Back at their wooden block house, the Crimson Vanguard were still buzzing from their adventure in the village. Their near escape from the iron golem left them eager for the next challenge. Before they went any further, they decided to consult Gelian for advice.
They removed their virtual helmets, finding themselves back in the cozy cafe, where Gelian awaited them with a knowing smile.
"So, how was your time in the village?" Gelian asked, genuinely curious.
"Unbelievable! We barely escaped with our lives," Kaden laughed, but his voice held an edge of excitement.
"Those golems are tougher than they look," Garrick added, rubbing his neck as if he could still feel the tension.
"Sounds like you all got quite an introduction," Gelian chuckled. "Well, if you want to survive better out there, you'll need tools and armor. In Minecraft, those come from mining. The deeper you go, the better resources you can find."
Kaden looked intrigued. "Mining, huh? And where do we find these resources?"
Gelian leaned in, explaining, "Head underground and look for caves. Start by mining coal and iron for basic supplies, and as you dig deeper, you'll eventually find more valuable resources like redstone, gold, and, if you're lucky, diamonds. But be careful—there are creatures down there that might surprise you."
With this new knowledge, the group eagerly strapped on their helmets, ready to dive back in.
Moments later, they were back in their familiar blocky forms, standing near the entrance of a cave they had spotted earlier. Garrick took the lead, armed with a wooden pickaxe, while the others followed close behind, each of them buzzing with anticipation.
The first few swings of their pickaxes echoed in the cave, sending blocks of coal tumbling down. The group quickly gathered the coal and used it to craft additional torches, which lit their way as they ventured deeper into the cave. Each new discovery—iron ore veins embedded in the rock walls, clusters of coal—made them feel more powerful and resourceful.
As they went further, they encountered a narrow passage that opened up into a large chamber with a small pool of water in the center. The darkness pressed in around them, and Lyra shivered, glancing nervously into the shadows.
"It's a bit eerie down here, isn't it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Before anyone could respond, a faint rattling noise echoed through the chamber. Elena froze, her hand going to her pickaxe. "Did… did anyone else hear that?"
The sound grew louder, and suddenly, a skeleton emerged from the shadows, its bow drawn. With a quick release, it sent an arrow flying towards them.
"Get down!" Kaden shouted, shoving Garrick aside as the arrow skimmed past, narrowly missing them.
Before anyone could respond, a faint rattling noise echoed through the chamber. Elena froze, her hand going to her pickaxe. "Did… did anyone else hear that?"
The sound grew louder, and suddenly, a skeleton emerged from the shadows, its bow drawn. With a quick release, it sent another arrow flying toward them.
"It's a walking skeleton; we need to kill it!" Elena shouted.
The skeleton's bony form rattled as it approached, arrows flying in their direction. Kaden, Garrick, and Ronan tried to get close enough to attack, but their wooden weapons barely made a dent. After a tense struggle, they managed to bring the creature down, collecting its scattered bones as a trophy.
They shared a laugh, exhilarated but aware of the risk. "Well," Kaden said, catching his breath, "Gelian wasn't kidding. This place is full of surprises."
They continued on, moving carefully and watching each other's backs. As they mined deeper, they found their first pieces of iron, and soon after, they came across veins of redstone and gold. Each discovery brought a cheer, and their backpacks grew heavy with their newfound treasures.
Finally, just as their pickaxes began to wear down, Garrick's tool struck something hard and bright. His eyes widened as he stepped back to reveal a glimmering blue block nestled within the stone.
"Guys… I think we found it," he said, his voice full of awe.
"Diamonds!" they shouted in unison, crowding around to get a closer look. Carefully, Garrick mined the block, each of them holding their breath as the precious gems dropped into their hands.
Ronan grinned, admiring the gem. "With these, we can finally get some decent gear. Gelian was right—this is a game-changer."
The group laughed, exhilarated by their progress and feeling a newfound sense of adventure. Now, with diamonds in hand and a growing collection of resources, they knew they were ready to face whatever awaited them next in the blocky depths of the world.