184: Chapter 182

The brief low pressure and complex emotions in the backstage dressing room didn't last long. IZ*ONE's "work" time was far from over. After quickly changing into comfortable casual clothes (though still bearing the show's logo), touching up their makeup, and calming their nerves, the eleven girls were soon "invited" out of the dressing room by the staff and led to a relatively spacious preparation area backstage.

Waiting for them were not sofas for resting or snacks for comfort, but a row of neatly hanging, professional-looking wire harnesses, along with several serious-looking wire crew members checking ropes and hooks.

Everyone: "???"

Kwon Eunbi (who had taken off the Lion headgear, but the psychological shadow remained) looked at those harnesses, her eyelids twitching. "What... what is this for? Why are there wires?"

An Yujin also looked bewildered. "Aren't we going to 'Rescue Duck X'? Are we... going to fly there?"

Jang Wonyoung subconsciously touched her waist, imagining the feeling of being suspended. Her small face turned a bit pale again. She had already experienced enough "high-altitude projects" (psychologically) today.

Kang Hye-won, however, leaned in curiously to take a look. "Wow, it looks very professional. Will it be fun to be hung up?"

The other members also cast curious, confused, and slightly uneasy glances. After everything they had been through in the morning and afternoon, they were extremely wary of any new arrangements from Jiang Zhiyu.

Just then, Jiang Zhiyu himself appeared at the entrance of the preparation area, wearing his signature, seemingly tireless, bright smile. He was holding a thick whiteboard with what appeared to be a complex schematic drawn on it.

"Girls! Have you rested well? Is your energy refilled?" he greeted them enthusiastically, as if he wasn't the one who had just put them through social death and a roast duck feast.

Everyone responded with complex stares; no one spoke.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't mind. He set up the whiteboard on his own and then clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.

"I know everyone is curious about why you're wearing wires." He pointed to the harnesses. "Because our next 'Rescue Duck X' operation will enter a whole new dimension—three-dimensional spatial combat!"

He turned around and quickly sketched on the whiteboard with a marker.

"According to the 'Star Demon Intelligence' we intercepted (which he made up)," Jiang Zhiyu said solemnly, "the place where Yena-ssi is being held is no ordinary prison, but a special alternate dimension twisted by 'Star Demon power,' containing the energy of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth!"

On the whiteboard, he drew five circles, labeling them with Chinese characters and Korean: Metal (Geum), Wood (Mok), Water (Su), Fire (Hwa), and Earth (To). Each circle also contained a simple icon, such as a metal block, a tree, a water drop, a flame, and a mound of dirt.

"To cross this alternate dimension and reach the core area where Yena is held, you must pass through these five elemental zones in sequence." Jiang Zhiyu's voice was full of the passion of an adventure show host. "And each zone is guarded by 'elite minions' who have been corrupted and made exceptionally powerful by Star Demon power!"

Next to each element circle, he drew sketches of the corresponding "monsters."

Metal Zone: A Steel Hello Kitty with a metallic glint and a fierce expression! (Note below: Enhanced version of the original Hello Kitty plush)

Wood Zone: A Forest Golden Retriever entangled in vines with a small tree growing on its head! (Enhanced version of the original Golden Retriever plush)

Water Zone: A Giant Soft Baby that was more transparent, much larger, and had a whirlpool inside! (Upgraded version of the original Soft Baby aggregate)

Fire Zone: A Burning Zang Zang Bao covered in fire (simple line-drawing flames) and charred black! (Upgraded version of the original Zang Zang Bao composite)

Earth Zone: A brownish-maroon, wriggling mass emitting an ominous aura... Stinky Mud (Muk)?! (A brand new species!)

Seeing these "elite monster" sketches, especially the "Stinky Mud," the members' mouths twitched collectively again. Could they not have some normal enemies?!

"These elite monsters have attributes consistent with their zones and are very powerful!" Jiang Zhiyu emphasized. "But! Do not be afraid! You are not without a chance!"

He once again brought out the upgraded version of the "Sacred Star Power Theory of Endorsed Products."

"Remember the 'sacred objects' containing the 'power of wishes' that you obtained in the mortal world? After the 'pre-battle resonance' just now (referring to eating roast duck and watching commercials), their connection with your constellation power has grown even tighter! Now, they can trigger corresponding attribute-countering powers based on the environment!"

He took a red marker, drew lines between the "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth" and the monster sketches, and quickly explained:

"Metal counters Wood! Metal-attributed power can counter Wood-attributed monsters! The sacred object representing 'Metal' could be..." His gaze swept over the props the members had used before, "...Kwon Eunbi-ssi's 'Hammer of the Lionheart Sovereign' (does a toy hammer count as metal?), or certain hard stress toys (ZZ Brand)!"

"Wood counters Earth! Wood-attributed power counters Earth-attributed monsters! Sacred objects representing 'Wood'... uh, fresh fruits and vegetables? Or... paper products? In short, anything that symbolizes 'growth' or 'plants'!" (He probably hadn't fully thought it through yet)

"Water counters Fire! Water-attributed power counters Fire-attributed monsters! This one is easy! Jang Wonyoung-ssi's 'Star Spring Sacred Crown' (mineral water) is the strongest Water-attributed sacred object! Other juices and sports drinks work too!"

"Fire counters Metal! Fire-attributed power counters Metal-attributed monsters! Representing 'Fire'... burning energy? Passion? Maybe... some foods that generate heat? Or... slogans?" (He was starting to talk nonsense)

"Earth counters Water! Earth-attributed power counters Water-attributed monsters! Representing 'Earth'... well, mud? Rocks? Maybe... something heavy and down-to-earth? Like... the lotus leaf pancakes from the roast duck? Or simply the conviction of being 'down-to-earth'!" (He was completely letting loose)

Jiang Zhiyu spoke at high speed, forcibly linking the Five Elements' cycle of generation and restraint with those messy endorsed products and abstract concepts. The members were stunned, their brains barely able to keep up.

"In short!" he summarized, ignoring the confusion in everyone's eyes. "You need to use the 'sacred objects' at hand, judge their potential attributes, and then target the corresponding elite monsters! With attribute counters, you'll get twice the result with half the effort!"

"And the wires—" He brought it back to the initial question, pointing at the hanging harnesses, "are so that you can move and attack in three dimensions and from multiple angles within these elemental zones! Some zones might require leaping over ravines (Earth Zone?), some might require dodging 'fire rain' falling from the sky (Fire Zone?), and some might require maintaining balance in flowing water (Soft Baby?)! The wires will help you complete these high-difficulty moves, ensuring safety while also increasing visual impact!"

He paused, a "praise me for my detailed planning" expression on his face.

"So, wearing wires isn't for flying, but to Rescue Duck X more flexibly, safely, and coolly!"

"Now, the wire crew will help everyone put on and adjust the equipment. Meanwhile, the production team will distribute the 'sacred object' props you used before, as well as some new ones, to the entrance of each zone. You'll need to judge for yourselves how to use them!"

"The rescue operation is about to begin! Do you have confidence?!"

The eleven girls looked at Jiang Zhiyu's expectant (and mischievous) face, then at the ridiculous and eerie "elite monster" sketches on the whiteboard, and then thought about themselves wearing wires, holding juice, toy hammers, instant noodles, and the like, fighting enhanced plushes in the so-called "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth" zones...

They were collectively silent for three seconds.

Then, Kwon Eunbi, as the leader, took a deep breath. Representing everyone, she used her last bit of strength and professional etiquette to squeeze out one word:

"...Yes."

The voice wasn't loud; it was full of exhaustion, helplessness, and a sense of "whatever happens, happens" resignation.

Jiang Zhiyu smiled with satisfaction.

"Very good! Then, the 'Rescue Duck X' operation—Final Phase, prepare to launch!"

"Wire crew, get the gear on! Props team, to your positions! Lights and sound, prepare to create the elemental atmosphere!"

The backstage area instantly became busy. With the help of the staff, the members began to clumsily put on the wire harnesses and adjust the tightness. They helped each other check their gear, their faces filled with a resigned calm, occasionally mixed with a bit of curiosity and... desperate curiosity about how ridiculous the upcoming "Elemental Battle" would be.

While fastening her harness, Jang Wonyoung whispered to An Yujin beside her, "Unnie, do you think that 'Stinky Mud (Muk)'... will really be stinky?"

An Yujin thought about it seriously for a moment. "Based on PD Jiang's style... it's very likely. We might need something with 'Wood' attributes... where is there wood?"

Kang Hye-won leaned over and held up an unopened pack of instant noodles. "Does this... count as 'Wood'? The main ingredient is wheat?"

Everyone: "..."

Well, it seemed the "attribute judgment" hurdle would give them a headache for a while.

Regardless, the wires were on, the "sacred objects" were about to be distributed, and that absurd alternate dimension made of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—filled with enhanced plushes and mysterious attributes—was waiting for the eleven warriors (?) of IZ*ONE to venture through.

The final adventure to rescue Choi Yena (Duck X) slowly pulled back its curtain amidst the clicking sounds of the wire ropes.