>>5219547“Oh, we figured.” you state assuredly. “But you folks kinda set this up on yourselves, bein’ all suspicious and everything. What if it wasn’t a humble prankster like myself or Sachie that came after ya? Noticed you doing things and chased after?” You cross your arms and lean forward. “Plus, if these illusions get any stronger, you might be facing enemies you can’t readily handle. So how about you tell us what’s going on before things get out of hand. Sound good?”
Sala grumbles and tries to dust the glitter out of her hair, and Hado exhales to calm himself. “All right. From the top then. Sala, Jaki, and myself are seeking out a certain artifact that’s fallen into the wrong hands. A crimson-red gem infused with an evil wizard’s essence, one that was laying the groundwork for a Destroyer cult, partnered with demonic creatures to aid him in this endeavor.”
“When was all this?” you question.
“Three years ago now, jus’ about.” Sala responds, still kinda pouting at you. “Were at first just tryin’ to get some treasure for ourselves, but that bastard ended up makin’ it personal. We dealt with ‘em handily, but gem vanished after we kicked his ass. Assumed it was destroyed or somethin’.”
Hado taps the Scouter. “Until we found evidence of it still around. Something’s been going around trying to activate it at a number of locations. Yahhoy, Ginger Town, a forested island way down south, an ancient pyramid, none of them were successful, but every time we got close, the goons of whatever was attempting to activate it would hold us off until they got away.”
“So while we’re yammerin’ up here, we’re wastin’ valuable time in stoppin’ those losers!” Sala emphasizes.
“Why here?” Sachie asks.
“Likely because some vanquished demonic presences are still lurking the area, refusing to pass on.” Hado answers, trying to make you walk and talk as he starts to move forward. “Sala’s got a point, though, we need to move.”
“Vanquished… demonic… presences…” you repeat slowly, trying to recall any that specifically might haunt the area here.
“Okaaaay, but this is like… the ABSOLUTE WORST place to do this?” the ninja schoolgirl points out. “I mean, are they just… not aware of who’s here?”
Hado turns to her and asks, “If you weren’t paying attention to US, would you have been aware of this going down?”
She raises a finger and opens her mouth, but slowly closes it and then points at him. “Okay, point. But say they succeed, then what? Fight their way through some of the literal strongest people on the planet? Hell, the universe!”
“Tch, ‘course not. They’d run like a buncha cowards.”
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>A. Well, lucky for you, that’s not happening. Pantea, if you’d please?>B. You know you could have just… asked for help, or something>C. Is that the only reason you came to the tournament, then?>D. Something else? 