185: Chapter 183

The wire testing was complete. The eleven Star Saints, feeling a tragic sense of "heading to the execution ground," were led by staff through a "Distorted Space Portal" (actually just a door frame hung with blinking LED strings and dry ice fog) and officially stepped into the alternate space that Jiang Zhiyu claimed contained the power of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

The first thing that came into view was the so-called "Metal" attribute area.

The scene was not complex; it was a relatively open, square area with intricate golden geometric lines drawn on the ground. The lighting was a cold, hard metallic tone, and the air seemed filled with an invisible sense of sharpness (complemented by sound effects). The "elite minions" guarding this place were exactly as Jiang Zhiyu had drawn on the whiteboard—a small group of Metal Kitties!

But unlike the previous Hello Kitty doll that could only roll balls of yarn, these "Metal Kitties" before them, though still small, clearly had their shells replaced with a silver reflective material (likely spray-painted or wrapped), glinting coldly under the lights. They were no longer soft, cute plushies but were arranged in a neat phalanx, swaying mechanically from side to side. Their round metal faces used red LEDs to form "fierce" (at least, they thought so) expressions, and their mouths emitted a synchronized electronic echo: "Meow! Metal! Invincible! Meow! Metal! Invincible!"

There were quite a few of them, at least twenty or thirty, blocking the only path to the next area.

"So these are... Metal-attribute monsters?" Kwon Eunbi squinted as she sized them up.

"They look... quite hard," An Yujin commented.

Jang Wonyoung subconsciously touched the "Crown Aquarius" she had already taken off her head, wondering if the "Water" attribute would be useful here.

Just then, the production crew's prompt sign lit up at the edge of the field, featuring Jiang Zhiyu's flamboyant handwriting:

[Law of Metal: Fire conquers Metal!]

[Find the Fire-attribute sacred object! Counter them!]

Fire conquers Metal?

Everyone's eyes immediately began searching for the "Fire-attribute sacred object." At the entrance to this area, there were piles of props they had used before as well as new ones. There was juice, soap, stress-relief toys, energy bars, and... a few brightly colored bowling balls?

Bowling balls? What does that have to do with fire?

At that moment, everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on Kang Hye-won (aries). One of the symbols of aries is "Fire" (aries is a Fire sign). Moreover, Kang Hye-won's previous performance... though Buddha-like, she always came up with some unexpected "ideas."

"Hye-won Unnie!" Jang Wonyoung whispered, "Fire conquers Metal! aries is a fire sign! Is it your turn..."

Kang Hye-won was staring blankly at the bowling balls. Hearing her name, she looked up dazed: "Me? Flames? Isn't that a bit too dangerous? There's no real fire here..." She was a law-abiding citizen; arson was not okay!

The production crew's prompt sign updated just in time to relieve her concerns about "danger":

[Symbol of Fire: Blazing Charge Bowling Alley!]

[Please use the 'flame bowling ball' (the bowling balls have been painted with flame patterns) to attack! Get a home run, aries!]

Following the prompt, the staff quickly replaced those ordinary bowling balls with several "flame bowling balls" painted with bright red and orange flame patterns that looked exceptionally cool, pushing them in front of Kang Hye-won.

Kang Hye-won looked at the garish bowling balls, then at the group of Metal Kitties waiting in formation and glinting with a metallic chill. She blinked her pure, large eyes, and a look of realization (?) and a hint of... eagerness appeared on her face?

"Oh~ so it's bowling!" She realized, walking over to easily pick up a "flame bowling ball" and weighing it in her hand. "flame bowling ball... a home run? I get this! It's just like hitting them all away in baseball, right?"

She began to imagine herself as the protagonist of a hot-blooded sports manga, making a beautiful throw where the bowling ball, trailing blazing flames (in her imagination), would crash into the group of Metal Kitties and knock them down like bowling pins in a cool display!

"Alright! Leave it to me!" Kang Hye-won was suddenly full of energy. She struck what she thought was a standard baseball pitcher's pose—one knee slightly bent, body leaning back, arm pulled back, her eyes "sharply" locking onto the Metal Kitty Cats phalanx in the distance.

The others held their breath, watching her with anticipation (and doubt).

However, while the ideal was grand, the reality was harsh.

Kang Hye-won used all her strength to hurl the "flame bowling ball"!

The bowling ball traced a... completely ordinary arc. Its speed wasn't fast, and its direction was a bit off, flying toward the edge of the Metal Kitty Cats phalanx.

"Rumble, rumble..."

The sound of the bowling ball rolling on the floor was exceptionally clear in the quiet arena.

And then—

"Bang!"

The bowling ball hit the foot (lightly) of the Metal Kitty Cats at the very edge. That Kitty was bumped and swayed, letting out an electronic cry of "Meow?!" but it didn't fall. Meanwhile, the bowling ball changed direction due to the impact, rolling into the nearby pile of props and knocking over a few bottles of juice.

The scene was momentarily very awkward.

"Ah... I missed." Kang Hye-won scratched her head, the eagerness on her face instantly turning back into her "I knew it" dazed expression.

The Metal Kitties seemed to be provoked, emitting even louder electronic chants of "Meow! Metal! Invincible!" as the phalanx began to slowly advance, their metal paws making a "clank, clank" sound on the floor.

"Oh no! What do we do?" An Yujin grew anxious. "Hye-won Unnie's aim is..."

Kwon Eunbi also frowned, thinking of a countermeasure. Should they charge? These metal guys looked quite hard. Should they try other attributes? But the hint said Fire conquers Metal!