# The Curse of the Wither - Part 3 - Listener Stories

An episode of [Minecraft Short Stories](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1570004719), 8 Dec 2023, 8:16.

Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO3559299067.mp3

This is the third and final instalment of catmaster6's story, "The Curse of the Wither" (the last part that will be told on the podcast). It continues the narrative of the previous two parts as Steve faces the dangers of the Nether - though some are greater than he could have ever imagined.... Hope you enjoy! LINKS Please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon. Subscribe to the YouTube channel! To submit your stories, go to minecraftshortstories.com! -------- This podcast is not associated with or approved by Mojang.

## Transcript

[0:13] Welcome back everybody to the Minecraft Short Stories Podcast.
[0:17] This episode today, as you saw by the title, obviously this is
[0:21] the third part of The Curse of the Wither, which is a story by
[0:24] Cam Master 6. To listen to this story, I would
[0:29] recommend listening to the first episode.
[0:31] The second one also is related the Part 2 that is, but it is
[0:36] not completely necessary, but it's still a help, so go listen
[0:42] to those before you listen to this one.
[0:44] Anyways, this story was submitted through my website
[0:47] minecraftshortstors.com link inside the description.
[0:51] While there you can also sign up for the bonus e-mail list where
[0:53] I send out news and updates while you're down inside the
[0:56] description as well. There's also a link to the
[0:59] YouTube channel. Once you reach 1000 subscribers
[1:02] I will do a three or four way collab with some other Minecraft
[1:04] players where that's 270 to 80 something right now.
[1:09] Anyway, you guys came for this story so let's get right into
[1:11] it. The Curse of the Wither Part
[1:19] three story by Cat Master 6. The first thing Steve knows was
[1:23] the warm red Moss like substance that he was lying on.
[1:26] The next was the almost unbearable heat and the smell of
[1:28] brimstone. He pushed himself to his feet
[1:30] and gasped at the site before him.
[1:33] Steve was standing on a Cliff covered in red Moss overlooking
[1:36] a huge lake of rolling lava. Far in the distance.
[1:39] On the other side of the lake he could see an expanse of dark red
[1:41] structure. The structure, which Steve
[1:44] assumed to be another fortress from the Book of Secrets of the
[1:46] Fortresses, was built on an ash colored Biome with a very jagged
[1:50] landscape. Examining the area surrounding
[1:53] the portal he had just come through, Steve realized that he
[1:55] was in a Crimson forest Biome. The first was full of vegetation
[1:59] of all sorts of shades of red and most notable of which were
[2:01] the giant trees or mushrooms. Steve couldn't tell.
[2:05] As Steve looked again at the fortress, he noticed something
[2:08] he had before. The bind between it and the
[2:10] current location was a Soul sand valley.
[2:13] Yes, Steve said out loud, as he confirmed that the soul sand was
[2:16] indeed the same block that made-up the statue in the
[2:18] painting. With that in the fortress, he
[2:20] was making progress. Without hesitation, Steve starts
[2:23] to make his way into the valley of dark brown blocks.
[2:26] As he came over, a rise in the forest encountered a problem.
[2:29] To reach the valley, Steve needs to wank his way down the Cliff
[2:32] dotted with lava flows. A sudden sharp wailing broke the
[2:35] silence, the sound of someone in pure anguish.
[2:38] Without a second thought, Steve reached for his golden sword,
[2:41] the one he had acquired at the portal.
[2:43] The cry came again and Steve cringed at the awful noise.
[2:46] A thought came to him. Why am I in the forbidden
[2:48] Nether? He'd remember the painting in
[2:50] the entire journey here, but the actual reason eluded him.
[2:53] I need to go back to the no. Steve interrupted himself.
[2:56] You need to get the Soul sand and wither skulls and just like
[2:59] that, he remembered. He took a deep breath.
[3:02] The soul sand is just down the Cliff.
[3:05] Steve assessed the slope. If he took it 1 short hop at a
[3:08] time, he would make it to the bottom safely.
[3:10] Provides he avoid the streams of glowing lava.
[3:13] After a few dozen seconds of careful climbing, Steve came to
[3:16] a particularly steep part of the Cliff.
[3:18] The safest way down that Steve could find was dangerously close
[3:20] to lava, but he knew he had to risk it.
[3:23] Just as he resumed his descent, Steve heard again the cry, but
[3:26] much closer, this time Looking up.
[3:28] He nearly fell back as he spun an enormous tentacled white cube
[3:31] floating in the air, had a sad, drooping face and seemed to cry,
[3:36] tears sizzling and drying up before falling far.
[3:38] Before Steve could react, it opened its mouth and blasted A
[3:41] blazing fireball at him with the jolts of fear.
[3:44] Steve flipped out the way the fire projectile and felt immense
[3:46] heat on his back as a fireball exploded upon the Cliff that was
[3:49] behind him. For a moment Steve felt
[3:51] weightless as he sailed through the air and time seemed to slow
[3:54] down as he began to fall right a hot agony course through Steve's
[3:57] body as he landed in the lava flow, his health going down at
[4:00] alarming rates. Steve crawled out the lava and
[4:03] onto the Redstone of the Cliff. His health wasn't decreasing as
[4:06] fast now, but it's still creeping dangerously lower from
[4:08] the fire that he caught his clothing.
[4:10] Steve thought widely for a way to save himself, frantically
[4:13] searching his inventory. Seconds passed and he came up
[4:15] with nothing. Then, with less than 1/4 of his
[4:19] health remaining, Steve's hand came across a golden apple from
[4:21] the root portal. He had as fast as he could
[4:23] facing, just as itself decreased to nothing more than a sliver.
[4:27] The fruits region combated the damage from the fire, which went
[4:29] out a second later. Letting out a shaky sigh of
[4:32] relief, Steve glanced up. The floating white cube had lost
[4:35] interest in him and was flying away, still wailing mournfully.
[4:39] Hello, human. The theory of voice startled
[4:41] Steve as he was mining the blocks of soul sand.
[4:44] He looked around and saying nothing, went back to work,
[4:46] assuming he had imagined it. You might want to talk to me.
[4:49] Steve looked around still, but saw nothing.
[4:51] Who's there? Me.
[4:54] The shadow rose from the dark sand seems to be made out of
[4:56] smoke, swirling faintly, and its eyes are orbs of piercing blue
[4:59] light. Steve stepped back, startled.
[5:02] There's a presence inside your human, the shadow said.
[5:05] What do you mean? Steve asked, shaken.
[5:08] The spirit has fogged your mind and bent you to its will.
[5:11] How do you know? We spirits can sense each other.
[5:14] However, it is very faint, so I'm assuming he's possessing you
[5:17] from a location of the Overworld where it cannot reach you as
[5:19] well. In the Nether, understanding
[5:21] suddenly came to Steve. It's evil, isn't it?
[5:25] Yes. The spirit began to pace in a
[5:27] slow circle around him. He wants to destroy every living
[5:30] thing in the Overworld, the Nether and the End.
[5:32] It is an ancient being known as the Wither.
[5:35] What's the end? Never mind that you're currently
[5:37] able to think for yourself, correct?
[5:39] Don't listen to him, said a voice.
[5:41] And Steve said he's the Evil 1, not me.
[5:43] I can offer you great power and riches for the time being, Steve
[5:48] answered through grit of teeth, trying to ignore the voice ever
[5:50] along a throbbing headache. Then for as long as you can
[5:54] control yourself, don't do anything it says the spirit.
[5:57] Stop pacing and fix his gaze on him.
[5:59] Let's not let destroy everything.
[6:01] You won't like this human. I need to possess you and fight
[6:04] the Wither from the inside. And is this dangerous?
[6:08] Very just. One spirit possessing you would
[6:10] tear you apart from the inside in a matter of days.
[6:13] Two spirits at once. That would be more than half the
[6:15] time, especially if the spirits are combating each other.
[6:19] Thought of such a death sent chill through Steve's body, but
[6:21] then he thought of a barren overworld devoid of life, and
[6:24] with sun determination he made-up his mind, possessed me.
[6:28] Spirit advanced towards him and Steve closed his eyes, holding
[6:31] his breath and anticipation of the awful sensation he had felt
[6:33] when he touched the painting. When Steve, pure agony Steve
[6:36] fell on immense cold throughout his body.
[6:38] He gasped out the feeling and opened his eyes.
[6:40] The spirit was gone. Hello, Steve.
[6:44] The Spirit's voice inside Steve's head made him jump once
[6:46] his racing heartbeat slowed. He asked.
[6:49] So you possessed me? Yes.
[6:51] And you don't need to speak out loud now.
[6:53] I can hear your thoughts. After a brief pause, the spirit
[6:56] asked. Is there anything you want to
[6:58] ask before I fight the wither? Yeah, Steve thought.
[7:01] What's your name? How rude of me.
[7:04] I never introduced myself. My name is Herobrine.
[7:11] Bum Bum Bum. Thanks to Cadmaster 6 for
[7:16] submitting that story and also submitting a lot of other
[7:19] stories. I believe Cadmaster 6 is the
[7:22] main well, not main, but it's the most prominent submitter of
[7:26] Ulfurb. By prominent I mean like has
[7:29] submitted the most. So even more thanks Guy Raster 6
[7:35] for all these great stories that I can read on the podcast and
[7:39] also to every other listener who's missed a story that has
[7:41] been read on the podcast or not on the podcast because I enjoy
[7:45] reading them. If you made this far, thank you
[7:49] for listening and I will see you in the next week.
[7:54] I have tests so maybe two weeks. I'll see you guys in the next
[8:01] episode.

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