Still shaken from the shocking revelation, Ryo opened his mouth to say something—
Snap!
Before he could get a word out, the Jinn—no, the Grim Reaper—snapped his bony fingers once again.
The scenery instantly shifted.
Ryo groaned, rubbing his temple. "Can you at least warn me before you do that?! I've lost count of how many times I've had to remind you… Mr. Grim!"
The Grim Reaper flinched hard. His whole skeletal body stiffened like he'd been hit by lightning, and for a moment, he almost lost his balance in the air. (Basically, he cringed so hard he almost fell out of his own hovering).
"Are you truly serious with such an absurd name, Mortal Detective!?"
As a reminder—Detective Ryo Kuroda is the undisputed MASTER of handing out cringey nicknames!
Now standing atop a high rocky cliff at night.
Ryo crossed his arms, looking around. "So where are we now?"
The Grim Reaper composed himself before answering. "We are still in Egypt… but…"
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "But… what?"
The Grim Reaper's tone grew solemn. "The year is now 405 AD."
Ryo's eyes widened. The exact year sent a chill down his spine.
405 AD… That was the year when Malakar…
The Grim Reaper continued, his voice heavy. "2854 years have passed since 2450 BCE."
He hovered forward, stopping at the cliff's edge. Slowly, he lifted his bony hand and pointed downward. "Look below, Mortal Detective."
Ryo followed his gaze.
Far beneath them stood the same towering figure—the colossal Jinn. No, the colossal Grim Reaper.
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "So… what about him? I mean, you. You like taking evening walks or something?"
Before the Grim could respond—
A massive black magical circle materialized beneath the colossal figure.
Dark energy crackled, sending violent black shocks surging through his entire skeletal frame. The colossal Mr. Grim threw his head back and screamed—a hollow, bone-chilling sound of pure agony.
And then—he vanished.
Ryo jolted back. "What the hell?! You just disappeared while hovering over that thing!? What's going on now?!"
Snap!
Another sudden jump.
Ryo's eyes twitched. "Okay, at this point, I'm done reminding you!"
Now, they stood on sand. But before them stood something new—a mysterious, eerie rocky cave. A place that felt utterly wrong.
A cold shiver ran down Ryo's spine. "…Why are we in front of this creepy cave?"
The Grim Reaper turned to him and dropped a bombshell. "Before I answer that… right now, we stand in Al-Qamar, the Moonlit Kingdom."
Ryo's eyes widened. "Wait—hold up! The Moonlit Kingdom? As in, the kingdom before Al-Munira?! You're telling me we're in Al-Munira… before it even existed?!"
The Grim gave a solemn nod. "Precisely."
But before Ryo could process anything further—
The Grim Reaper hovered forward into the cave without hesitation. "Let us proceed."
Ryo, still speechless, hesitated for a moment before sighing and following him inside.
As they ventured deeper into the cave, darkness surrounded them, with only faint beams of moonlight slipping through small cracks in the rocky ceiling. The air was cool and still, the silence broken only by the distant sound of dripping water. Above them, bats clung to the jagged rocks, sleeping in eerie stillness.
Mr. Grim's voice echoed softly, yet with an air of command. "Tread lightly, mortal detective. It would be unwise to wake the bats."
Ryo furrowed his brows in confusion. "Aren't we basically like… not here? This is a dream, right?"
Mr. Grim paused, rubbing his skeletal forehead as if suddenly recalling something.
"Ah… yes. My apologies. At times, my memories blur across the centuries."
Ryo squinted at him, unimpressed. "So even being a Grim Reaper doesn't stop you from acting like a forgetful grandpa…"
The cavern opened into a huge space, where a figure in a black cloak sat still. In front of him, a large black magic circle was carved into the ground, giving off an ominous presence.
Ryo's stomach twisted with unease. There was something deeply wrong about that figure.
Then, his eyes widened in sudden realization.
"Wait a minute… that cloak—!" His heart pounded. "That's one of the Ravens! I knew it! We're in the period when The Ravens were still active!"
Beside him, Mr. Grim's tone darkened, his voice filled with quiet fury.
"Yes. But that is not the only revelation, mortal detective. Watch closely… Watch what this DETESTABLE FOOL IS ABOUT TO DO!"
Ryo swallowed. From the way Mr. Grim spoke, it was clear—he despised this person with every fiber of his being.
Careful not to step too close, they moved forward but kept their distance from the ominous black circle.
Then, the hooded figure stood abruptly, arms raised, and began chanting in a frenzy—his voice trembling with manic desperation.
Ryo's breath caught in his throat. "Wait a second… his voice… COULD IT BE—!"
The black magic circle erupted in a blinding, sinister glow—shades of deep purple and black surging through its lines.
From within, a swirling sphere of violent crimson wind emerged, but something was different—woven into it was a thread of black, twisting and writhing like a living curse.
And then, he appeared.
The colossal Mr. Grim towered above them, his skeletal form draped in his cursed crimson cloak. He darted his head around, confused, disoriented—until his gaze landed on the hooded figure standing below.
Ryo stood frozen in shock, barely able to form words. "A… a… a…!"
Mr. Grim's voice dropped into a menacing growl.
"Yes. That is me. Torn from my existence and shackled by summoning magic… but not the proper way. This… this was before summoning magic was banned—because of this INSOLENT PIECE OF SHIT!!".
For the very first time, Mr. Grim said a cursed word.
Then, the hooded man slowly lifted his hands, pulling back his hood to reveal his face.
Ryo's entire body tensed, his fists clenching, his teeth grinding together. His eyes burned with raw fury.
The black-cloaked figure spread his arms wide, his voice filled with victory "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!"
Ryo's voice came out as a low, guttural snarl, filled with pure hatred. "Malakar… THAT BITCH!!"
Yes. It was him. The same Malakar who, over centuries, would bring Armageddon upon the world. The same man who, blinded by his ancient grudge, twisted the fate of countless souls.
The same monster who had thrown Ryo into the abyssal pit… to die.
The colossal Mr. Grim took a hover back, his massive skeletal form towering over the hooded sorcerer. His hollow eye sockets flickered with an eerie glow as he demanded.
"Who dares summon me?! By what power have you accomplished this? Such a feat should be impossible!"
But Malakar had no interest in answering. He simply waved a dismissive hand, brushing aside the Grim Reaper's shock as if it were nothing. His voice was filled with hatred as he spoke.
"I wish to spell doom upon the Moonlit Kingdom. I want them to drown in suffering and despair for what they did to me. And—"
A slow, twisted grin stretched across Malakar's face, his eyes gleaming with unhinged obsession.
"I WANT YOU TO KILL THAT WRETCHED ZAYD AND HIS PATHETIC REBELLION!"
The colossal Mr. Grim flinched, his bones rattling with a rare tremor of alarm. This man—this thing—was completely unhinged! His voice thundered in defiance.
"I AM NO GENIE TO GRANT WISHES—ESPECIALLY ONE AS VILE AS YOURS!!"
Meanwhile, Ryo narrowed his eyes as he carefully observed the scene. Something wasn't adding up. He turned to the smaller Mr. Grim beside him, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Hey, Mr. Grim, from the stories I heard, you were AMUSED by Malakar's foolish demand."
At those words, the smaller Grim Reaper jerked his head toward Ryo with a sharp snap, his skeletal fingers curling into a fist. He trembled, shaking his arm wildly before dramatically swiping both arms in a furious denial. "I WAS NEVER AMUSED BY IT!!" he yelled, his regal tone cracking under the weight of his frustration.
Ryo was startled by his sudden aggressive denial.
He raised an eyebrow. "Then… why did you give Malakar the Celestial Compass?"
The smaller Mr. Grim fell silent for a moment. Then, without another word, he turned sharply toward the ongoing confrontation between Malakar and his colossal self. His voice was cold, almost pained.
"Watch… and you will understand!"
Ryo flinched at the sudden intensity of his words. For the first time, he could feel it—Mr. Grim hated this moment.
Whatever was about to happen…
It was something he wished had never come to pass.
Suddenly, the colossal Mr. Grim jerked, his huge skeleton twitching wildly as black lightning zapped across his bones. A terrible, inhuman wail burst from him as his clawed fingers clutched his skull, like something was invading his mind.
Ryo's heart pounded as he took an instinctive step back. "What's happening to you?!"
Beside him, the smaller Mr. Grim's glowing eyes dimmed, his tone turning grave.
"Upon hearing Malakar's demand, I was suddenly… bestowed with knowledge. Dark knowledge. Forbidden magic I had never encountered, never sought, nor wished to possess."
Up ahead, the colossal Mr. Grim suddenly stopped twitching. He stood still for a long, eerie moment—his head lowered, his arms hanging lifelessly. Then, slowly and deliberately, he straightened again.
His crimson gaze burned with an unnatural intensity. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a regal authority—dignified, yet ominous.
"Very well, mortal. But there are conditions that must be met, and a pact must be forged between us."
Malakar's lips curled into a knowing grin. He chuckled, his tone filled with smug delight.
"Ah, there we go. You needn't have pretended reluctance. You were destined to grant my wish all along."
Ryo's blood ran cold. His voice shook. "No way… Mr. Grim… it's like you're not even yourself anymore!"
The smaller Mr. Grim clenched his bony fists, his cloak swaying as he turned toward Ryo.
"Precisely. The moment I was summoned, a force beyond my understanding seized my will. I became something… other."
Ryo gritted his teeth. "Are you telling me you were forced into this?!"
Mr. Grim's hollow voice echoed through the cave. "Against my will, I was reshaped into the entity Malakar desired."
Mr. Grim's crimson gaze settled on Ryo. "Now then, mortal detective, you recall the conditions, do you not?"
Ryo casually stretched his arms. "Yeah, yeah. The first one was to kill someone close to him."
Mr. Grim nodded. "Then we shall witness that moment now." He lifted his bony hand. "And out of consideration, I shall inform you beforehand—this time, we are leaping directly to that very event."
Ryo waved dismissively. "Yeah, thanks for telli—"
His words cut off mid-sentence. A chilling realization gripped him. His breath hitched.
His eyes widened."Oh, shit. Don't tell me—"
SNAP.
The world shifted once again.
The night remained unchanged, but their surroundings had transformed. Now, they stood in the vast desert, not far from the old city of the Moonlit Kingdom. A river glistened under the moonlight, its gentle current reflecting the starlit sky. Beside the river, a single tent stood, its fabric swaying faintly in the breeze.
Ryo's head darted around, scanning the new setting. Then his gaze locked onto the tent.
His voice rose in alarm. "Don't tell me… Hania—Malakar's ex-wife—is sleeping inside that tent!"
Mr. Grim's glowing eyes bore into him. "Precisely."
A weight settled in the air.
Mr. Grim's tone darkened. "We are about to witness the first sacrifice… committed by Malakar's own hand."
Ryo's stomach churned. His heart pounded. He tightened his fists.
His voice came out sharp, nearly frantic. "ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS?!"
From the shadows, a figure in a black cloak stepped forward, holding a gleaming dagger. He moved so lightly that his footsteps barely left a mark in the sand.
Mr. Grim's voice was grave. "It appears he has arrived."
Ryo's breath hitched. His fists clenched. He knew what was coming—he knew—but he could do nothing to stop it.
All he could do now… was watch.
A whisper escaped his lips. "No…"
Malakar reached the tent. With unnerving slowness, he peeled back the entrance flap, revealing the peaceful face of a sleeping woman.
His twisted grin stretched wide, his dark eyes gleaming with unhinged delight. His head tilted unnaturally, his voice a sickly whisper.
"Gooood mooorning, sweeet traitooor."
Hania's eyes fluttered open.
And in an instant—horror.
Her expression twisted in pure fear as recognition hit her like a storm. She tried to scream—
But Malakar's hand clamped over her mouth.
A muffled cry. "HMMMMM!! HMMM!!!"
She thrashed, her hands clawing at his, but his grip was iron.
Ryo's head shook in silent horror. His voice came out in a trembling breath. "No… Malakar… please don't…"
But he was powerless.
Even if he wanted to save her—he couldn't.
This had already happened. This was history.
A history he could do nothing but witness… in absolute terror.
Malakar's grin deepened. Slowly, he lifted the dagger.
Hania's eyes flooded with tears. Her muffled screams grew frantic.
"HMM!!! HMMM!!!!!!!! HMMMM!!!!!!!!"
Ryo's eyes widened in panic. His right hand shot forward helplessly.
"MALAKAR NO!!!"
And then—
STAB.
The dagger sank into her chest.
Her body jerked.
Blood flowed from her chest.
Malakar, the vicious murderer, slowly pulled away his grip.
Her lips parted, but no sound came.
Her eyes… slowly closed.
And just like that—
Hania was gone.
Ryo collapsed to his knees, the weight of helplessness crushing down on him. His hands hung at his sides, his breathing ragged. The sight of a murder he could not prevent burned into his mind.
Above him, Mr. Grim hovered, his gaze steady. "My condolences, mortal detective… but I deemed it necessary for you to witness this."
Ryo did not respond.
His fingers clenched into the sand, his teeth gritted so hard they hurt. His breath shook in silent fury, and then—
He slammed his fist into the sand.
"DAMN IT!"
Mr. Grim remained composed, though his voice darkened. "Do not look away just yet. This tragedy… is not yet finished."
Ryo's eyes snapped up, locking onto Malakar with boiling hatred.
Then—a howling wind.
Dark crimson wind swirled into existence, forming into the colossal Mr. Grim.
The monstrous figure stood in silent command, his red eyes glowing ominously, his very presence radiating unnatural authority.
Malakar, his expression devoid of remorse, gently lifted Hania's lifeless body, cradling her like she was still something precious to him.
Then—her soul was pulled away.
A faint, ghostly form rose from her corpse, drawn upwards into the grasp of the colossal Grim Reaper.
Ryo's breath hitched. His stomach churned. His voice came out in a weak, horrified whisper.
"This is… fucked up…"
Mr. Grim, the smaller version, looked down, his bony fingers clenching into a fist. His voice carried both regret and rage. "This… was never my will."
His glowing eyes narrowed as he turned his furious gaze onto Malakar.
"I have always guided lost souls to the afterlife, ensuring they depart in peace. That is my purpose."
His voice deepened, his tone filled with wrath.
"But this IMBECILE—this deranged WRETCH— forced me into a sin I could not refuse!"
His bony fingers twitched, itching to land a strike on Malakar's face.
"For in that moment… I was not myself."
Ryo stood up, took a deep breath, forcing his emotions into control.
Mr. Grim regarded him. "Are you well now, mortal detective?"
Ryo, his fists still clenched, exhaled sharply. "Not entirely… but I'm okay."
Mr. Grim's gaze darkened. "It is not over yet."
Then, as if summoned by unseen forces, the Celestial Compass materialized. It hovered just above Colossal Mr. Grim's skeletal palm, its intricate golden frame shimmering ominously.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he handed the compass to Malakar.
Ryo stood silent, his arms folded, his stare sharp, cold, barely holding back his fury as the vile object exchanged hands.
Mr. Grim, solemn and firm. "Now… we shall witness the second condition."
Ryo groaned, rolling his shoulders back in frustration.
"Great… I'm about to watch this bastard throw away his humanity, become a damn immortal, and activate that cursed compass."
Then, the colossal Grim Reaper towered over Malakar, his deep, spectral voice echoing through the desert winds.
"Mortal, before the compass activates, you must relinquish your humanity. It is the price of its power."
Malakar's smile twisted into something unsettling.
"A mere trifle," he scoffed. "I am willing to cast aside everything—even my own soul—to see my vengeance fulfilled."
Colossal Mr. Grim raised a hand over Malakar's head.
A dense, misty essence—pale, fragile, and almost pitiful—was drawn from Malakar's body. The essence of his humanity. It swirled like smoke before being absorbed into the Grim Reaper's skeletal palm.
Malakar stood still. But something about him had changed.
His breathing slowed. His expression dulled. His eyes, once burning with emotion, now held only an empty, inhuman void.
And then—
The Celestial Compass shook.
A violent explosion of purple and black light erupted from it, casting eerie shadows across the sand. The needle spun wildly, faster than sight could track, until—
It stopped.
Pointing directly… toward the Gate of Malevolent Spirits.
Ryo exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. "Well, now that Malakar knows where the gate is, I guess it's up to this kingdom's hero to stop him now."
Mr. Grim hummed knowingly. "Speaking of the hero…"
Then, with a bony hand, he gestured behind them.
"You see that over there, mortal detective?"
Ryo turned and squinted, focusing his gaze across the river.
There—half-hidden behind a small sand dune—a lone figure crouched low, peeking toward Malakar. Though their stance was cautious, their gaze was sharp and unwavering.
Ryo furrowed his brows. "Wait… who's that?"
Mr. Grim's crimson eyes gleamed faintly. "That is the hero. Zayd Al-Munir… before he became the king of this land."
Ryo's breath hitched. His eyes widened. His brain short-circuited.
"N… N… NO WAY…"
And then—super loudly…
"THAT'S THE HERO?! ZAYD AL-MUNIR?! KING MALIK AND SHAHIRA'S ANCESTOR?!?!"
Mr. Grim flinched, bringing both hands to his non-existent ears. "Precisely! And once again, you are far too loud, my student!"
But Ryo wasn't listening. He was too busy gawking at the legendary figure crouched before him.
"Holy cow… to think I'd see him with my very own eyes…"
Mr. Grim crossed his arms.
"He saw me and Malakar together. And since I was an unnatural and terrifying sight to behold, that is when rumors of my presence spread across the kingdom."
Ryo rubbed his chin, piecing it together.
"I see… so Zayd is the one who started spreading the stories about you. And then, over time… you were given the name 'The Ancient Jinn.'"
Mr. Grim let out a long, weary sigh. "Yes… unfortunately."
Then, a sudden bright light bulb figuratively popped into existence above Ryo's head.
A VERY, VERY GOOD… AND ENTERTAINING IDEA just hit him.
Mr. Grim hovered slightly closer. "Now then, shall we go witness the third condition?"
Ryo turned to him, holding up a hand. "Hold up. I have a request."
Mr. Grim tilted his skull slightly. "And what is it?"
Ryo's expression darkened, with a serious look.
"Right now, I'm in a state where I'm suuuper pissed off at that bastard Malakar."
Mr. Grim crossed his arms. "And?"
Ryo's grinned deviously and into something almost sinister.
"Let's jump to the scene where Zayd kicks Malakar's ass."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Mr. Grim just… hovered there. Processing. Staring at the mortal detective.
"....."
After a few moments, he finally spoke. "Well, I am not fond of Malakar either. Might as well indulge."
SNAP!
With another sudden jump, the scene changed.
Now, they were inside the Black Pyramid's chamber.
Everything looked exactly as Ryo remembered it—the eerie glow of the dark stone, the narrow stone bridge, the presence of the ominous gate—except now, he wasn't falling to his doom, but standing at the entrance of the chamber.
Right in front of them—an intense battle was unfolding near the Gate.
Zayd and Malakar were locked in combat.
Zayd's sword blazed with radiant light magic, every swing carving through the darkness like a divine blade. Malakar, in turn, retaliated with waves of sinister, crackling dark magic. Each clash sent shockwaves through the chamber, illuminating the stone walls with flickering shadows.
Malakar, snarling like a madman, roared.
"ZAYD, YOU WRETCHED FOOL! I WILL OPEN THIS GATE NO MATTER WHAT! THIS KINGDOM WILL DROWN IN SUFFERING, JUST AS IT ONCE BETRAYED ME! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!"
Zayd, his stance unwavering, shouted back.
"YOUR REIGN OF TERROR ENDS HERE, MALAKAR! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS KINGDOM TO FALL TO YOUR MADNESS! NO MATTER WHAT, I WILL PROTECT MY PEOPLE!"
Ryo casually plopped down on the stone floor, crossing his arms.
Whistling, he grinned. "Damn, this is one epic fight."
Mr. Grim, for once, sounded impressed. "Hmm… it is indeed quite enjoyable."
Then—the moment of pure satisfaction.
Zayd dashed forward, dodging Malakar's desperate last attack. With one swift, powerful strike—he drove his sword straight into Malakar's chest.
Malakar screamed, staggering back. His dark magic flared violently—then flickered out.
And then…
THUD.
He collapsed.
Ryo cheered, clenching his fists in excitement. "YES! DOWN THAT BITCH GOES!"
Zayd, unfazed, simply picked up the celestial compass from Malakar's fallen grasp. Without hesitation, he turned and walked out of the chamber, passing by Ryo and Mr. Grim without ever noticing their unseen presence. They watched in silence, their gazes following him as he vanished into the shadows.
Ryo exhaled deeply, flashing a bright, satisfied smile. "Now I feel better!"
Mr. Grim, with a surprisingly content sigh, nodded. "Surprisingly… me too."
Ryo and Mr. Grim stood there for a while, simply staring at Malakar's unmoving form.
The once-feared sorcerer lay motionless, face down on the stone floor, showing no signs of his usual rapid regeneration.
Ryo furrowed his brows. "Why isn't Malakar getting up? He's supposed to heal and regenerate quickly, right?"
Mr. Grim folded his arms, his crimson cloak shifting slightly.
"When Malakar first gained immortality, his ability to heal was slow and weak. But over the centuries, as he consumed countless souls, his regeneration grew stronger—until he could recover almost instantly."
Ryo simply shrugged, unimpressed. "Huh… Well, whatever."
Mr. Grim's red eyes flickered. "Now then, shall we witness the third condition?"
Ryo stood up, waving his left hand dismissively. "Nah, no need."
The Jinn tilted his skull. "Why not?"
Ryo sighed, crossing his arms.
"Because I already know what happens. Malakar keeps slaughtering people, stealing their souls, and growing stronger over the centuries. You're gonna make me sit through all that? That's, what, thousands of victims? I've had enough of this nightmare already."
A smirk tugged at Ryo's lips as he clenched his fist.
"Instead, I wanna savor this moment—Zayd's victory. Right here. Right now. Watching this bastard Malakar lying in the dirt, defeated."
Mr. Grim regarded him for a moment before nodding.
"Is that so, mortal detective? Very well. Since you already understand the full picture, I shall not force you to relive more of Malakar's bloodshed."
Ryo exhaled sharply. "Alright, but there's something I wanna ask."
Mr. Grim tilted his bone head slightly. "Go on."
Ryo's eyes narrowed. "This pact you made with Malakar when you weren't yourself—was it some kind of deal?"
Mr. Grim gave a slow nod.
"Precisely. A contract formed under dark magic. It was a binding agreement—one that could only be fulfilled when his ultimate goal was achieved. Once completed, our connection would be severed entirely."
Ryo crossed his arms, thinking. "And for Malakar, that goal was opening the gate, right?"
The Jinn nodded again.
"Yes. Once the gate was opened, I was freed from his control and regained my true self. But by then… the damage was done. After centuries of collecting souls under his twisted command, I was left to bear the weight of my sins… and the regret that followed."
Ryo rubbed his chin, piecing it together.
"So you went back to being your old self—the person you were before Malakar corrupted you. But wait… that reminds me—when you first appeared in my dream, you weren't yourself back then either, right?"
Mr. Grim's glowing eyes darkened slightly.
"No. I had to forcefully separate a fragment of myself—small and unstable—as a desperate attempt to seek help. I searched for someone who lacked magic, someone whose mind wasn't blocked by its influence. That's when I found you. Since you possess no magic, I was able to enter your dreams."
Ryo arched a brow.
"So… you came to me because I have no magic? And you thought I could help you? That's why you showed up in my dreams the first time—to show me the direction to the gate and jumpscare the hell out of me?"
Mr. Grim's posture straightened, his tone now serious.
"And now, this is the part where we discuss… why I have chosen to give you a second chance."
Ryo's breath hitched.
He gasped.
Mr. Grim's glowing red eyes dimmed slightly as he took a serious tone.
"Mortal detective, before I discuss your second chance, I have a question for you."
Ryo crossed his arms. "I'm listening."
The Jinn's voice rang with quiet authority. "Do you want to defeat Malakar?"
Without hesitation—without even a fraction of a second wasted—Ryo rolled his eyes, throwing up his hands.
"DUUUUHHH! Of course!!!"
Mr. Grim gave a slow, approving nod. "I'm glad we're on the same page. I can help you defeat Malakar."
Ryo's brows shot up.
"Wait, you can? Hold up—Malakar already opened the gate. Isn't it kinda too late for that?! The world's ending, right?! Those malevolent spirits are free now and about to go on a homicidal world tour! Like, game over, roll the credits, we're doomed!"
Mr. Grim raised a skeletal hand, stopping Ryo's panic.
"Not unless you throw both the Celestial Compass and Malakar into the gate before the spirits fully emerge. It shall close once both are inside. And as for your companions… they are still alive—but barely. They are on the verge of death, nearly torn apart by the spirits as we speak."
Ryo's heart nearly stopped. His pupils shrank. "WHAT?! Aladdin and Amina are still alive?! And the spirits haven't completely escaped yet?!"
Mr. Grim gave a slow nod. "As I have mentioned before, you are dreaming at the speed of light. In this dream, you have approximately seventeen hours left. The spirits are not yet fully unleashed."
Ryo exhaled in relief—before suddenly tensing again. "…Wait. Hold up." He blinked rapidly, realization striking him. "Seventeen hours left…? Oh crap! That means in real time, I'm still in free fall! How long do I have before I, y'know, splat?!"
Mr. Grim, rather casually, answered. "In reality? One minute and thirty seconds."
Ryo's face instantly drained of color. "Oh, great! So only five hours have passed for me while I've been on this historical movie marathon with you?!"
The Jinn let out a dry chuckle. "A fitting way to describe it, mortal detective."
Ryo ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake the panic. Then, as another thought popped into his head, he frowned.
"Wait. Those malevolent spirits… they remind me of something I ran into a few days ago."
Mr. Grim's glowing eyes flared brighter in sudden alarm. "WHAT? YOU HAVE ALREADY ENCOUNTERED THEM?!"
Ryo took a step back. "Okay, first of all, indoor voice, my guy. Second of all, yeah—I ran into some creepy, shadowy hellhounds while saving a weird-looking talking cat."
Mr. Grim was silent for a moment. "A… talking cat?"
Ryo nodded.
"Yeah, and trust me, that's not the weirdest part. These things—the hellhounds, or whatever—looked like they were made of twisting, sizzling black smoke. They gave off this nasty evil vibe. I managed to kill two of them using light rays from a construction site, but I heard that not all of them could be taken down that way."
"Oh yeah, and that strange cat called them the Vrakul."
Mr. Grim's bony fingers rubbed against his chin in deep thought. "I see… so a small part of them has already begun invading this world."
Ryo immediately felt uneasy. "…You're making it sound really bad. I mean—it is bad, but you're making it sound extra bad."
Mr. Grim exhaled—a hollow, ghostly sound.
"They have no true name, but for convenience, let us refer to them as the Vrakul." His eyes darkened. "And yes… from your description, the malevolent spirits are, without question, the Vrakul. They are an overwhelming threat—not just to mortals, but even to Grim Reapers such as myself. In fact… I once allied with my fellow Reapers, those cloaked in black, and waged war against the Vrakuls… in 2101 BCE… in another realm."
Silence.
Ryo blinked. Then blinked again. His brain struggled to process the sheer amount of ridiculous, fantasy-novel-level information being dumped on him. And in his brain…
"War?" he thought. "Another realm? Like, some alternate universe? I mean Dusty (the talking strange cat) did say something about that but kept quiet about it… How deep does this damn rabbit hole go?!"
Ryo's eye twitched, continuing his inner monologue.
"Great… the freaking fantasy lore just EXPANDED! It's like unlocking a secret DLC to a game I never asked for!"
Then, after a long pause, he deadpanned. "…Oh shit. What a damn plot twist."
Ryo's Brain Short-Circuiting…
Mr. Grim observed Ryo's face twisting into an expression of pure existential exhaustion.
"You appear unwell, mortal detective. Is something troubling you?"
Ryo, deadpanning again and dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, yeah, no big deal. Other worlds? Wars against creepy spirits from another dimension? Totally normal, just like paying taxes."
Mr. Grim, nodding solemnly. "Indeed. This is but an ordinary occurrence."
Because, really, why should Ryo be shocked? He'd already encountered magic, an immortal villain, otherworldly spirits, flew on a magic carpet with a guard named after a movie character, and was now casually dream-hopping with a floating, cloaked skeleton who spoke like a lost king. Just another day in the life of a detective.
Ryo exhaled dramatically, rubbing his temples. "Y'know what? I'm just gonna roll with it. Anyway—you said you'd help me beat Malakar. So…how's that work?"
Mr. Grim, raising a skeletal hand with dignified flair. "I shall bestow upon you my power… on a temporary basis."
Ryo squinted. "Ah…. so I'm getting a classic fantasy power-up, huh? This is like picking a subclass in an RPG."
Mr. Grim, ignoring the comparison entirely. "With my power, you may weaken Malakar—enough to cast him and the Celestial Compass into the gate before the Vrakuls are fully unleashed. Only then shall the gate be sealed."
He raised his palm, and suddenly, a crimson shard materialized, hovering above his bony hand. It pulsed with an eerie glow.
Ryo eyed it warily. "Uh… didn't this thing curse you when you were alive? Not to be rude, but I'd rather not go full skeletal horror."
Mr. Grim, voice steady and authoritative. "Fear not. I have refined its essence to ensure that you merely wield my strength and power, not my curse."
Ryo, still squinting suspiciously. "Yeah, well, you better have a refund policy if this goes south."
Mr. Grim: "This is the pact I offer you. A binding agreement, much like the one forced upon me… but with your consent."
Ryo: "Right. And you said I need a goal, just like Malakar had?"
Mr. Grim, with a slow, regal nod. "Precisely. But in your case, I believe the objective is already rather… clear..."
Ryo's lips curled into a sharp smirk, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Oh yeah. My goal? Kicking Malakar's sorry ass straight into that damn gate—along with his cursed compass—so he can suffer for eternity."
Mr. Grim nodded approvingly. "A most fitting ambition."
Mr. Grim: "Now, what shall be your weapon of choice, mortal detective? My power requires a vessel to manifest—a conduit through which your newfound strength shall flow. Naturally, you will also gain enhanced abilities."
Ryo, internally. "Oh great, we've officially entered RPG character creation mode."
He rubbed his chin, pretending to browse a menu screen. "Hmm… how about my handgun?"
Mr. Grim lifting his bony hand with an air of dignified seriousness. "Very well!"
Ryo took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. The air around him felt thick with tension, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his very soul. His fingers twitched, his right hand moving with careful resolve, unwavering, as he reached forward to grasp the floating Crimson Shard from Mr. Grim's palm.
The moment his fingers curled around the shard, the world trembled.
A wave of intense, ancient power shot through him like fire, making his veins burn. A luminous white radiance spread outward, engulfing everything, its brilliance growing, shifting the very fabric of reality.
Mr. Grim's hollow eyes glowed brighter. His regal voice, solemn yet resolute, cut through the shimmering light.
"Good luck, mortal detective."
Ryo, standing firm in the light, let a confident smirk tug at his lips. He nodded, accepting his fate.
The radiance intensified, consuming everything—until suddenly…
—Darkness.
Back in the Abyssal Pit
Seconds Before Death
The silence was deafening.
Ryo's battered, unconscious body was falling through the abyss, like a broken ragdoll spiraling toward certain death. The bones of past victims lay at the bottom, sharp and ready to claim another life.
Ten seconds.
His arms hung limp. His breath shallow. His fate sealed.
Five seconds.
The cold void swallowed him whole, his head tilted back, the last traces of life slipping from his battered form.
Two seconds.
Then—BOOM.
A colossal, skeletal hand emerged from the darkness, catching him just in time and floating above the massive palm before his head could shatter against the graveyard below. The abyss trembled at the presence of something far beyond mortal comprehension.
Colossal Mr. Grim had arrived.
He hovered, his massive, ancient form towering over the abyss. His empty sockets stared down at the wounded detective, who lay resting, floating on the skeletal palm.
Then, he ascended.
His massive form surged upward with incredible speed, cutting through the darkness and rocketing toward the surface.
Above, the world was already unraveling.
TheGate of Malevolent Spirits stood almost wide open.
Amina and Aladdin, on their knees, closed their eyes, with Aladdin's arm protectively over Amina. They waited to meet their end as a massive, sinister hand from the spirits emerged from the gate, creeping toward them to grab them.
Shahira, her parents—King Malik and Queen Zafira—held each other close, bracing for the end.
Panic consumed all of Al-Munira.
The skies swirled violently, blackened clouds glowing with an eerie purple light, as malevolent spirits twisted and clawed their way toward freedom from the Gate, eager to feast upon the living.
And Malakar… laughed.
The wretched sorcerer stood before the gate, his arms outstretched, his face streaked with manic tears of joy. His voice cracked with overjoyed madness.
"At LONG LAST! The world will DROWN in despair! The screams of the living will echo as the spirits tear everything apart! HAHAHAHA! THIS IS MY VICTORY!!!"
But the heavens had a different plan.
As Colossal Mr. Grim surged toward the battlefield, the unconscious Ryo in his palm began to change.
A violent crimson wind swirled around his body like an unstoppable storm, its fury wrapping him in an embrace. His wounds healed in an instant, his flesh restored as the wind swirled around him. His trench coat darkened, then turned into a deep crimson, fluttering violently as raw power coursed through him, flooding every fiber of his being.
His goggles shimmered and morphed into a crimson sniper scope that glowed with eerie precision, like a target over his right eye.
His gun, once just a regular detective's tool, now glowed with a strange crimson light. Its barrel grew longer, and its grip turned dark black. A skull symbol appeared on the side, with glowing eyes. The weapon was no longer just a gun.
It was a reaper's judgment.
{ Infinity's End }
Colossal Mr. Grim, gazing upon the transformation, raised his head toward the heavens. His mighty voice echoed through the abyss, shaking the very foundation of the world.
"Now, mortal detective…. GO FORTH.... RISE.... AND STRIKE HIM DOWN!"
At that instant—
Ryo's eyes snapped open.
A burning crimson glow ignited within his pupils. His gaze, once weary, now radiated unbreakable resolve.
The wind howled.
The view of the Gate's chamber is now close and visible.
Then, in a voice filled with finality, Mr. Grim's decree rang through the air—
"Now go, Crimson Gunslinger — END THIS NIGHTMARE!"
Ryo stood and drew his newly transformed gun from his crimson trench coat, his new power flowing through his veins.
Almost at the surface, the Grim Reaper stretched his bony arm upward, with Ryo standing on his palm.
Without hesitation, Ryo leapt from the skeletal palm —
—And dived straight back into the Black Pyramid's chamber, ready to end Malakar's reign of terror.