Chapter 13

Chapter 13 JODI AND THE PIGLINS. SOUNDS LIKE A BAND! AND SPEAKING OF MUSIC, ARE YOU READY TO NETHERRACK AND ROLL?! The golem didn't ask for a volunteer. It looked at the five avatars gathered around the campfire and said, "Jodi. Choose your items." Jodi was ready. She had given it a lot of thought and consulted her friends. The elytra would help, and so would an empty flask and the gleaming golden helmet. But the real tool Jodi had was knowledge. Her friends had told her everything she would need to know in order to survive the Nether and return with the golem's prize. At least, she hoped so.

She kept her head down as she navigated the warped forest. There were Endermen all around her, and her gold helmet wouldn't offer much protection from them. But as long as she minded her own business, they would leave her alone. She climbed the cliff and saw Po's bridge right away. It extended out over the sea of lava like an Olympic diving platform. She saw the hole to Morgan's tunnel, too. But she knew the tunnel would lead her right into the heart of a soul sand valley—and lots of skeletons to get past. The bridge was the safer choice. She walked to its very edge. She could see the soul sand valley in the distance.

Jodi donned her elytra. With a running start, she leapt off the edge of Po's platform. It was exhilarating to fly again after so long. Jodi used to fly all the time in Creative mode. She couldn't help laughing as the Nether stretched out before her.

But she knew better than to glide all the way to the soul sand. The skeletons there would only shoot her out of the sky, as they did to Theo. Instead, she aimed for a small stone island in the middle of the lava. It was easy to spot from the air, and she reached it with no problems. Harper had left the brewing stand behind, with just enough material for one more Potion of Fire Resistance. Jodi had never made one before, but she remembered Harper's instructions. Within

seconds, her empty flask was filled with a liquid that looked a little like orange soda. Jodi drank the potion. Then she looked at the lava with a bit of dread. But Harper had told her there was nothing to worry about… as long as she was quick. So, without wasting another second, she dove into the lava. She stayed beneath the surface, where she would be safe from any ghasts flying overhead. Her brother had had to fight his way through the soul sand valley, where the sand was hazardous and the monsters were numerous. Jodi went around the other way so that she could travel through a crimson forest

instead. There were dangers here, but they were easier to avoid. She took it slow, darting from tree to tree. Soon, she had arrived at the bastion remnant. The structure was crawling with piglins. They saw her approach, and she held her breath. There was no way she could fight them all! But the piglins didn't attack. They didn't seem the least bit bothered by her. A baby piglin even walked right up to her. It was cute! Morgan's advice had worked. As long as she wore a gold helmet, she would be safe among the piglins.