Chương 143: The Sphinx (I)
"I don't think this is a good idea," Jack replied. He was not too keen on being separated and trapped.
"We have no choice. This is the best clue that we ever had in a while." Zero replied. He was jogging towards the moving walls. Zero had already shifted into his Origin form when they ran towards the moving walls. Whatever was before them could be dangerous, and he did not know what was there.
Bob was once again leading them. "This way!" Bob called out and made a sharp turn to the right. It was an endless sharp turn right and left; for a moment, Zero thought they were going in circles. The sound of the rumbling walls got louder and louder as they moved. He felt the walls would collapse any moment and crush them in one go.
"We're almost there!"
"I can barely hear you!" Zero yelled back towards Bob. But unfortunately, the sound was so loud that it muffled his voice.
"EEEEEK!" Bob stopped at a sudden halt when he made a sharp turn once again. Zero almost ran him over but luckily stopped himself. His hands wildly flailed, trying to catch his balance. Again, the sound of the moving walls halted.
"What's going on?" Jack almost ran into Zero's back. He was inches away from his nose, slamming into Zero.
"Is everything okay?" Agnis asked. She came right behind him, with the others trailing a couple seconds behind. They stopped and gasped.
Zero gulped. What was before they were a large council of Sphinx sitting on their pedestal. Zero counted a total of twelve, the size of a large bus. Their golden skin cracked dry sandpaper, and their faces were of a beautiful woman with an Egyptian-looking headdress and the body of a lion. Each turned their head towards Zero's group and gave them a blood-chilling smile.
A pearly, white greek building lay before them a good distance away. Zero knew that what they were looking for was up ahead.
"I don't know about you, but I think this is a bad idea." Jack squeaked. He was not too keen on being eaten and swarmed anytime soon.
Zero scanned the Sphinx in front of him as he read the Sphinx's information.
Sphinx
Level 175
A mythical guardian creature with a human's head, the haunches of a lion, and the wings of a bird. They have a nasty temper, and those who cannot answer its riddle suffer a fate typical in mythological stories, as they are killed and eaten by this ravenous monster. They are the twelve guardians that protect and watch over the Minotaur that walks the Labyrinth.
"This is it, guys. We go through them, and we are literally at our destination. It's just that we got to answer some riddles."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"No. It's better than fighting."
"Zero's got the point," Agnis chipped in on their conversation. "Twelve of that giant Sphinx on you simultaneously sounds like a bad idea."
"They're also level 175 each."
"You gotta be kidding me."
"Well, I'll stay in the back," said Alan. "I don't think a merchant like myself will do much to help."
"You're helping," Jack growled. "One extra hand is better than none."
"Why aren't they moving, though?" Zeraph was peering towards the Sphinx. He took the first step toward the Sphinx without any fear.
"Woah. Woah. Woah. Are you nuts?" Jack cried out. "Don't go towards danger without a plan!"
"Leave him be. He'll be eaten first." Alan shrugged his shoulders without care.
"Zeraph!" Agnis called out. She ran after him trying to stop him, but it was too late.
The first Sphinx spoke. "Why? Look here. Our meals."
The other Sphinx voiced their opinion toward the first.
"Don't eat them before we have a taste."
"Come on. I saw them first. Be nice and share."
"They look so delicious."
"How long has it been since I had a meal? Six months?"
"Three days, you fool."
"Their savory, chewy flesh. I can taste it already."
"Enough!" The first Sphinx spat with a hiss. Then, her demeanor changed into a scowl. "I am the first one here. You'll have to wait your turn."
"Booo, you always get the first dibs. So why not allow any of us to go first?"
"Because all of you forget that we are given the task to test our guests, not eat them."
"Fine. If you say so."
The first Sphinx shook her head with disgust. "These idiot sisters of mine. Sometimes I wonder if they only think with their belly rather than their brain."
"Sphinx, state your question!" Zeraph bellowed out loud. Agnis was amazed at Zeraph's bravery.
"Oh? Look at this sister. We got a brave one."
"Really? We haven't had a fool for ages. The rest ran away like cowards."
"True. True. This sounds fun."
"You must answer twelve riddles given to you to pass through us. Each successful riddle will allow you to pass through one of us. If one fails to answer, whoever is left will eat you alive."
"That's a fair deal, right, sisters?"
"Yes. Yes."
"Fair and square."
"Kuhuhuhuh."
"What are you?"
"An elf. You have stated your question. That is one out of twelve."
The Sphinx went silent and was amazed at Zeraph's words. Even Agnis was caught off guard.
The first Sphinx glared at her fellow Sphinx. "Who asked that question!" All the other Sphinx went silent. "Speak up!"
"I-I did." The third Sphinx softly spoke up. The other groaned. "The lame one."
"Don't ask out of turn!" The first Sphinx rumbled. She then turned toward Zeraph; her whole demeanor changed into a calm sphinx. "An elf? I have never seen one before. I did ask you a question, but it is not a riddle."
"A riddle is asking a question. You have asked us a question, and I have answered. Would it not be fair that you would not keep the end of your bargain, or would you go against your words?"
The first Sphinx eyes sheened dangerously wild. Zeraph was not phased by their killer instinct. She smiled when Zeraph did not budge or waiver from the first Sphinx's killer stare. "Fine. You have your first success."
Zero and his group carefully walked toward Zeraph and Agnis. Zero had to persuade them to walk forward, especially the antsy soldiers, when they saw many ferocious-looking Sphinx. "Is everything alright?" He walked up next to Zeraph.
"No problem at all."
Once again, the voices of the Sphinx chattered wildly when they saw Zero's group walk up.
"Look. Look. More humans!"
"Food!"
"There is enough for everybody!"
"Quiet!" The first Sphinx yelled. "We got a Drezo Regalia in our presence."
"Drezo Regalia? The Drezo Regalia." The Sphinx squeaked. Their voice became smaller and smaller. For a moment, Zero thought he had sensed fear in their voice. Then, their whole demeanor changed into serious mode.
"Young dragon. Why have you come here?"
"To bring back the Golden Eye."
"The Golden Eye. Ah yes. The ancient contract between man and dragon. Are these humans, elves, and dwarfs your companions?"
"Yes."
"Then the rule has changed."
"What really?" The other Sphinx groaned. "Not that rule. It's not fair. Why can't we just ask each of them a question like we usually do."
"Not fair. Not fair. Not fair."
"Silence!" Once again, the chattering Sphinx went quiet. "Your elven friend here has answered the first question. Now you have even more."
"Please go ahead."
The first Sphinx couldn't help but grin from Zero's politeness. "What starts with BR, with the addition of the letter E, and becomes another word that sounds the same as the first?"
"Braking becomes Breaking." Zero replied without much thought.
"Pass. There are 20 people in an empty, square room. Each person has full sight of the entire room and everyone in it without turning their head or body or moving in any way (other than their eyes). Where can you place an apple so that everyone can see it?"
"Place the apple on one person's head."
"Correct. A sign on the barber's door says, "I shave only those who do not shave." Does the barber shave himself?"
"There is no answer; it's a paradox. It cannot be made to work."
"Once again, you are correct. A pregnant lady named her children: Dominique, Regis, Michelle, Fawn, Sophie, and Lara. What will she name her next child? Jessica, Katie, Abby, or Tilly?"
"Tilly. She follows the scale Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, and Ti."
"A clock chimes 5 times in 4 seconds. How many times will it chime in 10 seconds?"
"11 times. It chimes at zero and then once every second for 10 seconds."
"What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?"
"Charcoal."
"I killed one-fourth of all mankind. Who am I?"
"Cain who killed Abel."
"I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?"
"Fire."
The rest of the Sphinx was dumbstruck by how quickly Zero was answering. They thought he would take longer to think over each question, but they were wrong.
"Is this what a Drezo Regalia can do?"
"I never met one till now."
"Only the first ever to wear a Drezo Regalia."
"I only heard rumors. He already answered ten as if it's nothing. At this rate, we have to let him pass."
"I have a heart that never beats, I have a home, but I never sleep. I can take a man's house and build others, And I love to play games with my many brothers. I am a king among fools. Who am I?"
"The King of Hearts in a deck of cards."
The silence between the Sphinx and Zero's group was straining. Even Zero felt a bit uncomfortable with everyone being so quiet. However, he thought these were just simple brain teasers.
"You're good. I expected no less from a Drezo Regalia. This is my last riddle. What has two legs in the morning, four legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"
"You're kidding me, right?" Zero was immensely disappointed. The last question was the simplest of them all. A famous riddle that has been continuously used throughout time. "Man walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening."
"Very well. I expected no less from a Drezo Regalia. It is a shame that still to this day, I have never had a taste of a Drezo Regalia's flesh."
"Aw, Come on. You're going to let go of all those humans? Our food." The other Sphinx wailed. They were itching to have a bite of Zero's group.
"You promised Sphinx. I answered all your questions. Let us pass through."
"Yes. I did. You may go." The first Sphinx did not budge from her pedestal and began to shapeshift into a hard stone. The other Sphinx followed after her and became stone.
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