Side Note

So it turns out this is not my Shadowrealm. Wanna know how I know? I checked under my favourite sitting rock, and it didn't have a piece of paper that said: "Madeleine was here". Yep, that's it. So, what does that mean? Obviously, Myka plopped a past version of the Shadowrealm into the pyramid… and that must mean my ally here is Mad Rox! Not only that, but he's behind that rock! I am pointing at the rock he is behind!

"Wrong rock." I pointed at another rock, only to be told it was wrong again. Third time's a charm, that rock! "I'm not behind a rock. I'm beside you."

I turned to my right and saw Mad Rox, in his shadowy glory, standing right next to me, as he said. "I was wrong about the rock thing, but am I right about the past Shadowrealm thing?"

"You are." He then threw a skull at me, which I caught and looked at. Why a skull? "It's mine."

"Wild." My legs started turning transparent. The key is his skull… edgy. "Is that all?"

"I've got nothing to say. I ain't got anything for you. I'm just a part of one of your bigger tools."

"I see." 

"I'll at least say good luck."

"Thanks." And onto the next floor, I went.

"THE ROBOT GOD AWAITS!!! MOTHER WISHES TO BE CHALLENGED!!! THE MERRY GO ROUND WAITS FOR NOBODY!!! THE SOURCE OF MADNESS HAS DESCENDED!!! THE KRAKEN IS A VTUBER!!! THAT GOLEM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD!!! SEVEN BABIES!!!"

Hey there, it's the sanest person in this room somehow, Madeleine here. I am currently watching Ark punch the floor repeatedly while shouting out nonsense. I'd like to approach him to get the key, but his punches are sending shockwaves that keep blowing me away.

"THE LORD OF LUST SLEEPS IN A BED DESPITE MONSTERS BEING NEAR!!! THE PRISONER RIKA KNOWS IS YOUR FRIEND!!! I'M THE HULK BUT CRAZY!!!"

Oh, I know the Hulk. I watched his movie while in Las Vegas. I guess Ark and I share that thing in common where we say random things that we shouldn't know. I could've bonded with him over that… the punches are getting harder. Okay, that's not good. Soon enough, they'll be able to rip apart my clothes through air pressure alone. I need to take care of this… somehow.

"WHY ARE TWO OF HIS DAUGHTERS HERE??? WHAT IS INFECTED MUSHROOM??? WHY HAS THE GENERIC EVIL CLONE BACK??? HASN'T HER HUNGER SUBSIDED???"

Okay, ideas… ideas… ideas… ah! I'll split the shockwaves! No, wait, my knife was taken. Ideas… ideas… ideas… ah! I'll send shockwaves at the shockwaves. I stood, waiting for Ark's next shockwave.

"HOW DOES SIDE NOTE CANCEL OUT SOME ABILITIES AND NOT OTHERS??? WHAT IS THAT MELODY??? WHY ARE THEY STACKING BLUE???"

Here comes another shockwave! It's time for something CRAZY!!! I put my whole weight into a stomp, creating a shockwave almost twice my height and sending it towards Ark's shockwave… only for mine to get swallowed entirely. Well… shit. Ark's shockwave quickly lifted me into the air, sending me away from my target. Damn… now I have to walk back… I can barely hear him now.

"SHE WISHES TO LIVE LONGER!!! THE END WAS WHOSE DOING??? THE MAID? THE REALITY WARPER? NO, THE PUPPETMASTER!!! CURSE THAT WHIMSICAL MAN!!!"

I have no idea what he just said… what other ideas do I have? Maybe I can punch the shockwave back at him… no, that's not possible for me. Hmm… earthquake? I'm too far away for that. I could… fly over the shockwaves! I have that amulet, after all! Huh? Where did I get the amulet of floating? From my sister, remember? She gave it to me as payment for our second fight. I don't know why she paid me to fight, but I won't say no to a free shiny thing I can stare at while it swings left and right. I love things that swing… except for Sherry's swings.

"OH, GIRL, IT'S YOU THAT I LIE WITH!!! AS THE ATOM BOMB LOCKS IN!!! OH, IT'S YOU I WATCH TV WITH!!! AS THE WORLD… as the world caves in… Lyra…"

Okay, he's slowing down his punches right now. This is prime time to put the amulet on and float over there. Woah… this is really weird… I feel like I'm walking on sunshine. Maybe this would be easier if I pretended I was swimming… nope, it doesn't help… I am going to create some fire at my feet. I tapped my feet together, and a blast of fire erupted from my feet, launching me forward and towards Ark, avoiding the shockwaves of his punches.

"THE PYRAMID!!! IT ONLY EXISTS TO PROLONG!!! BUT WHAT??? OUR WORLD OR EXISTENCE??? THAT BUNNY IS NOT KIND ENOUGH!!!"

Yeesh, his rambling is getting worse… and I am getting closer… now! I tapped my feet, stopping the flames and simultaneously taking off the amulet, making me fall towards the ground. I rolled and rolled and rolled, then stood upright beside Ark, who had yet to notice. Before he could ramble some more and punch the ground again, I quickly sent a chop to his neck, immediately knocking him unconscious. I searched his body, finding a… jar with a miniature woman in it. This jar is kinda familiar… oh yeah! The one with the eyes in them. Haha… how odd. Oh, looks like it was the key.

Now, this is a place I can remember quite clearly. Two endless walls, stretching as far as I can see, lined with a number of weapons that seem as unending as the walls themselves. The Wall of Weapons, the greatest armoury and weapon museum in all of Mendass. I know who exactly I'll meet here.

Chapter namesake: Deeply Disturbed by Infected Mushroom