After synchronizing with Sno, Bernadette's aura became far more sinister. Though her appearance remained the same, she gave off a twisted, chilling feeling.
At this moment, she was no longer purely Bernadette, but something akin to an amalgamation of information. She looked like a person, but her essence was actually that of a Mythical Creature.
And a hybrid Mythical Creature at that.
In this state, even ordinary Angels would suffer considerable contamination upon seeing her. As the caster herself, Bernadette also bore an immense mental burden. Her abundant humanity constantly used emotion to counterbalance all manner of terrifying, twisted thoughts, while Sno continuously influenced her emotions from within using "Corruption," keeping her in a relatively "emotional" state as she stepped into the half-collapsed palace.
Rather than entering through the roof of the great hall, which looked as though it had been blown away by a violent explosion, she cautiously dove into the water and found the main entrance that had long been submerged beneath the sea.
The seawater of this Illusory Sea Domain contained trace amounts of divine blood. Even in this region, which still retained its azure hue, there were strands of contamination. Yet compared with the obvious contamination in the water, Bernadette's Spiritual Intuition told her that entering through the roof would likely lead to something even harder to endure.
The doors of the submerged hall bore some resemblance to the style of the Giant King's Court, but they were not nearly so enormous. They still seemed rather large to humans, yet somewhat cramped for true giants.
Low, rhythmic panting came from beyond the main entrance. Maintaining the bubble surrounding her body, Bernadette stepped toward the doorway. However, beyond the doorframe, which did not even have a door panel, the space that should likewise have been flooded by