Chapter 87: "The Final Trial of the Holy Peck: Cluck or Be Clucked"
The Temple of Cluckstorm was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the Sacred Fire of Feathers. The crew stood before Cluckstorm, waiting for him to reveal the final step in mastering the Holy Peck technique.
Cluckstorm, now looking far more serious than ever before, paced back and forth. His fiery feathers glowed softly in the dim light.
"You've made it this far, mortals, but the final trial will test not just your strength… but your soul."
Fergus snorted.
"Our soul? We just fought a robot chicken with laser eyes. How much worse can it get?"
Cluckstorm turned, his beady eyes narrowing.
"The final trial is known as… THE PECK OF FATE."
Sylvara crossed her arms.
"Peck of Fate? Sounds like a children's bedtime story."
Cluckstorm's eyes flared.
"Mock it at your peril! The Peck of Fate decides who is worthy of wielding the full power of the Holy Peck! It is a ritual as old as time itself."
Kazuya sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Okay, fine. What do we have to do? Fight another kaiju? Battle a mystical chicken god?"
Cluckstorm shook his head.
"No. You must face your greatest fears… in the form of a CHICKEN PARADOX."
Fergus blinked.
"A… what?"
Enter the Chicken Paradox
Cluckstorm led the group to a large, golden door. Symbols of chickens, eggs, and feathers were etched into the surface. He pressed his wing against the door, and it slowly creaked open, revealing a glowing portal inside.
"Step through the portal, and the Paradox will reveal itself. Each of you will face a trial unique to your deepest fears. Pass… and the Holy Peck will be yours. Fail… and you will be doomed to a lifetime of clucking."
Fergus winced.
"I've been through worse. Let's do this."
One by one, they stepped through the portal, finding themselves in a strange, warped dimension, where reality itself twisted and turned.
Fergus's Trial – The Infinite Buffet
Fergus blinked and found himself standing in front of a massive buffet table, stretching as far as the eye could see. Every type of food imaginable was laid out before him.
"Well, this doesn't seem so bad," he muttered, grabbing a plate.
But as soon as he took a bite of fried chicken, the food vanished.
"What the cluck?!"
A giant chicken ghost appeared, flapping its spectral wings.
"You must resist the temptation to eat your own kind! Only then can you pass the trial!"
Fergus groaned.
"Are you kidding me? I'm starving!"
The ghost chicken cackled.
"Choose wisely, or forever be cursed with a chicken's appetite!"
Fergus eyed a plate of scrambled eggs.
"Technically, eggs aren't a chicken, right?"
The ghost chicken squawked.
"WRONG!"
Sylvara's Trial – The Sexy Chicken Suit
Sylvara found herself in a dark, eerie forest. A red velvet cloak appeared on her shoulders.
"Okay… this is weird," she muttered.
Suddenly, a giant chicken in a tuxedo stepped out from behind a tree, bowing dramatically.
"Lady Sylvara, welcome to your trial. You must resist the temptation… to wear the Chicken Suit of Seduction."
Sylvara raised an eyebrow.
"I beg your pardon?"
The tuxedo chicken gestured to a sparkling, feathered bodysuit hanging from a tree.
"Put it on, and you will gain unimaginable power… but at the cost of your dignity."
Sylvara stared at the suit.
"That's ridiculous. Why would I ever—"
Suddenly, she heard Kazuya's voice.
"Sylvara, you look amazing in that suit! I can't take my eyes off you!"
Her face turned red.
"Is this a trick?!"
The tuxedo chicken chuckled.
"Only you can decide."
Kazuya's Trial – The Endless Harem
Kazuya found himself standing in a luxurious palace, surrounded by hundreds of beautiful women, all dressed in silk robes.
"Welcome, Kazuya!" they chimed in unison.
Kazuya scratched his head.
"Okay, this is… a lot."
A golden throne appeared behind him, and the women pushed him toward it.
"You are our king! Sit, and we will serve you forever!"
Kazuya's eyes widened.
"Wait, wait, hold on. What's the catch?"
A voice echoed from above.
"The trial is to resist temptation. If you sit on the throne, you will be trapped here forever."
Kazuya gulped.
"So… no harem?"
The voice cackled.
"Not unless you want to become the King of Cluck."
Triumph Over the Paradox
One by one, they each overcame their trials:
Fergus resisted eating the cursed food (barely). Sylvara avoided the Chicken Suit of Seduction (though she secretly wanted to try it on). Kazuya walked away from the endless harem (with great difficulty).
Back at the temple, Cluckstorm awaited them.
"You have passed the final trial!"
Fergus collapsed on the ground.
"That was the weirdest thing I've ever done."
Cluckstorm raised a wing.
"Behold! The Holy Peck is yours!"
A beam of light shot from the temple, surrounding the group.
"Use it wisely… and may you cluck with purpose forevermore."
Kazuya laughed.
"Honestly, this might be the most ridiculous thing we've ever done."
Sylvara smirked.
"And we've done a lot of ridiculous things."
Fergus wiped his brow.
"So… does this mean we can finally eat some fried chicken?"
Cluckstorm sighed.
"No."