Chapter 1: The Shadow
The night swallowed the city in darkness.
Ali stood by the window, staring outside. At first, he was just daydreaming—until he saw something under the streetlight.
A figure.
No… not a person.
It had no face. Its body looked like stretched smoke, yet it was clearly looking at him.
Ali's heart skipped a beat.
He stepped back instinctively.
Then it spoke.
"You can see me."
The voice wasn't heard through the air—it echoed directly inside his mind.
"W-who are you?" Ali whispered.
The shadow didn't answer.
It vanished.
But deep down, Ali knew—
This was only the beginning.
Chapter 2: The Contract
The next night, it returned.
This time, it stood inside his room.
No door opened.
No sound.
It was simply… there.
"You have been chosen."
Ali forced himself to stay calm. "Chosen for what?"
"To become a reaper."
The temperature dropped instantly.
"I refuse," Ali said without hesitation.
The shadow let out a soft, hollow laugh.
"Refuse?"
It moved closer.
"You have already stepped into this world."
A dark hand reached forward and touched his forehead.
Pain exploded.
Visions flooded his mind—death, sorrow, farewell, light.
"You cannot turn back anymore."
Chapter 3: The First Task
Midnight.
Ali's phone lit up on its own.
A message appeared:
Target: Chen Guoan
Time: 00:47
Location: Central Hospital
His hands trembled.
"This… is real?"
"Go," the shadow whispered.
The hospital lights were cold and lifeless.
Inside a room, an old man lay on a bed, barely breathing.
Ali didn't know what to do.
He just stood there.
Then suddenly—
The old man opened his eyes.
"You're here."
Ali stepped back in shock. "You can see me?!"
The old man smiled gently. "I've been waiting."
That was the moment Ali realized—
He had truly become a reaper.
Chapter 4: The Gate of Souls
Time ran out.
The heart monitor became a straight line.
Beep————
A faint glow rose from the old man's body.
Another "him" stood up.
Transparent… but real.
The old man looked at his own body, then at Ali.
"Is it time?"
Ali swallowed. "…Yes."
A crack appeared in the air.
Like a door.
Like a passage to another world.
Ali walked with him through it.
Beyond the gate was pure white light.
No pain.
No fear.
For the first time, Ali understood—
Death is not the end.
Chapter 5: The Rules
The shadow began to teach him.
"Remember the rules."
Ali nodded.
"First: You must not change death.
Second: You must not interfere with fate.
Third: You must not reveal yourself."
"…And if I break them?"
The shadow paused.
"You will be erased."
Not dead.
Erased from existence.
Ali felt a chill run down his spine.
Chapter 6: The One He Shouldn't Save
A new task appeared.
Target: Lin Jie
Ali froze.
Lin Jie—his classmate.
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Crossroad
When Ali arrived, Lin Jie was about to cross the street.
In the distance—
A truck lost control.
"STOP!!"
Ali shouted.
But Lin Jie couldn't hear him.
In that moment, Ali made a choice.
He ran forward—
And pushed Lin Jie away.
The truck rushed past.
Lin Jie fell to the ground, alive.
Saved.
But Ali knew—
He had broken the rule.
Chapter 7: Punishment
The shadow appeared again.
This time, it was different.
"What have you done?"
Ali lowered his head. "I saved him."
Silence.
"You changed fate."
The shadow twisted, growing darker, larger.
"Do you know the price?"
Ali looked at his hands.
They were fading.
Slowly disappearing.
"You are being erased."
"I just wanted to save him!"
"Reapers do not feel."
Chapter 8: Fractures
The world began to break.
Cracks appeared in the streets.
People flickered like broken images.
Time rewound randomly.
Ali realized—
Fate had been disrupted.
Worse still—
Those who should have died… became something else.
Lost.
Wandering.
Neither alive nor gone.
Chapter 9: The True Death God
Ali was taken into darkness.
There, he met the true Death God.
Not a shadow.
A presence.
Everywhere.
"Why did you defy me?"
The voice was like the universe speaking.
"They shouldn't have died!" Ali shouted.
Silence.
Then—
"Then you decide."
A list appeared.
Hundreds of names.
"Choose who lives. Who dies."
Chapter 10: Choice
Ali broke down.
"I can't…"
"You caused this."
The voice was cold.
He looked at the names.
Children.
Elderly.
Ordinary people.
He finally understood—
Fate was not cruelty.
It was balance.
He closed his eyes.
"I accept the original fate."
Chapter 11: The Price
The world began to heal.
Cracks vanished.
The lost souls faded peacefully.
But—
Ali's body was disappearing.
The shadow stood before him.
"You corrected your mistake."
"But rules must be enforced."
Ali smiled faintly.
"I know."
He looked at the city one last time.
"At least… I tried."
His body turned into light.
And vanished.
Chapter 12: A New Chosen One
Days later.
Another boy stood by his window.
Looking outside.
Under the streetlight—
A shadow slowly raised its head.
"You can see me."
The boy froze.
And the story—
Began again.