As Sylvara held the glowing goblet, a faint hum filled the air. The group braced themselves for the inevitable absurdity, their collective trauma from previous artifacts making them all extremely suspicious.
"Well, it's shiny," Kazuya said cautiously. "And shiny usually means dangerous."
Cluckminster squawked in agreement, glaring at the goblet as if it might explode at any moment.
Ravynne folded her arms. "I don't trust it. Artifacts like this never just hand over power without some ridiculous consequence."
Sylvara shrugged. "There's only one way to find out." She raised the goblet dramatically and took a tiny sip. The liquid stardust sparkled as it touched her lips, and for a moment, everything seemed fine.
Then the chaos began.
Effects of Infinite Indulgence
Sylvara froze mid-sip as her hair began to glow, changing colors in a rapid rainbow cascade. Her eyes widened as she floated slightly off the ground, her body emitting a soft, ethereal light.
"I feel... amazing," she said, her voice echoing with a celestial tone. "Like I could do anything."
Kazuya took a step back. "Anything like destroying reality? Because I feel like that's where this is heading."
Suddenly, the goblet emitted a beam of light that struck each of them in turn.
Ravynne yelped as her dagger transformed into a glowing candy cane. Cluckminster grew wings made of shimmering gold feathers. Kazuya found himself surrounded by a golden aura, his clothes replaced with what could only be described as a magical boy transformation outfit.
"What is this?!" Kazuya shouted, looking at his glittering attire.
"You look fabulous," Sylvara said, stifling a laugh. "Like a prince from a very sparkly fairytale."
Testing the Limits
With her newfound power, Sylvara began experimenting. She waved her hand, and a rain of marshmallows fell from the sky. Another wave conjured a small, floating cake that circled around her like a loyal pet.
"This is incredible!" she exclaimed.
Ravynne, still holding her candy cane weapon, groaned. "Can you not use your godlike powers for desserts? Maybe try something useful?"
Sylvara grinned mischievously and snapped her fingers. Instantly, a swarm of dancing gummy bears appeared, their tiny arms waving in unison.
"This is not useful!" Ravynne shouted, swatting at the gummy bears as they began to climb onto her.
Kazuya sighed. "I can already tell this is going to get worse."
The Curse Revealed
As Sylvara continued to test the goblet's powers, the mountain began to tremble. The glowing pedestal cracked, and a deep, ominous voice echoed across the summit.
"Who dares disturb the Goblet of Infinite Indulgence?!"
The group turned to see a massive, swirling vortex forming in the sky. Out of it emerged a towering figure—a colossal marshmallow knight wielding a sword made of crystallized sugar.
"Return the goblet, or face the wrath of the Sweet Sentinel!" the knight boomed.
Kazuya threw his hands up. "Of course. Why wouldn't there be a giant marshmallow knight?"
Sylvara, still glowing with the goblet's power, smirked. "I've got this."
Battle of the Sweet Sentinel
Sylvara soared into the air, blasting beams of stardust at the marshmallow knight. The sentinel deflected her attacks with its sugar sword, sending shards of candy flying in all directions.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Kazuya and Ravynne tried to fend off the smaller marshmallow minions that had emerged from the vortex.
"Why is it always marshmallows?!" Kazuya yelled, using his magical boy powers to summon a giant, sparkling frying pan that he wielded like a weapon.
Cluckminster, now fully embracing his golden-winged form, dive-bombed the minions with terrifying precision, squawking war cries as he went.
"Cluckminster's really living his best life," Ravynne muttered, batting away a marshmallow with her candy cane.
A Sweet Victory
Sylvara finally managed to land a powerful blow, shattering the sentinel's sugar sword. The knight stumbled back, its marshmallow body wobbling precariously.
"Any last words?" Sylvara asked, channeling a massive beam of stardust energy.
The knight growled. "You may have defeated me, but the goblet's curse is far from over!"
With that, the sentinel dissolved into a shower of sugary sparkles, leaving the group standing victorious—but wary.
To Be Continued...
As the group caught their breath, the glowing goblet pulsed ominously in Sylvara's hands.
"So," Kazuya said, eyeing the artifact nervously. "Do we keep it, or toss it off the mountain and pretend this never happened?"
Sylvara grinned. "Keep it, obviously. What's the worst that could happen?"
Ravynne groaned. "You just had to ask."