566: The Trouble with Bribles      

The Trouble with Bribles      

Elena's eyes twirled, and her headache was worsening by the second. "My brain refused to decipher what you said. But I will assume that you now know the answer."1

Ren confidently stepped forward and pointed at each of the statues, assigning them their respective roles. "The red statue represents the paladin, the green statue embodies the rogue, and the blue statue signifies the warlock," he declared.

As his words hung in the air, a moment of tense anticipation engulfed the chamber.

Suddenly, the statues came to life, their stony features transforming into smiles of approval. They shared a knowing glance among themselves and erupted in laughter, their voices echoing throughout the room. The sound filled the space with a sense of joviality and triumph.

In response to their accurate identification, the door before them swung open, revealing the path to their next trial. The once impassive statues now appeared almost animated, as if expressing their delight at being correctly identified.

Elena was relieved, and she gave a thumbs up to Ren. "You're very smart, Ren."

"My brain is my weapon, after all," Ren simply said and proceeded to their next trial.

They found themselves next in a room with a small chest at the center. There was no sign or clues anywhere, and Ren wondered what was up.

"I think we should open that chest," Elena said, and when she didn't hear anything from Ren, she proceeded to open the chest and shouted.

Ren was quick to her side and was about to ask what was wrong when he saw what was inside the chest.

Inside the storage container, they chance upon a peculiar surprise. As the chest was unlatched and opened, a diminutive fuzzy creature, no larger than a clenched fist with its oversized eyes, greeted the curious onlookers.

This enchanting being emitted gentle coos, nestled within its newfound abode, until Elena dared to reach out and make contact.

"Sooo Cute!" Elena squealed. She was utterly captivated by the adorable little fuzz ball perched on her shoulders like a cherished trophy. Its gentle coos and sweet hums filled her heart with delight, and even the occasional snort seemed irresistibly cute.

In hindsight, Ren begrudgingly admitted that it possessed an undeniable charm. However, that didn't stop him from using [Probe] on it, and his smile dropped as he read on.

[The mere act of touching a Brible triggered a remarkable effect. With sprightly vigor, the Brible springs into action, bounding onto the unsuspecting creature and securing itself upon its shoulder. Once attached, the Brible resumes its soothing coos, enveloping its host with a comforting aura of warmth and security.

From this point onward, the Brible becomes an inseparable companion, firmly affixed to its chosen bearer unless forcefully removed.

Oh, and they multiply within seconds.

To sever the bond between host and Bribble, one must either eliminate the creature through fatal means or undertake the arduous task of separating them by sheer force.

Thus, the whimsical nature of the Brible unravels as its presence becomes an indelible attachment, both comforting and burdensome, requiring considerable strength and determination to be freed from its affable grip.]

"Elena, get that thing off you right now," Ren said and was shocked when he found that the Princess was already covered in Bribbles and that her figure had disappeared behind all those fuzziness.

The sequence of events that unfolded from there took a turn for the worse. Ren cannot fathom the exact circumstances. To his shock, the Princess's HP was decreasing at a rapid speed.

"R-Ren. These things are so CUTE!" Elena said voice muffled.

"They're consuming you, though."

These Bribble's capacity to multiply escalates exponentially. In a moment of thoughtlessness, Elena had touched one of these innocent creatures, unwittingly triggering an uncontrollable reproduction frenzy. The tiny chamber was soon inundated with an overwhelming army of fuzzy spheres, multiplying ceaselessly until Elena couldn't breathe.

"R-Ren . . . I couldn't move . . . and breathe."

That's an agonizing and harrowing way to perish. Ren thought. To be smothered by the very beings you once found adorable and endearing.

"W-what are you doing?" the Princess exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief as she watched Ren don his staff with a determined expression.

Ren paused for a moment, looking at Elena with a mix of seriousness and reassurance. "I'm going to kill them. Don't worry, they may be cute, but they have a weakness to fire. It's the most effective way to save you."

Elena's face contorted with horror, and she let out a high-pitched scream. "No! You can't hurt the fluffy creatures! They're innocent and adorable!"

Ren sighed, trying to calm her down. "Princess, I understand your concern, but we have to prioritize your safety. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"There must be another way! We can find a peaceful solution, right?"

Ren chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "If you can talk to them, then go right ahead."

Elena shook her head, exasperated. "Talking or not, we can't resort to violence. Let's find another solution, Ren. We can't just burn them!"

Elena's plea went to deaf ears; her eyes widened in horror as she watched the burst of fire engulf the once-adorable creatures, turning them into smoke.

"No! What have you done?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with dismay.

Ren stood there without any remorse. "Saved you."

Elena came out unscathed from the simple fire, but she wasn't happy the least.

"There must have been another way! We could have found a peaceful solution. You didn't have to kill them." she pouted.

Ren ignored her and proceeded to their next challenge when a door appeared. This one was a breeze. Good thing that he wasn't like the Princess who lost herself at the sight of cute things.

Eventually, Ren and Elena approached each puzzle, trap, and riddle with their unique ways. They quickly realized that following conventional methods might not always lead to success. Instead, they relied on their intuition, creativity, and a touch of unorthodoxy.

In one room, they encountered a series of intricate pressure plates on the floor. Ren suggested stepping only on the blue tiles, as logic dictated. But Elena had a hunch and decided to dance her way across the room, stepping on the tiles in a pattern that resembled a lively waltz. To their surprise, the door opened, revealing their path forward.

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