Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1781: Floor 39, Minimundi

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"This place is...?" Maria glanced around, immediately sensing the eerie strangeness of this world.

She stood inside an enormous room, as if designed for titans, stretching hundreds of meters in every direction.

The ceiling soared impossibly high, almost lost in shadow. A massive bed dominated one corner, flanked by an oversized desk, scattered furniture, clothes strewn across the floor, a giant football, a baseball bat, and an enormous mirror.

Boxes lay scattered everywhere, and a door stood slightly ajar. Thick dust blanketed the entire space, giving the clear impression of long abandonment.

The windows were filthy, caked with grime, dust, and shreds of torn newspaper.

Maria and her family stood on the vast floor amid swirling dust and scattered objects, each one towering over them in terrifying scale.

The tower stood right behind them, but now it resembled nothing more than a huge toy.

"What the hell...?" Maria blurted out first.

"Did we shrink?!" Alma gasped.

"No, we're the same size as before," Lucifer said calmly, scanning their surroundings.

"So we're inside a giant's room? And the tower is just a toy?" Emeraldine murmured, utterly bewildered. "What is going on?"

"Yeah, this world..." Melianna whispered. "It's really fun!"

"A little dangerous too. We shouldn't linger," Ferleen sighed.

"What? What do you mean? What is this world, Bobby?" Maria demanded.

"Come on. People usually don't stay here long. There are bandits hiding in the large boxes and behind the furniture," Bobby explained. "Couch City is close by. It's mostly inhabited by Bed Mites and Dust Bunnies. They're kind to us Toykin."

"Huh?!" Maria grew even more confused. "Sure...?"

The group trekked across the vast room, which seemed to expand endlessly as they grasped just how tiny they had become.

If this world wasn't simply gigantic and they had truly shrunk, they now measured only four to six centimeters tall.

They weren't even the size of large action figures. They were closer to Lego minifigures.

An invisible, powerful force also prevented them from growing any larger.

When Lucifer or Maria attempted to transform, they reached at most seven centimeters before hitting an unbreakable limit.

The same restriction affected Nyx and Arachne, leaving them frustrated and uneasy.

"Wow, what's wrong with this world! I can't get big!" Nyx complained, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"Ah, you can't?" Bobby tilted his head. "I'm not sure why. This is the first time I've brought people who can change size, I suppose."

"So you mentioned pyramids here?" Maria asked. "Where are they?"

"Not in this house. This is an abandoned manor where we Toykin gather and live. The outside world belongs to the Owners. If we interfere with it, the Toy Maker might punish us."

"...What?" Maria frowned, more puzzled than ever.

"Come," Bobby urged, leading the way.

After ten minutes of walking, Maria grew impatient. She scooped everyone up and flew, which worked without any trouble. Even soaring to the ceiling posed no problem.

Curious, she fired a Nether Star upward.

BOOOM!

The explosion was impressive in scale, yet the ceiling suffered only faint scratches, damage that should have shattered entire mountains.

"Do you see now? This world isn't like the others," Bobby said quietly.

"I see," Maria nodded, a mix of frustration and awe tightening her chest. "Maybe I can cut through with my sword, but I'll try that later."

She descended swiftly and darted through the gigantic open door. In the distance stood a large fortress constructed from building blocks and wood.

Beyond it loomed an enormous couch, a mountain-like structure from their perspective.

Within one of its crevices was a wide opening where people, Players, and other tiny beings streamed in and out.

"What is this place?" Partner wondered aloud once more. "We can't grow bigger. Our power feels so much weaker. How are you even being hunted down?"

"The protective force you sensed earlier is simply how this world functions," Bobby explained quietly. "We Toykin are different. We can be harmed, broken, even destroyed."

As they approached the fortress, a group of strange creatures emerged to greet them.

They were all sentient toys.

Not all resembled Bobby. One was a massive golem-like figure crafted from hard brown plastic, its face a blank television screen. Another was a princess doll in tattered clothes and black leather armor, wielding a long pen like a spear.

"It would be wiser if you descended," the princess doll called. "Infiltrating the city from the air is not allowed."

"Hm."

Maria lowered herself gently to the ground. Dozens of Toykin of every shape and size leaped from the fortress walls, aiming their makeshift weapons at her.

"Haven't you read the signs? Flying is prohibited!"

"Why would you fly here?"

"Want to lose a few pieces?"

"Ew, I'd rather not touch them. They're soft people. They look like Owners, but far weaker."

"Maybe we should toss them out so the flying pyramids can devour them."

"Don't joke about that..."

"Well, hello," Maria said calmly. "Thank you for the warm welcome. We came seeking the city in the couch. Is it that way?"

The toys exchanged wary glances. Bobby hopped down from Maria's back and stepped forward.

"Hey, everyone. I'm back."

A collective gasp rose from the group. They stared at him as though seeing a long-lost brother that returned after being thought to have died.

"BOBBY?!"

They rushed toward him. Maria and her family watched as the lively toys surrounded him, chattering excitedly, hugging him with genuine joy. The princess doll embraced him tightly and kissed his cheek, her painted smile radiant.

"Bobby, you're finally home! I thought about you every single day."

"I'm sorry for leaving, Christine. So much happened, but I'm here now. I believe these people can save us from the pyramids."

"What? These ones?" A rough voice cut in. "They don't look strong at all."

"Watch your mouth, Wrecker. They're truly powerful."

"Huh? Really?"

The massive golem-like toy named Wrecker lumbered forward, towering over Maria. His television face displayed a furious emoji as he glared down at her.

"You don't look tough to me. All soft!"

"I suggest you don't provoke me," Maria replied coolly. "What if the child who plays with you learns you're broken? You might end up thrown in the trash." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"WHAT?! HOW DARE YOU!"

Her words struck deep. The threat of being discarded seemed to wound these Toykin more than any physical blow.

Wrecker roared and swung his heavy fists downward. Shockwaves of strange energy burst from the impacts.

"Wow, what is this energy?" Partner muttered. "It feels so odd."

Maria remained unmoving. The barrage rained upon her without leaving a scratch. Instead, Wrecker's fists began to crumble, shards of plastic scattering across the ground.

"Ouch! Ouch! What the hell?! What is she made of? Is she some kind of metal toy?!"

"I warned you she was dangerous, Wrecker," Bobby sighed. "Sorry about that, Maria. He's a friend, just a bit reckless sometimes."

"Hmph!"

Wrecker straightened, shooting Maria one last glare before retreating to the others, quietly cradling his aching hands.

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