Chapter 291

The universe had been stained purple.

The world was gradually twisting into something unrecognizable.

As the laws unraveled, the air began to take on a grotesque form.

It transformed into something akin to the cocoons spun by insects or the sticky webs of spiders.

Lightweight yet resilient, this eerie substance filled the air, feeling disgustingly sticky and viscous as it floated everywhere.

These threads would fly about like living things before latching onto buildings and enveloping them in cocoon-like casings.

To all breathing creatures—excluding Objects—it was an extremely harmful distortion.

The air was thinning, and these threads seemed ready to replace oxygen entirely. Just inhaling them felt like certain death.

Moreover, the ground itself was shifting into something eerily transparent, like mirrors.

It reflected the sky perfectly, creating an unsettling swamp of decalcomania that distorted reality.

I stared up at the purple External Being while wearing my Nullification Halo.

The purple figure simply hovered there, doing nothing, completely still.

Does it think stalling will give it an advantage?

So far, thanks to the Nullification Halo, the distortions around me have burned white-hot but haven’t spread too far.

But if we keep stalling, the corruption will intensify and eventually reach Yerin’s location.

I extended both hands and tightly clenched the space between them.

With a groan, the fabric of reality warped, giving birth to a massive black sphere.

A power capable of devouring and pulverizing everything… but it had no effect on the External Being whatsoever.

Something feels off.

Even though this being appears to be in the same space as me, it feels like we’re actually in entirely separate dimensions.

That must be why even my Nullification Halo can’t directly influence it. Its range isn’t infinite, after all.

Nullification Halo: Effective within limits.

Complete Avoidance Halo: Useless against an enemy that doesn’t attack.

Illusion Manifestation Halo: Pointless when facing an opponent like this External Being.

Death Vision Halo: Potentially effective… if I could manifest it.

There’s no way out…

***

Late night. The dark sky started turning shades of violet.

Torn apart like a mutilated canvas, the ominous night sky revealed itself through jagged cracks.

Unfamiliar stars of various colors dotted the alien heavens, connected by threads resembling purple yarn.

This bizarrely glowing sky illuminated the earth with its own unnatural light, unlike any normal night.

The Golden Reaper stood beneath this surreal sky, crude wounds oozing firewood from where its arms had been torn off. It looked upward before slowly turning around and letting out a small laugh.

“Stay strong…”

Leaving behind a final apologetic smile filled with regret, the Reaper crumbled into powder and disappeared.

In its place remained only a tiny golden ember, no bigger than a matchstick flame—like a steadfast promise to protect Sehee Research Institute even in death, refusing to ever go out.

Such golden embers littered the area surrounding the institute.

Originally forming a wide perimeter around Sehee Research Institute, the Golden Reapers had now been pushed back past the parking lot, all the way to the main building.

Their numbers had dwindled so much that they were now forced to rely on the sturdy walls of the institute and defend the narrow entrance.

Meanwhile, the ranks of the violet-stained Association Dolls continued to swell.

The once-rusted and twisted dolls were regaining their original forms.

The physically immune automatons, which previously shuffled along like zombies, now moved with human-like agility.

But only one Golden Reaper remained.

A single minute wouldn’t be enough for it to hold out.

“It’s okay. Mom will win soon.”

With resolve set firmly, the lone Golden Reaper stepped forward just as the sound of massive footsteps echoed nearby.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Despite being corroded and distorted by the purple influence, the enormous construction-grade Association Doll maintained its imposing size as it approached under the violet glow.

Its bulk was so immense that even swallowing an entire Golden Reaper whole might not stop it.

CLINK.

A single tear rolled down the last remaining Golden Reaper’s eye.

The weight was unbearable.

Of the expectations placed upon it by the fallen Reapers.

Heartbreaking.

Knowing it lacked the strength to protect the humans behind it.

If only it possessed sword mastery…

If only it had a lightsaber…

Then perhaps it could protect them.

But the last Golden Reaper had no talent for swords.

It was likely the least gifted among them—”Mom-level,” some might say!

Still, despite this, the Reaper clenched its fists tightly and prayed endlessly.

The First Sword had once said:

“This kind of power can only be wielded by broken Mini Reapers, so it’s better not to have it.”

Yet the Golden Reaper kept praying.

Wishing to create weapons like the First Sword.

Even if just for a moment…

Even if only for ten minutes…

Even if it meant dying forever afterward…

Let the intangible blade of the First Sword descend into these hands!

At that moment, a cracking sound emerged from the Golden Reaper’s heart.

“Ahh…”

But it wasn’t enough.

Breaking something within the talent-less Reaper wasn’t enough to reach the level of the First Sword.

“No…!”

Its body began to split apart, crumbling into dust.

Just then, the golden embers scattered around reacted.

The collective prayers to protect Sehee Research Institute flew toward the lone Reaper.

Each time, its body shattered further into chaos.

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

But the Golden Reaper smiled brightly.

For it had finally obtained what it wished for.

Everyone’s prayers were guiding it.

A radiant flame of hope, burning like the sun, wrapped around its body like armor.

An incandescent suit of flames that could destroy physical immunity with a single touch—just like the First Sword’s intangible blade.

Like a comet, the Golden Armored Reaper soared upward, piercing through the hearts of the dolls.

***

I gazed at the purple External Being, deep in thought.

“There’s no time. Yerin is in danger.”

Naturally, I wanted to retreat with Yerin immediately, fetch the Unchanging Sphere, and return.

But I couldn’t abandon the Mini Reapers—they’d be furious if I did.

Even with the Nullification Halo burning away those ‘threads,’ Seoul would turn into a cocoon within a minute, killing everyone if left unchecked.

“Still… there’s nothing else I can do.”

Though sorry to the Mini Reapers, sacrifices for the greater good are sometimes necessary.

Just as I prepared to flee…

Somewhere nearby, a Mini Reaper Garden opened, sending Mini Reapers throughout Seoul to help defend the city.

Mini Reapers working tirelessly to protect people, dismantling Association Dolls.

Struggling to contain the harmful threads spreading across Seoul.

Unfortunately, the connection between the garden and reality was too weak to summon the Unchanging Sphere.

“Guess I have no choice but to run…”

Suddenly, Mini Reapers gathered beside me, cheering me on.

“Mom, you can do it!”

“You’ve got this, Mom!”

Despite the dire situation, seeing their bright smiles made fleeing impossible.

Alright, time to think.

Like back in Seoul Forest, when it was dark, cold, and hopeless.

When I had neither physical immunity nor ghosting abilities.

Back then, I relied on my first and strongest weapon—”eyes.”

<■■ needs ■■ ■■ to complete ■■■■ ■ in order to ■■.>

Being an External Being, its conditions weren’t fully visible.

Still, there must be a way.

Carefully observing, I noticed a few oddities.

The purple External Being’s form appeared slightly blurry, suggesting its rank wasn’t complete.

Additionally, more of its conditions were visible compared to other beings.

Perhaps it was “newly born” from a mass of crimson blood?

At that moment, the destruction condition became slightly clearer.

<■■ needs ■■ ■■ to complete before destroying ■.>

Unlike red or blue External Beings, this one seemed entirely disinterested in our world.

It merely existed.

And something seemed to be holding it in place.

Could this External Being have been thrown here by the Red External Being?

The moment my deductions completed, my perception expanded, clarifying the condition.

<■■ needs ■■ ■■ to complete before breaking the anchor.>

That should be enough.

I shouted loudly, projecting my voice across all of Seoul.

“Destroy any suspicious objects!”

“!”

Hearing my cry, the nearby Mini Reapers scattered in all directions.

“We need your help, Mom!”

“Hurry!”

At that moment, the purple External Being began to move.

Though mindlessly harmful, it slowly stirred as it sensed the threat to its existence.

Right, this marks Phase Two.

My mission: restraining the External Being without using Black Corpses until the Mini Reapers break its anchor.

Facing the towering presence of the External Being, I forced a smile.