The Enderlox Trilogy III: Seto's Triumph

T W E N T Y: Welcome to Hell. Literally.

***TY'S POV***

Maybe jumping through an open portal to the Nether isn't the best idea, but at the time it's the only one I have. It's the only one that ensures that my friends and I will live, and that the mission will be completed.

The Nether is certainly interesting. Everything is red, and there's no water in sight. Lava falls from the sky that doesn't exist. The red nether rocks form a type of ceiling, and the lava and fires that dot the landscape are the only sources of light. A large structure sits off in the distance. It seems like a building, a fortress.

Not only that, but the Nether Mobs of legend also swarm the red ground. Zombie-like creatures with pinkish skin roam in packs, along with the occasional fire slime. In the distance I notice a large white creature flying above an open pool of lava. And closer to the fortress, I notice an Overworld skeleton, along with a black shape and a bright orange form, as well.

The fortress seems to call to me, beckoning me towards it. I find myself spreading my wings after removing the hoodie and then flying effortlessly to the structure.

When I'm in close range of the fortress, I encounter my first Nether Mob. It's one of the orange creatures, which flies around, circling the fortress. I notice a spawner in a separate chamber, so I know I'll have to break that. First things first, I'll have to kill this creature. I remember what Seto said, and I recall that the creatures are called Blazes. These are the mobs that stole my Ashley away from the Aether. It's not okay that these things live. I charge towards the Blaze, brandishing my sword as I do so. I slash it, and one of the Blaze's many appendages shatters. I use my claws and sword to break all of the Blaze's arms; then slash its head in two.

After killing the Blaze, I find a strange stick on the ground where it died. I pick it up to find it warm. I throw it into my hoodie, then tie the jacket into a makeshift backpack. I sling the backpack on and continue my journey on foot. I break the spawner that created those Blazes before moving into the fortress.

I walk for a long time, fighting off the occasional mob, but the exploration is rather uneventful. After awhile, I encounter some stairs. I climb them I only to find another flight. And another, and another. I fly up to avoid tiring myself out, and when I arrive at the top I find myself at a large set of double doors. I gulp and then push one of the doors open.

I'm standing in the middle of a large throne room. Lava fountains spout from the corners of the room, and the Nether Bricks that make up the fortress are chiseled into fancy patterns. Two of those black forms stand near the throne, which faces away from me. The creatures are like our Overworld skeletons, but they carry swords and are much taller, and they are a dark gray color, as if they were stained with soot. The throne is made of intricately designed Nether bricks and accents made of gold.

One of the skeletons turns around and notices me. I'm worried. I've got no idea how these things fight, or what this particular skeleton must be thinking. I remember something Jason taught me about instincts, that Fight or Flight thing. My choice is Flight.

I spread my wings and hover in the air near the chamber's high ceiling. The skeleton chatters something I can't understand, then taps the throne with its sword. The throne begins to spin around until it is facing me. I see a beautiful girl about my age sitting on the throne. Her expression appears shocked and confused. Her hair is a dark auburn with streaks that seem to be alive, changing colors from orange to yellow to red in the same way that lava does. Her eyes are also lava-colored and her skin is a pale tone. Her dress is an ash-gray color and she wears a silver crown with red and orange jewels on it.

"Peace, Ender Prince!" She calls to me. "What is it you desire?"

I slowly allow myself to float back down to the ground, and then I step towards the girl.