Meanwhile, the Dark Rizzards had arrived at the entrance of the 'Ice Tunnel', which consisted of stacks of stocked freezers and fridges lined up in rows on each side of the passageway, creating an "L" shaped path.
The Dark Rizzards would be forced to go round the bend of the L-shaped path of freezers and fridges, where down the final stretch of the tunnel before they could reach the EVP Blueprint HQ, who else but none other than Tristen(!) would be leveraging the design of the single-file tunnel to obstruct the Dark Rizzards' progress, assisted by Rowena and Sally who could then both fully unleash their Anti-Rizz artillery with abandon upon the blocked invaders, whilst at the same time keeping Tristen healthy - a classic 'Tower defense' Strategy!!!
__
Every connoisseur of fight scenes and showdowns knows that the more layers and intrigue involved, then the better.
The backstory. The hype. The contrasting ideologies. The skilful techniques. These were all key ingredients in crafting the consummate clash - engaging in a tussle of not just the body, but also the mind and the spirit… oh, just the thought of this 'climax' made one moist…!!!
___
In the audience, a cute and pretty person - of course, it was Ino Sainté ! - frowned. "Moist..? You mean… Like a cake?"
"Yes, like a very very soft sponge cake, layered with cream..." Today, she was joined by her... step-bro, Inu Endo who was apparently meant to help her 'get it'...
___
"Oh no... Author is not going there…?!?!"
In the pop-corn enjoying audience, Pep-Z guy immediately called it out.
"Going where?! Listen, PZG bro..." - Yes, Author was now at this point too lazy to even say Pep-Z Guy, since he had to save his strength and powerstones in order to write a good showdown...
"I'm not Ino Sainté, nor do I know a lot about Inu Endo… maybe you should ask them!"
Ahhh, so Shameless!!!!!!!!
B-but at the same time, Pep-Z Guy, along with other members of the esteemed audience knew the drill by now, and handed over some more Power Stones for 'encouragement'…
(Thank you so much for your contribution !!! 🤭✨🔥🌻)
___
*Meanwhile*
The Dark Rizzards were now looking nervously down the long tunnel surrounded by fridges and freezers. Needless to say, they felt a 'chill' run down their spines, and not just because of the danger...
It was friggin' cold!
Luckily, they still had their purloined puffer jackets from their clash with Clive, but Still…
Yes. This was in fact, the operative word. They had, indeed, come to a standstill...
"Uh, Isn't it a little obvious that this is a trap?!" One of the DRSABCDs piped up nervously, peering down the cold, narrow tunnel.
"I-I don't wanna die…"
"M-my feet are cold now…"
Itvasme rolled her eyes at the pitiful sight of the fully grown men fidgeting, um-ing and ah-ing like babies and seemingly literally getting cold feet, although she had to admit they were clearly smarter than she had given them credit for.
"Aww… poor babies..."
Itvasme cooed even as she suddenly viciously slapped a Dark Rizzard who was otherwise minding his own business on the bum, a tried and true way of 'inappropriate motivation' and one of her favourite techniques which she had 'honed and mastered' with Zhang Lu, although this - well, this could be a story for another chapter… 👀
"Ooh!!!" The Dark Rizzard at the butt of the slap squealed in surprise.
"No buts!" Itvasme said facetiously, causing Inu Endo in the Audience to nudge Ino Sainte playfully with a smile, even as the innocent girl looked on with wide-eyes, clearly not getting to... the bottom of the joke...
"Get off your arses, and go and give those ARSES a hiding, as opposed to literally hiding, you fools!!!"
This lecture might have worked on ordinary minions to get them back-(on)-side, but Unfortunately, the Dark Rizzards were not your usual neurotypical demographic - in this case, "like attracted like", and all of them were in fact highly rated on the deviancy scales, just like "the Devious Dio" Itvasme!
As a result, this bum-slap - intended to get them cracking - had the unintended effect of causing many of the Dark Rizzards to suddenly get a case of 'not wanting to go down the tunnel' as well…
Even as the Dark Rizzard butt-slap-ee's 'cheeks (and not just on his face) flushed at the sudden stimulation, another Dark Rizzard muttered - with a rather distinct note of surly envy in his voice, like a sulking toddler:
"What?!?! That's not fair...! Why him? N-Now, I-I don't want to go either…"
"Yeah!!! I've been feeling a bit down, and could do with a bit of a 'hit' too, if you know what I mean…" - Another Dark Rizzard added, even as he looked at Itvasme hopefully out of the corner of his eye.
"Hi. Itvasme. Big fan. Uh, if I go down the tunnel, c-can you step on me?"
"…"
___
*A few minutes later*
It couldn't be helped. It seemed that the DRSABCDs truly were… crack commandos…
At this point, the DRSABCDs had lined up with serious faces, in single file with military precision, at the entrance of the tunnel, with Itvasme at the front, holding… a hand - or an arm on a handle, to be more precise - purchased from the same place that Ly Ly had gotten her rubber 'legs' with feet…
The first Dark Rizzard stepped forward.
Itvasme grit her teeth, but a deal was a deal.
*THWAPP!!!*
"Hnghhh!!!" The Dark Rizzard let out a cry of crude courage, even as he began to jog down the tunnel, imbued with the artificially induced stimulation from the… literal hit.
The next Dark Rizzard stepped up.
*SMACK!!!* Itvasme gripped the 'hand'-le of her long rubber hand and continued spanking them... as they wished?!?!
"Hoooo!!!" The Dark Rizzard exhaled even as he started jogging down the tunnel to follow the first Dark Rizzard…
Before long, a series of chained "exhale" SFXs could be heard, and the Dark Rizzards were on their way!!!!
"…"