"Everyone stop shouting! Get out of my way!" Seele, carrying her enormous scythe, strode menacingly towards the back of the agitated crowd.
Hearing Big Sis's voice, the crowd quickly parted, no one daring to stand in her path.
"Big Sis, you have to avenge us! Those robots aren't coming anymore, we can only rely on Wildfire now!" the beltless man shouted indignantly.
The main thing is still for the mines, right?
"All of you, withdraw from the mining area! Those with combat ability, cover the others' retreat! The injured, send them to Natasha," Seele commanded simply and clearly. She never dragged things out.
The iron door was clearly dented from the impacts, and the screws connecting its edges were hanging precariously.
Hearing Big Sis's orders, the workers quickly turned tail and ran in the opposite direction. Many kept looking back as they ran, as if reluctant to leave something behind.
Once all the workers had retreated, Seele stretched her muscles. It had been a while since she'd had a proper fight; this kind of thing really suited her.
Seele took the scythe off her shoulder, spun it around, tucked the end under her armpit, extending it behind her back.
She slowly undid the lock on the large door, preparing to meet this mysterious giant bug.
Sure enough, as the lock released, the abused iron door was instantly blasted open by immense force. What came into view was a massive, round creature covered in spikes, like a legless hedgehog.
Correct, it was an Originium Slug.
Seeing someone in front of it, the large Originium Slug charged forward as if activating a skill, sparks flying in its wake.
Just as Seele prepared to counterattack, she heard a voice from behind.
"Let me help you!" Strands of woven thread shot out from behind Seele, immobilizing the Originium Slug before flinging it back with a strange force.
Tian An seems to be getting familiar with using her powers.
The repelled Originium Slug slammed headfirst into the rock wall. The somewhat familiar impact seemed to infuriate this not-so-bright Originium Slug. It slid down from the crater, then started bouncing agitatedly, apparently venting its anger.
Unfortunately, an Originium Slug was ultimately just an Originium Slug, it...
Before the conclusion could be drawn, the Originium Slug crushed some mineral crystals on the ground with its body, causing them to merge with itself.
The Originium Slug's size increased by another circle.
This... this isn't right. When did Terran Originium Slugs gain this ability? They can convert ordinary ore too?
After absorbing the material, the Originium Slug.... actually... grew a face? Tian An stared in shock as simple lines began to form on the Originium Slug.
(⋋▂⋌)
The Originium Slug charged again, its movement this time clearly causing the ground to tremble slightly.
But before it could unleash its might, the azure scythe flashed past, slicing its body in two.
An Originium Slug is just an Originium Slug, mere cannon fodder after all.
Tian An watched Seele slay the Originium Slug in one strike and noted with satisfaction.
But then came another round of sit-ups. The two halves of the Originium Slug's body began to slowly squirm. The cut edges gradually rounded out, until the two bodies became two smaller Originium Slugs with simple line faces.
(⋋▂⋌) (⋋▂⋌)
These are Slimes, right?
Seele, unconvinced, wanted to continue attacking with her scythe.
Tian An, however, thought of a great way to play (not really).
A great method (✓).
She focused, moving her fingers, then pointed at the two Originium Slugs squaring off against Seele.
Before the Originium Slugs could even start their attack, they were suddenly lifted into mid-air by a mysterious force.
( ꒪Д꒪) ( ꒪Д꒪)
The Originium Slugs' simple lines changed. Their bodies began to compress violently, like a dozen layers of bread being forcibly squashed into one. Under the silent pressure, the Originium Slugs' bodies instantly disintegrated, exploding outwards.
Originium fragments flew everywhere, forcing even Seele to retreat a few steps.
"What ability is this now?" Seele hadn't had time to talk to her earlier, but now she finally could.
"Hmm.... One hundred ways to use Originium?" Tian An replied.
"Originium? You mean these ugly things?" Seele pointed at the small crystal fragments scattered on the ground, speaking with dissatisfaction.
"Didn't I tell you to stay at the clinic? Where's Natasha?"
"Outside with Clara, helping the workers," Tian An wasn't intimidated by Seele's sternness, knowing the girl before her was just sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.
"Do you know these things, and those disgusting bugs?"
"Perhaps... I—" Just as Tian An was about to explain, she felt something rubbing against the heel of her shoe.
?
Tian An and Seele simultaneously turned their gazes, only to find a tiny Originium crystal... Originium Slug? gently rubbing against the heel of Tian An's shoe.
"A survivor?" Tian An was about to repeat her earlier move when she saw the Originium Slug act as if it had intelligence. Its simple lines instantly changed to (／(ｴ)＼), and its body seemed to be trembling.
This Originium Slug... can it be kicked like a ball like the ones in Endfield...
Since it couldn't break through her defenses anyway, Tian An picked it up from the ground. This Originium Slug was smaller than her palm, like a premature baby.
Sensing it was picked up, the Originium Slug even bounced a few times. Faced with this situation, Tian An could only assume this Originium Slug had evolved intelligence.
Or perhaps it had intelligence all along.
Before Tian An could observe further, the small Originium Slug jumped right out of her hand and burrowed into her pocket.
"You didn't happen to shoot down the big one's kid, did you?" Seele watched from the side.
"You're right, but Originium Slugs don't have offspring," Tian An retorted.
"But that applies to traditional Terran Originium Slugs." Tian An pinched the Originium Slug out, only to find it had already stopped moving.
"....."
"I can't be bothered arguing with you. Anyway, thanks for your help this time."
Hearing Seele acknowledge her, Tian An couldn't help but feel pleased.
"But!"
Not pleased anymore.
"You still snuck out of the clinic without permission."
"But Doctor Natasha approved it," Tian An quickly used Natasha as a shield.
"You.... Forget it, let's head back first." Seele didn't want to waste any more breath. Ultimately, she suffered from being uncultured (in comparison).
"Oh, okay." Seeing the once glorious Big Sis unable to do anything about her, Tian An couldn't help feeling a bit smug.
But before she could feel smug for long, a clumsy footstep landed right on her pure white dress...
"Oof...."
"You... are you an idiot..?"