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It was time to return to Intersection 3 and take on the final area. But, on my way back I stopped off in Rattle-Bone crypts to search for and (eventually) find the Green Wool, vindicating myself by beating this area with no deaths (Compared to last time where I died at least a dozen times here) Then, dumping off the green wool in the Black Heart Antechamber, it was off to Black Heart. Oh, right, I should mention that I disarmed the traps earlier, on my first visit to I3 (The cannon in the wall I broke the TNT, the disappearing floor I built another floor over it). Crossing the Black Heart Bridge, it was up to the Black Heart Ramparts where the resistance was fierce, but full diamond armor was fiercer. Eventually, the entire place was...well, I can't say conquered, more like "declawed", as there were dark patches where enemies could still spawn. Advancing through the Black Heart Library, the Black Heart Spider defenses and the Black Heart Upper Ramparts, clearing out, lighting up and destroying spawners along the way, eventually I got to the Black Heart Tower Stairs. This is where things went disastrously wrong. First, I check for blaze spawners under the stairs and find one. I break it, then climb up to the Black Heart Tower Entrance Layer. I proceed to clear out the base, albeit without some close calls. I notice that blazes started spawning and realize that there must be a second spawner under the stairs. I locate it, but while trying to break it, a skeleton spawns and shoots me off, right down to the Black Heart Tower Base. I had no Feather Falling. The fall was ~40 blocks long. Crack! After respawning, I knew I had to hurry to get my items back. I quickly crafted a new set of diamond armorand grab some miscellaneous supplies (Bow, sword, pick, Feather Falling boots (!!!) and the few golden apples that were stockpiled, in lieu of actual Fire Resistance. This turns out to be a mistake. Anyway, I rushed down to Black Heart and, while running through Rattle-Bone crypts, I eat one of my 4 golden apples at which point I learn that these are the nerfed apples, the ones that give 4 seconds of regeneration and that's it. Nevertheless, I make it to the Tower and, with Feather Falling this time, jump down to my items. This time I survived and was able to rearm myself properly. One quick pillar up to the Entrance Layer, it was time to assault the Black Heart Tower Roof where I find a trio of skeleton spawners. So that's where...anyway, after breaking them I look up at the Black Heart itself and decide that nope, I don't want to climb up and get shot off by the numerous skeleton spawners located on the ribbons. I go down, locate where I am more or less below the heart and start rapidly building an upwards pillar tunnel. With some stops for more bricks, I eventually make it up to, and grab, the Black Wool. Only red remains. I pillar down and make my way back to the Black Heart Tower. This time I enter it, break the spawners en route to the final fall, pop my last Fire Resistance potion (I used the other 2 in Black Heart Citadel proper, mostly as insurance against Blazes) and build down to the absolute bottom. The blaze and creeper forces down here didn't stand a chance and, soon enough, the Red Wool was mine. All that was left was a (more or less) uneventful journey back to the VM and... (Bah, damn potion swirls obstructing the view)

I managed to vindicate myself and have a proper Spellbound Caverns experience. Last time I could barely run at 30 FPS, often dipping to 10 and occasionally under 1 FPS. Now I was able to beat the map proper and, while it was not a flawless run, it was a definite improvement over my old one. As for the map itself, I have nothing to say. It's more aggressive then previous maps when it comes to sheer spawner density at areas to take advantage of the improved armor and potions that came out before. All in all, while it isn't my favorite Super Hostile map, it's still a good one to play through.

All of them.

2. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion. 2) Fall in Black Heart Citadel after getting shot off by a skeleton.

Before returning to the Rumbling Cave, I made sure to grab a water bucket, which got a reasonable amount of use clearing away the gravel out of my bridging path. Eventually I got over the tower next to the wool box, and I dived down the pillar of water. After a fairly tense encounter with some blazes, I managed to run back to the shore and, despite some fierce defense, I managed to run past it all, break through the glass and block the path back up. It was forward into Intersection 3 or bust. My first priority was to get to, and dig up, the shortcut back to the Blackened Library in Rattle-Bone crypts, the area that caused me no end of trouble the first time I played through the map. This time, thankfully, I have a computer that can run at more than 10 FPS. I restocked, grabbed Rockbane and, one run through the crypts again, going through one of the rows of crypts in search of the wool boxes, made it back to I3. The journey was short-lived, though, as I had to run back for a bucket, specifically, for lava. Back after another back and forth, I made it first to the first of two diamond veins. This is where Rockbane is so valuable, because without it, I would have gotten a total of ~30 or so diamonds. Not enough. Anyway, more digging and, after a bit of a problem with a hole letting cave spiders through and Ragefell's efficiency breaking the silverfish-infested stone, I managed to get to the second diamond vein and the Purple Wool. Finally, on my way back through Rattle-Bone I manage to find the Blue Wool in one of the crypts Back at the VM, I craft some diamond armor and place 5 pieces on the VM: The 3 resource blocks (Iron, Gold and Diamond) as well as the Purple and Blue wools. Now, only three remain, one in Rattle-bone Crypts, two in Black Heart Citadel. The final assault will begin soon...

All except Green, Red and Black.

1. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion.

After some rearming back at base, it was off to the Grove of Dark Willows. I decided not to waste time in there, and went for the wool in the ceiling and the wool at the end guarded by creepers, which didn't accomplish much. After returning to the VM, it was off to finish up the university, for why is it monster-infested and abandoned? Because of a nether portal breach. So I counter-breached it, cleaned house on the other side and left with both the Cyan wool and Rockbane, albeit not without a fair amount of trouble when I was swarmed from all directions by skeletons, blazes and creepers at the very end. Only one place remained: The Rumbling Cavern. After a bit of hilarity involving me expecting a wall-trap in the pillar of the entrance of the Rumbling Cavern, it was off to bridge my way to the far wall of the cavern, stopping off in a side pocket to mine some more iron, iron that I can now use for the VM itself. More careful bridging, wall sidling and proximity bomb activation later, I managed to get to the glass wall and platform containing the wool. The return journey, once again, is nothing special. Next time: A bridge quite far, all the way to what, if I'm not mistaken, is the Grey Wool, submerged in lava and right next to a heavily-defended intersection 3 entrance. The rough parts are coming up, and I expect to have a rough time moving forward. I desperately need a slime ball for Magma Cream for Fire resistance potions.

White, Orange, Magenta, Light Blue, Yellow, Lime, Pink, Light Gray, Cyan, Brown.

1. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion.

Starting off back at the VM, it was off to the Tenuous Caverns to finish clearing out the bottom, lighting the outpost and entering the second intersection. Not much happens at that point and, soon enough, I'm in Intersection 2. First of all, I needed to take some small detours into all three areas to light up the near-entrance areas, grabbing a small chest in the Rumbling Cavern. Then it was off to where I spend most of my time: the University of Arcane Enchants. First of all, the blaze-infested courtyard. I'll say this much: It feels good to have a good ranged option. Then it was a case of clearing out the inside. Despite the relatively low amount of resistance, the treasures inside were amazing: Loads and loads of brewing supplies, ender pearls, enchanted iron equipment and a diamond sword that, sadly, got Smite I when enchanted. Blech. Having claimed the wool from the Arch-mage's Tower, it was off back to the Blackened Library to put the ender pearls to good use to grab the wool that is submerged in lava. While it did not go quite as planned (I underestimated how far the platforms were), I was able to get away with the orange wool. Then I went off to claim another wool in the University: A secret room in the cave wall, containing a wool box inside a wool box inside a wool box. Yeah. In fairness, the first chamber was quite dangerous, given the sheer amount of enemies. Still, it was easy to get up to, and claim, the rewards. And now, to do some equipment managing before heading off into the Grove of Dark Willows, or whatever it's called, I forgot.

White, Orange, Magenta, Light Blue, Light Gray, Brown.

1. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion.

Ahh, it feels good to get iron armor. With it, I return to finally clean out the Cenote. First the enchanting table, then the wool, then the chest near the top of the Cenote. It was still quite dangerous, but at least now I can take the hits. After that it was off to the Blackened Library with me. Entered, took a look down towards the submerged wool box and decided "Nope.png", and I decide to leave that for when I have more mobility and survivability options (read: ender pearls and fire resistance potions). Instead, I go along the edges and enter the library maze. Nothing much happens in there, I just grab the wool and the potions in there. Finally, it was time to properly do the Tenuous Crystals. Finally with a bow, I was able to take out the ender crystals from a safe place. Using one of the glowstone spires, I was able to get up to the fortress level, which was easy to clear courtesy of the skeleton spawners being at minimum charge. After that, I entered the top level, cleaned the enemies there and grabbed the stacks of coal before returning down, claiming the combat supplies (including golden apples) and, of course, the light blue wool. With that, I returned to the VM and am getting ready to clear out the Tenuous Crystals a bit more before entering Intersection 2.

White, Magenta, Light Blue.

1. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion.

Returning to where we left off, I toss most of my items into a chest, leaving with only some basic tools. First priority: Coal for torches. Mining sky-high, I snag over half a stack of coal, good for lighting up the immediate area around the stairs. Then I get to the ghast spawner near the middle...I decide to look around the sides to see if I can find a bow or something to blow it up from afar. Alas, all I find, alongside a bunch of skeletons, none of which dropped a bow, were 2 stacks of coal. So I decide to rush straight towards the spawner and blow up the ender crystal from melee range. It went about as well as expected, in which the ender crystal blew up and I was killed by the explosion. It gets worse: I respawned in the Cenote. At night. I made it back to where I blew up where, thankfully, my gear was still lying on the ground. There was also another spawner there, but it got broken immediately before it could spawn anything. Ghast threat removed, I focused on locating the iron vein, which I found. Mining the vein from underwater was a bit of a pain, but eventually I dug out...most of the vein, leaving a bit of iron behind. Still, I left with over a stack of iron, the armor of which should last me for a while. That's where I stopped. Next time: I armor up and return to the Cenote and accompanying caves, ready to tell it exactly how I feel.

1. 1) Point-blank Ender Crystal explosion.

Starting off in the Cenote of the apprentice, I decide that, with my previous experience with this place, I'd rather get out as fast as possible. So I charge straight for the waterfall where I had to dance with some creepers. Thankfully, I avoided having any detonate on me, otherwise it would have ended...badly. One cave later, and I'm at the first intersection, where the VM awaits. Quickly creating a wall, a crafting table and a door with the few resources I have, alongside a pick and sword, I use up all of my wood, and I have no saplings. But it's okay: I know of a stash of wood in the Tenuous Crystals, under the stairs. What I forgot, though, was that it was near the bottom of the stairs, past a few areas of darkness. Some more careful moving and killing (Remember, I'm practically unarmored aside from some feather falling boots), I manage to, eventually, get down and locate the 2 stacks of wood logs, which, carefully managed, can last the entire map. My management, I suspect, will not be as careful, but it's a nice amount for the moment. While in the Tenuous Crystals I also grab a stash of cobblestone, not quite as valuable for the moment. And...that's where I ended off this run. My next step is to locate and mine the veins of iron located in the water of the Tenuous Crystals while steering clear of the ghast spawners, lack of bow preventing me from detonating them from afar.