Chapter 69
The moonlight fell upon the night sea.
On the surface of the water illuminated by golden lights, black shadows began to appear one by one.
'Gigigigigi......'
'Gyagya-gya-gya!'
Countless shadows rose from the depths of the ocean.
Though they resembled humans in form, they had fins on various parts of their bodies and held tridents in their hands—grotesque monsters.
Following dozens, then hundreds of these grotesque beings, an enormous shadow several times their size also advanced toward the ocean's surface.
'Gyagya-gya-gya......!'
Eventually, the countless shadows surfaced in the offshore waters.
This horde of monsters belonged to a grotesque race that dwelled on the ocean floor.
Once every few centuries, they appeared on land when the god they worshiped awakened, attacking humans.
This year was exactly that time, and they had risen from the deep sea in search of sacrifices for the revival of their great god.
'Gyogyogyogyo......'
A horde of grotesque beings led by one as massive as a whale.
If they were unleashed upon the land, the people along the coast would be plunged into terror, and many lives would be devoured.
They had the power to do so—and the malice to carry it out.
'Gyogyogyogyo'
'Gyagya-gya-gya'
'Gyaa-gyaa'
The monsters communicated in strange cries, preparing their strategy for the assault on the surface.
To them, most humans were weak and insignificant—nothing more than sacrifices to be offered to their great god.
However, they knew that not all humans were like that.
In the past, the god they worshiped had been defeated by a human known as the 'Saint' and her companions, and sealed away in a city at the bottom of the sea.
'Gyaa-gyaa'
First, they needed to assess the enemy's strength.
As a result of their discussion... a few grotesque beings were chosen to head toward the shore as scouts.
The scout monsters would attack people on the beach to gauge the enemy's strength, and then the main force—hundreds strong including the massive grotesque being—would launch a full-scale assault... that was the plan.
"Do you really think we'll let that happen? Especially with Lord Clael staying at that hotel?"
'Gyagya-gya-gya!?'
Suddenly, a human voice echoed—a voice that shouldn't have been present here.
As they looked around to find the source... the person was above their heads, about ten meters in the air above the sea's surface.
'Gyagya......!'
There stood a woman.
A woman wearing a white dress.
Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, and her jade-colored eyes shone brilliantly.
White wings spread wide from her back, holding her aloft without flapping.
Clearly not an ordinary being. With a mystical aura as if she had stepped out of a religious painting, she was so beautiful that even the grotesque monsters were captivated.
And then... behind the woman, countless angels emerged through a gap in the clouds.
Muscular, bare-chested men with wings like hers on their backs, wielding weapons such as spears and swords.
It was a force of angels that looked as though the final war—Armageddon—was about to begin.
Strangely, all of their faces were those of plushies, but they possessed enough power to topple a small nation overnight.
"I won't forgive those who try to disrupt my trip with Lord Clael... Perish."
The woman swung her arm downward.
The angelic army behind her began to move.
'Gyagyagya～～～～～～～～!'
The angel army simultaneously attacked the monsters, and low-pitched screams echoed out.
Some tried to flee into the sea, but it seemed the angels could operate underwater without issue.
Without even a chance to retreat into the deep sea, they were dragged out from the water, slashed with swords, pierced with spears, and their grotesque bodies were torn apart.
The horde of monsters—powerful enough to destroy the entire coastline and surrounding towns—was annihilated by the angels and vanished into sea foam.
Though they had appeared to resurrect the evil god they worshiped... they disappeared without ever being seen on the surface.