Chapter 11. Building defenses

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of people greeting each other, and the sun shining through the broken windows of my temporary home. I got up and stretched, feeling a bit sore from the fight the night before.

I then got out of the house where I could see the aftermath of the fight last night, the ground was full of skeletons from monsters. The villagers started to collect the bones and clean up the place.

As I looked around the devastated village, I knew I had to do something to protect these people. I had the power and the knowledge to make this village safe, and I couldn't let them live in fear every night.

I didn't know how they survived until now, but I'm going to make sure that they won't have to ever worry about the night coming.

I started by gathering as many resources as I could find. I went to the nearby forest and chopped down trees, collecting wood for walls and fences. It was a tedious task but luckily the village was surrounded by a big forest, and with me chopping down the trees, I obtained wood while also taking out the places where the zombies could hide in the daytime. My iron axe even broke two times, so I had to buy another two from the weapon smith villager. But after half a day of chopping trees, replanting, and using bonemeal to fast grow them I finally felt that I had enough resources to start working.

As I worked on building the defenses, I noticed some of the villagers watching me from afar. They seemed hesitant to approach me, but I knew that they trusted me, especially after what happened last night. So, I invited them to help me with the construction, and they gladly accepted after I explained what I intended to do.

Together, we worked tirelessly throughout the day, building walls, fences, and a watchtower. But while working with them I started to observe some stuff about those villagers, while they could build and break blocks unlike the game, they couldn't break blocks as fast as me with the same tools, actually, it took three times more hits to brake a block then I would, and even when they put blocks down they were slower then me, it took them three seconds for them to place one block down, and it's not like they did it intentionally, they just couldn't do it faster, the system didn't let them.

What else surprised me, was the fact that they could craft in their inventory like me, they could use even the crafting table, but I didn't know if they were limited by skills as well.

We also created traps and defenses to prevent monsters from approaching the village. Even if it was an empty trench, it was enough to do its job.

With everyone working together, we managed to finish the wall before the night came. The wall was 5 cubes high with wooden planks and wood as pillars, it was 4 blocks thick and you could even walk on top of it, as gates we used normal fence gates, then I started to craft and trade some lanterns so I could illuminate the wall, now the zombies couldn't come in, nor could they spawn in anymore.

I looked around at our creation, feeling proud of what we had accomplished together. The village was now safe and secure, and the people could finally sleep soundly at night.

But the peace and happiness were interrupted by a shout from the gate.

"What happened here?! "

POV: Unknown villager

I arrived at the neighboring village when the sun was almost down. This village looked better than the one I was staying in and it even had a wooden fence surrounding it. It wasn't the best defense I've seen but it kept most of the monsters outside. The path was well-lit with plenty of lanterns so the monsters won't be able to spawn inside.

The sun started to set, and everyone was getting back in their homes. It was too late for me to trade with someone, so I will be sleeping here tonight.

I went towards the village head house and knocked on the wooden door.

"Toby, It's me! Open the door, please. "

I suddenly heard some running footsteps coming closer and then the door was opened with force.

The person opening the door was a tall man with brown hair, an average nose, and wore an armorer uniform.

"I don't recognize anyone by the name of 'Me', from what I remember."

Toby was a friend that I met in the academy in the first year, we got along well since we came from the same background from a faraway village. When he heard about my exile, he was furious, but unfortunately, he couldn't do anything, instead, he recognized the place that I was going to telling me that it was close to his village, he told me that he'd get back to the village once he finishes the year to help me with what he could. He was a true friend who managed to help me with resources when I had a rough time in my village.

"Haha, Toby. I know that you're a dad now, but you don't have to make so many dad jokes. "

"What do you mean, Bobby? Of course, I have to, it's my responsibility to do that as a dad! "

I smiled at that and went into his house. I sat down on the wooden chair, and he gave me a loaf of bread with a bowl of milk. I thanked him for the food and began to eat.

He sat opposite me and waited patiently for me to finish the food. Once I was done he asked me:

"So you came for the usual items? "

"Yes of course, but not only that. I'm one potion away from getting to the next level, so I wanted to ask you if you have any materials for the next recipes. "

"You know that I'm not as smart as you to remember what you'll have for the next level. What do you need more exactly? "

"Well at level 4 Brewing, I can finally do the strength and jump boost potions. So I need rabbit's foot or some powdered blaze."

"Wow, so you're entering the last stage in the beginner alchemist. Congratulations! I think I have some rabbit's foot from hunting around here. But you know well that I don't have access to blaze powder, only the royalty and the academy have access to them."

"Yeah, I know that. I guess I'll take what rabbit's foot you have then. Is it ok if I use the usual trade? "

"Of course, one swiftness potion for 15 sugar canes, and another one for the rabbit's foot that I have. I don't think I have more than 3 unfortunately."

"Thank you, it's always a pleasure to trade with you. "

"I could've given you those for free, but you're too stubborn to accept them."

"You know me well Toby."

I said that with a smile.

"Ok, now that the business is over, tell me how are things going in your village."

As we got more comfortable, I told him about the progress that I've made with the village, about how I finally managed to light it up enough, so that monsters won't spawn in the houses or the middle of the village, I also told him about the next project of putting a fence around the village to be fully secured.

He told me about how his business was going, and how hard it is to take care of a kid that can run faster than you.

We didn't talk for too long since I was tired from my journey. So he guided me to an empty room to rest, while telling me we could continue tomorrow.

I was suddenly awakened by the screams and shouting of people outside. I quickly got up and took out my iron sword and ran outside to see what was happening.

When I arrived at the door I saw some men with stone swords and shields running towards the wooden fence. I followed them and saw what made the village panic.

One fence was missing which means that now zombies and skeletons were walking in the village. I quickly drank a swiftness potion and started running towards the closest zombie. I slashed him with unmatched speed and defeated him without a problem, but I didn't get to rest as an arrow barely passed me, I then turned at the skeleton that was preparing another arrow and ran towards him.

I kept doing that with every monster that I could, and lucky, there weren't too many monsters. So with the help of the villagers, we defeated them all relatively quickly with no casualties.

I wanted to ask what happened here and who would do such a horrible thing. But before I could do that the culprit showed itself.

All of a sudden, a tall black monster with purple eyes appeared in the middle of everyone while holding the missing fence in his arms.

I looked in horror at the creature, I heard legends about the tall monster, the only one smart enough to pick up blocks and able to teleport at will, because of that, only a knight with full iron armor and a shield can defeat it. But it's hardly killed even then since it usually runs if he's outmatched.

It was the Enderman.

As I was thinking what to do, Toby finally came running unusually fast with an iron chest plate and helmet, he then took out an iron sword and a shield and attacked the Enderman but didn't hit him since he teleported.

Toby lifted his shield for any attacks and waited for the monster to appear. Not too long after, the Enderman appeared a few blocks away from him looking at him and then at us, he left the fence down and teleported away, but no matter how much we waited he didn't reappear.

"I think he left..."

"Yes, I think we intimidated him with our numbers."

"OK people, we won! We fought the monsters and came on top. Pick up the loot from the monsters and get back to your homes, tomorrow we're going to celebrate this victory! "

Toby shouted to people. The people shouted in joy and started to clean up the place.

"Thank you, Bobby, you did a great job defeating so many monsters. Because of you, we didn't have any casualties."

"It's only natural that I'll help when I can. But now I'm worried about my village."

"I can see why you would, but it's suicide to travel at night. Rest well and you can go when the first ray of light comes."

"That's true, I'll do that then."

I then went back to my room and tried to get back to sleep.

The next morning, when the first sign of light rose I quickly got up, said goodbye to my friend, and ran towards my village.

The journey was more dangerous than usual, I saw some monsters so I had to hide from time to time. But after a few tiring hours, I finally arrived at the village. And what I saw there horrified me.

What I expected to see was just a few houses and the villagers working normally, instead what greeted me was an imposing wall of wood. It was 5 blocks tall with even a path to walk on the walls. I only saw this kind of wall at the great noble's estate. And that took weeks to finish with experienced people.

But what I saw was equally impressive and it's only been done in one day that I've been gone. I don't know if I should be glad or horrified by this.

I decided to get quickly inside and see if the villagers were ok.

I entered the village through the gate fences and started to shout when I saw a person.

"What happened here?! "