The Reaper (Death) 4

The mightiest of Warlords, the Reaper.

There were 41 existences bearing her surname.

Grasping his dizzy head, Doyun struggled to think.

‘…They cannot all be the real Reaper.’

Clones of the Warlord? If such were possible, the continent would have fallen to the Dark Lord long ago.

While unable to discern the identities of the remaining 40 Reapers, one conjecture was plausible.

‘The real Reaper is in Cocachoatl.’

The overwhelming presence Doyun had sensed. Concealment powers grown stronger than 100 years prior.

Why she had not killed Doyun. Why she had paid the cost to enter the Auric Mundane – these remained unexplained.

But one thing was certain – the Reaper was present in Cocachoatl. And she had noticed Doyun.

‘Did she… recognize me?’

How?

‘…’

Too many incomprehensible aspects lingered.

Yet what he had to do was clear.

‘I must kill… the Reaper.’

Before she could kill him, he had to slay her.

Whether it was feasible was not a consideration. He had to do it, or else Doyun would die, and the Heroes would perish.

Perhaps in confronting her, he could glean clues about the remaining 40 Reapers.

Like the Dark Lord and other Warlords, the Reaper was merely a target to be eliminated for the continent’s salvation, regardless of possibility.

‘I must do it.’

Doyun’s eyes shone brilliantly golden.

+++

The dimly lit World Tree’s secret council chamber, only the circular center table illuminated.

Befitting a nation’s paramount guild, it boasted impeccable security measures.

Complex magics enveloped the entire room, rendering any conversation undetectable or recordable by any means.

Dokkogamuyong, Bryhildr, Heineken, and Elroar had assembled there.

Despite their immensely busy schedules, none dared refuse Doyun’s summons, immediately canceling all commitments to attend without a word.

The four sat around the table, their solemn countenances fixed upon the vacant head seat.

‘He who never asserted any authority has now summoned us all for the first time.’

‘Not merely scheduling a meeting, but issuing an emergency summons. A pressing matter, it seems.’

‘Perhaps… he has uncovered something regarding the Ruozvolnick in the Dark Lord’s Domain?’

Though deeply acquainted, none spoke rashly, an indescribably grave atmosphere weighing upon them.

All four had attained weighty titles and stations as Apostles.

With their unique foresight, they sensed something monumental was about to transpire.

“…”

“…”

After a while, the chamber’s door opened.

Creak-

Thud. Thud.

Entering, Doyun took the head seat at the round table.

The four, each holding the rank of Hero and Guild Master, were core Alliance figures. Yet Doyun was a mere Apostle and guild member.

Still, none present – not even Doyun himself – found it strange for him to occupy the head seat and command them.

The one seated there was not Apostle Han Doyun, but the great Hero Enoch Ruozvolnick himself.

“Everyone.”

Surveying those assembled, Enoch spoke.

“Assist me.”

“…”

‘Assist me’ – an ordinary phrase heard not just now, but at any time.

Yet the four sensed his solemn determination, incomparable to any previous occasion.

“…Who is the adversary?”

Dokkogamuyong inquired.

Enoch’s golden, resolute eyes met Dokkogamuyong’s, as if questioning whether he was prepared for the answer.

“The Reaper.”

“!!”

“The Reaper is in Cocachoatl.”

Everyone in the chamber froze, their breaths caught.

Merely uttering that name instilled overwhelming dread, paralyzing their thoughts with terror.

“Any of us here could die.”

“…”

“Assist me.”

Silence lingered.

But it was not born of hesitation.

Though an immense ordeal, none felt the need to respond. The answer was already predetermined.

All present carried on Enoch’s will.

Just as Enoch’s resolve pointed in a single direction, so too did theirs.

They merely followed in Enoch’s footsteps.

“When?”

Bryhildr spoke up.

Enoch nodded, as if the unaccompanied question was self-evident.

“Tonight.”

Tonight.

They would confront the Reaper.

+++

Within a single night, the greatest elite force since the Great Dark War 100 years ago was assembled.

Dokkogamuyong, the current Alliance’s highest authority and leader of the vast intelligence organization Kaipang spanning the continent.

Heineken, a powerhouse potentially exceeding the Lion King and Dragon King, Guild Master of Pantheon, and incumbent ruler of Bilren.

Bryhildr, inheriting the Sword Saint’s lineage, ranking third in pure might after the Lion and Dragon Kings among Heroes.

Elroar, Grand Master of the World Tree’s Skeletonia – one of the continent’s three paramount dinosaur guilds.

Invoking their full authority, they had issued emergency mobilization orders to their closest subordinates.

However, the Alliance’s main forces were not called upon, the elite squad kept to a modest scale.

The Elders had witnessed Doyun’s Name Seeker activation and its results. They knew a peculiar existence was present in Cocachoatl.

If that existence was revealed as the Reaper, Doyun’s knowledge of her surname would require explanation.

Hence, utmost secrecy was imperative.

Under the night sky gathered barely 100 individuals – a small number.

Yet each one was an unquestionable elite befitting that moniker.

Surveying their precise formation, Elroar shuddered in awe.

‘The Hero has finally…’

The Hero could now assemble such a force overnight.

Given sufficient justification, mobilizing the entire Alliance was not impossible.

Elroar felt joy witnessing the Hero gradually regaining his former status and power.

Operation Reaper Subjugation – the secret codename known only to the three Heroes, Doyun, and Elroar.

Doyun held overall command, with field operations jointly led by Elroar and Pantheon’s four highest-ranking members.

The three Heroes would remain solely by Doyun’s side as the core combatants against the Reaper.

Pantheon’s four had steadfastly guarded Heineken until the very end during the Baird War.

Unavoidably privy to Doyun’s identity, they were the only ones who could be informed of the operation’s true nature and co-lead with Elroar.

Gathered separately, the four prostrated trembling before Doyun.

“To, To meet the great Enoch… is an honor beyond words…”

They could not fathom why their bodies quivered so.

Before their bowed heads stood the venerable Enoch himself, gazing down upon them.

Indescribable emotions welled up, leaving them breathless.

‘I, I… I am in such a place…!’

A secret grand operation involving the three Heroes and the Alliance’s absolute elites.

Above all, commanded by Enoch himself!

They shook uncontrollably, acutely aware of their place in the midst of history.

“I entrust this weighty task to you all.”

“Y, Yes sir!!”

The crime-ridden heart of Cocachoatl was stealthily surrounded by Kaipang operatives, an intricate, meticulous formation enveloping the entire city.

Not a single soul would be able to enter or exit tonight.

Those attempting to leave would find themselves inexplicably drawn back into the city’s depths, while outside visitors would be unable to even perceive the city.

World Tree, Pantheon, and Bilren’s royal guards carefully infiltrated, systematically searching the city.

They were linked via ‘Master Mind’, a top-tier item retrieved from Enoch’s warehouse.

This consciousness-linking item allowed dozens of users to sense each other’s locations and immediately detect if any perished.

However, none within the city were aware of this. Cocachoatl maintained its usual wretched appearance, even continuing the Underground Grand Auction.

Today’s auction featured ‘slaves’ as the merchandise category.

Upon any anomaly or the Reaper’s discovery, the three Heroes and Doyun would immediately deploy, initiating combat.

“Your role is truly pivotal.”

“Leave it to me, senior.”

This operation was only possible thanks to Heineken’s presence.

Of course, even his [Dragon-Tiger Deathmatch] had limitations – no matter what, he could not confront the Dark Lord.

Outside the Auric Mundane, using [Dragon-Tiger Deathmatch] against the Reaper would have been futile.

But within the seal’s confines, while not her equal, he could provide formidable opposition.

Standing atop a boulder, Doyun gazed down upon them.

Coincidentally, a full, brilliantly shining moon hung in the sky that night.

Its radiance slightly illuminated the darkness concealing the Reaper, bathing those risking their lives in resplendent moonlight.

Doyun, the Heroes, and the resolute Apostles donned thick robes.

The fated hour was nigh.

“All forces.”

An operation rivaling the Metapolis War in scale – no, exceeding it in gravity.

“Commence action.”

Operation Reaper Subjugation had begun.