At this moment, the glass reflected the image of the owl god more fully. It wore an incredibly ferocious black and white owl mask on its head, and the cane in its right hand slowly transformed into a long-handled small axe emanating a metallic sheen reminiscent of black paint.
A deep sense of coldness drifted from the round holes in the mask's eyes, while a grotesque and eerie bell hung on the axe. Each time it was swung ever so slightly, a soft sound rang out, as if the wings of an owl lightly brushed over the ground.
The natural predator's oppressive aura ruthlessly crushed Merka's increasingly fragile psyche. The owl god firmly grasped Merka's head, its owl face mask leaning out of the glass, coming closer, its beak almost cutting into Merka's cheek.
"Since the day the laboratory was built, I have not let a single noble leave this place."
"You are no exception, Merka."
"I want you dead..."
"Dead by foul means."
A strong ink blackness burst from the owl god mask's eye sockets. It swung the axe back in a circular motion, like a circling dragon, aiming straight for Merka's neck.
Merka widened his eyes. The black blade in the owl god's hand, with its terrifying pressure, appeared before him in an instant.
A tremendous force sizzled through the air, as if black lightning erupted. The cracking sound of the air shattered, ringing in Merka's ears, as the unstoppable axe blade, like an eagle's beak, was about to pierce through Merka's pupils.
But at that moment, Power Angel suddenly appeared from behind Merka.
With its four fingers joined together, it reached out towards the owl god.
Its tiger-like mouth, resembling a giant stag beetle's mandibles, clashed heavily with the axe tip in the owl god's hand, erupting a thunderous rumble.
Sparks shot out towards Merka, who had to turn his head. He gritted his teeth, looking as if a mosquito buzzed in his ear.
He watched as the deadly black axe, just inches from his cheek, suddenly stopped. The overwhelming sensation, akin to a thunderbolt falling right on him, nearly tore him apart.
Merka was covered in blood, but he couldn't care less about the gaping wound on his head inflicted by the owl god. He staggered back several steps, out of the range of the battle between the owl god and Power Angel.
I must escape... I need to run!
But where should I run to?
Merka swallowed hard, trembling inwardly.
Ever since he entered this eerie laboratory, his muscles and blood had been pumping out hormones resisting fear, his body trembling slightly, signaling a retreat, as if sounding a retreat.
Only his willpower could push him forward now.
But even that will was starting to falter.
Something caught Merka's peripheral vision. He instinctively looked down and saw a device resembling a phone flashing a signal.
On the electronic map, Merka saw a green dot not far from him, quietly blinking.
That blinking green, like an emergency exit indicator light, instantly grabbed Merka's attention. The reassuring green beckoned him like a welcoming flame, urging him to explore.
However, the owl god didn't give Merka much time to think. It fiercely separated Power Angel's grip with one hand and kicked Power Angel in the abdomen.
The blow landed on Power Angel's abdominal muscles like a city wall, not harming Power Angel but seeming to enrage it even more.
Power Angel, like a wild beast, forcefully spread its hands, its skin-covered tentacles moving powerfully. It roared as it lunged forward, attempting to capture the owl god.
Its muscles swelled, like armor plating, and nobody doubted that even if a cruise liner stopped in front of it, a single embrace from Power Angel could reduce it to rubble.
The owl god didn't overestimate itself; it slightly lowered its body, offering a position.
In the area behind the owl god, tinged by void, another angel, similar in shape to Power Angel, suddenly sprang out.
Though resembling Power Angel, Merka could easily tell from its charging stance that this angel, in terms of strength, speed, and resilience, was noticeably superior to Power Angel.
Its pitch-black mouth split open as if torn by something, a bloodthirsty grin on its face.
It clashed frontally with Power Angel, its thick, powerful tentacles firmly grasping Power Angel's limbs as if to tear it apart.
Evidently, the thick tentacles that had grabbed Merka's ankle had been released by this angel.
Seeing this, Merka's face turned pale.
Power Angel, capable of challenging Oedipus himself, was actually losing ground to this newcomer.
Merka knew he couldn't linger. Without hesitation, he left Power Angel behind, clutching his bleeding head, and hurried towards the green mark on the map.
