Book Three Chapter Seventy Four: Gem_Room

Book Three Chapter Seventy Four: Gem_Room

There was a collective gasp at the Hunters dramatic statement.

Sexy Screamy Spider Briar! Qube exclaimed. What are you talking about? You cant go in there alone! Hell slaughter you! Also, we dont know if the next room is where he actually is. Or how to get to the next room.

You must not be rash, sweet Hunter, Sencha Bard said worriedly. You cannot hope to defeat him on your own.

The giant arachnid flicked her hair over her shoulder.

Dont worry about me, she said, before pausing. She looked at Definitely Bad Guy, who was attempting to examine one of the many crowns Squiggles was wearing. Squiggles kept taking this as an invitation to grab onto his arms and squeeze as hard as she wanted.

I dislike this, Definitely Bad Guy informed the excited sharktopus. Please desist. You are interfering with my research.

Squiggle did not desist.

My Mage, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar said with a coo, how sure are you that the Evil Emperor can hear anything that happens in his castle?

The Mage stopped struggling with the team pet for a second. Reasonably certain, he said, and Squiggles tightened her hug. I would advise against speaking anything you wish to remain unknown to him within these walls.

The Hunter put a playful claw against her cheek. Well, she said, popping her abdomen to the side, then I guess youll all just have to trust me, wont you? This isnt exactly my first time getting what I want.

Had she gone mad? Trust her with a plan they hadnt been able to discuss, against the most powerful force of Evil in the world? Was she planning on seducing him? Was he even capable of being seduced? Well, obviously he was romantic, given Definitely Bad Guy had thought that she was the Evil Emperors concubine at one point.New novel chapters are published on

Thinking about the love-life of the man who was as close to pure Evil as one could get was a little bit nauseating.

Of course I trust you! Qube said, forcing herself to smile. So, thats one plan. Does anyone else have any plans? Or any idea how we get out of this room?

We could attempt to have the guardians each give half of their life force to a gem, Definitely Bad Guy said from underneath a pile of tentacles. Hed given up on attempting to get a hold on any of the crowns, and was instead using Squiggles hug as a chance to examine them up close. I see no sign of any curse, active or latent, in any of these crowns. While I do not know his reasoning for giving them to us, they do not appear to be dangerous.

Any words of wisdom from our fearless leader? Sencha Bard asked the Chosen One. The Hero squinted at the Bard.

Are you making fun of me? he asked suspiciously. Normally when you say [snacks] like that youre being super sarcastic, but that actually sounded sincere.

To everyones surprise, Sencha Bard smiled.

No, Chosen One, Im not mocking you. Time and again, youve proven your dedication to our cause. What kind of gentleman would I be if I were to repay your courage with veiled criticisms?

The Hero squinted harder.

That sounds very suspicious, he said. Sencha Bards smile softened.

I may have phrased it in such a way to amuse myself, but I am sincere in my regard for you, he said. He bowed his head slightly, making the giant feather on his hat bounce. Could Definitely Bad Guys half-powered gem plan work? We would only have five gems, to his fourteen.

That was right. No guardians had appeared from either the Time Temple, nor the Shadow Temple. It was possible that whoever was behind those doors hadnt been infected with [The Bards Ballad], but given neither of those Temples had really had guardians, per se, the chances of being able to get more gems from them were rather slim.

Unless the Evil Emperor had just left copies of the gems inside? Possibly in a trap, to try and push them in the direction he wanted?

The Chosen One, accepting Sencha Bards regard with good grace, rubbed the back of his head as he thought.

Worth a shot, he said at last. I feel like we have to have the gems to progress out of this room. See how theres etchings above the doorways? Kinda feels like thatll change once we get them.

I want to break our quest!

---

The Chosen One gaped her at, slack jawed, before suddenly rushing forward. He grabbed her, and spun around, twirling her.

My student! he cried, Im so proud of you!

S-stop spinning me! Qube said, feeling dizzy at the speed he was going.

The Chosen One stopped, and immediately staggered. Oof, yeah, not great, he said with a gulp. He abruptly dropped Qube. She landed on her feet with a thump.

Gentle with her! Sexy Screamy Spider Briar snapped, scurrying up and checking over Qube. Are you all right, my love? That brute wasnt too rough with you, was he?

Im fine, Qube said, shaking her head, which did nothing to clear the dizziness.

So tell me, honourable pupil, how do you wish to break the gems? the Chosen One asked, still glowing with joy.

Im not your well, I suppose I did learn to break things from watching you, Qube found herself unable to refute the Heros claim of mentorship. But were learning from each other, so it doesnt count as me being your pupil! Not unless youre also my pupil.

Your status as my protege aside, the Chosen One said, waving away her protests, how did you want to do this?

Well Qube trailed off as she realised that, while she was nearly bursting with the desire to subvert expectations, she didnt actually have a clear idea on how to do it. Having the guardians half-fill the gems was a start, but she wanted to do away with the gems altogether.

Then she remembered.

The chickens! she said, clapping her hands together. All we have to do is find the chickens, and well find where the Evil Emperor has hidden the gems!

What makes you think hes hidden them? the Chosen One asked.

Of course hes hidden them! Qube asserted. These are powerful gems, fed by the guardians' very life force! He wouldnt just leave them lying around.

He could be wearing them, the Hero pointed out. Like on his own crown, or a gauntlet or something.

But Qube was on a roll, and wasnt about to let anything stop her.

Why would he have the only things capable of defeating him in plain sight? Even if theyre powerful, everyone knowing that hes wearing them would make it easy for someone to directly attack the gems, or use a spell on them. If we find that all the chickens have gathered around him, then well know hes got all the gems on him, and we can formulate a plan.

This was assuming that the chickens had remained committed to their mission, and not gotten bored and wandered off. Or that the Evil Emperor hadnt split his horde of gems. How many chickens had there been in the original squad?

There was always the possibility that the Evil Emperor had, in his arrogance, attacked the flock following him. If he had attempted to hurt the chickens, then it was possible that he was already defeated.

No one who messed with chickens got away lightly.

If the chickens were all in one place, and he was ignoring them, maybe Squiggles could persuade them to steal the gems and run off with them?

The problem was that none of them knew what, exactly, it was the gems did. It was hard to break something when you didnt know what it did, where it was, and how to break it. But Qube was determined to keep going.

Worst comes to worst, then you can use your [Save Scum Attack], she said. Then we can use the information gathered to try and plan a new attack. No matter what, were going to win!