The weight of Power

Ethan stood inside his base, staring at the shimmering "Netherite Upgrade" in his hand. After barely surviving the Brute Piglin at the Bastion, he now had the means to create something far more powerful, a full Netherite set.

But he wasn't content with just one piece. He had a plan to transform all his gear into unbeatable Netherite.

"It's time," Ethan muttered, moving toward the smithing table. In his hand, he held a second "Netherite Upgrade," his duplication trick having worked perfectly. Now, his diamond gear would become something unstoppable.

First, he placed his diamond helmet on the smithing table, followed by the "Netherite Upgrade." The metal shifted, darkening as the lightweight diamond was replaced with Netherite's dark, sleek gleam.

One by one, he upgraded his chestplate, leggings, and boots, each piece becoming sturdier, almost vibrating with untapped power.

"Full Netherite armor... this is insane," he whispered, sliding on the pieces. They felt like an extension of his body, light but incredibly strong. He could feel the weight of not just the armor but the potential power it held.

Next came the sword. His diamond blade, while deadly, was no match for the upgraded Netherite weapon he envisioned. With careful precision, Ethan placed the sword on the table and used the "Netherite Upgrade" to transform it. The weapon hummed with energy, its sleek black edge gleaming in the light.

"And now... the enchantments."

His hand hovered over the enchantment table. Last time, the process had drained him of strength, leaving him weak. He knew it would happen again, but this time he was prepared.

The helmet went first, and just as expected, a wave of exhaustion hit. Ethan staggered, feeling a familiar dizziness, but he gritted his teeth and remained focused. "I knew it was coming... just hold on," he murmured to himself.

Piece by piece, he enchanted the rest of his armor, each time feeling his strength slip away. By the time he finished, his body felt heavy, his vision blurred slightly, but he remained steady.

"Worth it," he whispered, admiring the glow that now radiated from his gear. His sword was the last to be enchanted. As the magical energy flowed into the blade, he felt his grip tremble. A sharp pain hit his chest, and for a moment, it felt like the very life was being drained from him. But he kept calm, even as his strength faded.

---

After some time resting, Ethan regained a portion of his strength. The exhaustion from enchanting still lingered, but his mind remained sharp. He glanced at the enchanted Netherite gear on the table.

[Netherite Helmet]

-Protection III

-Unbreaking II

[Netherite Chestplate]

-Protection III

-Unbreaking II

[Netherite Leggings]

-Protection III

-Unbreaking II

[Netherite Boots]

-Protection III

-Unbreaking II

[Netherite Sword]

-Sharpness III

-Mending II

-Unbreaking II

"These are the strongest tools i ever had," he said quietly, picking up his sword. He knew the power they held, but he also understood the cost.

Ethan didn't need to panic, this wasn't new anymore. The enchantments took a toll on him, but with each fight, he grew stronger. He knew how to handle this, and his next step was clear.

He needed experience to fully regain his strength, and there was only one way to get it: fighting mobs.

"Night's approaching," Ethan said as he looked out the window. "It's time to hunt."

But this time, he wouldn't be reckless. He gathered supplies and crafted an underground tunnel leading out into the open field, a safety measure in case the mobs overwhelmed him. The escape route would let him slip underground and navigate back to base unseen.

As the moon rose, casting an eerie glow over the landscape, Ethan stepped out into the night. His fully enchanted Netherite armor and weapon in hand, he scanned the area for the first sign of mobs.

"There," he spotted the silhouettes of zombies and skeletons in the distance. Adjusting his grip on the sword, he moved forward.

The first zombie didn't stand a chance. Ethan cut it down with a single swing, his enchanted blade slicing through effortlessly. A skeleton fired an arrow, but the Netherite armor absorbed the blow. Ethan closed the gap and felled the skeleton with two swift strikes.

"That was almost too easy," he smirked, wiping his brow. But the ease with which he handled them didn't make him overconfident. More mobs appeared, skeletons, zombies, creepers lurking in the shadows. Ethan prepared for battle.

His sword flashed as he took down zombies left and right, dodging arrows from multiple directions. He sidestepped a creeper, slicing it just before it could explode.

But as the night dragged on, the numbers began to increase. Hordes of skeletons and zombies swarmed the area, and Ethan's heart pounded as he realized just how many there were.

He kept fighting, cutting through them with precision, but the sheer amount of mobs was becoming overwhelming.

"Too many of them," Ethan muttered, breathing heavily. He took a quick glance at his escape tunnel, just in case. His sword slashed through another group of zombies, but it seemed like more kept coming.

Arrows whizzed past his head, and Ethan was forced to duck behind a tree as a group of skeletons fired at him from a distance. Ethan dashed toward the underground tunnel as mobs chased after him, their growls echoing in the dark.

Inside the safety of the tunnel, Ethan leaned against the wall, his breath ragged. He could hear the faint sounds of the mobs outside, but they couldn't reach him here.

"That was close," he muttered. His body ached from the exertion, but the mobs had given him exactly what he needed. The energy from each kill slowly restored his strength, and though he was tired, he knew he'd be back to full power soon.

Resting in the tunnel, Ethan allowed himself a moment of peace. His new gear was incredibly powerful, but it had come at a cost. He needed to be careful with it, knowing that every enchantment drained him. But the mobs had restored some of his strength, and he could already feel the energy coursing through him once again.

His eyes flicked toward the tunnel entrance. "Not yet," he thought. He wasn't done.

After catching his breath, Ethan stood, determination in his eyes. He wasn't going to stop until he was fully recovered, and the mobs outside were just the source he needed.