"W-we just want a say Sally… - it's not wrong to fight for our… Freedom too as Dark Rizzards, is it?"
Itvasme's diabolical discourse drifted into the discussion like a dreadful disease…
Fortunately, Sally, being really OP, was of course immune.
"Sally, we love you!!!!" From the audience, a fan girl couldn't help herself and cried out, breaking the icy tension and evoking laughs of relief from the esteemed readers who, alongside Author, hadn't been entirely sure how Sally might deal with Itvasme's devilishly deviant deal-brokering.
*Sally takes the time to give the fan a smile, - which makes the fangirl swoon and buy lots of "I-Love-Sally" merch from the online store, although of course, Author isn't mentioning this to shamelessly advertise of course, no not at all!!!*
"(Ahem "I-Love-Sally" T-Shirts and Mugs are 25% off for a limited time only…!!!")
"Lol"
"Well, you certainly have the free choice to do whatever you want and believe in… but that doesn't give you a free pass to choose the outcome you want *Ms Dark Rizzard* - "
*At this, Sally conjures up a ball of ice - it seems that she's done playing nice!!!*
"If you insist on doing things this way… then there's nothing more to say…"
-In the background, Author gives her the thumbs up, nodding gratefully, since it required lots of brain-power (+ stones) to write high quality showdown dialogue after all!!! Thanks so much for your contributions!!! 🤭✨💖🌻
*Good one, Sally!!!*
-and I'm afraid now I'll have to ruin your day!!!"
*Sally continues to power up her swirling snowstorm, aiming to give Itvasme her 'just desserts'… and well, suffice it to say that there is clearly going to be a lot of 'shaved ice' involved…*
"Return the eggs, and pay for your crimes, I'll say it for the final time…!"
*Alongside the flickering ball of ice magic, swirling, vibrating shards of ice also begin to materialize!!!*
"Because if this is your true idea of light… then there's nothing left to do but fight!!!"
*At this, Sally lets loose her Ice Queen magic Blizzard, and the showdown is on!!!!!!!!!!!*
___
For the purposes of making the showdown more epic, Author arranged for the Ice Tunnel to open up into the "Central Convenience Store - EVP Blueprint HQ" 'map', which was a large area with lots of places to hide, and of course, various expensive-looking stuffs and props that could be destroyed, since as everyone knows, the overall epic-ness of a battle is directly proportional to the amount of total damage that is inflicted on the surroundings 🫢
As a result, Itvasme is now hiding behind a conveniently-located pillar whilst Sally's blizzard blast absolutely *tears* through the terrain, with icy debris swirling and scattering everywhere, whilst at the same time, the Duel-of-the-Fates-esque music begins to play in the background on the PA system as per the promo trailer, adding to the atmospheric hype.
-Itvasme had managed to dodge the blast, since she of course was fairly fast.
As one might expect, the Grand Dark Rizzard wasn't done, she had a few more tricks up her sleeve - and not just referring to her rubber arm!!!
That's right! Itvasme had been instructed by Author that it was going to be a… big, magical battle, and so, from the murky gloom of her Dark Rizzard cloak, she whipped it out…
*The Audience leans forward in their comfy seats as the camera zooms in up close to show… her fingers tugging out and grasping…*
…A… hardened stick of wood!!!!!?!?!
Some of the more sensitive in the Audience screamed and shut their eyes at the implicit implications, though as usual they were gaps in-between where their dainty fingers covered their faces and they seemed to be having a good time overall 🤭
"?!?!!!!!!?!??!"
"W-What is that referring to?! Why is everyone gasping?" Ino Sainté asked with a hint of puzzlement, whilst her step-bro Inu Endo took her aside to 'explain'.
Yes, that's right, well done esteemed reader, you got it!!! Inspired by Zhang Lu's Hairy Pee Series - it was indeed the Grand Dark Rizzard Itvasme's latest 'invention' after coming up with C2H5OH - an actual Dark Rizzard Wand™ !!!!
Whilst her Dark Rizzard Wand™ merely looked like your typical, basic stick of hardened wood, it in fact had… many uses. (Well, truthfully, it had been invented as part of her 'study sessions' with Zhang Lu to help 'motivate' the young, chained Author - although of course the exact manner and method of this 'motivation' cannot be fully elaborated upon, in order to keep this innocent novel in 'PG territory' - and as opposed to 'PH territory', for example…)
Aside from its 'motivational versatility', used as a literal… stick in Itvasme and Zhang Lu's 'carrot and stick' play, the Dark Rizzard Wand™ also doubled as an actual magical wand, and could fire bolts of destructive, dark, reddish energy which, when paired with Sally's beautiful, luminous blue ice magic, made for better visuals in the classic red vs. blue encounter!
"Dear oh dear, how very frigid!!! With a worldview that's so rigid…"
"You won't make friends with words like that, you'll be left alone with just your cat!!!"
At this, from behind the cover of her pillar, Itvasme answered back, alongside a crack!-ling bolt of Dark, Red Energy from her Dark Rizzard's Wand™ !!!!!!
___
Meanwhile, of course, various other developments were also going on, the multiple layers aiming to make the showdown especially exciting and unpredictable… especially for Author who as usual was *himself* looking forward to discovering what would happen next... 👀
Well, for one thing… the Pirates had also arrived at the entrance of the Ice Tunnel, and were now trying to figure out what exactly the 'secret treasure' that was getting delivered was - and of course, how they could get their pudgy pirate paws on it!
Pyers Rate-io-Kapitan surveyed the Ice Tunnel with distaste, since he thought that the scowl made him seem especially more pirate-y and in-character.
Currently, they could hear cannon-like explosions and feel the tremors from up ahead, as the Ice Tunnel shook with the impacts of what appeared to be some kind of… action going on ?!!!
"Arrrr me hearties, well well well, what do we have here? It seems that… we have reached an icy place… it appears to be some kind of Refrigerated realm!!!"
Firs T. Maté knew it was his cue. "Indeed, Cap'n. It appears we have reached the refrigerated section of this Central Convenience Store!"
"Arrrr …Now… what do we supposes, would be the reason for these rows-es" - at this, he gestured to the rows of fridges and freezers on either side of the Ice tunnel…
"-and what would be the delivery, the secret treasure, that we might finds, in these parts?!"
"Yes! What indeed, do you think, legendary Cap'n, would be the secret treasure we might find in these parts?!" Firs T. Mate trilled, thrilled, since he knew that if Pyers didn't say anything, then he basically didn't get any lines in the novel either.
Meanwhile the strongman Sinbad looked somewhat confused, but nonetheless, after a bit, he growled menacingly and rubbed his ripped pirate muscles in a suitable show of supportive brawn.
"…"
"Use your brains, you good for nuttins'… I was asking the question expecting some answers, Arrrr!!!! Do I gotta do everything meself?!?!"
Not actually expecting a response (he knew the capabilities of his crew after all), Pyers paced as he considered the possibilities.
Firs though as always aimed to please.
"Oh! Cap'n, Perhaps it may have something to do with the fact that we are in the refrigerated secti-"
"-Wait. Enshut it Firs." Pyers held up a hand (well, a hook) and cut him off abruptly.
Firs quickly clamped his mouth the way (he assumed) Pyers liked it.
Pyers chewed his fake pirate beard even as he rubbed and caressed his thick, girthy stump down below… -
- that was his left leg, even as a glint of seeming comprehension gleamed in his eye that wasn't covered by a pirate eyepatch, like a shiny golden doubloon.
"… I, Pyers Rate-io-Kapitan, hases an idea."
From ahead, he could vaguely hear snippets of… something, amidst the explosions, which he believed would provide a clue as to finding out more about the treasure…
"… just desserts…"
"… shaved ice…"
He surveyed the refrigerators and freezers that surrounded the sides of the Ice tunnel.
"This… treasure be something to do with these refrigerated storage devices… I'm sure of it."
A smile curled on his lips.
"All right, me hearties, I believe I have it. Let's continue... Arrr!!!!!!"
___