In short, after eradicating the blasphemers and retrieving the barrier of 【Light Blessing】, everyone found themselves standing once again in the charred “Hatchery.”

 

Their expressions varied, each seeming preoccupied in their own way.

 

Little Dragon Girl was merely a bit annoyed that she couldn’t personally deal with those monsters. After all, even after tearing them apart, those few creatures remained unfazed and regenerated completely, stirring up Miss Dragon’s competitive spirit.

 

However, Violet couldn’t allow her to mess around here, as the consequences of letting her do so could easily turn the magic island into historical debris.

 

Leila and Rene, on the other hand, was merely startled by those monsters and not particularly frightened. After all, they had long known the strength of Lady Violet. As long as this lady took things seriously, no one could stand against her.

 

As for Sigrid and her companions, their expressions were somewhat complicated. While the strangeness and terror displayed by the blasphemers were certainly terrifying, it was Violet herself, who effortlessly repelled them with full force, that was the true monster.

 

Sigrid, who had long suspected but couldn’t confirm, felt slightly relieved, but the other four priests unconsciously kept a certain distance from the black-haired girl.

 

Whether out of reverence or fear of that overwhelming power, Miss Priestess didn’t care much. She had brought these four along only because it was convenient, she never expected them to contribute or provide any help.

 

Violet was gradually becoming familiar with this world, so she didn’t need to conceal her strength as much as before. It didn’t matter if a few people knew, it was inconsequential.

 

“All right, if there are no more issues, let’s continue forward. Look, there’s another door.”

 

The Priestess stretched lazily, holding up her crimson staff, then glanced ahead at the door intentionally preserved by her, identical to the vine door behind them.

 

It felt a bit like a video game level, didn’t it…

 

What would the next level be? Even tougher elite monsters, or perhaps the final boss?

 

“You… Well, fine then, take care, Miss Violet~”

 

“Isn’t it just hiding some strength? No need to be so cryptic about it…”

 

The group continued forward on the ground charred black by flames.

 

The vine door opened automatically once again. Perhaps the person behind the scenes wasn’t intimidated by the destruction of the blasphemers, or maybe it was just an automated mechanism.

 

Stepping through the door, the scenery changed once more.

 

“Huh? This place…”

 

Not only Violet but even Leila and Rene, including Little Dragon Girl, showed expressions of surprise.

 

Wasn’t this place the sacrificial ground underground in the Forest of Calamity from before?!

 

Or it could be said to be a replica or copy constructed based on the grand temple that stood above the ground in the illusionary space back then.

 

Murals depicting mythical stories on both sides, the central statue of the Goddess of Earth Seth, the altar—everything seemed to be carved from the same mold.

 

“It seems like this is the final destination.”

 

Violet scanned around and didn’t see any other doors except the one beside them. Then, her gaze focused on the only living creature in the entire temple, kneeling devoutly before the statue of the Goddess of Earth, praying… a beautiful and peculiar figure.

 

That was the only living being in the entire temple. If Violet’s guess was correct, she was probably the so-called final enemy, the end-game boss in gaming terms, right?

 

Honestly, she looked a bit like an angel.

 

Although her back was turned to the crowd, her gender was already evident from the gray hair tied up and draped over her chest, along with her well-proportioned figure. The size of her gray wings, which were at least twice as large as those of an ordinary winged person, surprised Violet the most…

 

The female, who appeared to be a winged person, had a pair of small gray wings on her ears that were almost identical to Leila and Rene’s, except for the difference in color. This unique form confirmed her true identity.

 

“An angel… no, a mixed-blood angel awakened by bloodline?”

 

Honestly, it was a bit strange.

 

If it were only an angel appearing in a deity’s temple, it wouldn’t be difficult for people to accept. But here, in the depths of the Abyssal Magic Island, both the presence of a temple and angels resembling guardians and priests seemed extremely eerie.

 

Moreover, according to the records in those scriptures, angels of any deity should have pure and immaculate white wings, embodying purity and vitality.

 

But this angel… mixed-blood angel. Leaving aside the fact that true angels no longer existed in the world, the aura she emitted gave off a very ominous feeling.

 

A dead, silent, withering gray aura continuously emanated from her, enveloping the entire temple in a haze-like fog. Violet couldn’t sense any vitality from her. It was as if she were made from a corpse, inexplicably given the ability to move on her own… like a puppet.

 

Perhaps sensing the intrusion of outsiders, the angel finished her prayer, stood up, and then turned around.

 

Several exclamations sounded simultaneously in the scene.

 

“Senior Hilda!?”

 

“Hilda?”

 

“Oh dear! This could be… trouble.”

 

Even Violet hadn’t expected to see such a face at this time, in this place.

 

Hilda Kulk.

 

Although they hadn’t interacted much, the impression of this high-ranking member of the “Wings of Freedom,” one of the “Four Wings,” was quite deep. Especially considering her remarkable status and identity.

 

It was said that she disappeared during the catastrophe on the Spryce Island, her fate unknown. Although that was the case, considering the Abyssal beasts’ endless devouring ability, anyone missing for a long time was generally presumed dead.

 

However, among the winged people, especially Sigrid, unwilling to acknowledge or believe this, she always insisted that Hilda was just missing.

 

Never did they expect… to see her here.

 

Or rather, what used to be her presence.

 

Although it was still Hilda’s face, even her hairstyle and figure were identical to that beautiful and cunning winged lady, she was no longer Hilda.

 

The hair and wings symbolizing her identity as a white-winged person had all turned into the dead gray of the surroundings. Besides the pair of ear wings that appeared out of thin air, there was also a gray mark on her forehead, intertwining like vines.

 

Most crucially, those eyes that once radiated wisdom and gentle light had long turned into stagnant and murky abysses, devoid of any brilliance, like… the abyss itself.

 

“Senior Hilda!”

 

Sigrid shouted urgently, but the one who had become something akin to an angel showed no response.

 

Oh, there was one.

 

She raised her hand and summoned a strange long-handled staff entwined with dead mist and vines.