Chapter ³⁴ Or of Whispers and Plans Gone Wrong
Chapter 34: Orb of Whispers and Plans Gone Wrong
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Narration Mode Activated
"Ever had one of those days where you wake up thinking it'll be normal, but by nightfall, you're holding a cursed artifact that probably wants to eat your soul? Yeah, me neither. Until now."
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We're back at Kira's place—her "safehouse," as she calls it. It's a small, sparsely furnished apartment that feels more like a military outpost than a home.
The orb sits on the coffee table, its dark energy casting faint shadows on the walls.
Blobby bounces nervously next to me. "Boss, is it just me, or is that thing creepy?"
"It's not just you," I reply.
Kira stands across from us, arms crossed. "We need to deal with this before it corrupts anyone."
"Corrupts?" I echo. "That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"
She glares at me. "You didn't hear the whispers, did you?"
I blink. "Whispers?"
"The artifact isn't just a source of power," she explains. "It's a lure. It feeds on doubt, fear, and ambition. The longer we keep it, the more dangerous it becomes."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Nothing like a cursed orb to spice up your day. Add in Kira's doom-and-gloom warnings, and I'm starting to think my life should come with a hazard pay bonus."
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Blobby bounces up to the orb, poking it with a slimy appendage.
"Blobby, stop!" Kira snaps, grabbing it and pulling it away.
"What?" Blobby protests. "I was just checking to see if it's really that evil!"
"It is," Kira says firmly. "Now stay back."
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "So, what's the plan? Toss it in a volcano? Bury it in a random desert?"
"We need to destroy it," Kira insists. "And we need to do it now."
"Okay, but how?" I ask. "You make it sound like it's indestructible."
"It's not indestructible," she replies, pulling out a small leather-bound book from her bag. "But it's not easy, either."
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She flips through the book, muttering to herself before finally stopping on a page.
"There's a ritual," she says. "But it requires a strong source of pure mana."
I glance at her. "Define 'strong.'"
She looks at me pointedly.
"Oh, no," I say, backing away. "I am not volunteering for whatever this is."
"You're the only one here with enough raw power to counteract the orb's corruption," she says.
"And you think it's a good idea to mix my supposedly world-ending dragon power with a cursed artifact? Yeah, no thanks."
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Blobby bounces between us, waving its appendages. "Boss, you can do it! I believe in you!"
"That makes one of us," I mutter.
Kira steps closer, her expression serious. "Listen, Akira. I know you don't trust me, and honestly, I don't entirely trust you, either. But right now, we don't have a choice. If we don't destroy this thing, it'll destroy us."
Her words hang in the air, heavy and unavoidable.
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Narration Mode Activated
"Great. Nothing like being guilt-tripped into saving the world by someone who barely tolerates you. But hey, at least Blobby's on my side. For whatever that's worth."
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"Fine," I say finally. "But if this goes wrong, I'm blaming you."
"Noted," Kira replies.
She lays out the details of the ritual, which involves a lot of chanting, some intricate runes, and, of course, my mana.
"You're sure this will work?" I ask as I draw a shaky circle on the floor with chalk.
"No," she admits. "But it's our best shot."
"Comforting," I mutter.
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As we begin the ritual, the room fills with an eerie hum. The orb pulses with dark energy, its whispers growing louder.
"Focus, Akira!" Kira shouts over the noise.
"I'm trying!" I snap back, my hands trembling as I channel my mana into the runes.
Blobby bounces nervously nearby, muttering, "Boss, you've got this! You're amazing! Don't mess up!"
"Not helping!" I yell.
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The runes glow brighter, and for a moment, it feels like we're making progress. But then, the orb lets out a piercing shriek, and the energy in the room shifts.
Kira's eyes widen. "Something's wrong!"
"No kidding!" I shout as the orb begins to crack, releasing a surge of dark energy.
The force knocks us back, and I hit the wall with a grunt.
Blobby lets out a panicked squeal. "Boss! Kira! Are you okay?!"
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When the dust settles, the orb is still intact, but it's now surrounded by a swirling vortex of dark energy.
Kira groans, pushing herself to her feet. "That...didn't go as planned."
"You think?" I say, clutching my side.
The whispers are louder now, almost deafening.
Blobby bounces over to me, quivering. "Boss, this is bad! Really bad!"
"No kidding," I mutter, my mind racing.
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Kira glares at the orb, her hands clenched into fists. "We need to find another way to destroy it. Fast."
"And by 'we,' you mean me, right?" I ask.
"Stop whining and focus," she snaps.
I sigh, dragging myself to my feet. "Fine. But next time, we're going with my plan—whatever that is."
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Narration Mode Activated
"So, to recap: the orb is still cursed, Kira's still bossy, and Blobby's still...Blobby. Just another day in the life of Tanaka Akira, amateur dragon god and professional magnet for disaster."
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End of Chapter 34