Seoul Object Story
Chapter 277: Free City Alliance (10)

A vast underground cavern lay deep beneath the Free City Alliance.

Darkness saturated the place. Light could not reach this abyss.

Pillars, grooved by the passage of countless finger-worms, stood amidst the endlessly sprawling cavern. The vibration born from this combination pulsed through the air, an ominous resonance. This resulting echo felt like the wailing of a thousand ghosts.

Amidst this resonance, the scuttling footsteps of Object prosthetics traversing the pillar grooves could be heard.

Tap-tap, tap-tap.

The sound, like fingernails endlessly tapping stone, possessed a maddening quality, grating on the nerves of any listener. The ghostly wails and the tapping fingers intertwined, weaving an atmosphere thick with horror.

But this grim ambiance was not eternal.

Grrrrk!

With that chilling sound, the cavern’s atmosphere instantly transformed.

The finger-worms filling the tank began to convulse like leeches sprinkled with salt. Their pale, limp bodies tangled together, creating a repulsive spectacle.

That wasn’t all.

The viscous, foul-smelling liquid in the tank began to bubble furiously, spewing hot vapor like boiling water. The finger-worms’ unnatural seizures and the liquid’s ominous change evoked chilling terror and disgust.

And on the three worm-like monitors attached to the tank by tangled wires, urgent red lights began to flash like alarms.

[Object that kills Objects.]

[Gray Reaper has invaded.]

[Why? Why? Why?]

The words displayed on the monitors betrayed raw panic and confusion.

Meanwhile, the underground tank continued to boil violently, radiating heat.

[Though there is aversion, it does not seem hostile.]

[Then it is fine.]

A moment later, as new text began to appear on the monitors, the tangled worms’ convulsions and the tank’s heat gradually subsided, returning to calm.

[Special-Grade Object, the Object beyond.]

[The ‘Colossus’, having reached beyond, should be able to defeat the Gray Reaper.]

[But the Colossus’s preparations are not yet complete.]

All three monitors simultaneously displayed the same phrase.

[Then let us buy time.]

This sentence seemed to hint at some underlying plan amidst the chaotic situation.

Free City Alliance, Central Tower.

Qing arrived by taxi and slowly stepped out before the Central Tower.

Her gaze traveled up, towards the tower’s peak piercing the sky.

“It’s incredibly high.”

A hint of awe tinged Qing’s eyes as she spoke to the Orange Reaper, looking up at the Central Tower.

This tower, the symbol of the Free City Alliance, held more stories than any other place.

The symbol of the Free City Alliance.

A place beyond the influence of the three ruling families.

Now the Colossus’s residence, but before that, home to the successive mercenary kings of the Free City Alliance.

Truly, a place where the city’s legends had resided.

Qing had no particular ambition to stand at the pinnacle of the mercenary world.

But gazing at the tower, the stage of legends, a small thrill bloomed in her chest.

As Qing was lost in thought, a man walked out from within the Central Tower.

The man, with a cold impression, approached Qing with an indifferent face and began to guide her.

“Follow me.”

Qing took a deep breath, steadying her tense heart.

Passing through doors usually kept closed, Qing entered a lobby with polished floors and large security gates.

People bustled around, but Qing strangely felt alone in this vast space.

It’ll be fine.

As if to shake off her anxiety, Qing placed a hand on the Orange Reaper perched on her head like a hat.

The unique warmth of the Orange Reaper spread through her fingertips, calming her heart slightly.

Suddenly, the faces of her companions waiting back at the hideout came to mind.

Truthfully, they had all opposed this mission.

The request itself reeked of suspicion.

The Colossus had designated only ‘Qing’ as the mercenary, and no one else could enter the Central Tower.

Furthermore, the offered reward was none other than the keepsake Qing so desperately desired.

It felt like bait deliberately cast for her.

But Qing couldn’t refuse this chance.

She couldn’t turn away from the keepsake holding traces of her memories.

In this situation, the only one Qing could trust was the Orange Reaper guarding her side.

Qing found hope in this capricious being.

Hope that she could safely complete the mission and retrieve her precious keepsake.

Lost in these thoughts, Qing followed the guide into a transparent glass elevator.

The elevator walls were entirely glass, offering a panoramic view of the outside.

Inside the rapidly ascending elevator, Qing felt as if she were flying towards the sky.

The surrounding buildings grew smaller, the ground receding beneath her feet.

As they climbed higher, the view opened up.

The entire panorama of the Free City Alliance spread out below.

The scenery visible through the glass looked like a painting.

The cityscape formed by colorful buildings, winding roads, and the countless people moving upon them.

In reality, it was a distorted and tragic city, but from afar, it resembled a colorful mosaic glass.

Ding!

While admiring the view outside, they had arrived at the top floor.

A straight corridor filled with dull metal.

Unlike the first floor, which resembled a luxurious hotel lobby, the top floor had a hangar-like atmosphere.

“The guidance ends here. The Colossus is in the room at the end of the corridor.”

Tap tap.

The corridor had no windows and minimal lighting, creating a gloomy atmosphere.

At the end of the corridor stood a heavy, large iron door, like that of a solitary confinement cell.

The moment Qing opened the door and stepped inside, endless darkness unfolded.

“Is anyone there?”

The floor beyond the door seemed to be covered in water.

Splash splash.

With Qing’s steps, the sound of splashing water echoed.

After taking a few more steps inside, the door slammed shut with a loud noise, and lights began to turn on one by one in the dark room.

In the center of the room lay a massive lump of metal.

A chaotic mix of brilliant gold and dull black metal, drenched in crimson blood.

Around it, liquid emitting a red glow pooled thickly on the floor, and beside it lay a gruesome pile of corpses riddled with holes.

The moment she saw the pile of corpses, a suffocating smell of blood began to fill the air.

Just moments ago, there had been no smell at all!

“Finally, the last piece has arrived.”

At that moment, the massive metal lump began to move.

With a creaking sound, the lump took on a human form and stood up.

The being, radiating metallic luster from its entire body, was the Colossus.

The peaceful marshmallow plains, devoid of the Gray Reaper.

There, white Hungry Ghosts gathered in droves around a mountain of discarded quadrupedal Golden Reaper doll outfits.

The gathered white Hungry Ghosts were playing rock-paper-scissors with their short fingers, which couldn’t even fold properly.

The victorious white Hungry Ghost stood on its hind legs and let out a Kyu! of joy, while the defeated Hungry Ghost trudged towards a corner, letting out a sad Kyuhinghing.

It was truly a place where joy and sorrow intersected.

The losers lay belly-down on the plains where the Gray Reaper often roamed, while the victors donned the Golden Reaper doll outfits and ran around the plains.

It was a cruel game of rock-paper-scissors to choose sacrifices, anticipating the Gray Reaper’s brutal retaliation.

Kyuhinghing.

As time passed while exploring the strange city riding the glow-in-the-dark Mecha Tyrannosaurus, the sun began to set.

Just as I was about to demonstrate the powerful Mecha Tyranno’s strength in this harmful city, a festive atmosphere began to permeate the entire city.

Streets filled with neon signs.

Lively music and dancing people.

Delicious-looking food and snacks.

Perhaps sensing the emotions emanating from the festival, even the Golden Reapers hiding in my hair to avoid the stench peeked out their heads and started watching.

Then they cautiously came out and began imitating the dances people were doing.

Were they imitating the dance of a hologram bunny girl? They grabbed my antennae like poles and began dancing with swift movements.

It must have been a dance meant for sex appeal…

The original move involved slowly rotating around the pole, but the result was a mini Reaper windmill spinning like a fan!

The combination of the Golden Reapers’ innocent faces and their several-times-faster physical abilities turned every move into something resembling a circus act.

While wandering around watching the Golden Reapers imitating various dances, I discovered a truly amazing sight.

!!!!!!!!!!

Intricately crafted hologram Tyrannosauruses moved between buildings, shaking their massive bodies.

Tyranno!

I stood up on Mecha Tyranno and reached my hand towards the hologram.

The Tyrannosaurus opened its mouth wide and pretended to roar.

Slightly startled by the sudden movement, a smile automatically spread across my face.

Hehe.

A Tyranno festival.

It was a wonderful festival with giant Tyrannos running across rooftops.

Machines flying through the sky, sprinkling fluffy marshmallows.

Numerous dinosaur holograms roaming the city.

Joyful music and lively dancing.

It was a festival more wonderful than any other on Earth.

Sitting on Mecha Tyranno’s back, I began to watch the festival intently, catching and eating the marshmallows pouring down like rain from the sky.

Thud!

The Colossus’s heavy fist slammed onto the floor, splattering blood everywhere.

Qing, the Orange Reaper’s attached human, barely dodged the attack, but it seemed difficult for her to hold out much longer.

“Wasting time on useless things.”

The Colossus muttered in a cold voice.

His cold eyes pierced through Qing.

Hah. Hah.

Short, gasping breaths escaped from Qing’s pale lips.

Qing is near her limit.

The Orange Reaper continuously attempted probability manipulation, but it was useless.

The Colossus seemed crudely made from interwoven metal and Golden Horns, yet no matter how much the probability was manipulated, it wouldn’t collapse.

Even though its structure should have crumbled with just a slight twist of probability.

“Useless. It seems you won’t understand unless told verbally.”

As the Colossus opened its large hand, the parts constituting the hand broke into pieces and began to rain down onto the floor.

“A basic ability.”

And when the Colossus extended its hand again, the disintegrated parts reassembled, forming the shape of a hand.

!

Probability manipulation!

The Orange Reaper was so surprised its closed eyes slightly opened.

An enemy using the same ability as itself!

“We studied the Gray Reaper’s ‘Death Induction’ and eventually surpassed the Gray Reaper, reaching the realm of ‘Probability Domination’.”

The Colossus chuckled lowly and continued speaking.

“Our power, having nearly completed the great cause, should have surpassed even the Gray Reaper. Your feeble probability play won’t work.”

As the Colossus clenched its hand in the air, Qing’s probability of death began to skyrocket crazily.

No… Attached human is in danger!

The Orange Reaper suppressed the probability with all its might, but it wasn’t enough.

Thwack!

A small hole opened in Qing’s body.

It was a wound as if a hole puncher had pierced straight through.

The Orange Reaper’s attached human, Qing, was turning into a corpse riddled with holes.

Moreover, with every drop of blood Qing shed, the level of blood pooling on the floor rose noticeably.

And corresponding to that height, the Colossus grew increasingly powerful.

“Now, let me end this.”

The Colossus, drawing ever closer to the rank of the Moon, reached out its hand towards Qing once more.

No!

A building perfectly sealed, unable to call Mother.

An overwhelmingly powerful enemy impossible to defeat.

Attached human in danger.

The Orange Reaper emerged from Qing’s arms and looked back.

It was fun while it lasted.

Golden flames began to engulf the Orange Reaper’s body.

Wanted to play more pranks…

If probability manipulation doesn’t work, I must use stronger probability manipulation.

As the Orange Reaper’s body burned brighter, the blood-filled floor began to transform into fluffy clouds.

As the Orange Reaper’s body blurred, the surrounding corpses vanished, replaced by peaceful cloud meat.

And finally, the moment it grinned mischievously.

A giant orange moon began to rise.

Not a waning orange moon that had lost its power, but an orange moon scattering brilliant light in its fullness.

And so, over the Free City Alliance, noisy with festivities, rose a brilliant orange moon, rivaling the sun.