Sync Ghosts
"Whoa! It looks insanely strong! But why did Gauntlet send such a massive monster? People here are gonna freak out."
As Sage Lunaris let out her admiration, Seo Dan-bi, Ha Yu-mi, Shin So-mang, and Hwang Mi-reu—the four women—stood speechless, mouths agape, staring up at the sky.
"Everyone? Snap out of it."
"Ah, uh... "
The women pulled themselves together at Sage's words. Seo Dan-bi and Ha Yu-mi tried to stay calm as they talked.
"Th-that's Melody Fox, right? No way that's her original size, is it?"
"...Probably. Looks like she regained her true size after escaping the labyrinth."
"I had no idea she was that huge... But more importantly, what do we do with her now...?"
"No clue... I think we've caused a major incident here..."
As they chatted, Melody Fox, who had her eyes squeezed shut, cracked them open just a sliver. Her narrowed gaze fixed on where the jo-ryeokja were gathered.
Melody Fox pinpointed their exact location.
[Kyuu.]
Melody instantly realized her allies were in a bind because of her enormous size and gently closed her eyes again.
At that moment, a thick clump of fur began to sprout slowly from Melody Fox's forehead, and her massive body started shrinking bit by bit.
"Oh. She can reduce her size? Good. I'll go fetch that monster, so you all wait here."
Sage spoke with relief and swiftly left to retrieve Melody Fox.
Left alone, the four women. As Shin So-mang tapped her phone to report the situation to Kang Geon, Seo Dan-bi broke the brief silence first.
"W-well, shrinking back down is a relief... But isn't it too late? Tons of people must've seen her already."
"Bet there are a crapload of photos and videos too," Hwang Mi-reu replied.
Seo Dan-bi swallowed hard, pulled out her phone, and checked online reactions.
Of course, the internet was in chaos over the giant fox's appearance—way more than when the Hedgehog Summoner's spirits had shown up.
After skimming the news, Seo Dan-bi logged into Korea's biggest community site to check reactions.
Real-time shots I took myself. Not a hoax. Tons of other witnesses, and auth pics/videos are popping up everywhere.
Luckily it's gone now, so no worries lol
"Total chaos..."
Seo Dan-bi muttered, dizzy, rubbing her forehead as she put her phone away.
Just then, Sage Lunaris returned.
"Everyone! I brought her back quietly, away from prying eyes!"
[Kyuaa! Kyuukyuu!]
Melody Fox beamed innocently.
"I also quickly checked the area—no damage or injuries from this. Probably had no physical form when giant, like mist. Now that she's small, she does."
"Like a gas? That's a relief..."
Seo Dan-bi sighed in relief at Sage's words.
"But the internet's exploding. What now?"
"What can we do? Nothing."
Sage replied calmly.
"Think positive. This could work out well."
"Huh? How?"
"No casualties, but it woke people up. Doubters will believe now. More caution, more prep for monsters."
"Ah..."
Seo Dan-bi nodded, mulling it over. From that angle, the giant Melody Fox wasn't all bad.
Some minor chaos, but no massive panic—people were already half-aware from the Hedgehog spirits.
As Sage said, nothing we can do... Might as well not stress and think positive.
The other women agreed, reported to Kang Geon, and dropped it.
"...Anyway, head to my place?"
Seo Dan-bi and the four took Melody Fox home, avoiding eyes.
Once there.
[Kyuaa! Kyuuu!]
"Oguogu! Good eater!"
They shoved the incident aside, ordered endless delivery, and fed Melody Fox everything, a bit uneasily.
While the jo-ryeokja played with Melody Fox.
At the same time, Korea's top brass—including the president—convened.
"No media blackout?"
"Couldn't this time. Too many witnesses, evidence."
"Yeah, impossible to contain..."
They weren't human. Otherworlders who'd possessed human bodies.
The Sync Ghosts, possessing race. C/D-grade by Kang Geon's standards.
"Sigh... My soul nearly shattered earlier. What kinda monster was that?"
"Way beyond us."
"As I said before, there's a monster woman disguised as human here. Hiding power, but full strength rivals what we saw."
"Bad."
"This country's off."
"I've been saying! Something's wrong here! Told you about those two huge auras last time!"
"The photographed ones? Hard to tell from pics."
"Can't feel from pics! Think!"
"Why only this tiny country gets these high-tiers? Others fine."
"Wrong country choice."
"They have a saying: small peppers are spicy. Fits."
Earth's dimensional veil unstable. Many forces eyeing it.
Sync Ghosts among them.
But after debate, they decided.
"Regrettable, but we're pulling out."
Abandon Earth. Wise call. No dissent—they knew it was beyond them.
Just the start; stronger ones coming.
"Agreed, but can't leave immediately."
"Know. How long for return tunnel?"
"About 100 days."
"100 days... Prep countermeasures then."
"Countermeasures? What?"
"Make humans ready for invasion."
"Why bother...?"
"Can't have it, make it annoying for others."
The president Sync Ghost outlined to kin.
Sync Ghost Withdrawal Plan Summary
• Supply Korean military with Sync Ghost weapons.
• Establish Otherworld Countermeasures HQ.
• Form elite squad for top-tier weapons.
Weapons far beyond Earth's. Military ones hurt D-grades; elite hit C-grades per Kang Geon scale.
More preps: shelters, docs for originals, recruit unpossessed humans.
Last day: Reveal Earth's situation publicly, broadcast captives, dump all intel.
"We're leaving anyway. Others can't touch us."
"Haha, proper troll. Good."
"Love it. Can't leave empty-handed; mess with other otherworlders."
No more opinion control post-this. Eases truth drop.
Conspiracies, protests? Ignore till exit. Leak risks lives.
Secret execution.
"After we spill and leave, others might attack Korea?"
"Not our problem."
"Gotta say, attached to this place..."
"How after so short? They'll be busy anyway. Our weapons'll hold."
~100 days to declaration, war on otherworld.
Sync Ghosts in Korea's brass began covert, swift countermeasures.
If they can't have it, make it hell for others. Spitefully.