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Welcome back everybody to the 
Minecraft Short Stories podcast.

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In this episode today we have a 
listener story by Daniel, and 

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I'm finally over all my 
sicknesses so I can actually 

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read the story and can actually 
get back to making episodes and 

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releasing episodes. 
So now that's over, back to 

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making stuff. 
Anyways, this story's title is 

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block by block, the Quest for 
the Blade of the Ancients, not 

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to be confused with episode at 
like 30 something, which is the 

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quest for the Ancient Blade, 
which is story I wrote. 

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Thank you Daniel for submitting 
this. 

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And the story was submitted 
through my website, 

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minecraftshortstories.com, 
through the Submit a story page.

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So if you have a story you'd 
like to submit, it has to be 

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about Minecraft. 
Of course, you can go to there, 

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built the page and it may get 
right on the show. 

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There is a link for that and so 
the description. 

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And then also there's some other
links down there. 

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Check out the Patreon and the 
YouTube and that stuff. 

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Anyways, another thank you to 
Daniel for submitting this 

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awesome story and let's get 
right into it block by block. 

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The quest for the Blade of the 
Ancients by Daniel, chapter 1. 

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The prophecy unfolds. 
The village was quiet, save for 

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the occasional crackle of a 
torch and the distant buying of 

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a sheep. 
Steve leaned against the wall of

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the library, steadying the map 
Alex had found. 

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It's corners were frayed and 
it's ink had faded with age, but

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one thing was clear. 
The X marked something 

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important. 
You really think it exists? 

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Alex asked, breaking the 
silence. 

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She stood behind him, her iron 
sword glinting faintly in the 

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torch light. 
A fiery determination was 

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evident, as always. 
It has to. 

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Eve replied, rolling up the map.
The Blade of the Ancients is the

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only weapon strong enough to 
kill the Warding King. 

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If the stories are true, it's 
buried deep beneath the 

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mountains of the Frostbite 
Peaks. 

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Alex crossed her arms, glancing 
toward the horizon. 

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That's weeks of travel, and even
if we get there, we'll have to 

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deal with whatever's guarding 
it. 

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Eve grinned. 
Since when have we ever let a 

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little danger stop us? 
He smirked back. 

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Fairpoint. 
The Warden King, a legend 

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shrouded in fear, had risen from
the deep dark. 

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His minions had begun 
terrorizing villages, dragging 

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unsuspecting people into the 
depths. 

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The villagers whispered of a 
growing army beneath the 

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overworld, and no one had the 
courage to venture near the 

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ancient cities anymore, except 
Stephen. 

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Alex. 
They packed their supplies, 

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food, weapons, and tools and set
out as the first rays of dawn 

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painted the sky. 
The journey would be long and 

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treacherous, but their resolve 
was firm. 

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The fate of the overworld 
depended on them after 2 into 

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the wild. 
The first few days of travel 

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were uneventful. 
They crossed sprawling plains 

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dotted with wildflowers, dense 
forests where the sunlight 

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barely reached the ground, and 
winding rivers teeming with 

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fish. 
At night they set up camp, 

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taking turns to keep watch as 
zombies and skeletons prowled 

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the darkness. 
On the 5th day, they encountered

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their first real challenge. 
The jungle loomed ahead, its 

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towering trees and tangled vines
forming a near impenetrable 

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wall. 
Somewhere within layer. 

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Ruined Temple, marked as their 
first destination on the map. 

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The legend claimed that the 
temple held a key, a Shard of 

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ancient crystal needed to unlock
the blades resting place. 

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This place gives me the creeps. 
Alex muttered, her hand resting 

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on the hilt of her sword as they
stepped into the dense 

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undergrowth. 
They close. 

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Steve said, his eyes scanning 
the shadows. 

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The air was thick and humid, 
buzzing with the sounds of 

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insects. 
Parrot squawked from the 

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treetops, and occasionally the 
distant roar of a Jaguar broke 

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through the eerie stillness. 
As they ventured deeper, the 

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jungle seemed to close in around
them, the light growing dimmer. 

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Finally they spotted the temple,
a Moss covered structure of 

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stone and cracked bricks, half 
swallowed by the jungle. 

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Vine stripped its walls like 
curtain and the entrance yawned 

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open like the mouth of some 
great beast. 

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You sure about this? 
Alex asked, peering into the 

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darkness. 
Not at all. 

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Heath replied with a grin. 
Let's go inside. 

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The air was cool and damp. 
The faint sound of dripping 

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water echoed through the 
corridors. 

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They moved cautiously, their 
torches casting flickering 

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shadows on the walls. 
It wasn't too long before they 

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triggered the first trap. 
A click sounded beneath Alex's 

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foot and the walls sprang to 
life, hitting arrows from hidden

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dispensers. 
You duck just in time, narrowly 

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avoiding the deadly projectiles.
Watch your step. 

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She shouted, leaping onto a 
nearby block. 

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Steve pulled out his shield, 
using it to deflect the arrows. 

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As they moved forward, the traps
grew more devious. 

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Pressure plates are released. 
Poison darts requires unleashed 

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cascades of gravel and even a 
pit of lava concealed beneath a 

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flimsy stone slab. 
At last, they reached the 

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central chamber. 
Pedestal stood in the middle, 

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bathed in the faint glow of 
sunlight filtering through a 

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crack in the ceiling. 
On it rested a crystal Shard, 

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trimmering with a strange, 
otherworldly light. 

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That's it? 
Steve whispered as Alex reached 

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for the Shard. 
The ground trembled, the 

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pedestal sank into the floor and
the walls began to shake. 

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From the shadows emerged a 
massive figure, the golem made 

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of mossy stone, it's eyes 
glowing with an unnatural green 

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light. 
Of course, it couldn't be easy. 

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Alex muttered, drawing her 
sword. 

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The golem roared, swinging a 
massive arm towards them. 

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Thief rolled out of the way, 
drawing his bow and firing 

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arrows had it's glowing eyes. 
The arrows bounced harmlessly 

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off it's thick stone skin, but 
for the joints. 

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He shouted, dodging another 
blow. 

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Alex sprinted around the Gollum,
slashing on its legs. 

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Her sword chipped away at the 
stone, and the Gollum let out a 

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bellow of rage, its movement 
slowing. 

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You'd be distracted. 
Thief called, pulling a bucket 

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of water from his inventory. 
He poured it on the ground, 

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creating a makeshift waterfall 
that flowed into the Gollum's 

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exposed cracks. 
Creature froze for a moment, its

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body stiffening as the water 
seeped in. 

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Alex seized the opportunity, 
delivering a final blow to its 

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head. 
The golem collapsed into a heap 

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of rubble, and the chamber grew 
still. 

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Nice work. 
Steve said, catching his breath.

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Alex grinned. 
You too. 

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Now let's grab that Shard and 
get out of here. 

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The crystal Shard safely in 
hand, they exited the temple and

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continued their journey. 
The Frostbite Peaks awaited, and

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with it, the Blade of the 
Ancients, but the dangers they 

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faced so far were nothing 
compared to what lay ahead. 

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Chapter 3 Crossbitten Foes 
Crossbite Peaks loomed in the 

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distance, their icy Spires 
cutting into the sky like jagged

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teeth. 
Even Alex stood at the edge of 

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the frozen tundra, their breath 
forming clouds in the frigid 

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air. 
The wind toweled, airing with 

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it, a promise of danger. 
Is it always the cold places? 

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Alex grumbled, pulling her cloak
tighter around her shoulders. 

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Better than the nether. 
Steve replied with a chuckle. 

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The maps ink had almost 
completely faded from exposure 

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to the harsh elements, but Steve
had memorized the next clue. 

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The blade rested within an 
ancient vault deep inside the 

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heart of the Peaks. 
To open the vault they needed to

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collect 3 shards like the one 
they'd retrieved from the Jungle

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temple. 
The journey across the tundra 

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was slow and perilous. 
The ice beneath their boots 

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cracked ominously, and the 
occasional polar bear Lombard by

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eyeing them warily. 
As night fell, the temperature 

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plummeted further and hostile 
mobs begin to emerge from snow 

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covered terrain. 
Hilton's on the Ridge. 

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Alec shouted, drawing her bow. 
Steve spun around, pulling out a

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shield just as an arrow whiz 
past his head. 

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A group of skeletons clad an icy
armor advanced towards them, 

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their glowing blue eyes gleaming
in the darkness. 

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These aren't ordinary skeletons.
Steve yelled, blocking another 

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arrow. 
They're strays. 

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Alex replied, losing an arrow 
and striking one in the chest. 

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The skeleton stumbled, but 
didn't fall. 

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Steve pulled out his axe, urging
at the nearest stray, shattering

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its rib cage with a powerful 
swing. 

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The others turned their 
attentions towards him, giving 

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Alex time to pick them off from 
a distance. 

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As the last skeleton fell, the 
snow around them began to 

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tremble. 
Steve. 

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Alex said, Her voice tanged with
worry. 

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The ground cracked and gave way 
beneath them, sending them 

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tumbling into an icy cavern. 
They landed hard on a pile of 

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snow, groaning as they picked 
themselves up. 

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That was unexpected. 
Steve muttered, shaking frost 

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from his hair. 
Alex lit a torch, illuminating 

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the cavern. 
The lactites of ice hung from 

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the ceiling, and frozen 
waterfalls lined the walls. 

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In the center of the chamber 
stood a pedestal, much like the 

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one in the Jungle Temple. 
Another Shard. 

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Alex said, stepping forward 
cautiously. 

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Wait, you've said, holding out a
hand. 

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This is too easy. 
As if on cue, the cavern shook 

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again. 
The ice beneath the pedestal 

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shattered, and a massive 
creature emerged, a Frost 

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Elemental, its body made 
entirely of jagged ice. 

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Its roar echoed through the 
chamber, and its eyes locked 

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onto the intruders. 
Why do I always call these 

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things? 
Thief groaned, drawing his 

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sword. 
Chapter 4 The Frost Elemental 

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The Frost Elemental swung its 
colossal arm, sending a wave of 

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icy shards flying towards them. 
He raised his shield, deflecting

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the shards while Alex dodged to 
the side, a sword glinting in 

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the torchlight. 
We need to melt it down. 

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Alex shouted, hurling a potion 
of fire resistance at the 

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creature. 
The potion splashed against the 

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Frost elemental, causing steam 
to rise where it hit. 

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It roared in pain, it's icy form
cracking slightly. 

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Keep it up. 
Steve yelled, pulling out of 

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Flint and steel. 
He lit a bundle of logs from his

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inventory, creating a makeshift 
fire. 

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The warmth spread quickly, 
weakening the elemental further.

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But the creature wasn't 
finished. 

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It slammed its fists into the 
ground, creating icy spikes that

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erupted from the floor. 
One caught Alex off guard, 

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knocking her back. 
Alex. 

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Eve shouted, rushing to her 
side. 

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I'm fine. 
She granted, pushing herself up.

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Just keep it distracted. 
He charged at the elemental, 

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slashing at its legs. 
The creature stumbled, its 

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massive frame struggling to stay
upright. 

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Alex, recovering quickly, drew 
her bow and fired an arrow 

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tipped with flame. 
The arrow struck the frost 

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elemental in the chest and let 
out a final earth shaking roar 

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before collapsing into a pile of
melting ice. 

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The chamber grew silent, save 
for the sound of dripping water.

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That was intense. 
He said, panting. 

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Alex nodded, brushing Frost from
her armor. 

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Let's grab the Shard and get out
of here before something else 

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shows up. 
Eve approached the pedestal 

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where the second Shard now 
glowed faintly, carefully placed

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it into his inventory alongside 
the first two. 

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Down, one to go. 
He said as they climbed out of 

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the cavern and resumed their 
journey. 

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The Frostbite Peak stretched 
ever higher ahead of them. 

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The Final Shard awaited them 
within the ruins of a long lost 

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fortress. 
At the summit. 

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The Warden King's minions were 
close behind, and time was 

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running out. 
Chapter 5 The Final Shard The 

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climb to the summit of the 
Frostbite Peaks was grueling. 

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The air grew thinner with every 
step, and the biting wind 

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threatened to throw Stephen Elks
off the narrow, icy ledges. 

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But they pressed on, driven by 
the knowledge that the final 

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Shard and their only hope 
against the Warden King awaited 

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them. 
The ruins of the fortress came 

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into view, as in near the top, a
dragged silhouette against the 

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pale sky. 
It was ancient stone walls, 

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cracked and weathered by time. 
A strange, unnatural hum filled 

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the air, sending a chill down 
their spines. 

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That's not just the winds. 
Alex muttered, gripping her 

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sword tightly. 
Very sharp. 

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He said. 
We don't know what's waiting for

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us up there. 
They entered the fortress 

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through a crumbling archway, the
torches casting long shadows on 

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the cold stone. 
The interior was eerily silent, 

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they for the faint hum that 
seemed to emanate from the walls

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themselves. 
As they moved deeper into the 

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ruins, they found the source of 
the noise, a glowing altar in 

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the center of the main chamber. 
Floating above it was the final 

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Shard, spinning slowly in mid 
air. 

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There it is. 
Alex whispered. 

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And there's the catch. 
He said, pointing to the floor. 

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The stone slabs surrounding the 
altar were etched with glowing 

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runes. 
As Alex stepped closer, the 

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runes flared to life and a low 
rumble filled the chamber. 

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The walls split open, reeling 
rows of pillagers clad in dark 

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robes, the crossbows aimed and 
ready at their center stone. 

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Evoker, his piercing green eyes 
locking on the Steves and Alex's

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intruders. 
The evoker hissed, raising his 

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hands. 
You will not take what is ours. 

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Chapter 6 The Battle of the 
Shard The Pillagers attacked in 

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unison. 
The arrow is raining down on 

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Stephen, Alex. 
Steve raised his shield, 

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reflecting the projectile says. 
Alex loosed her own arrows with 

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deadly precision. 
Take out the Evoker. 

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Steve shouted. 
Alex nodded, weaving through the

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chaos as the Evoker summoned a 
swarm of XS. 

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The tiny, ghostly creatures 
darted towards her, their 

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glowing swords slashing through 
the air. 

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He swung her sword, scattering 
them with quick, precise 

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strikes. 
Meanwhile, Eve charged at the 

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pillagers, his axe cleaving 
through their ranks, spotted a 

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Ravager bursting through a 
sidewall, its massive frame 

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barreling towards him. 
Oh, come on. 

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Eve yelled, diving out of the 
way as the beast crashed into a 

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pillar. 
He scrambled to his feet and 

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pulled out a block of TNT. 
Alex, cover me. 

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He fired at the Ravager, drawing
its attention as Steve lit the 

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TNT and shoved it towards the 
beast. 

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The explosion rocked the 
chamber, leaving chunks of stone

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flying and taking the Ravager 
down with it. 

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Nice one. 
Alex called, licing through the 

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last of the vexes. 
The Evoker, now cornered, 

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snarled and raised his hands 
again. 

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You cannot stop the Warden King.
Who will rise in this world, 

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will fall. 
Alex didn't give him a chance to

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finish. 
Her arrow struck true, silencing

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him. 
The remaining pillagers fled, 

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and the chamber fell silent once
more. 

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00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,040
Steve approached the altar, the 
final Shard now within reach. 

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He hesitated for a moment and 
grabbed it. 

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The shards pulsed in his 
inventory, their energy 

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resonating with a strange, 
harmonious hum. 

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We have all three. 
Alex said, her voice tinged with

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relief. 
Now what? 

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Steve pulled out the map, which 
I changed to the moment he took 

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the Shard. 
New markings that appeared, 

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pointing to a location deep 
beneath the ground, the Warding 

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King's lair. 
Now you've said we finish this 

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Chapter 7 Descent Into Darkness.
The entrance to the deep dark 

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was hidden within a jagged 
Canyon at the edge of the 

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mountains. 
Stephen Alex descended 

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carefully. 
The torch is barely illuminating

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the pitch black surroundings. 
The air grew heavy, and the 

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oppressive silence was broken 
only by their footsteps. 

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As they venture deeper, they 
spotted the first signs of the 

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00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,720
ancient city. 
Massive weathered columns and 

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00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,280
glowing skulk veins that pulsed 
faintly in the dark. 

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Place is worse than I had 
imagined. 

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Alex said. 
They're always barely a whisper.

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Be quiet. 
Eve warned. 

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00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,160
We make too much noise. 
A distant roar cut him off, 

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00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,040
bending a shiver down their 
spines. 

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00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,680
Right. 
Alex said, gripping her sword 

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00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,600
tightly. 
No noise. 

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00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,680
They moved cautiously, avoiding 
skulk, sensors and shriekers as 

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they navigated the labyrinth and
ruins at the heart of the city. 

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They found it, the Warding 
King's throne room. 

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00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,240
The massive creature sat atop a 
throne carved from skulk and 

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stone, his glowing chest pulsing
like a heartbeat. 

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00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,880
His eyes were the void where 
they should have been, turned 

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towards them as they entered. 
You dare challenge me? 

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00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,839
The Warding King rumbled, his 
voice a deep federal growl. 

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00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,680
Eve drew the shards from his 
inventory and the fuse together 

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00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:25,240
in a burst of light, forming the
Blade of the Ancients. 

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00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,240
The sword glowed with a golden 
radiance, it's edges humming 

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00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,120
with power. 
Yeah. 

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00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,920
Eve said, stepping forward. 
We dare. 

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00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:43,240
Yepter 8, the final battle. 
The Boarding King roared, baking

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the cavern as he rose to his 
full height. 

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00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,800
The ground trembled with each 
step he took, and the room was 

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00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,520
soon filled with skulk, minions 
crawling from the walls. 

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00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,520
Even Alex fought side by side, 
their movements perfectly 

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00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,240
synchronized. 
Alex kept the minions at Bay 

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00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,720
with her bow while she focused 
on the Warding King, the Blade 

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00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,120
of Ancients cutting through the 
darkness like a beacon. 

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00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,200
The Warden King unleashed waves 
of Sonic attacks, forcing them 

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to dodge and weave. 
The strength was overwhelming, 

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00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,160
but the blade seemed to weaken 
him with every strike, it's 

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00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,320
golden light piercing through 
his corrupted form. 

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00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,040
We can do this. 
Alex shouted, firing a flaming 

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00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,720
arrow into the Warding King's 
chest. 

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00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,600
Steve saw his chance as the 
Warding King stumbled. 

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00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,800
He leapt onto the throne and 
drove the blade of the Ancients 

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00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,920
into the creature's heart. 
The Warding King let out a 

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00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,200
deafening roar, and the entire 
city began to collapse. 

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00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:40,760
I'm to go. 
Eve yelled, grabbing Alex's hand

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00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,480
as they sprinted towards the 
exit. 

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00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,000
Epilogue. 
A new dawn. 

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00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,920
The sun was rising as Stephen 
Alex emerged from the Canyon, 

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00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,720
the first rays of lights washing
over the lands. 

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00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,360
We did it. 
Alex said, her voice filled with

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00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:00,000
awe. 
Eve held up the blade of the 

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00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,560
ancient, it's glow fading as the
last of its power was spent. 

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00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:08,720
The Warden King is gone. 
Overworld is safe for now. 

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00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,520
They looked at each other and 
smiled. 

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00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,640
The adventure was over, but in a
world like theirs, another was 

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00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,400
always just a block away. 
The end. 

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00:19:35,810 --> 00:19:37,530
Thank you guys so much for 
listening to this story. 

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00:19:37,730 --> 00:19:40,570
I hope you enjoyed it. 
Thank you so much Daniel for 

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00:19:40,570 --> 00:19:42,570
submitting this, it was an 
awesome read. 

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00:19:43,130 --> 00:19:46,370
Also, if you're in Patreon, the 
Part 3 for the Hidden Story 

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00:19:46,370 --> 00:19:49,960
series will be releasing soon. 
I am so close to finishing it, 

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00:19:50,360 --> 00:19:53,440
but like I said, sickness has 
gone the way of a lot of writing

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00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,960
and recording for this podcast, 
so I'll have to catch up a 

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00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:58,640
little bit. 
So look out for that very soon 

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00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,320
and look out for more Patreon 
posts now that I'm not sick. 

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00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,520
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed
this and I'll see you guys 

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00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:07,880
inside the next episode.