𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙴𝚗𝚍.

The Syndicate.

It was always hot in the Nether, considering the fact that there were lava pools the size of oceans there. Not a drop of water anywhere. Even if you could somehow get water in here, it would evaporate in a matter of seconds. Not really a problem for the demons and other strange creatures that lived here.

The floor was made out of this red material called netherrack. It could be seen as far as the eye can see in the Nether. There wasn't a sky or void in this dimension, just a ceiling made of netherrack and glowstone clusters. The atmosphere had a different tint in each biome, which made the wasteland slightly more interesting. The place was inhabited by demons, along with other creatures such as pigmen, hoglins and others.

The demons were rather advanced compared to they piglins, they were smarter and more skilled. But they weren't like any other demon, they were different. They had the ability to shape shift between their demon and humanoid forms.

The demons have never left the nether. They believed that their dimension was the only one, the only world. But that didn't explain the Netherrack ceiling above them. Why would there be one if their world was the only one to exist?

There was a small group of these Nether Demons, a rebellion, you could say, which they named the syndicate, who believed there were other worlds, above them, different dimensions. They believed in the dimension of earth and water, which they called Aquam et Arenam. As well as the great island in the sky, Caelum Insula. And the floating islands in the darkness of the void, Inanis Umbra. And they belived that they were below all these dimensions. Right at the bottom. They say that Aquam et Arenam was directly above them, and Caelum Insula and Inanis Umbra were above it.

They were forbidden to leave the nether by the demons with higher rankings, which they called the superiors. They didn't know about the syndicate, but they had their suspicions. In the rebellion there were 2 demons, who were married, Tenebris and Timeo. They had a son, which they named Thomas. Tenebris loved her son more than anything, and she thought him about their beliefs, the dimensions other than theirs.

As Thomas grew up, he would attend the secret underground meetings of the syndicate, and listen to their plans. They had a plan, a mission, to send someone to leave the Nether, to explore worlds further than  their own, someone to one day see the myths which they believed were true, to prove to the superiors, that they actually existed.

But something was wrong.

A traitor hid among them.

A spy for the superiors.

It was the end of the syndicate.

War broke out between the two.

"Thomas!" cried Tenebris, who was running from one of the superiors. "Mom!" He shouted running after her. She grabbed his hand and ran as fast as she could until they reached a huge lava lake, as large as an ocean. She stopped to look back and the superiors were gone, she could still hear them, but they were far away.

She handed Thomas 14 blocks of obsidian and a flint and steel. "Mom what do I do with this! We need to hide!" he told her. "Swim through the lava lake and get to the other side as fast as you can. As soon as you get there I need you to use the obsidian to create a rectangle shaped portal, and light it with the flint and steel." she said. "What? A portal- the one the others spoke of? But who knows where it'll go? Heck, it might not exist mom!" said Thomas. "Just go! Anywhere is better than this place! Trust me Thomas." she said. "But what about you and dad!" said Thomas. He was so worried to lose his family. "We don't have time for this! Remember your father and I love you very much! Now go!" she shouted.

Thomas could hear the superiors approaching, and he ran to the edge of the lava lake. Before he jumped in the turned around and smiled at his mother one last time.

Would he ever see her again?

Only time would tell.

He jumped into the lake and swam as fast as he could. After 20 long minutes, he reached the end of the lake, and climbed back out onto the netherrack floor. He layed there panting for a few minutes before getting up. He followed his mothers instructions to make the portal, and used the obsidian to build a 4 by 5 rectangle. He grabbed the flint and steel and paused to think for a moment.

Where would it lead him?

Would he be safe in another world?

Could the portal even be lit?

You'll never know till you try.

So Thomas put his doubts aside, and lit the portal, eyes closed, trying not to set his hand on fire instead. He opened his eyes to see that it worked. The portal had a deep purple glow to it, emitting glowing particles of the same colour.

He stood for a minute, mesmerized by the portal and its glow. And then he walked in.