Superhero Drill Strike! Flower Evolution and the Woman in the Mirror
There's something so romantic about this! I finally got to do something I've always wanted to try! You know, imitating the hero from that movie I saw once! Saying the protagonist's badass lines and zooming around with superpowers, whooshing through the air!
Now I can do both—double the thrill, super exciting! What can't this guy Kkumteuli do?
"...But like, how far is this thing gonna fly?"
No sooner had the words left my mouth than my floating hair flopped straight down.
At the same time, the giddy upward rush faded away, replaced by a chilling dread.
"Huh? Wha—wait a sec... No way, we're dropping...!"
I know this feeling. Back at the orphanage, I rode this ride at the amusement park 'cause it looked fun. It rattled up high, spinning round and round... and then...
"Gyaaaaah! We're falliiiing!"
Yeah, just like this—plummeting straight down in an instant! Save me! What's happening! How! Hoooong!
Calm down, Mother. I'm right here with you. Don't think about falling. Think about what you want to do. I'll make it happen.
What I want? Anything's possible?
I am part of you, Mother. Your tool. Your limb. So I can do anything.
Kkumteuli's thoughts flowed into my mind like water, and mine seemed to flow back just the same.
Anything, huh? Then I'll blast that gross clay lump with the most badass method ever!
The perfect idea flashed in my head right then! Kkumteuli, you said anything's possible, so you can do it, right?
Changed, huh... To think you'd imagine something like this.
So you can't? If not, we'll try something else.
As if. Do whatever you want, Mother. Go wild.
As I plummeted, I could see right below—still Deobseok-i and Raid Leader Jihye wrestling with that gross clay lump.
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
I shouted as I shot downward. Can't let them get caught in this. Gotta warn 'em!
"Chorok? What the heck is— Whoa! Deobseok-i, what're you doing?!"
Quick-on-the-uptake Deobseok-i grabbed the panicking Jihye and yanked her aside.
Perfect. Now's my chance! Time for that epic anime line, super flashy-style!
"My drill... is the drill that pierces the heavens!!!"
—Vreeeeee!
With a shwoosh, Kkumteuli's vines unfurled, spinning like a fan before morphing into a massive drill.
—Shwooom!
Dropping fast, Kkumteuli's drill slammed right into the clay lump's back—thunk!
It shredded and crumbled into a doughy mess, like floury dumpling batter!
—TKL-L!
I landed lightly on the ground, and the wrecked clay lump revealed... something.
"Isn't that... a slime core?"
A glowing, round, bluish orb.
Wobble wobble. The scattered clay bits started slithering back toward the orb from all directions.
"Mages! Block that thing from regenerating!"
—BOOM!
At Raid Leader Jihye's command, the raid mages hurled spells at the clumps, holding them back.
"Melee, including me—charge in and smash that core! You too, Deobseok-i!"
Jihye led the charge, followed by hunters with spears and swords rushing to pulverize the core.
"Eat this!"
Tiger energy surged from Jihye's fist, glowing yellow as she swung at the core.
—BAM!
The impact cracked the core with a crunch.
—TKL-L!
But it still wailed grotesquely, and the remaining doughy bits closed in.
"Now! Deobseok-i! Hit it hard! Me too! Body slam!"
—Kieeeek!
Deobseok-i roared and barreled toward the clay's center at my command, mouth gaping wide—then chomping down with inner jaws, crunch crunch, shredding and devouring it.
"Did... did we get it?"
"Raid Leader! Stop that! It's a resurrection spell!"
"Ah... sorry."
That's what happened earlier—made it revive. But this time, we really got it, right?
The First Seed, eater of ██, has succeeded in S██gg█th Predation.
The First Seed evolves!
I froze. Deobseok-i, mid-core-munch, halted in place. Then light poured from its body...
"Huh...? Deobseok-i, what's wrong?"
Pop! It flashed briefly, and a single flower bloomed on the back of its head. Purple, just like the ones in my hair!
"Whoa! Deobseok-i's even cuter now!"
***
"Healers, finish treating the wounded. Scouts and operators, report the situation."
⊳ No further monster reactions detected.
⊳ The final entity fought identified as the boss monster.
Officer Seonhwa's briefing continued over the communicator. It's really over now, right? Yeah?
"Phew... Then let's head to the dungeon core and return."
Saying that, Raid Leader Jihye approached me.
"Chorok's seriously a lucky charm. Total good luck girl! That fight could've caused massive casualties."
"Eueung!"
She ruffled my hair roughly as she got close.
Eung eung. Messed up my hair again. It was already like a bird's nest earlier...
"But you okay? Looks like Deobseok-i scarfed down the magic stone too."
"Eung? For real?"
"Slime-types have a core you crack open to get the stone inside. But Deobseok-i swallowed it whole."
"Eugh...? Again? Deobseok-i, you glutton! No mercy this time—spanking when we get home!"
No wonder the evolution message popped up! It crunched through like candy and gulped the stone too!
Pwing pwing. As I puffed my cheeks and scolded, Deobseok-i wagged its new cute flower and acted all adorable.
Hmm... Well. Kinda cute change. Hmm... Okay, forgiven. Too cute post-evolution to stay mad.
"...Just this once. Next time, no mercy."
Nod nod. Deobseok-i sent thoughts promising it'd remember this time.
And then.
Mother. It's not over yet. I still sense that gorgeous big sis nearby.
Kkumteuli chimed in too. Oh yeah, the hottie big sis is supposed to be close.
Where? Where is she? Not here. Gotta be around somewhere?
Wriggle wriggle. Kkumteuli's vine pointed to the stairs of the Egyptian-looking building. The ones leading straight to the top.
"Raid Leader! I, um, wanna go up there."
"The altar? Dungeon core's up there anyway—let's go together. After the wounded are treated."
I glanced back at the injured behind us.
Jihye said no major casualties, but plenty were hurt here and there.
"Uuu..."
"What's up? Worried about the kids?"
"Yeah. Do dungeons always have this many injuries?"
"Yep. This is light thanks to you working hard. Old dangerous ones? Tons ended up hospitalized."
"I-I wanna make a guild where no one gets hurt...!"
Jihye just grinned without a word, then ruffled my hair roughly again.
"You rascal. Saying such admirable stuff... Yeah. With your power, maybe it's possible. I'd wanna join a guild like that."
"Eung?"
"Haha. Kidding. Kidding. But that mindset? Keep it forever. Promise."
"Yeah!"
Awesome. New goal for Super Guild Leader Chorok! When I lead the guild, I'll protect everyone in it!
"Alright, once treatment's done, we'll head to the altar. Time to go home."
. . .
10 minutes later. After climbing the long, steep stairs, we reached the top.
"Huff... So tiring..."
Jihye led, and I scurried behind, somehow keeping pace to the summit.
"Dungeon core's here. But looks like Chorok's hunting for something else?"
Panting, I scanned around. Where is she? Not visible. Where's the hottie big sis?
"Said it'd be a new friend like Deobseok-i or Kkumteuli. But Kkumteuli said she's here... and no sign."
"Hmm... What'd she look like?"
"A hottie big sis."
"If it was humanoid, we'd have spotted it. You sure it wasn't something else?"
Tap tap. Kkumteuli's vine poked my wrist, then pointed at the floor.
"Huh? Why point at the floor?"
My gaze dropped. Huh? This looks familiar...
Like that mural on the wall from the training trip! But this one's got a mirror in the center, surrounded by wriggling gross clay lump drawings.
Don't tell me if I touch it...?
—Click. Rumble rumble...!
"What is that...?" "Some kinda vibration...?" "Earthquake...?"
Green light poured from my hand, and the platform shook violently.
"What's going on! Everyone, brace yourselves! Falling means injuries!"
As Jihye shouted, the quaking stopped.
And the spot I'd touched rose slightly.
—Clank!
The raised floor split open on both sides. Treasure chest? What's inside?
"A mirror...?"
Here, Mother. This is where I sensed the gorgeous big sis.
Eung? What? How's a mirror connected to the hottie big sis?
"Gotta take it out first."
I picked up the worn-looking mirror. Tried reflecting my face, but... nothing. Just gray emptiness.
"What is this? Broken mirror? Why no reflection?"
Shook it around to check if it was busted.
—Flash!
"Eek! So bright!"
After shaking it hard, the mirror blasted a dazzling beam—nearly dropped it!
Rubbing my eyes with one hand, I finally looked... and beyond the mirror...
"Is this person... the hottie big sis...?"
A stunningly beautiful woman, bound tight with ropes.
"Ugh... Chorok, what'd you touch? What's that mirror?"
Blinded by the flash, Jihye came over late and peered in. "Huh? That's not Jeju Island?"
The hottie big sis vanished, replaced by an island in the middle of the ocean.