The group trudged down the winding path of the Milf Mountain Range, the Egg of Eternity tucked securely in Kazuya's pack. Sylvara, of course, couldn't help but poke her head into the bag every five minutes.
"Does it still glow when it's covered?" she asked for the fourth time, earning an exasperated glare from Ravynne.
"If you don't stop poking at that thing, I'm going to throw you down this mountain," Ravynne warned.
Sylvara smirked. "You'd miss me. Who else would keep things interesting around here?"
"Interesting is one word for it," Kazuya muttered, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Do you ever stop complaining?" Sylvara shot back, sticking her tongue out.
Cluckminster, perched on Ravynne's shoulder, squawked in agreement with Kazuya. "As the only true intellectual here, I must say her incessant chatter is—"
"Shut it, featherbrain," Sylvara interrupted, flicking a crumb of bread at him.
A Sword in the... Bread?
Their bickering came to an abrupt halt when they reached a clearing at the base of the mountain. In the center stood a strange pedestal carved from ancient stone, with glowing runes etched along its sides. Embedded in the pedestal was a sword unlike any they'd ever seen.
The blade was shaped like a giant baguette, with a golden hilt adorned with tiny chickens carved into the pommel. A faint aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.
"What in the world is that?" Kazuya asked, stepping closer.
Sylvara's eyes lit up. "It's Eggscalibur!"
"Eggscalibur?" Ravynne repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Sylvara said, bouncing on her heels. "The legendary sword of carb-based justice! It's said that whoever pulls it from the pedestal will become the true ruler of the Fowlvoid!"
Kazuya groaned. "Of course it is. Because why wouldn't this already ridiculous quest get even more ridiculous?"
A Test of Worthiness
The group gathered around the pedestal, each examining the sword from a different angle.
"So, who's going to pull it?" Ravynne asked, crossing her arms.
"I vote Kazuya," Sylvara said immediately.
"Why me?" Kazuya protested.
"Because you're the main character," Sylvara said with a grin. "Duh."
Kazuya sighed and stepped up to the pedestal. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
He gripped the hilt of Eggscalibur and gave it a hard tug. The sword didn't budge.
"Okay, maybe not me," Kazuya said, stepping back. "Someone else try."
Sylvara stepped forward, wiggling her fingers dramatically before grabbing the hilt. "Behold! The chosen one!"
She yanked on the sword with all her might, but it remained firmly lodged in the stone.
"Stupid bread sword," she muttered, kicking the pedestal.
Cluckminster flapped down from Ravynne's shoulder and landed on the pedestal. "Perhaps it requires a true poultry noble to wield its power!"
He grabbed the hilt with his tiny talons and flapped furiously, but the sword didn't move.
"Well, that's disappointing," he said, ruffling his feathers.
Sylvara's Brilliant Plan
"Maybe we're missing something," Ravynne said, examining the glowing runes. "These carvings look like instructions, but I can't make sense of them."
"Let me see," Sylvara said, leaning in. She squinted at the runes, then gasped. "Of course! It's a recipe!"
"A recipe?" Kazuya repeated.
"Yes!" Sylvara said excitedly. "We need to bake the 'Bread of Truth' to unlock the sword!"
Ravynne groaned. "Why does everything in this world involve bread or chickens?"
"Because it's hilarious," Sylvara said with a grin. "Now, let's gather the ingredients!"
The Great Bread Hunt
The recipe for the Bread of Truth required five key ingredients:
Flour from the Fields of Flourishing Feathers Water from the Well of Wisdom Yeast from the Yeasty Yeti Salt from the Salty Sea Serpent A pinch of "cosmic chicken essence"
The group split up to gather the ingredients, each facing increasingly absurd challenges.
Ravynne fought off an aggressive flock of sentient flour bags in the Fields of Flourishing Feathers. Kazuya battled the Yeasty Yeti, who turned out to be surprisingly polite and offered him a jar of yeast after a friendly duel. Sylvara charmed the Salty Sea Serpent with a poorly sung sea shanty, which somehow worked. Cluckminster provided the "cosmic chicken essence" by... well, laying an egg.
"Don't ask," Cluckminster said, looking deeply embarrassed.
Baking Destiny
Back at the pedestal, the group combined the ingredients and baked the Bread of Truth in a makeshift oven. The loaf emerged golden and glowing, with an aroma so heavenly it brought tears to Kazuya's eyes.
"Now what?" Ravynne asked.
Sylvara held up the Bread of Truth triumphantly. "We feed it to the sword!"
Without waiting for a response, she shoved the loaf into the pedestal. The runes flared to life, and the ground shook as Eggscalibur slowly rose from the stone.
Kazuya reached out and grabbed the hilt. This time, the sword slid free effortlessly.
"Congratulations, Your Carb Majesty," Sylvara said, giving him a mock bow.
Kazuya rolled his eyes. "Let's just hope this thing is useful and not just some oversized breadstick."
Little did they know, Eggscalibur's true power would soon be put to the test—and the chaos was far from over.