Alex was unable to get any sleep due to the very nature of the Nether. Yet she rested on the soft soul sand allowing herself time to recover once all the Piglins had finished. She could hear them milling about this way and that. None of them seemed to pay her much heed anymore. Which was fine by her, Alex felt full and sore so she was content to just be left alone.

  After what she assumed was hours, she eventually got back up. The soul sand slowed her movements, preventing her from getting up too quickly. It was a bizarre detail, but it did make the sex rather unique so she wasn't one to compin at the moment.

  Once up she went and gathered up her clothing. She took a moment to genuinely consider the prospect of not putting them back on. The Piglings didn't seem to mind her walking around naked and the sea of va made the entire region very hot. But Alex intended on continuing her exploration so she put her clothes back on and made her way through the Bastion Remnant.

  The entire pce was rather massive with treasure rooms, bridges, housing units an even stables! Apparently the Piglings rode Hoglin which looked simir to Piglins but moved on all fours and were a bit more piggish.

  Alex went around checking the various chests scattered around, which the Piglins did not seem to mind. She found lots of gold ingots and even ended up acquiring a full set of gold armor! Beyond that she found some string, a banner, a saddle, a music disc, some glowstone and some food.

  She also found some Netherite Upgrade Smithing Tempte, some Netherite Scrap, some Ancient Debris and some Crying Obsidian none of which she had any idea what they could be used for, but she took it anyways.

  She found a nice closed off spot and pulled out her crafting table, looking through it and through her book to try and understand some of the new items she acquired. She used the Netherite Scrap to make Netherite Ingot. She realized she could utilize these and the smithing tempte to upgrade her diamond equipment, however she didn't have any diamond equipment on her at the moment so she left that alone.

  She did however use the glowstone and crying obsidian to create a Respawn Anchor which the book expined would allow her to come back to life right here should she die. Which was morbid, but seeing as Alex had already died previously, she decided it was a good idea to pce the anchor here where she was at least safe. She charged it up with some glowstone and headed on out.

  Reaching the edges of the Bastion Remnant she crossed a bridge to make her way to another part of the Nether. This area looked very different. It was covered in soul sand and soul soil with Crimson Roots and Nether fossils dotting the ndscape. Alex noted there were turquoise fires in this area which made the entire pce feel even more eerie.

  From time to time Alex would see skeletons or Endermen off in the distance but none of them seemed very interested in her. Which allowed Alex to explore around unabetted. Aside from being eerie though there wasn't much else in this area. A lot of open space but that's about it.

  That was until she saw the massive flying creature. She flipped through her book to find it, a Ghast. A hostile creature that floated around bsting fire at anything it did not like. Alex hoped the Ghast would not notice her, but it appears luck was not being as kind to her today.

  The Ghast took note of her almost immediately. It's eyes glowing red as it's maw opened wide and a burst of condensed fire shot forth. Alex dove to the side hoping to avoid the fire, however the soul sand kept her movements sluggish. Not to mention that she did not realize it was more than a simple ball of fire. For when the fireball hit the ground it caused an explosion that sent Alex flying!

  She crashed onto the ground, rolling over and hopping back on her feet as quickly as she the strange environment would let her. Another fireball came at her; Alex realizing that she didn't have enough time to move out of the way, pulled out her shield. However the poor thing had already been rather worn and when the fireball hit it destroyed the shield. The shield shattered in her arm and Alex was flying backwards yet again.

  The searing pain coursing through her body as she was flung across the air. Her muscles were aching and her body was sore. At this rate she wouldn't st much longer, actually she doubted she could even take one more bst from the Ghast.

  Alex nded on some gravel and realized she had reached the edge of the nd and was next to the sea of va. She stood back up, moving quicker on the gravel than she could on the soul sand, and took out her golden sword, bracing herself for the next attack. Her heart beating quickly in her chest as the Ghast faced her.

  She felt as though time itself had slowed down, her eyes solely focused on the Ghast, the Ghast staring her down. This was no contest, the Ghast was far more powerful than Alex and she had no arrows that she could fire at it.

  Alex gritted her teeth and pnted her feet. If she tried to run she would die, she had no way to shield herself from the bst, and could not get away fast enough. So if she was going to die, she'd die with her sword in hand facing her opponent.

  The Ghast fired it's next bst at her and Alex saw the fireball moving quickly. Or at least she knew it was moving quickly, but so focused in on the fireball was she that it felt as though it moved slowly. Sluggishly making it's way towards her; with nothing else to do Alex tried the only thing that came to mind.

  She swung her sword to block the fireball, hoping to shield herself at least slightly. To her amazement it worked! It did more than work in fact!

  When Alex hit the fireball she felt a solid connection, without hesitating she pushed forward, unching the fireball back at the Ghast! The Ghast screamed out in pain when hit by the fireball as it began to descend downwards, fizzling out of existence dying from the bst.

  Alex stood on the shoreline, panting and looking down at her heated bde. She was fortunate such a bold idea had worked. But perhaps her next adventure would be a little less, explosive. It seemed everything in the Nether loved to explode, and she was growing really tired of it.

  She colpsed onto the ground, feeling exhausted and worn. It seemed her life was an endless stream of danger and adventure. Honestly moments like these almost made her wish she could just spend her days idling by; getting endlessly fucked by Piglins or vilgers or whatever other manner of creature she might find enjoyment with. Perhaps just spending her days in her home, living peacefully with Steve.

  On the edge of the sea of va Alex found that truly missed Steve. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to leave him behind. But he seemed so on edge about the Nether Portal. Perhaps because the Nether was so dangerous? Not to mention the ck of sleep...

  Alex took off her shirt and wrapped it around her waist, trying to cool off at least somewhat. This searing heat wasn't helping at all. To think, she could be at home, rexing with a wonderful companion. But no, curiosity had to get the better of her.

  She leaned back and chuckled as she looked around at the strange nd. Her curiosity was not satiated yet, and besides if she was truly honest. A part of her enjoyed the thrill, the adventure, the discovery. Even the frustration was welcoming.

  As she looked around she noticed something off in the distance. A rge red creature that stood on two legs, walking through the va. It reached the shore and began to munch on what looked to be a warped fungus.

  Huh...

  Alex took out her book and flipped through the pages. So, it was called a Strider. Apparently a nonhostile creature that roams around the Nether. What a surprise, it isn't dangerous.

  Alex put her book away and began to think through a new idea. Her st crazy had worked, so why not this one?

  She took out her crafting table, using some wood and string to make a fishing rod. Alex wasn't fond of fishing and the sea of va was perhaps not the best pce to fish. But maybe she could use the rod for other purposes.

  She made her way to the some warped fungus, collecting a few handfuls and putting one on her fishing rod.

  Next she walked over to the nearest Strider which was roaming around aimlessly. She walked over carefully, trying not to startle the creature. It took note of her but seemed indifferent to her presence.

  Alex walked right up beside it and pced her hand against it. The Strider was warm to the touch, but otherwise it seemed fine. With a new air of confidence she put a saddle on the Strider and climbed on top, sitting comfortably on it.

  She pulled out her rod with a warped fungus and the creature reacted immediately. Smiling at her successful idea Alex led the Strider back out onto the sea of va. She had no idea where she was going, but she had more exploring worth doing, of that much she was certain.