[Anthony's POV]

After the iron is smelted, I quickly create armor and another sword. Despite only using it once against him, the sword shattered when the cavern collapsed. I feel rage fill my body at the reminder of how easily he completely wiped the floor with me. I'm supposed to keep us safe... I'm supposed to be the strongest... I'm supposed to be able to protect the team.

And he broke me like a twig.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when Alexa speaks up, holding an iron chest plate in her hands. "So..... how do we put it on?" I blink rapidly, realizing that the armor was still in 2D form, not massive like the tools usually appear. It still fits in one hand. Aria stands from her spot against the wall. She had sat once more after putting her ores in a furnace. Despite her attempts to hide it, I could tell she was tired and sore. Even though we heal quickly, some soreness remains for a while depending on the extent of the injuries. 

I roll a shoulder in pain.

My thoughts turn back to Alexa's question when Mobius walks over with a similar iron chest plate in hand. He looks at it, turning it over, before slowly bringing it close to his chest. I tilt my head in confusion until he taps his chest with his eyes closed. Suddenly, a slight pop echoes and the armor disappears from his hand...

And appears perfectly placed on his chest. 

There is a stunned silence for a moment until Alexa laughs and slaps her own on. "Well! So much for that being realistic!" She laughs again, and Aria can't help but giggle. "I guess this would count as a bug that needs fixing. Thank goodness for that." She slaps on her own armor after crafting it and swiftly makes sure the rest is the same. She slaps on leggings, however, the boots and helmets form as normal. She cautiously steps in the boots, then shakes her leg. We all expect it to fly off, but it doesn't move...

However, she looks at me with a sly grin. Suddenly, an iron boot is flying in my direction and I barely duck in time to avoid it. Aria laughs, and I hear Alexa join as well. Mobius can't help but chuckle before commenting, "I guess it's another 'intentional' motion, huh?" Aria nods, trying to hold back her laughter again while hobbling over to slip the boot back on. I shake my head and proceed to put on my own armor. 

Once everyone is suited up, Aria walks over to our wall blocking the mineshaft. Alexa had crafted it quickly after she had finished smelting, and she left a small hole by using a half slab in the center of it. Aria reaches behind her and pulls out her iron pickaxe. She turns to us slightly, but she doesn't speak. However, she doesn't have to. All of us already know what could be on the other side, and we were as ready as we would ever be. We nod, and she simply nods in reply before crashing her pickaxe against the wall. It takes a few swings for the half slab to shatter, before shrinking to the size of a fist, spinning and floating at her feet. She picks it up, and places it in her inventory, then continues to the next. 

Once there is a passage open, Aria looks through, and I pull out my sword. She pulls back, motioning us to follow and we silently do so. Normally, we would all be chatting about the day we had, how work was, and what we planned on doing next. Now, we were completely silent, listening for the slightest sound of a mob lurking behind a block, waiting to strike.

I shake my head. Snap out of it, Anthony! I couldn't let myself get psyched out again. I needed to be alert.

And I completely forget all of that once I make it onto the bridge between us and the rest of the mineshaft. I gaze around, eyes wide at the sheer sight of the cavern. It was massive! Sitting behind a screen and seeing it is one thing, but experiencing it in real life was a whole new sensation. It was at least twelve blocks wide, and I couldn't see the ends of the ravine! When I look below the bridge. I slightly gulp and step back from the edge. 

The bottom was full of lava, and I could feel the heat rising.

Heights never bother me, but when there is boiling liquid below that could make my skin slide off like slime with one agonizing touch.

Then I have a bit of trouble with gravity.

When I look up, I realize the others had already crossed over, most likely having seen the lava first and wanted to move out of the danger zone fast. I don't blame them. I swiftly follow and we all arrive at the area Aria found the potion. Past that spot is a labyrinth of tunnels, some lit with torches, and others dark staircases leading down. I hear Alexa slightly gulp next to me. "I wish we could see coordinates." I nod in agreement. Then we would really know how deep we were, and how close we were to diamond territory.

Aria reaches behind with her opposite hand and brings out a torch. "Good thing I can do that at least." I hear her mutter, and I smirk. She brings the light up and steps forward, the flame dancing on the walls of the mine. We hear a groan, followed by a crackle, and I take a deep breath. I reach behind me and bring out my shield. Mobius follows, and I look to him. He has been quiet this whole time, and I finally see why. Despite the blocky features and the robotics, I can read him perfectly. His face is hardened, and his gaze is set. I can see him trying to see this as a VR setup, and he finally turns to face me. I try to give him a smile, and he breaks his stiff look to give me one back. 

Cautiously, we begin moving forward. The noises grow louder as we near a crossroads, but Aria continues. I can't see her face, but I can tell she's crouching, and she's most likely got the most concentrated look on her face right now.

Suddenly, an arrow flashes past Aria's head, just in front of her. Before it vanishes down the corridor on her right, I can spot red droplets trailing behind it. Aria ducks down steps back, then slice sideways with her sword. I hear it hit its mark, then Aria turns and lunges towards the skeleton. Alexa rushes in, but a zombie suddenly appears in front of us, coming up from a set of stairs hidden from our view. Alexa steps back as it moves to face us, then growls. It suddenly charges, moving faster than normal. 

Thankfully, Alexa has swift reflexes. 

She slashes at it, and it stumbles backward, making a hurt sound in the process. Out of nowhere, as if summoned by the pained sound, three more emerge from tunnels ahead of us. We all start to back up until a bone-chilling sizzle echoes behind me. "Anthony!" is all I hear before I turn and slam my shield against the ground and kneel behind it just as the sizzle ends, and the creeper explodes. The blast hits the shield full force, and I feel myself slide back against the stone ground. I hear Mobius behind me, attacking one of the zombies, and Alexa is shouting something, but my ears are ringing. It takes me a moment to stand and shake my head before my hearing returns. 

Mobius is suddenly against my back, and I realize each corridor has a swarm of zombies advancing towards us. An odd, angry noise followed by a shout makes me turn just in time to catch Aria as she is flung into me. I look down, making sure she is alright, and see the nasty gash across her cheek from the arrow earlier. She looks up and nods, and I help her stand up. When I see what attacked her, I feel my blood run cold. 

Behind the few zombies down the corridor the skeleton was in are two Enderman, their gaze locked on mine and Aria's. "Back to back!" Alexa shouts, and we quickly oblige her words. Aria is facing the corridor with her 'friends', and I can see the purple haze under her bangs glowing. Alexa is facing the opposite direction of Aria, and Mobius is directly behind me. I'm facing the way we came, and I feel my fear turn to rage as one of the zombie's eyes before me flashes a bright white.

Herobrine.

All the zombies suddenly lunge towards us, and we don't hesitate to attack back. I can hear death groans as the zombies die, but the Enderman were causing a problem. They would pop in and out, swiping at us from different angles. We needed to get out of here. We wouldn't make it in this tight of an area. 

An idea forms, but I knew it was what he wanted. However, we have no choice. "Mobius!" I shout, and I hear the avali reply. "What?!" 

"Move forward!"

"What!?"

I quickly explain while hacking at a zombie that had jumped towards me, slicing it in half. "We need to get out of this spot, and further into the mine! Your way is the best option now move!" I hear a grunt, but slowly I feel my friends behind me start to move towards him. "Anthony, drop!" Aria shouts, and I am on my knees as her sword slices above me and successfully kills an Enderman that had snuck up on me. It drops a pearl, and I grab it before nodding my head to Aria in thanks. She nods back before moving towards Mobius, who had killed the last zombie on his side. 

"Now, run!"

Instantly, we are all heading down the mine at full speed, the sounds of zombies slowly growing quieter. Despite their movement being a bit faster, we still had the advantage of being... well, fully alive, and not mostly dead.

Just as we near the end of this corridor, I hear a 'vwoop' behind me a second too late. A thin, dark arm grabs my shoulder, pulling me back. I let out a surprised shout, but before I can struggle, the Enderman yells in pain and collapses against the ground behind me. I stumble forward, gasping for air while turning to see what killed it. 

Aria's sword was implanted in its face, keeping it stuck in a screaming state. I turn to her, seeing her huffing for air and her arm still straight out from the throw. Her face was stuck in a raged state, and it takes her a minute to realize I was okay. She blinks and shakes her head before standing straight. Slowly, she makes her way to the Enderman, relieving it of her sword. It suddenly vanishes, and two pearls are left floating in its place. She picks them up, places them in her inventory, but she doesn't turn to face us immediately. Instead, she keeps her gaze locked on the corridor we came from and the horde that was starting to gain on us. I can tell she's glaring down it, and I start to feel concern snake its way into me for her. 

She suddenly reaches behind her and brings out some cobblestone, placing it down to block them for now. She turns and faces us, bringing out a pickaxe. Her gaze is cold, determined. When she speaks, I can hear the concern mixed with mild rage in her voice. "We need to keep moving. Mine what you can, but don't stop. Understood?" Everyone nods, not really knowing what else to say. 

Mobius and Alexa turn and head down the corridor, but I stay still for a minute. Aria had turned her gaze down slightly, and I can see the pain starting to seep into her facial features. The hidden eye behind her hair was shining a brighter purple now, and it seemed to get brighter when she was in rage.....

She suddenly looks up, locking eyes with me and forcing a smile. I give a small one back, but I can tell she's faking it. She seems to notice this and shakes her head. She begins moving past me, and I follow slowly. Aria was in pain, and of course, she wasn't telling us.

But I was starting to think she was hiding something else as well...

'I just wished she would be honest with us and not take it all on herself.'