As the haloed man was sucked into the current of desires, the sun began to slowly emerge over the ruined landscape of Seodaemun District.

The dawn light seemed like a signal flare marking the end of a long night.

“It’s over.”

The faint beams of light stretching across the eastern sky gradually pushed away the darkness, revealing the fractured cityscape.

The desolate streets transformed into an unfamiliar landscape painting.

Twisted metal structures jutted towards the sky like colossal sculptures, while shattered windows sparkled in the dawn light, glinting like stars.

The bustling streets, now silhouetted against the brightening sky, had taken on a completely different appearance.

Signs sprawled across the ground, broken road signs, and particles of dust danced in the breeze.

From afar came the faint chirping of birds.

It was an unimaginable sight when they had been searching for the missing Golden Reaper.

As they surveyed their surroundings, a particular bench, remarkably intact amidst the destroyed facilities, caught their eye.

It was the very bench they had found when chasing after the missing Golden Pig Reaper.

Feeling a faint sense of familiarity, they sat down on the bench and lifted a coffee cup, its aroma long faded, to inspect it.

Just then, golden reapers appeared in the distance.

The Golden Cloaked Reaper was trudging over, carrying the fainted Golden Horned Reaper, stepping nimbly across piles of broken concrete despite the weight.

“Is it because the Golden Cloaked Reaper, unlike the Firewood Pig, is inherently stronger than other golden reapers?”

After all, other golden reapers would typically break stones into small chunks to move them. The contrast was noticeable.

Watching the little reaper boldly cross the crumbling concrete, they noticed something different.

“Originally, it just wore a cloak, but now it has boots and gloves?”

The Golden Cloaked Reaper was wearing sturdy-looking boots and gloves.

The design was so impressive that if it had been a full suit of armor, one might have been tempted to try it on.

“Shame.”

Of course, there was no way they could fit into armor sized for a mini reaper.

When the Golden Cloaked Reaper reached their lap, they lifted the unconscious Golden Horned Reaper, playfully pressing down on the irresistible charm of its soft horn.

For some reason, the allure of that horn never grew old.

“Heh.”

Just as they were amusing themselves with the Golden Horned Reaper, a forgotten memory slowly drifted closer and whispered to them.

[Spiraled White Maw Grilled.]

The phrase, like mental pollution, surfaced in their mind, causing them to leap to their feet.

Clutching the two golden reapers, they instantly teleported to the Mini Reaper Garden.

As their vision blurred from the spatial movement, they saw drones scattering in all directions, capturing the ruins exposed under the sun.

Mini Reaper Garden, Marshmallow Plains.

The Gray Reaper abruptly emerged mid-air through teleportation, dropping the Golden Horned and Golden Cloaked Reapers onto the ground before hastily darting off somewhere.

The two golden reapers fell unceremoniously onto the ground.

The Golden Cloaked Reaper tried to regain its balance in mid-air, much like a cat, but ultimately failed and landed belly-first with a plop. The unconscious Golden Horned Reaper rolled across the ground.

“I can’t fly…”

Perhaps because its armor hadn’t fully regenerated, the Golden Cloaked Reaper was unable to take to the air.

After setting the Golden Horned Reaper properly on its back, the Golden Cloaked Reaper trudged off in search of its cherished human.

“…”

After some time, as a certain lively noise filled the air, the Golden Horned Reaper woke up.

“Ah! It’s awake!”

“Long time no see!”

“Long time!”

The scene filled the Golden Horned Reaper’s vision with golden reapers, eyes sparkling with joy.

They were radiating their excitement, their warm greetings pouring forth.

Realizing that the Golden Horned Reaper had awakened, the golden reapers inched closer, then suddenly rushed in.

A giant cocoon of golden reapers!

Soft cheeks rubbed against it, and tiny limbs extended from every direction.

“Waaah!”

“I can’t move!”

“Ah, someone bit me again!”

Once the golden reaper-style welcome ended, only a handful of the oldest golden reapers remained, tumbling around with it.

These were the golden reapers from the days when they barely lasted a day.

“I’m staying at the Crack Research Lab!”

“???”

Catching up after such a long time, they exchanged stories.

“This is the Bingsu Snowland.”

“It’s so white!”

They took each other’s hands and guided the Golden Horned Reaper through the newly established parts of the Mini Reaper Garden.

After roaming around the Mini Reaper Garden, the golden reapers settled in the snowy area, nibbling on sugary fruits.

Nom-nom.

The Golden Horned Reaper widened its eyes at the new flavor and devoured the fruit eagerly.

As it became absorbed in its snack, a golden reaper approached and bit its horn.

Nom-nom.

The Golden Horned Reaper looked up at the one who bit it, giggling as if it was ticklish.

It was the meeting of soft teeth and a soft horn.

Soon, other golden reapers rose from their seats, rushing over.

“Me too!”

“I want to bite it too!”

As they rolled around laughing in the snow, a Crowned Orange Reaper watched from the sky with a meaningful expression.

Sehee Lab, Researchers’ Office.

When lunch hour arrived, the Helmet Researcher lifted his eyes from the monitor and glanced around.

Looking around, he noticed that the Sehee Lab office, usually a bit lively at lunchtime, seemed particularly excited today.

In fact, the lab’s office always had a bit of a buzz, but today felt especially animated.

“It must be because of the recent Seodaemun District incident.”

The major object incident yesterday had drawn significant attention for two reasons.

The first was the special object alert and evacuation advisory issued by the James Lab, followed immediately by the city’s collapse.

Thanks to the James Lab, it was an object incident with property damage but no injuries or fatalities.

It was truly a testament to the lab’s capability.

The Helmet Researcher, who had been one of the last to evacuate, wondered what those who had resisted until the very end must have thought.

The second reason was the long-awaited battle scene featuring the Gray Reaper.

The brilliant yet fierce and intense battle scene.

The Helmet Researcher speculated that the Gray Reaper’s popularity would soar this time.

Maybe, just maybe, it could finally rival the Golden Reaper’s popularity?

Amused by the thought, he glanced down to see the Golden Reaper sprawled across his report, rolling around.

“Ah!”

Noticing the Helmet Researcher’s gaze, the Golden Reaper wiggled its limbs and rolled around to block his view of the report.

“No working! It’s break time!”

Ever since it had learned the concept of lunch break, it behaved this way every time.

With a small chuckle, the Helmet Researcher picked up the Golden Reaper and stood up.

“No matter what, it’s hard to imagine the Gray Reaper surpassing the Golden Reaper’s popularity, right?”

Looking down at the giggling Golden Reaper, he mused.

“…”

Arriving at the lounge with a sandwich and pudding for the Golden Reaper, they watched a scene of the Gray Reaper’s battle playing on the large TV.

The Gray Reaper, glowing in a golden hue, was punching with an oddly awkward movement.

The Golden Reaper, perched on the Helmet Researcher’s shoulder, immediately jumped onto the table and began imitating the Gray Reaper on screen.

“Golden Mom Punch!”

It swung its fist in an awkward, wobbly manner.

Its expression showed genuine admiration for the Gray Reaper, but its pose seemed to poke fun, making him chuckle.

Well, it was clear the Gray Reaper disliked being imitated.

Some golden reapers had been caught copying the Gray Reaper and ended up bouncing around like ping pong balls.

The Helmet Researcher, feeling playful, pointed toward the lounge entrance and whispered.

“There’s the Gray Reaper!”

“Ah!”

The Golden Reaper, startled, covered its mouth with both hands and looked toward the entrance, only to find no one there.

“You tricked me!”

The Golden Reaper, seemingly slightly annoyed, ran over and playfully bopped the Helmet Researcher on the cheek.

He chuckled as he received the soft punches.

The haloed man was dreaming.

It was a fragment of a very old memory.

A childhood dream.

In the dream, he was furious.

Bang!

The young man in the dream struck the table lined with alchemy tools, venting his anger.

[Why!]

The man watched his past self from a slight distance, as if observing a play.

“So, this is where it began.”

This memory marked the start of his constant clashes with the girl with the blue hair.

[I am the last alchemist.]

[A mere magical text as the chief alchemist? I’ll never accept it.]

The young man spat out his words, face twisted with rage.

But unlike the man in the dream, the one lost in the turbulent gray stream saw things differently.

“A title granted by an academy that would soon disappear wasn’t worth much…”

“This is where it all began to go awry.”

As he thought this, the dream, which had held its shape firmly, collapsed and dissolved into the current.

His consciousness began to fade.

“So, this is the end for me.”

He murmured with a faint, wistful expression as his awareness scattered.

Just before it dissolved completely, he caught sight of something pitch black within the current of desires.

Something as dark as evolutionary fluid, maintaining a perfectly round shape.