Chapter 12 -The Illusionary Labyrinth

Wandering. I've been wandering island to island for what feels like weeks or months. No familiar faces in sight. The only thing I see are strange purple plants, some strange tall structures, and tall endermen roaming around. Maybe some endermites too, but they are instantly killed by their creators. I continue to walk but it's all the same.

There is no exit. There is no end.

This is the curl fate I deserve.

*Fwoom*

As she felt something blow by, she looked up to find a floating figure. She suddenly had a burst of small laughter. "Finally, I'm saved!"

The woman standing in front of her had wavy purple hair. She was someone she had never seen before. Before she could ask who she was, the stranger pointed at the bedrock structure far in the distance. "That is the portal to the main island. You can escape to your original homeland if you use it."

Suddenly she regained hope. She sprinted towards it but stopped and turned around as she forgot to do something. "Thank yo- ...Huh? Where did she go?" She searched everywhere but couldn't find the purple haired woman. "Just my imagination?"

She shook her head. "Who cares. Whatever she was, she helped me find the exit!"

Running to the bedrock gateway, she noticed something strange.

"No. No no no no no! Why is this happening to me again!"

She stared at the small bedrock structure which used to be the gate that would've taken her back to the main island. It wasn't activated at all.

"As if being stuck in a dimension with two moons wasn't enough, I'm now stuck in the End dimension filled with teleporting monsters around me. I just want to go back home..."

Looking at the void below for a moment, she leaned closer and closed her exhausted eyes. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Maybe because you were willing to fool your friends?

Her eyes grew more tired. "Mostly likely," she muttered. "Ugh! Why do I keep doing this? Why am I so stupid! I could have just asked for their help instead!"

Oh, you know why. Hunting is your favorite. Watching your prey fall in your trap, it's the greatest pleasure you could ever experience in your life. Right?

"No! Shut up shut up shut up!" She looked down the endless void again. "I... I should just give up."

"And that bridging and teleporting got my head spinning," someone complained.

She stood up. "Wha... Sparklez is here? No what if they are just all in my head..." She grunted and shook her head violently. Running towards the familiar voice, she spotted a group of people following a single leader. Among them were her old friends.

Sparklez and his close friends noticed and looked at her in shock. "Cassie? You're alive?"

Cassie teared up with joy. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"Cassie I-" Stacy began to step forward.

Jesse stopped her. "Stacy. See her glowing outfit? She is a Blazer. A potential threat."

"T-threat?" Cassie shook her head. "No... I'm not hostile. I've been wandering alone in these floating lands for who knows how long! Please don't leave me behind..."

Jesse rolled his eyes. "Since it seems like you are friends with a few in my group, you can join. We're in a time limit, so try to keep up with us."

Cassie looked down. "But- ...Okay."

-Somewhere Nearby-

Abyss observed their movement. "Some more people showed up! It's been so long since I've seen this many come here!"

As soon as the group left, she prepared to move out. "I'm so ready to have a blast!"

An enderman teleported in front of her, ready to attack. Abyss slightly tilted her head. "Huh? Did I anger you?" Slitting her hands through the monster's chest, she gave it an uncanny smile. "Here. Let me help you."

The enderman screeched as it began to shake. Black fog covered its entire body and was about to transform into a different type of monster. But before it could, Abyss instantly exploded the monster with her end crystal. "Don't slow me down again."

Stacy tried her best to comfort her friend who was somewhat in an unstable state. "Cassie, try not to push yourself. Once we find what we need here, we'll go back home."

"O-okay. I hope you're right..." Cassie quietly said.

Meanwhile, at Jesse's side, his Amulet glowed brighter than usual. "Soren must be nearby."

"I hope you're right Jesse." Radar looked down with exhaustion. "We've been walking for nearly two days."

Jack looked at him. "Giving up already?"

Radar shook his head. "Of course not! It may not seem like it, but this body is stronger than it looks."

The muscle man snickered. "With a body like yours, I bet someone can simply blow you away."

Radar glared at Jack. "Hey!"

"What a rowdy bunch. The world is in trouble and here they are joking around," Petra said with her arms crossed.

"Leave them be," said Lukas. "We need to relax a bit after being on guard the whole time. And while there are near a few monsters right now, they're not attacking us. So, it's a perfect time to breathe a bit."

"Lukas is right. But Alpha and the others are protecting the portal as we speak. We do not know how long until the Fogbeasts can figure out how to bypass their defenses. We need to stay focused on our objective here and get back immediately."

Lukas sighed, "I know Jesse."

Jesse continued. "Plus, we now have a new Blazer who we know nothing about. So, stay vigilant."

Petra, who was silent the whole time, looked Jesse dead in the eye. "Why do you keep pushing yourself?"

Jesse looked back at her. "Huh? What's with that question?"

"I've been meaning to ask this a while ago, but I always thought it was unnecessary. Still, I want to hear the answer from you. Why?"

Jesse thought for a good moment. With his hands at the back, he looked up at the dark infinite void. "Well... At first, I had a normal, simple life with my friends. Then Alpha out of nowhere showed up at our house. I was naive when trusting her at first. But as soon as I realized someone like her decided to threaten and cause trouble to my friends, I felt like I had to step up and protect those who actually cared for me. The more I fought, the more I had to build myself to become stronger than before. If I'm not strong enough, I can't protect any of my friends. That is why I can't rest. Not until I put an end to those who bring suffering to us."

"...Jesse, you-"

"Wow that sure was a beautiful speech," the stranger interrupted as she clapped slowly.

Everyone turned their attention to her. Jesse spoke with caution. "Who are you?"

She smiled eerily. "I'm Abyss, one of the three Operators of this world."

"Operators? Explain."

"We are the ones who maintain and watch over this world that our creator has made."

"Wait, you're the same as the Admin named Romeo?" Dan asked.

Abyss almost burst into laughter. "Pff! Those Admins? They are only temporary and inferior to us. You see I keep the End dimension in check. A sister of mine manages the Nether and my brother manages the Overworld. But since my brother is gone, we had to promote three lucky people to take his place and become Admins. Last I checked, one of the Admins died and the other was imprisoned. All because of the one named Romeo. He even tried to recreate the Overworld one after another as if he were god himself. It's so funny to see how stupidly bad they managed to fail their role which my brother could have easily done single handedly."

Jesse realized something. "Wait, are you-"

Abyss began to fly cheerfully in the air. "I think we've talked enough. Let's play a game!" She teleported Cassie right beside her. "The lady will be your opponent and she will do anything to hunt you down. Be fast! This girl isn't that easy to take down. Kill her and you win! I'll grant you three wishes as a reward. Try not to die!"

Suddenly everyone's visions became blurry and...

As soon as Petra visions came back, she quickly stood up. "What just happened? Where am I? Wasn't I in the End dimension?"

Observing the place, she was even more confused. "I'm in some kind of basement?" The whole room was made out of stone materials.

Petra shook her head. "I need to find my friends first. They have to be nearby here." Looking at the ominous hallway in front of her, she can see a door at the end of it. It was her only way out.

She took a step and- *Click* The wall above her transformed opened up to a bunch of dispensers. And following that, lava started pouring down slowly but surely. Petra already took initiative as soon as she saw a glimpse of the dispenser heads.

Just as the lava was about to touch the floor, she slid down and jumped to the far end of the room. Petra looked back at the burning liquid. "If I had hesitated any longer, I would have not made it."

Entering the door beside her led to a long hallway filled with hundreds of wooden buttons. At the end of the hallway was an iron door. "Interesting."

Petra walked down and tried to smash the door with pickaxe, but nothing happened. "What?!" The door didn't receive a single crack. Next, she tried to break the stone walls. The result was the same. Petra glanced back. "Don't tell me I have to figure out which one to press..."

She walked to a random one. "Please don't be a trap."

*Click*

She slightly sunk a bit. Looking down, she discovered her foot digging through soul sand. "How did the floor suddenly change?" She pressed another one. A small part of the ceiling opened up and two black spiders began to crawl out of it.

Petra drew out her golden weapon. "Of course it wasn't going to be easy." Since the sand pulled her feet down, she waited for the eight-legged monsters to approach first.

The first spider leaped up. Petra ducked and pierced upwards, killing him mid-air. The next spider who was crawling on the walls jumped behind her. But before the monster could bite through her skin, it felt its flesh being split into two.

Few more spiders entered through the dark hole. Petra gritted her teeth. "Screw it. I'm pressing every button!"

*Click Click Click Click Click Click*

Three more monster holes in the ceiling opened, soul sand on the floor began to fall apart like gravel randomly, the walls began to close in. But the important thing to Petra is that she finally managed to open the door.

She sprinted through the agonizing soul sand, jumped the moment the blocks beneath her fell, and cut any obstacles that were standing in her way.

As soon as she reached through the next room, the door behind her shut closed.

Panting heavily, Petra studied her surroundings. "No buttons, no iron doors, and just a staircase leading up. Good." She leaned against the wall and sat down in exhaustion. "That was brutal."

"Petra, is that you?"

Petra looked up to see her friend coming down the stairs. "Axel?"

Axel waved down to her. "Come here."

Making her way up to his level, Petra found herself in a seemingly cozy warm room. The walls were made out of dark wood, and it had several bookshelves against it. There were also a few wooden couches that surrounded a lit fireplace. "Where the heck are we?"

"I'm not sure exactly," Axel said. He pointed at the window. "If you look outside, you can only see the void. I bet we are still in the End. I tried smashing the glass with my fists, but it won't shatter no matter how much I tried."

"Hmm... If I had to guess, it's probably the Operator's doing. Have you found the others," Petra asked.

"I don't know. I just woke up and found a bunch of zombies with me." Axel flexed his fat muscles. "Thanks to this, I handle them all."

"How do you even fight bare handed, Axel?"

He smirked, "Raw strength is the best killing method I tell you."

Petra opened the door to the next room. "Anyway, let's not dwell here any longer. We need to find the others."

Axel nodded and followed behind Petra. The next room was almost dark, but they could tell there was a large dining table at the center. All the seats were all empty except for the one at the very end.

Parts of her clothes glowed bright blue in the darkness. Petra instantly realized who it was and took out her sword. "She's the Blazer we met earlier! Axel, be on your guard!"

Cassie who just sat there silently began to laugh quietly. "So, this is what it has come to."

Petra and Axel silently studied her movements.

She stood up shakily. "This... This has to be fate! Hu he h- HAHAHAHA!"

The two felt a bit uneasy. "Creepy," Axel said.

"W-we need to stop her now!" Petra yelled as her legs began to run forward. She switched her sword into a throwing position and put all her strength into her attack.

"Fine then. I'll kill every single human here until no more is left. May everyone become blind!" Before Petra's sword reached her, Cassie vaporized into thin air.

Both their visions darkened and became limited, almost making them blind.

Axel panicked. "Ack! I can't see a thing!"

"You're blind too? Tsk, this could spell trouble." Petra walked carefully in the direction Axel was last at and grabbed his big hand. "It's better if we stick together."

Axel nodded.

Petra pulled out her old iron sword that she hasn't used since the fight at the bridge.

Funny to think that I haven't gotten rid of you by now.

"What are you going to do?" asked Axel.

"I'm going to get my favorite sword back. Watch my back, Axel."

"Okay."

With their backs against each other, they walked near the table till they reached the place where Cassie was sitting. As they came closer, Petra could see her enchanted golden blade piercing through the chair.

*Clink~Clunk*

Axel squinted his eyes as he tried to look further into the darkness. "Was that a skeleton?"

"That smell... I know it too well-" Plucking out her sword as fast as possible, Petra was able to parry the stone blade that was flying towards her face. "Axel, take my iron blade! You can't attack these wither skeletons with your bare hands!"

Axel shook his head. "But I'm too slow when it comes too-"

Petra forced him to take her sword. "I don't care. Take it!" The skeleton swung vertically at her again. Petra was able to successfully bounce the incoming sword away and this time she swung her blade horizontally, crushing its coal-like bones into pieces.

"AUCH!"

On the other side, Axel managed to push back his wither skeleton. But because he has zero experience with a sword, he was badly injured.

Petra rushed over in haste. "Axel!" She blocked the monster's attack and finished it off with a counterattack. After confirming that there were no more skeletons, she kneeled down to his level.

"I'm sorry. I should have been more prepared," Axel said weakly apologized.

Petra gave him golden apples. "Don't talk. Heal yourself first."

"Thanks."

"Guys!" Jesse finally managed to find someone after fighting countless monsters room after room.

Olivia and Radar, both noticed him. "Jesse!"

"Finally, I found someone. I was beginning to think I was alone," Jesse said.

"Yeah. It's been pretty rough for us too," Radar nodded.

"It feels like we're in a giant mansion even though we're still in the End," said Olivia.

*Click*

The doors shut and the room suddenly became dark.

*Graagh*

Jesse looked to his side. Judging from those noises, he can tell they were normal zombies. He placed a torch down near his teammates, but it didn't help much with their vision.

He could see that Olivia and Radar searched the room with paranoid looks. Jesse pulled out his two blades. "Hey, what's wrong? We need to focus on these zombies first!"

*Swish-ch ~Fwip- Thunk!*

Radar blocked multiple poisonous arrows with his shield while Olivia was behind him.

"Traps?!" Jesse said while slashing the last monster. He backed up next to the others

Radar looked at him. "Every room has some sort of trap. How did you not notice that?"

"Huh? I've only been fighting many kinds of monsters ever since I woke up..."

"Um, Guys?" Olivia pointed at the torch that Jesse placed down. "Don't you think your light is weird?"

"Hmm..." Jesse grabbed it and walked away from them. He called back to them. "Can you see me?"

"No. I can't even see your light."

Jesse returned to them. "I think I know what is happening."

"What is it?" Radar asked.

"Blindness. I read it in a book that was in what was once a new bookstore in Beacontown. Blindness is a rare effect that can limit your visions," Jesse explained.

Radar gulped. "Oh no. How will we find the others like this?"

"Calm down. We'll just have to stick together and keep moving. Just like how we kept pushing forward when the Fogbeasts swarmed us."

"You're right. Though I can't use my bow like this and I'm bad with sword fighting." Olivia looked at the floor in shame. "I might slow you down..."

Jesse shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Radar will be the shield and I will handle the monsters. If it comes down to it, you can support us. So, until we can get our visions back, try not to risk your life needlessly."

Olivia sighed. "Okay."

After walking through a long corridor, Petra stopped walking. "Axel, what do you think of Jesse?" she asked.

"Uh. He's my best friend. Why do you ask?"

Petra laughed silently at his response. "That's not what I meant. Anyway, I just think that he keeps pushing himself. I worry sometimes."

Axel glanced at her for a moment. "Well, I think it is good thing. Everyone, including me are working hard to become stronger than our enemies. So, I don't think there is anything to worry about."

Petra started into the distant darkness. "Really..."

"Yet it's good to take a break once in a while. Do too much work and your brain go kaboom! Or something like that."

"Hmph. I did not know you were this smart."

"Hey!" Axel glared at her. "I'm smart, okay?"

Petra tapped his shoulder. "I'm only joking. Thanks though."

Staring at his fists, Axel mumbled to himself. "I have to get more stronger too."

After what felt like days of searching for their friends, Petra finally found everyone except for Jesse, Olivia, and Radar and explained the whole situation to them.

"To be honest, I didn't think we'd survive for this long," Ivor said.

Jack had his arms crossed. "So, Cassie is really trying to kill us. Do you have any clue where she might be?"

Petra shook her head. "I haven't got a clue."

"What about that Operator?" Sparklez asked. "Have you seen her yet?"

"No." Petra sighed, "Tsk. I know that you all want to rest but I think it's best if we find Jesse and the other two first. I... I don't want to lose him just yet."

Lukas nodded. "I understand. I'm sure everyone here also wants to save their friends too."

"Lukas is that you?" some shouted somewhere above.

*BOOM*

Everyone looked up. "Olivia?!"

"Jesse and Radar are dealing with some creepers. Where are you?" she asked loudly.

"It seems like you're on a higher level than us," Lukas said. "Just hang in there. We'll try to find a way up!"

"Okay! We'll be waitin- Wha? J-Jesse? What are you... AAAAAAAAAA-"

*THUNK!*

Everyone near the crash landing jumped back in surprise. Jesse stood up with both Radar and Olivia in his arms and released them.

Olivia pushed him away. "Jesse! What the hell was that blind stunt?! We're still blind. We could have died!"

"I'm sorry. I just didn't have enough patience to find the stairs down. But at least we made it here saf-"

"Jesse!" Petra hugged Jesse out of nowhere.

"Ach!" Jesse looked at her uneasy. "P-Petra? What are you doing?"

Noticing that the others were around her, Petra pushed him away. "I-It's nothing. I just missed you, is all."

"Oh. I see... A-anyways!" Jesse tried to steel himself. "Do we have everyone here?"

Lukas, who was close enough to see everything happen, nodded with a hint of amusement. "Yeah. Assuming you also can't see, I can confirm to you that everyone is here."

Jesse nodded. "That's good to hear."

Petra shook her embarrassment and stood up. "I'll explain what was happening while we were separated."

-A Moment Later-

"Cassie is the cause of this blindness then?"

Petra nodded. "Yes. But I believe that she is also the one who set up all these traps around the building."

"Hmm..."

"Have you guys gathered any info? Maybe about that Operator?"

Jesse shuddered at the thought of her.

Petra noticed. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, "Nothing. It's just that, Abyss's behavior is one thing, but I definitely know that she is related to Alpha."

"Are you talking about the part where she mentioned her sister and brother?"

Jesse nodded. "Yeah. I never heard of that term until Alpha and Veronica brought it up."

"Maybe she was referring to someone else?" Radar thought.

"No. She definitely mentioned that her sister managed the Nether. That's most likely referring to Veronica since Alpha also called her sister. And it might be a stretch but the brother part, it feels like she might be referring to Alpha herself. Perhaps the word brother could mean something that is in a higher position than a sister?"

"But that would mean both Veronica and Alpha are Operators," Ivor said.

"Alpha?" Everyone's vision was suddenly restored. They looked around to find themselves in a multi-leveled library. But most importantly, they found Abyss hovering right above them. "Who is this Alpha you speak of?"

Everyone drew out their weapons. "Alpha and Veronica," Jesse pointed his sword at her, "Do you know them?"

"Veronica is my sister."

Jesse smirked. "Alpha said the same thing when he found out who Veronica was. Then that must mean that Alpha is your brother. Am I right?"

"My brother- No, it is. But then- it can't be..." Abyss began to quiver as she thought of something. "Jesse, where are they now?"

"Why do you need to know?"

Abyss glared at him. "I'm the only one who can get you out of here. Tell me now and I'll set you free."

Jesse thought for a moment. "No. You help us out first. Then we can talk."

"Hmph. Alright. I'll do it your way." Abyss summoned Cassie who appeared in a sleeping form. She took out her end crystal and exploded the slumbering Cassie into smithereens.

"Cassie!" Stacy and a few others cried.

The room and everything connected to it began to dissipate. Soon everyone stood on the same end island they were on last time.

"She hid herself far away inside that mansion that she created. It would have taken you guys months before you reached her," Abyss explained. "Will that suffice?"

"You promised us that reward," Jesse said.

"Huh?"

"Now my first wish is that you will take us to a person named Soren."

Abyss gritted. "You-"

"Do you want to know where your brother is or not?"

"...Fine." She teleported everyone and herself in an instant. They all appeared to be on some kind of ship.

Soren, who was crafting something, jumped back in surprise. "Jesse?! How are you in my airship?!"

Jesse was surprised. "An airship?!"

"Uh, yes. I decided to explore the End dimension after our secret was revealed." He looked down. "I flew as far as I could to pay for sins I've committed."

Jesse crossed his arms. "So, you are just saying that you're escaping from your responsibilities."

"Haha... You're right..."

*Sigh* "Even if you were a liar during your Order of the Stone days, you..."

"Jesse, I am disappointed in him too," Ivor interrupted Jesse. "But we came here for a different reason. Soren, do you know anything about monsters covered in black fog or the snowy weather that burns the world?"

Soren was confused. "U-um no?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "No way... This was all for nothing?"

Lukas glanced at Ivor, "I guess you were wrong."

"So, it seems." Ivor glared at Soren. "I thought you said you traveled and discovered every secret in the overworld. Maybe I put too many expectations on you."

Soren fiddled with his hands. "I'm not lying when I said I explored everything in the Overworld. Yet I don't know everything. Something, for example, the Witherstorm is something that I haven't seen until Jesse showed me it."

Everyone became even more disappointed.

Abyss covered her eyes. "Pfffk- KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! ...Oh this. This is purely hilarious! To think you guys went through all this trouble just to get nothing." She grinned ominously. "Fortunately, I can tell you everything about these abnormal events."

"Really?" Petra asked.

"Yes. But first I need to see this Alpha with my own eyes."

"I understand. Then my second wish is that you teleport back to the main island, Soren included since someone still needs him."

She teleported everyone once again. "Is that it?"

"Yes. Now just follow me and I'll tell you where Alpha is."

Stacy shook her head. "Are we really letting her join us?! She killed my friend!"

Abyss turned to her. "You still think of her as your friend after she actually tried to kill you?" She giggled. "Are you really that much of an idiot?"

"No. She-" Stacy looked at her face with anger. "We could have helped her!"

"Ahahaha! You're funny. There was no saving someone who has lost it. Maybe I should capture you and show you true meaning of insanity."

"Abyss, don't do it," Jesse warned.

"Hehe, I won't. I promise," she smiled.

Stacy clenched her fists. "Ugh! I just feel like smashing her ugly face so badly."

Jesse turned to the portal. "Let's get going, we can deal with her later."