Chapter 110: Accidental End

Flor guides me through the winding hallways. A downward spiral through the house, broken up by stairs.

“How many floors does this building have?”

“Six.”

“That’s crazy.”

Reaching the bottom, final floor, he guides me to a normal-appearing room. Walking through the boring wooden door, I find a stone room.

The room is bare and unadorned except for a single minecart. The minecart sits on a 2-way rail system leading down into a dark tunnel. Flor beckons me forward, guiding me into the cart.

Stepping into the iron minecart, I find the sturdy structure – uncomfortable. Flor enters the second minecart in front of the first, pulling a lever to its side.

Like a blow of a gun, the minecarts off. Moving swiftly through the suffocatingly dark tunnel. A lonely Redstone torch is are only light in this long tunnel. We move with great speed, enough that I can feel the wind blow over me.

The trip was relatively uneventful. The occasional ascent and descent of the minecart the only exciting parts. Undoubtedly just avoiding cave networks. After what felt like several hours, we finally see a bright glimmer ahead.

The light bleeds into the tunnel-like god rays through a forest, a welcome reprieve, the monotony of the journey has taken its toll. Finally, we reach the end of the journey. The light blinding as we pass through into it, yet the Glowstone is welcomed with open arms.

Stepping out of the iron carriage with achy limbs and a sore ass, I stand up, stretching. Feeling my joints crack with the simplest of movements; I shake the feeling back into a dead leg. Flor, with his poker face, just walks on. Like riding in that stuffy cart wasn’t a medieval form of torture. Although the slightest of limps spell a different story. His façade not as foolproof as he assumes.

We walk through familiar brick corridors, the fortress. I would recognize it if even if I was blind. The square brick walls with prison bars, iron doors, and damp mossy brick; it’s very familiar. Walking past the occasional chest, likely looted, so I don’t bat an eye.

“Find anything good in those chests?”

“This fortress was found a very long time ago. If anything good was found, I am unaware. Time erases all after all.”

“Very true.” Bringing my hands to my face in thought. “How long ago?”

“Centuries. I am not at liberty to give an exact date.”

“Okay, thanks… I assume it was expensive and time-consuming making that rail system.”

“Of course. We had to dig it personally for security reasons.” My talking a nuisance for sure. But, I am curious, so who cares.

“How many people have entered the end portal so far?”

“We don’t know how many entered before we came into possession of the portal. But, afterward, we kept careful documentation. If I recall correctly, less than 10.”

“What was their method to ‘survive?’”

“Some swore by some kind of ward, magic. Others trusted their armor. All fools; might I ask your method?”

“If I die, my soul will move to another body. My armor is pretty durable too.”

“That’s a new one. You are not wearing any armor?”

“Hit me, trust me.”

He cautiously strikes my shoulder. Pulling away in shock as his hand hits the metal.

“I see. It’s not often you see armor you cant see.”

“Strong armor acts like magnets to people’s attention. Often covered in unneeded adornments, frills, and such. Invisibility is the best option by a mile.”

“Smart, stopped any assassins?”

“One or two.”

“I take it; you never take it off.”

“Not unless I am completely safe.”

“Define completely?”

“Is someone fishing?”

“Of course not.” He says in fake offense. “I am, of course, just curious. I like to document every attempt. You are about to commit exotic suicide, after all.”

“No faith.”

“None what! So! Ever!” He says, emphasizing each word.

I act like I am offended.

He adds. “If you do, somehow make it. Please visit us for an interview.”

“If I somehow make it? The portal will be usable by anyone.”

“What do you mean?”

“Once I kill the big bad boss. It won’t be a death trap and will have an exit.”

He just chuckles. “Okay.”

We finally come to the room. Having walked through a complex series of hallways and rooms. Coming upon the end room, I see the familiar lava-enriched room. Metal bars with several sources of lava behind; I’ve missed this sight. Seeing the crumbling stairs, I slowly walk up to them.

Standing above a swirling vortex of stars. A void so similar to space, yet not the same. The same blue-green end portal blocks circling the vortex. The ender eyes twitching and looking around. The organic nature of them making me uncomfortable.

Mentally going through a checklist of tasks. Having sent mail that I will be indisposed for an unknown amount of time. A veritable arsenal of potions at my fingertips. Replacements of everything I own. Survival items and a whole load of other things.

Flor comes to my side. “Beautiful. Isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“I wish you the best of luck. I must be going though.

“Got a lot to do?”

“A massive amount of paperwork.”

“Ouch.”

He nods, “Yeah, well anyway; good lu…”

He suddenly slips, catching his foot on the top of the block, next to the portal.

I watch in surprise as a single foot dips into the portal. He made a startling shout on the way down. Blowing cool air in relief as he catches himself.

His relief, short-lived; the portal begins to spin rapidly, a single second passing before a powerful force pulls him towards it. A single scream escapes his lips as he falls into the black abyss.

The suddenness of the whole event freezing me in place as I watch the nobleman disappear.

“This… is not good.”

I absolutely cannot leave here without him. They will think him dead, and me responsible. Well, I was going to enter today anyway, what’s one more job.

Quickly marking the portal for teleportation.

Suppressing the anxiety rising in my chest. I bite the bullet and jump. Knowing it’s too late to regret, I feel a nauseating shift in reality as I move through the portal.

Suddenly standing on obsidian, I see a familiar endstone encasing the room. Looking to my side, I see a Flor shellshocked.

“Well, funny seeing you here.”

He doesn’t look amused.

“This can't be happening!” He says in a panic.

“It absolutely did; you slipped into a dimension with a 100% fatality rate.”

He starts rubbing his neatly groomed hair into a mess in stress. “Ah damned nether, I am so fucked.”

“Did you forget?”

“What did I forget?” He asks, bewildered.

“I am here!”

“I am going to die, I am going to die.

While Flor has a mental breakdown, I take a moment to access my surroundings. Looking around, I see massive amounts of junk. Strewn bones on the floor, half ate chorus fruit; and a whole host of human items In varying stages of damage; is someone still here? Looking more closely, I see the walls are carved with extensive pictures and diagrams; I see a bed with some kind of fabric over end stone in the corner.

Seeing a door-shaped hole in the wall, I am compelled to explore. Entering the room, I quickly see a ragged man in a chair. Eyes wide as he stares at me.

He is in rags, with overgrown hair and a beard with extensive scars all over his body. He goes to speak, but only air leaves his mouth.

“Previous explorer?”

He just nods, mouth agape.

Casting my gaze at the room. I see more long bones and fruit, some organized and others on the floor.

Has this man survived off enderman flesh and fruit? What a tenacious bastard. Eventually, the man manages to mutter a single phrase.

“Who… You?” A broken and damaged voice says.

“Aeternum.” If I recall, isolation ruins your speech. Something I feared would happen to me.

“Fo… food.” He says.

I hand him a still hot meal, a roast dinner. I swear a tear left his eye as he tore into the meal with gusto. With only his hands, he demolishes the meal.

He looks up at me in tears. He rushes towards me. Trying not to flinch, he jumps onto me. Hugging me with his weak arms. His eyes a stream of water; errm, what do I do?

I awkwardly hold his shoulder, stroking it. “It’s okay,” I repeat. He eventually calms down enough to let go.

“Th… thank… u.”

Shortly after, Flor enters the room. He looks at the man in surprise. Shouting, “Eric is that you! What is going on?”

Eric looks at Flor, a face of confusion. Suddenly it lights up, “Fl… Flor, h… hi.”

Well, at least we have a name. I pull some chairs and a table out of my golden bag. Setting them down for us.

They both sit down, unreadable expressions. “Flor, who is this man?”

“The one who entered before you.”

“He entered before me? I thought it had been longer.”

“He entered 2 decades ago; we thought him dead.”

“Well, clearly not.”

He turns to Eric, “What the nether happened, man?”

Eric, still unable to speak in whole sentences, manages to mumble out a little. “Dra... dragon… I… lost. To str… strong. Armor… gone.” He says in sadness, from mentioning his armor.

I turn to Flor, “random question. Is he the guy who trusted his armor?”

“Very astute of you.” He says. Running his gaze over Eric. “It was a beautiful set of armor. Handcrafted by dwarves, it was a masterpiece.”

Eric's face falls further. “Okay, I get it. Don’t worry, Eric, I will give you some great armor, no, better! His mood quickly improves to my relief.

“So, Flor, we going to talk about how you tripped into the end.”

This time, Flors' face falls. “I’ve ruined my life by being careless. It was only my foot.” He says in a mixture of confusion and surprise.

“That’s all it takes. The End portal is different from others. You only need to touch it before it takes you through.”

“I know that now!” He shouts in anger.

Looking around, “Eric, these cave drawings were here before you, right?”

He nods.

“I see. Looks like a good few of the people who entered; survived. At least long enough to make a mark. At least the dragon cant travel through walls like I was expecting; a nice change.”

Flor looks at me. “Who cares; we are trapped here now.” His voice is empty of energy.

“I know how to leave.”

“How then?” He says in disbelief.

“We need to kill the dragon.”

“Yeah, like others haven’t tried.” He scoffs.

“Let me clarify, I will kill the dragon. You guys will have no part; I need its heart.”

“You came all this way, for the heart of the things?!”

“Yes.”

“I’m stuck with a madman,” He says, head in his hand.

“Have a little faith you, damned pessimist.” Frustration bleeding into my tone. I would have already slain the beast., But I both want information from Eric and to scout things out.

I best not die. I have 2 extra lives at risk now.

I have enough guilt already. Shivering at the memory of my many nightmares. I definitely don’t want anymore.

“Eric, is there anything you can tell me about the dragon to help me?”

He looks around nervously. “Avoid… purple.”

“Yeah, it has a purple breath. Does it melt armor?”

He nods. “Thanks, that’s good to know.” A sudden thought. “Eric, how do you avoid the enderman here.”

He suddenly stands up. Running towards a corner, pulling out an object. A block of endstone carved into the shape of a pumpkin. He places it on his head to show me.

“I see, interesting.” Turning to Flor, “Okay, I am going dragon hunting; wish me luck.”

Eric, nods and Flor speaks. “Good luck. You’re our only hope.”

Just in case, I leave them a few saplings, a stack of dirt, and a variety of seeds. “Just in case.”

Waving them by, the dragon doesn’t know what’s coming.