Mythical Artifacts

Chapter 9: Tests of Skill

Five people were after us, two people from one side and three from another. We had little time to act, so I hastily threw Ferbooper and Melongan some extra ender pearls I had. "To gray base," I said quickly, throwing an ender pearl high into the air with my left hand. When we all landed, I added, "The shop is free so buy as much stuff as possible."

"That makes so much sense!" said Ferbooper. "If only we knew that sooner."

While they went to the item shop, I went to the diamond shop to get upgrades. I only had time to get Sharpness before I heard teleportation sounds nearby. I took out my sword and looked around, but there weren't any enemies around. "Guys! They're up at the top," I said. They listened and readied their weapons.

For a moment, nothing happened. I was starting to wonder if they had teleported somewhere else. Then, suddenly, I heard a cry to my left. A cry from Melon. I turned and saw a floating sword. Slashing at him. Knocking him further back onto the wall. They were invisible.

I realized Ferbooper was fighting the other invisible player, who was actually visible. They seemed to be equally matched, scarcely getting hits on the other. Seeing that Ferbooper was handling himself well enough, I dashed over to Melon to help him.

The second my powerful sword hit the invisible player, her invisibility rippled off like a chameleon. I knocked her to the ground, simultaneously shoving Melon behind me. I raised my sword and stabbed at the player, but she rolled right and dashed toward Ferbooper. I tackled her, refusing to let her help kill one of my last allies. Pinning her down, I ran my powerful sword through her chest, killing her.

Melon seemed to be healing quickly; Ferbooper, however, was struggling to fight off the remaining opponent. I ran toward him, The Sword firmly in my grip. He knew he was outmatched, however, and began running away. He fiercely placed blocks, running up to the top of the base. I stopped, however, not wanting to risk getting knocked off.

"We can just gear up and teleport up there," I shouted from below. "You aren't gonna win this."

He didn't respond. Instead, he threw an ender pearl down at me. In an instant, he hit me with a knockback stick. I fell back far, landing only a block away from the edge. He ran at me with lightning speed, intending to finish the job.

I felt too stunned to know what to do. In my mind I knew I had to do something . . . but I couldn't. I simply accepted the fate that I was to take on: death. I figured I'd lose The Sword, but I still didn't do anything. Time seemed to move in slow motion as I watched Death draw nearer.

Then, out of nowhere, Melon teleported in front of me, blocking my attacker from getting to me. I then saw them fighting, swinging their swords at each other. To my surprise, Melon was successfully holding him back, defending me heroically.

Suddenly, things began to play at regular speed again, and I saw just how fast they were fighting. Swing after swing, they were mercilessly after each other. It went on . . . and on . . . but Melon was losing his strength. Soon he had slowed down, took fewer attempts at hitting his foe, and was now getting hit occasionally himself. I became worried that he would lose.

I couldn't let him die. I had to help him, even if it ruined his exciting battle. Taking out an ender pearl, I threw it and teleported behind his opponent. I turned to continue watching. I could see in Melon's face determination to win the fight he was in, regardless of how difficult it would be. I hesitated to interfere, not wanting to take it from him, but I soon found that I didn't have to: Melon began overpowering him and got multiple hits on him and ultimately knocked him down. He didn't delay in dealing the final blow, killing the person who had nearly killed me.

Melon appeared worn out, tired as if he had neglected to sleep for days. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him, ecstatic that he had just beaten someone who even Ferbooper had struggled against. More importantly, he had saved me.