Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Alien VS Alien
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The existence of Reptilians was basically a confirmed fact. Most people dismissed it as mere conspiracy theory, but the lizards from space had long since blended into everyday life. Dig deep enough, and you'd probably find a few famous politicians were Reptilians.
It wasn't just speculation. They were actively weeding them out.
The Management Bureau didn't exist for nothing. They periodically inspected politicians and other celebrities, dealing with anything pretending to be human that wasn't. Reptilians weren't exempt from that scrutiny.
That was why lately, they weren't even bothering with celebrities anymore—they were walking around in the skins of ordinary people. Honestly, though, there wasn't much reason to care. Unlike their fame, they weren't all that strong.
Their physical abilities were impressive enough, but that was about it. Their mimicry was tricky, but it didn't allow for perfect disguise. You could spot them if you knew what to look for. And their physical prowess wasn't outstanding compared to other anomalies. In terms of raw destructive power, an Eight-Foot Ghost would outclass them.
No matter how you sliced it, they weren't the type to conquer a planet. Even if they rose up, the Management Bureau or some other group would probably crush them.
But what if this was a world without any other anomalies besides Reptilians?
They might come off as a bit ridiculous, but Reptilians had impressive survivability.
Bullets? Their tough scales deflected them easily. You had to aim for the belly, but they knew their weak spot well and rarely exposed it. Some even wore armor just there.
Bombs? They had natural heat and blast resistance; at worst, it threw off their balance a little. Bizarrely, their bellies were immune to explosions too.
Poison? Immune to that as well.
Practically impossible to kill with modern weapons. That was a Reptilian.
You could pour on massive firepower and maybe take one down, but overwhelm them with numbers, and even that got tough.
Nukes had their limits too. Anomalies weren't called anomalies for nothing.
Of course, none of that applied to a mage. No one tensed up at the mention of Reptilians here.
"Maybe because it's the Apocalypse, but there were signs of a few nukes going off. The devils said there's no radiation, but just in case, you should wear these gas masks."
Smooth.
Yu Eun-ha handed gas masks she'd prepared to Ian and Yuna.
Cartel-made gas masks.
They filtered out most deadly toxins and blocked radiation completely. Pricey, but worth it for the performance.
Ian took his and tapped the filter.
"How long does the purifier last?"
"A month. Starts counting down the second you press the button on the side."
A month.
Short for a gas mask, but they weren't planning to live in the Mirror World forever, so it didn't matter.
"So... could you come with me? It feels safer moving together."
As he thought it over, Yu Eun-ha asked cautiously. Ian's gaze shifted back to her.
"Of course, if it's too much trouble, feel free to say no. This is all my selfishness. No need to push yourselves for my sake."
Her voice held no static, no resentment. She probably wouldn't hold it against him if he refused.
"......"
Ian stared at her in silence for a moment, then gave a wry smile as he adjusted the straps.
"No plans to refuse. Let's go together."
"Ah... Thank you, Ian. I'll repay you properly later."
Yu Eun-ha smiled faintly as she packed her own mask. Yuna gripped her staff tight, tapping Ian's shoulder amid the departure vibe.
"I-Ian. B-Before we go, teach me how to p-put on the gas mask..."
"Sure. Turn around."
The group quickly packed essentials and donned their masks.
"Hoo..."
Slightly blurred vision and labored breathing.
Luckily, no fogging on exhale, but the hot rush of breath was all too real. Not a great feeling.
"Looks like we're ready."
Yu Eun-ha said, turning to them with a cross in one hand and grimoire in the other.
"Ready to enter?"
"Yes."
"N-No problem...!"
They answered. She nodded and activated her purifier.
Click, hiss...!
Gears meshed inside, and white smoke billowed out. The safety seal was off.
Ian followed suit, pressing his button and inhaling the clean white vapor seeping in.
The odorless white gas hit his lungs, rode his bloodstream, and cleared his head a bit.
"I'll go first. Follow one by one, five seconds after me."
"Got it. What if the view on entry isn't the cafe?"
"The devils said it's a cafe. But not an operating one— a ruined, abandoned building. No survivors."
"So if it's not a cafe right away, something's wrong."
"Exactly."
Yu Eun-ha nodded.
"But every scout devil woke up in the cafe so far, so it should be fine. If— just if— something goes wrong..."
"Signal or make a racket. Large-scale magic's easy enough."
"I can too. Just summon my archdevil. What about you, Yuna?"
Her gaze turned to Yuna, who startled at the sudden attention, shoulders jumping.
"M-Me?"
"Yes. Got anything big enough to yell 'I'm here!'?"
"Uh, um... Hmm..."
Yuna pondered, then brightened.
"W-Weaken a building wall and collapse it...! Make it b-big as possible!"
"Solid plan. Do that."
"Y-Yeah!"
Yuna nodded. Yu Eun-ha exhaled deeply and faced the mirror.
"Here I go."
No hesitation. She stepped straight toward the shattered mirror.
"Asmodel, Manuel, Hamael, Zuriel. Servants of the Lord and angels of the palace, protect me."
Whumm.
As she chanted, golden light flowed from her head. Four feathers fluttered down from above, and she passed through calmly. The broken mirror swallowed her without resistance.
"Wh-whoa... She's really in..."
"I'll go next. You last."
"Y-Yeah!"
Yuna gripped her staff and nodded. Exactly five seconds later, Ian clutched his grimoire and approached the mirror.
"......"
Placing his palm on it rippled the shattered surface like water. Shards writhed, and he glanced down before stepping forward.
Squelch— his arm sank in.
A pulling force he could resist, but he let it draw him. Like a lover tugging his wrist, the mirror world swallowed him smoothly. He vanished inside.
'...Pretty.'
Beyond was a passage of shattered mirror shards. Scattered light filled it with blinding white brilliance. Every fragment reflected Ian's face perfectly.
Even anomalies could be beautiful. Like Pygmalion's statues, all lovely—this place was stunning too. A mirror garden, perhaps.
Everyone loves pretty things. Ian momentarily forgot it was an anomaly zone, just admiring.
Then his body began falling. Slow like a leaf, until it hit the mirror-covered floor.
That instant.
KABOOM!!
The shard underfoot shattered with a roar, revealing ruined Seoul's city center below.
Yes, the city center.
Not a cafe.
"Huh?"
Ian's face went slack.
Blue sky, blazing sun, high clouds, gray cityscape filled his vision.
Dreamlike, but the problem was the aerial view. And he was hurtling toward the city. A pigeon flying alongside eyed him like 'What's this wingless bird doing?' and tilted its head.
Ian met its gaze briefly, then felt acceleration and wind whipping his lips.
"Ah, fuck."
Quick assessment.
He's falling.
Shwoooosh!!
Pouring sunlight. Drifting clouds. Earsplitting wind. Flapping coat.
Feeling it all, Ian yelled.
"We're fucked!!"