Chapter 50: All that’s golden isn’t good

Excerpt from the book “Dimensions” By Seng

‘This is the last written text left behind By Seng. Published by his friends and family in appreciation for his great achievements take it as a warning.’

Finally, I have explored dozens of dimensions. I have found so much, survived natural disasters, and successfully documented it all. My life has been at risk so much I have become desensitized to danger, yet in my last task, I feel true fear. But I must, for me, for humanity.

Now, it's time; I have gotten access to ‘it.’ A place that no one has ever returned and told about it. I fear that this shall be my last dimension. My body fails me but I must do this last task. Looking into the endless abyss beyond me, I check my equipment. Armor that has lasted me for half my life, a battered sword that can cut through the greatest of metals and a whole host of supplies. Yet I feel unprepared. I will entrust my book to my family for publishment, if I never return, they shall release its final version to you all.

I say goodbye, I will likely never return but I must find out what's on the other side of this portal. The final portal. Signed Seng Dagger

Thank you for reading this story, my father spent his entire life documenting dimensions for the betterment of the world. Most will never read this story but I sleep easy knowing this book of his has saved thousands of lives. I miss him dearly, he never returned from ‘it.’ But I know he died doing what he loved.

‘Rubbing my eyes’ “Morning already?” felt like I just blinked. Sometimes it's like that, nothing to be done. I have a choice, sleep longer… or get up. Immediately going back to bed after realizing I don’t have any real responsibility.

It's something I didn’t truly think about but appreciate immensely. Whereas back home, I had a job to pay rent and to feed myself. It was rather monotonous and annoying; being forced to do something is soul-crushing.

After I was kicked out of my family's house because, “You will never grow up here, go find your own way.” What am I, a bird? As much as I love my family it was very inconsiderate. They just chucked my stuff in a van, gave me an address, and told me 2 months’ rent was paid upfront, good luck.

Admittedly it worked, I never admitted that to them but it did. I found a job with haste, learned to cook; got very good at cooking in fact. Although I did have to make a phone call to figure out how to pay my bills. As much as I loved the privacy, the suddenly very heavy responsibilities were turning me grey. During that period of my life, I must have had 7 jobs within 2 years.

Well, it paved the way for my life, and I suppose my second life as well. Having gained valuable life skills like gardening, cooking, and many other household labors. Also spending time as a chef, gardener, waiter, and janitor also helped. You do what you have to; keeping a roof over your head takes precedence.

Now, here? I have my own home. I do what I want, in fact, I have such a degree of freedom I feel almost like a God. I was never skillful in art but here, I can express my creativity however I like. And that’s all the heart I needed to get out of bed.

Heading downstairs, enjoying a light breakfast. Nothing special, although I begin preparing something for later. Combining 1 part butter, 2 parts flour, and a teaspoon of sugar. I combine them all together to make a shortcrust pastry. I combine it all together into a fine breadcrumb. Adding a pinch of salt, I start adding warm milk slowly. Mixing it all together until I get the correct texture. Placing it into a greased bowl with a cloth over top I let it rest in the fridge.

Taking out a pan, I place sugar within, mixing it until completely moist with water. Just wet, not soaking. To which I start heating it very slowly. While that happens, I take some of those wild red berries, removing the pit and slicing them in half. I also peel an apple and slice it into small parts.

Once the sugar mixture has fully broken down, I add the apples. Once the apples have begun to soften, I add the berries. Cooking the mixture until it's very soft and has a hint of golden color.

While it's cooking, I remove the pastry and slice it into 2 parts one larger than the other. Greasing a pie tin, I roll out the pastry into a large sheet. Placing it over I use a small amount of pastry to push it into the corners.

Once it's set into the pie tin, I place a fine cloth containing beans inside, placing it in neatly. I then place it into a hot oven to blind bake the pie crust. While the pie crust Is baking, I come back to the filling. Find it sufficiently cooked down, I try a small amount. Adding a dash of salt and some grated ginger for flavor; I cook it a little bit longer. Setting it aside to cool I take the remaining pastry. Rolling it out into a large sheet, which I cut into the circle I will be needing. The pie crust I trimmed before placing it in the oven but I left enough of a lip for the pastry to attach smoothly. While it's still cooking, I roll out some lines of pastry, preparing small decorations like hearts and stars. Once that’s done, I take some cream, combine it with some very fine sugar. I beat it until it reaches soft peaks.

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Placing the cream inside the fridge for later, I remove the pastry. Finding its position well set, I remove the shape holder and let it continue to bake until the bottom is hard. Once that’s done, I add the filling, seal the top onto it. With the final step being to add an egg wash, I only used egg yolk. I added the shapes with the top.

Placing it into the oven at low medium heat, I set an hour timer. In between the waiting for this cooking process, I was reading a geographic book. Noting all the local towns, although I should find out what this town is called. I marked a lot of interesting biomes and islands of interest. Although it made clear much of the world is unexplored or out of reach; interesting.

Having got that cooking, I head to my little enderman farm. Finding an exhausted input, I happily find a full output. For convenience's sake, I craft 30 nether stars, for other things as well.

Before I got distracted, I crafted 2 flying belts. Both for me and if I choose to spontaneously gift one or use it as a trade. They are easy as pie ‘chuckles’ and highly valued.

With that done I move onto what I have been itching to do since I started the mod. Create a 64x geochest, something that never existed before this world.

Crafting it was surprisingly… taxing. I hadn’t felt ‘crafting exhaustion’ as the locals call it in some time. I found out that it was like a muscle you must train but never push too far. You can irreparably damage your mind by pushing it too much. Anyway, with this geochest, a void-like black shines in a metallic tint, eerie.

Heading to my mobile home, I place the geochest 1 block deep into the ground. So it doesn’t leave behind the floor of course. Pressing the button with preparation was a mistake. Such a large amount of mass instantly placed into a chest had… repercussions. Most notably a loud bang; like a gun went off beside my head. And a massive gust of wind – terrifying. I will know in the future, promptly taking the chest and placing it safely within my bag of holding, I skip along the way home happy.

I also upgrade the remaining chest to 11x; in case I need it. I like to have everything so when I need it I don’t have to mess around. It got me through many a playthrough.

Now, I was thinking about lucky blocks yesterday, shall we make a couple? Why do I even question it, of course, I should. Same simple gold recipe, lovely. The geochests had me fearing the recipe would be evil; thankfully unfounded.

Now, let's go to the mining dimension to test them. Crafting a miners multitool; a very simple recipe. Combing it with stone bricks makes the portal bricks. Placing it like a nether portal within my portal area, I activate it with the same tool.

Upon stepping into the wonderfully flat, untouched plains; I prepare the blocks. I don’t dare use a pandora's box even here, but lucky blocks I feel a bit more confident in. I made sure to place a Telepad next to the portal, then walk very far away.

Placing down the beautifully golden block. I suppress the allure to immediately break it. First, I check my equipment, all my tools on hand, healing items. All that good stuff; alright let's do this.

Bracing myself, I break the block. ‘rumble’ the ground shakes, “I assume that’s not good.” Quickly taking flight, I watch as the ground rips in half, exposing a brand-new ravine. “That’s new!”

A bit bigger than I expected, I shall break some more; with even more caution. Placing one down a slight distance away from the now fresh ravine, I break it. And I watch mystified as a rift opens up in the sky before a tentacle crawls through, drops an enchanted diamond sword; then disappears. “Alright, what the actual fuck.” Inspecting the sword, I find It has sharpness 5 Reaping 5. It sucks I have to place it into an enchanting table to learn its enchants but whatever. The enchant is appreciated, but weird still.

I will break one more, only 1! Placing it carefully, hoping no more flying spaghetti monsters appear. Upon breaking it, a strange mist fills the air quickly, before just as fast receding; revealing a fountain and a gold coin. Carefully looking at the gold coin I see on one side skull and crossbones, the other? An eye; on the edge it's encrusted with roses.

I know what I must do, but I can't help but be apprehensive. Peering into the fountain I just see a black abyss. I throw the coin in, immediately taking it to the sky, hopefully, avoid whatever calamity I expect. For a moment, silence; but quickly I hear a deep guttural roar from the fountain. Looking at the fountain, it blasts open. Revealing… a pig? Wait a golden pig?

Screw this I am out, I ant messing with these weird blocks. Immediately leaving the portal, leaving the giant golden porkchop to do its thing. Let's hope no one sentient lives in that dimension.

Heading upstairs to my pie, I find a sweet smell is spreading through the castle. I take out the pie, my metal hands not even registering the heat. I quickly place the pie onto a cooling rack, admiring the beautiful golden crust.

Slicing a slice, I quickly remove my helmet. Taking a fork, I shovel a sizable piece into my mouth. Wafting my face because it's too hot, the pain quickly turning into ecstasy; I love pie. Wait I forgot the cream, quickly grabbing the chantilly cream, I place a block on top; watching as it melts into a river of white over the plate.

It just made it even better, I was absolutely licking the plate. I leave a slice on my pet's plates before portioning and keeping it in my bag of holding, better safe than sorry.

Walking around the castle, I start looking around for those troublesome pets, I haven’t seen them for a while. I wonder what they are up to?