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James stepped into the sleek and tidy international airport.

The airport staff warmly welcomed James as he disembarked from his private jet.

“Finally arrived in Korea.”

It was only James’s second visit, but it felt somewhat familiar.

Was it because he had nearly escaped death, or was it the mental pollution from the ‘Lake Object’ lingering on him?

Behind James, four very tense bodyguards followed closely.

They were specialized personnel assigned by the association because he was bringing another Artifact Number 0.

It was a good thing for James.

To prevent an incident like the last object terror event, he wanted to bring a solid team along, so it was nice that the association provided reliable people.

As he passed through the automatic doors into the arrival hall, a familiar face caught his eye.

“Oh! It’s so good to see you again!”

James expressed his joy with a hug upon seeing the interpreter he had worked with at the pudding factory.

“Oh, yes. Nice to see you, James.”

However, the interpreter didn’t seem too thrilled and wore a slightly gloomy expression.

“Hmm? Is there something wrong?”

“Isn’t it true that this time we don’t need an interpreter?”

The interpreter said with a bit of sadness.

“It’s also because I had a nightmare. It was a really scary nightmare, and I feel uneasy for no reason.”

“So you’re worried something might go wrong like at the factory?”

James laughed heartily and patted the interpreter’s back.

“No need to worry. This time, I’ve brought a solid team of bodyguards, so there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

Turning around to look at the four bodyguards, they nodded curtly towards the interpreter with emotionless expressions.

Seeing the bodyguards remain vigilant while maintaining their indifferent looks put the interpreter a bit at ease.

“There shouldn’t be a series of incidents, right? Haha.”

With a more relaxed expression, the interpreter guided James and his team.

As soon as James arrived in Korea, he confirmed the current location of the Gray Reaper.

Establishing a pudding factory in Korea and bringing out Artifact Number 0 were all primarily the aims of the Gray Reaper.

The interpreter made a call to the Sehee Research Institute to confirm various details before saying,

“The Gray Reaper has been transported to the Trinity Research Institute. They say it will take at least a week to return to the Sehee Research Institute. What should we do?”

“I’ve heard that unlike the Object Research Institutes in the United States, you can just request to see the objects in Korea. Then let’s head to the Trinity Research Institute.”

James’s armored vehicle turned and began to head toward Gwanak-gu, where the Trinity Research Institute was located.

*

A woman with a shattered head transformed into a monster, appearing to be made entirely of blades, was bubbling with rage.

Her arms and legs protruded long and blade-like, devoid of fingers and toes.

She looked like a monster twisted as though metal had been melted and reshaped.

In a space separated by walls.

A large object loomed over me.

Randomly protruding teeth clacked, creating a terrifying atmosphere.

If I looked like that, it would be easier to scare people!

Lost in such frivolous thoughts, a blade attached in place of an arm shot towards me at high speed.

Despite the terrifying speed of the sharp blade, it was just a physical attack.

If I ghosted, it would have no meaning.

But then, an unknown noise blocked my path.

Screeeech!

“!!!!”

Just as I tried to ghost, an enormous sound startled me.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t ghost and got hit by the blade, bouncing off and slamming into the wall.

Screeeech!

Every time I tried to ghost, an extremely annoying sound echoed, like it was shooting a noise that only apparitions could hear.

Interesting.

I was a bit surprised that such technology was developed in Korea.

I thought this kind of technology was only made in the United States.

If this object was relying solely on ghosting, it could indeed be quite bothersome.

Perhaps that Golden Reaper would turn into a sturdy and cute punching bag if this sound filled the surroundings?

Fortunately, it seemed I could force myself to ghost if needed, but there was no reason to do so while subjected to such loud noise.

After all, such blade attacks posed no problem for me, who had physical immunity.

As the blade object’s desperate attacks occurred a few times, the situation within the partition began to change gradually.

Bubbling.

Transparent bubbles began to sprout from all directions.

Despite their light appearance, they were incredibly heavy and hard bubbles.

Suddenly, what was with these bubbles?

*

In the facility control room of the Trinity Research Institute.

The security chief stared intently at the monitor with a very serious expression.

Upon seeing the Gray Reaper get hit by the vice director’s blow and fly away, he smirked, raising one corner of his mouth.

“Looks like it can’t use ghosting after all. This greatly increases our chances of hunting the Gray Reaper.”

The monitoring staff also smiled brightly and said,

“From the looks of things, the Gray Reaper seems completely neutralized. At this rate, the vice director might win, right?”

“No, I don’t think that will happen.”

Although on screen the Gray Reaper was being tossed about like leaves shaken by a strong wind, the security chief stated firmly.

“Deploy the bubbles immediately.”

It was a decision based on seeing the Gray Reaper’s expression, which looked not just calm but downright bored.

Bubbling.

Bubbles began to fill the partition.

Made from an object that wouldn’t easily burst.

The Gray Reaper, curious about the sturdy bubbles, even tapped them with its hands.

These bubbles were defensive facilities put in place to prevent physical destruction from a supreme danger level object like a hungry ghost.

Perhaps due to that, this bubble worked more effectively against the vice director than the Gray Reaper.

Eventually, the bubbles filled the partition.

Trapped in a state where he couldn’t move, the vice director snapped his sharp teeth together.

It felt like he wanted to say something, like he wanted to get angry but couldn’t.

“It seems the vice director has lost even the ability to speak.”

The vice director flailed his blade-like limbs, struggling, but it had no effect.

On the other hand, the Gray Reaper seemed quite relaxed.

Unlike the vice director, the Gray Reaper was enjoying the bubbles, playfully flailing its arms and legs as if it were in a ball pit.

The Gray Reaper looked quite happy, but it was also true that its mobility had become inconvenient.

Judging that the bubbles had sufficiently limited movement, the security chief issued the order.

“Let’s conduct a destruction test in the D-15 area, isolating the Gray Reaper.”

“Won’t the vice director get caught up in it too?”

“It’s an unavoidable sacrifice.”

The security chief didn’t seem to show any signs of regret as he gave the order.

“And send the strike team to attack the hostages. Since there are objects that appear to be guarding the Gray Reaper, let’s be as defensive as possible.”

The interior of the partition reflected on the monitor was spewing high-temperature flames that could melt even evolved hungry ghosts.

Watching the Gray Reaper, still relaxed amidst the high flames, the security chief pondered.

‘If it’s protecting the hostages, attacking might elicit some kind of reaction. How long can it remain so leisurely?’

*

I was watching the Blue Reaper playing with my daughter.

Seeing my daughter smile brightly eased my worries, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

I was vaguely aware of it though.

In that corner, there was an old man with a broken neck, and we were still in the dangerous interior of the ‘Trinity Research Institute.’

Even if I wanted to call for help, all electronic devices like cell phones had been taken away.

We were stuck here, unable to leave, merely trembling with anxiety, yet strangely I felt no panic.

Probably because of the Blue Reapers.

I didn’t know why they made humans feel secure and happy, but for now, I had no choice but to accept it.

Bang!

Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot echoed.

And my daughter collapsed.

Startled, I rushed to my daughter, and fortunately, she was unharmed.

However, the Blue Reaper who took the bullet in place of my daughter was not so lucky.

“Ah… Dad. The Reaper is in pain!”

The Blue Reaper, with one side of its torso roughly torn away, lay weakly in my daughter’s palm.

Flames flowed like blood, and incomprehensible strings faintly floated away.

[It hurts. Mom....]

The Blue Reapers playing with the children frantically flew around, setting up a barrier made of water droplets.

[Please protect everyone!]

[The Water Droplet Shield will protect everyone!]

As soon as the water barrier was erected, countless bullets rained upon it.

[Please, Mom Golem!]

Even the large water Reaper that had been used as a trampoline rose from its spot, embracing the people to offer protection.

Crash!

Every time bullets hit the water droplets, a deafening sound that couldn’t escape from the bullets resonated.

“Dad, what do we do?”

My daughter looked at me anxiously.

The Blue Reaper closed its eyes wearily and began to dissipate like powder.

[Mom....]

The remaining arm, stretched toward somewhere, drooped towards the ground.

At that moment.

The sky split open.

No, it felt like space was being torn apart and mingled.