for a moment before drawing his iron sword and beginning to help.
"I need you to save my family!" John shouted over the chaos. "They're fighting an Enderman."
Master Shun nodded, fighting his way toward the Enderman while John tried to take his place holding the skeletons back. It was impossible to keep up, and he was losing ground rapidly, but he was able to keep himself alive. Suddenly, Jack exploded out of the skeletons, crashing into some on the other side of the circle that had formed around John before pushing himself up and staggering back toward where he had come from.
"I won't...let you...hurt Martha," Jack growled as he staggered toward his wife.
John slashed a line of skeletons and turned, sprinting toward his family. The Enderman and Master Shun were fighting in the town square just ahead but Jack was kneeling beside Martha, who was lying in a pool of her own blood. At some point, her iron chest plate had been mangled in a way that it severed an artery in her arm and she bled out.
"Father, we have to go," John said.
"Just let me wake up Martha," Jack said, making no attempt to move.
"Father, we have to go now," John said. "They'll be at the arena soon."
John remained silent and after a moment, John reached out to pull him up, only to fee a massive and solid fist collide with his head, throwing him. He crashed down and looked back to see his father fighting a massive skeleton with four arms each holding a stone sword. The skeleton was twice Jack's height and seemed to be incredibly strong, making it easy work for it to overpower Jack. John stood, sprinting forward but stopped short as a second one, this one with stone pauldrons and a bow and quiver, landed behind his father, firing an arrow at John. John dove to the side, avoiding the arrow then stood as the skeleton spun, kicking Jack sideways into a wall. Both turned on John but Jack staggered to his feet, raising a sword and beginning forward.
"You will not harm my son!" Jack snarled.
Before he could even reach the skeletons, the Enderman appeared in front of him, driving its forearm completely through Jack's abdomen. it lifted him then hurled him aside before it vanished, returning to its fight with Master Shun. John roared in rage, sprinting forward and leaping at the massive archer skeleton. He slashed it down the front and spun, removing its legs before slashing its head as it fell and it exploded into smoke. The other skeleton swung at him with two swords, which John only now realized were much larger to be wielded by such a large creature, and he blocked both then leapt back from the other two. Just as he landed, Damian crashed into the skeleton, smashing it into the wall, making it drop its swords before he grabbed it by the collar bones, swinging it over his head and slamming it head first into the ground, killing it. He picked up one of its swords then looked to John. John stared at him for a moment before turning and sprinting to his father.
"Father!" John shouted as he neared him, dropping to his knees.
"Don't worry about me," Jack said. "I've lived long enough. And I'm going to be with your mother. You need to protect those friends of yours. Find Dawn. She'll help. Tell her what we saw in that ruin. You have to warn the King. That's their goal. They want to invade the kingdom. You have to warn them."
"But why?" John asked. "I don't understand. What's going on?"
"Sorry John," Jack smiled. "I don't have time to tell you. Ask Dawn. She..."
His eyes glazed over and his head fell to the side. John sat back on his feet, staring at his father.
"We have to go," Damian stated. "There are others that we need to help, like Master."
John nodded, standing with his sword and turned, seeing Master fighting against the Enderman still. John sprinted toward the pair and knew what was coming. Sure enough, Master swung at the Enderman and it vanished, reappearing behind John. John ducked under its arm, splitting it up the front. It staggered back, wound glowing purple before lunging at him. He sidestepped its attack, slashing it again and it exploded into smoke. John turned to Master Shun who nodded, limping over.
"I'm getting too old for this," Master Shun sighed. "Come. We must get to the arena. My students will have formed up there, holding the skeletons back while the villagers evacuate through the underground tunnel. We need to get there and help."
John nodded and they all began running forward. Just as they rounded a corner, a wall of arrows flew toward them. Damian was behind them and safe and Master Shun tackled John behind the next wall out of the way.
"Thank you," John sighed turning to him and seeing the arrow in Master Shun's side.
"Don't fret," Master Shun grunted. "I'm just going to move a little slower now. This alleyway leads around behind the skeletons. Get to the arena. I'll handle things here."
John wanted to argue but Master Shun gave him a knowing look that left no room for argument. He nodded and sprinted away down the alleyway, Damian also taking an alternate path. After a few minutes, they came out behind the skeletons and John turned to look just as Master Shun stepped out, hurling a block of lit TNT. Just before it exploded, several arrows flew away from the skeletons, hitting Master Shun through the chest. Then, the TNT exploded and the alleyway collapsed.
"Master!" John shouted but Damian picked him up by the back of the armor.
"Arena!" Damian growled. "Melody! Villagers! Save! Go!"
He put him down facing the arena and pushed him and John grit his teeth, forcing himself to run again. They made quick progress through the deserted streets, soon finding themselves at the arena where the students were forming a defensive line.
"John, you made it!" Brandon smiled. "Thank God. Where's Master? And your parents?"
"They..." John stared at the ground and everyone fell silent.
"How?" Kendrick asked.
"Enderman," John said. "It got my parents, almost got me and Master Shun too. Then, Master Shun got killed while blowing up a bunch of archers with TNT."
Kendrick nodded and rested a hand on John's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Kendrick said. "I know you're hurting but there's no time to grieve. I need you to go into the arena and help with the evacuation."
John nodded but stopped just behind the line.
"They have giant skeletons too," John said. "A four-armed one with swords and a giant archer attacked me and my father before he died."
Brandon and Kendrick nodded and John and Damian hurried into the arena. There were villagers everywhere but no one seemed to be doing anything.
"Why aren't they leaving?" John asked.
"They don't know where the tunnel is," Damian said. "I'll show them. Find Melody and your friend."
John nodded and Damian jogged off to open the tunnel. John hurried to the infirmary and found Melody and Dawn inside, Dawn with her pickaxes and Melody hiding behind a table. Both stood, smiling at him until they saw his face.
"Don't tell me..." Dawn began but trailed off, dropping her pickaxes and covering her mouth. "Oh God. I'm so sorry John."
John nodded and Melody stepped forward, hugging him.
"It's going to be okay," Melody said. "We just have to get out of here first."
John didn't react to her hugging him. After a moment, she stepped back and looked at him worriedly.
"They'll be in the arena soon," John stated. "We can't hold them. There are too many. Dawn...I...I need your help. But that will leave Melody unprotected."
"I'll be okay," Melody promised. "I'll build a shelter once I'm outside. I'll wait until you get there and we can hide in the shelter until morning."
John nodded and turned, walking to the door and stopping.
"Are Micah and Ben here?" John asked.
"Yes," Melody nodded. "They'll be in the waiting room."
John nodded and walked to the waiting room, finding the two of them easily.
"What do you want mister hero?" Micah growled.
"I need your help," John said. "I need you to protect Melody for a change, rather than running off to fight and leaving her to die. She plans to use the escape tunnel and build a shelter outside the city. I need you to protect her while she does. I'm going to be here trying to keep the skeletons out as long as I can."
"Are you going to survive?" Micah asked.
"Honestly?" John asked. "No. I probably won't. I'm not running away from this. Not after...but if I stay and fight, I'll die."
Micah stared at him a moment before standing and extending a hand.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry for bullying you," Micah stated. "I had thought you were a coward. But it looks like when it matters you're braver than me. Thank you for keeping Melody safe for me. I don't deserve her, but I can't imagine my life without her."
"You say that like you're going to die," John stated.
"I am," Micah stated, grabbing John's hand and spinning, slamming him into the wall knocking him unconscious. "You're the only one capable of keeping Melody safe. Don't worry. I'll make sure they find you once Damian has the tunnel open."
And with that, he and Ben grabbed their stone swords and walked out and up to the entrance leaving John alone.
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