134. Skull Angel
Heavenly realm natives began gathering around Iris. The creation god, Niara Nephensis. The destruction god, Ignis Ashbringer. The fallen god, Lilith Morphia. Following the trio reborn as Necro's puppets, even Azeras, who hailed from the Loner Trait, joined them.
［Hmm. No matter how I look at it, it's just like the heavenly realm.］
［Indeed. To think the labyrinth had a place like that.］
［They said it popped up recently~ Maybe it's a space created under our influence?］
"...It's not your influence. The odds are higher that it was shaped by mine."
The place apparently resembled the heavenly realm. It seemed like a space that had belatedly formed under Azeras's influence.
Unlike the puppet gods who only held memories, Azeras stared beyond Iris's screen with an expression soaked in nostalgia.
I glanced at Azeras and asked casually.
"Azeras. You wanna go back home or something?"
"N-no. N-nothing good there. N-no desire to return. B-but... even rotten, h-home is h-home. Gets s-sentimental."
Not quite homesick, then. We refocused on Iris's screen.
Art Pega Unicorn, who had stepped outside, was looking around the newly formed space. Then—
—［You wench! How dare you set foot in this sacred realm? Craving divine punishment?!］
—［Hm? Came for chicken, but something weird showed up.］
Bursting through the pristine white clouds came a skeleton with two pairs of wings. A donut-shaped ring, like a halo, floated above its head.
"S-grade."
"Nah. Art Pega didn't take my arm this time, so no threat nerf."
The skeleton angel had appeared out of nowhere. I roughly named it Skull Angel.
Art Pega Unicorn stared it down and asked me.
—［Explorer. Shall we catch that instead of chicken?］
You could eat that skeleton too. With Merino Ulla's abilities, anything was edible. But I had no intention of using it for food. It wasn't quite cannibalism by my standards, but the Skull Angel's body structure was too human-like to stomach.
"No need. We're not short on food anyway."
—［Understood. On second thought, the goal was chicken from the start. Catching that would just disappoint Merino.］
As we chatted via Iris, the Skull Angel hovering above raised its voice.
—［Ignoring me?!］
—［Shut up. I'll let you live, so get lost.］
Art Pega Unicorn said coolly. But the Skull Angel showed no fear. Instead, it mocked her with booming laughter.
—［What? 'I'll let you live, so scram'? Hahaha! Spouting nonsense beyond your station!］
Arrogant and insolent bitch. I was gonna let her go easy, but she's kicking the chance away herself.
Those were the words from the S-grade Skull Angel. Art Pega Unicorn sighed deeply at that.
—［The chance was mine to give you. Don't regret your choice now, skeleton.］
She stretched out her arm, paint dripping from her fingertips.
—［Instant Painting. Manifestation created.］
Instant Painting. Manifestation created.
The paint danced in the air. White and beige lines etched through the space, swiftly forming sheep horns.
Thick curves sliced the air next, spilling long white hair like waves. Each strand had shading for a lush texture. The face outline formed simultaneously—delicate features, golden eyes sparkling with life. Finally, the human body and slender limbs took shape.
In the blink of an eye, the drawing completed, and the air rippled around it.
—［From illusion to reality, appear—Merino Ulla.］
At Art Pega Unicorn's words, the 2D image swelled, gaining substance.
And—
—［Ulla-ulla!］
The figure in the painting stepped into reality. It looked just like Merino Ulla.
"Yang?!"
Merino, watching via Iris, went wide-eyed. She shoved her face to the screen and yelled.
"That's me in there yang! It just appeared yang!!!"
"Uni! Don't fall for it yang! That Merino Ulla's a fake yang!!!"
"Merino. It's just a summon Art Pega made, so chill."
"Yang? Oh, right yang!"
I calmed the excited Merino.
We turned back to Iris's screen.
—［Kuhahaha! What's that ridiculous thing? Showing off your pet?］
"It doesn't look ridiculous yang! Take that back yang!"
Ignoring the provocation and openly mocking Art Pega Unicorn's manifestation, the Skull Angel jeered. Art Pega Unicorn ignored it and calmly ordered her summoned Merino Ulla.
—［Manifestation, Merino Ulla.］
—［Ulla-ulla!］
—［Exterminate the skeleton floating above.］
—［Ulla! Eliminate!］
Suddenly, the manifestation Merino's eyes sharpened. The dopey gaze turned fierce, radiating a cutting aura. An expression the real Merino could never make.
"SS-grade presence is on another level."
"I meant the manifestation. That's SS-grade threat too."
The manifestation Merino Ulla had SS-grade threat, unlike the model real one. Manifestations' power was random, and this time luck had hit the jackpot.
For reference, just because it had a model didn't mean it shared anything but appearance. No copying abilities, naturally.
—［Ulla-ulla-ulla-ulla!］
The manifestation spun one arm wildly, then awkwardly thrust out a fist. Aimed at the arrogant Skull Angel far away.
━［Ulla Punch!］
With the cry, ripples formed before the fist, energy gathering massively.
Then—boooom!
The shockwave exploded from the fist, hurtling forward explosively. Exaggerating a bit, it evoked the Big Bang, crossing the vast heavenly space faster than light.
Arrogance vanished from the Skull Angel's face, replaced by terror. Too late for regrets.
The shockwave slammed into it. The Skull Angel disintegrated into light in an instant, reduced to nothing. The twinkling stars behind it were devoured and vanished too.
A moment of silence. One punch from the manifestation had hollowed out part of heaven.
—［Elimination complete! Ulla!］
Was that strike a life-costing ultimate? The satisfied manifestation melted into liquid paint and dissolved.
Merino stared blankly from the shelter, eyes round again.
"Yang... That was my true power...? I was actually super strong all along, just hiding it yang...!"
I ignored Merino's nonsense and finished the Skull Angel's monster codex entry.
Actual Threat Level:S-grade