The suspension ladder creaked to a halt as it leveled with the ground.

Everyone present saw it—and froze in place.

They called Mercurial Deity a true god, yet few had ever glimpsed its form. Now, dragged up from the earth’s depths, many likely wished it had stayed buried.

It was beyond mortal imagination—a chaotic mass of wings.

At first glance, one might mistake it for a flock of doves. But no. It was a single entity: no eyes, no mouth, no limbs—only wings. Countless wings.

It writhed, unable to move an inch. No matter how many wings sprouted, it could never fly. A pitiful thing, consumed by the primal desire to soar.

The Fallen Mercurial Deity. Challenge Level: ????

Aile leaped down from the platform.

"Open your eyes wide and look! Is *this* the god you worship?!"

An uproar erupted among the believers.

"What *is* this thing?" Leon asked her.

"This is Mercurial Deity! A demon, just like the Obsidian Armor! What a joke—to worship *this* as a god!"

"How desperately it wants to fly…" Naya murmured, pity flashing in her eyes. "Heaven… how many wings does it even have?"

The Angelic Faith’s doctrine preached yearning for heaven—but reality was cruel. Even if they burned Ruri alive, this wretched thing would never take flight.

"Tonight, many faiths will shatter," Aile declared, striding alone toward the deity. She raised one hand high.

"Aile? What are you doing? Get away from it! Be careful!" Naya cried out, trembling.

"Relax. It won’t attack. It only craves flight. Perfect—let everyone witness the *one true god*!"

Aile held her arm aloft, unwavering. Seconds ticked by—she waited, resolute.

Then—the Tower of Judgement began to crumble.

*It’s here—*

"*It’s here!*" Aile knew it! Aio would never ignore her call!

A gigantic silver hand descended from the heavens, shaking the earth. It slammed down—crushing the Mercurial Deity, that writhing mass of wings, flat.

Stone debris rained onto the crowd as believers scrambled to flee the collapsing tower. Leon shielded Naya and Ruri, the girls pressed tightly against his sides. *Where’s Aile?* He looked back—

She remained motionless. Kneeling where she stood, arm still raised as if embracing the sky.

"Haha…!" Tears glistened in Aile’s eyes, her voice thick with triumph. "I’ve defeated Mercurial Deity and the Angelic Faith! Aio—truly the one true god!"

To be continued.