As the butler disappeared, Haruo felt the ground tremble beneath him, and the room warped into an expansive space with four hallways branching out in different directions. Each corridor looked distinct, shadows creeping along the walls and strange sounds echoing in the distance.
"First riddle, I swim through realms both light and dark, My scales shimmer like a thousand sparks. In water or air, I dance with grace, What am I, who can navigate any space?" The butler said, as floating golden text appeared in each hall.
"This one is easy, its obviously a Qi fish" Haruo said, going to the hallway that has the answer.
As Haruo stepped into the hall, the world around him shimmered, and before he knew it, he found himself back in the same spot he had just left. A shocked expression crossed his face as doubt crept in.
"Don't be shocked; you got it right. Alright, here's the second riddle: I light up the night with a flicker and glow, flitting through the forest where shadows do flow. What am I?" the butler said.
"CRAZY OLD MAN!! DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" Haruo exclaimed, shaking off the surprise as he moved toward one of the hallways that held the answer. With renewed confidence, he quickly answered the riddle, knowing the flickering light of the firefly was the key to his next step.
A lantern bug, I'm quite familiar with them since Taiyo and I always encountered them on our adventures; that troublemaker even panicked once when she saw one while we were traveling through a swamp at night. Haruo thought as he moved toward the hallway that held the answer, feeling confident that the flickering light of the firefly was the key to his next step.
He was then teleported into another hall, glancing around as he waited for the next riddle to materialize. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, and he felt the weight of expectation in the air.
"You were correct, Next riddle: In the heart of the town, where the people convene, I'm filled with the colors of fruits and cuisine. What am I?"
Without hesitation, he made his way to the hall with the answer, Market Square, feeling a sense of determination as he approached. In an instant, he was teleported to another center of four hallways.
"Next riddle: I flow without sound, my surface is still, reflecting the stars as night takes its fill. What am I?" the butler replied, and Haruo moved toward one of the hallways once again, contemplating the answer that would guide him further.
He was teleported to yet another center of four hallways, his confidence unwavering as he prepared to answer the next riddle.
"Your answer was wrong. For the price of getting it wrong, your time will be decreased, and a monster will show up."
Suddenly, a stat window appeared before him, and 40 minutes vanished from the remaining 1 hour and 55 minutes, leaving Haruo with less time to complete the trial. Tension began to rise as the consequence of his mistake loomed near.
The room suddenly shifted, transforming into a spacious area filled with the same mannequins he had fought earlier. Their lifeless eyes locked onto him, standing still but ready to spring into action at any moment. Haruo braced himself for what was to come.
"Your timer will still go on as you fight these mannequins. Since you failed at Hallway 4, you're going to have to fight four mannequins and have your time decreased by 40 minutes. You will remain in that room until you've defeated all of them." the butler said before signing off.
Haruo then rushed toward one of them, not letting his guard down this time. With swift precision, he struck each mannequin in the exact spot where he had previously discovered their core, disabling them one by one.
But to his surprise, they regenerated instantly, their forms shifting back to life. His eyes widened as he looked at all of them, realizing he would need a new strategy to defeat these relentless foes.
You gotta be bullshitin' me, Their cores aren't in the same spot?! Haruo thought, glaring at the mannequins as he quickly assessed their positions. A rush of frustration washed over him
It's fine, I just need to cut them until I hit the core. Haruo thought, preparing to sprint at them with renewed determination.
Haruo then appeared in front of one mannequin and sliced it in half at lightning speed, but he didn't stop there. He kept slashing, ensuring that it was reduced to dust, determined to eliminate any chance of regeneration.
Looks like it worked, Haruo thought, his hair covering his eyes as he looked down, breathing heavily. He then turned his head to see one of the mannequins lunging at him very slowly, its movements unnaturally deliberate.
He then shifted his weight to the side, planting his foot firmly on the ground before slashing the approaching mannequin multiple times until it disintegrated into dust.
He then felt a huge shockwave near the other mannequins. He quickly redirected his gaze to see them damaging each other making them twice as stronger each hit.
Haruo quickly sprinted toward them to slice them, but both mannequins dodged his attack effortlessly, their agility revealing that they were now relatively the same level as him.
His expression urgent, Haruo then used his ability to slow down their growth in power and overall physical prowess. As he finished them off as quickly as he could, the room gradually turned to ice, the chilling air encasing the remnants of the battle.
"You happy, grandpa? Send me back now; I'm tired of fighting. I've been doing nothing but fighting this past day." Haruo said with a grunt, feeling the exhaustion wash over him.
Haruo was then sent back to the starting point, preparing to answer more riddles. His face clearly showed annoyance as he stood there, ready to face the challenges once again.
[3 Riddles later...]
"Meh, those weren't that bad. What's the next riddle, grandpa?" Haruo said, finally back where he had lost.
"A golden circle with a darkened past, Those who wear me find their fortunes won't last. What am I?" The butler said.
I should probably take my time now; I still have a lot anyway. Besides, these are so easy. A golden circle... Oh! A crown—must be the cursed crown, since it has a darkened past and fortunes won't last. That makes sense, Haruo thought, gazing blankly at the halls.
The butler looked through Haruo's vision using the nano machines in his body, watching from outside the room's dimension, surprised that this was the first time he was taking his time with the question.
Which kinda reminds me of when Master and I snuck into the museum just to see the crown. I still don't get why Master didn't just wait until the day after, during sunlight. I mean, was it really necessary? I was so little back then. Haruo thought.
Haruo shrugged it off and made his way to the hall with the answer before heading to the fifth hall, where he was once AGAIN transported to the center of four hallways.
"Next riddle: Once whole and bright, now scattered in space, I refract reality, shifting each face. What am I?" the butler rhymed each word.
Haruo's face widened, his expression urgent as he put both hands in his hair, looking as though he was stuck. He lowered his head to the ground, frustration creeping in as gritted his teeth.
"Looks like he's finally stuck. I wonder how he's going to get through this. Let's check what he's thinking." the butler mused, watching Haruo's struggle with interest before pressing the button that allowed him to hear Haruo's thoughts.
Oh shit! I—I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA SKIN MASK!!. I just realized that I've been wearing a half-broken skin mask the entire time. What do I do?! He felt a surge of panic as he grappled with the situation shaking his head in frustration.
The butler sat at the monitor, his expression blank and devoid of all details as he listened to Haruo's thoughts, completely the opposite of what he had expected.
Haruo continued to walk toward the sixth hallway with the correct answer, and I don't have to explain again, do I? he found himself back in the center of four blah blah blah.
"The more you take, the more you leave behind. I am invisible yet present, and I tell the story of your journey with each step you take. What am I?" the butler said.
the more i take the more i leave behind... Haruo thought pinching his chin.
i tell the story of your journey, with each step you take... OH STEP! FOOTSTEPS. Haruo nodded as he went to the next hallway which is the seventh.
Shit, I remembered a bad memory. the time I creased one of my white rubber shoes while some kids nearby were playing with mud, and it splattered all over my shoe. I should've drop-kicked that kid. Haruo's expression darkened further as he recalled that moment, annoyance etched across his face.
He's the reason why I stopped wearing rubber shoes. If I ever meet that kid again, I'll beat him up without hesitation. Haruo thought, a vein popping out on his forehead as anger simmered within him.
"I can be seen in the dark but vanish in the light. I can be an illusion, a trick, or a game. People seek me out yet may fear my power. What am I?" the butler said.
"This is easily a shadow. I thought these riddles were supposed to be hard?" Haruo scoffed, his voice carrying a mix of sarcasm and irritation as he glanced upward as if the butler could see him.
"You're really starting to slack, grandpa." he added, his steps echoing lightly as he moved toward the eighth hallway, confident in his answer. He shook his head, feeling slightly disappointed that the challenge wasn't living up to the hype.
"He sure has the same attitude as Chiharu, no doubt about it. Master like student." the butler muttered to himself, glancing at the monitors as he leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and mild exasperation crossing his face.
"next riddle: What has cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and rivers but no water? I can take you places, yet I am merely a representation. What am I?" Butler said.
I feel like I heard that one before... Oh yeah, when me and that troublemaker went to the bar to ask for directions. The bartender really liked giving people puzzles. It was a map, I recall? Haruo thought, his gaze drifting toward the ground as he made his way to the ninth hallway.
That memory lingered, the bartender's smirk when they finally solved it, after an hour of Ena and the bartender arguing. Haruo had known the answer all along, just watching them fight.
"Next riddle: I can be broken, but I am not a physical object. I can be kept or lost, but once broken, I may never be the same. What am I?" the butler said.
Haruo's face darkened, his eyes fixed on the ground as he recalled the memory, a precious moment now clouded by the weight of his thoughts.
I didn't expect that one to be here. It was the riddle Master told me that saved my life, Haruo thought, his mind drifting back to a flashback of his younger self and his Master, their pinky promise signifying a promise made in the heat of the moment.
His master's face blurred as he struggled to remember it clearly, but he recalled the familiar coat he wore, identical to Haruo's. He was sick in bed, frost covering his face, yet he reached out his hand for a pinky promise.
"It's promise." Haruo said, slowly walking toward the last hall, the tenth hall, only to be greeted by the butler himself standing right next to the cane.
"The final riddle: I am the silent watcher, with eyes keen and bright, In shadows I linger, ready to fight. Through trials and turmoil, I stand strong and near, What am I, who guards against all that you fear?" the butlers voice echoed through the hallways.
"It was nice going down memory lane, but I guess this was to be expected." Haruo said, glancing up to the side as he prepared for the next challenge.
"My answer is: Guardian." Haruo said before taking up a stance.