NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 10
Extra Case File 10 Bitter Medicine for a Good Cure
“Um, do we really have to do this?”
Facing the scene in front of her, Wild Flower Kotori wrung her two index fingers together hesitantly.
“Are you saying there’s another way? Just accept it. If you agree, there won’t be any problems from now on, and I won’t bother you anymore.”
“But… This is really…”
“There’s nothing to ‘but’ about. Do you want Dr. Ash to…?”
“I—I—”
“Then, drink up, sister. It’s medicine for someone like a monster, ah-hem, your fate.”
Wild Flower Kotori grinned devilishly, pushing the medicinal soup towards Wild Flower, holding her chin with her hand while staring at her visibly sweating and nervous elder sister.
In the jet-black bowl was a jet-black, ominous medicinal soup, even the steam rising from it looked dark and threatening.
“This, I am Wild Flower,” she thought to herself.
These past few days, my mind has been in turmoil. First, I almost died from internal bleeding. If not for Doctor Ash, I would be waiting in line at the Sanzu River right now.
Fortunately, Mr. Ash saved me. Though secretly checking my whole body nearly exposed me, and the unbearably bitter herbal decoction was poured down my throat directly.
The taste, that indescribable flavor, so bitter that it could make one’s tongue fall off, is something I never want to experience again!
Still, I’m very grateful for his life-saving grace.
Until now.
“Ah, Kotorii, where’s the candy?”
“Oh, dear sister, you’re such a big girl now. Why do you still need candy from your little sister?” Wild Flower Kotori said with a sweet smile, but what came out was venomous words that caused Wild Flower to nearly collapse.
“Eh, eh! No, no, drinking this without candy will have the sister falling apart!”
“But if it weren’t for Dr. Ash, you’d already have been dead!”
Wild Flower Kotori stopped smiling and became serious, with no hint of compromise, pushing the medicine bowl even more toward her sister.
“This, this…”
At a loss for words, Wild Flower lowered her head and didn’t dare meet her younger sister’s eyes.
Indeed, after Dr. Ash learned about my condition, Mommy, Daddy, and Kotori were terrified when they found out I had internal bleeding. They yelled at me…
“There’s no other way…”
I know. After all, it’s for my own good.
Misfortune can be a blessing, and blessings can be misfortunes; if death is inevitable, it should happen sooner rather than later.
Swallowing hard, Wild Flower took on a look of sacrifice and lifted the bowl that made her fear deeply.
In Kotori’s hopeful gaze, Wild Flower’s lips approached the edge of the bowl.
“!”
Just before taking a sip, Wild Flower suddenly stopped her motion.
‘This sensation… Final Monster.’
‘And this reaction… is dangerous!’
Energy inside her future power fluctuates wildly, with an unprecedented reaction of dark energy, even the heat phone in her pocket began to feel hot.
There’s no time! I must act now!
Without hesitation, Wild Flower gulped down the medicine. Before the bitterness could spread through her brain, she quickly grabbed the nearby ice water to suppress the taste, then rushed to the entrance of the room.
“What are you doing, sister?! What’s that?”
From hesitant unease to suddenly resolute determination, she took the medicine. Wild Flower Kotori felt bewildered as she watched her rush out the door.
“What’s going on… Anyway, my sister has always been like this.” Pouting her lips, Wild Flower looked back at the remaining soup at the bottom of the bowl.
“But seriously, is this thing really so bitter?”
Curious, she used her index finger to touch the remaining brew, then placed the finger in her mouth.
Nothing special, just a bit spicy…
“Ow ow ow ow oh noooo!”
In the middle of screaming, Wild Flower—wilts!
‘Energy reaction… that way!’
Running out of the house, with her usual direction guided by inner tomorrow energy, Wild Flower sped towards the darkness.
‘That direction seems to be—Doctor Ash’s clinic. How could it be!’
Usually directionally challenged, at this moment Wild Flower’s thoughts were drawn to a certain important person in that direction, causing her body to use more strength to quicken her pace.
A pink whirlwind swept through the alleys.
‘The body feels light, and movement doesn’t feel strenuous at all. Before transforming, running a couple of steps would be exhausting, but now…’
‘Even the taste of that medicine afterwards gives me endless energy!’
Power fills one’s veins! —Cough, cough, not exaggerating, but close enough.
Two days of rare peace almost made me overlook the change in my body. Now, the rapid retreat of surroundings and the vigor in my revitalized body alerted me to the true effects of recent treatments and medicines.
Doctor Ash, you’re incredible!
The body is faster and stronger than ever before, surpassing even my previous peak. In battle against a Final Monster, I wouldn’t just hide behind them, I’d outmaneuver them completely.
Seeing the alleyway ahead on the right, Wild Flower slammed on the brakes, turning sharply to the right and leaping inside.
“Future Crystal! Flash of Heart!”
With a flash of pink light, Cure Yell soared into the sky, landing on a faraway rooftop and then rushing forward again, jumping between buildings to continue her journey.
‘I’m coming for you! Stay alive!’
At the same moment, towards the location where she sensed the enormous darkness.
The Scarlet Warrior and the Steely Tyrannosaur charged, with the deafening dragon roar making the entire vicinity quake in fear.
The titanic mechanical beast, like a divine warrior, slammed the massive Final Monster, which it then struck with its mighty tail. The blackened body crumpled under this heavy blow.
“It’s over!”
The Final Monster wailed, but there were no signs of pity. Not even the colossal Steely Tyrannosaur would show mercy, powered by its iron body.
“Roar—!”
Thanks to the Super AI, V-REX gained a different mindset but was no less fervent in combat.
Its sharp fangs vibrated at an incredibly high frequency capable of slicing through specific metals or energy shields. Now, the mechanical dinosaur had little it couldn’t bite through. At that moment, its jaws clamped onto the Final Monster’s body, tearing away the black seething energy with a scream.
[Dark Echo, Absorbing…]
“Not too late for a snack later.”
A deep red figure descended from atop the dragon’s head.
“Seriously, dealing with this now. Just get it done quickly.”
Lying comfortably in my small clinic, just dozing off when a monstrous creature suddenly appeared by the roadside. Luckily, the clinic wasn’t destroyed.
Ash felt amazed, wondering how this Final Monster had grown from the ground.
“DV change, Final Mode.”
Frigid blue light shimmered from the sword carried by the descending figure, cutting through with a brilliance that seemed to capture all the world’s attention.
TimeFIRE swung the DV sword towards the Final Monster.
“DV Re-Freeze!!”
Overflowing energy became the booster for the divebomb strike, sending it quicker, more fiercely down, piercing deeply into the Final Monster’s head.
The blade plunged back out as the defender jumped away. Two more glowing blue blades sliced through with a spin, with his DV Guardian transformed back to the Fire Deity mode and reloaded into the weapon holster. Explosions and lights followed as another Final Monster fell, leaving only charred remnants.
“Compression Freeze Complete.”
“Another taken care of, but it’s boring.”
Without rest, he pulled out another cannon and pulled the trigger in another direction.
“Clink—”
Amidst the peculiar sound of special light burning, Wild Flower halted.