One day in the past, when the smoke-free zone was still operational.

Five women sat silently around the glass case containing the statue of the Owl God.

Some were staring at the data on the monitor, recording the Owl God's condition for the day; some were sipping coffee from white porcelain cups; some were wiping their pipes and other weapons in preparation — in any case, none of them spoke voluntarily.

"... Hey, why isn't anyone talking?"

"Although it's normal not to talk during work... but all we're asked to do is monitor the experimental subject. There's no need to be so serious with five of us monitoring one subject."

"Recently, I've been seeing you guys, not only keeping quiet but also wearing a sour face all day."

"At this rate, even if I'm not scared to death by the Owl God in the end, I'll die of boredom first because of you guys!"

During the time when the smoke-free zone was still operating normally, the containment of the Owl God was one of the most strictly monitored activities in the alpha level.

The Owl God was shaped like a delicate statue of an owl, usually contained in a rectangular container measuring three meters long, three meters wide, and ten meters high, with a volume of ninety cubic meters.

The container was filled with cooling liquid that restricted the movements of the angel, while at least five observers were stationed outside the container around the clock, responsible for recording the daily changes in its body data.

During the day, the Owl God was a tangible statue, but at night, it would dissolve into the darkness like a sugar cube in coffee, unstoppable.

During this time, it merged with the darkness.

The Owl God in the darkness was very dangerous.

It would imitate the appearance and strength of its victims and hunt and kill them in fear.

In order to ascertain the exact abilities of the Owl God and how to utilize them, the laboratory would dispatch five observers every month to stay in the concept area where the Owl God was located, leaving behind life records until they all died.

From dusk until dawn the next day, these five observers had to play a game with the Owl God akin to musical chairs.

The Owl God would target whoever it chose, mimicking and even attacking that person.

However, the Owl God usually only imitated humans with distinctive personalities.

"Hey, Observer Number Two, talk to me, I'm so bored."

"How did you find this job?"

The behavior of Observer Number One fit the stereotypical image of a young girl entering the workplace for the first time.

She sat in her office chair, wiping her bow and arrow on her thigh, curiously asking questions to her colleagues.

"Are you like me, initially intending to work as security in the smoke-free zone, only to end up in such a boring position due to inadequate magical skills?"

"As for me, although my magical skills are not top-notch, you shouldn't doubt my archery skills!"

"I'm not bragging, you can ask around in the outskirts of Crotto City, everyone knows of my extraordinary archery talent."

"My arrows combined with fire magic, tsk tsk. Even Altria's family daughter - Oedipus, had to temporarily avoid my sharpness during the magic ritual."

"Too bad, even rare talents like me are assigned to such boring positions... these managers really have no idea."

Seeing that no one around her was paying attention, Observer Number One pouted in boredom and continued to wipe her treasured bow and arrows on her thigh.

In fact, she was not dissatisfied with this job.

The pay was decent, and being a noble's aide also gave her some face. In the laboratory, this was already considered a high-quality job.

It was just that the smoke-free zone required you to live in the concept area for a month, where everything from eating, drinking, and even going to the bathroom took place, which was a bit hard to endure.

"Number One, if I were you, I would at least keep my researcher ID in my mouth, so that when they find the body, people can still recognize me."

Observer Number Two didn't even look at the chatty Observer Number One.

She leaned back in her office chair, her feet crossed on the desk, took a sip of strong coffee, and replied in a cold tone.

"What did you say...?"

Observer Number One was stunned, and then wrinkled her brow with a huff.

She was a little annoyed by the obvious sarcasm from Observer Number Two.

A faint smell of gunpowder arose in the quiet space as an unspoken tension lingered.

"Have you read the Observer Regulations, newbie?"

"The Owl God will imitate your personality, especially through your words."

"If you keep revealing your character like this, you'll be the first to die when the time comes."

Observer Number Three stood up and briefly intervened.

With a quick glance around, she noticed that Observer Number One seemed upset.

She walked over to the office area and comfortingly patted Observer Number One's shoulder, speaking with a sense of urgency.

"When night falls, the Owl God becomes very dangerous."

"At least two of us must be on duty every night."

"I'll go get our dinner from the cafeteria. Tonight, it'll be you and me on duty, newbie."

"Remember, don't be too chatty. Don't say anything you shouldn't."

"Number One, I have a question for you! How did Observer Number Three die?"

"You two were the only ones on duty last night. Are you messing with me?!"

The next day, when everyone woke up, they discovered Observer Number Three had died in her office area.

She was nailed to the wall with thirteen pens along her spine, her brain was pierced, and the brain matter exploded onto the wall, forming a large bird wing shape.

Her neck twisted in a peculiar 270° rotation, resembling the owl in rumors.

"Sorry, I was really too tired last night... I accidentally fell asleep..."

Everyone looked at Observer Number One, who was kneeling on the ground, crying, their expressions darkening.

They couldn't understand how someone on duty didn't notice their colleague being killed.

But, things had reached that point, and they could only accept the reality.

"S-stay away! Don't kill me!"

"I didn't see anything, please! Agh!!"

Another dark and windy day arrived as the bloodthirsty reaper approached as scheduled.

Observer Number Two dared not face the flickering specters in the dark night, abandoning their teammate facing an unknown terror and scrambling into the bathroom.

In the confined space of the restroom with depressing white and red tiles, Observer Number Two's fragile mind twisted incessantly. She heard the cries and wails outside the washroom gradually fade, but her fearful heart ignited even fiercer.

The deadly repression coalesced in the air, urging her towards a composed demise.

"D-die quickly, please, let me die swiftly, please..."

"As long as I die, I won't have to fear anymore!"

"Sobs..."

Observer Number Two repeatedly pulled out the dagger she carried with her, thrusting it towards her carotid artery, hoping to lose consciousness before the Owl God could catch her.

As the dawn broke, the floor was soaked with blood, but Observer Number Two ultimately failed to die.

Observer Number One's thin figure appeared at the bathroom door. She approached and healed Observer Number Two's wounds.

"Why haven't you died yet, you coward?"

Observer Number Two, with deep sunken eye sockets, wheezed, throat hoarse, asking Observer Number One.

"I... I don't know, I don't know anything... sobs."

"I'm so scared... yesterday, I hid under my desk and saw nothing..."

"Damn... damn it. Everything will be fine, senior, just get through today."

Finally, on the last day of the month, Observer Number One and Observer Number Two leaned on each other, their faces marked with dark circles, determined to push through the night.

As long as they made it through this night, the smoke-free zone would set them free.

Observer Number One raised her bow and arrow, wearily watching every suspicious shadow in the darkness.

She braced herself, preparing to confront the impending Owl God.

But Observer Number Two was barely holding on.

Under the extreme fear and oppressive environment, Observer Number Two couldn't help but angrily question Observer Number One.

"I-I'm telling you, are you the Owl God?"

"I should have realized it earlier!"

"Every time something happens, you're always there!"

"You're not the Owl God, what are you?"

"Surely the Owl God has mimicked you, taken your place, and killed everyone!"

"It's all your fault, with your big mouth from the first day!"

"I should have torn your incessantly babbling mouth apart!"

"I should have... I should have... sobs!"

Observer Number Two collapsed, completely shattered.

In this seemingly endless abyss of darkness, Observer Number Two knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

She hugged her head, prostrating as if she longed to bury herself in the ground.

"Mom... Dad... I want to go home..."

"I shouldn't have come here, this place in the smoke-free zone is hell, a hell made of piles of corpses!"

Hearing Observer Number Two's words, Observer Number One was suddenly struck by a realization.

She found merit in Observer Number Two's words.

But she knew she wasn't the Owl God.

How could she not know who she was?

"Wait, senior, there's a sound."

Suddenly, Observer Number One heard something and urgently whispered to Observer Number Two.

"W-what sound?"

Observer Number Two was scared stiff, her cries abruptly silenced.

"Can't you hear... over there."

"The sound of feathers brushing the ground... didn't you hear it?"

Observer Number One drew the bowstring taut, believing she had sensed the presence of the Owl God.

Summoning her courage, she thought that shooting an angel wasn't much different from shooting a flying bird.

"I can't hear anything, I can't hear anything! What are you talking about?"

"Don't scare me! I'm really going crazy!"

Observer Number Two's collapse reverberated in her shouts.

But Observer Number One ignored Observer Number Two's breakdown. She aimed her bow at the direction of the sound she heard, pulling the bowstring tight.

"Don't be afraid, senior, let's take the initiative. As long as we get through tonight, we'll definitely be able to..."

The arrow released by the full moon was deadly, flying from Observer Number One's hand.

"Hey! You're holding the bow in the wrong direction!"

But the arrow shot in completely the opposite direction.

"What?"

The arrow shot straight into Observer Number Two's eye socket from behind.

The sturdy arrow shattered Observer Number Two's brain matter, tearing a gruesome hole in her tough scalp.

Blood and shattered flesh splattered out from the gaping wound, mixing with the twisted darkness in the air, like the majestic and serene wings of an owl, unfolding calmly in mid-air.

In a daze, Observer Number One finally came to a realization.

The Owl God was not a physical entity... it was a concept.

All the information in the records was wrong.

She hadn't been mimicked by the Owl God.

It was her who had been infected by the darkness, becoming the Owl God.