The Minecraft Story: The Beginning: Chapter 25
The rider and his horse landed just in front of them. The sound of bones breaking was sickening. Marcus almost called out to see if he was okay, but he restrained himself. As they rode past him, they could see the mangled bodies more closely. Bones protrude out of them, blood already began to soak into the grass and nearby flowers.
ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!
The mutant zombie was sprinting at them full tilt. The trees could no longer protect them. It would be a vast open field until they reached Fort Deepslate. Marcus could remember how much anxiety this field caused among the knights as they retreated from the pigmen. Everyone was worried about how exposed they were with the only comfort being that they would spot the piglins before they attacked.
Marcus whipped the reins, commanding the horse to go faster, but they were already going as fast as they could. The thunderous stomping of the mutant zombie continued as it did in the forest. He looked back and saw it slowly gaining ground. It wouldn't be long until it would be on top of them. He wondered what it would do, would it squish them, eat them, or would it kick them into the air like the other knight?
"Franz Squad to your right!" A voice yelled out. The squad looked to their right and saw Xavier Squad running alongside them about thirty blocks away. They must've been close and heard everything when we ran. Marcus thought.
"We can't let this thing reach Fort Deepslate!" Franz yelled back to Xavier Squad and to his own. "Xavier Squad take the left side and we'll take the right! Connor Squad distract it from the front!" Xavier Squad's leader called out in agreement, but Connor Squad's leader showed no acknowledgment of Franz's command. "Connor Squad, do you hear me!"
It took a couple seconds for Connor Squad to yell back, "We can't beat this thing, it's already killed half of us and all of Herman Squad! We have to retreat to the fort for reinforcement!"
Marcus and Franz didn't like this idea. The fort was strong, but the Garrison Knights had never faced a behemoth like this before. They also had ninety-five percent of the Holy Notch Army at the fort; it was too many knights to risk.
"Connor Squad distract it from the front!" Franz commanded, "That is an order, this thing can't reach the fort! Xavier Squad and Franz Squad, go for the legs! Bring it down and we can cut its head off!"
He's actually trying to kill this thing? Marcus thought. This has to be the first time in a long time that he's been truly on the front line like this. Is this really about what I said to him?
"Forget it!" Connor Squad yelled back, "We're getting out of here!" Connor Squad began to speed up and they knew they couldn't rely on them.
"Damnit, you cowards!" Franz yelled to the fleeing squad. He took a second to think to himself. Marcus, even though he could only see Franz's back, could tell that he was unsure of what to do. He got an idea.
"I'll distract the beast!" Marcus yelled. By now, Xavier Squad was much closer, about fifteen blocks away now. "I'll run back and make sure it's focused on me! Then take out its legs!"
Franz looked back in horror. "No!" He yelled, "We… We can't risk it on one man! We need a group to distract it!"
Excuses. Marcus thought. Before Franz could object more, Marcus slowed his horse down and allowed the mutant zombie to get closer. He could feel his heart racing as the footsteps became louder and louder. It sounded like explosions. He didn't want to look back, but he knew he had to. All he could see was the giant green monster looking down at him, it was salivating. It wanted nothing more than to eat him.
Franz saw what his brother was doing and he knew it was too late for a new plan. "Franz Squad slow your horse and move to the left side! Xavier Squad, you do the same on the right!"
As the squads began to slow down, Marcus looked back and saw the mutant zombie was starting to pay more attention to the other squads. No. Marcus thought. Why is it looking at them? He figured out why. Of course it's looking at them. It's more food than one man. I need to get its undivided attention.
Marcus unsheathed his sword. He would only have one shot at this. He got closer to the mutant zombie and cocked his arm back with the sword. He needed the best angle. When he had it, he aimed, and with one swift motion, he threw the sword as hard as he could into the mutant zombie's chin.
ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!
Its roar made Marcus's whole body shake, his ears began ringing. He looked back and saw the beast staring at him with pure rage. The beast began to run even faster and Marcus whipped his reins again for his horse to run faster. However, the mutant zombie was quickly gaining ground and the other squads weren't in position yet.
Go faster! Go faster! He thought in a panic. I need to buy more time! It was almost on top of him. He braced himself for a kick or to be grabbed. Just keep going. Even if I die, I need to give them as much time as possible. Which appeared to not be much. The mutant zombie began to reach its arm towards Marcus. He closed his eyes waiting for the beast to grab him, but then he heard a noise. It was noise he had grossly become familiar with. It was the sound of arrows piercing flesh. He looked back and saw three arrows lodged in the mutant zombie's hand and further back, he saw Franz with his bow. The squad were almost in their place, but it noticed them now.
The arm with the arrows swung to its left side. Franz managed to dodge it, he felt the wind blow passed his face, but the others weren't so lucky. Two knights were struck and sent flying backwards. The other hand came around and punched down onto another knight, crushing him and his horse.
"Xavier Squad go for its leg!" The leader of Xavier Squad commanded. Unfortunately, the mutant zombie heard this and twisted its right leg around, kicking three more knights into the air. By now, the mutant zombie and the other squads ceased running.
NO! Marcus thought, his blood boiled at what Franz did. The whole plan was ruined now. The mutant zombie grabbed two knights from Xavier Squad and slammed their bodies onto the ground.
Franz rode up to Marcus, "We need to go now," He commanded.
Marcus looked at him with a face of anger and confusion, "We can't just leave them!" He screamed. The body came flying at them before they could say anything else.
BAM!
Marcus and Franz were knocked off their horses. Marcus felt the soft grass on his exposed skin. He wanted to scream and call for help, but nothing escaped his lips. He couldn't get up and his world began to go dark.