Beneath a universe dyed in purple.

The world was gradually becoming distorted.

As the laws of nature twisted, the air began to take shape.

The air had transformed into something like the cocoon of an insect or spiderwebs.

These threads, light and tough yet unnervingly sticky, floated through the air chaotically.

They clung to structures like buildings, wrapping around them like cocoons.

This distortion was extremely harmful to all living things that breathed, but not to objects.

The air was thinning, and instead of oxygen, the space was being filled with these dangerous threads that seemed capable of ending anyone who inhaled them.

Moreover, the ground was becoming transparent, turning into something that resembled a mirror—a swamp that reflected the sky like a decalcomania.

I looked up at the purple foreign entity, wearing the halo of ability nullification.

The foreign entity did nothing, simply staying still.

Did it think that simply dragging out time would be to its advantage?

So far, the halo of ability nullification had been preventing the distortion from spreading far, burning it white-hot in the process.

But if time dragged on, the distortion would worsen, eventually reaching the place where Yerin was.

I stretched out both hands, gripping the space tightly.

Crack.

The space warped, creating a large black sphere.

It had the power to absorb and crush everything, but it had no effect on the foreign entity.

It felt somehow disconnected.

It seemed like the foreign entity and I were in the same space, but at the same time, we weren’t.

Perhaps that was why the ability nullification halo wasn’t exerting its full influence.

After all, the halo's range didn’t extend to the entire universe.

Ability nullification halo: limited effect.

Complete evasion halo: useless against an opponent that doesn’t attack.

Illusion manifestation halo: meaningless against a foe as powerful as the foreign entity.

Death-seeing halo: it might be effective, but I can’t bring it out.

There’s no solution.

Late at night, the dark sky began to be dyed in purple.

It was as if the sky had been slashed open, revealing an ominous, jagged wound.

Strange stars, of colors rarely seen, were embedded in that unfamiliar sky, with threads of purple weaving between them.

The sky, bathed in purple, was different from an ordinary night sky—it emitted its own light, illuminating the ground below.

A golden grim reaper, dripping splinters of kindling from the wounds on its torn hands, looked up at the sky and then turned around, giving a small smile.

“Hang in there.”

Leaving behind an apologetic smile for the last remaining golden grim reaper, it slowly turned to dust and disappeared.

In the place where the golden grim reaper vanished, there remained only a tiny flicker of golden flame, no bigger than a matchstick.

As if it would protect Sehee’s lab even after death, the flame refused to extinguish.

Around Sehee’s lab, numerous such golden embers remained.

The golden grim reapers had originally formed a wide perimeter around Sehee’s lab, but now they had been pushed back to the main building, past the parking lot.

The number of golden grim reapers had dwindled so much that they now had to rely on the narrow entrance of Sehee’s sturdy lab wall for defense.

Meanwhile, the number of association dolls bathed in purple continued to increase.

Moreover, the rusted and broken-looking purple dolls were gradually returning to their original, functional forms.

The physically immune dolls that had once moved clumsily like zombies were now walking quickly, almost like humans.

But there was only one golden grim reaper left.

There wasn’t even enough strength left to hold out for one more minute.

“It’s okay. Mom will win soon.”

With resolute determination, the last golden grim reaper stepped forward, just as the sound of giant footsteps echoed.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Despite being rusted and distorted, the enormous construction doll bathed in purple continued to approach.

It was so massive that it was unclear if the entire body of the last golden grim reaper could even stop it.

Drip.

A small tear rolled down from the last golden grim reaper’s eye.

It felt heavy.

The expectations of the fallen golden grim reapers weighed on its shoulders.

It felt sorrowful.

The knowledge that it couldn’t protect the humans behind it with the strength it had left.

If only it had a talent for the sword.

If only it had a lightsaber.

It could protect the humans.

But the last golden grim reaper had no talent with the sword.

Perhaps it was the most talentless of all the golden grim reapers.

Its level was almost "mom-tier"!

But even so, the golden grim reaper clenched its fists and endlessly wished.

The First Sword once said:

“It's better not to have this kind of power, because only mini grim reapers who are broken can possess it.”

But the golden grim reaper continued to wish.

It wished to be able to create weapons like the First Sword.

Even without sword talent.

Just for a moment.

Even if it was just for ten minutes.

Even if it would mean dying forever.

It wished for the First Sword’s invisible blade to descend into its hands!

At that moment, something inside the golden grim reaper’s heart cracked.

“…Ah.”

But it wasn’t enough.

Just the shattering of something within the talentless golden grim reaper wasn’t enough to reach the level of the First Sword.

“No….”

Without achieving anything, its whole body began to crack, crumble, and disintegrate into dust.

At that moment, the remaining golden embers around it began to react.

The wishes to protect Sehee’s lab flew towards the golden grim reaper.

Each time, its body broke further apart.

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

But the golden grim reaper smiled brightly.

Because it had obtained the weapon it had wished for.

The collective wishes of everyone were guiding the golden grim reaper.

A brilliant flame of hope burned around its entire body like armor.

Just like the invisible sword of the First Sword, the blazing golden armor shattered physical immunity upon contact.

The golden armored grim reaper soared like a comet, piercing through the hearts of the dolls.

I kept staring at the purple foreign entity, lost in thought.

“There’s no time. Yerin will be in danger.”

Of course, I wanted to grab Yerin and escape with the Immutable Sphere right away.

But if I retreated now, the mini grim reapers would likely be angry, so I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

The ability nullification halo was burning the threads diligently, and even with that, this was the result. If the threads weren’t burned, Seoul would be cocooned within a minute, and all the kindling would be dead.

“But still… there’s no choice.”

I felt sorry for the mini grim reapers, but the sacrifice of a few for the greater good was inevitable.

Just as I was about to run.

It seemed the Mini Grim Reaper Garden had opened somewhere, and mini grim reapers began flooding through Seoul to protect it.

The mini grim reapers smashed association dolls to protect people.

They worked tirelessly to grasp each harmful thread spreading throughout the city.

But the connection between the garden and reality was too weak to summon the Immutable Sphere.

“I guess I really have no choice but to run.”

At that moment, the mini grim reapers gathered around me, cheering.

“Mom, hang in there!”

“Mom, you can do it!”

Despite the unfavorable situation, seeing the bright smiles of the little ones made it impossible for me to run away.

Fine, it’s been a while since I thought.

Like in the cold, dark Seoul Forest.

When there was no physical immunity, no phasing ability.

Just like back then, I used my first and strongest weapon.

My eyes.

<■■ observes ■■ and ■■■■ is ■■■ing the ■■.>

Because it was a foreign entity, the conditions were unclear.

But there had to be a way.

As I observed more closely, I began to notice a few strange details.

The entity seemed somewhat blurry, as if it wasn’t fully established.

And unlike the other foreign entities, there were conditions visible.

Perhaps this foreign entity was “newly born” from within that mass of red flesh?

At that moment, the conditions for its destruction became a little clearer.

<■■ must be destroyed before ■■ is completed.>

And unlike the red and blue foreign entities, this one didn’t seem to have any interest in this world.

It merely existed.

Moreover, something seemed to be holding this foreign entity in place.

Maybe the red foreign entity threw this one onto Earth?

As I completed my deductions, my perception expanded slightly, and the conditions became clearer.

<■■ must be destroyed before the anchor is complete.>

This should be enough.

I breathed out deeply, pouring my intent into the words.

Loud enough for all the mini grim reapers across Seoul to hear.

“Destroy every suspicious object you find!”

“!”

Upon hearing my voice, the mini grim reapers around me scattered in all directions.

“Mom needs help!”

“Move quickly!”

At that moment, the purple foreign entity began to move.

Even though it seemed like a mindless, harmful mass, it felt the threat to its existence and slowly began to rise.

So, this is the second phase, huh?

Until the mini grim reapers break the anchor, the mission is to hold the foreign entity without any corpses.

I felt the overwhelming presence of the giant foreign entity and forced a smile.