Chapter 142

“Everyone, run!”

At that moment, everyone must have been thinking the same thing. The gate was beginning to collapse. What about the ones left behind? What was going to happen to them? What about us?

While everyone froze, a thunderous command rang out, jolting their ears. Instinctively, they obeyed. Everyone began to run frantically.

“Wh-where should we go?”

“Just run for now!”

It seemed the collapse had started from the edges of the gate, which was structured like a large city. They were situated in the middle of a maze-like area filled with densely packed high-rise buildings, so they couldn’t directly see the collapse. But the deafening sound of crumbling structures made it clear enough. Soon, building dust came rushing in like a smog.

“Damn it, damn it!”

The sound grew closer and closer. Cracks split the buildings behind them, and parts of the structures fell to the ground with heavy thuds.

“W-what’s going to happen to us…!”

“Stay calm!”

“Ahhh!”

Some people’s legs gave out in the surreal chaos, while others ran reflexively, completely dazed. But everyone forced their feet forward, desperate to survive. The collapse spread rapidly toward them, cracking the road beneath their feet and causing the ground to rise slightly.

“Ah!”

“Watch out!”

Running on the uneven road was difficult. People tripped and were injured left and right. Each time someone fell, the approaching dust stung their throats and eyes. Visibility was almost nonexistent. Whenever someone fell, others forcibly hauled them up or even slung them over their shoulders to keep moving.

“Cough, cough!”

“Team leader! The road ahead is cut off!”

Those dashing through the maze-like city streets in search of safety screamed in alarm. Like a massive earthquake, cracks split the road ahead, surging upward like a wave. Chunks of earth clashed and broke apart, rising into jagged formations.

A combat-type Esper might have been able to leap over it, but in this situation—with poor visibility and unstable footing—there was no way to get everyone across. Besides, since the collapse was closing in from the edges, even moving forward would only lead them deeper into disaster.

“Head for that building!”

“Yes!”

At the command, everyone instinctively changed direction and ran toward where the team leader was headed. All eyes turned toward the building in the center of the gate.

…Or rather, they couldn’t help but turn.

“Gasp, is it… was it always that tall?”

“Just run!”

The lone massive building towering above the maze of smaller ones had grown so tall it seemed to touch the scoreboard in the sky. The chaos had kept them from realizing how much it had changed. Now it felt like the building itself was brazenly inviting them: This is the final stage. Come inside.

“Ugh!”

“Aiden!”

In the frantic dash, a small groan drew Jaeha’s startled gaze to the side. The child stumbled slightly, struggling to keep balance on the unstable ground. Without thinking, Jaeha reached out, pulled his arm, and scooped him into his arms.

“Hold on tight!”

“S-sorry…”

His small body was burning hot and drenched in sweat from overexertion. It was astonishing he had managed to keep running silently this whole time. Jaeha regretted not noticing sooner.

Bang!

“Get inside, get inside!”

The moment they reached the building, the team leader flung the door open. Standing at the entrance, he shoved people in by their backs, urging them to get inside. Jaeha, clutching Aiden tightly, rushed in with the middle of the group.

The interior resembled an ordinary apartment building. Without slowing down, they began climbing the stairs, glancing out broken windows here and there to check the situation outside. The building’s violent shaking had shattered the glass.

But because the surrounding buildings were collapsing, the view had opened up. Although a thick fog of dust obscured much of it, one thing inevitably caught their eyes. It was unmistakable…

“My god…”

“Th-this is insane.”

It was anything but a good sign.

Where the buildings had fallen and the ground had caved in, there was nothing.

A surreal white void. That was all.

And that void was steadily, greedily expanding. Before the collapse, the gate’s sheer size had prevented them from seeing its edge. But now it was visible. The void swallowing the gate grew larger and had already encircled this building’s perimeter in a near-perfect circle.

“…”

But then, suddenly, the collapse of the roads, buildings, and everything else halted. To be precise, after devouring everything else, the destruction had left only this building intact.

Those climbing the stairs stopped midway, unable to continue to the roof. They panted heavily around the twentieth floor.

“Haah… haah…”

“A-are we… safe?”

“W-what about the others?”

Clutching Aiden and gasping for breath, Jaeha cautiously leaned out the window at someone’s words. He needed to check the scoreboard.

Normally, seeing the scoreboard filling the sky wouldn’t have been difficult, but now he had to peer out the window on the opposite side to get a clear view. The balconies jutting out intermittently from the building obstructed the upward line of sight.

[0 days 23 hours 45 minutes 03 seconds]

<Past Team: 26/52 │ Future Team: 44/49 │ Monster Team: 1/101>

“It looks like… everyone’s alive…”

The death toll hadn’t increased. No one knew where the others were, but it seemed even if they’d been swallowed by the void, they weren’t dead. Jaeha’s relieved tone made everyone sigh in relief as well.

“Can anyone see survivors outside the window?”

“Too much dust… can’t see a thing…”

Carefully, Jaeha lowered Aiden to the floor, worried that his weak grip might drop him. He tried to hide the trembling in his legs, but Aiden had clearly noticed already.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine…”

Aiden reached out and brushed Jaeha’s hair aside. Jaeha’s heart was still pounding, but at least he could breathe.

“For now… let’s head out.”

“Yeah…”

Once everyone had caught their breath, the team leader leaned out the window like Jaeha had, surveying the surroundings before looking upward. Even from this angle, the building’s design was bizarre—balconies clung unnaturally to the upper emergency stairwells.

“A balcony…?”

Yes, “clung.”

The balcony’s color and design didn’t match the building at all, looking forcibly attached. But calling it a normal balcony didn’t quite fit either—the open space was abnormally wide.

With tired legs dragging, people trudged up the stairs and exited through the emergency door one by one. The space beyond was large enough to accommodate them all comfortably.

“Why would a balcony be stuck in the middle of the building…?”

“Wow, this looks exactly like my high school rooftop.”

“There are tons of these balconies attached all over… it’s huge. Is this even possible? What if it falls off any second?”

Indeed, the design resembled a school rooftop. The floor was painted green, and though the railings were low, it offered a clear view of the surroundings. It felt like the gate’s boss had deliberately provided them a vantage point to survey the area.

As they stepped outside, the icy winter wind brushed against their sweat-dampened skin, cooling it rapidly. The pure white surroundings, like blank paper, made the settling dust dissipate quickly.

“…Could that miniboss’s line about ‘the boss coming to find us’ mean this?”

“Even so, I don’t see any monsters.”

“What should we do, team leader? Search the building first?”

“For now…”

Before the leader could make a decision, he scanned the area.

“…”

While he hesitated, Jaeha noticed someone in the group slowly moving toward the edge of the balcony. Most people were still milling around cautiously, unwilling to stray too far.

“…?”

Jaeha quickly turned to see who it was. It wasn’t hard to guess.

‘I really like Esper Song Jaeha.’

Though he couldn’t see the face from this angle, the blonde hair gave it away. The large, gentle-faced Esper—Sasha. The one who constantly reminded him of Aiden for some reason.

“The boss could arrive at any moment, so we—”

Jaeha couldn’t even listen to the team leader’s words. Something about Sasha’s behavior gnawed at him. Why was he going toward the edge? Was he checking below? The railings were low—if the building shook again, it’d be dangerous…

“Jaeha? What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

Aiden asked curiously beside him, and Jaeha shook his head. Realistically, there was no reason to worry this much about Sasha.

“I’ll go talk to the team leader. Wait here, okay?”

“Okay…”

As Aiden headed toward the team leader in the middle of the group, Jaeha couldn’t stop glancing toward Sasha’s position.

“…”

Sasha stood at the low edge, quietly scanning the surroundings. The cold wind rustled his blond hair.

“First, separate the injured and those who need guidance; the rest will take turns resting. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

“…”

Even after watching for a while, Sasha didn’t move—just stood there calmly, taking in the view. Jaeha began to think maybe he was overreacting and finally turned away.

Or rather, tried to.

“…!”

Sasha stepped up onto the railing.

“Sasha!”

At that point, everyone realized what was happening. Alarm shot through the group, and they shouted in panic.

He turned around, arms spread wide, beaming at them. Teetering dangerously at the edge, he looked ready to fall.

“Haha!”

He laughed brightly. It was obvious he was about to throw himself off. Everyone’s thoughts converged naturally: What the hell? Was he attacked by an invisible monster? Did his mental injuries get worse?

“Careful!”

“No!”

Teetering, his body began to fall backward.

…and Jaeha lunged toward him, hand outstretched. He wasn’t the only one—other Espers rushed forward too—but by sheer chance, Jaeha was the closest.

“Jaeha!”

“Ugh…!”

Ironically, the man who had willingly climbed onto the ledge reached out too when he saw Jaeha’s hand.

Grab! Their hands locked, and Jaeha’s body tilted dangerously with the momentum.

From behind, Aiden’s panicked scream rang out. Fortunately, nearby Espers grabbed Jaeha in time, preventing him from falling as well.

“…”

Pulling up a man that large with one hand was no easy feat. Even with Jaeha’s sturdy build and muscles, the pain tearing through his shoulder was sharp.

“S-Sasha… Hold on. I’ll pull you up.”

“Haha, haha!”

“Don’t move!”

But instead of staying still, Sasha laughed freely, oblivious to the danger. As his body swayed, Jaeha’s arm felt like it was about to tear off. Whatever ability the boss had, it was clear Sasha’s mind had been compromised.

Then, suddenly, Sasha rolled his eyes toward Jaeha. Their gazes locked. His golden irises gleamed unnaturally.

[See? Out of everyone here, your essence is the most beautiful.]

And with those words echoing in his mind, Jaeha’s vision turned stark white.