THE ADVENTURE OF THE HERETICAL SANE SUMMONER (BXB)

EPISODE 7/3

QUINN'S POINT OF VIEW

Pagkabukas namin ng pinto ay tumambad samin ang napakalawak na disyerto at puno ng naglalakihang piramide. Pero umagaw talaga ng atensyon namin ang napakalaking estatwa na may ulo ng napakagandang babae, pero may katawan ito ng leon, at may pakpak ng agila na napakalaki.

"Napakagandang estatwa," Nasabi ko na lang. Nagulat naman kami nang biglang gumalaw ito at pinagaspas ang kanyang mga pakpak.

"Ito na!" Sigaw naman ni Princess Tweqty na mas lalong nagpabigla samin, "Ito na ang inaabangan ng lahat, ang pagharap ng kupunan ng ating Malevolent Phoenix sa Sphinx!" Sigaw pa nito. Kita ko naman ang takot sa mata nila Invera, Calin, at Arod.

"Bakit ganyan ang mga reaksyon niyo, guys?" Tanong ko.

"They say if the eleventh fabled summon exists, that would be the Sphinx. But this Emeritus-Grade, Tier 95 Adjunctus stops its level there, so there's no way it would be given the title of Eleventh Fabled Summon, as the Ten Fabled Summons exceed their Tier by more than a hundred and they don't stop from leveling up as long as they are alive." Paliwanag naman ni Invera na nagpalaglag ng aking panga.

"Surely, you're one of the creatures that know a lot, girl, and you look familiar, did we meet before?" Tanong ng Sphinx kay Invera. Umiling-iling naman ito at nginitian siya ng pilit.

"N-Nope, I think this is the first time we have met," Sagot naman ni Invera.

"Okay then, let's fight!" Sigaw ng Sphinx. Kaya naman naging alerto kami at inilabas naman ng mga kasama ko ang mga Adjunctuses nila: Si Lornt kay Calin, Si Julia kay Arod, at Queen Blood Bee naman ang kay Invera.

"P-Protektahan kita, Master!" Sigaw naman ni Mush.

"Wait, you don't stand any chance if you fight head to head with me, also, I don't want a smell of blood. I fight using wise, figurative, and mind-blowing words. So, return your Adjunctuses now or I will make you go down to first floor!" Sigaw naman ng Sphinx at nagpakawala ito ng purong shock wave Magmus na nagpanginig naman kay Mush at sa mga Adjunctuses ng mga kasamahan ko.

"I recommend you to return your Adjunctuses, guys," Sabi naman ni Prince Grety, "The Sphinx has the power to control the Labyrinth, and if the Sphinx wants you to go to first floor, it can." Dagdag pa nito. Napahinga na lang ng malalim ang mga kasama ko at ibinalik na ang mga Adjunctuses nila.

"Okay, paano ba ang gusto mong laban, ipaliwanag mo na samin," Sabi naman ni Arod.

"A simple game, my dear. I will tell a riddle-ten riddles, to be exact. Every riddle has three chances to be answered. If you are wrong with the first and second answers, you still have one chance, but if you can't answer it, you will go to the third floor again. But if you answer it all correctly, I will transfer you to the seventy-sixth floor. Additionally, each riddle must be answered within ten seconds, and if you won't give me an answer after ten seconds, your answer will be considered wrong," Paliwanag nito. Napakunot naman ako ng noo dahil doon.

"Hindi ba siya unfair, since if matatalo kami ay baba kami ng third floor, which is sixty-seven floor ang babaan namin, sakaling kapag nanalo kami ay sa seventy-sixth floor lang, which is six floor lang ang itataas namin?" Tanong ko. Humagikgik naman ang Sphinx dahil doon. Pagkatapos ay kinalabog niya ang sahig na naging dahilan ng paglindol.

"My game, my rules, dear. So, let's start now!" Galit na sigaw nito. Napalunok naman ako dahil sa kaba, at kita ko rin ang paglunok ng mga kasamahan ko na sa tingin ko ay kinakabahan din.

"Sharpen your mind, observe, and pray to have lots of luck." Bulong naman ni Calin samin.

"I am taken by all but seen by few, I can keep secrets and memories too. I exist without body, shape, or form, yet hold the power to weather a storm. What am I? Your ten seconds begin, ten..." Sabi ng Sphinx. Nagpahawak naman kaming pare-parehas sa baba namin at nag-isip ng malalim.