Age Of Awakening: Unofficial Minecraft Adventures Series 3 In 1 (6 page)

“Steve?” The familiar voice filled the darkness like a soothing breeze on a hot day. “Steve wake up.”

Slowly the hero began to open his eyes. Steve was lying in bed in his home and Scoundrel was lying at the foot of his bed smiling at him happily. Stephanie and Carl were standing on either side of him, both looking down at him worriedly.

“What…what happened?” Steve asked as his stomach growled.

“We don’t know,” Carl said, “Everything suddenly went dark, we didn’t know where we were and it felt like we were gone forever. But suddenly we saw you kill this massive dragon. When you did the world all went back the way it was and we found you near the village. We thought you were dead mate.”

Stephanie wiped a tear away. “You were so brave. We brought you and Scoundrel back here and fed you soup while you rested. You’ve been out of it for four days.”

Steve could only smile at his friends. “Thank you both. I didn’t think I was going to make it through this without you. But it isn’t over yet.”

Both Stephanie and Carl looked at one another in surprise.

“What are you talking about?” Carl asked.

“There is one threat still out there, a demon who seeks to destroy me and the peace of Overworld.” Steve sat up in bed and balled his hand into a fist as he saw the man in his mind.

“Herobrine must die.”

Time slowed as the sword descended towards the neck of the mighty Ender Dragon. With his last remaining dredges of strength Steve pulled the heavy sword down with a heroic war cry that would chill the darkest of enemies to their core. The blade cut through the scaled flesh of the dragon with ease and rent the beast’s head from his body with one stroke.

The Ender Dragon’s body jerked in the last spasms of death before becoming utterly still, silent and powerless. Steve had done it; against all odds he had survived to find the End, challenge the all-powerful dragon and slew it in its own domain. But the victory was not without cost or sacrifice.

Drained of all energy, starved to the brink of death and bloody from his battle, the adventurer felt the darkness take him. Falling backwards, sword clattering to the ground, Steve landed hard on the ground beneath him with a blossom of dirt rising around him. The End was silent, even the Endermen had ceased their endless wandering about.

From the darkness behind one of the mighty obsidian pillars a man watched this all take place. The unblinking white eyes of Herobrine took in the scene before him, unbelieving. Had the mighty dragon truly fallen? Was Steve now dead himself?

Herobrine would not wait to find out. He rushed out from his hiding place and ran as fast as his legs would carry him towards the body of Steve. He would cut the adventurer’s head from his body just to make sure he was finished. Before Herobrine could reach him however, a dark portal opened up beneath Steve, slowly swallowing him whole. The body sank lower into the portal until he was completely vanished. Once Steve was gone the portal disappeared leaving Herobrine completely alone in the End.

A scream of rage ripped itself from the throat of Herobrine as once again he was unable to finish Steve for good. He looked around, hoping to find another of the dark portals but there was nothing. His eyes fell upon the fallen body of the Ender Dragon.

“Look at you, even a legendary beast locked away for eternity cannot withstand the might of this man. What is it that drives him? What is it that compels him to fight until there is nothing left and still come out the victor?!”

Herobrine kicked the corpse before him in anger.

The body exploded with a force strong enough to throw Herobrine back several blocks. He landed on the ground and rolled a few more blocks before he looked up to see what had happened.

Purple and black smoke rose from the ground where the dragon had been. Heat washed over the area but there was something else Herobrine could just make out. There, beyond the heavy cloud of smoke was a chest. Standing, the white eyed man rushed through the curtain of smoke and found not a chest, but a large magnificent coffin; its exterior covered in scales just as the dragon had been. Was this the unclaimed reward for killing the dragon? Curious and desperate for another answer Herobrine lifted the lid and looked inside.

Inside of the coffin, resting atop a crimson pillow of silk and down was a sword. Its hilt was a deep purple, the pommel a roaring dragon’s head, the cross guard was dragon wings. The blade itself was a deep gold color but the metal was no such thing. Herobrine could hear it whispering, as if thousands of voices lifted from the blade, begging him to take it.

Reaching out slowly Herobrine lifted the sword from its resting place and immediately he smiled with an evil malice. He could feel the weapon hum with absolute power. He felt that power begin to spread through his own body as he gripped the sword firmly.

Checking his inventory, Herobrine found that the blade was called “Bane of Existence” Below the name he read a short description of the weapon.

“The Bane of Existence is a blade containing the souls of every living creature devoured by the Ender Dragon. This weapon uses the power from its fallen victims to grow even stronger. Woe to any who wield it, for only darkness will follow in their wake.”

The sound of stone grinding against stone filled the void of the End behind Herobrine. A dark portal leading back to Overworld has arisen from the ground.

Herborine looked to his new found weapon and back to the portal with a wicked grin.

“Ready yourself Steve…the end draws nigh unto you.”

Stephanie reached out to take the hand of Steve as they walked through the town together. After the attack from the Ender Dragon a few days before things had gone back to normal for the most part. The people of the town rebuilt, salvaged what they could and started life anew. Everyone seemed to have moved on well enough, everyone but Steve. Stephanie was worried about him more than she could say.

Feeling his best friend in the world place her hand in his caused Steve to look over at her with a smile.

“I’m sorry sweetheart…I keep zoning out don’t I?”

Stephanie smiled back at him but the worry was evident in her beautiful blue eyes. “You went through some pretty traumatizing stuff Steve…you saved us all and made it through yourself. You just seem to still be…somewhere else.” She pulled herself to him and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. “I’m just worried is all.”

Scoundrel, Steve’s trusty wolf companion, was on his other side. The three of them walked past open shops and vendors selling everything from seeds to weapons.

“I know. I just can’t shake the feeling that Herobrine will show himself soon, I’m not sure if I can defeat him when he does.”

Stephanie stopped in the middle of the road and held fast to his hand, causing Steve to stop and look back at her.

“You listen to me Steve…if that monster ever does show himself, you will defeat him with ease!”

A laugh washed over everyone in the market; a truly dark sound, full of malice and pain. Steve immediately knew who it was. He stepped in front of Stephanie as the laugh grew louder and louder. He equipped his armor and bow as fast as he could, turning to find where the demon was hiding.

“Your confidence in the adventurer is wasted. There are none who can defeat me now.” Herobrine walked down the road of the market. A black tattered cloak draped over his shoulders fluttered in the breeze. Black armor covered Herobrine from head to toe and in his right hand he carried a truly demonic looking blade.

The man’s white eyes had always been empty and horrifying but now, they swam with power. Spirits could be seen in his eyes as they filled him to the brim. Steve felt himself go cold. He had feared the old Herobrine returning, unsure if he could beat him, but this new evil that had arisen in his home, looked truly invincible.

“What’s the matter Steve? Has that quick tongue of yours suddenly gone dry?” Herobrine laughed loudly as he threw his head back truly enjoying the moment. “Ah my old enemy, you should see the look of terrific fear in your eyes, I will have to remember this moment for as long as I can.” Herobrine lifted the Bane of Existence and grinned.

“Wait!” Steve shouted. He tore his gaze away from Herobrine long enough to see the frightened people of the village. Stephanie clung to his arms as she peered over his shoulders at the evil man before him. “This fight is between us Herobrine, it always has been.”

The dark figure lowered his blade and nodded. “Aye, it has. But this time will be different. You see, I have become something more; an unstoppable force, a master, a god! What hope do you have now? Why should I not simply end you now and be done with it?”

Steve took a deep breath and stood straight upright. He unequipped his armor and his bow. “You have waited this long, you surely can wait a bit longer. Let us have our final fight one lunar cycle from now. On the next full moon…come and find me, and we will end this once and for all.”

Herobrine stared at the man in awe for a long and silent moment. Unsure if he should take the challenge seriously or not. But he smiled once again, revealing sharp teeth against the black of his armor. He laughed once more, his voice booming over the entire town. “So be it! There is nothing you can do to prepare but try, waste your final days preparing for me and when I come, I will cut you down and watch the life leave your eyes!”

Herobrine grabbed his dark cloak and spun, twisting it around himself. In a whirlwind of black and purple the evil man disappeared leaving behind only despair and a hint of his malicious laughter.

Everyone in the village looked at Steve, staring at him as if it were the last time they would ever see him. Stephanie gripped his arms rightly, tears running down her face.

Silence reigned as everyone took in what had just happened, but after only a few moments a small frail voice came from beside Steve.

“Come with me.” Everyone, including Steve, turned to see a tiny old woman with a staff walking away down the street.

“Wait! Who are you?” Steve asked as he turned to face her.

The old woman stopped and turned to face him. “I…am the Oracle. It is time young one, for you to fulfill your destiny. Come with me, and I will guide you down the right path.”

Steve, Stephanie and Scoundrel had followed the old woman to a small cabin deep in the woods. The home was built for only one to live and the walls were all covered in one massive mural. The painting depicted a battle between a dark dragon and a glowing white lion.

“Unbelievable,” Stephanie gasped as she took in the mural. Its beauty was astounding but the meaning behind it was awe inspiring. “I never thought our little world had such a…a…” she could not find the words.

“Grand scheme?’ the old lady said with a laugh. “Yes, our world is much older than most of you realize, take my word for it, I have been in it since the very beginning.”

Steve looked to the woman and shook his head. “You said I had to fulfill my destiny, what did you mean by that?” He was remaining utterly respectful and quiet in his demeanor. He could not help but to feel the utmost respect for this woman he did not even know.

“You, Steve, are the one our creator meant to rule this world. You are the one true adventurer meant to help Overworld grow and thrive. The creator tried many many times to perfect this world and each time the king he created to rule the land would grow evil, twisted by power and hatred for all others of the world. You were created to be a simple man with only the desire to learn and explore. But you have a far greater purpose. To become the true ruler of Overworld, you must defeat Herobrine once and for all.”

Steve sat down slowly as he listened, hanging onto every word. Stephanie placed her hands on his shoulders as she stood behind him. “How? He is far more powerful now than even the Dragon!”

The Oracle nodded. “Indeed he is, but in all things have their opposite; Man, and Woman, Young, and old, Darkness…and light. Herobrine wields a blade known as the Bane of Existence. With it he is unstoppable to all but the one who wields the blade’s twin. In the temple of the Lion, nestled on the highest peak in Overwold hides a sword known Tian-di. This means Heaven and Earth. This blade can only be wielded by one of pure heart, one who has earned the respect and trust of the White Lion. Travel there boy, and hurry; prove that you are the pure and holy king our creator intended, and the blade will be yours; with it, you can defeat Herobrine!”

The Oracle gave Steve a map. He had intended to leave Scoundrel to protect Stephanie but she refused to leave him.

“I am not helpless Steve. I am going with you and we will find the temple together.” She had said when he tried to make her go back home.

He could not argue with the woman and honestly he was glad she was coming. Without Tian-di Steve would be helpless to defeat Herobrine and the dark one would rule Overworld.

Together the adventurer, his best friend and Scoundrel set off towards the mountain range of the Far East. The journey would take them a long time but they set out, determined to make it in time and to somehow convince the White Lion that they needed the sword.