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“It’s not useless, I suppose. Already the third evolution…”

Black Lily, watching the battle unfolding between the wild dogs and users, smiled as she waved her hand in the air.

Countless spells moved flawlessly under her touch, arranging themselves into a system beyond counting.

Underfoot, constellations shimmered like the stars of the universe, creating a rather beautiful spectacle.

“But it might be a bit dangerous like this.”

It’s great to push the wild dogs, but they’re empowered by the abilities of the top-tier demon, Silence.

The longer the battle dragged on, the more the wild dog’s physical and spiritual wounds would heal, so they needed to finish this quickly.

However, everyone, including the top combatant Uriel, was in poor condition, leading to a prolonged fight.

If things continued like this, they’d end up failing again and preparing for the fourth raid.

Regardless of everything else, the wild dogs had to be subdued by the users, so she couldn’t afford to provide unnecessary assistance.

Black Lily gazed down at the stars beneath her feet.

Countless constellations aligned as if they were ‘one.’

“Now’s the perfect time… what should I do?”

Should she help just a little more?

■

Keeeeek!!

“?”

“Haah… everyone… blood…?”

“What’s happening?”

Uriel was trying to recover from her tattered wings while avoiding the third phase of ‘Exploitation.’

If a wild dog took something like blood or flesh, it severely diminished their stats.

Although they recovered somewhat due to the balance of power from their strengthened opponent, it was still a tough enemy, leading to a prolonged conflict.

‘But…’

“What just fell?”

A purple-black rope dropped onto the thrashing wild dog’s neck.

The rope was infused with terrible magic and was quite heavy despite its appearance.

It was so heavy that three users near the wild dog were crushed immediately.

After a moment of panic, the rope began to wrap around the wild dog’s neck, displaying strange magical runes.

Graaaar!!! Graaahh!!

“…A collar?”

It was a collar.

The magical collar secured tightly around the wolf’s neck.

The wild dog struggled desperately to tear it off, but after realizing it couldn’t be freed, it reignited its fighting spirit.

The first to sense the anomaly was Sandalphon, who had lost an arm.

“…?! The ‘Exploitation’ effect has disappeared!”

“?!”

“Whoa, it really has!”

“…!!”

It wasn’t just the ‘Exploitation’ effect.

All the powers that could be called abilities, including the ‘Frenzy’ and ‘Charge’ the wild dog used, were now restricted.

With the power of the users returning to normal, Uriel, gathering her strength, pulled out a small white bracelet.

It was an item given by Gabriel that could be used in emergencies.

Known to be a disposable Holy Power-boosting tool crafted directly by higher-level angels.

Originally, she had planned to use it in front of Lady Lily, but if she wasted any more time here, nothing would matter anymore.

“Haah… haah…”

Her body transformed.

The more she fought her opponent, the more advantages she gained through the balance of power.

The power of balance was not an inherent ability of the angels.

It was merely that the angels that appeared ‘this time’ possessed the power of balance, and since the Angel Guild made contracts with them, they could use that power.

If she’d made contracts with other angels, she would have wielded entirely different powers.

Though Uriel had never met other angels aside from Lily, she was convinced as she saw the pure white holy armor enveloping her body.

‘There’s no power more superior than the power of balance!’

Nothing could compare to ‘balance.’

Suddenly, a beeping sound rang in her head.

Two wings unfurled behind her, and she felt her soul growing larger.

She could faintly hear a satisfied laugh from a distance, but Uriel focused solely on the opponent in front of her.

“It’s time to get hit again, you filthy dog.”

Grrr…

The raid resumed.

■

Bang!

“…Now it’s real.”

It had been a long time.

Uriel collapsed to the ground, watching the fragments of her shining armor scatter.

The ground seeped with magic, trying to devour Uriel, but the fragments blocked it on their own, and she didn’t even have the energy to care about that.

‘Gotcha…’

Final raid time: 7 hours 42 minutes.

Number of users deployed: 98.

Casualties: 214 (including those who revived and tried again), final survivors: 7.

They successfully captured the mid-boss, the wild dog.

[The lord of the East, ‘Wild Dog,’ has been defeated!]

[The contribution degree of the white holy relic has significantly increased!]

[A large amount of experience points has been granted!]

[Fragments of light…]

[……!]

As countless rewards poured in, the surviving users rejoiced and chuckled, but Uriel could only blink with lost eyes.

She truly had no strength left.

This was no exaggeration.

The power to recover her body was gone, and even if she did have some left, it would be meaningless as there were no ‘strong opponents’ to face.

Sandalphon had long since died and was waiting for resurrection.

‘I need to go to Lady Lily…’

There was no strength.

Maybe it was better to take a rest…

Or perhaps die and resurrect like Sandalphon…

─With so much to do, can you truly rest?

“…?”

[The lords from all sides have been defeated.]

[The God of the Dead directly raises his body.]

Something…

The sky darkens.

Shadows fell upon the faces of the chuckling users, and the ominous energy spread across the sky, turning it pitch black.

Transformation.

The world changes.

Everything in the world turns evil, and the boundary between the living and the dead grows ambiguous.

As the users trembled and dropped their rewards, Uriel couldn’t focus on the sky or the demons.

‘Who just said that?’

A voice echoed in her head.

To be precise, it felt like it was ‘engraved’ in her ‘soul,’ but she wasn’t sure.

She herself didn’t quite understand what ‘soul’ was.

Yet despite that, Uriel felt that it had been ‘inscribed on her soul.’

Chchch…

The air split like glass, revealing a woman.

‘Black Lily.’

She looked up at the sky and laughed fiercely, raising her staff slightly.

The clash of two enormous presences.

Uriel opened her weary eyes wide.

Black Lily had done ‘something,’ and the sky split in half.

Then, from the sky, countless corpses filled with malice rained down, but Black Lily summoned countless spells to stop them.

At the same time, protective magic was generated for the users.

The shield was also placed on Uriel, but perhaps due to the depletion of holy energy, it didn’t particularly attack.

She pulled entire nearby mountains and tossed them towards the sky.

Vwoooosh…!

Many holes were created in the sky, exposing the void.

Beyond the void, constellations like the stars of the universe were visible.

It was truly a battle of ‘monsters.’

Uriel turned her head, witnessing the unbelievable spectacle of battle.

‘…It really was a dog.’

A monster of level 185, requiring the combined efforts of 100 top rankers and an angel empowered by a contract.

That was why this creature’s name was only ‘wild dog.’

‘If this isn’t a dog, then what is it?’

In front of real monsters, she was just a filthy mutt.

Uriel, witnessing the overwhelming scene that nearly blurred her mind, made a firm resolve.

‘…Indeed, I have to stop Lady Lily.’

If Black Lily was at this level, Lily, who was equal to or even stronger than her, must wield even greater power.

If she ever lost control, it would all be over.

─Even if it’s just a piece, those who have risen to ■■■ must not be underestimated. Your duty is quite significant.

“…?”

What now…

Boom!!!

…The ground trembles without a moment to think.

The very world shakes, and the boss of demons from beyond dimensions.

The wrath of the ‘God of the Dead’ was palpable.

Black Lily smiled slyly as she floated into the air.

“As expected… with a user nearby, I can’t unleash my powers, can I?”

…!

“Of course, I can’t bring forth the ‘true form’ here. That’s why I can’t rely on the system, you see?”

Behind Black Lily, the air tore apart, revealing the universe.

North, South, East, West.

The worlds Black Lily had created while wandering through the realm of the God of the Dead.

The countless constellations from the four corners formed a circle, providing endless power to Black Lily.

‘…The energy is.’

Amplifying.

Amplifying.

Amplifying…

“Gah!”

Uriel gasped for air.

At that moment, she felt the same energy she had seen in the ‘eye’ at the mansion!

However, this time, it seemed to provide some protection, and merely looking at it wasn’t a problem.

At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if she were called nearly a god.

With this power, perhaps she could fight against the God of the Dead.

‘Maybe even against the angelic god…’

“…Still, once the deadline passes, I won’t be able to win, so I need to make my move ahead of time.”

Boom…

Something was shot out.

It didn’t take any particular shape, but what was certain was that something was indeed shot.

……!!!

And the God of the Dead was screaming after being hit.

The sky, which had been filled with evil and death, returned to its original state.

Users, who were trembling inside the protective barrier, started to peek out one by one, and Uriel looked up at the sky.

The cosmic space that had once been behind Black Lily was now closed off.

Her expression… didn’t look too good.

“Hmph… What a shame. I should have destroyed at least half of the true body.”

“…?”

“To think it was only about 1/3… This is going to be quite a tiring job.”

“……”

‘Only’ 1/3…

Isn’t it amazing to have dealt that much damage to a divine being in just one attack?

Of course, the opponent was also at a divine level, but in terms of sheer power, the God of the Dead should be at an advantage.

‘…? Is the God of the Dead stronger?’

Uriel pondered and suddenly tilted her head.

Didn’t it seem like Black Lily was far stronger?

Of course, it wasn’t the true body, but Black Lily didn’t seem to be giving it her all either.

“…Let’s go for now.”

It felt like her mind was starting to drift in exhaustion.

Regardless of everything, they captured the wild dog, and now it was time to meet Lady Lily.

 

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