>>6316270“Ehh? A shell game? REALLY?!” Durah asks as Tamagami accepts your hand up with a nod, you helping pull him up to his feet.
“You are correct. I'm impressed, that you know so much. Come with me, our final battle awaits, challenger.” Tamagami 3 says, you and Durah following him. He leads you both to the platform he'd been standing on, sitting on his knees at one side. You do the same at the opposite side as he creates five cups, then taking the Dragon Ball off his chest, puts it in one cup as you watch. Giving you ample time to see it as he then places the one cup next to the four other identical cups, each one decorated with a tiny replica of his head. “Observe carefully, for I am about to shuffle these cups around. If you can guess which cup contains the Dragon Ball, it is yours. Are you ready?”
“Is this really fair? Shell Games are just luck!” Durah shouts from behind you, but you're completely focused. If you fail here, that means not only this battle, but all this time you and Durah spent in the Third Demon Realm after acquiring the other two Tertian Oculus's from that one shopkeeper to acclimate and prepare for this will have been for naught.
“It's okay, I've got this.” you tell her, then address Tamagami No3. “I'm ready.”
He then begins to mix them around, slowly at first, but moving faster and faster. His arms a blur as he shuffles them around, your eyes staring, focused. Unblinking, watching, waiting. Knowing his trick, it's all a matter of time. Then there, just as he's making his last half-dozen moves, right there! You've got this!
“Well then, which cup is it under?” he asks, spreading his arms as all five cups sit still. But you know better, and instead point behind you, with your thumb over your shoulder.
“It's not under a cup. You tossed it over there.” you answer, grinning. To which you hear several surprised shouts from the onlooking locals, none of who had seen Tamagami toss it as his arms were a blur of motion. Even Durah shouts, surprising you that she hadn't seen the toss. But, then again, she's a Saiyan. Expecting him to fight fair, even with a game. But this is the Demon Realm, where if you're not cheating you're not trying.
“Heh. Not bad. You're correct.” he says, and with a gesture pulls the Dragon Ball from where it's hovering over the astonished onlookers to his hand, only for him to then stand and hold it down towards you. Offering you your prize “Take it. You've earned it, challenger.”
That's one down, two to go! Two more fights, two more challenges, and that wish will be yours!
-Saiyan Conqueror Quest 248 Intermission II End-
