Ajax rubbed his fingers over his temples. The smell of blood and smoke permeated the air. Lava bubbled around and below him, magma hardening around it. The high-pitched, melancholic screams from the soul sand made his head hurt. The enderman felt around himself, and the blood-covered netherrack crumbled in his fingers. He looked at his hands. The sight made him sick. What had died here, and managed to produce enough blood to cover the entire Nether? Was it even blood? He sighed. I guess I'll never know.
He had to get out of here. The smell that he lived with each and every day of his life was nauseating, and the dry heat made him tired. There were several moments where he's nearly teleported into lava or stood on magma and burned his feet. Where he'd been caught in a blaze fight, singing his skin. He's been mistaken for a player, being shot at by ghasts. It was becoming ridiculous. But Ajax had heard the tales. The tales of the few endermen who made it out alive, too exhausted to teleport or move, not to mention the hundreds who haven't. The thought made him shudder. But there's always that chance that I'll make it... All he needed was to be prepared.
And thus, Ajax set off. He decided to not teleport, for he needed to conserve his energy. He approached the entrance of the Nether fortress he'd stayed in for many nights, if they could even be called nights, slaving away for the wither skeletons. It was rare that they ever found someone so powerful. He took a step, entering the bricked building for the first time in a long time. Memories flooded his mind. He'd made his first friend here, a blaze named Magma. They weren't the brightest and spent many days brooding in the darker corners of the Nether fortress for some strange reason, but Ajax loved them nonetheless. One day Magma disappeared without a trace some short time before Ajax left the fortress. He hoped they were alright. He walked through the narrow corridors, receiving a considerable amount of hostile glances. Finally, he stumbled upon the commander of them all, the leader. The skeleton turned towards him. "You're back." the leader simply growled, the skeleton's voice gravelly. It was strange how they could even speak, to be honest. Must be some kind of magic. The mob tapped its sword against its fibula, showing no pain as the blade struck its charred bones.
Ajax swallowed hard. He looked away for half a second. "I am. I've come to tell you that I'm leaving the Nether, but I must be prepared. Do you have a golden apple or anything so I will be safe?"
The skeleton leader pondered, adjusting its crown as it did so. "I'll see what I can do." The leader turned its back on Ajax, sending a chill up the enderman's spine. He watched the undead leader disappear into the fortress. Blazes' flames receded once they saw it walk by. Other wither skeletons held their swords' points to the ground as a respectful gesture. A few moments of waiting later, the skeleton returned with a chest, held by two skeleton servants. "Release the chest." the leader snarled to its minions, who promptly but gently put the chest down. It finally turned to Ajax. "Open up."
The enderman, thoroughly unnerved, carefully lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, there were two glimmering fruits covered in gold. "Thank you... Do I eat them now?"
"Yes. Consume them now." the skeleton said lowly, pointing its head towards the apples.
Promptly, Ajax consumed the apples, feeling strengthened instantly. He looked towards the old leader, awaiting further instructions."Now, you must focus very hard," the wither skeleton started. "Otherwise you will miss your destination. And once you leave... Please, never come back." Its voice wavered, hinting at some kind of hidden grief. Ajax flinched.
"Yes, my leader. I guess this is goodbye..." the enderman stumbled over his words. He shook away his extra thoughts. I'm going to the Overworld. I'm going to the Overworld. I'm going to the-
