Kang Jin-woo did not hesitate.The idea of the past was the final shackle preventing the show from reaching its climax. To the demons watching through the system screens, the orphanage was nothing more than an outdated set—something that needed to be burned away to make room for the next act.
[Viewer Command: "Burn the old stage!"][Mission: Sever the final threads.][Reward: Complete liberation from "human scars."]
Jin-woo slowly raised his hand.He didn't use a lighter or fuel—instead, he summoned the dark energy of the Oath pulsing within his mark. Suddenly, strange violet flames erupted from the hall's walls. These were not natural fires; they devoured wood and curtains without producing thick smoke, emitting whispers instead of crackling sounds.
In the Heart of the Violet Inferno
Detective Lee Do-hyun staggered back a step, heat slamming into his face. Flames closed in around him, yet he didn't lower his weapon.
— "Do you really think burning this place will change what you are?!"Do-hyun shouted over the roar of the fire."You're afraid, Jin-woo! Afraid I'll remember who you truly were!"
Jin-woo laughed as he walked through the flames, which parted before him as if they feared him.
— "The Jin-woo you're looking for died a long time ago, Detective,"he said calmly."What you see now is merely… a reflection of my new masters' amusement."
A section of the burning wooden ceiling collapsed, forming a wall of fire between them. Jin-woo seized the moment, activating [Abyss Transfer]. He vanished—and reappeared directly behind Do-hyun.
Leaning close, he whispered into the detective's ear with a coldness that froze the blood in his veins:
— "Get out of here. I don't want our chase to end this quickly. The show is only just beginning to enjoy your intellect."
The Great Escape
Jin-woo shoved the detective violently toward the still-open exit as the walls began to collapse.Do-hyun tumbled outside, crashing onto the dew-soaked ground of early dawn, while the orphanage transformed into a mass of violet fire that lit up the sky with terrifying clarity.
Struggling to his feet, Do-hyun gasped for air, wiping ash from his face. He stared as the building caved in, realizing that every physical trace of Jin-woo's past had now vanished.
The killer had severed his final connection to humanity—with his own hands.
[Mission Success!][Viewer Satisfaction: 80% — "What a spectacular finale for the first arc!"][Reward Acquired: Skill 'Ash Veil' — grants extended immunity from cameras and surveillance devices.]
A New Dawn
As fire engines and police vehicles converged on the site, Jin-woo stood atop a distant hill, watching the ruins.There was no longer any ache in his chest at the sight of the orphanage.
Memory had become ash.
A new system screen appeared—this one glowing with a dark golden hue:
[You have entered "Arc Two: Open Madness of Randomness."][New Objective: Begin a chain of killings in the heart of the capital… with no pattern, no mercy, and no pursuit.]