Chapter 79

While staring at the rock that had come as close as the tip of my nose, I thought, ‘Ah, this is it—I’m gonna die!’

Just then, a flash of golden light burst in front of my eyes.

It was the Golden Reaper who had disappeared, suddenly popping out and batting away the rock.

“Reaper!”

I shouted out of joy, but the Golden Reaper still wore a tense expression, gazing at the now-chaotic hall.

A heatstorm so fierce it was hard to even stand upright, along with flying sand and rocks.

Researchers pierced by stones, lying lifeless, and people hiding behind overturned tables, trembling in fear.

The scent of sun-burnt sand and an oppressive heat that made my skin feel like it was on fire.

There was nothing to do but grit my teeth and crouch down low to avoid being hit by the flying debris.

Occasionally, smaller rocks flew low, only to be deflected by the Golden Reaper standing proudly before me.

I knew the Golden Reaper was strong, but this… this was reassuring beyond belief.

Just imagining what might have happened without the Golden Reaper sent shivers down my spine.

Grrk. Grrrk.

Suddenly, a sound like glass being scratched filled the air.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

The Golden Reaper leaped forward and clung to my cheek.

Crack!

Something shattered, and space itself seemed to tear open.

Through the rift, a massive red moon loomed as if watching us.

Along with its appearance came a violent surge of sand and heatstorm that swept me off my feet, tumbling me across the ground.

After a few minutes…

“Haa…”

As the storm subsided, I poked my head out from the sand and took a deep breath.

Torn and injured, but still alive.

The Reaper looked at my wounds with a sorrowful expression, unsure of what to do.

“I’m fine. This won’t kill me.”

With those words, I patted the Reaper’s head.

Holding the Golden Reaper close, I stood up, only to find the Kakchi Mountain Research Institute gone, replaced by an entirely new scene.

An endless desert stretched out in all directions.

Every grain of sand, every jagged rock, every shifting dune glowed with a burning red hue.

In the dark sky hung an unnaturally bright red moon.

Despite the darkness, the moonlight scorched my skin like sunlight.

The oppressive heat hung heavy in the air, clinging to me like a suffocating blanket.

“Holy crap, it’s boiling!”

Sweat poured down my face effortlessly in this unbearable environment.

Should I call it a dark sauna without lights?

Or maybe a studio apartment with a giant heater instead of lighting?

This was an unprecedented situation, unlike anything experienced on Earth.

The Reaper perched on my shoulder, fanning me with tiny hands that did little to cool me down.

“Reaper. Now, what do we do here?”

Sighing, I stroked the Reaper, feeling utterly helpless.

How would we navigate this situation caused by the Object?

***

“Miss, are you alright?”

Unlike the tattered Black Agent, the Blonde Girl remained unscathed.

“I’m fine.”

She brushed sand off her hair and clothes nonchalantly.

Surrounded by scattered secretaries, yet separated from them.

Despite the chaos, she appeared calm.

“Rather, it seems you’re quite badly injured, sir.”

“My injuries aren’t severe enough to hinder my duties.”

The Black Agent shook off the sand, checked his gear, and began moving.

“We should quickly assess the situation. Though things seem safe for now, swift action is crucial.”

He pointed with his finger toward the tallest dune and started moving there, keeping movements minimal and posture low.

“Sir, it’s incredibly hot despite it being night.”

The girl wiped sweat from her forehead.

Even this short trek left her drenched.

“I share your concern. If nighttime is this bad, daytime will be unbearable. Perhaps digging in early would be wise.”

From atop the high dune, they surveyed the vast desert.

Scattered individuals could be seen.

And pursuing them were Objects made of interlocking red sandstone cubes.

Each cube was roughly the size of an adult male, and about ten such cubes formed these aggressive Objects.

Their physical force alone was intimidating.

Moreover, they actively sought out and crushed anyone they found.

“Gulp.”

The blonde girl caught her breath upon witnessing someone being crushed.

Normally, the Black Agent would have shielded her eyes, but this was an emergency.

They judged it better to witness and understand the situation fully rather than turn away.

Panting heavily, the girl regained composure and spoke.

“Let’s move. We can’t end up like that, right?”

Though brave, her pale face betrayed her exhaustion.

“Finding shelter is priority. Moving too long in this heat is impossible. Waiting for rescue would be wisest.”

Carefully, the Black Agent and Blonde Girl moved together in search of safety.

***

Was it a mistake to wander carelessly?

I was being chased by soldiers made of red sand.

If not for the Golden Reaper, I’d surely be dead by now.

The Reaper charged at the sand soldier chasing me from behind.

With a “plop,” the decapitated soldier dissolved into ordinary red sand.

But beyond the scattering sand, another soldier emerged.

No matter how many times I destroyed them, more sand soldiers kept appearing.

“Haa… Haa…”

Ignoring the gritty sand in my mouth, I gasped for breath.

Between the sweltering heat draining my stamina and the constant running, dizziness set in.

Dangerous.

I felt like I might pass out any second.

Yet, the Reaper perched on my shoulder still seemed fine.

‘Guess I’ve reached my limit,’ I thought just as the relentless pursuit abruptly ended.

“Huh?”

Breathing heavily, I turned around to see the relentless sand soldiers halting their chase and retreating.

“Wow, we survived! Right, Reaper?”

Slumping to the ground, I petted the Reaper while looking back.

But the Golden Reaper remained tense.

Woooom.

A low rumbling vibration echoed.

At the sound, the Golden Reaper darted forward just as a sandstorm erupted.

I was helplessly thrown backward, rolling and tumbling until stopping.

Looking up at the epicenter, something floated eerily.

An object composed of chaotic swirling red rock cubes.

At its center lay a prominent red glass orb.

The Golden Reaper lunged toward the human-sized red sphere.

But in the brief moment, the red rock cubes surrounded me, tightening their grip second by second.

Too fast for the Reaper to block.

As death seemed imminent, a sound like breaking glass rang out.

The red rocks froze mid-motion, then began falling.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Countless red cubic rocks rained down.

When the dust cleared, the red sphere lay split in two.

Ah, so that was its weakness.

Beside the shattered sphere lay the fallen Golden Reaper.

“Reaper!”

Startled, I rushed to the Reaper’s side.

The Reaper lay unconscious, one arm missing.

Oh… why?

From the brutally torn shoulder, golden flames dripped like blood.

“What do I do… What can I do…”

Desperately trying to stem the flow with my hands, the flames passed through my fingers and seeped into the ground.

***

The first thing the Golden Reaper saw upon regaining consciousness was Park Seoah’s tears.

Seeing the crying Park Seoah, the Reaper wished to wipe away her tears but lacked the necessary hand.

The remaining hand pressed against the wound.

Its small supply of fuel was insufficient to stop the leaking golden flames.

“Reaper, are you okay?”

The Reaper replied incoherently.

Yet it was filled with worry.

And the gentle caress of her hand.

The Reaper forced a smile toward its beloved human despite the pain.

But seeing that painful smile, Seoah couldn’t help but feel even sadder.

Boom.

Another massive red rock object appeared.

Seoah’s worried gaze met the Reaper’s.

The Reaper faced her concerned eyes and smiled brightly before turning to charge at the object.

Don’t worry!

I still have one arm!

***

It was a desperate situation.

Though the Golden Reaper charged ahead cheerfully, the enemies were numerous.

Clearly weakened by losing an arm, the Reaper seemed fragile, like a candle in the wind.

In the depths of despair, as knees buckled and the sand threatened to swallow us whole, a silhouette emerged through the dust.

About 1 meter tall.

Long flowing hair.

Its mere presence altered the surrounding atmosphere.

What should I call this mix of hope and relief?

The cheerful Golden Reaper had returned to my arms.

Not only had the lost arm reappeared, but vitality surged within.

Beneath the petite figure’s feet, Golden Reapers popped up everywhere.

The previously tense Golden Reaper’s expression softened.

Our research institute’s highest-risk Object.

The Gray Reaper had arrived.