Chapter 66: No More Escape.
In the lab, the alarm’s red glow finally faded, leaving only the quiet swish of fish in the tank and Blazewing’s bored huffing against the glass.
Aphrosia eyed the garish goblin sticker on her calf. Hideous as it was, the oppressive tracking sensation was gone, easing her taut nerves.
Why not just purify it with holy light? Well, the Radiance Goddess hadn’t taught her that yet, and annoying Pink Chicken was too tempting to pass up.
“Little miss, you haven’t said—what’s your deal with our Boss? Don’t think you’re off the hook for sneaking into the lab!” Jason edged closer, his gossip-hungry eyes gleaming.
“I don’t know your Boss! I ended up here escaping that pink chicken outside. I’m really sorry…”
Jason munched a chip, muttering, “Those blades resonating with the Star Key… Boss’s doing, right? If this girl’s tied to Boss and I mess up, my snack stash is toast… What do I do…”
He glanced at the scattered snacks on the floor, eyes welling up. His secret hoard, hidden from Boss!
“Jason,” Aphrosia rubbed her brow, the cool sensation lingering from the cleared heart mark, her voice tinged with exhaustion, “the Starlight Tunnel—can it bypass her and get me to the underground black market?”
Jason, wiping his limited-edition magic Pop Rocks with a tiny handkerchief, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, eyes flashing with “Boss-isn’t-home-I’m-panicking” vibes.
“Theoretically, yes! Max spatial distortion, multi-encrypted paths—unless she’s…”
He froze, claw pointing at the door behind Aphrosia.
“Her! She didn’t break in—she’s glued to the door! Coordinates locked like they’re welded! She’s waiting for you to fly out!”
As if on cue, the heavy matte silver door, untouched by force, bloomed with a giant spinning pink heart pattern made of glowing dots. In its center, flamboyant, eye-searing magical text flowed like honey:
“Dear little canary~ Hide-and-seek’s bell rang three times already ♥ Don’t come out, and I’ll make things… livelier inside~ Like a full-auto snack-spraying party for Mr. Chip-Hoarder? P.S. Love the goblin sticker—unique taste~ I’m impressed~”
It ended with a cheeky winking emoji.
“…” Aphrosia’s temple twitched at the giant heart and Ifrora’s “gentle threat.” A snack-spraying party? A direct hit! Jason would lose it!
Classic Pink Chicken—no destruction, just pinpointing weak spots with infuriating flair!
“No—! My rare lava jerky! My starry Pop Rocks! My vintage cheese crisps!” Jason exploded, rolling on the floating workbench.
“Squeak! Secondary space, now! Max defenses! Change the password to ‘No Pink Freak Allowed’!”
Mistfeather clutched Aphrosia’s skirt, ice-blue eyes full of worry. “Aphrosia… outside… pink… sticky…”
Blazewing stuck her tongue out at the door. “Pfft! Bad pink chicken! Come in and duel! I, Blazewing, will school you!”
Aphrosia took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation of being toyed with like prey. Run? Hide? The back door was right there.
But the heart and message made it clear: Ifrora’s precise tracking and “leisurely” taunting meant total control. The back door might buy time, but then what? Knowing Ifrora’s skills, hiding wasn’t the answer—she was forcing a meeting…
So tricky. Another loss, bringing the score to a crushing 7698 wins, 7795 losses, 3443 ties!
“Jason, Squeak,” Aphrosia’s voice was eerily calm, resolute, “thanks for the help. I won’t need the back door. I have to go—some things must be faced.”
She rehearsed confronting Ifrora, knowing one slip could mean endless trouble. God knows what Ifrora would do if she learned Aphrosia was a stunning girl now…
Not narcissism—her beauty truly matched the Radiance Goddess’s namesake, Aphrodite…
“Huh?” Jason froze mid-roll, adjusting his crooked glasses. “Such righteousness!”
“Don’t forget to put in a good word with Boss!”
Aphrosia knelt, hugging Mistfeather and Blazewing. “Don’t worry. We’ll go out, and…” Her blue eyes flashed sharply.
“You’re not planning to off her, are you? We can’t win!” Mistfeather whispered, eyes confused but trusting, nodding.
Blazewing clenched her tiny fists. “Yeah! Take down Pink Chicken! Let’s do this!”
Mistfeather yanked her sister back, exasperated. “You’re such an idiot, Sister…”
Aphrosia stood, checking her twin blades before storing them in her mother’s spatial ring.
“If she wants to see me so badly, I’ll grant her wish. And stop with the fighting talk—she won’t eat me… (maybe?)”
She had a hunch about Ifrora’s frenzy.
Sighing, Aphrosia straightened, reaching for the metal door with its giant pink heart.
Beep—Access granted: Temporary visitor, Aphrosia. Exit opening.
The door slid inward silently.
Outside was the expected Silver Moon Chamber corridor, but now thick with fiery aura and a faint gardenia scent—Aphrosia knew it well after years as Ifrora’s rival…
The corridor’s light flowed like silk, fresh and natural. Across from the door, a plush pink-white cloud sofa had appeared.
Ifrora Phoenix lounged lazily upon it…