Chapter 9: Leveling Up

Someone had snuck into Pickaxe's mushroom.

He didn't know who, but someone had to have left him the written book in his chest. It said to "meet at the hill on the outskirts on the village. You'll recognized it by the single block of cobblestone in the ground." Pretty suspicious to Pickaxe, but he decided to take a look, seeing as nothing too important would be happening in the village. He descended down the ladder onto the ground. After a brief walk, he discovered the hill in question. What was he supposed to do?

Margret appeared from behind the hill.

"Mornin'," she greeted, "I see you got my note." "Hm?" questioned Pickaxe. Why did she send him the note? She was holding something in her hands… a stone pressure plate. She placed it on the cobblestone block. "After you!" she insisted. Pickaxe, not wanting to be rude, stepped on the pressure plate. He didn't know how, but he somehow heard the sound of redstone flickering beneath the floor. The two dirt blocks in front of him shifted to the side, revealing a secret chamber.

All of Pickaxe's friends waved from the inside.

"Go on," Margret assured, "I'll make sure Reed isn't too suspicious." Somewhat awkwardly, Pickaxe entered the chamber. "Have fun!" Margret exclaimed, picking up the pressure plate and heading back to the village before the door shut. Pickaxe got a good look at the room he was in. It was a decently sized room, with some brewing and enchanting materials organized throughout the place. There was also an item frame with a clock in it. Smart move since the room didn't have windows.

"Well, then," Sarah began, "Let's get started…"

First order of business: potions. Sarah led the group to several brewing stands she managed to put together. She handed everyone several glass bottles, water buckets, nether wart, blaze powder, and other various necessities for potion making. The group was left to themselves. Pickaxe was intrigued; he had never made potions before. He looked over to the cauldron in the corner of the room. Logically, that was only there for one single purpose.

He poured one of his water buckets into the cauldron, and got three water bottles afterward.

He made his way back to the stand, taking out the blaze powder and nether wart. He placed the bottles at the bottom and the nether wart at the top, as well as putting the blaze powder into the stand in order to fuel it. He waited several moments, before the water in the bottles suddenly gained a weird glow. Awkward potion. Well, that was step one. What was the next ingredient?

His eyes focused on the watermelons and gold nuggets he had been given.

After surrounding the watermelon with 8 gold nuggets, Pickaxe had created a glistering melon. He placed it at the top of the stand, as it simmered into the potions. The potion had gone from a glowing blue to a vibrant red; potion of healing. But it didn't seem like the effect was strong enough. It needed a bit more… kick.

A bit of glowstone fixed the problem.

Pickaxe proceeded to concoct more potions. After having created Potions of Healing II, he found himself amongst his other ingredients. He knew quite well they would be heading back to the Nether sooner or later, so he used some of the magma cream to create some potions of fire resistance. He figured out that by using redstone, he could extend the effect, and ultimately decided to do so. He made several more potions, including night vision, leaping, and regeneration.

All the while, Texik was stumped as to why all he had was mudane, thick, or weakness potions, while Pickaxe made a potion of strength.

As the day was drawing to a close, Pickaxe had finished converting his potions of invisibility, harming, and poison into splash potions using gunpowder. All the miners looked at the clock, to see that the sun was starting to set on it. "That's enough work for today," Sarah assured, "We'll learn enchanting later." The group put away their potions in the chests, just as Margret opened the secret passageway. "Good day today?" she asked.

The group headed home more satisfied than they had ever been.

A few days later, Pickaxe was back at the entrance.

He tried to come back here the day after the brewing session, but no one was there. He confronted Margret, but she just told him that Jewel couldn't make it. When he asked Stan about the manner, he just said, "Dad suspected something… probably nothing too serious." Riiiiight… Everybody know potion making isn't too serious… Well, today, Jewel had been released from her "probation," and had taken the opportunity to return to the secret room.

Now they would learn enchanting.

Since the group's tools were located in an obsidian chamber, Margret had to give Sarah additional supplies. The group didn't know where the potions were in the first place, so it was probably for the best. It kind of depressed Pickaxe in all honesty. His diamond pickaxe, lost to who knows where. Hopefully, he'd get it back later. Once Madison distributed the tools, the miners were off to the various enchanting and crafting tables. Pickaxe knew what to do.

He took out a ton of leather and sugar cane to make the books.

Within several minutes, Pickaxe had a full stack of books. He approached the enchantment table, the contents of its pages begging to be unleashed. He took out some lapis lazuli, and sprinkled both it and the books into the enchantment table, swallowing them in a low key light. The light suddenly spreaded all around him, or so it seemed, as it encompassed him on all sides, surrounding him with a wide variety of options.

Back in reality, Pickaxe was merely hallucinating, as the other miners were looking at him with amusement.

After his brief trance, Pickaxe returned to the crafting table to create some items. He crafted a red-dyed leather cap, diamond leggings, diamond boots, a bow, a shield, a diamond sword, and a diamond pickaxe, of course. He got a chainmail chestplate from Sarah. He approached the anvil, and skimmed through his books. Time to start combining…

When Pickaxe was finished, he was officially a force to be reckoned with.

In spite of the fact that he had a red leather cap, that cap had blast protection II, mending I, aqua affinity I, and respiration I. The chainmail chestplate received protection II, thorns II, and mending I. The diamond leggings received projectile protection IV. The diamond boots recieved frost walker I, feather falling IV, and fire protection II. His sword had sweeping edge III, sharpness IV, and looting III. The bow had power V, punch I, and infinity. His shield had unbreaking III and mending I. His pickaxe had efficiency V, and fortune III, and (don't ask how) sharpness V and knockback II.

Sarah was going to be jealous for days…

Parker's abandoned fortress had holes and cracks every which way. Magma cubes and zombie pigman overran the place, with a ghast or two hovering overhead. Several blocks away from that was another fortress, but this one took no chances. It was entirely comprised of obsidian and diamond blocks. Within the fortress, Parker and Rosetta were in a room similar to Parker's original quarters, with Blade guarding the door. In front of a fireplace, another miner was with them, though he was a silhouette from any position.

He was breathing heavy, obviously an observer of disappointment.

He turned his head slightly towards the two other miners, his face downcast. "Are the plans ready?" he asked the two. Parker answered without hesitation, "Yes, sir. Our spies are within the village to make sure everything goes as planned." The miner turned to face him, his body still a silhouette. "Good. I don't want another hiccup like… last time," he grunted. Parker went a bit red from embarrassment. "Rest assured, we won't fail again…" Rosetta interjected. The figure walked up to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I know you won't," he assured. "Now go get ready," he commanded. Rosetta obeyed, leaving the room. Before Parker could follow in her suit, the figure pulled him back. "Protect my daughter," he told Parker, "I'm counting on you to make this operation worth it."

Parker nodded, and departed the miner's presence.