NOVEL NEXT In the distance, buildings were collapsing one after another.
The buildings affected by the pulsations of the Steel Tower crumbled like reed pipes and scattered like sand.
It was the first time I had seen the area of the Steel Tower, which expanded and contracted like a beating heart.
Since the first place I opened my eyes as an Object was Seoul Forest, I could be considered a Steel Tower expert of sorts, but this phenomenon was unfamiliar.
The power to grind up civilizations also seemed to have increased.
Previously, it felt like civilization was being crumpled into a ball, but now it felt like it was being pulverized in a blender.
What on earth was happening to the Steel Tower?
I felt a burning sensation in my chest area and placed my hand there.
A gentle warmth was rising from beneath my soft skin.
Since the frog was unexpectedly weak, I still had plenty of fuel.
With this amount of fuel, it seemed I could wander around Seoul Forest for several days.
Since the Steel Tower was in Pyongyang, I had to move quickly.
I had to finish quickly, so I could rest quickly.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
With each step I took, my surroundings changed in a blur.
Like teleportation.
In the ghostification state, the laws of physics felt a little looser.
With each step, it felt like I was taking ten steps.
At first, it was difficult to control, so in the ghostification state, I used to crawl around on all fours.
Now, I could move swiftly with the sensation of riding a high-speed moving walkway.
When a rare dense forest appeared, I released the ghostification and planted my feet on the ground.
No matter how many times I come here, it's an unpleasant forest.
When I first fell into Seoul Forest, it was an unpleasant forest for no reason, but now I seemed to vaguely understand why.
It seems I feel uncomfortable because there are no people around.
After all, I feel better when there are some people around and I get some attention.
Although Seoul Forest is considered one of the most dangerous areas on Earth, there is a sense that it is overrated because it destroys civilization.
In fact, deep in Seoul Forest, there were almost no Objects that actively tried to kill humans.
Those murderous monsters that really really wanted to kill humans had no reason to stay in Seoul Forest, where it was difficult to encounter people.
Of course, that didn't mean they weren't harmful to humans just because they didn't want to kill them.
And it's not like there were no murderous monsters at all.
As I was walking towards the Steel Tower with these thoughts, a strange scream echoed through Seoul Forest.
A huge lump of flesh was running and smashing trees indiscriminately, letting out a stifled, agonizing scream.
The ground shook mercilessly from its heavy footsteps, and white flesh was scattered all over the place.
Small parasitic worms wriggled within that scattered flesh.
It was a 'Ghost Catcher,' often seen near the Steel Tower.
Of course, I arbitrarily gave it the name 'Ghost Catcher.'
I had never heard any stories about these white, fleshy monsters when I was human.
The Ghost Catcher had a hideous appearance and size that looked like a murderous monster at first glance, but it was probably not a murderous monster.
After all, the 'Ghost Catcher' can only see ghosts.
That's why I release ghostification when entering Seoul Forest.
Of course, it's not because they're as strong as Lophiomus or difficult to kill.
I avoid them because they have a repulsive appearance.
It's an appearance that's not good for my mental health, so I don't want to look at it as much as possible.
The Ghost Catchers mainly prey on ghostly Objects, hunting by throwing their own flesh.
I absolutely, absolutely do not want to be hit by that slimy, wriggling flesh full of worms.
After passing through the forest where the white, lump monsters were running around, a wide open space appeared beyond.
In the center of that open space was my target.
The first Object to be hit by a nuclear strike, the hard counter to human civilization.
The Steel Tower.
***
??? POV:
---
On a major street in Gangbuk-gu, despite being evening hours, it was deserted without a single person.
The large windows of an electronics store on that street were shattered by strong winds.
The displayed items were scattered by the wind, but the TVs on display were still powered on.
The TVs were broadcasting news updates about the ongoing situation in Seoul Forest.
The content could be summarized in a few points,
It was informing about the pulsation cycle of the Steel Tower and the expected range of the next pulsation, urging people to evacuate from the affected areas.
Currently, the area of the Steel Tower had already encroached beyond the boundaries of Seoul, and it was said that the next pulsation was highly likely to reach the areas of Gangbuk-gu, Dobong-gu, and Nowon-gu.
This electronics store located in Gangbuk-gu had already received an emergency evacuation warning.
Since it is difficult to survive being caught in the pulsation in Seoul, which has many concrete buildings, most people had evacuated.
Amidst the gloomy news of the unstoppable expansion of the Steel Tower and the indefinite evacuation, there was a sudden piece of good news.
It was a story about the exploits of hidden heroes.
It was about a special mission team that had undergone grueling training for as long as 10 years for a single purpose.
It was about the people who had been silently working to recapture Dobong-gu.
It was about the warriors who had provided complete silence to the ice soldiers, despite being far from the public's attention due to the Steel Tower incident.
The temperature in Dobong-gu was dramatically rising, and the remaining Ice Throne in Dobong-gu was confirmed to be half-destroyed and gradually melting.
Unfortunately, however, the return of the special mission team dispatched to destroy the Ice Throne was not confirmed.
If it weren't for the pulsations of the Steel Tower, they would have sent out drones in large numbers to search, but now, even if they sent out many drones, a single pulsation would turn them all to dust, so the search operation was stagnant.
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However, sending a human search party was also an obstacle because there were still many dangerous Objects in Dobong-gu.
The announcer said with a smiling face,
<We hope our heroes return safely>
That hopeful remark was erased by the sound of tremors.
pound-!
The tremors, resonating like a heartbeat, shook the streets, buildings, the electronics store, and the TV, ending the broadcast.
***
The sound of chewing flesh reverberated. They were retreating as quickly as possible, but were eventually detected by the Objects.
Yeti.
One of the Objects that could be easily dealt with if they only had personal firearms.
However, the basic armaments the agents carried had long since turned to dust.
The only thing resembling a weapon among the remaining equipment was a single multi-purpose knife.
It was difficult to confront a herd of Yetis with just one knife, so the only option was to run away diligently.
The agent who just became Yeti's prey was the last remaining subordinate.
In the end, the team leader had lost all his team members.
And eventually, I too would be devoured by the Yetis.
I was out of breath from running too hard, and the Yetis were much nimbler and faster than me.
slip-!
Perhaps from running for too long, I eventually slipped and fell flat in the middle of the slippery snow field.
I barely had the strength left to get up and run again.
Is this the end?
Gasping for breath, I looked up at the sky.
In the dark sky, flocks of cloud creatures seemed to be swarming.
It was a peaceful-looking sky.
"?"
The area that had been so noisy with the sounds of Yetis was suddenly filled with silence.
It felt strange.
I caught my breath and sat up, but the Yetis that had been chasing me had vanished without a trace.
"Did I survive?"
I staggered back to my feet.
I had to head towards the rendezvous point, even if just a little closer.
If they had observed the abnormal activity of the Steel Tower, there was a chance that the standby team waiting at the rendezvous point would come to pick me up.
There was still hope.
"No way..."
But that hope vanished in an instant.
As I staggered along, I had to stop and look up at the sky again.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
I screamed in frustration.
Why did it turn out like this?
I thought we had a high chance of succeeding the mission...
The clouds in the sky disappeared, replaced by an ominous purple light filling the space.
The Snow Field Moon had risen.
The chances of survival were now infinitely close to 0%.
I was exhausted.
I couldn't endure any longer.
In a resigned state, I threw myself into the shadows.
***
Inside the shadows, I found myself standing in an unfamiliar field.
It was a plain reeking of the smell of oil.
Perhaps because of the oil smell, I felt dizzy.
My vision distorted from time to time.
The plain was covered in sticky, black mud, with unidentified black grass sparsely growing on the ground.
In the sky, there were 6 moons.
The moons had rainbow-like colors, except there was no purple moon.
The sky was pitch black and dark, without a single star.
The thick oil smell made me dizzy.
No, I felt dizzy even without the oil smell.
On the field, piles of black mud were moving around like living creatures.
As if searching for something, or moving without any purpose, the mud piles shifted.
From their appearance, I had a premonition.
Ah... is this my final destination?
With a sense of resignation, I looked at my hands.
What was there was something like ugly, dripping mud.
I grew dizzier and dizzier.
I don't know what kind of world this is.
But perhaps I don't have enough time left to find out.
And it seemed I had already crossed a boundary from which I could not return.
I thought I would be buried in Korean soil when I died...
Ah, I'm dizzy. I feel dizzy.