Chapter 67 – Madness

Chapter 67 – Madness

"So then, the first question shall be... what has three legs, can blow a whistle and likes to party? Oh, it also likes sleep on its head!"

Huh? What type of question is that? I've never been good with riddles but that doesn't even sound like a thing. Yeah, this guy is mad.

...

None of us four can give an answer, that pretty much sums it up, even Petra with her vast amounts of knowledge and wisdom doesm't have a clue. The guy very quickly realizes that the way he's going about things isn't going to work.

"No guesses? Maybe I should think of something else then"

The madman puts his finger to his face, takes a minute to think, then gives a smile as he thinks of something else.

"Oh, I've got one! What has one eye, provides endless amount of entertainment and begins the cycle of life?"

Urgh, damn it, I think I know what he's talking about. Maybe I'm just dirty minded there's only one thing I can think of, it can't be that though, right? That type of eye I'm thinking about was definitely a slang word for something rude.

...

No one else gives an answer to the questioning madman so it looks like it's my time to shine, he didn't actually say the answer has to be correct so I kinda doubt this is right.

"Is it... the third leg males have?"

Immediately, two looks of disappointment come from the two you'd expect, a large laughing sound comes from the madman and Petra just looks to have a slight look of confusion.

"HH-HO-HO! I like your answer lass, it's wrong but it's funny"

(Petra) "Ikarus, why would you think it's that from what he just asked?"

"Well... back where I came from... there was slang term, that describes a certain part of the third leg. It's referred to as a type of eye"

I'm kinda digging myself a grave here, it is a thing though! I don't want to say it since it's rude, really have no idea what else it could be. This isn't even me being childish like usual, it's a thing!

Getting two looks of disappointment from those two does irritate me though, if they knew better, than give an answer! There's nothing stopping you!

"If you'd like my answer, I'd say some type of dungeon boss? Maybe a type of God?"

At least Petra is willing to give it a go, this guy didn't say anything about dying if we failed so we should be safe... probably. I obviously need to treat this guy as a huge threat since I have no idea if he's powerful or not, Petra does seem to be following the same type of thinking.

"Well that's also incorrect... the correct answer was the cyclops's mother but seeing that you tickled me, I'll move onto the second question..."

Urgh, these riddles are going to be shit if answers like this are coming out, we haven't even come across a cyclops... yet. Knowing our luck, we probably will come across one someday. Trying to communicate with this guy is frustrating.

"... Soooo... What flies but never falls nor has wings?"

Before I even have the chance to think on it, Petra seems to have an answer. With her endless amount of knowledge, it's to be expected.

"Time"

He takes a second to think on the answer Petra gave but it didn't seem like that was the thing he was looking for.

"I mean, you're not wrong lass, tis a very boring answer but what I was looking for was a flag of a painted chicken"

Sighhh... this guy's mind is completely out of whack, hopefully this last question makes a little more sense. All four of us are starting to look a little drained dealing with this guy. If he gives us a completed dungeon, then we can put up with it but things are never that easy.

"The last one is very simple; you'll definitely get this without needing to think ho-ho-ho... What bleeds, tastes divine and is currently making me hungry?..."

Unfortunately, he doesn't even give us time to answer and answers himself.

"... Bird flesh"

Once he says that in a sinister tone, Petra unsheathes her sword and swings for the man's head. I don't even need to question her and take my blade out also, it's clear this guy was just threating us.

Unfortunately, Petra's blade finds thin air as he has somehow made his way across the meadow in the blink of an eye. It's just about now that priestess and the knight have realized what's going on and get their weapons out also.

(Charlotte) "Summon"

"Ho-ho-ho, you two are more perceptive than you come across! You do seem a little sensitive to being called birds though. I really mean you no harm!"

I very much doubt both the priestess and the knight will learn that Petra is a phoenix just from that but he still needs to shut it.

(Petra) "If that's true, then why threaten us?"

(Ikarus) "Yeah, you know exactly what you were doing"

(Charlotte) "We'll back you two up!"

(Nathan) "We're right behind you"

This place is darker than the darkest of nights, I can't even see my own hand it's that black. It almost doesn't seem like it's real, it doesn't even feel like there's ground I'm standing on either.

"Huh? Where's everyone gone?"

<Do not worry young phoenix! All your little friends are currently inside this place alongside you in spirit, it's just much easier this way>

The madmen's voice responds inside my brain like with my parent's telepathy talk, only more intense and strong sounding.

"What the fuck do you want from us? Why have you done this?"

<Ho-ho-ho, you really do not need to confuse yourself so much! Things will one day become clear and when that day comes, you'll thank me for the advice you shall receive...>

I try to respond but find words cannot come out this time, it's almost as if my lips have been stitched together. Just how much control does this guy have in this dungeon?

<... Just know fourth phoenix, all prophecies can be interpreted in many hilarious ways, the Gods in particular believe it to be something different, they'd love for me to destroy and eat your flesh right about now as well...>

What is he on about? The Gods want me dead? It can't be all of them, right? Priestess's seems to be alright, he's even helping us. Unless it's all a lie and completing ten dungeons will actually kill me but Petra would've already done loads so that can't be right.

<... Fortunately, I'm a little more straight-laced then those barbarians, allow me to give you some advice... Kill them all, aim to destroy every single God and your journey will be full of happiness and joy!...>

'What the actual fuck is he going on about?'

<... Now that our natter has finished, I give you my blessing and wish to give you a farewell! Unfortunately, I've outstayed my welcome now, speaking to a phoenix has guaranteed my death after all!>

After he says that, it sounds like he snaps his fingers once again inside my brain and all of a sudden, all four of us are on the floor back in that basement, everyone is also now conscience. Just what the hell was that about?

"Anyone any idea what just happened there? Did you three hear that as well?"

(Petra) "Sorry Ikarus, no. Has he gone?"

(Charlotte) "We were still unconscious through that"

(Nathan) "Yeah"

So the guy gives me that strange advice, then flat out just leaves us and that's it? To recap quickly, I've got to aim to kill the Gods? I know taking advice from a madman is a terrible idea but still, this feels like something very bad is coming. Hopefully not for a long time, we've still got to sort the empire out first.

"What did he say to you anyway Ikarus?"

All three of the party members have gotten up off the floor now, Petra is holding her head while asking me that as well, obviously being knocked out by however he did that makes your head spin a little.

"*Sighhh*, no idea really, just a giant mess of things, he knew about us and the other two though, something about killing Gods as well but most of it was just odd"

"..."

He must have known seeing that he said fourth phoenix, things are now getting even weirder. Despite Petra's silence, she does seem to understand what I meant by that.

I'll tell her in more detail another time but I doubt even she will be able to make sense of what he just said, this is just going to be another one of those things that makes no sense to overly think about right now.

(Charlotte) "Shall we leave this place then?"

(Nathan) "It does smell a bit"

Those two are right, we should probably start to make our way out of here, we are still technically in a dungeon despite it being a basement.

For some reason, Aesa hasn't given me a reward or anything like that, he did say he would give me his blessing so why hasn't an ability or something come up?

'Aesa, is this place complete or not?'

[<Affirmative, this dungeon is now complete and dungeon master appears to have given up ownership. Unaware if he is deceased or not>]

She seems pretty sure on it, I guess this time around, the blessing is the reward? Whatever that does, Aesa would've told me if she could feel it's effect but clearly, she can't.

As we're leaving that dungeon, I have a question that I feel like Petra will be able to answer. I think I already know the answer but I need her confirmation.

"Petra... why didn't status work on him?"

"That madman seemed to be an actual fallen God Ikarus, it must not work on their kind. Not sure why it's like that but that's the only thing I can think of"

So I was right, he clearly was an actual God, not just a rambling madman. Him using telepathy made me think he was a dragon for a second but I should've been able to see his status if he was, what a weird thing that just happened.

"Then why the hell was a God managing a dungeon?"

"..."

"That was a confusing encounter"

"Even my Lord has no idea on who Lyssa is"

Then a slight memory comes to mind, wasn't Lyssa a God of madness? Or was it something similar? If true, that encounter does start to make a little more sense...