Chapter 357: Toywar (Part 3)
Chapter 357: Toywar (Part 3)
Led by Mario, Feng Bu Jue and Xiao Tan hurried through a vast warehouse-like room. Along the way, glowing Lamps lit their path at regular intervals. Looking up, they saw numerous Toy soldiers standing on the surrounding Shelving. Clearly, the Classic Faction was formidable—by any standard, they could indeed be called an Army.
Earlier, when Feng Bu Jue had opened the Shoebox lid, he’d assumed the dark space above was the sky. But in reality, the area directly overhead was the Supermarket’s first-floor Ceiling. However, since both he and Xiao Tan had been shrunk to about seven centimeters tall, and the Lamps’ light shone diagonally downward, the "distant" Ceiling remained invisible. All they could see was darkness above.
After several minutes, Mario led them to a towering door. Of course, "towering" was relative…
"Uh… are we leaving?" Feng Bu Jue asked from behind Mario, eyeing the narrow Door Crack. "We can’t squeeze through that gap, and I doubt this five-centimeter-tall Mario Toy could push open a door meant for regular humans." Though he didn’t yet know the Toy’s combat prowess, Feng Bu Jue had his doubts about this miniature figure’s strength.
Xiao Tan offered another dubious guess: "Maybe there’s a Mouse Hole nearby?"
Mario adjusted his Cap Brim, unimpressed. "You’re not spies—just two clueless idiots." He stepped toward the Door Crack, pulling a pipe wrench from his Overalls. He tapped the Door Panel three times, paused two seconds, then tapped twice more.
Then he stepped back, waiting.
Soon, a Black Shadow slithered through the Door Crack.
The Shadow resembled a Sticker—viewed sideways, it was a mere line; from the front, it appeared as a tiny black figure with a large nose.
"Mr. Gamewatch?" Feng Bu Jue recognized the 2Dcharacter’s silhouette instantly.
"Who’re these two? New recruits?" Mr. Gamewatch ignored Feng Bu Jue, speaking casually to Mario.
"Optimus Prime ordered them to Take the Lead tonight", Mario replied.
"Hmph", Mr. Gamewatch let out a Dry Laugh. "Good luck, I guess." He vanished back through the Door Crack.
About a minute later, a faint noise echoed from above—the door handle began turning.
From the other side, someone shouted, "Rotation complete! Push!"
"Back up, newbies", Mario called, ushering the two players to retreat.
Creaking—
With a slow groan, the massive Door Panel swung inward.
Feng Bu Jue and Xiao Tan peered through the widening Door Crack, expecting to see a towering Toy—at least fifty centimeters tall and weighing over three kilograms.
Instead, they saw a ten-centimeter-tall plastic figure.
"Look at these puny runts", Koopa sneered, halting his push. Mario’s archenemy and gaming history’s first standalone antagonist, he stood with arms crossed. "I could blow them over and not break a sweat."
Feng Bu Jue ignored the insult. "How’d you push this door?"
"Used my Claws", Koopa replied, his voice deep and fierce. "Put your back and legs into it. But you two shouldn’t try it."
"Enough. You might not see them again after tonight", Mario retorted, waving the players forward.
Feng Bu Jue checked Xiao Tan, shrugged, and followed Mario through the Door Crack. Though the gap was barely centimeters wide, it sufficed for their tiny frames.
"From here on is the Neutral Zone", Mario explained as they walked. "Our Territorial Control covers the Southeast Corner—Sportswear Brands, Kitchenware, and half the Food Department." He gestured ahead. "Tonight’s combat will still take place in the Frozen Food Section."
The players glanced in the indicated direction. The distant landscape resembled a dark Canyon, shadowed Silhouettes looming in the gloom.
"Out here in this larger area, we can’t use many Illumination Facilities", Mario continued. "Security patrols every three hours—if we left too many lights out, we might not hide them in time. That’s why we stick to the freezer aisle, where artificial light’s constant. Now—any glowing parts on you?"
Xiao Tan hesitated a few seconds, then switched on his miner’s helmet lamp.
Feng Bu Jue produced a flashlight. "I’ve got one too."
Mario stepped close, inspecting their gear. "Precision Components? Suspicious…" He narrowed his eyes. "What’s the Power Source? Wind-up? Pull Tab? Or do you have lithium batteries in those bellies?"
"Solar Power", Feng Bu Jue lied smoothly. "Our Exteriors use a special Material. Sunlight lets us Store Energy."
"Ah, like the Gba Solar Peripheral!" Mario nodded. "The one where you had to play under direct sunlight to replenish Ammo in-game."
"Exactly", Feng Bu Jue agreed.
"Not so impressive", Mario muttered, turning to lead them onward.
After navigating a darker stretch, they entered a three-sided enclosure formed by Crates.
The floor was covered in a Dance Mat. In the corner, a regular-sized flashlight glowed. On a nearby Blanket stood twenty-odd Nintendo-affiliated or allied characters—mostly plastic Toy figures, with a few metal or electronic Components.
"Who-are-these-two?" asked a robotic Toy. Each word was enunciated in a flat first tone.
"Wait—is that Wall-E?" Xiao Tan asked, staring.
The robot resembled Pixar’s creation but was gray-white instead of yellow-black. Instead of Tracks on its Chassis, it seemed to rely on simple legs for movement.
"Die!" The robot suddenly leapt, hurling a whirring Gyroscope-like object at Xiao Tan.
The device, thrown with deadly speed, spun like a circular saw toward Xiao Tan’s torso.
With a hiss and a thud, a hulking figure lunged forward, catching the Gyroscope midair and shielding the players.
"Oh no, oh no…" Donkey Kong growled, using his free hand to yank his red Necktie while beating his chest with the other. "Grrr… Roooar!"
Feng Bu Jue watched, face twitching. At least this is more sophisticated than Ultraman’s acting…
A golden-armored figure stepped forward, her Shock Cannon-equipped right hand raised. "Listen, kid—we’ll forgive you this once", said the voice beneath the helmet, clearly feminine. "R.O.B hates that name. Remember it."
"Uh… sorry", Xiao Tan stammered, his Terror Value in Feng Bu Jue’s menu dropping as he wiped sweat. He still didn’t know what he’d done wrong.
"Feng Bu Jue’s lips quirked. "So that’s R.O.B—the legendary Universe’s Strongest Bounty Hunter, Samus Aran."
"Enough. These newbies haven’t earned Optimus Prime’s Trust, and they might not survive tonight", Mario called to the others. "Let’s focus on combat assignments."
…
Meanwhile, at the Novel Faction’s base…
Inside a Fortress constructed from flat-panel computers and mechanical parts, hundreds of meticulously crafted Collectible Figures stood in formation—flawless Models, Remote-Control Pets, and more.
Centered on a raised platform stood Saber (Artoria Alter Prototype), Bayonetta (Combat Jumpsuit), and Saeko Busujima (School Uniform Sword Outfit).
Behind them loomed a thirty-centimeter-tall figure.
Clad in black armor glowing with icy blue light, he stood on a Skullbase adorned with frozen wave-like Ice Marks.
This was Lich King Arthas—the $350 pre-order exclusive Collectible Figure.
"Otherworld travelers", his deathly Voice of Death echoed. His pupil-less Glowing Eyes fixed on Si Yu and Bei Ling. "I entrust my Army to you. Hope… you won’t disappoint me."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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