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The Golden Reaper gathered in large numbers to form a pyramid.

The Golden Reapers held onto each other’s arms and formed a cute pyramid.

Since it was hollow inside, it was more like a hut than a pyramid, right?

Even though the desert was still unbearably hot, it became bearable when the Golden Reaper created shade.

The cause of the heat was solely the red moon shining above in the sky.

It wasn’t as bright as a space heater used in winter, but it radiated intense heat.

Ah, it’s hot. I feel like I’m dying.

I wish there was even a drop of water, but no matter where I looked in the desert, I couldn’t find a hint of water.

The indifferent Gray Reaper was lying next to me, waving its limbs around.

Like a child lying in a snowfield.

Of course, the difference was that it was not a snowfield but scorching hot sand that could cause burns.

“Hey, Reaper.”

Even knowing it wouldn’t understand, I still attempted to talk to it.

The Gray Reaper, who had been flailing on the ground, stopped and turned its head to stare at me.

“Thanks for coming. I thought I was going to die.”

“Doesn’t it seem really wide here? No matter where you look, it’s all horizon. Who knew I’d see something like this in Seoul?”

“This is my first experience with an object-related incident, and it’s really tough. I don’t ever want to go on a business trip again. How can Director Lee Sehee go out every time to find objects and get into accidents?”

I continued to monologue in front of the Gray Reaper.

The Yellowish eyes of the Gray Reaper seemed to hold intelligence, making me feel like it understood my words.

Is this why Researcher Yerin Oh becomes so fascinated with the Gray Reaper?

Suddenly, the Gray Reaper looked up at the sky and began summoning more Golden Reapers.

Then it made eye contact with me and swiftly vanished just as it had appeared.

I embraced the multitude of Golden Reapers that appeared around me.

Strangely, it didn’t feel unsettling.

It felt like the Gray Reaper had told me not to worry with its gaze.

I felt like I might become enamored with the Gray Reaper just like Researcher Yerin Oh.

*

Amidst the loud sounds of the TV, I let out a small voice, unable to shake off my growing anxiety.

“Will it be okay?”

To comfort me, a Golden Reaper climbed onto my shoulder and gently patted my cheek.

The Reaper still hadn’t returned.

I hoped it had already gone to rescue Seoah.

The area around Gangseo-gu on the TV was a total mess.

The association was acting with unprecedented speed.

Was this really the Korea I lived in?

Bombs were going off everywhere in Gangseo-gu to break through the barriers.

Requests for support had already been made to countries like the U.S., Japan, and China.

It was unusual for the proud association to ask for assistance from foreign countries.

[We have breaking news.]

[The Gray Reaper has been observed in the eastern area of the Gangseo-gu barrier.]

[Could this incident also be the work of the Gray Reaper?]

The scene flashed on the TV showed the Gray Reaper thumping the transparent barrier like glass with its fist.

“Of course, the Reaper was over there!”

“Yeah, that’s a relief.”

Though the news anchor showed a concerned reaction, we felt reassured.

The Reaper must have sensed Seoah’s crisis and got there ahead of time.

The Reaper, which had been playfully throwing punches, suddenly pierced a hole through the barrier.

[Ah? The Gray Reaper has punctured a hole in the barrier!]

[It looks like an attack it used when fighting the hungry ghost.]

The broadcast caught the scene of the Gray Reaper’s right arm getting severed as it broke through the barrier.

“Ugh, that must hurt. What will the Reaper do?”

Yerin looked worriedly at the severed arm of the Reaper.

The severed arm turned into yellow flames before it could even touch the ground and scattered into the air.

A fierce sandstorm erupted from the hole in the barrier, creating chaos all around.

Yet, the Gray Reaper’s attack was rendered useless in an instant.

The barrier had rapidly regenerated the hole.

The Gray Reaper tapped the barrier a few more times and then turned around, starting to walk away.

At the same time, the news screen changed.

[What could the Gray Reaper have been thinking when it did that?]

[The Gray Reaper is known for its unpredictable behavior, so perhaps this is just another example.]

The announcer and a panelist claiming to be an object expert began summarizing the incidents the Gray Reaper had caused so far.

Since I wasn’t particularly interested in the story, I changed the channel.

“Do you think this time the public’s perception of the Gray Reaper will improve?”

“I hope so. Seoah would especially like that.”

“Seoah Unnie?”

“She said the institute’s finances are tight and wanted to sell Gray Reaper merchandise.”

In fact, Seoah wanted to sell not only the Gray Reaper but all kinds of goods, but it fell through due to opposition from the association.

They were worried it might dilute the public’s awareness of the objects.

*

The oasis in the red desert.

The Black Agent’s anxiety grew stronger.

The cause stemmed mainly from two factors.

The first reason was that the number of people staying in the cave was gradually increasing.

Fortunately, the cave was spacious enough to be compared to modern large buildings, so it wasn’t a problem, but the increasing number of people itself was concerning.

If this cave was a type of object that lured people, the more there were, the more dangerous it would become.

The second reason was the newly discovered sinister structures inside the cave.

High altars made of stone.

Twisted and grotesque statues of humans and animals.

And on the walls were letters resembling warning signs.

However, the Black Agent couldn’t interpret the letters, as they were scripts he had never seen before.

“AAAH!”

A sudden scream rang out from the cave entrance.

“Ahjussi, we’re in big trouble!”

The sight that greeted the Black Agent at the entrance was a pale blonde girl and a man screaming with his legs severed.

And a gigantic statue loomed at the cave entrance.

The enormous statue, which had been decorating the cave entrance, was now alive!

With blood all over, it was gnawing at the man’s leg with its stone mouth.

The statue, which had been munching on the man’s leg, spat something out with a thwack.

What had once been the man’s leg now formed a mashed mess of bones and flesh.

The man with both legs severed lay abandoned at the entrance, dying without receiving any proper treatment.

The statue glanced around at the people at the entrance and returned to its original spot in the cave.

Phew.

Taking a deep breath, the Black Agent approached the shocked individuals and asked.

“What on earth happened?”

“T-That thing said this place is a trap and that we need to get out quickly while our stamina has recovered.”

The man who seemed to be the deceased’s companion was so pale with fear.

“I just suggested that we rest a bit longer…. Then it said it would go out first to scout… and went out….”

“Ah, I understand. This must be an object that attacks those who try to leave.”

As expected by the Black Agent, this place indeed was a trap.

It would be fortunate if it was merely a trap to prevent people from exiting, but given that similar statues were found inside the cave…

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine a good outcome.

*

Inside the large cave where the Black Agent stayed, two researchers from Trinity were secretly whispering to each other.

“Team Leader, I went deeper into the cave and found the ‘letters’ that the Director told us about.”

“Oh, really? Let’s go take a look then.”

Being mindful of the onlookers, they slowly moved deeper into the cave.

“This is quite impressive.”

Seeing the glowing red statues and the starlit lake surface, the Trinity research institute team leader admired.

The red moonlight filtering through the hole in the ceiling illuminated the cave’s interior enchantingly as it struck the lake surface.

The letters the researcher mentioned were engraved beside the enormous statues bathed in red light.

“I can’t read it properly yet since my evolution level is still low.”

“I might not be able to read it completely, but I’ll give it a try.”

As the team leader stared intently at the wall bearing the letters, his eyes began to bulge out.

The black veins in his eyes were popping, and his eyes grew so wide that it looked like his skull might crack.

Placing his fingers on the wall, the team leader slowly began reading the letters.

“Hmm, it says that as long as less than 100 people gather, it’s a safe ruin. Should we block people from entering further?”

“That seems like it could be persuadable, at least.”

The team leader continued reading the letters line by line, and veins began to emerge in his bulging eyes, making it seem like they would explode at any moment.

“There’s another escape method as well. It says one person can be sacrificed as a living offering.”

The bulging eyes, which looked like they would burst at any moment, suddenly shrank back to normal size, and the team leader let out a painful groan.

“Ah, I’m dying. I need to raise my evolution stage quickly so I can use my powers more naturally…”

The bulging veins on the team leader’s forehead quickly faded, and his oversized eyes returned to normal.

“For now, let’s persuade the idiots so nobody can enter this ruin. And if that becomes difficult, we’ll use the other escape method.”

“Offering a human is going to be a lot harder to convince, though?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Of course, when we offer a living sacrifice, we’ll kill everyone here and escape ourselves.”

“Oh, I guess with our strength, that wouldn’t be difficult.”

The Trinity Research Institute researcher’s chuckle echoed softly, spreading throughout the cave.

*

Destruction isn’t possible.

I tapped on the wall, but the barrier stood firm.

The condition for the destruction of the barrier is <Destruction of the main body.>

Until the main body is destroyed, the barrier regenerates infinitely.

If the regeneration speed were slow, we’d just have to break a lot and evacuate Seoah, but the regeneration speed was incredibly fast.

Looking up at the sky, an oddly large red moon was visible.

That must be the main body.

I started to gaze at the red moon with my ‘eyes.’

<Place a red skull in the center of the desert, set it on fire, and dance on top of it.>

It’s long.

And what kind of strange condition is that?

 

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