187: Chapter 185

Having mastered the "game cheats," Kang Hye-won's confidence instantly soared! With Lee Chaeyeon's "Holy Ray Aiming" assistance and Jang Wonyoung's "Same-Color Chain" theoretical guidance, she transformed into a "Flame Bowling Shooter," throwing one "flame bowling ball" after another at the marked groups of same-colored Mechanical Kitty Cats.

"Bang! Clatter~"

"Clang! Clatter~"

"Meow?! (Electronic scream)"

The metal Kitty Cats fell in swaths, emitting various onomatopoeia and electronic wails. Staff members quickly rushed onto the stage to drag away the fallen "wreckage," making the scene look quite "tragic" (and hilarious).

Soon, the "Tiny Metal Kitty Cat Army" of twenty to thirty was mostly cleared out, leaving only a few scattered ones left, still futilely crying out "Meow! Metal! Invincible!" but their momentum was gone.

Just as everyone thought they were about to pass this level easily, another change occurred!

At the back of the arena, the wall painted with golden geometric lines suddenly split open (special effects or mechanical device)!

Accompanied by a heavier, more piercing sound of metal grinding and a massive "MEOW——!!!" roar (electronically amplified version), a colossal figure slowly "walked" out from behind the split wall!

It was a giant Mechanical Kitty Cat over three meters tall, welded entirely from rough metal plates, with gears and hydraulic rods visible at its joints! It retained the basic silhouette of Hello Kitty, but the lines were rugged, its expression amplified into a ferocious metal carving. Its huge circular palms were sharp metal claws, and its chest was embedded with multi-colored, constantly flashing gems (likely light bulbs)—seemingly corresponding to the bow colors of the previous small Kitty Cats! There were also several thick exhaust pipes (decoration) on its back, "whooshing" out white steam (dry ice)!

"Meow meow meow!!! (Angry roar)"

"Despicable Star Saints! How dare you destroy my little cuties!!"

"Accept the wrath of the 'Mechanical Meow King'!!!"

The electronically synthesized, "majestic" (in its own mind) roar echoed throughout the metal zone. With every step the giant mechanical foot took, the ground vibrated slightly (sound effects plus vibration devices)!

The IZ*ONE members, who had just relaxed a bit from clearing the mini-game, were collectively petrified as they looked at the oppressive "Mechanical Meow King" before them.

Kang Hye-won was still holding the last "flame bowling ball," her small face blank as she stared at the massive metal figure:

"Does... does Fire beat Metal for this one too?"

"This bowling ball... doesn't seem big enough..."

The final boss of the first stage had made a bold entrance in a posture that far exceeded their imagination!

The three-meter-tall "Mechanical Meow King" stood in the center of the arena, its metal body reflecting cold, hard light, the colored gem lights on its chest flashing wildly, spewing white steam like a final weapon out of a cheap sci-fi movie. Its synthesized electronic roar still echoed in the air, and its giant metal claws were slightly raised, as if it would flatten the tiny "Star Saints" in the next second.

The slight sense of relief from cracking the "Color Chain" mini-game was instantly crushed by the pressure brought by this behemoth. Kang Hye-won held the "flame bowling ball"—which looked like a toy in comparison—and looked up at the Mechanical Kitty Cat, her pure face written with the bewilderment of "how do we fight this?"

"Does... does Fire beat Metal for this one too?" she subconsciously repeated her previous question, her voice dropping a few notches. "This bowling ball... doesn't seem big enough..."

Forget the bowling ball; all the "Endorsement Product Sacred Objects" they had on hand—juice, soap, stress toys, energy bars—seemed so insignificant before the "Mechanical Meow King," like children's toys against a battering ram.

"The rescue plan has encountered a major crisis!" Kwon Eunbi said in a low voice, her brow furrowed. The others also had solemn expressions, thinking of a strategy. A direct confrontation was clearly unwise.

At this critical moment, the production team's prompt board lit up again like a life-saving straw (or perhaps a new embarrassing command), but this time, the prompt seemed to have a new direction:

[aries Star Envoy · Kang Hye-won! The true trial has arrived!]

[Please stimulate your inner aries potential and call upon your Constellation Artifact—]

["Blazing Aries" Cloth!!!]

[Please shout the transformation/fusion incantation loudly: "Blazing Aries! Combine!!"]

Kang Hye-won: "...???"

Cloth? Combine? What kind of development was this? How did they suddenly jump from a bowling battle to a hot-blooded mecha transformation anime?

However, before she could think further, several staff members who had been on standby rushed up! They held "armor" parts that looked like they were hastily made from EVA foam boards and silver and red spray paint—shoulder guards, arm guards, knee pads, and even a... helmet with curved aries horns?

"Hye-won xi, please cooperate!" Without further ado, the staff began to fit these lightweight "armor" pieces onto Kang Hye-won. The shoulder guards were snapped on, the arm guards tied to her arms, the knee pads fastened to her knees, and finally, the helmet with two small white horns (likely made of plastic) was placed on her head.

The entire process took less than thirty seconds. Kang Hye-won went from a cute girl holding a bowling ball to a... "Blazing Aries Saint (Cheap COS version)" covered in foam board "armor" and wearing a horned helmet.

Although the "Cloth" looked quite crude and even a bit ridiculous, combined with Kang Hye-won's still-confused expression, it actually produced a strange, gap-moe sense of being a "warrior" (?).

"Alright, Hye-won xi, please shout the incantation!" the staff reminded her.

Kang Hye-won looked at her outfit, then at the menacing Mechanical Kitty Cat in front of her. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and shouted with all her might (and a hint of a shameful quiver):

"Bla... Blazing Aries! Combine——!!!"

The shout echoed through the arena. Of course, there were no golden special effects or shocking sound effects. But the moment she finished shouting, a ring of flashing red LED strips actually lit up at the seams of the foam board "armor"! (Clearly, batteries and lights had been installed beforehand.)

"Oh! It lit up!" An Yujin said in surprise.

"It actually... looks like something?" Jang Wonyoung also blinked.

With the blessing of the "Cloth (LED version)," Kang Hye-won seemed to be granted a bit of courage (or rather, forced into character) by this crude "transformation." She clenched her fists (wearing foam arm guards) and looked at the Mechanical Kitty Cat, her gaze (trying to) become firm.