Chapter 134. Skull Angel
Celestial beings gathered around Iris.
The Creator God, Nyara Nepenthis.
The God of Destruction, Ignis Ashbringer.
The Fallen God, Lilith Morphea.
In addition to these three who were resurrected as Necro puppets, even Azeras, originally from The Solitary One, was present.
[“Hmm. No matter how I look at it, it really resembles the Celestial Realm.”]
[“You’re right. I didn’t know there was such a place in the labyrinth.”]
[“It was newly created this time. Perhaps it’s a space influenced by us?”]
“…Rather than being influenced by you all, it’s more likely influenced by me.”
That place looked eerily similar to the Celestial Realm.
It seemed like the space was created, belatedly influenced by Azeras.
【Pururu】─Is that the Celestial Realm?
【Mir-Stin】─Looks like a fake version.
【Yumi】─It seems like it was modeled after the Celestial Realm. I agree, it seems to have been influenced by Azeras rather than the puppets.
【Mysticism】─😮
【Rizenova】─I’ve always been curious about what the Celestial Realm looks like. So that’s what it looks like.
【Bubble Bubble】─The people from the Celestial Realm live in a place like that.
【Luna-chan】─Hoeee. Then maybe a place similar to Earth could be created soon too~ O_o
Unlike the puppets who only had memories, Azeras stared beyond the Iris screen, her expression soaked in longing.
【Mir-Stin】─Isn’t Azeras getting homesick?
【Yumi】─She’s pretending not to, but you can see from her expression that she misses home a little bit.
I glanced at Azeras and asked her gently.
“Azeras, do you want to return to your homeland?”
“Not really. I don’t have any good memories of the Celestial Realm, so I don’t want to go back. But, even a rotten homeland is still home, so I guess I do feel a bit sentimental.”
It didn’t seem like she had full-blown homesickness.
We turned our attention back to the Iris screen.
Artpega, who had stepped outside, was looking around the newly created space.
Then.
─[“You wretch! How dare you step into the sacred realm! Are you seeking divine punishment?”]
─[“Hmm? I came looking for chicken, but something strange has appeared.”]
Piercing through the white clouds, a skull with two pairs of wings suddenly emerged.
Above its head floated a halo, resembling a donut ring.
【Mir-Stin】─Ooh! A new monster has appeared! It looks so cool!
【Mysticism】─😮
【Pururu】─What is that? An angel?
【Yumi】─A skeleton angel…
【Luna-chan】─Gauntlet, what’s the danger level of that thing? o_O
“It’s S-rank.”
【Luna-chan】─Ooh. So it’s nerfed to B-rank?
“No. Artpega didn’t take my arm, so there’s no danger nerf this time.”
【Luna-chan】─Aha.
【Bubble Bubble】─So it’s in pure S-rank condition.
The skeleton angel that suddenly appeared.
I roughly named it Skull Angel.
Artpega stared at it and asked me.
─[“Explorer, should I capture that thing instead of chicken?”]
【Pururu】─A pheasant instead of chicken?
【Mysticism】─😠 That’s not a pheasant, it’s a skeleton!
That skeleton could indeed be eaten.
With Merino Ula’s ability, anything could be consumed.
However, I had no intention of using it for food.
Though it didn’t fall under the category of cannibalism by my standards, the Skull Angel’s human-like body structure made it unappetizing.
“You don’t need to. We’re not short on food, anyway.”
─[“Understood. Now that I think about it, since the original goal was chicken, capturing that thing would only disappoint Merino.”]
As we conversed through Iris,
The Skull Angel floating above raised its voice in anger.
─[“Are you ignoring me!?”]
─[“You’re noisy. I’ll spare you, so get lost now.”]
Artpega spoke in a cold voice.
But the Skull Angel didn’t flinch.
Instead, it burst out laughing, mocking Artpega.
─[“What? Spare me and leave? Hahaha! You’re speaking nonsense beyond your rank!”]
【Bubble Bubble】─That thing has no idea what level it’s up against.
【Luna-chan】─It’s so stupid. If it had run away quietly, it could’ve lived. 😭
【Pururu】─Haha, I finally get to see Arte fight.
【Mir-Stin】─Uni, fighting!
【Yumi】─Bicorn will probably win easily, right?
【Bubble Bubble】─Of course. Art-bicorn is now SS-rank.
【Mysticism】─🤔 The names are all different.
【Rizenova】─Indeed. It’s confusing, so let’s standardize the names…
【Luna-chan】─How about we shorten it to Aga Yukon? o_O
Such arrogance and insolence.
I was trying to let it go, but it had kicked away the chance with its own foot.
The words came from the S-rank Skull Angel.
Hearing this, Artpega sighed deeply.
─[“It’s not you who gave the opportunity. I did. Don’t regret your choice, skeleton.”]
He then extended his arm, releasing a flow of paint from his fingertips.
─[“Instant painting technique. Manifestation.”]
The paint that flowed from his fingers began to dance.
White and beige lines were drawn in the air, quickly forming the shape of ram horns.
【Pururu】─Whoa, ultra-speed drawing.
【Mysticism】─😮
Thick curves cut through the air, and long white hair poured down like a waterfall. Each strand of hair was shaded, creating a rich texture.
At the same time, the outline of a face appeared.
Delicate features were drawn, and golden eyes shimmered with life.
Finally, the human body and slender limbs were completed.
In the blink of an eye, the drawing was finished, and at that moment, the air around it rippled.
─[“From the virtual, reveal yourself to reality, Merino Ula.”]
As Artpega’s words fell,
The two-dimensional drawing began to swell, gradually taking on a physical form.
Then,
─[“Ulaula!”]
The figure from the drawing materialized into reality.
It was a creature that resembled Merino Ula.
“Lamb?!”
Merino, who had been watching through the Iris screen, widened her eyes.
She pressed her face close to the screen and shouted.
“There’s me over there! I suddenly appeared!!!”
【Luna-chan】─Huh?
【Rizenova】─Hmm…
【Bubble Bubble】─Of all things, why did you draw Merino?
【Mir-Stin】─Exactly. Isn’t Merino the weakest?
【Yumi】─It’s Merino, not Merona.
【Mysticism】─😠 How could you summon a weakling! Merino’s on our level! F-rank!
【Pururu】─But how is that fake Merino floating in the air?
“Uni! Don’t be fooled! That Merino Ula is a fake!”
“Merino. Artpega just created that as a summoned entity, so calm down.”
“Oh? I see!”
After calming the excited Merino, we turned our attention back to the Iris screen.
─[“Hahaha! What is that ridiculous-looking thing? Are you trying to show off a pet?”]
“It’s not ridiculous! Take back that comment!”
【Mir-Stin】─Haha, the real Merino is hurt.
【Pururu】─?? Why didn’t she get mad at being called a pet?
Ignoring the Skull Angel’s open mockery, Artpega calmly issued a command to her summoned creature.
─[“Manifestation, Merino Ula.”]
─[“Ulaula!”]
─[“Eradicate the skeleton floating above.”]
─[“Ula! Eradicate!”]
Suddenly, the summoned Merino’s eyes changed.
Her gentle eyes turned sharp, emitting a fierce aura.
It was an expression the real Merino had never shown.
“SS-rank’s presence is indeed on a different level.”
【Yumi】─Huh?
【Rizenova】─Did you just say SS-rank?
【Luna-chan】─You meant Aga Yukon is SS-rank, not the summoned creature, right? ><
“No, I was talking about the summoned creature. That thing’s SS-rank as well.”
【Bubble Bubble】─???
【Mysticism】─😱 Merino has really leveled up!
【Mir-Stin】─That’s not the real Merino, though.
【Pururu】─So, who’s the real Merino now?
The summoned Merino Ula, unlike her model, was SS-rank in danger level.
The strength of a manifestation is said to be determined randomly, and it seemed I had hit the jackpot this time.
For reference.
Just because the manifestation is modeled after someone, it has no real connection to the original aside from appearance.
Naturally, it cannot copy the model’s abilities.
─[“Ulaulaulaula!”]
The manifestation spun one of her arms around.
Then, awkwardly extended her fist.
Her punch was aimed at the arrogant Skull Angel floating far above.
━[“Ula Punch!”]
With the shout of the manifestation,
Waves of energy gathered in front of the fist.
Then,
Paaaang—!!!
The shockwave from the manifestation’s fist expanded rapidly, exploding outwards.
The wave, almost reminiscent of the Big Bang, shot through the vast Celestial Realm faster than light.
The arrogance on the Skull Angel’s face vanished, replaced by fear.
But it was too late for regrets.
The shockwave had already struck the Skull Angel.
In an instant, the Skull Angel disintegrated into light and vanished, and the sparkling stars behind it were also devoured by the shockwave, disappearing into nothingness.
A moment of silence followed.
With just one punch, a part of the Celestial Realm was left empty.
【Yumi】─???
【Mir-Stin】─Ooo????
【Pururu】─What was that…?
【Bubble Bubble】─Oh, weren’t Aga Yukon’s abilities still in pure SS-rank?
【Mysticism】─It even destroyed the stars! 😱😱😱
【Rizenova】─It seems like thousands of them disappeared…
【Luna-chan】─The sparkling things weren’t real stars, they were giant islands~ o_O
─[“Eradication complete! Ula!”]
Was that powerful strike delivered at the cost of its life?
The manifestation, wearing a satisfied smile, melted down and returned to its liquid paint form.
Merino, who had been blankly watching from the hideout, widened her eyes again.
“Lamb… Is that my true power…? It turns out I was incredibly strong, but my power had been hidden…!”
Ignoring Merino’s nonsense,
I finished registering Skull Angel into the Monster Encyclopedia.
■Skull Angel
─Actual Threat Level: S-Class.