Chapter 209 – Showtime

Chapter 209 – Showtime

(Ikarus) “Can’t believe that fucker threatened Zeki and Ariza like that. His own little touch definitely means what I think it does, right? Disgusting bastard”

After calming a little, returning through the portal into the hub agora world and giving my parents the update, I’m obviously still fuming at what was said. Even though nothing was directly said, the fact that sounded like he was implying he’d do something suspect to them is enough to make me want to start nuking immediately. Little less caring about Zeki but how dare he think about touching Ariza!

(Dermakvar) “Relax little one, he won’t lay a finger on those two”

(Kellearzar) “Your father is right Ikarus. He’ll be too preoccupied dealing with us before it comes to anything like that”

(Petra) “Heh, shouldn’t ignore dragon wisdom Ikarus. In all honesty... I’m thinking that may have been a bluff”

Thankfully, everyone else is able to put what he said aside for now at least. I just need to calm my own personal anger and make sure nuking doesn’t turn into a mood. It basically already has though.

Oh, should mention Dio has wandered off somewhere. Already asked and was told he has important places to be or go. We really need to send him to rehab because he definitely has a problem, it’s probably something alcohol related again.

“*Sighhh*... anyone know what we should do next? I’d suggest we go training inside my headspace but not sure if I’m really in the right mindset for it”

If it’s to let off some steam, then it’ll work for that but doubtful I’ll gain any positive experience. You all saw that duel between the angel Uriel and Artemis, it’s a lot harder to gain anything of note when anger consumes all.

“Heh, maybe it’s better for something relaxing till tomorrow Ikarus”

“You know... we could play hide and seek”

...

Mother makes a stupid suggestion that I can’t help but shake my head at. I’m guessing it got brought up because of our little battle, but I’m way too old for something like this, right?

“Heh, your face really tells all Ikarus. Why not play a game with your parents for a bit? It sounds like it could be fun”

“Ain’t we long past the days of doing something like this though? It just seems... wrong, no?”

‘Petra wants to do this? Now I’m conflicted... kinda want to but no way in hell am I admitting to it!’

Like the times mother used to offer to play when I was younger, that face of dejection never gets any better to deal with.

Somehow, father is the voice of reason towards this. He doesn’t seem to want to do it but like me, wouldn’t be surprising if he’s just being a tsundere.

“Hmph, you worry too much about things little one. Why don’t we compromise? Me and little one play the role of seekers while you two be the hiders?”

All of us nod in unison from father’s suggestion so it’s now time to play a game of hide and seek! Just because I’ve come around to it a little doesn’t mean I think this is an intelligent way of spending our time.

Giving the hiders a chance, me and father look towards a blank wall while the wife and mother run off to hide. I still can’t believe we’re actually doing this.

“... Seven... eight... nine... ten. Let’s just get this over with”

If you honestly expected me to say ‘ready or not, here we come’, then you might need to get your brain checked.

Anyways, we start the search and quickly go down the alleyways that loiter behind and around these buildings. By the sounds of it, mostly down to the muffled giggling, I’m pretty certain mother went this way.

“By the way little one... there’s no shame in letting your inner child come out to play every now and then. Me and your mother will never judge you for anything”

While we’re scanning the alleyways, father says something which honestly catches me off guard. That sounded like something a reasonable parent would say, what’s gotten into him!?!

“Don’t you start getting all parental and sappy on me ol-lizard! You could’ve hid as well while I searched for the three of you”

“Hmph, preposterous little one. The only practical use for hiding is for stalking prey or retreat from a tougher foe. I wouldn’t be seen dead doing something this juvenile”

“That’s better, the grumpy and hypocritical father I grew up with! I’m sooo going to buy you a wyvern plushie someday”

“Hmph... you really are strange little one”

Despite father returning to his normal grumpy state, he can’t help but smile and even shake his head from our talk. In all honesty, a wyvern plushie would be cute as fuck though! Maybe if Ariza ever gets married to the Prince, that can be the wedding gift.

Since this world isn’t exactly huge, we’ve coming close to finishing up the search behind the buildings. In all honesty, there’s been no use of intelligence in this search especially when the sounds of giggling echoes all around...

“Teehee-hehe...”

‘Mother can try to hide but she was never going to get far with those two things”

Right at the end of the alleyway is a corner that leads nowhere but to the fog that surrounds this place. Peeking just past the corner is the edges of something jiggling from a certain dragon giggling...

“Gotcha darling... you really are terrible at this game”

“Gosh darn it! I couldn’t hide too well otherwise Ikarus might’ve struggled to find me”

‘Huffff... this is totally that thing parents do when it comes to purposely losing. At least Petra isn’t going out her way to leave a trail’

Now, it’s onto the last person in this stupid but kinda funny game. Petra’s always been the one good at stalking so it’s my time for a try! If it’s possible, I’m going to cheat though...

“You know... this would be way quicker if we just sniff her out”

“Really Ikarus? You want to cheat at this?”

“Hmph, already tried that but dark one is one step ahead of us, removing all signs of her scent. You really did choose someone sneaky and smart little one”

Father surprisingly smiles at that last bit but then again, I swear he likes Petra more than me at times! Not that it’s a bad thing though, I like Petra more than myself. Self-deprecation for the win!

“She wouldn’t use invisibility to hide, right? Ah, screw it, let’s split up and meet back up at the tavern later on... this may take a while”

As soon as I say that, I open up the wings on my demonic-phoenix-human hybrid body, that’s a mouthful, then I shoot up in search of the wife. I’m not making this drag out and become a pointless filler episode! The main fight is coming this episode believe it or now!

“Okay Ikarus!”

“Sure little one, see you later”

Both the parents wander off holding hands while I glide into the sunset, technically I don’t because there is no sunset but it’s a saying goddamn it. Now, it’s time to find someone who is the perfect predator and has invisibility as well. She better play fair but then again, I was willing to cheat a second ago.

Hovering around the highest part of this world where the light seeps through the clouds, I start the search but quickly realize this might be impossible. Where’s a scanning or highlighting ability when you need one? Petra’s cultivation system seemed to get all that good stuff.

‘Let’s see... can you give binocular vision or something Aesa?’

[<That’s impossible Ikarus. Aesa suggests you focus and start looking, she is in your field of view somewhere>]

Continuing to look at every part of this world, from the marketplace to the betting tables, to the marble buildings to even the random portals that litter this world, I’m still not seeing her. Just from aura alone, I’d normally be able to pick her out, wouldn’t surprise me if she’s hiding that as well.

‘Aesa, we all know I’ve got minus one in perception... can you at least give me a hint?’

[<Think about one of earliest experiences you had with the wife Ikarus>]

‘You mean that time we went drinking, I woke up in her bed and both of us wanted to pay off the other’s tab? Good times... guess I’ll head to the bar then’

Spoiler[collapse]

‘This guy is such a little shit, clearly it’s more profitable for him if Ares wins. I’m sooo going to wring his neck’

I remember there being a slight amount of corruption in the beginning stages of this competition but this is on a whole new level! I’d be up for the challenge if it wasn’t pissing me off now.

Anyways, deciding I’m not playing this kid’s game, I decide to open up my wings and fly as close to the ground as I possibly can. I’m not falling into a pit of spikes because this little shit wants to make some money!

Another chance to strike at Ares presents itself when the ground beneath me collapses and a random net drops from the heavens, that would’ve forced to that famous pit of spikes I just heard about. Thankfully, I’m able to keep myself from getting impaled as the net isn’t fire resistant and burns in an instant, but still! This isn’t a joke anymore...

“Fuck off Plutus! That does it, you’re breaking the rules so let’s do the same. Say little birdie, how about we up the ante a little since that little pest has already ruined our battle? He can’t disqualify us if we both use abilities, right?”

As Ares says that, another arrow flies from somewhere clearly aiming for me again, forcing a duck. This is so blatant man, no idea why the crowd don’t seem to care. Maybe there’s a filter on or something that makes it seem like the traps aren’t there? No idea.

Clearly Ares must realize he was losing this battle and has something much more powerful hidden away I reckon? I don’t care right now, what he suggests is enticing...

“Oh, you really shouldn’t go there dude. I’ll agree to it if you go first though”

‘He’d be disqualified so I’ll be in the right to respond with righteous force, wouldn’t I?’

“Not trying to play me for a fool, are you little bird? Screw it, let’s hope you can survive this!”

Taking the hint and knowing full well this God of war isn’t particularly smart, he starts to activate something that causes him to glow...

Behind him, an army of shields and spears, or javelins begin to raise from the sand and points towards my direction, like an invisible army of Spartans or some shit. The way the weapons are posed gives me a feeling this is how shield walls look, just before they were set to launch their weapons...

‘Aesa... would you please?’

[<Ability -plot protection- is now in effect>]

Just as I activate my ability, the shields begin to hurl the spears in my direction as I stand here not moving an inch as the weapons just bounce off me like I’m made of stone or something. Ah, I love broken shit, my entire arsenal of abilities makes this a breeze.

Looking over to Ares, I was expecting a guy fully off his rocker mad at the fact that did nothing to me except... his face shows the slightest bit of admiration. Like a warrior meeting another powerful warrior on the battlefield. Unfortunately for him, I’m not a worthy warrior...

“What the fuck Ares! Are you trying to get yourself kicked out!?”

Despite Plutus sounding like he’s having a hissy fit; the crowd just cheers and roars from the display. He might be the only person who cares about the rules right now.

“Relax little fiend, the barrier surrounding his place remains unaffected and our friend here agrees with me on this. We’re allowing abilities so you better get used to it!”

‘Heh... not like there will be much to get used to’

I’ve got so many choices to choose from and yet, my mind only wants to use one thing. An ability known more for being a statement rather than its practicality...

“This is gonna be fun... Hey Plutus, how much damage do you reckon this old arena can take? That barrier that shields the crowd will hold up, right?”

“...”

No response from the gamemaster making me think he knows exactly where I’m going with this. You can blame Ares for this turn of events, he made the suggestion...

‘Aesa... how does five percent today sound? One just isn’t cutting it for me anymore’

[<As long as wife and parents are safe and secure from the aftermath of -supernova-, Aesa couldn’t care either way. Friendly fire intent will be detected regardless>]

Funnily enough looking to where wife and the parents are seated, I can already tell she’s put up a smaller barrier protecting them three even if it’s unnecessary. She and father smiles towards me while mother just sits there, trying not to facepalm. I don’t care if she disapproves, it’s too late as the colourful orb is now within my grasp.

Ares senses something is up and charges towards me, only to find me madly grinning and lightly dropping the orb between us both...

“Be seeing you Ares”

“That power... fair play, little birdie...”

The explosion goes off, filling our world with colour indescribable and nullifying all the senses. The sheer force like usual can’t be comprehended except... it almost seems like it’s being contained.

When the beautiful colours of the aurora like supernova begin to fade, the arena surprisingly remains intact. Other than some very noticeable cracks around the infrastructure and barriers inside this place, they actually managed to keep my power contained! The only weakness to a good nuking and nova is freaking barriers it seems... not like I wanted to kill everyone here.

‘That was slightly disappointing... fuck! Are we getting a winner because I’ve just broken two rules now? You probably should’ve stopped me Aesa’

The first was using an ability, the second is that Ares has disintegrated where he was standing, even leaving behind a shadow that paints the sand where he last stood. That’s not creepy at all.

[<Aesa wanted to see the God of war burn so no chance was Aesa stopping Ikarus... huh, that’s interesting. Let Aesa get back to Ikarus in a minute...>]

Despite me thinking I’ve disqualified myself and Aesa being busy with something, the crowd erupts in even more cheers as these games come to a close. Hopefully, Plutus gets his finger out of his arse and announces what’s happening already... we both broke the rules so it’s a draw, right?

“Erm... is there any way I can salvage this? Why did that stupid idiot have to activate an ability first!? There’s no way I can hide that... right, I’m supposed to be commentating... the eventual winner of this competition is the demonic phoenix! Unfortunately...”

‘Heh, he actually sounds depressed now. Little shit deserves it...’

While I’m trying my best to give the crowd an awkward wave and also get out of everyone’s view as quick as possible, stage fright be doing that again, Aesa comes back to me on the business she was doing.

[<Before anything goes further, Aesa would like to inform Ikarus that 50000 points have been obtained upon defeating Ares. This is how the status screen is now looking...>]

[Name: Ikarus | Species: Phoenix (Demon Lord) | Level: 1000]

[Health 166,666/166,666]

[Stamina 158,128/166,666]

[Magicka 158,315/166,666]

[You currently have 100001 unassigned points]

‘Didn’t take a flick of damage that encounter... erm, Aesa? is this a fixed thing for every God I kill or something? And Ares is reviving somewhere, right?’

[<Aesa presumes so to both of the questions. Would Ikarus really care if he is actually dead though?>]

‘No, it’s just killing any of Zeus’s sons sounds like a bad idea. Regardless of this, I’ll have a think and upgrade some abilities later on’

As for now, the wife is waiting and the idea of sticking around in a packed-out arena with all these faces is starting to get to me. The combat was a good distraction and now that it’s gone, I just need to imagine then as NPCs and Petra naked body again. Hey, life is full of coping methods, mine is just purposely stupid and kinda hot...

“So then, my sexy pain in the arse wife, what next? You’re not wanting to play some more hide and seek again, are ya?”

‘Can we make hide and seek sexy? Eh, that might be trying a little much’

“Heh, probably a bit late to do that now Ikarus. You up for a nice night of rest? Then, we’ll sort Plutus out in the morning”

I mean, I’m a little worried about Plutus running off with our winnings but where the hell would he even go? The God of shiny coins isn’t exactly discreet up here, everyone seems to know where he is all the time.

Also, I think Petra’s suggestion of rest may have been her way of subtly bringing up sexy time in front of our parents. It’s either that or I’m now just horny, probably both if we’re being honest.

We’ll obviously have to get rid of the parents and find somewhere to tucker down for the night, maybe even on that roof of the tavern perhaps? Nah, I think getting put on the sex offenders list is a little much, even if we’ve gone really close before.

‘A fight for the ages that ends in an explosion and a night filled with booty. This has been pretty good considering I’m still pissed at Zeus...’