AN: This chapter marks 400,000 words. If you've read this entire story...and the Author's Notes...And the Inventory Lists...AND the Omakes...

Then Congrats. You've read 400,000 words. In all seriousness though, for those of you that stuck around when this story first started, or picked it up say...twenty or thirty chapters ago...

Thank you.

Really. Thank You. It's not exactly Wednesday yet, but you guys can enjoy this as thanks.

Congrats to Lord Mortem for getting last chapter's riddle correctly. The answer: Stars! Enjoy your Cookie and your acknowledgement.

(::)

Warning: The following Chapter contains graphic redstone nerd-talk. If you are unfamiliar with redstone terminology and how it works, or you are NOT in possession of all fifty volumes of Redstone Engineering, we recommend reading with subtitles so you can better understand.

Following aforementioned nerd-talk may induce drowsiness, vacant expressions, and/or replacing anything redstone-related with the word 'blah'.

Reader Discretion is advised.

Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd demonstrate how to build a Sign Trap.

Beta: Void of Shining Darkness

Chapter 55

Trap

[Lenz]

"Cobbert?"

My unintelligent companion startled slightly at my calling. I had caught him staring towards the tree line again. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was not saying anything. Just checking where your mind was wandering." You would think someone determined to defend a village would focus more rather than stare off into nothing. "Need I remind you that we are strapped for time?"

"Yeah…I know." He sighed, looking back into the tree line. "I guess I'm just—"

"Expecting Griefers to come charging in? Because we can leave whenever you want." I hastily offered, hoping he had finally seen reason. "Really, we would easily catch up to Captain Wynn and the—"

"No, I'm staying…it's just…" He glanced back towards the tree line. "I keep thinking Wynn will come back—that I'll see her ivory hair poking through those trees any time now." The wind blowing across the plains ruffled his already-unkempt hair.

"What makes you think that?" As much as I hated to admit it, that Captain's logic was infallible. Ringwood had no reason to risk themselves for Daymonte. If I was one of her guards, I would have happily followed her orders, thankful to escape the doomed Halstatt.

Of course, being a guard would involve being strong. Something that was impossible for someone like me.

"I don't know." Cobbert sighed. "I thought I was one of them. One of those guards. Even with Bitters' constant hate, the camaraderie was there. I thought Wynn finally accepted me…but, I guess I was wrong." Cobbert rubbed his unarmored chest, perhaps missing the comfort of his dyed leather tunic. "She didn't want me to die…but did she think of me as a comrade?"

I could only shrug. Whatever history the two had was unbeknownst to me. Plus, we had bigger things to worry about. This was not like those teen drama novels in which the whole world sat by and waited for you to get over your problems. While Cobbert wallowed in regret, the Griefer army was getting closer and closer. And the only pitiful plan we had to cling to was…well…a pit.

A pitiful pit fall that did not have a snowball's chance in the Nether.

"Guess I'll never know…" Suddenly, Cobbert's eyes lit up in hope. "Unless…"

"Unless what?"

He turned to grin at me. "I bet if we stop those Griefers, she'll think differently of me. Even more so if I stop them while using my fishing rod!" At those words, he withdrew his fishing rod and whipped it through the air. "Then, after I apologize for leaving, maybe she'll finally accept me. As a comrade."

I remained silent, not wanting to spoil his optimistic mood with my pessimism. What made him think we could win? Unless he had prior experience in dealing with a thousand enemies at once, Halstatt was doomed.

Was it because he was one of the strong ones? One of the ones who willingly sacrificed themselves to protect the weak? It had to be. There was no other long-term gain for protecting Halstatt.

'If I let this village fall to those Griefers, it would be a spit in the face to my dream.'

Dream. What good was that? What was his dream? To die to Griefers? It did not make an iota of sense to me. Nobody would judge nor blame him for wanting to run. So why on earth was he staying?

Whatever the reason, my fate was intertwined with his. I could not change his mind, no matter how hard I tried. And I could never survive the wilderness on my own. Mobs terrified me up-close. And in the night's wilderness, Mobs were always close.

So, I told him I would be strong…or at least pretend to be one of the idiots willing to protect the weak.

"So, Lenz," Cobbert looked to me with a confident smile. "We better get to work on that pitfall, right?"

That was what he was pinning all his hope on. A pitfall…and my redstone engineering skills.

So it was with a heavy heart and a frown that I told him the truth.

It was impossible.

[Halstatt]

Two Crafters were busily working beside a furnace and crafting table. Beside them sat several armor stands, two of them equipped with a full set of iron armor. A Testificate hobbled over to them.

"How goes the armor? Was there enough for eleven full sets?" The Village Leader, Oswald, walked up and glanced at their work. It looked promising, and he even allowed some hope to shine through his eyes…

Only for it to die an ugly death from the somber expression on the Crafters' faces.

"The tunnel didn't have nearly enough iron." The larger Crafter, Lucas, mumbled in disappointment. "We don't even have enough for five sets of armor."

"Maybe we should forget about armor then." The dark brown hair of Billy_Emerald5 came into view. "If we put all our ingots into golems instead, we might—"

"NO!" The Iron Golem, Leslie, roared from out of nowhere, stomping up to tower over the cautious Billy. "LESLIE IS ONLY IRON GOLEM FOR HALSTATT! LESLIE SMASH PUNY GRIEFERS LIKE BUGS!"

"Of course, Leslie. Of course." Cosmic, the Crafter working beside Lucas, cooed. With all her patting and consoling words, she looked to be comforting a child rather than a thirty-two ton golem of destruction. "No Iron Golem can replace you." Inexplicably, Cosmic's words calmed the golem from dangerous to sullen in a matter of seconds. "There. Better?"

Leslie nodded his head.

"Good. Now…who wants to smash puny Mobs?" Cosmic began rubbing Leslie's metallic belly. "Who wants to prove how strong he is?"

Leslie looked abashed as he squirmed away from Cosmic's belly-rubs. "…ME!"

"That's right! Now who's a good Leslie?" Cosmic redoubled her belly-rubs, staggering the Iron Golem onto his back from the sheer enjoyment. "Who's a good Leslie?"

"I AM!" Leslie laughed.

The other onlookers watched with a mixture of bemusement and awkwardness as Cosmic continued to fawn over the Iron Golem.

"…Anyway," Billy began after seeing Leslie was no longer hostile. "We need more iron if we're to stand a chance against those Griefers."

"We're looking through the mines." Lucas replied wearily. "But there's nothing on the surface. We need to dig new tunnels just to get at the better ores. We don't have that kind of time."

"Not to worry, fellows." Oswald interjected. "In dire times such as these, there is only one thing we can turn to."

"Weapons?"

"Luck?"

"A fire-breathing dragon?" Everyone slowly turned to Cosmic, befuddled at her odd choice. "What? It could happen."

"Er…no." Oswald cleared his throat before adopting a hushed whisper. "Many years ago, in times of struggle, our village turned to faith for protection. We prayed to the Gods of Minecraftia to protect us. And we survived."

Oswald proceeded to face the wide open sky, hands pressed together in prayer. "Gods of Minecraftia. Our village is in peril. I beseech you; send us a force formidable enough to vanquish our belligerent foes."

"What, I'm not good enough?" Billy complained.

"Shhh! Let him finish." Lucas whispered, his hands also clasped in prayer.

"I know we are asking for nothing short of a miracle…but that is exactly what we need. A miracle." Oswald screwed his eyes shut. "Please, Gods of Minecraftia! Send us a warrior that can save us!"

"This is a waste of time!" Billy exclaimed. "You think an answer to our problems is just gonna walk into our village—"

"What do you mean it won't work!?"

The villagers of Halstatt all turned to the source of the new voice. Two Crafters, one with shaggy brown hair and the other with tousled gray hair, walked down the street. The gray-haired one looked to be deep in thought while the brown-haired one kept talking to him, making wild and animated gestures.

"…Our prayers have been answered!" Oswald shouted out, thanking the Minecraftia Gods with all his renewed faith. The other villagers looked at the two new Crafters with varying degrees of recognition.

"Those were the Crafters with that white-haired woman." Billy commented. "The ones who asked for my story."

"I remember giving them a room—wait," Lucas paused. "If they were traveling with Captain Wynn…"

"Oh! That's Cobb!" Cosmic chimed happily. "He tried to swindle a Testificate before Leslie got through with him. But after I cleared up the misunderstanding, him and Leslie became the bestest of friends. Right, Leslie?"

At that, Leslie growled, showing obvious dislike to the brown-haired Cobb.

"Leslie." Cosmic spoke sharply, ending her belly-rubs. "Be nice or no more belly-rubs."

Leslie looked outraged, but nevertheless settled down just before Cobb and Lenz arrived.

"Um…hey there…" Cobb began awkwardly, glancing between the villagers and Lenz. "Ugh, this is awkward. I'm here to help with the Griefer army."

"Oh! Our prayers have been answered indeed!" Oswald exclaimed feverishly, causing Cobb to slowly back away from the Testificate.

"Whaaaaaat?" Cosmic questioned exaggeratedly as she tried to hide the iron armor on the armor stands. She used Leslie to block most of it from sight. "We're not fighting the Griefer army. And we're certainly not making armor to fight them. These are just…um…" She trailed off, searching for the right words before they finally came to her. "New clothes! Yep! New clothes made of iron! Not for combat at all! Hee hee!"

The laugh was so forced it made Cobb cringe.

Did she really think that'd fool me? He thought to himself. Sure I'm stupid, but I'm not a fucking moron.

"We're obviously fleeing, so you should too. In fact you better go right now!" She shooed the two away as if they were flies. "No reason to stay and fight because that's not what we're doing at all!"

"…So then you weren't mining iron in the quarry for armor?"

"Wha—psh—heh—psh—wha—No…" Cosmic sputtered, trying to look nonchalant.

"And last night, you weren't discussing how you'd stay and fight?"

"Wha—psh—heh—psh—wha…Okay, yes." Cosmic finally admitted. "We're staying to fight. But we have a reason to! This is our village. You don't need to stay here, though. You should be running away."

"Well, if you must insist. Come along, Cobbert—"

"Lenz, really?" Cobb grabbed the engineer before he could slink away. "Don't run away when we have a plan."

"I already told you, it will not work!" Lenz argued back. "We should flee while we have the chance."

"Not until we—"

"Wait!" Lucas ran up, his eyes looking hopeful. "This is just what we need to turn the tides! With a Captain commanding us, Halstatt will surely repel those fiendish Griefers!" As Lucas let out a confident laugh, Cobb and Lenz shared a look.

"Er…I'm not a Captain." Cobb bothered to comment.

"Eh?" Lucas whirled around, fixing Cobb with a questioning look. "I know you're not a Captain. I was referring to Wynn_Whispers, the Captain accompanying you two. She obviously gave the order for her and her guards to stay. That's why you're still here…right?" Lucas glanced between them, his hair slightly frazzled from all the stress of an imminent Griefer army.

"Yeah…funny story actually…not ha-ha funny…" Cobb spoke evasively. "Wynn…couldn't stay."

Like a punctured balloon, Lucas deflated; the weight of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. "But…but her guards will stay and help us…yeah?"

"Yeah—No." Cobb stated bluntly. "But don't worry! Because we're here to—hey where are you going?"

Lucas abandoned listening to Cobb in favor of curling into a fetal position on the ground and muttering despondently to himself. "A glimmer of hope…wrenched away…no Captain…no guards…just two nobodies…"

With Lucas' absence, Oswald stepped up to take his place and proceeded to bow lowly. "Oh, powerful men of miracles! I thank you for coming to Halstatt's aid! The Gods must have sent us Crafters of a caliber greater than Notch himself!"

Lenz blinked. "Excuse me?"

Oswald ignored the comment as he shook both Cobb and Lenz's hands "You two must have immeasurable talents at your disposal. Please, if you would, tell us all about them."

"Oh…well…I got this thing." Cobb withdrew his fishing rod and waved it around.

"I am a redstone engineer of moderate skill." Lenz announced modestly.

The smile fell from Oswald's face a bit. "Um…if you don't mind me asking, what numbers are you two?"

"Well, I'm one billion and Lenz here is…what was it again?"

"Seven-hundred-forty-five-million-nine-hundred-twenty-three-thousand-four-hundred-and-twelve." Lenz spoke clearly. "And my name is Lenzington. Not Lenz."

"It's easier to say." Cobb replied before turning back to Oswald. "Anyway—hey where'd he—Again!?"

Oswald was curled up beside Lucas in a fetal position, mumbling depressing comments of his own. "Ten digits…I pray for a miracle…this is a sick joke, Minecraftia Gods…why couldn't a rock have been sent instead…"

"We're trying to help, alright!" Cobb shouted, stomping his foot in anger. "Can you at least wait to hear our plan before collapsing into depressing fetal positions!?"

"So…" Cosmic walked up, looking Cobb directly in the eye. "You're really staying to help Halstatt? Even knowing the risk? Why?"

Cobb offered a smile. "Because I'm fighting for the inexperienced. The little guys. Against those Griefers that want to shit all over everything. And when you hear the plan Lenz and I concocted, you'll feel—Lenz! Get out of there!"

"It is simply a precaution." Lenz was already digging a hole to bury himself for when the Griefers arrived.

"Lenz! Please!" Cobb rushed up to pull him out of the hole. "I need your help for the redstone trap! You can't just hide away! You're the only one who knows what redstone does!"

"Actually," Cosmic raised her hand jovially, "I know quite a bit about redstone. I'm a technician that fixes Halstatt's lights after all."

Cobb paused to look at Cosmic before continuing to yank Lenz out of the hole. "You're the only one who knows what redstone does!"

"Um…excuse me…but I just said—"

"If someone else knew as much about redstone, I would gladly ask them for help!" Cobb continued. "But since you're the only one, we're sunk without you! So get out of the hole!"

"DON'T IGNORE COSMIC, PUNY CORN-COBB!" Leslie roared, trying to swat the Crafter with his mighty arms. Cobb nimbly ducked before hiding amongst the armor stands. "COSMIC IS A CHARMING LADY WHO GIVES CHARMING BELLY-RUBS!"

"Ack! Call him off! Call him off!"

"No! Bad Leslie! Cobb is a friend! He's helping us!"

Billy deadpanned, taking in the entire scene. Cosmic chasing Leslie chasing Cobb. Lenz digging what was effectively his own grave. Oswald and Lucas curled in fetal positions and looking despondent.

"This does not instill confidence."

[Lenz]

"A…pitfall? That's your big plan?"

Cobbert nodded eagerly while I just frowned in annoyance. I had already told him it was impossible to make such a thing.

Not because of a lack of skills. I was experienced enough in redstone to create a plethora of innovative machinations. But for what Cobbert had in mind…

"I mean, why not?" Cobbert continued, talking to the other villagers and Leslie, who were all gathered around. "We make a big pit, fill it with lava, cover it with some of that retractable redstone doohickery and boom!—Redstone trap!"

"As an avid redstone engineer," I raised my hand, "I am appalled that you just used the words 'redstone doohickery' to refer to the type of redstone I work with."

"Is…is that even possible?" Lucas questioned, stealing a glance to his fellows. "I mean, a redstone pitfall does sound promising."

"It's not impossible." Cosmic adjusted her glasses in thought. "But as I'm sure Lenz has already realized, it can't be done with what we have."

"Is Lenzington so hard for you all to remem—?"

"Is a pitfall trap that difficult?" Cobbert questioned. "I mean, we saw a bunch of them underground."

I shook my head. "There are two major problems for why we cannot construct such a trap.

"First, the pitfall traps worked underground because we were constrained to narrow hallways and passages. Limited floor space makes pitfalls easier, both to conceal the interior redstone and to ensnare the unsuspecting victim.

"The second problem is resources." I rummaged through my backpack. "Larger pitfalls, while more complicated, can be constructed. However, they require hundreds of sticky pistons and slime blocks. I only have…three. And they are not even sticky pistons."

"Well, there goes that idea." Billy crossed his arms and leaned against a light post. "Back to the drawing board."

"…Maybe not." Lucas offered tentatively. "Perhaps we're on the right track. A trap that can tip the odds in our favor. It might be better to focus our time on that rather than waste it on the little iron we have to work with."

Cosmic hummed in thought, staring at me of all people.

"What?" I questioned.

"Nothing." Cosmic waved off. "Just wondering why you don't use contractions when you talk."

"I…er…"

"Oh, yeah. I have noticed that." Cobbert commented with mild interest.

"It is nothing you should concern yourself with!" I protested, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"See, he said 'it is' instead of 'it's'."

"Could we please focus on more pressing matters?" Thankfully, Billy brought our attention back to defending Halstatt. "We're severely outnumbered. Even with these two, that only brings us up to fourteen able fighters and Leslie. The rest are Testificates. Oswald, what are the rest of the villagers up to?"

"They're searching the empty homes for anything useful. Food. Armor. Weapons. Arrows. Anything that can help." The Village Leader walked up to the Iron Golem. "Leslie, when the day of the attack occurs, can I trust you to keep the other Testificates safe?"

"LESLIE WOULD MUCH RATHER FIGHT BESIDE PUNY HUMANS AND COSMIC TO REPEL GRIEFERS!" Honestly, I felt a little intimidated by the creature called 'Leslie'. Iron golems were incredibly dangerous when angered.

"Why should he protect the Testificates?" Lucas patted Leslie on the back. "Leslie is our best weapon against those Griefers! Iron golems are capable of killing a Crafter in a single hit. He should be on the front lines."

Cosmic shook her head. "No, Leslie is too big a target. Billy says these Griefers have bows. Even Leslie can't tank them all."

"BUT COSMIC—!"

"No buts, Leslie!" Cosmic pouted with hands on her hips. "The Testificates need you for protection. Not just from the Griefers. Without you, the Mobs'll tear 'em apart."

"…OKAY…" Leslie conceded loudly. How on earth a woman like that could have domesticated an Iron Golem was beyond me.

"So…back to trap talks." Cosmic rubbed her hands together deviously. "Instead of a pitfall, how about some mines? I have some TNT lying around and enough redstone for miles."

I perked up immediately. Finally, someone who could engage in redstone discussions. "An interesting proposal. Perhaps even a TNT cannon? How much TNT do you have?"

"Not nearly enough for a cannon." The periwinkle-haired woman tapped her lower lip in thought. "But Griefers aren't stupid enough to fall for pressure plates...they're a common staple of traps. Tripwire is out too. The terrain doesn't work with it."

"Indeed. Not to mention the risk of having the mines go off prematurely if a wandering Mob were to wander across."

"Unless, of course, I set up redstone to the mines, and detonate 'em remotely from a safe location, far behind Halstatt's walls!"

"Redstone and a good distance away from the charging enemy?" I smiled. "Sounds perfect."

It was amazing. An oasis of redstone salvation in a dessert of ignorance. Cosmic and I were able to bounce ideas off of each other, back and forth, thinking of the best method to trap the Griefers. I could tell by one look at Cobbert and the other villagers that they had no inkling as to what we were talking about.

This was what the world outside Daymonte offered. Redstone engineers who knew what they were doing. Sure, Daymonte was arguably the redstone capital of Minecraftia, but the Kingdom was not the only hub of redstone knowledge.

"Okay, so we have mines." Billy bothered to mention. "But we need something more to handle these Griefers. Not to mention, we have no idea what Alec_Bishop and his two bomber buddies have in store. If the guy can command an army of one thousand, then he's no pushover."

"…I still think we need a pitfall trap. Or at least a giant fighting robot." Cobbert mentioned again. He seemed so fixated on the idea. The pitfall one, that is. Was it because it almost killed him? "A pitfall is the simplest thing I can think of. A giant hole with a retractable top."

"Explained like that, it does sound simple. Only it is not." I stated clearly. "We do not have the necessary pistons for it."

"Plus, we'd have to dig a pit and everything." Cosmic chimed in. "But we're on the right track. Maybe a rapid fire arrow turret?"

"Or we could grab a couple of flint and steels and torch the battlefield."

"I already told you all," Oswald spoke up. "The Griefers will arrive tomorrow night. That night will bear witness to a tumultuous thunderstorm. Fire won't do a thing in that rain."

Cobbert looked at the Testificate quizzically. "How can you tell it's going to rain? Are you some kind of weatherologist?"

"Meteorologist."

"Do they study meteors? I don't think so."

"The clouds tell the tale." The Village Leader answered sagely, tilting his head up to watch the clouds float by. "It's quite subtle, but for a Testificate that's been around for as long as I have, the signs are there, just waiting to be read."

…

…Signs?

I raised my glasses, even while Cobbert continued his ridiculous argument about what meteorologists should study.

Signs…

By Comparators, that was the answer!

"SIGNS!"

I did not realize I had shouted it until I saw the shocked faces of those around me.

"Um…Signs?"

"Comparators, it is so simple!" I cried out, my mind already racing with the possibilities. There was a way to make Cobbert's pitfall plan work. And the best part was that it could be done with what little resources we had.

I was already whirling around, taking in every inch of the distant treeline. Yes…Yes, by Jeb this could work!

"Lenz? You're looking crazy-eyed." Cobbert patted me on the shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I am better than okay!" I grabbed Cobbert by his shoulders and shook them slightly, so jubilant I was in my natural element. "Your pitfall plan! I thought up a way to make it work!"

"Really?" He looked excited that his plan could be utilized. "How?"

I paused for dramatic effect, waiting to spring my ingenious epiphany.

"DayCarts' Law of Signs!"

There was a moment of silence in which six heads—Cosmic's included—tilted in confusion.

"Lenz…we don't know what that is."

"Really? Are you quite sure?" Lenz looked puzzled. "I mean, it is one of the lesser laws of redstone, but I thought its application to gravity dependent traps would make it more widely known—"

"Why don't you just explain it, then. In a way we can understand." Cobb tacked on when he saw I was prepared to give an in-depth teaching of the helpful law.

"…Very well." Immediately, I lowered my tinted goggles over my eyes and took a deep breath.

This was my element.

[Cobb]

Okay, Cobb. He's about to give a dull redstone lecture, but you need to pay attention. Halstatt's survival could depend on it!

"Well," Lenz addressed the watching Crafters, Testificate, and golem. "Although we are strapped for time, I believe it would be best to indulge in a little historical background of DayCarts' Law of Signs."

Must…resist…tuning out words…for blahs…

Lenz cleared his throat. "In the year 373, Daymonte's 48th annual Redstone Fair was the setting of a new invention intended to revolutionize vertical travel throughout the Kingdom and replace the elevators so many Crafters relied upon.

"The Crafter who devised the design, Allen_Lenel, assured that he found a cost effective means of enabling Crafters to reach otherwise unattainable heights. And he did so, with nothing but water …and signs."

Lenz snapped his fingers and held his hand out to me. "What?"

Lenz groaned before snapping his fingers again. "Water and signs? Please?"

"…Oh!" I quickly shuffled through my Inventory before withdrawing a sign and a water bucket. How long has this sign been in there? I briefly wondered before passing them to the engineer. He accepted them with a polite nod before arranging them along a house.

"Lenel's design was incredibly simple." Lenz continued. "It involved the peculiar properties of signs and the inherent ability of all Crafters to swim up falling water like salmon up a waterfall." The engineer placed the sign down, not sparing a second to write anything, before pouring water over it.

I expected the sign to wash away. Only instead, I was puzzled when I saw the water hovering over the space the sign had filled, before flowing all over the place. Though the water continued to pool onto the ground, there was an air bubble taking up the same space as the sign. It was almost like the sign was a block instead of a flat piece of wood to write stuff on.

"Lenel's elevator involved several dozen water sources, each one separated by a sign, just like the one before you." He gestured to sign, getting the attention of everyone. Myself included. "Crafters would be able to swim up the water sources—as illogical as it sounds—while also replenishing their breaths with the sign space in between. Additionally, Crafters could jump down through the water-sign checkered space, all fall damage reduced whenever they passed through water.

"However, Lenel's design, while earning interest at the fair, was ultimately rejected by Potato Tech due to a lack of redstone, and because the slime block elevators were easier for Crafters to operate."

"So then where does DayCarts' Law of Signs come in?" Cosmic questioned, showing she was listening.

Lenz smiled at the question. "One of the watchers at that particular fair, Rain_DayCarts, found a better usage for Lenel's design. One that included redstone and the newly uncovered properties of signs."

"Which are…?"

"Signs can hold up gravity dependent blocks!" Lenz exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Water is affected by gravity! It flows down. Yet the sign was able to hold it up."

"So what?" Billy questioned. "We're trying to make a pitfall here, so what does water and signs have to do with it?"

Lenz let out a loud groan. "Forget about the water! It is the signs that matter the most. DayCarts realized that the signs' ability to hold up gravity dependent blocks was its greatest asset. Blocks like gravel, sand, anvils. All of them can be held up by signs! What is more, signs can be placed upon other signs in a grid like pattern."

Lenz withdrew some gravel from his backpack as well as a piston. Then he proceeded to snap his fingers for more signs. I handed him my last one and made a new set of three from some planks and a stick.

While Lenz worked furiously on whatever he was working on, I looked upon the flowing water, wondering if I'd ever get my water bucket back.

"Here." Lenz stepped aside, revealing his latest creation: a piston with a lever attached to it. He flicked the lever to activate the piston, causing it to jut out. Then he placed a sign of all things on the part of the piston that was jutting out. "This is a crude representation of DayCarts' revolutionary machination. The same one he displayed at the 49th annual Redstone Fair.

"When DayCarts realized that signs could hold up gravity dependent blocks, he devised a way to harness that peculiar quality in the form of a devious trap." Lenz placed a piece of gravel above the sign he placed on the piston. Just like with the water, the gravel was held up. It almost looked to be hovering by magic, when really it was resting on the sign.

Then, Lenz placed another sign. Only this time he placed it on the first sign. There was a gap of space in between and it looked like the second sign was merely floating in the air. It looked like it was attached to nothing.

"By God…what sorcery is this?" Oswald marveled, waving his hand in the space between the two signs.

"It is better than sorcery." Lenz beamed proudly. "It is redstone engineering."

Again, Lenz placed sign upon sign upon sign. Each one jutting out a block further. Then he placed gravel atop each one, making what appeared to be a floating horizontal line of gravel.

"As you can see, the gravel is suspended off the ground by nothing more than these signs. Each sign can support one block of gravel and each sign can attach to another sign. But DayCarts had more to show." Lenz walked up to the piston holding the first sign and placed his hand upon the lever. "Another attribute of signs: When attached, they act like dominoes. One must only topple the first sign…" At those words, Lenz pulled the lever, retracting the piston and breaking that first sign. Immediately, all the other signs were destroyed. And with nothing more holding the gravel, the blocks were at the mercy of gravity once again, falling to the ground.

"…It all falls down." I finally realized in a hushed whisper. "So then…if we dig a large pit…and place a bunch of signs with gravel on top to cover it…" My eyes zeroed in on the piston and the lever. It was the simplest of traps. Activated by a simple flick of the switch. "We just lure the Griefers over it and—"

"They all fall down!" Cosmic shouted cheerfully. "My God, that's brilliant, Lenzington!"

"Indeed." Lenz puffed out his chest proudly. "DayCarts' Law of Signs is quite brilliant."

I couldn't believe that such a thing was possible. Clearly, having Lenz accompany me was the best possibly decision I could have made. "So, we don't need a hundred sticky pistons."

"We only need one." Lenz nodded before pausing for consideration. "Well, that and a large supply of redstone, signs, and gravel. And a pit."

"Leave the redstone to me." Cosmic grinned. "I have enough stored to run for miles. I'll assume you'll need repeaters to extend the redstone pulse, no?"

"You read my mind." Lenz smiled before engaging in nerd-talk with his fellow redstone expert.

"So that's our plan?" Lucas questioned. "A sign-suspended gravel pitfall? That will be enough to take out a thousand Griefers?" He looked skeptical.

"It will be if we make the pit big enough." I commented, earning a chuckle from Billy. "Unless you have a better idea, why not?"

"I'll tell you why not." Lucas shot back. "Where are we going to find a supply of signs?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Why don't we ask the literal thousands of trees making up the forest surrounding Halstatt?"

That got a bigger laugh from Billy and the other Crafters. Lucas' cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

Brain: Sick burn, Cobb. I'm so proud.

"Well…that's fine for the signs, but what about gravel?"

At this, Oswald spoke up. "Halstatt's streets are paved with gravel. While the Testificates' feet might miss the gravel's soft feel, you are more than welcome to use it to protect Halstatt."

Perfect. Gravel and signs. Now all we needed was a—

"Pit!" Cosmic slapped her head in realization. "We have to dig a pit ASAP if we want it big enough to trap a thousand Griefers!"

Oswald shook his head before pointing to the quarry outside the village. "That quarry is as good a pit as any. Some minor renovations to smoothen the sides and seal off the mining tunnels and it should be good enough for your trap."

I looked at the Village Leader with newfound respect. He may have been a defenseless Testificate, but he had just given us everything we needed to make the trap work.

"That…might actually work." Lucas conceded, rubbing his chin in thought. "But the quarry's not deep enough. Even if the Griefers fall in, the fall won't kill them. We'd have to fill it with lava…"

Suddenly, a thought came to my mind. "No we don't. If we finish the trap by tonight and have it covered with gravel, it'll be completely dark inside, right?" The other Crafters nodded slowly, trying to catch on to what I was hinting at. "And what spawns in darkness?"

Billy got it first. "Mobs! That's it!"

I nodded. "If we finish the trap by tonight, come the night of the battle it'll be filled with Mobs. Zombies, Skeletons, Spiders, Stickm—Endermen, Creepers, Witches, you name it."

"Comparators, you are right!" Lenz clapped his hands in eagerness. "When the trap activates, that army of Griefers will have their hands full with an army of Mobs. Trapped in an inescapable pit."

"Okay, I take back what I said about you two." Lucas apologized. "You are way less useless than I first thought you were."

Lenz and I smiled at first before the underlying meaning of those words hit us. Followed by extreme dejected pouting.

Lucas was already talking with Oswald, however. "Go around the village and spread the word. Get half of the remaining Crafters to collect gravel from the roads and the other half to grab as much wood they can get their hands on."

"Er—"

"And no that's not an innuendo! Now go!"

Oswald took off into the village, his Testificate legs moving as fast as they could.

"We better get to work too, Lenz." Cosmic pumped her fist enthusiastically and adjusted her glasses. "We'll swing by my place for the redstone then hurry to the quarry."

"Indeed." Lenz nodded eagerly while also adjusting his eyewear. "And you should not rule out your TNT minefield strategy. Who is to say we cannot use both?"

"I like the way you think." Cosmic winked, dragging Lenz along by his arm. The engineer tossed me my bucket of water back, but kept the signs. He probably needed as many as we could make.

"LESLIE WILL ACCOMPANY PUNY HUMAN AND COSMIC!" Leslie roared, quickly following the two redstone experts.

"So I guess we'll go get some wood, then?" I asked Billy and Lucas.

"No innuendo?" They questioned together.

"No innuendo."

They nodded their agreement, whipping out axes and hurrying to the forest. I followed with my stone axe held at the ready.

Okay, we have a plan.

Those Griefers will show up tomorrow night. And it's—I checked my clock—nearly noon.

We can do this…

We can actually do this…

And we can do it without Wynn.

And while we're working…I should probably learn what an innuendo is before the other two realize I had no idea what they were talking about.

Inventory (Cobb): 1 Wooden Shovel, 1 Stone Axe, 1 Stone Sword, 1 Wooden Pickaxe {Weak}, 1 Fishing Rod {Weak}, 1 Flint and Steel, 8 Cobblestone, 12 Flint, 22 Torches, 44 Oak Wood Planks, 8 Oak Wood Stairs, 1 Oak Wood Door, 1 Clock, 45 Dirt, 1 Water Bucket, 10 String, 1 Ender Pearl, 1 Bone, 3 Baked Potatoes, 14 Pumpkin Pies, 20 Cookies, 1 Cake, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 9 Rotten Flesh, 4 Item Frames, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Temporary Entry Pass}

[EXP: 12]

Inventory (Lenz): 1 Bow, 1 Shears, 3 Levers, 4 Wooden Buttons, 3 Stone Buttons, 5 Redstone Torches, 29 Redstone, 7 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 1 Hopper, 1 Dispenser, 3 Blocks of Redstone, 3 Pistons, 8 Gravel, 10 Cobblestone, 10 Torches, 5 Signs, 5 Sticks, 3 Redstone Lamps, 1 Minecart, 1 Compass, 12 String, 25 Gunpowder, 15 Carrots, 29 Arrows, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Pumpkin, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}

[EXP: 0]

Inventory (Reginald the Ass): {Empty}

AN: Can Cobb, Lenz, and the people of Ringwood stand a chance against the Griefer Army?

This chapter...I have mixed feelings about how I wrote it. For several reasons.

First, after how emotionally packed last chapter was, this one seems kind of underwhelming. That's the downside of writing an awesome chapter: It heightens expectations for the next one.

Second, it focuses on the trap that'll be used against the Griefers. How resourceful it is, and how smart Lenz is for thinking it up. It's boring to read (and I don't blame you if redstone isn't your thing), but the final concept is interesting if you see it in action. Void told me it was understandable so I'm trusting my Beta on that.

I've actually made a Gravel-Sign Trap back when I played 'The Walls' on a Hypixel Server. Obviously, it was smaller, but it still worked. Try making it yourself in Singleplayer, I'm sure there's a Youtube guide to it or something.

I don't think it's a bad chapter. It's necessary set-up.

Also...Eladar. If you're reading this, your review didn't work again. I thought it would keep the URL but it didn't. I'm out of ideas unless you want to make a Fanfiction Account and send it as a PM instead.

The Omake below is of a character we haven't seen in a while. There's no need to guess who it is, since you just need to scroll down a bit more to figure it out.

See you all next week. Leave a Fav, Follow, Review, PM, OC...or...um...nope. That's everything. And best of luck for all of you starting school soon.

Omake: More Infinity, Please

It was night.

Carys was sat atop a snow bank when the airship finally arrived. Baltic and Perry must have had little trouble finding her, what with the large circle of torches she had set across the snow.

The airship, dubbed the Asmodeus, was truly incredible. Built from the finest dark oak wood planks with massive black wool sails, it could easily travel under the cover of night. It was large enough to accommodate private bedrooms, a bomb bay for dropping TNT, arrow turrets along the sides, a kitchen, training room, brewing station, and several other luxuries.

The ship's bridge used state of the art command blocks to control the direction the ship flew…or at least, that's what Carys thought. She would never admit it, but she was never any good with redstone. But it mattered little to her. After all, if it didn't involve combat, it was of no use to her.

But hands down the best thing about having an airship was its speed. Horses could take up to ten days to travel between Kingdoms, but an airship could do it in a third of the time.

And then there was cost. Even small airships sold for astronomically high prices. And the Asmodeus was grade A from the start. A thousand emeralds wouldn't have been enough.

So, when Zeppil, the Kingdom famous for its airships, offered the Asmodeus to the Paragons as thanks for decimating the Endward Cult's Southern Division…

Well, who was she to say no?

Carys watched as the airship touched down, musing to herself what she would do during the trip back to base. It would take about three days.

Sparring with Perry was an option, though he wouldn't be able to entertain her for all three days. And Baltic couldn't fight because he was the only one who had any idea on how to fly the thing.

Carys was seriously considering making use of the ship's brewing station to stock up on potions when she remembered the Snow Prints stored in her backpack.

"Hmmm…" She hummed to herself as she took out one of the prints, looking at it as if it were a speck of disgusting trash beneath her feet. She withdrew a spare piece of paper and pressed the Snow Print into it to make a copy. Once that was done, she deposited the newly made copy and withdrew another Snow Print from her backpack.

"Carys, Ma'am," Perry was the first to exit the ship as he kneeled before her. "It is good to see you again."

"Did you meet any trouble getting here?" The question was posed to the blue-haired Crafter beside Perry.

"No trouble." Baltic smiled warmly. Honestly, she had no idea how he could smile like that, especially when standing in freezing temperatures.

Suddenly, Carys saw Baltic's eyes widen in surprise. She glanced behind her, expecting his response to be due to an approaching Mob or enemy. But there was only a circle of torches behind her.

The subject of his surprise hit her just as he opened his mouth. "Where's Mr. Piggles?"

Carys clenched her fists, trying to stem the anger that was coursing through her. Only anger and nothing else. But Baltic and Perry weren't the intended targets of her anger.

Oh no. She had to keep it bottled up until she met him again. That accursed Crafter who dared to devour her beloved steed in front of her. Once they met, she would unleash all of her fury in the cruelest way possible. She'd make him regret ever setting eyes upon her wittle angel.

"He's dead." Carys finally spoke, referring both to her beloved steed and the fate of the one that earned her ire. Baltic and Perry's eyes widened at her announcement, Baltic more for how cold she sounded.

It couldn't be helped though. Mr. Piggles was dead and gone. Nothing could bring him back.

Nothing.

"Dead?" Perry questioned as if it didn't make sense. "But, how did—" Baltic nudged Perry in the shoulder to stop him, immediately catching the bloodlust Carys was exuding at being questioned so. She didn't need a reminder of how useless she had been when her beloved steed was burned alive. She didn't want to be reminded of her mistakes.

And she was doing her best to hold it in, but if Perry continued his question, she would have killed him.

Perry's pupils dilated in fear, apparently realizing how close he had been to death. He quickly trailed off into mumbles before staring at the ground, avoiding Carys' burning gaze.

"I'm sorry, Carys." Baltic took over to spare the terrified Crafter beside him. Carys directed her crimson eyes to him, looking for any sign of deception. "I…I know how much Mr. Piggles meant to you. I can't even imagine what you must be going thro—"

"I'm not going through anything." Carys cut him off harshly, even as Baltic looked upon her sadly. She hated that. She didn't want his pity. She had come out of far worse than this. She was fine.

Absolutely fine.

"There's no shame in anguish, Carys." Baltic continued. Clearly he wasn't seeing the signs that he should shut up. Her fist was wrapped tightly around her sword's hilt and her crimson eyes were burning in anger. "If you ever need to talk to someone—"

"I don't." She spoke softly, a sharp contrast to her tense demeanor. The finality of her tone ended Baltic's latest attempt with a forlorn sigh. "I don't need to talk about it, because I already know what I'm going to do about it. Speaking of which…"

Carys tossed the two Snow Prints of King_Cobb and Flawwed_Floyd to the nervous Perry. "Since Baltic's flying, I need you to make copies of these Prints. I expect a hundred copies each by the time we return to base." She felt a stir of amusement at the shocked gasp Perry couldn't help but release. "Is that a problem?"

"…No Ma'am, it would be an honor." He tried to sound enthusiastic, but she could tell it was forced.

Good. She thought to herself. Next time he won't ask stupid questions.

"I'll be in my quarters in the meantime. Do not disturb me until we land." She walked past the two and onto the Asmodeus, intending to get straight to her private bedroom. She could feel Baltic's forlorn stare on her back and resisted the urge to lash out.

Baltic couldn't help but feel pity. He was too nice. Too unwilling to do the dirty jobs. But he was smart. Not to mention a good pilot and excellent with potions. So she allowed him to stay with the Paragons

And more than that, he was…

…

When she finally got to her private bedroom, she slammed the door shut before walking over to her bedside chest. She withdrew some basic items.

Sticks. Leather.

Then she walked to her crafting table and arranged the materials into two item frames.

The first one, she placed over her bed. That was where she put the beautiful depiction of her beloved steed, Mr. Piggles.

Now, he'll always watch over me. Carys concluded, ignoring the pain she was feeling in her chest.

No. She wasn't torn up about this. She was strong. She was feared. She wouldn't let this stop her.

She never let loss stop her.

But she did need something to occupy her time. Something to keep her busy. To distract her. To take out all her anger upon.

She smiled to herself as she placed the second item frame against the wall opposite her bed.

The same wall that held the Heads of her more challenging enemies.

There was GardenWalker, the previous Executive of the now extinct Southern Division.

Amalgum13, a troublesome Captain who had interfered with her investigation of possible cultists.

Shawn_Staffield, a former Paragon who nearly sold her out to the Endward Cult before her blade silenced the rat for good.

Vn6wyliteu, a Jibberman, who had lashed out against her for no logical reason. Then again, Jibbermen didn't operate on logic.

All of them were mounted on her wall, the faces of those that crossed her.

And as she put the Snow Print of her latest enemy upon the item frame on that wall, she smiled to herself. The artist had done an amazing job in capturing Cobb's face. So unassuming. So naïve. So stupid.

With the Snow Print set up, she walked back to her chest and withdrew some special Exter exclusive weapons she had pilfered off one of her enemies; A dozen daggers. She set them aside and pulled out her Infinity and Flame enchanted bow, aiming an arrow at the likenesses face. Right between the eyes.

For the next three days, Carys spent her time shooting Cobb's face. She took breaks when she needed to eat, but over and over she assaulted the framed Snow Print, her Infinity Enchantment giving her endless arrows.

She switched to throwing daggers only when her Infinity Bow broke.

AN: Who needs psychiatric help for emotional distress when you can always repeatedly shoot arrows at a picture of someone you hate.