Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1796: The Painter

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"This is where Bobby told me he got Painted Enchantments into things," Maria said, marveling at the world’s strange beauty. "So we’re in an urban world? It’s not fantasy?"

"It is, but the entire world is bizarre—there are paintings within paintings!" Melianna replied.

"This is the Urban Painting City," Ferleen explained. "Beyond it lie the Desert of Melting Time, the Ocean of Rainbow Waves, the Castles in the Sky, the great Grasslands of Nostalgia, and more."

"But this world is so strange that nobody really bothers with it much," Melianna added. "There aren’t even any quests."

"Hmm, alright," Maria nodded. "First, let’s get used to being paintings and walk around. We shouldn’t get separated, okay?"

Maria strolled through the streets with her family, observing the people and experimenting with her abilities.

Her magic still worked, but it twisted strangely, summoning vivid colors and peculiar effects across the canvas.

It wasn’t as destructive anymore...

Until she summoned her blade.

And slashed through the pavement...

SLAAASH!

"Hm?!"

Maria stared at the torn painting, a black void gaping beyond the cut.

Curious, she stepped through, reaching... somewhere else.

A gigantic canvas stretched endlessly before her, and Maria found herself back in her normal form.

"Is this space? So this giant painting is floating in space?!" Maria wondered aloud. "Holy shit, it’s enormous! How big is this thing?!"

It resembled an infinite canvas drifting slowly through the void.

And yet...

"Who...! Who are you?!"

A voice echoed behind her, accompanied by an immense, crushing pressure.

Maria turned and saw a colossal mass of glowing colors, spiraling with a pair of mesmerizing, ever-shifting eyes.

This being of paint and hue dwarfed the canvas by far.

It clutched a giant brush that shimmered with starlight.

"Ah... You’re an Outer God, right?"

"..."

The entity stayed silent.

Never in its existence had one of its paintings stepped outside the canvas.

It defied every rule it knew.

Until it realized this intruder was an Outer God too.

"Y-You too?"

"Yes, nice to meet you. Are you with the Council of Outer Gods?"

The gigantic mass of colors twisted and spiraled chaotically, radiating nervousness.

Had it truly never spoken to anyone before?

It only painted—endlessly, relentlessly—that was its entire existence!

"I... don’t... know... I just paint... I love painting... I PAINT... PAINT, AND PAINT."

Suddenly its form warped, jagged teeth appearing across the swirling colors.

"Hey, are you okay? Your painting is beautiful."

"Nnnggh...! Go away...! G-Go away now!"

"Ehh?! Why so aggressive?"

"I don’t like... talking! I paint!"

"Okay... Uh, what’s your name? I’m Maria."

"...The Painter."

TRUUUM!

An overwhelming pressure slammed down on her.

Maria understood instantly.

Any ordinary being would have burst into scattered colors in an instant.

But as an Outer God, she withstood it.

"Okay then, I just wanted to say your art is great... be more confident in yourself."

"...Leave."

"At the very least, tell me—are you from this universe or just another dimension?"

"The Tower... connects to many parallel dimensions... some of us... choose to live inside universes... we create..."

"Oh... So you made this place to paint?"

"It’s all... I have... I paint..."

"So that’s why... I’m planning to destroy the Tower. It’s ruining too many worlds—even yours is at risk..."

"Paint-Eating Calamities... hard to kill... Hm? Could you help me?"

"I can!" Maria nodded firmly. "You want them gone?"

"Yes... but inside the painting, very hard for you... come."

The Painter’s demeanor shifted abruptly to something almost friendly. It guided Maria to a section of the canvas infested with giant, formless beasts—living sketches that twisted and writhed.

Maria nodded and unleashed her power of Death.

The creatures convulsed under her three-dimensional touch of Death and vanished without harming the painting.

"Ahhhh! It worked?! It worked!"

"Glad to be of help."

"The Tower invaded my painting... I cannot change it no matter what I do... Can you help me kill all the Calamities?"

"Okay, no problem."

"Thanks... thank you!"

Deeply grateful, the Painter watched as Maria moved from place to place, eradicating thirty more Paint-Eating Calamities and freeing Pigmentum from their threat.

"They are finally gone... I am so happy..."

The Painter wept with joy, then presented its giant brush to Maria.

She sensed immediately that this brush was more than part of the entity—it was a supreme Artifact, forged in ways only Outer Gods could achieve, far beyond even what she was crafting with her Sword Soul Heart.

"As an Outer God... I cannot naturally intervene, but you... can go in and out no problems... You’re so mysterious."

"Am I? I was born there after all... Anyway, I’m glad we’re friends now. When the time comes, I hope your world can help somehow."

"I will try."

"Thank you, that’s all I needed!"

Maria prepared to return to the canvas world, but the Painter halted her briefly.

"I have the power to enchant with my paintings... that sword you have in your soul... I can enchant it... the same as your dress..."

"Would you really be so kind? Truly?"

"...Consider it a reward for your help."

"Haha, you’re a bit shy, but you’re a good person, Painter."

"Uuuhh..."

The Painter’s colors brightened and flushed pinker, betraying clear embarrassment.

It was a bizarre, reality-warping being.

Yet it felt far more human than Maria had expected.

As the Painter began enchanting her dress first, Maria asked quietly,

"Were you once a human, Painter?"

"..."

The entity fell silent, concentrating on the task.

When it finished, Maria’s dress glowed with magical paint, its durability surging hundreds of times stronger than before!

"Amazing enchantment! It’s so tough now!" Maria exclaimed.

"It can change to any form you imagine now..." the Painter said. "As long as they’re clothes."

"Oooh! Nice!" Maria nodded eagerly. "And my sword’s here."

She presented her sword, and the Painter swept its giant brush across it.

Red, black, gray, and blue dominated, accented with sprinkles of pink, yellow, and purple.

FLAAASH!

The sword blazed with mysterious light, resonating through her very soul!

"T-This is...!"

The painting absorbed her dreams and hopes, even her nightmares and fears, transforming them into an ever-shifting, living canvas.

Within her Soul Realm, a vast area turned into a breathing, vibrant painting.

Her sword now emanated a black-and-white painting-like aura that left her stunned.

"Incredible... it feels several times stronger!"

"I simply took what you are and turned it into a painting... the painting embodies your entire being even better, forging your weapon."

"So it’s like everything was scattered before, but now it’s concentrated?"

"Yes..."

"That’s incredible. Thank you, Painter."

"..."

"I’ll be leaving now."

As Maria flew back toward the painting and her hand began to merge with the canvas once more, she heard the Painter speak softly.

"Thank you... for helping me and... speaking to me... talking isn’t as hard... as I thought."

Maria smiled warmly.

For a fleeting moment, she glimpsed something else within the endless sea of paint.

The faint, ethereal silhouette of a young man floated there—almost invisible, yet unmistakably human.

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