The forest had already lost its peace.
Cracked earth.
Fallen trees.
Air trembling with the aftermath of power.
Serenity stood still.
Composed.
Untouched.
Across from her—
The old man moved.
And this time—
He didn't hold back.
His figure blurred—
Then multiplied.
Afterimages filled the space around her.
One.
Five.
Ten.
Dozens.
He moved faster.
Faster than before.
Faster than perception.
A hand reached for her back—
Another for her throat—
Another for her blind spot—
But Serenity…
Didn't move.
She simply closed her eyes.
"…You're fast," she said softly.
The old man's voice echoed from everywhere at once.
"…Speed is the foundation of survival."
He circled her again.
Again.
Again.
Then—
Serenity opened her eyes.
"…Zone of the Reaper."
A point of black formed in front of her palm.
Small.
Silent.
Then—
It expanded.
Rapidly.
A sphere of black energy erupted outward—
Swallowing the forest.
The sky.
The ground.
Everything.
Inside—
Darkness.
With faint traces of white drifting like distant echoes.
The old man—
Stopped.
Mid-motion.
Mid-step.
Mid-existence.
Frozen.
His body hung in the air—
Unable to move.
Unable to act.
Serenity walked toward him.
Calm.
Unrushed.
"…If you were still human," she said,
"…you wouldn't be immobilized."
She stopped in front of him.
Looking up slightly.
"…because you wouldn't have experienced death."
A pause.
"…But you're a remnant spirit."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…You've already died."
The space around them pulsed.
"…So you have no control over yourself in my presence."
A faint hum echoed.
"…Because I'm the Reaper."
A chime rang within her mind.
[System Notice]
Spirit detected — Reap or Absorb?
Serenity looked at him.
The old man didn't struggle.
Didn't resist.
He simply smiled.
Faint.
Accepting.
"…So this is how it ends."
Serenity didn't hesitate.
"…Reap."
The black sphere pulsed—
Then collapsed inward.
The old man's form dissolved—
Turning into a stream of light—
And entered her.
Silence.
Then—
DING.
Congratulations Host
You have reaped the spirit of a Transcendent Human
Level Up (x3)
Current Level: 19
Serenity's eyes flickered slightly.
Master–Servant Functions Unlocked
Would you like to convert this spirit into a Warrior of the Reaper?
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…Of course."
Her aura pulsed—
Subtle.
But heavier.
Somewhere within her consciousness—
The old man opened his eyes again.
Not free.
But not gone either.
Reborn—
Under her command.
⸻
Cut — Luciferus
The forest shifted.
A low rumble rolled across the ground.
Luciferus stood near the cave entrance—
Calm.
Curious.
Behind him—
A presence.
He turned.
And saw it.
A Qilin.
Massive.
Majestic.
Its body radiating a quiet, sacred aura.
Luciferus' crimson eyes lit up slightly.
"…I've only seen your species in books…"
He took a step forward.
Slow.
Measured.
"…but never up close."
The Qilin didn't move.
It stood firm.
Blocking the path.
Protecting something.
Luciferus narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You're injured."
Blood marked its side.
Faint—
But real.
His gaze shifted past it.
Hidden behind—
Smaller forms.
Children.
"…A mother."
The Qilin let out a low roar—
Not aggressive—
But warning.
Luciferus raised his hands slightly.
"…Relax, I'm not here to hurt you."
The creature didn't lower its guard.
Then—
It roared again.
Louder.
Sharper.
But this time—
Not at him.
At something behind him.
Luciferus' expression shifted.
He turned.
And saw it.
A massive figure walking forward.
Slow.
Heavy.
Hungry.
A three-headed beast.
Each head watching.
Each one breathing low.
Purple eyes.
Purple fur.
A presence that didn't belong in harmony.
Cerberus.
Luciferus stared at it for a moment.
Then—
Smiled.
"…Oh?"
He cracked his neck lightly.
"…Now I know what happened."
He glanced slightly toward the Qilin behind him.
"…Evil against good huh."
The Cerberus stopped.
Just a few feet away.
Then—
ROOOAAARRR—
Its roar tore through the forest.
Birds scattered.
Creatures fled.
Even the air trembled.
Luciferus didn't flinch.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Relaxed.
"…You're too noisy."
Another step.
"…And I don't like the way you look at us."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…Drooling like that."
Black light began to leak from his body.
Soft at first.
Then—
Heavier.
The ground beneath him cracked.
The air thickened.
The Cerberus growled—
Low.
Threatening.
Luciferus smiled.
"…Let's see what you got."
The black light flared.
And the forest—
Fell silent.