426 Phoenix (1/2)
The huge phoenix extended his wings, and the rocks that covered his body fell to the ground as the cave quaked.
”You're dead, Sherlock!”
The Station Inspector of Small Distant Town jumped back. It wasn't known why he did that. Perhaps, the jump would make him more convincing.
He took out an old scroll, opened it, and aimed it at Phoenix as he said, ”Phoenix! According to a primordial agreement, we, as well as our ancestors, protected you for thousands of years! You are now free of the magical seal and have to carry out our single wish!”
The Station Inspector shouted, ”I… want to have a thousand wishes!”
Phoenix's flaming body stooped down, and the scroll in the Station Inspector's hand burst into flames. The extreme temperature of the flames made him throw the scroll away. The Station Inspector looked bewilderedly at Phoenix, thinking that his wish would be declined. However, Phoenix said, ”I acknowledged your wish.”
”Great! My second wish…” The Station Inspector pointed at Sherlock.
”Help me kill him, Phoenix!”
Phoenix leaped and flapped his wings. He circled the cave once while gazing sharply at Sherlock before diving down.
The huge phoenix directed his scorching flames to engulf Sherlock. But the damage from the flames wasn't as severe as the phoenix's ramming. After a loud ”Pom”, the phoenix and Sherlock had created a large pit in the ground. The bird and Devil smashed into the deep end of the volcano.
The Station Inspector didn't bother to see the end of the superior Devil. His pressing concern was to kill all of the creatures who were stopping him, including the useless Cherry, Patrick Star, and the mercenaries of Nobody Has This Name.
The Station Inspector wanted to make use of Phoenix to find the other 72 Devils and defeat those who looked down on him. Then he would become a Dungeon Lord and disguise the 72 Devils as commoners, only showing his prowess when required. He had a fiancée who wanted to break up with him. He wanted his fiancée to know that the wheel of fortune would change and that she shouldn't look down on him. The Station Inspector would make himself stronger and stronger…
He had imagined himself at the pinnacle of his life.
As he was about to order the massacre of everyone, the creatures who were immobilized by the poisonous gas became excited.
”The Plot is too extreme. The residents of Small Distant Town are the bad people!”
”Cool, will Sherlie die?”
”We'll have a new Dungeon Lord. Will Brainiac become the new Dungeon Lord?”
Wait, why were they not poisoned?
While the gamers were chatting, Brainiac, Polio, and Eggface walked over. Brainiac held a document and gazed at the distant Station Inspector as he shouted, ”According to the terms of the Merchant Alliance's contract with Nobody Has This Name mercenary group, we'll terminate the bandits who robbed the Merchant Alliance's Merchant Band! Kneel down and surrender. Otherwise, you'll die!”
”We waited for thousands of years for this chance! We won't yield! Brave residents, Phoenix will fight for us! Charge! Waaaaah—!” the Station Inspector shouted, and a battle ensued.
The pit created by Phoenix emitted explosion sounds, and lava spurted out. The temperature of the cave increased dramatically, but the two parties in the battle didn't care. From the lava that came out of the pit, Lava Scouts and Lava Warriors were created. They attacked the gamers.
…
In the chaos, Arthur pulled Cherry's legs to extract him from the battle. Cherry was muttering, ”I'm Cherry. Michelangelo…”
As for Patrick Star, because of his lighter Gnome body, he was carried off by the gamers.
Cherry was an Orc, and he was too heavy to be carried. He could only be dragged along the ground. Along the way, he bumped into rocks, but Arthur had no other choice.
”Arthur! Be careful!”
Arthur cowered and pounced on Cherry's body, and a fireball flew past his body and smashed into a nearby gamer.
When the battle started, Arthur received the mission to extract Cherry from the battle. The other gamers also received the mission to extract Patrick Star and confiscate his Magic Recording Device.
The gamers had a numerical advantage over the residents of Small Distant Town, but the Lava Monsters made things difficult for the gamers.
Another huge explosion was heard. The ground underneath the gamers was split open, and a crimson phoenix was pushed by an object as it sped upward and crashed through the cave ceiling.
More lava flooded in, and explosions rocked the area.
”Get out! The volcano is erupting!”