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"Huh?"
∑(△｀)?!
Ding-ding-dang, ding-dang-ding—
Just as Annie was examining some object in the arms of the giant Buddha statue on the other side of the blood pool, that music and jaunty BGM rang out yet again. A headless monster appeared, plucking a large three-stringed fiddle as he sang and made his way toward her and Tibbers:
"Steel and iron strike stone, but have no might; the Great Sage and Tianpeng fell to Tiger Vanguard's blight..."
"Spears, swords, and halberds can't keep them at bay; Stone Monkey, are you like him, or not the same?"
After finishing his song, the headless figure cheerfully waved his large three-stringed fiddle. Without warning, a golden spell shot toward Tibbers.
"!?"
ヽ(ヽ`′)
Tibbers was naturally startled.
Then, without a second thought and with no intention of taking that from the other guy, he swung his staff and smashed the golden light to pieces before charging at the headless "monster."
"!!"
Hah!
-
(゜゜)つ--
Tibbers immediately brought his staff down hard on the other figure's head.
Of course, it wasn't really the figure's head, since he didn't have one. More accurately, Tibbers aimed for his severed neck—if that even counted as a vital spot.
"Hmph!"
"What a cheeky monkey!"
Unfortunately, with a cold snort, the figure's body shattered into a cloud of golden sand. Tibbers' willow staff scattered the golden dust, but struck nothing else.
As he vanished, the other figure naturally took the chance to explain his actions:
"You—"
"Foolish!"
"This old monk merely saw that you had extraordinary bones and a body suited to a copper head and iron arms. I wanted to use a little magic to help you, and pass on the Tiger Demon's unique ability. I never expected..."
"You wouldn't know a good thing if it hit you!"
As he