Teams victorious over Xinx were granted a wish, with the details hidden in incredibly small print—so minuscule that one had to repeatedly pinch-zoom multiple times just to be able to read it, located at the bottom of page 466 of the game's guidelines. Fortunately, most players already knew about these wish privileges, sparing them from the tedious task of reading through them.
(•ω•)
Wally and Blobby were revered as bestowers of wishes. Yet, despite the fervent pleas and skyward gazes of hopeful souls, their wishes were not granted. True wishes, it seemed, were not merely whims spoken into the ether but endeavours earned through VR games and social media.
Now, as they embarked on their quest to beseech the sage and the sacred wish granted, known as "The Legendary Sock of a Single Grand Wish, the Sequel, Part 4," Larisa and Lillian pressed forward undeterred. For they understood that true fulfilment awaited not in the mere utterance of desires but in the journey towards their deepest longings at the culmination of their path.
The sacred sage instructed them to rendezvous at the abandoned bathhouse deep within Heart-Ling Forest, with the sock prepared for such a momentous occasion.
Lillian's eyes remained bloodshot, evidence of her marathon VR session exceeding 50 hours without respite, suggesting she might be making poor decisions. She was sustained by singular determination and myriad intangibles. Larisa, her spirit ablaze with vitality, radiated an infectious liveliness, her excitement amplified by the impending destination where they would fulfil the wish they both earned together.
"You, we, you, I... we're totally going to adore Nira!" chirped the hyper Larisa. "Nira's no longer a scared y-cat ghost; she's all brave and stuff now!"
Larisa garnered countless disciples after revealing her true self in the VR world of Mask and in the real world. (Well, she forgot to turn her invisibility back on—derp!) While many admired her beauty, others thought of her as merely a VR or CGI creation like Xinx and not actually a ghost, without further inquiry.
Kassy's resurgence and absence from the music scene caused Larisa to fade into obscurity temporarily. Nonetheless, she amassed millions of devoted followers, finding contentment in their support.
Rumours suggested Kassy strategically timed her return to coincide with the peak viewership of the VR game to maximise her clout and attention. Despite this, Lillian's enduring affection for Kassy remained unwavering; she couldn't stop murmuring "Kassy?!" repeatedly.
Nira completed her introductions to the new arrivals, proudly showcasing her peculiar pets and her newfound companions, the towel-bearers. These unique friends, who stitched their towels together in an attempt to fashion a makeshift onesie—a sewing technique a few of the new arrivals had learnt from a mysterious individual in a hockey mask in VR—found themselves thwarted by the impracticality of the endeavour.
Consequently, they ingeniously repurposed the fabric into a cosy cult tent to huddle within. Although it was regrettable that the towel-bearers lacked clothing beneath their towels, Nira decided to keep a fire inside the tent to to warm her new cult It was a little risky, but the potential rewards outweighed the risks.
Their impromptu shelter soon evolved into a shared space imbued with significance, forming the nucleus of a unique forest cult led by Nira, a somewhat mute ghost. Each member of the group found profound meaning in Nira's every grunt, fart, burp, squelch, snort, hiccup, and snore, delving into the depths of her psychological cues. Larisa couldn't contain her joy at Nira's newfound companionship and leadership, witnessing the formation of this intimate community within the forest.
Oh, did you forget Nira existed? I know she's just a ghost and all, but that's no excuse. She's merely a superfluous background character, not worthy of any more lines of dialogue or attention.
Eliza tagged along with them to the Heart-Ling Forest to grant their wish with Kai and Gig-git, her pet Dinglebarry, who was now real. She wondered aloud, "Why the heck are we heading to this stupid forest to make our wish?" She scanned the misty swamp, the old bathhouse decaying in the distance, covered in mould. "It doesn't make sense," she muttered.
"Because this forest is so sacred, with its sacred bathhouse and the sacred water that falls from the sacred sky to bless the wishes of those who have earned it," Kai replied softly.
In the tranquillity of the mucky forest, Kai turned to his beloved, his eyes reflecting the depth of their shared journey. "My dear, after all we've been through together, battling against all odds, we've earned this moment."
"Kai-lingkings, kins, sorry, yes, we do deserve a wish," she said, her hand finding his, fingers intertwining in a gesture of unwavering affection. "After gaining all those followers and battling Xinx for over 50 hours, we deserve good things from this sacred place."
Interrupting their tender moment, Gig-git let loose a series of disruptive bark-farts and lifted his leg to mark a nearby tree, just like a real doggo. The sounds echoed through the air like a disjointed drumbeat of a kick and snare: "Utff, utff, utff, pttff, ptttfff, ptttttfffff." The final "ptttttffffff" lingered in the air.
Eliza and Kai shared a giggle fit, utterly awestruck by the Dinglebarry's uncanny realism. Amidst the whimsy, they found themselves struck by a profound realisation: the Dinglebarry's uncanny realism transcended mere technological achievement. It embodied a spectral presence, more palpable than any apparition, more authentic than the living souls surrounding them. In its simulated depths lay a reflection of humanity's quest for connection and understanding, a testament to the complexities of existence itself.
"Is the sage really in that bathhouse with 'the' sock?" Eliza questioned incredulously, her disbelief palpable as she glanced at Lillian, who appeared to be in a frantic trance. "Hey, why don't you go in and check it out?" she suggested, albeit hesitantly.
Lillian, barely audible, muttered, "Kassy," to herself, seemingly disconnected from their conversation.
Eliza, hesitant to take the lead, deferred to Larisa. "Um, this is your place, Larisa, and Nira is your sister, so you're more familiar with it, right? Just go ahead."
"I'm kinda unsure if she's, like, my sister... I never really asked, but hey, she might just be! No, yes, maybe... kekekekeke~ ke~ Yayyy! Ghost sis! Woo-hoo! I like that sooo much! Ghost-sis!" Larisa exclaimed with erratic enthusiasm.
Eliza observed Larisa's antics and the peculiar tent design. "What is she even doing in that tent? Oh, wait a minute, is that design on the tent... Cosmic Lunar Vixen?! Well, that's one way to use the towel, but it's kind of a waste, especially since it was a sought-after fashion item just yesterday."
"I t-think... she is playing pogs in there... n-not entirely sure," Lillian stammered nervously.
"But why are they in their birthday suits?" Kai pondered aloud.
"Not entirely sure about the rules of pogs, so I don't know!" Larisa replied, her glittering particles betraying her underlying anxiety.
"I wonder what they are using as the slammer," Kai mused.
"But... but... there's a fire inside the tent? Are they playing some sort of inferno pog game or what?" Eliza added, her confusion mirroring the uncertainty of the situation.
"Okay, okay, everyone! They're busy summoning... 'the giver of clout, the bringer of viral fame, the one they call... the Clout Cat!'"
A moment of clarity dawned on them all.
They nodded in agreement. "That makes perfect sense," Kai said.
Eliza chimed in, "Yeah, it does. I've heard the Clout Cat isn't someone to mess with, so we better not disturb them."
Kai grinned. "Agreed, Eliza-kiny-kin-kins."
Eliza cast Kai a pointed look, conveying her dissatisfaction with her diminutive nickname without saying a word. She knew he could do waaaay better.
"Ahem," Kai teased, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Eliza-kiny-kin-kins Buttercup-Sunshine-Daisy-Rose-Peaches-Honey-Blossom-Sugarplum-Pumpkin-Snickerdoodle-Cupcake." He concluded, adding a very emphatic full stop.
Lillian entered the dilapidated bathhouse, where an old bathtub sat, filled mostly with rainwater seeping through cracks and gaping holes in the roof. The sage, a mysterious figure in a hooded cloak that concealed his face, prepared to grant wishes. To her surprise, he performed a series of balletic leaps and spins with remarkable grace, despite the restrictive cloak.
Stepping into the murky rainwater inside the bathhouse, the sage lifted high the Legendary Sock of a Single Grand Wish. He gestured for Lillian to approach and stand beneath the sock, holding it aloft.
"Naaaow, make yerr wishhhh... shu-shure do 'nother round of shpeshial shhots," he slurred.
"It's Mr. Wee-wee! Look, he's back!" Larisa wailed.