Minecraft: The Ender Trials

Elemental Bridge

Seven turns in and Steve is already feeling his newfound hope of escaping this underground maze start to wane. His tightening chest makes every breath a fight for survival. At this rate, the exasperated hunter will claw through bare rock if it means finding the surface and inhaling its savory air. Anything to alleviate the mounting pressure on his lungs.

Making this bad situation just a tad more bearable are the lined torches perched along the walls of the narrow stone passages, providing inarguable illumination to every inch of these mines. Zuri was thorough, Steve will give the merchant that much. If only the same caution struck him before he decided to venture through the Earth's body armed with one torch in a party of three.

Reflecting on the stupidity of it all will do little to make things better, so Steve does the only thing he can. Continue forward. Surely the mineshaft can't be too big. Eventually, an exit is bound to present itself. Steve just hopes it does so before he hyperventilates down here in this forgotten labyrinth.

Another twist in the needlessly confusing network of tunnels lies just four meters ahead. However, something catches his attention in the corner.

There it is again.

Thick webbing adorns a support beam at the edge of the passage's bend. Steve noted earlier sightings as he walked. While evil cannot spawn within light's reach, it is possible something wandered in here at some point. The entrance he took to get here had opened to complete and utter darkness, indicating that the mineshaft never saw completion.

Optimistically thinking, the web could belong to an arachnid that wandered through here centuries ago. However, presuming the worst possible outcome has braced Steve for the worst and saved his backside more times than one could count. There is no reason to consider a different practice.

If a confrontation with a monster is inevitable, the hunter will have to improvise with what little he has- that being a shield on the verge of exceeding its durability. The Creeper explosion alone nearly consumed both it and its user.

Nearing the strange webbing, Steve makes the turn-

-and immediately stops in his tracks.

"What the...?" he says low enough for the words of bewilderment to barely pass for a whisper.

Expect the unexpected. In Steve's opinion, wiser words have never been spoken. But sometimes even the highest of expectations can be surpassed.

Halfway through the stone corridor is a man-sized Cave Spider as hinted by its greenish-black fur and smaller size. Unsurprising, considering Zuri warned of their presence earlier. What is surprising is the sole passenger riding on the creature's back. A skeleton armed with a bow and arrow.

Never has he seen two mobs conjoined together like this. Usually, mobs tend to be indifferent, if not, hostile to one another. Unity like this can only mean bad news for what's left of humanity. The skeletal monster's ride is not unlike a man riding a horse.

Similar to a jockey. A Spider Jockey.

Fear replaces astonishment once the creature- or creatures- abruptly snap in the hunter's direction. Whether the mobs sensed his presence or it was a blind case of misfortune, Steve doesn't know. All he can do is raise his shield just in time as an expected arrow flies forth and hits the wooden protection. From the corner of Steve's eye, he can see the green tip of the projectile.

Poison. Just great.

Having all the motivation he needs, Steve takes off in a sprint, running back the way he came. The unmistakable skittering of octopedal legs sounds off behind him. He makes it not five feet before he has to turn around and block another arrow. The fearsome duo is approaching and fast. Steve can't decide which demise would be worse. Succumbing to deathly poison or being ravaged by monstrous fangs.