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Thick fog that made it feel like the clouds had come down.

The Black Agent and the Blonde Girl were making their way through such fog.

However, it wasn’t as dangerous as the Black Agent had thought.

In fact, since entering Odaesan, it felt safer than Seoul.

There were no threatening objects in sight, and the only objects occasionally visible were adorable cloud fish swimming through the fog.

Even now, cloud fish were rubbing their cheeks against the girl, showing her their affection.

“Ahjussi, there are really so many cloud fish!”

Even now, a cloud fish was lying on the Blonde Girl’s palm, eyes closed as if it were sleeping.

Not seeming to mind, the girl looked joyful while playing with the cloud fish.

“Indeed, it’s strange. Cloud fish shouldn’t be an object that sticks to the ground for this long.”

The Black Agent was feeling a bit odd about other things too.

Despite hiking through the fog where one couldn’t see an inch ahead, there was little feeling of unease.

It felt as if the cloud fish were guiding the way instead.

In truth, the fog was so thick that the terrain couldn’t be properly seen, and the compass was spinning wildly, not pointing in any direction.

Given this situation, the Black Agent had long since given up on finding his way and stuffed the map and compass into his pocket.

There was a path that seemed like a hiking trail, but he wasn’t sure if he was really going the right way.

After wandering around the foggy forest with the cloud fish for several hours, a massive staircase made of sturdy stones appeared before the Black Agent and the Blonde Girl.

Climbing the stairs that seemed to reach into the sky through the clouds, the fog began to shine brighter and brighter.

To the Black Agent, the light appeared so bright it was hard to believe it was moonlight, so he turned his head with concern to look at the Blonde Girl.

But the girl shook her head with a smile.

“It’s not sunlight.”

As they climbed the stairs, the fog grew thinner, and with each step, the light coming from the sky became stronger.

When they reached the last step, the fog parted like a theater curtain, revealing a magnificent scene.

A quaint village surrounded by swirling walls of fog lay before them.

It was a village hidden behind a veil, one that they hadn’t known about until the Yellow Detective had informed them.

In the sky, a large moon glowed softly, casting an orange light over the village in place of the sun.

Swimming elegantly in the sky above the village were various kinds of cloud fish.

Cloud jellyfish with translucent tentacles, majestic cloud whales, and countless unnamed fish-shaped cloud fish were flying over the village, creating an exotic scene.

The village gave off a feeling reminiscent of a mermaid city made in the white sea.

“Wooow! It’s really amazing!”

The Blonde Girl exclaimed with wide eyes, filled with curiosity and excitement.

Her red eyes sparkled under the orange moonlight, bursting with curiosity.

“Indeed it is.”

The Black Agent replied while standing next to the Blonde Girl.

His voice was calm and measured, yet there was a hint of admiration within it.

Although he stood guard over the excited girl, he couldn’t take his eyes off the village’s tranquility and the beautiful flow of the cloud fish above.

*

In the serene courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute, warmed by sunlight.

In that courtyard, a structure unfamiliar to him had been erected.

A round colosseum made of marshmallow bricks.

On one wall, the audience seats were filled with numerous Golden Reapers, Black Reapers, and Blue Reapers.

In the center of the audience seats, there was an eternally burning Sugar Flamingo, and above its campfire, skewers of marshmallows were being roasted.

Kkyuhing-hing.

There were white hungry ghosts reduced to the size of a mini reaper.

And in the center of the colosseum, a duel of the century was taking place.

The prize for the winner was 100 Gray Reaper Puddings!

On the opposite side of the audience seats, a mountain of a whopping 100 puddings was piled high.

“Graaaaang!”

The Gray Reaper Golem, made of a massive blob of water, roared.

Thud thud.

Moving heavily, the Gray Reaper Golem faced a giant Black Reaper.

The Black Reapers had transformed their bodies into blocks, merging into a giant Black Reaper.

[The world's strongest Mom Golem punch!]
[Golem punch!]

As the strings of Blue Reapers adorned the sky, the golem swung its hefty fist.

Boom!

The sound was like a huge wave crashing against a breakwater, causing the giant Black Reaper to wobble.

As the damp shockwave swept through the area, the Golden Reapers cheered, feasting on white hungry ghosts.

I was lying in the “Mom’s Seat” prepared in the audience area, enjoying the lively arena.

The origin of this event was simpler than expected.

While just watching the news, a boxing match video had accidentally flowed out, captured by the Golden Reapers.

Weirdly gaining popularity, the boxing match between the Golden Reapers had grown in scale, and soon all the reapers joined in to hold such competitions.

The match appeared to be nearing its conclusion.

At first, the massive Black Reaper with physical immunity seemed to be at an advantage, but as the match dragged on, its movements started to become increasingly clumsy.

With its guard up, getting hit with punches from the solidly-performing golem, it began to fall behind in scoring, causing the movements of the Black Reapers to scatter chaotically.

[The world's kindest Mom Golem uppercut!]
[Golem uppercut!]

Ducking under the lumbering giant Black Reaper’s straight punch, a soaring uppercut came!

That was the finishing blow.

The giant Black Reaper, which had shown bewildered movements as each thought itself right, broke apart like a set of assembly toys from that hit and fell apart.

The Golden Reaper serving as the judge raised the blue flag, declaring victory.

It was a win for the Blue Reapers.

The sounds of applause from the Golden Reapers and the cheerful pitter-patter of feet echoed loudly inside the colosseum.

The Blue Reapers, wearing tightly pulled hats, hid among mounds of pudding holding their trophy, while the defeated Black Reapers clapped, looking amused.

It was a healthy game enjoyed by both the winners and the losers.

“Oh no! My lunch money!”

The only ones who looked sad were the employees of the Sehee Research Institute, who had bet money while sneakily watching the colosseum from afar.

Yerin was completely unconcerned with betting or winning and was busy taking pictures of the mini reapers.

And she shoved a photo at me.

“Reaper, what do you think? A rare smile!”

The photo Yerin showed me captured a smiling Blue Reaper with wide open eyes.

It was certainly a rare sight.

*

A man wrapped in protective gear was madly running down the mountain path.

He should have long since been out of the fog, but no matter how fast he ran, the fog just wouldn’t end.

His comrades moved in groups of ten, but now only two were running alongside him.

“Haa. Haa.”

Maybe it was due to the filter in the protective suit, but breathing was incredibly difficult.

It felt like someone was blocking my mouth, preventing me from breathing.

Yet, he couldn’t take off the protective suit.

His colleagues who had removed theirs had ended up being torn apart by the creatures outside.

He had been told that the mission outside, swarming with objects, was considered safe, yet that wasn’t the case at all.

Of course, back when they arrived at the operation site by helicopter, it had certainly felt calm and safe.

There was not a single hostile object in sight, and the only things visible were harmless cloud fish known widely.

But the moment they set up the ‘Evolution Liquid,’ the peaceful atmosphere had vanished.

The fog that had gently wrapped around them turned into dark storm clouds, becoming thunderous and foreboding.

The cute-looking cloud fish transformed into piranhas with sharp teeth, while instead of the tranquil cloud whales, the monstrous cloud sharks that devoured humans took their place.

[No! Stop!]
The voice of a comrade crackled through the helmet.

Turning to the side, he saw a colleague who could barely breathe making a desperate attempt to remove their helmet.

But no one stopped to intervene in that action.

They merely shouted warnings while desperately moving their feet to survive.

Crunch.

How long had it been? A sound of a skull cracking echoed from behind.

That was probably the sound coming from the comrade who removed their helmet.

Yet, the crazy dash began to reveal its end.

A white light from outside began to pierce through the fog.

[I’m alive!]
With joyful comms, the man sent a message, but there was no reply.

Turning aside, he noticed his comrade’s helmet had filled with blood.

And within it, crimson-stained cloud piranhas were shredding pieces of his comrade’s flesh into mush.

Chunky pieces of flesh were oozing from a small hole punctured in his comrade’s protective suit, resembling ground meat.

The corpse of his comrade, instinctively leaping with the movements of the cloud fish, collapsed with a thud.

But the man gritted his teeth and bolted into the fog.

I survived!

But the place he burst out into was hell.

The helicopter stationed in the open lot was smashed to pieces, and beneath it lay a multitude of bloodied corpses.

And the red-stained cloud sharks were roaming above them.

“Haha, why did I think it would be safe to go outside the fog?”

The man’s thoughts were cut short by the last sight of a shark flying toward him with its mouth wide open.

*

For the colosseum afterparty, all kinds of snacks were delivered to the courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute.

Puddings, of course, along with jellies, cookies, macarons, and plenty of sweet treats lay scattered about.

Om nom nom.

As countless snacks were spread across the mat, mini reapers, with happy expressions, began to scatter and devour the treats.

The mini reapers swarmed together, and people watched, delighting in the mini reaper party.

Although the Blue Reapers seemed ready to run, they remained hunkered down in the corner of the party, hiding due to their title as the “Colosseum Champion.”

With warm sunlight, delicious snacks, and the happy-looking mini reapers,

It was truly a slice of a peaceful afternoon fit for the Sehee Research Institute.

But that perfect afternoon scene shattered into chaos due to an unexpected storm.

A strong gust of wind blew through, sweeping away the tranquil scenery, as if announcing an approaching tempest.

The brilliantly shining sun began to get obscured by thickening ominous clouds, casting a chilling shadow over the surroundings.

The cloud fish swirling in the sky stirred up a gust, causing the snacks to scatter all around.

Even the mini reapers, who had been happily playing, looked up at the sky with serious expressions.

They probably reacted to the faint smell of oil mixed in the wind.

The reappearance of the unpleasant stench, which they thought they would never have to smell again after demolishing the Third Research Institute.

The reaction of the Black Reapers was even more intense; they bared their sharp teeth and clicked them as if ready to bite down.

And from within the massive swirling clouds in the sky, a huge silhouette began to emerge.

A giant cloud whale, slowly revealing itself from the head down.

The enormous cloud whale, made up of white clouds, began to sink silently like a balloon deflating.

Casting a deep shadow over the Sehee Research Institute, the enormous cloud whale was still far too big to swallow the whole area.

Whoosh.

Being made of clouds, there was no sound of collision.

But the sound of clouds pushing away the wind and the slight shaking of the ground indirectly expressed the giant cloud whale’s immense presence.

Like a messenger from something, the enormous cloud whale suddenly appeared and swallowed the Sehee Research Institute.