Chapter 2 - The Silver Lunatic

Jesse and his friends chased after the scammer at full speed. They entered the dome building and searched around. Who they were pursuing for was nowhere to be found. "Where'd he go?" Petra asked in frustration.

Jesse found a door that was slightly opened. "There! Through that door!"

They ran to the door. Lukas, Jesse's new friend, stopped midway. "What do we do once we catch him? There are a million ways to play this. But considering this isn't my fight, I'll follow your lead."

"We politely ask for what's ours," Jesse responded.

"Short, sweet, and to the point. Not bad."

Jesse grabbed the door handle. "Ready?"

Petra looked at him with no hesitation. "Ready."

They entered the slightly dark basement and snuck down the stairs. The room was filled with bookshelves, yet there was no sign of Ivor. "See anything?"

She shook her head at Jesse. "He must have gone out another way."

They stopped sneaking around and explored the area. "What is all this?" Olivia wondered.

Jesse glanced at the dusty shelves. "Looks like it used to be the basement. Weird place to have a hideout..."

Petra nodded. "I bet you anything I'll find my Wither skull here."

Axel strolled around while his head was filling up with greediness. "And if we find anything else cool to steal along the way, so be it, right?"

"Right."

Axel slightly jumped. He turned around with an unpleasant face. "It's you again! What are you doing here?!"

I came out of my hiding corner. "I was just looking around for something. Are you here for Ivor?"

Petra approached me. "Yeah. He scammed me during the trade. Do you know where he went?"

"I don't. But I know this basement is his hideout." I handed her a golden sword that I found in one of the chests nearby. "Petra. I heard that you prefer gold. Take it."

"Oh um, thanks... What should we do now? Do we wait for him?"

I waved my hand. "Follow me. Let me show you something." I led the group to the hidden lever.

"Who are you?" Lukas asked me.

"Jesse's friend." Pulling the switch down revealed Ivor's hidden plan behind the bookcase.

Petra observed closely at what she was looking at. "That's soul sand. It can be found anywhere in the Nether," she informed.

Jesse curiously looked at the pulsating cube. "What about that block in the middle?"

Olivia's eyes gleamed. "I've never seen one of these before..." she said as her redstone brain began to tingle. "I wonder if I just take a closer look... Do you feel that? It's... almost pulsing."

Seeing how slowly his friend was about to touch the unusual block, Jesse did not have a good feeling about this. "Don't touch that, Olivia!"

She snapped back to reality. "I was just curious."

"Don't forget what we're here for. Find that skull."

She slowly nodded her head and backed away. I pointed at the double chest next to the ominous soul sand. "You should check what's inside."

Jesse opened it up. "Uh. He was two wither skulls?"

Petra set her black eyes on the skulls and then to me. "Going by what you said earlier, he probably obtained these skulls by trading, or should I say scamming other people. Am I right?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. Something like that."

"Hey guys? I think I know what's going on here." Lukas pointed at the soul sand statue. "Soul Sand, plus three wither skulls... that's the recipe for a Wither."

Petra realized what was happening. "But... a Wither... that's-"

"One of the worst monsters there is." He finished. Everyone stood in silence as they absorbed this fact.

"Maybe we should just grab the skulls and get out of here while we still can." she suggested.

Just as she finished talking, everyone heard the basement door open. Lucas glanced back from where they came from. "Uh guys?"

"Scatter!" Petra whispered.

Jesse's pig flicked the hidden switch as everyone searched for a hiding place. Well, I just leaned near one of the shelves, not bothered if he found us.

Ivor showed up as he reached the bottom. He was deeply thinking about something and shook his head. "Don't you recognize me? Or... wait... Surprised to see me? No, that's not good... Thought you got rid of me, didn't you? That's better." He grabbed the fake potion off the quartz block and slowly looked around. "Something off. Where did all my other potions go?"

"I took them."

Alarmed, Ivor quickly turned his direction to me. "Who are you?! What did you see?"

Jesse's gang all facepalmed. They revealed themselves. Ivor took a step back as he saw more people approaching. "There are more of you?! Did you follow me here?"

Petra shook her fists. "You thought you could just screw us over and get away with it, didn't you?"

Jesse took a step forward. "We're here to prove you wrong."

The scammer glared at them. "What are you going to do about it? I have what I want, and you have exactly what you earned. Now get out before I put you out."

Jesse approached him even closer. "Pay us what you owe us. You give us a diamond, we'll get out of your hair."

Ivor was unfazed and looked straight in his eyes. "I won't be threatened. Not by the likes of you."

"Hey!" Axel walked up to him, crossing his bulky arms. "Nobody talks to my friends like that! Now shut your mouth or else."

"Enough! You've wasted too much of my time already." Ivor ran away, hoping that he could summon an iron golem. But when he reached there, the iron blocks were gone. Only the carved pumpkin remained. "What?! Did you already plan ahead?"

The entire group surrounded him. "I have no Idea what you're saying but give it up," Jesse said. "We have you cornered."

Before they could do anything with him, I stepped in with my diamond sword drawn out. Standing between the old man and Jesse's group, I slowly pointed my blade at them.

"What are you doing?" Jesse asked with a worried look.

"Just doing what needs to be done. That is... get out and get Gabriel down here to help or else we are all in trouble."

Everyone looked at me with confusion. "Then why are you pointing your sword at us?"

"I'll not explain nor will I repeat myself... go and do what I told you, NOW!"

Not thinking twice, Jesse and his friends ran up stairs and quickly exited through the door.

Ivor looked at her. "I don't get it. Are you going to hold me here while your friends get Gabriel?"

I didn't look back at him. "No. I only distracted that little group to go get him. I'll let you do what you need to do with Gabriel since I already know that the Order of the Stone are a bunch of liars." I sheathed my sword. "Now then, I'll take my leave."

I made my way out of the dark basement and spotted Gabriel on stage talking to Jesse. I stood at the far corner of the building fiddling around with my crystal blade. All that's left to do was wait for the main show to begin.

After some time had passed, Ivor finally left his basement and walked to the main stage. "I have a question for you."

Gabriel, who is talking to Jesse, turned his head towards the mysterious speaker. "Excuse me, sir you'll have to wait your turn."

Ivor continued to approach through the crowd. "Just tell me first: do you really believe anyone can be great?"

The warrior nodded as he tried to find the source of his voice. "With enough hard work, yes."

The old man raised his voice. "Was that where I went wrong? I simply didn't WORK hard enough!?"

Gabriel's eyes opened as he finally realized who he was talking to. "Ivor? Is that really you?"

Jesse was in disbelief. "Wait. This guy is a friend of yours?"

He shook his head as he angrily looked at Ivor. "He's no friend of mine."

"Finally, a little bit of truth!" Ivor walked up stage. "Now why don't you tell them the real story. Gabriel?"

"I see time has made you bitter."

"And it's made YOU an even bigger fool." Ivor put his arm around Gabriel's shoulder and spread his other arm towards the audience. "Now, these people were promised greatness and I'm ready to deliver."

He let go of him and walked to the back of the stage. "I'm sorry this is how they had to learn the truth..."

"Gabriel, you have to stop him!" Jesse shouted.

Ivor quickly flicked the lever up, revealing the wither that was almost completed on stage. "But nothing built can last forever, Gabriel."

"Ivor, no!" He ran to stop him but it was already too late. The Wither blasted Gabriel and Ivor off stage as it was summoned. The three headed monster, with the command block in his rib cage, slowly hovered up. Many people began to panic and run away.

Ivor quickly recovered and yelled at his creation, "Creature, attack!"

As if following his command, the Wither roared and began shooting two flaming skulls at Jesse.

As he slowly backed away, Jesse somehow managed to dodge both of the attacks that blew the floor up. The blocks around the building were suddenly being pulled towards the Wither, encasing the black monster.

Gabriel stood in front of Jesse's group and took out his diamond sword. "Everyone stay calm! This foul beast is no match for me!"

Ivor pointed at Gabriel. "Creature, attack!"

Not giving it a chance, the warrior jumped at the evolving Wither but his blade bounced back. He harshly landed on the floor. "What have you done?" he said as he turned his head to Ivor.

"Gabriel!" Jesse runs to help but he quickly stands up and waves his hand back, telling him to stop coming. "No! Stay away! It's after me, not you!"

"Look at him! The mighty Gabriel! Looks like true greatness is out of his reach. He may not be able to defeat this creature, but I can!" Ivor stared at the Wither in confidence. "Creature, retreat!"

The Wither, whose head was becoming larger, looked at him as if not hearing what he just said. "Ahem... Creature, retreat!" Ivor repeated. Nothing happened. "Retreat, I said! Retreat!" He said in an angry tone.

"Ivor, what are you doing?" Jesse shouted.

He nervously looked back at him. "Ah. No need to be alarmed, my friends. I have an elixir that will destroy this creature." Ivor took out the fake potion that I swapped out. He threw it at the command block.

It obviously didn't stop the Wither. Ivor steps back. "Uh What? Impossible! It should have worked. I took such care!"

Hearing him say that did make me feel a bit bad. But I had to do it. If I want to get the Admin's attention, I have to make it interesting for him.

I finally walked up to them and swung his special elixir. "I have the real potion Ivor."

He turned to me, shaking his fists. "You thief! You're ruining everything! Throw at the Command Block now!" Ivor cried.

I smirked at him. "Sorry. I think not." I threw the bottle as hard as I could, crashing it into a random wall. Everyone were stunned. The only way to kill the Wither was gone.

"What have you done?! This wasn't how it was supposed to happen!" With nothing much else he can do, Ivor ran away.

"Are you trying to kill us?!" Jesse yelled at me. I ignored him and quickly left the scene.

"You and Ivor! Come back here!" Gabriel yelled.

I ran along the rooftop and reached the main gates. Looking back, the Wither was becoming more like a titan, growing black long tentacles and sucking anything that it wanted with its huge tractor beam. I jumped down the city walls and hid behind the tree as I waited for Gabriel to come through the gate knowing that he will lead the people to his temple.

When I saw him, I began to follow him from behind, blending in with the group of rushing people. We had to avoid the wither nukes, lasers, and tentacles as we followed Gabriel. It didn't take long to reach his big temple. I waited outside for a bit until either Gabriel or Petra runs past me.

As soon as I saw Petra coming out of the temple, I ran inside the obsidian room and saw Ivor running inside the portal. The monster's tentacles suddenly broke the ceiling roof above my head. Not wasting time, I jumped in before it could touch me.

Opening my eyes, I found myself laying down on Ivor's back. "Ow..." he groaned in pain.

I quickly stood up and found that I successfully traveled into the Nether. Jesse, Lucas, Axel, and Olivia were staring at us both with negative expressions on their faces. Oh, and Reuben was there doing the same thing.

Ivor stood up and saw us. "Oh. It's you again," he grunted.

Before he could say anything, the tentacles appeared through the portal, making everyone jump out of the way. It attempted to grab something, eventually grabbing the obsidian portal, squeezing it, and destroying it, which caused it to disappear back into the surface.

The whole gang stood up, glanced at the broken portal, looked at each other and then they looked at us two.

"You guys," Jesse coldly uttered.

Ivor glared at everyone and especially when he saw me. "You ruined everything. Don't pretend you don't know, thief. You destroyed my most valuable potion... And what should've been my moment of triumph!"

I just stared back at him.

"Hmm... Nothing to say for yourself? I don't think you realize what you've done!" he snarled.

"I know what I did and I have no regrets." I said with a straight face. Walking away, I drank an invisibility potion. "I'll see you guys later."

They're all baffled by what I said. After I vanished, Jesse's group suddenly turned to Ivor.

"You started all this." Axel said angrily.

Ivor shook his head. "I had to show the world the truth but your friend ruined everything... I wonder if she's truly friends with you."

"Maybe not. We only met her today," Jesse mumbled.

Suddenly a ghostly cry rang across the Nether. Axel looked around. "What was that?"

Ivor studied them as they struggled to figure out where the sound came from. He grinned. "I would wish you good luck, but luck won't carry you through the Nether. You have my sympathies." He drank his own invisibility potion and threw away the empty bottle.

A ghast appeared, noticing the group's presence. "Let's get out of here!" Axel yelled.

I waited for them to start moving so I could follow them again. Yeah, a lot of stalking for now. I looked up and spotted something glowing above me. Might as well gather a few things.

I harvested a few glowstone dust from the crimson ceiling. Looking down at the boiling ocean, I wiped my face that was covered in sweat. Well isn't this something? This world is so hot that it's basically burning my face...

I jumped down and looked back at Jesse's group. Maybe I should just... No. I can't mess around. I have to focus here.

So as soon as the group hopped on the minecart and left, I killed the ghast that was chasing them and crafted a new minecart using the iron block I stole from Ivor.

Arriving at the destination, I hopped off the minecart and climbed up the stairs. It led me to a portal that was connected to the main temple. I entered the purple gate and instantly found my legs soaked in water.

I climbed out the small pond to find a dirt house already built on land. I quietly passed by it and went into the woods to-

*Click*

Hearing the door open, I looked behind me. It seems like Lukas left the group to cool his mind off. I tailed him as he walked in the forest.

It began to rain. Lukas stopped walking. "Great. It just had to rain tonight." He sighed. "Get it together Lukas. Even if Axel was not acting cool back there, I should've just kept it together."

"You had a fight with Axel?"

Lukas turned around surprised. "It's you again! Did you follow us here?"

"I did follow you."

"Why?"

"To help you guys kill the Witherstorm."

He looked at me as he tried to proccess what I just said. "I don't understand. Didn't you destroy the only potion that was capable of stopping that monster? Also saying that you don't regret it?"

"I interfered with Ivor's plan. I'm doing this for a person who is far more powerful than that three headed beast."

"Someone more powerful than that Wither?"

"You don't need to know who that is right now. You'll meet him one day... And about me helping you guys. I will mostly work behind the scenes. You guys will do the heavy work for me."

I took out my three remaining iron blocks and handed them to Lukas. "Take it. Use it to make useful tools to protect yourself and your friends."

"Thanks? ...I'm so confused right now. Should we consider you as a friend?"

I turned away. "Think of me however you like. I need to go do something now. See you later."

"Wait!" He grabbed my shoulder. "I know we haven't met each other much but why do you have to go alone? You look like a strong person. Can't you work with us together to stop the Witherstorm?"

"..."

Drawing out my blade, Lukas fearfully let go and backed up. I left him soon after.

Half an hour has passed. Lukas created a small hole for shelter against the rain and monsters. He stared through the door windows as he was sitting against the dirt wall.

"A being stronger than the Witherstorm. That's hard to imagine. And that woman... I still don't understand it. She didn't kill it, saying that it's all for her master, yet she is saying she wants to destroy it."

He pulled out the iron blocks that the mysterious person gave him. The blocks reminded Lukas of her silver hair.

Wearing an unusual outfit filled with stars. Having two different eyes. One silver and one icy blue. And the left side of her hand and leg seems to be some kind of redstone machine? Did something bad happen to her? Even so, she could've killed me just then. I only offered her our help... Just where did this strange person come from?

Lukas sighed and put away the blocks in his inventory. "No point trying to figure that out... She might be menacing but I'm not complaining. I got free iron after all. Yaaawn... I'm going to get some sleep so I can wake up early morning."

...38 ...39 ...40! Man... Killing creepers requires so much leg work that it makes it quite a good workout. Especially with the slippery ground. Had to focus on both my movement and the monsters.

It was still dark and raining while I was hunting monsters. I counted my gunpowder. I now have thirty-one gunpowder in my inventory. Planning to make TNT and splash potions with it (I stole a brewing stand from Ivor). I also acquired bones for bonemeal and arrows from skeletons as well as strings and eyes from spiders.

And yes, I did it all that without my armour. Had been scratched a few times but at least the monsters can't tear my clothes. Still, it's probably not a smart move and I could have died. Yet at the same time, no risks equals no rewards. Not saying I like to get hurt or anything. I think fighting without more protection can benefit me to become more alert. And since this version of Minecraft is a little more realistic, those diamonds are too heavy to put on. I would rather finish my opponents faster than giving them a chance.

I laid my eyes on my blade.

I've gotten so used to this feminine voice that I'd forgotten what my real voice sounds like. Consequences of choosing a skin that are different to your gender I guess. Hopefully once I'm done with this world I get back to being a man again. It would definitely be nice.

While I continued to walk, my sword began to glimmer as the sun rose. I swapped my blade for some cooked beef and chowed it down.

Next up is finding the enchanting table located in this temple. I could have made my own, but why make one if there is one nearby.

I finished eating my food and looked at the ruined structure. Here I go.

A familiar voice spouted behind me. "Hey! It's the crazy assassin who almost killed me last night!"

His friend looked at him "She what?!"

Crazy assassin?

I took a glance behind me. Lukas was pointing at me as the whole gang stood on the tiny cliff. "Did you just call me a crazy assassin?"

"Sorry! I just blurted out whatever came to my head." He quickly shook his head and changed the subject. "What is your name?"

Jesse shook Lukas. "What are you apologizing for?! Didn't you say she almost killed you?"

"It's only because I ticked her off. She let me go once I backed up."

"Alpha." Lukas turned around as I started to speak. "That is my name. As for what you called me earlier... I'd prefer that you don't call me an assassin. I don't kill people in their sleep."

"You act and sound like one," Axel said with an annoyed expression. "How about we call you the Silver Lunatic."

"Silver Lunatic? Sure. I really don't care what you call me."

Jesse drew his iron weapon out and pointed at me. "Alpha. What is your plan now?"

I smirked. "Pointing with that iron blade I gave you? Ha. How amusing."

He glared at me. "It's the only good weapon that I have. Nothing I can do about it."

I stared at Jesse for a while and suddenly remembered about the amulet that he possesses. "Tsk... We are only wasting time. Let's go inside this temple together."

Axel folded his arms. "Why should we trust you?"

"Wait! Let's trust her," Lukas suggested.

"Why are you on her side all of a sudden?" the big guy frowned.

This is going to take forever!

I took out two splash potions and my diamond sword. "The Witherstorm is coming. If you guys don't hurry up and do what I say right now, this world will die."

"Then explain to me why you didn't stop it before. Are you trying to fool us?" Jesse asked.

Splashing a potion of swiftness and leaping, I immediately jumped at their level and weaved around the group. Grabbing Jesse's shoulder from behind, I put my blade around his neck.

This all happened in merely seconds. "This is a warning." Everyone froze. "You will follow me without question. And don't try to run away from this." I put my blade back and swiftly shoved Jesse and his friends seven blocks down to the ground. I picked up the squealing pig.

Olivia stood up as she rubbed her face. "Ow... My nose."

Jumping down, I placed Reuben next to Jesse and walked inside. "I'll lead and disable the booby traps. Try to catch up, newbies."

The group behind me nodded and followed my lead.

We safely reached the end of the hallway thanks to Alpha destroying the pressure plates. She gave us all the arrows that were stored in the dispensers. Which I'm grateful for but...

Jesse stared at her flowing silver hair as they continued to march further in the temple. But I fear that she will do something crazy again. She already put this whole world in danger with her little stunt and now she is pushing us around to do who knows what.

We reached a room similar to Ivor's basement. Alpha stopped walking and turned to us with a book in hand. "Jesse. This book is about the Order of the Stone. It contains some hidden secrets about them."

"Secrets? Okay." He opened the book and skimmed over the texts until he found something that caught his eye. "Ivor is the fifth member of the Order of the Stone?"

"That is what is written down there." She took her pickaxe out and mined the enchantment table. This made the enchanted book to disappear from Jesse's hands.

"I thought there were only four members. The stories never mentioned him..." Olivia said.

Jesse put his hand against his chin. "This might explain why Ivor had such a grudge against Gabriel."

She looked down in disappointment. "They lied to us. They lied to the whole world."

"Why would they do this?" Axel thought out loud.

"Who knows," Alpha said. She began breaking the book shelves, recrafting them, and rearranged them around the enchanting table that she placed back down.

Jesse glanced at her puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"Don't mind me. I suggest that you go upstairs and use the amulet to locate the other members of the Order. I'll stay down here to do something else."

Not wanting to stick around, they quickly climbed up the stairs. The group reached the top of the room. The ceiling was crumbled and ruined, revealing the open sky.

Finally... Some fresh air. Hanging around with Alpha is too much for me.

Jesse shook his head. No. I can't cower like this. How am I going to fulfill Gabriel's wish if I can't endure such things. I got to find the other members quickly as well as...

Olivia looked at him with concern. "Jesse? Are you okay?"

"I need to become stronger than Alpha. I won't lose to her," he said.

"Same here," Axel agreed with Jesse. "I don't want that Silver Lunatic getting in our way again."

Lukas responded with a small sigh before shaking his head. "Anyways, Alpha told us that we can use the amulet here. Let's try to figure that out first." Everyone agreed.