Chapter 277

A massive underground cavern nestled deep beneath the Free City Alliance.

That place was filled with abyssal darkness, untouched by light.

Pillars riddled with worm trails and an endlessly expansive cavern.

The vibration created by this combination sent ominous echoes rippling through the air.

The resonance born from it felt like the wailing cries of thousands of ghosts.

And amidst that resonance, the sound of Object Bodies walking along the grooves of the pillars could be heard.

Tatadak, tatadak.

That sound, akin to a corpse’s nails incessantly tapping on stones, carried a mesmerizing power that drove everyone who heard it into neurotic fits.

Thus, the ghostly wails and finger steps blended together, birthing an atmosphere of sheer terror.

But that eerie ambiance wasn’t eternal.

Gurrrlek!

With that chilling sound, the mood of the cavern transformed instantly.

The finger worms inside the tanks began convulsing like leeches sprinkled with salt.

Their pale, sagging bodies tangled together, creating a scene of revulsion.

It didn’t stop there.

The liquid in the tank, which emitted sticky and foul odors, started bubbling as if boiling, spewing hot bubbles.

The abnormal spasms of the finger worms and the ominous changes in the liquid evoked spine-chilling fear and disgust.

Meanwhile, the three monitors connected to the tanks, bound by wires, began flashing urgent red warning lights.

[An object that kills objects.]

[The Gray Reaper has intruded.]

[Why? Why? Why?]

The text displayed on the monitors revealed unfiltered confusion and panic.

Meanwhile, the underground tank continued to bubble violently like boiling water, releasing heat.

[There may be hatred, but it doesn’t seem hostile.]

[Then it’s fine.]

Soon after, as words appeared on the monitor, the entangled worms’ spasms and the tank’s heat gradually subsided, restoring calm.

[A Special-Class Object, beyond the Object.]

[The ‘Giant Deity’ that has reached beyond can defeat the Gray Reaper.]

[But the Giant Deity isn’t ready yet.]

All three monitors simultaneously displayed identical messages.

[Then let’s buy time.]

That sentence hinted at some kind of plan amid the chaotic situation.

***

Free City Alliance, Central Tower.

Cheong got out slowly from a taxi in front of the Central Tower.

Her gaze was directed toward the tip of the tower soaring high into the sky.

“It’s ridiculously tall.”

While looking up at the Central Tower, Cheong’s eyes, speaking to Orange Reaper, held a touch of admiration.

This tower, a symbol of the Free City Alliance, bore countless stories more than any other place.

A symbol of the Free City Alliance.

A place unaffected by the influence of the three ruling families that governed the city.

Now the dwelling of the Giant Deity, but previously where generations of mercenary kings of the Free City Alliance resided.

Truly, it was a stage for the legends of the city.

Though Cheong didn’t particularly aim to stand at the pinnacle of mercenaries,

looking at the legendary stage made her feel a small thrill in her chest.

As Cheong was lost in thought, a man walked out from inside the Central Tower.

The cold-looking man approached Cheong with an indifferent face and began guiding her.

“Please follow me.”

Cheong took a deep breath to steady her tense heart.

Cheong passed through doors usually left closed and entered a shiny-floored lobby equipped with large security gates.

Although people bustled around her, Cheong strangely felt as if she were standing alone in the vast space.

‘It’ll be okay.’

To shake off her unease, Cheong placed her hand on the Orange Reaper perched hat-like atop her head.

The unique warmth of the Orange Reaper transmitted to her fingertips, calming her somewhat.

At that moment, images of her comrades left behind at the hideout surfaced in her mind.

In fact, they had all opposed this mission.

The request itself was suspicious through and through.

The mercenary designated by the Giant Deity was Cheong alone, and no one else was allowed entry into the Central Tower.

Moreover, the reward offered was none other than the cherished relic Cheong had longed for so desperately.

It was like bait thrown specifically for Cheong.

However, Cheong couldn’t refuse this opportunity.

She couldn’t turn away from the relic that carried traces of precious memories.

In such a situation, all Cheong could trust was the Orange Reaper by her side.

From this unpredictable entity, Cheong found hope.

Hope that she would successfully complete the mission and obtain the precious relic.

Lost in these thoughts, Cheong followed the guide and boarded a transparent elevator that resembled glass.

The walls of the elevator were made entirely of windows, offering a clear view of the outside scenery.

Inside the rapidly ascending elevator, Cheong felt as though she were flying toward the sky.

Surrounding buildings grew smaller, and the ground receded below her feet.

The higher she rose, the clearer the view became.

The entire panorama of the Free City Alliance came into sight.

Through the glass, the landscape looked like a beautiful painting.

The cityscape formed by colorful buildings, winding roads, and countless people moving about above them.

Though twisted and tragic in reality, from afar, the city resembled a colorful mosaic glass.

Ding!

Before she knew it, they had arrived at the top floor.

A dull metallic corridor stretched before her.

Unlike the luxurious hotel-like lobby on the first floor, the top floor exuded the atmosphere of a storage facility.

“The guidance ends here. The Giant Deity awaits at the end of the corridor.”

Thud-thud.

A windowless corridor with minimal lighting cast an eerie atmosphere.

At the end of the corridor stood a heavy, large iron door, resembling a solitary cell.

When Cheong opened the door and entered, endless darkness unfolded before her.

“Is anyone here?”

It seemed as if the floor was covered in water; each step made a squelching sound echoing across the room.

As she took a few more steps forward, the door slammed shut loudly, and lights in the dark room began turning on one by one.

In the center of the room stood a giant mass of metal.

A dazzling mixture of gold and dull black metal, drenched in crimson blood.

Around it, pools of red liquid glistened on the floor, and nearby lay a pile of corpses riddled with holes.

At the sight of the pile of corpses, an overwhelming stench of blood began to permeate the air.

Though there had been no smell just moments ago!

“Finally, the last piece has arrived.”

At that moment, the massive lump of metal began to move.

With creaking sounds, the mass rose from its seated position, taking on a humanoid shape.

The figure, radiating a metallic glow all over its body, was the Giant Deity.

***

A peaceful Marshmallow Plain without the Gray Reaper.

There, surrounded by stacks of four-legged Golden Reaper Doll Outfits, numerous White Hungry Ghosts gathered.

The many White Hungry Ghosts were playing rock-paper-scissors with their stubby fingers that wouldn’t fold properly.

The victorious White Hungry Ghost stood on its hind legs and cheered with a “Kee!”

The defeated ghost sobbed with “Nyi-hi-hi” and shuffled off to the corner.

It was truly a scene of joy and sorrow intertwining.

The losers lay down on the plain frequented by the Gray Reaper, while the winners donned Golden Reaper Doll outfits and ran around the plain.

Because retaliation from the Gray Reaper was anticipated, it was a brutal game of rock-paper-scissors for selecting sacrifices.

Nyi-hi-hi.

***

Riding a Glow-in-the-dark Mecha Tyrannosaurus and exploring the strange city, time passed as the sun began to set.

Just as I was about to show the powerful might of the Mecha Tyrannosaurus in the Harmful City, a festival atmosphere swept through the entire city.

Streets adorned with neon signs.

Joyful music and dancing people.

Delicious-looking foods and snacks.

Sensing the emotions of the festival, the Golden Reapers hiding in my hair due to the stench began peeking out cautiously to take a look.

They carefully emerged and started imitating the dances performed by the people.

Following the hologram bunny girls’ dance moves, they grabbed their antennae like batons and began spinning rapidly.

Clearly intended to be a sexy appeal dance…

The original moves involved slow rotations around the pole, but the result was a Mini Reaper windmill spinning furiously!

The cheerful faces of the Golden Reapers combined with their incredible agility turned every movement into something circus-like.

While watching various dances performed by the Golden Reapers, I discovered an astonishing sight.

‘!!!!!!!!!’

Between the buildings, intricately crafted holographic Tyrannosaurs roamed, shaking their massive bodies.

‘Tyranno!’

I stood up on the Mecha Tyrannosaurus and extended my hand toward the hologram.

The Tyrannosaurus then opened its mouth wide and let out a roar.

Startled momentarily, I couldn’t help but smile.

Hehe.

A T-Rex Festival, indeed.

An amazing festival where giant T-Rexes bounded between building rooftops.

Machines flying in the sky, showering soft marshmallows like rain.

Countless dinosaur holograms roaming the city.

Enjoyable music and lively dances.

It was a far better festival than anything on Earth.

I sat at the back of the Mecha Tyrannosaurus, munching on falling marshmallows and enthusiastically enjoying the festival.

***

Kung!

The Giant Deity’s weighty fist slammed into the floor, splashing blood everywhere.

Cheong, the Attached Human of the Orange Reaper, barely dodged the attack, but it was clear she couldn’t keep this up much longer.

“Wasting time on useless things.”

The Giant Deity muttered coldly.

His icy gaze pierced through Cheong.

Haa… Haa…

Pale-faced Cheong panted heavily.

‘Cheong is nearing her limit.’

The Orange Reaper kept attempting probability manipulation but to no avail.

The Giant Deity, seemingly made of metal and golden horns stitched together haphazardly, resisted all attempts at probability manipulation.

Even slight tweaks should have caused it to collapse, yet it remained steadfast.

“There’s no point. You seem unable to understand unless spoken to directly.”

The Giant Deity spread his massive hand, causing the components forming his hand to disintegrate and fall to the floor.

“A basic ability.”

Then, when the Giant Deity extended his hand again, the scattered parts reassembled into the shape of a hand.

‘!’

Probability manipulation!

The Orange Reaper was visibly startled, opening its closed eyes slightly.

An enemy wielding the same ability!

“We studied the Gray Reaper’s ‘Death Induction’ and ultimately surpassed it, reaching the realm of ‘Probability Domination.'”

The Giant Deity chuckled softly as he continued.

“Our near-complete abilities surpass even the Gray Reaper. Your feeble probability tricks won’t work.”

As the Giant Deity clenched his hand in mid-air, Cheong’s death probability skyrocketed uncontrollably.

‘No… My attached human is in danger!’

Despite the Orange Reaper’s best efforts to suppress the probability, it was futile.

Puk!

A small hole appeared in Cheong’s body.

It was a wound as if she’d been punched through entirely by a punch card machine.

The Attached Human of the Orange Reaper, Cheong, was transforming into a corpse-like state, riddled with holes.

Moreover, with every drop of blood Cheong spilled, the pool of blood on the floor rose visibly.

And with that rise, the Giant Deity grew stronger.

“Now, I’ll finish you.”

The increasingly moon-like Giant Deity extended his hand toward Cheong once more.

‘No!’

In a completely sealed-off building where calling for mom was impossible.

An overwhelmingly powerful foe against whom victory seemed impossible.

An endangered attached human.

The Orange Reaper detached itself from Cheong’s embrace and turned around.

‘It was fun while it lasted.’

Golden flames began to erupt from the Orange Reaper’s body.

‘Wanted to play around more…’

If probability manipulation doesn’t work, we need stronger probability manipulation.

As the Orange Reaper’s body burned brighter, the blood-soaked floor began transforming into fluffy clouds.

As the Orange Reaper’s form blurred, the surrounding corpses disappeared, replaced by peaceful Cloud Fish.

And at the final playful smirk…

A massive orange moon began to rise.

Not a faded orange moon, but a fully radiant one shedding brilliant light.

And thus, in the chaotic Free City Alliance during festival season, a radiant orange moon that never sets rose against the sun.