"Take this kiss upon the brow."
"And, in parting from you now,"
"Thus much let me avow —"
The choked night sky shattered the pristine ceiling and fiercely burst forth from the depths of the stars.
The terrifying Owl God, like a midnight ruler, seeped through the inexplicable seams of the stars.
Sticky lacquer water dripped from the sky, tearing through the boundary between the moment and eternity.
It was like ink, like lacquer, like dew, like lightning
— soaring with unwavering dedication to the terrifying, unparalleled axe-like silhouette of terror.
Descending like a god of sleep from the night sky.
Adorned with a mask adorned with owl feathers, spreading a pair of wings resembling the brows of the night, approached the lathe at the end of Merka's vision.
Randomly terrifying images flooded Merka's mind, almost crushing his consciousness and draining his marrow.
"Your time of death has come, Merka."
"Unless… you dare to continue using the backdrop."
"Heh heh. But I do not recommend that you do."
In the Owl God's deep voice, there seemed to be a hint of anticipation.
Merka's face changed drastically at the words and he hurriedly reached into his pocket, trying to find the backdrop.
But then he remembered, the backdrop had been left behind in the botanical garden.
"It's over..."
Merka's face turned pale, taking a step back abruptly, raising his hand to summon Power Angel, hoping to buy himself some time.
But there was no response.
A sudden palpitation struck his heart as he recalled that the backdrop was Maria's relic.
"Damn it..."
Merka cursed under his breath, turning and running.
The white blaze of the Descent of the Holy Son instantly ignited every ounce of energy hidden within his muscle cells.
Merka ran with all his might, his arms swinging wildly like the wheels of a locomotive driven by a roaring furnace, heading straight for the gate at the end of the park.
Running on the smooth tiled floor, Merka had never imagined he could run so fast.
"So... you've misplaced your crutch here?"
"How careless."
"Hehehe..."
"Or perhaps, let me accompany you in the search."
The Owl God's chilling smirk reached Merka's ears like a presage of doom.
Soon after, Merka reached the gate.
He quickly took out his researcher ID obtained earlier in the botanical garden and placed it on the scanner next to the gate, hoping to open it.
However, the gate displayed insufficient privileges.
"Emergency period, all areas under strict isolation. Researchers below management level are not allowed to leave their posts without authorization."
Merka gasped, finally understanding why most researchers here had not escaped but stayed in the lab awaiting their demise.
Because those nobles never intended to let them live!
They confined these researchers and angels in this smoke-free zone to fend for themselves, to prevent the other three families from blaming them for secretly controlling the power of angels!
"Damn nobles... damn it!"
"Let me out!"
Merka gathered the white flames all over his body in his hands, striking the door crafted by the Lake Mother with a punch.
But it only left a plate-sized white mark.
"Hmph... Don't rush, don't rush."
"Panic flesh isn't tasty."
The magnetic and deep voice of the Owl God echoed from a distance.
He looked like a hunter playing with his prey, sitting behind Merka on a box piled like a small mountain, one hand elegantly resting on his thigh, the other hand on the box, watching Merka with interest.
Merka glanced slightly sideways, casting a quick glance at the Owl God with his peripheral vision.
He didn't understand why the Owl God hadn't attacked him yet, but he knew this was his last chance.
Merka's brain worked rapidly, nervously scanning the surroundings, and he spotted a large forklift he had seen before.
