Interlude

Miguel: "So this is the Market?"

Nebula: "Yes! It's pretty big, right?"

Miguel: "I wonder how this first time I've been here. My parents never told me about this place."

Sun: "I guess that makes sense. This place has all sorts of dangerous stuff and people."

We're on a floating island owned by a tycoon named Merchant. Albert has connections to his businesses, so we're somewhat privileged here.

Sun: "D, is your wing one hundred percent yet?"

D: "It is fully healed now, thanks to Nebula."

Sun: "Good to know. Guys, I don't want to rush or anything, but there is something we have to do after we leave here. Slinger, since you've came here many times, can you lead us?"

She nods. We enter the massive building. We stop, trying to find where to start. Someone approaches us.

— Oh! Do my eyes deceive me, or are you the Dial siblings?

Nebula and I smile at him. He has a purple bowl cut, pale skin, and a purple robe.

— Sun, weren't you dead a few days ago? Did the ressurection work?

Sun: "Ah, y-yes, we can say that."

— It's a pleasure to meet you, friends of Sun and Nebula. I am the Merchant, owner of this palace.

Slinger: "Where are the solar grenades?"

Merchant: "You came for more? Follow me. We have tons of weapons of mass destruction, including legendary beasts!"

Nebula freezes in place, remembering something.

Sun: "Sister? Did something trigger you?"

Nebula: "Mitsurugi... she has been here before... I bought her here."

Merchant: "Excuse me, can you remind me who that is?"

Nebula: "The dragon cub... half-dragon, half-human. I named her Mitsurugi."

Merchant: "Oh, her! That's right, she was a legendary beast. Did something happen to her? Do you regret your purchase?"

Nebula looks away, ashamed of something.

Slinger: "Old man, you shouldn't leave your island hanging in the sky like this, or you're gonna get yourself and many more killed. Stay alert, something big might be coming our way."

Merchant: "What's this, an apocalypse warning? Don't worry, this island is equipped with all kinds of defenses."

Slinger: "I'm not exaggerating."

She looks him dead in the eyes.

Merchant: "Alright, alright, I got it. I wouldn't want my income to be affected like that."

We walk to the armory. He stops in front of a display case. There are two types of portable bombs, one of which is the solar grenade we used against Sol.

Merchant: "As you know, this is a solar grenade. It only works during the day, as it harnesses the sun's energy. This one, on the other hand..."

He opens the display case and takes out the black and purple grenade.

Merchant: "...is a black hole grenade."

Nebula: "Black hole...?"

Merchant: "Exactly what you heard, miss. But there's a catch. The only way to activate it is by imbuing it with any kind of energy. The size and strength of the black hole will be determined by the amount of energy it stored before detonation."

Sun: "What's the minimum threshold?"

Merchant: "A lot. Only legendary adventurers and Heroes can activate it with their powers alone. There is also the Moon Cult, but that is a legend. I recommend you use the solar grenade to activate it."

Slinger: "Sounds like suicide. How are we supposed to keep both of them near each other while the target moves?"

Merchant: "I'm not a strategist. Well, in some areas I am, but this one is kind of unpredictable to me."

Slinger: "Alright, how much do they cost together?"

Merchant: "Since you recently bought a solar grenade, I can give you a discount."

He picks up the grenades and places them on a scale. The number is indeed high, but still smaller than our combined fortune. I breathe a sigh of relief.

Sun: "Do you sell tools?"

We buy the items and leave.

Slinger: "What did you say your next plan was?"

Sun: "One of the sister villages of the first one we saved is being attacked by giant spiders."

Slinger: "Why didn't you say that sooner? And is a pickaxe really necessary?"

Sun: "That's exactly why we needed to come here first."

Slinger: "You could have asked the blacksmith for a simple one."

Sun: "Not nearly as effective. And we're short on time."

Miguel: "Let me guess, you know all of this because of your power."

Sun: "Yeah. I have no reason to hide it."

Miguel: "Then I trust you, whatever your plan is. You know what we're dealing with."

Sun: "Thank you, Miguel. Can you call the phoenix? But let's get off this island first, otherwise it might scare away the customers."

We ride the phoenix in mid-air to the village. We land, some locals scared and pointing guns at us.

Sun: "Right, I forgot how menacing this bird looks. People, we mean no harm. We've come here to help you get rid of the spiders."

— What? How do you know we're being attacked by spiders? Did the Heroes send you? Did they hear our pleas?

Sun: "Not exactly. The infection your village and this region are facing is dangerous for everyone. If we don't get rid of it soon, it will continue to spread. The spiders are coming from that mountain, right?"

— How did you...

Sun: "I have experience in this field. I only ask one thing in return. That at least one of you accompany us to the guild association to validate our achievement and promote our guild."

— How can we trust you...? Why would someone of your level help us?

Sun: "Right, I'm going to be honest. I will be taking one more thing from that mountain, but it won't affect you in any way. Just to be sure, do you have anything valuable there?"

— No... why?

Sun: "Because that mountain will disappear from the map. It has to. The mountain has a life of its own."

— Wait, what?! How do you know all that? And you're going to destroy an entire mountain?! We're going to die!

Sun: "We have everything under control, I promise. If you don't trust me, I believe you have a way to communicate with other villages. Do you know a nurse called Karen?"

— What if I do...?

Sun: "She's our friend, you can ask her. We saved her village from an orc attack a few days ago."

— That was you...?

The villager runs into a house to check something.

Sun: "Guys, I can do this alone, I promise. I won't kill anything more than necessary. Then, I want you, Miguel, to blow up the mountain alone with the phoenix. Can you do that?"

Miguel: "Of course I can. The book of shadows helped me tame the beast, so now I have complete control over it."

Sun: "Thanks. Can you guys protect this village and the surrounding area? There are spiders around. Ah, and don't let their blood touch you. It weakens surfaces."

Nebula: "Are you sure you want to go alone? I'll keep an eye on you, just in case."

Sun: "Do as you wish. I just want some time alone to... ease my mind, enjoy the moment."