Minecraft Universe, Blocky Planet

"We should head back to the surface," Jason said, collecting the last of Marcus's items. "The Trading Post might still have some healing potions in stock."

The water elevator carried them back up through the stone layers. Adrian's claws found easy purchase on the blocks as they climbed, while the humans placed temporary blocks beneath their feet when needed. The deep rumble of lava faded behind them.

"So Adrian," IronMiner_217 asked as they ascended, "what's your world like? You mentioned it was called Zerus?"

"It's a primal world. Harsh. Everything there evolves and fights to survive." Adrian broke through a block of granite blocking their path. "My kind lives there."

"Your kind?" Jason pulled himself up onto a stone ledge. "There are more like you?"

"Yes. The older ones can speak and think like I do. The young ones are more... basic. They need time to grow into awareness." Adrian paused at an intersection, sniffing the air. "This way leads up."

"How did you learn to talk then?" IronMiner_217 placed a torch on the wall. "English, I mean?"

Adrian considered his answer carefully. "I encountered something strange. It gave me memories - knowledge of Earth, humans, languages. Most of it is unclear, like trying to remember a dream. But it was enough to wake up my mind." He broke through another block. "Then I ended up here."

"Just like that?" Jason asked. "One moment in your world, next moment here?"

"More or less." Adrian didn't mention the pain of the transfer, or how his body had fought against the cubic nature of this reality.

The tunnel opened into a larger cavern. Sunbeams shone down through holes in the ceiling. They had reached the upper layers.

"We've got company," IronMiner_217 warned, pointing at three creepers blocking their path to the surface.

IronMiner_217 drew her enchanted bow. "Stay back. I've got this."

The first arrow made the nearest green mob flash red and stagger backward. A second arrow finished it off before it could start its explosion animation. The other two creepers turned toward the sound.

"These things used to terrify me," IronMiner_217 said, taking aim again. "Now they're just target practice."

Two more arrows whistled through the air, eliminating the second creeper. The third one got within five blocks before an arrow caught it in the head, turning it into experience orbs and gunpowder.

"Nice shooting," Jason said, collecting the drops. "We could use the gunpowder for TNT if we run into another Leviathan."

Adrian moved toward the sunshaft piercing down from above. The cave opened into a ravine that cut through several biomes. Oak trees grew along one edge while there was a desert on the other side.

"The Trading Post is that way." IronMiner_217 pointed toward some buildings in the distance. "About five hundred blocks."

"What's with your eyes?" Jason asked Adrian. "They keep glowing blue."

"Side effect of what brought me here," Adrian replied. The less said about that, the better.

A skeleton took aim at them from the shadows of an overhang. The arrow struck Jason, causing him to flash red and stumble backward, but his diamond chestplate absorbed the damage.

"Let's move," IronMiner_217 suggested. "The sun's going down soon, and we don't want to be out here when all the mobs spawn."

They reached the Trading Post just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The wooden structure stood three stories tall, surrounded by a wall of cobblestone with iron golems patrolling the perimeter. Players moved between market stalls, exchanging emeralds and items.

"You two get the potions," Adrian said. "I need to rest for a bit."

"Sure." IronMiner_217 pointed to a quiet corner near some hay bales. "We'll meet you there after we restock."

Adrian settled down in the suggested spot, away from the other players. The Leviathan's essence burned inside him, demanding attention. He closed his eyes and focused inward.

The genetic information revealed itself to his instincts. Three distinct paths of adaptation presented themselves. The first would create segmented armor plating, offering protection similar to the Leviathan's wooden shell. The second would give him grinding mandibles capable of making instant tunnels.

But the third option... Adrian's eyes narrowed as he felt out the Essence. The Architect Leviathan hadn't just created tunnels - it had processed and transformed materials. Inside its body, a specialized organ had acted as a biological crafting system.

He directed his body to begin the adaptation. The essence flowed through him, reorganizing cells and creating new structures. A crystalline pearl formed in his chest cavity, surrounded by specialized tissue. The integration exceeded his expectations, the essence meshing perfectly with his biology.

The organ could store and combine materials according to specific rules, namely the same rules that governed crafting in this world. Items would be miniaturized, just like when players stored them in their inventories. He could even sense empty slots waiting to be filled.

His first Major Adaptation settled into place, one out of five. He picked up a nearby stick and brought it near his snout, causing it to disappear in a pop. The item appeared in one of the slots inside him, ready to be brought out or combined with other materials.

"Got the potions!" IronMiner_217 called out, walking over with Jason. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Adrian replied. "Just processing some changes." He would need time to experiment with this new ability, but for now, it was better to keep it hidden. "Did you get everything you need?"

"Yeah, got everything," Jason pulled out several healing potions. "Cost us most of our emeralds, but better safe than sorry."

They waited in the Trading Post as night passed. Other players huddled around crafting tables and furnaces, some trading items while others discussed recent events. A group near the entrance talked about a raid on one of the smaller settlements.

The sun rose within 5 minutes. Zombies and skeletons caught in the open burst into flames.

"We should head to New Haven," Jason said, checking his map. "The council needs to know about the Leviathan, and..." He glanced at Adrian. "Well, people are going to have questions about you."

"What kind of questions?" Adrian asked.

"The usual stuff. Where you came from, what you want, if you're dangerous." Jason shrugged. "Don't worry too much about it. We've gotten better at telling friend from foe. The troublemakers got kicked out months ago."

"Now they're raiders," IronMiner_217 added bitterly. "Stealing supplies, killing isolated players. They even have a fortress somewhere in the mountains."

"What happened when everyone first arrived?" Adrian asked as they walked toward the city.

"Chaos," Jason replied. "Three hundred confused players spawning in the same area? It was a mess. Some panicked, others tried to take charge. A few just started attacking everyone."

"The players who knew the most about the game eventually restored order," IronMiner_217 explained. "They organized us into groups, and created laws to keep everyone in check."

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"Not everyone liked those laws," Jason said. "The griefers and trolls formed their own group. They raid outposts, destroy farms, kill players for fun. We had to build thick obsidian walls just to give us time to respond."

"How many players ended up in this world?" Adrian asked, jumping over a small stream.

"No one knows," IronMiner_217 said. "Every time we send exploration teams out, they find more settlements. Some tiny, some massive. The world seems endless."

"The biggest city we know of is Imperial Diamond," Jason added. "About fourty thousand blocks east. They've got nearly ten thousand players living there."

A burning skeleton died ahead of them. The morning sun lit up the plains biome, revealing herds of sheep and cows grazing on grass blocks.

"Some think everyone on Earth got transported here," IronMiner_217 said. "Not just Minecraft players, but everyone. We met a group last month who'd never even heard of the game before waking up here."

"Makes sense," Jason said. "The raiders we kicked out? They keep finding new members. Either they're convincing established players to join them, or they're running into more people out there."

Adrian watched a chicken pop out an egg. "So no one knows what caused this?"

"Nope." IronMiner_217 shook her head. "One day everything's normal, next day we're all blocks. The really weird part is how the game mechanics work now. Health bars, inventories, crafting - it's all real."

"Some players tried breaking the rules early on," Jason sighed. "You know, building floating bases, making infinite water sources. Everything works exactly like in the game."

A creeper spawned in a dark cave entrance nearby. IronMiner_217 casually shot it with two arrows before it could approach.

"The respawn mechanic is different though," she continued. "Used to be instant in the game. Now it takes a month, and you spawn randomly within ten thousand blocks of your death point."

"That's why the raiders are so dangerous," Jason explained. "A month without your gear, spawning in who knows where, it can be rough. Most players stick to safe areas now."

They walked up a hill, and New Haven came into view. The town was built into the natural terrain of a mountainside. Obsidian walls that were thirty blocks high, with guard towers spaced evenly along the perimeter. Iron golems patrolled between farms that extended out from the main gates.

"Home sweet home," IronMiner_217 said. "Population is nearly four hundred now. We've got everything - farms, forges, enchanting rooms. Even built a proper marketplace last month."

Players worked the wheat fields while others transported items between buildings. Someone rode past on a horse, carrying messages between guard posts.

"Council meets in the central tower," Jason pointed to a tall structure made of stone bricks. "We should report the Architect Leviathan situation first. They'll want to send warning messages to the other settlements in case of any other modded mobs this close."

"What about me?" Adrian asked.

"Yeah, about that..." Jason scratched his blocky head. "The guards might freak out when they see you. Let me do the talking."

They approached the main gate. Two players in full diamond armor stood watch, crossbows ready.

"Hold up," one guard called out. "What is that thing with you?"

"StoneBreaker, it's us," Jason - or rather DiamondSlayer_332 - stepped forward. "This is Adrian. He helped us fight an Architect Leviathan in the deep caves."

The guard, StoneBreaker, kept his crossbow ready. "Never seen anything like it. Could be another mod creature."

"He can talk," IronMiner_217 said. "And he saved our lives. We need to speak with the council about the Leviathan anyway."

The second guard, RedstoneKing95, lowered his weapon. "Wait, where's NetherWalker?"

"Marcus is dead," DiamondSlayer_332 replied. "The Leviathan got him. He'll respawn in a month."

StoneBreaker cursed. "That's the third death this week. First WolfHunter gets killed by raiders, then Dragon888 falls into lava, and now this."

Other players noticed the commotion at the gate. Some backed away while others drew closer, curious about the new arrival. A player in diamond armor with glowing enchantments pushed through the crowd.

"What's going on here?" The new arrival asked. The name tag above his head read ‘Obsidian_Lord’.

"Sir," StoneBreaker straightened. "DiamondSlayer and IronMiner returned with... something."

"Something that speaks and fights alongside us," IronMiner_217 added. "We need to warn the council about modded mobs appearing near our territory."

Obsidian_Lord looked down at Adrian. "You're not like any mob I've seen before. Where did you come from?"

"Another world," Adrian replied. "I arrived here recently."

Obsidian_Lord studied Adrian for a moment. "Another world? Like Earth, or somewhere else?"

"Somewhere else," Adrian said. "A place called Zerus."

More players gathered around the gates. A player in leather armor ran toward the central tower, probably to alert the council.

"The Architect Leviathan is the bigger concern right now," IronMiner_217, or rather, Sarah said. "It was way too close to our mining routes."

Obsidian_Lord nodded. "Follow me to the council chamber. StoneBreaker, return to your post. Everyone else, back to work."

The crowd dispersed reluctantly. Adrian followed the group through New Haven's streets. Players worked at crafting tables outside wooden houses, while others traded items in front of market stalls. Furnaces glowed from inside blacksmith shops, processing ores into ingots.

The central tower was not far. Built from stone bricks and decorated with quartz blocks, it served as both a meeting hall and a last-defense point during raids. Iron golems guarded the entrance, stepping aside as Obsidian_Lord approached.

Inside, redstone lamps lit the circular chamber. Five players sat around a table made of dark oak wood. The one in the center wore netherite armor.

"Council members," Obsidian_Lord announced. "We have a situation."

The player in netherite armor stood up. The name Witcherqueen01 floated above her head. "Report."

Sarah stepped forward. "We encountered an Architect Leviathan in the eastern mining system. It killed NetherWalker. Without Adrian's help, we would have died too."

The council members exchanged glances. A player named Blazing420 leaned forward. "Adrian? You mean this creature?"

"Yes," Jason stepped forward. "He's not from Earth. He came from another world called Zerus."

The room went silent. Witcherqueen01 gripped the edge of the table. "Another world? Not Earth?"

"That means there could be more," a council member named Snapp said. "More beings from other worlds appearing here."

"Exactly what we need," grumbled Honeystinger. "As if raiders and modded mobs weren't enough trouble."

The fifth council member, Bluemage2000, raised her hand. "Let's focus on the immediate threat. An Architect Leviathan this close to our mining routes puts all our resource gathering at risk if there’s other modded mobs nearby."

"Agreed," Witcherqueen01 stood up. "All mining teams must carry ender pearls for emergency teleports for the next two weeks. Bluemage2000, send runners to warn the nearest settlements."

"What about him?" Snapp pointed at Adrian. "We can't ignore a creature from another world showing up at our doorstep."

"I'm not here to cause trouble," Adrian said. "I helped kill the Leviathan because it threatened Sarah and Jason."

"It speaks perfect English," Honeystinger muttered. "And it uses their real names."

Snapp stood up. "How do we know there aren't more of your kind out there? Maybe planning to-"

"Enough," Witcherqueen01 cut him off. "He saved two of our best miners. That earns him the benefit of doubt."

The council voted to let Adrian stay. They provided him with a small cave near the eastern wall, which he modified into a comfortable den. The first few days brought curious onlookers, but the novelty wore off as Adrian proved to be more helpful than threatening.

Two weeks passed quickly. Adrian spent most days helping the mining teams, his natural abilities making him excellent at fighting off hostile mobs. The players appreciated having someone who could mine without worrying about the durability of tools, and his night vision meant fewer torch placements.

The mining expeditions also gave Adrian opportunities to gather Essence from various creatures. Cave spiders proved particularly useful, and after consuming several, he developed the ability to spray sticky webs from specialized glands in his mouth. The webbing worked just like cobwebs, slowing down anything caught in them.

Other creatures yielded less impressive results. Sheep, cows, and chickens contained no useful genetic information. He even tried consuming an ender pearl, but the crystallized item held no viable Essence. A fresh sample directly from an Enderman might work better, but he hadn't encountered another one since that first meeting.

The diamonds proved more valuable. Each one brought him closer to attuning with this world - he estimated about ninety-five percent completion. Only one material remained, and based on what he'd seen of the equipment hierarchy, netherite seemed the logical choice.

"Another successful run," Sarah said, climbing out of a mineshaft. She dropped several diamond ores into a portable chest. "We're getting spoiled having you around, Adrian. No torches needed, no pickaxes breaking..."

"The spiderwebs help too," Jason added, pulling himself up. "That ability would have been useful against the Leviathan."

Adrian watched the diamonds disappear into the chest. The blue glow in his eyes remained dormant - he'd learned to suppress it when he wasn’t examining potential attunement materials. No need to make the players suspicious of his true goals.

"Speaking of abilities," Sarah said, "the council wants to know if you've seen any others like yourself out there."

"No," Adrian replied. "Just the usual mobs."

A bell rang from New Haven's central tower, the signal for sunset. Time to head back before the hostile mobs started spawning.

The group walked back toward New Haven. Adrian mentally checked his stored items - the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl inside him held plenty of valuable resources. One hundred thirty-one diamonds might be enough to trade for a netherite ingot, but the material was incredibly rare. Only a handful of players owned any, mostly the settlement's leader and elite guards.

The alternative was exploring the Nether, but from what he'd learned, that hellish dimension was even more dangerous than the deep caves. Still, he could gather useful Essence there as well...

Sarah hummed as they approached the gates. "I’ll probably use some of the excess diamonds to craft some diamond armor, I lost my last set when I died a while ago."

StoneBreaker waved them through. "Just in time. Sun's almost-"

Three sharp rings cut through the evening air. The warning bell.

"Raiders!" Someone shouted from a guard tower.

The peaceful atmosphere shattered. Players rushed to arm themselves, while others herded animals into protected pens. Iron golems moved to defensive positions along the walls.

"How many?" Jason pulled out his diamond sword.

"At least thirty!" StoneBreaker called down. "They've got TNT cannons!"

Another bell rang - this one from the eastern tower.

"Two groups," Sarah nocked an arrow. "They're attacking from both sides."