Penguin Bombers: Heroes No More
The Power Bomber Penguin Bombs are the bosses? The road shattered, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Beyond it, I could make out five shadows. The one radiating the strongest mana was smack in the middle.
Gates were typically ranked in pairs: grades 1-2 as small-scale, 3-4 as mid-scale, 5-6 as large-scale. Grade 7 was a world-ending catastrophe, off the charts. Since they grouped them like that, there was a huge gap between grade 2 and 3, or 4 and 5. The quality of forces needed to clear them changed drastically.
"Huuuuh…."
A grade 3 gate was seriously dangerous. We'd handled the last one easily because Grandpa Yong-su was there.
As the dust settled, the monsters revealed themselves… wearing high-vis helmets, skin-tight suits, and belts. Huh…?
"It's the Power Bomber Penguin Bombs…!!"
The Power Bombers had appeared.
"W-wait, they're humanoid…? This is bad, like really bad…?"
Honestly, I was more deflated than scared, but apparently, it didn't look that way to everyone else. Especially Park Do-hun—he'd gone pale, his hands shaking like leaves.
Whoa—! This world's still kicking strong—!
The Bomber exuding boss vibes—Red—spoke from behind his high-vis helmet. It was clear Korean, perfectly understandable to us.
Su-yeon unnie subtly raised a barrier and stepped in front of me. The way she pushed my shoulder to hide me behind her screamed extreme tension.
"U-unnie, this is dangerous…?"
"…Even in the same gate, fewer monsters mean they're stronger, and higher intelligence makes 'em even tougher."
"Then…!"
"Shiro, on the count of three, we run, okay?"
Su-yeon unnie's legs were trembling, but she glared at the Bombers like she wasn't backing down.
They seemed like protagonists from a parallel universe's tokusatsu show.
Red—looks like we're the invaders here?
Yeah, probably! To survive, we gotta wipe out this world. Don't be too sad!
Oppa, first strike like always?
Green, Red, Pink—they cackled at us, their high-vis helmets distorting their voices into mechanical filters.
Power Bomber was a tokusatsu kids' show, super popular with boys. Among them, Penguin Bombs were the glory days' top stars. Their hallmark? Unmatched strength throughout the series, top-tier among all Bombers.
Alright—let's do this. Power Bomber!
Penguin Bombs!
Penguin Bombs!
Penguin Bombs!
Penguin Bombs!
Penguin Bombs!
Boomer Activating—
Bomber Sword – Deploy!
Flashy music blared as toy-like swords appeared in their hands. But they weren't toys—the surrounding mana swirled into a vortex, sucked into the blades.
"Everyone, get behind me!!"
A staffer from the Hunter Academy rushed in front of Su-yeon unnie's barrier. By his mana, he felt like a B-rank Vanguard.
Starting with Power Bomber Red, they swung their swords in sequence. Mana grenades fired from the tips like hand grenades.
The staffer spread his palms, seized the air around him, and whipped up a massive gust to counter.
But—
Kaboom—!!
The gust couldn't stop them—the mana grenades pierced through, detonating on impact.
"Gah…! R-request for backup sent—"
"Supervisor…!!"
He collapsed in front of Su-yeon unnie, burns covering his body. He landed in the crater left by the explosion.
"Huuuuh…!"
What do I do? What can I do? Helplessness washed over me. Even now, the Bombers were chambering new grenades with metallic clicks, advancing.
"Shiro, run! Hurry!"
Su-yeon unnie, Uncle Yong-hun, Park Do-hun—they all blocked my front. Terrified, bodies shaking, but stepping up to protect me anyway.
And what was I doing? Was this Innocence passive really turning my brain into a kid's? What the hell do I—
Whoa, we're total villains here? For real?
Red, didn't you always wanna play the bad guy once?
Blue doesn't like this setup?
Well….
Riiip—the Bombers' high-vis helmets split horizontally, revealing not human faces but rows of jagged teeth and writhing tentacle tongues. Forget gross—it felt like something you shouldn't get near.
My hairs stood on end, skin prickling.
Of course not.
Boost—!!
Explosions erupted under their feet, propelling them into leaps. They closed on Su-yeon unnie in an instant, swords swinging.
Thwoom—!!
Explosions from the sword backs added thrust. Unnie's yellow barrier shattered without resistance.
The five blades were about to hit her—
I squeezed my eyes shut, tears streaming, hands thrust forward.
"Nooooooo!!!!"
A blizzard erupted. I felt mana bubbling from my heart, surging out. Bitter cold formed ice in the air, slamming into the Bombers.
Crack!
Cold spread across their torsos, ice extending and shoving them back. They stabbed their swords into the ground to halt their flight.
[Gah—!]
Green Bomber's helmet split, teeth and dark red blood splattering the floor. The stench of blood and rot hit my nose.
Red, that kid's dangerous.
Sigh—yeah. That little one's mana felt off, but this level…
Hiss—smoke vented from their boost shoes and sword backs.
Park Do-hun eyed them closely, then whispered, "They accelerate with explosions, but need cooldowns…!"
"…Shiro."
Su-yeon unnie glanced at the hesitating enemies and me, about to say something, then bit her lip.
I knew what she meant. I wiped my tears on my sleeve and looked up at her. Hands still shaking—but I held back the fresh tears and spoke.
"I-I'll help."
—Kyaak—! Absolmi finally piped up, soaring into the air.
Yellow Bomber raised his sword at Absolmi.
That bird's no joke either. The kid's familiar?
Then let's take it out first!
At Red's word, Yellow thrust his sword at Absolmi—a tiny mana grenade rocketed out like a bullet.
Absolmi spread his wings, hugged the grenade, and whipped up a blizzard around himself. I poured mana into him the second I saw.
Ha—?
Clang—the frozen mana grenade hit the ground. Solid ice, no sign of exploding anytime soon.
"…Hey, kid, dunno how precise you can get, but keep freezing their attacks like that. You got this, right?"
"Huuuh… Got it."
My heart pounded nonstop, tears threatening again. I forced them down and nodded at Park Do-hun.
He patted Su-yeon unnie's shoulder like he'd made up his mind, slicked back his bangs, and prepped to charge.
Su-yeon unnie redeployed her barrier, eyes locked on the Bombers. The signal was Uncle Yong-hun's buff—his mana settled on them, faint green light rippling over their bodies.
Snap—Park Do-hun donned his knuckles and clenched his fist; his body turned transparent. Presence right there, but vanished visually.
What… even if you try, you can't beat us.
Red spun his sword casually, then aimed at barrier-clad Su-yeon unnie, jaws wide in mechanical roar.
Fusion—!!!
Yellow, Green, Blue, Pink brought their swords to Red's. Blue lightning flashed; the blades disassembled, reassembling.
B, B, B, Blazing Sword Convergence—!!
"Shiro, if it gets dangerous, you have to run!"
The five swords morphed into a massive cannon. Su-yeon unnie charged without hesitation, hefting her giant hammer.
Three—!
Absolmi, circling overhead, dove at the cannon like a hawk on the hunt, magpie looks be damned.
Two—!!
Mana gathered in the cannon, prickling my skin. One shot could level a building.
Chills raced down my spine, but running wasn't an option. Deep breath—poured blizzard and mana toward Absolmi.
One————!!!!!!!!!!!!
The gathering mana froze. Not stopped—the pre-fire pause, instinct told me.
Then—Absolmi beat his wings backward right at the muzzle. All my mana and blizzard poured in with it.
Crack, craaack—!!
Half my mana vanished in a flash. More precision could've saved some, but this was do-or-die—no holding back.
Error— Error—
What?
The cannon encased in blue ice, mana frozen solid, unfired.
Su-yeon unnie seized the moment—boom!—smashed it with her hammer, shattering it. No explosion; the core was in the hilt.
Park Do-hun's stealth dropped as he snuck close.
"Gotcha, weak spot!"
His fist blazed in like fire. Right… between Red's legs.