[Jesse's POV]
(Everyone was running away, with our group being the last ones to exit the building.)
(I was just about to make it past the entrance when a herd of chickens start blocking my path.)
Jesse: "Out of my way, chickens!"
(While fighting past them, I could only hear loud sounds coming from behind me.)
(The dome of the building broke and the creature that was larger than before emerged from it.)
(Each head had one purple, glowing eye and a large set of mandibles, and their bodies were massive and made of black skin created from stolen blocks.)
(Its arms now looked more like tentacles, and there were like 5 of them!)
(It started roaring, which became the only noise my ears could hear anymore.)
(Its beam started pulling people from the crowd in.)
(Now there were people flying around me as well.)
(And just as I make it past the birds, another beam starts targeting me.)
(I hold myself on the fence, but the part of the ground I was standing on breaks apart.)
Jesse: "Oof!"
(Unlike people, the chunk of debris I was on was merely floating in the air.)
(I guess it was too heavy even for the monster.)
(I was able to hold onto the fence, but I still needed to get away.)
Jesse: "Wait! Hey! I'm up here! Somebody, help me! Guys!"
(Everyone I knew was already way ahead of me.)
(Gabriel was busy escorting everyone to safety, and the people that were around me were getting pulled in themselves.)
(Oh my god, this day just can't get worse! I take a deep breath.)
(and start to slowly walk forward while making sure I'm grabbing the fence hard enough so that I don't get sucked in.)
(The struggle was hard, but I managed to get to the end of the floating piece of debris and jump out of it, away from the beams range.)
(Without something gravitating me in, I flop onto the ground, landing near the chicken machine.)
(I was already bruised by the explosion from before, and the pain wasn't really helping.)
(I couldn't do much other than ignore it as much as I can.)
(EnderCon was once filled with booths and stands, along with crowds of people everywhere.)
(Now, these stands were getting destroyed, and the people were either running away in a panic or were already sucked in.)
(I stand up and try to run away again, hopping over another herd of chickens.)
(After a while, I finally spot someone I knew in the distance, Lukas, who was frantically running around the place.)
(It was a little hard to call out amidst the chaos happening around us, but Lukas eventually manages to spot me.)
Lukas: "Holy crap! Oh man, if I was still in that basement I... Thanks for coming back for me, Jesse. I wouldn't be here without you."
Jesse: "Sorry to ruin the moment, but we really have to get outta here right now!"
Petra: "Jesse!"
(Petra called out to us from a nearby booth.)
(The others were also there under the shelter, so we hurried over.)
(Unfortunately, the shelter instantly starts collapsing once a purple beam moves over it.)
(These things were really good at tracking us!)
(Everyone immediately disperses in a panic once the shelter gets destroyed.)
Jesse: "Wait -- wait! We have to stay together!"
Petra: "Jesse! Help me!"
(Petra was caught in the tractor beam.)
(I quickly snatch her arm before she gets pulled away.)
(I managed to staple myself on the fence of the destroyed stand, but the beam was strong, and I was barely able to hold on.)
Jesse: "I can't hold on!"
(All Petra could do at that point was scream in fear.)
(Then, the fence detaches, and we're sent flying.)
Jesse: "Nooooooo!!!"
(Just when hope is lost, someone grabs my foot before we fly away.)
(Gabriel had managed to hold us in place until the tractor beam moved away.)
(then we were swiftly thrown to the ground.)
(Great, now my back hurts too...)
Olivia: "Do we still have everyone?"
(The others came back after realizing we weren't there.)
Jesse: "1(Me), 2(Reuben), 3(Axel), 4(Olivia), 5(Petra), 6(Lukas), 7(Gabriel), yes, everyone's here."
Gabriel: "Good, we must set out for my fortress -- we'll be better protected there."
(Gabriel had begun to escort everyone to his fortress not far away from here, so we headed there as well.)
(On the path out of town, we can see our creeper statue on display getting broken apart right in front of our eyes.)
Petra: "Thanks for that just now."
Jesse: "Yeah, well, now we're eve-"
Petra: "Incoming!"
(A Wither skull flies towards our direction.)
(We managed to dodge it by jumping to the side.)
Petra: "No time for talking, there's more coming!"
(The Wither was raging like a storm.)
(It was moving through the entire town, destroying everything in its path.)
(How many explosive skulls can this thing fire?!)
(Another tractor beam moves across the street, sucking more people in.)
(I've never seen so many people perish in one day.)
(We finally make it to the gate and barely roll under it before it closes.)
(Now that we're out of town, there was only a small patch of woods left before Gabriel's Fortress.)
Gabriel: "Stay together, everyone! We'll be safe as soon as we get to my temple."
(That's reassuring while trees are burning and skulls are flying all around us.)
(A big burning tree was in the way, so the crowd split.)
(People were going left and others were going right.)
(So much for staying together.)
Gabriel: "Everyone, keep going! We'll meet up on the other side!"
(I was closer to the left side, so I went that way.)
(It didn't seem like any path was safe.)
(More tractor beams were trying to suck people up, and there was a forest fire.)
(I carefully dodged all the obstacles as fast as possible, including a wall of fire, a tractor beam, and a tentacle that was rummaging the area.)
Gabriel: "The temple is just up ahead! Follow me!"
(A second tentacle tries to attack and slams itself into the ground.)
(I jump over it before it moves again.)
(At last, the temple comes into view, and we all run over there as quickly as possible.)
(We didn't exactly have time to admire it; we just ran through the entrance.)
Gabriel: "Hurry! Inside the temple! The inner chamber is built entirely of obsidian. We should be untouchable in there."
(Gabriel flicks a lever which opens a piston door.)
(The inside was hallowed with an unlit nether portal sitting in the middle.)
(A tractor beam shines through the entrance, as if encouraging everyone to get moving.)
Gabriel: "Hurry! If you can get through the portal, you'll be safe!"
(Gabriel was about to close the door, but a tentacle reaches out and prevents it from closing.)
(As Gabriel fights the monster, we flee to the portal.)
(Axel was the first one to go through, but he just went through it.)
Axel: "Uh, something's not right here."
Petra: "You have to light the portal to go through!"
Olivia: "We need something to light it!"
Jesse: "Right, step aside, everyone!"
(I pull out the flint and steel and light it, the portal begins to glow purple.)
(Sure enough, it was lit.)
Petra: "Everyone! Get in! NOW!"
(Olivia wastes no time, being the first to go through, followed by Axel, who picked up Reuben and went through with him.)
(Just before we hop in too, Gabriel lets out a scream.)
Jesse: "Gabriel!"
(Petra instinctively goes after him.)
(I follow her, right behind.)
(Another tentacle busts in through the ceiling.)
(And I thought we were untouchable in here???)
(Petra pulls out her swords and distracts that one while I grab onto Gabriel before he gets pulled away.)
(Oh my gawd, why do these things have to be so strong?!)
(It probably lost interest in us, cuz I'm not believing I actually managed to pull him away from such a force.)
(Nevertheless, Gabriel was saved.)
Gabriel: "T-Thank you."
(He glances out the door.)
(Other people were trying to get in, but they just get pulled away.)
(Outside our group, practically no one managed to escape into the temple.)
Gabriel: "There are so many of them... I-I can't save them all. I can't stop this by myself. We need to find the others."
Jesse: "Others?"
Gabriel: "Soren's been missing for years. But the others - you must seek them out. Take this amulet. And guard it with your life!"
(Gabriel gives me a weird-looking amulet.)
(It was almost round, with 4 coloured stripes connecting the outer ring with the inner ring.)
(In the ring was another colored circle.)
(None, except for the blue stripe, were glowing.)
Gabriel: "You can do this!"
Jesse: "What? Why me?!"
Gabriel: "I believe in you. Take the amulet, take it through the portal, find the temple of the Order of the Stone, and then-"
(The conversation is interrupted by another tentacle crashing into the building just when I snatch the amulet.)
(We're forced to fight the creature first.)
(The tentacle Petra was fighting swings back to me.)
(In the chaos, I almost forgot to get my weapon out.)
(I finally do so. I managed to hit it, but it knocked me back a bit.)
(These things were way stronger than they should be.)
(It then swings back towards the portal, where Lukas was standing.)
(He was barely moving.)
(Did he freeze out of fear? Before it gets to him, Petra saves him by slicing the lower portion of the tentacle off.)
(Petra signals for me to hurry over to her.)
Petra: "You two, go through the portal and meet up with the others. I'll stay here and do whatever I can."
Jesse: "Petra! You can't just stay behind!"
Petra: "This is something I need to do. If anything happens, I'll meet you guys at the temple. Just go!"
(Damn, why do you have to play the hero at this point of time!)
(While Petra was talking, Gabriel, in the background, gets caught in one of the tractor beams.)
(Petra tries to get to him but gets trapped in another beam instead.)
(Lukas was still paralysed near the portal.)
(I'm the only one left who can still save them.)
(Shit. Everything that could've gone wrong really did go wrong.)
(To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement.)
(I'm usually calm in situations like these, but no one trained for a day like this to come! It's almost like I was fighting not to enter a state of shock.)
(Thoughts were running through my head and I almost lost focus.)
(Another tentacle almost hits me, if it wasn't for my last second reflex.)
(That attack snapped me back to reality.)
(I had to hurry over there if I wanted to save even one of them! Yet another one began to attack Lukas as well.)
Jesse: "Lukas!"
(Lukas only responds with a scream.)
(Shit. The timer was ticking.)
(I hurried over to Petra and Gabriel, who were struggling in the beam.)
(I wasted no time and pulled Petra, who was closer to me, out of the beam.)
Petra: "Thanks Jesse. Gabriel's still up there!"
Jesse: "I'm on it!"
(I frantically try to catch Gabriel. However, he was out of my reach.)
Gabriel: "Jesse! Just go!"
(I barely had time to think.)
(The tentacle was on its way to swing at me again.)
(I dodge the first swing, but it quickly comes back and knocks me back.)
(Gabriel was still in the tractor beam and Petra was still there in the danger zone.)
(but before I got to try to do anything, I bumped into Lukas and we get knocked into the portal.)
(My vision then suddenly turned completely purple.)
(It was a while until I was able to say anything other than purple.)
(And before I knew it, I was on the other side of the portal, landing on the unfamiliar floor along with Lukas.)
(It was hot. I've never been to a place this hot.)
(The ground was made of some red-looking rock.)
(I read a book about the nether once.)
(I think it was called Netherrack? We were undoubtedly in the Nether.)
(Reuben was licking me, encouraging me to get up.)
Axel: "Where's Petra?"
Olivia: "And Gabriel?"
(Lukas responded before I wanted to.)
Lukas: "We did everything we could."
Axel: "What are you saying?"
Olivia: "Jesse? What is he talking about? Because it doesn't sound..."
Jesse: "It was chaos; there wasn't much we could do!"
Lukas: "Jesse's right."
Jesse: "Petra's still up there!"
Lukas: "I got scared. Just for a second."
Axel: "You got scared?!"
(Axel's tone turns grim.)
Lukas: "I-It wasn't my fault."
Axel: "You got scared and it's not your fault!?"
(Axel started walking towards Lukas while he was slowly backing away.)
Olivia: "Back off, Axel. Remind yourself who caused this mess."
Jesse: "We have bigger problems; we can't waste time fighting each other!"
Axel: "We gotta go back!"
Olivia: "No! We just have to wait. Think about what you're walking into!"
Jesse: "It's too dangerous. You'll just end up getting yourself killed."
Axel: "You don't know that! You don't know!"
Lukas: "Hey! There she is!"
(Lukas points to the portal, which was glowing, implying someone was coming through.)
Jesse: "Come on... come on!"
(But to our surprise, the one who came through crashing into the ground was a person wearing an olive-yellow robe. Ivor.)
Ivor: "You again."
(I almost forgot about you.)
(But before anything happens, a tentacle reaches out of the portal, making everyone enter a state of panic.)
(I jump back, narrowly avoiding it, when it starts grabbing onto the portal frame.)
(The blocks started to shake, meaning it wants to destroy the portal.)
(With its sheer strength, it succeeds.)
(The portal frame blocks get destroyed and the portal breaks.)
(Due to the portal breaking, the part of the tentacle that was still on the side of the nether gets cut in half.)
(The only thing left from where the portal was is a sawed off tentacle, which eventually stopped moving.)
(It took a while until everyone calmed down, but eventually, we eyed down Ivor once again.)
(My anger suddenly kicks in from seeing his face.)
Jesse: "Ivor."
Ivor: "You ruined everything! Don't pretend you don't know, thief! You took my most valuable potion! And what should've been my moment of triumph!"
(I practically ignored what he was saying at this point.)
(I just couldn't resist. I casually walked up to him and punched him right in the face!)
(Ivor seemed shocked by that sudden action, but it didn't help his already grumpy expression turn even more ugly.)
Ivor: "More needless violence. It solves nothing. Learn the lesson now, or-"
Jesse: "Shut up, your annoying voice is pissing me off. You deserved it, and it made me feel better. Don't forget why this all happened. If it weren't for your plan, everything would've been okay. You don't have the right to yell out like you know what's right."
Ivor: "So what? Are you going to punch me until the Wither Storm magically disappears?"
Jesse: "Keep talking, you bastard. Let's see if your bickering will solve any of these problems."
(Before the argument escalates, Axel intervenes.)
Axel: "Why are we wasting time talking to this jerk? We have to go and get Petra!"
Ivor: "The girl! I saw her."
Lukas: "What?"
Ivor: "While I was running toward the portal, I passed her. She was running in the opposite direction. Such bravery. Of course, there's a fine line between bravery and stupidity."
(Oh my god, when are you going to shut up!?)
Ivor: "And your friend has crossed it."
Axel: "She's going to make it!"
Ivor: "You're concerned about your friend. It's admirable. You're all going to be dead very soon."
Olivia: "We'll see about that!"
Ivor: "You don't even realize you're IN danger right now."
Jesse: "So are YOU."
Ivor: "Through that tunnel is a network of minecarts built by the Order of the Stone. It's your only way out."
(Ivor points to a tunnel nearby.)
Lukas: "Much as I hate to admit it, he might be right."
Ivor: "Bravo for embracing the truth."
(While we were talking, a distant Ghast sound was coming closer.)
Axel: "What was that?!"
Ivor: "I would wish you good luck, but luck won't carry you through the Nether. You have my sympathies."
(Ivor pulls out another potion, this time a light blue-ish color.)
(He wastes no time in drinking it quickly.)
(Ivor's body begins to turn transparent.)
(It was an invisibility potion. Damn it, he's escaping again!)
Jesse: "You're not going away again, coward!!!"
(I run up to him in an attempt to catch him.)
(However, he runs away, and before you know it, his body has turned completely invisible.)
Jesse: "Damn it!"
Olivia: "Umm, Jesse?"
(I looked over at the others, wondering what was wrong.)
(Just around 20 meters away from us, was a giant Ghast spying on us.)
(It starts shrieking. Crap, just when we escaped a bigger threat!)
Axel: "Let's get out of here!"
Jesse: "Run!"
(We enter another chase scene with squealing from Reuben as we all head through the tunnel Ivor pointed at.)
(The end of the tunnel opens up to another cave with minecarts in it.)
(On the top of the opening of the cave was a strange symbol.)
(The symbol matched the shape of the amulet.)
Olivia: "This must be what Ivor was talking about!"
(A shriek interrupts, followed by a fireball charging towards us.)
(We duck under it as it flies past and hits the wall beside the amulet symbol.)
Jesse: "Get to the minecarts quickly!"
(We hop into the multiple minecarts already placed and ready to go.)
(With Reuben in front, then me, Lukas, Olivia, and Axel in the back.)
Lukas: "Everybody, hold on!"
(The Ghast shrieks once again as we all depart into the hollowed out cave.)
(The tracks further ahead turn into powered rails.)
(The fireball misses us as we speed off, away, into the cave.)
[To be continued...]