Following Allen's orders, Merus brought Allen's Army, the Hero's Army, and Galara's Army.
"Wh-why are there so many of you?!"
They were more than 10000 in total, which shocked Megadeth.
But all the people brought were even more shocked, including Helmios and Galara.
"So this is the gate that leads to the divine realm."
They had actually seen the entire battle through the Bird F summon's Awakened Skill [Messenger], but being there in person still impressed them.
"Yes, Helmios. I'm sorry we opened it before you got here."
Allen apologized that the gate had been opened before everyone else arrived.
"And that's where you'll be going in your next adventures? I wonder when you'll be satisfied."
Galara had noticed Allen's lust for adventure since they cleared the S Rank Dungeon together.
"Well, once we're done there we should be more than set to face the Demon King's Army."
"Well, there's little to do other than to build forts in the Central Continent after all."
Galara understood what Allen meant. All the Demon King's Army's strongholds in the Central Continent were destroyed, which had been celebrated in both Giamut and Baukis.
A main topic discussed by the Five Continents' Alliance was fortifying the Central Continent.
But Allen's Army, the Hero's Army, and Galara's Army had something more important to do.
"So we'll be fighting the Demon King's Army directly after this."
Helmios said, and Galara nodded.
"Yes. Though we can keep searching for ways to get stronger if things don't go well."
They wanted to be as strong as possible to fight the Demon King, but there was no guarantee the divine realm would provide that.
(We don't have any alternatives, and we can't afford to lose either.)
"The divine realm sounds like a place out of legends though."
"And to think a human like Allen opened the gate leading there."
"Look at that light. It's the light leading us to our future…"
All the soldiers were shocked too. In just 10 days they had cleared the Demon King's Strongholds, and now they were about to enter the divine realm too.
Then Allen walked in front of the armies, and the temple fell silent.
"Everyone, a new world awaits us past this gate, we need to get even stronger."
Allen began talking to them.
"And with that power we'll end the Demon King's reign of terror!!"
"""YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"""
There was a loud cheer in the temple. Almost everyone there had been born after the Demon King's Army started attacking, so they took fighting him and dying in battle as a common thing.
But now many had hope that Allen could get rid of the Demon King, and they followed him.
(Alright, I've unlocked a new area.)
Allen enjoyed grinding even as Kenichi. But he never monopolized his farming spots, he always shared his knowledge no matter what it included.
That applied to this world too, he wanted to farm everything too, all to get stronger.
He shared money, orichalcum, and even Divine Techniques.
Even here he did not forget his identity as a gamer that likes grinding.
'W-wait a moment!!'
(Huh? Why are you still here?)
While the soldiers cheered, Megadeth approached Allen.
"What is it? Oh, are you going to be our guide in the divine realm? Thank you."
Allen heard the divine realm was large, so he acted relieved seeing Megadeth there.
'No, I'm not doing that. Why are you taking people who didn't clear the Gates of Trials there?'
Megadeth told them that only those who cleared the Gates of Trials could go there.
"But they were there."
'Huh?'
"I mean, all of them have been in the arenas of the Gatekeepers."
(Just earlier though.)
They were not Riders, so they could not fight the Gatekeepers themselves.
Allen had left [Nests] in all of the arenas, and so the armies went there while Kurena fought.
'Th-that's not-?!'
Megadeth flapped above the armies, looking at each of their faces, while Galara grinned wondering if Allen would get away with it.
(So he can actually verify that.)
After he checked everyone he returned to Allen.
"And so? Clearing the Gates of Trials with everyone was a lot of work."
In reality he had just teleported them from one to another.
'Everyone has been at the Gates of Trials…'
"I'm glad then. Merle and Kiel couldn't go with us from the start, but I'm glad the delay wasn't an issue."
(Mouton also told me there were dark elves who joined halfway through after all.)
Kiel and Merle only joined halfway through the Gate of Fang, and he planned on taking everyone to the divine realm.There was the possibility of more members joining the party, and they would need to be able to enter too, so Allen made sure to move under the requirements.
'But still, taking this many people…'
"Umm, is it that many people can enter the Gates of Trials, but there's a set limit on how many get to enter the divine realm?"
'Huh?! No, there's no such…'
His voice grew so weak the last part was not audible. It was the same as when Pharnemes joined the fight. If there had been a limit, then it made no sense to have none in the gates.
But if the gates were limited, then 10000 dragonkin and 2000 dark elves would not have died needlessly. Not to mention that a smaller number of people would have given up before that.
'Allen…'
Mouton understood that much, and knew Allen was trying to argue for his sake as well.
'...'
Megadeth could not argue back.
(I guess he can't lie his way out either. Hm? Someone's coming?)
While Allen and Megadeth argued, a man approached them from inside the Gate of Judgement.
He walked out and stood on the pedestal where the Dragon King was.
His hair was long a deep purple, and wore white robes like Greek gods, just like Merus.
He seemed to be in his thirties, and did not have wings like Merus.
'Just drop it, Megadeth. I'll admit my rules had issues.'
"Lord Desperado!"
The God of Space and Time Desperado had come out of the gate.
"Lord Desperado, I apologize for the ruckus in front of the divine realm."
(Oh? So all that arguing made a higher up come out.)
Allen knelt while smirking. Everyone else also knelt, knowing that whoever came was a God.
'So you're Allen. Elmea has told me a lot about you, but you still decided to throw a tantrum…I mean, you brought up these negotiations in front of the Gate of Judgement.'
He sighed, lamenting that his foresight could not warn him about that.
(He retracted himself huh. At least we'll resolve this amicably then.)
"Negotiations, you say? I just want to bring everyone to the divine realm so we can defeat the Demon King…"
'Allen, let's come to a compromise. I appreciate how you feel, but I can't let this many people in.'
The divine realm was not a place for people to go live in.
"Th-that can't be…we all worked so hard for this…"
Allen made a simplistic complaint, But Desperado knew how he had teleported everyone and did not seem too entertained.
'I admit that it was my mistake that I didn't foresee this, but I'll give you something in exchange for limiting the 'number, does that sound good?
"I see. Then in exchange give us the Divine Technique Astel and the Dragon King used."
Allen instantly replied, almost like he had been waiting for that.
'Hm, sure, that's fine by me. That's something I prepared for a Dragon and Rider anyway.'
"Oho?"
'Gyau?!'
The situation was resolved almost instantly, and Haku and Kurena got new Skills.
(I see, so the Gates of Trials were designed to end in failure if someone rushed too fast.)
There was a point to all the equipment and even Divine Techniques in the gates.
The Dragon King simply lacked something and ended up losing in the end.
"Then I want you to empower Ciel's magic."
Allen was not done saying what he wanted.
"Hm? Allen."
Cecile was shocked to hear her name be mentioned.
'Oh?'
Desperado continued listening, realizing there was more.
"Please show her how far magic can go. Give her permission to enter the Goddess of Magic Isiris' temple."
'So you want her to meet my wife, hmm…'
Desperado pondered about it.
"Please."
'No, Isiris isn't in a good mood right now. But…I'll give you permission to enter her temple.'
(A goddess in a bad mood? That sounds like the start of a quest.)
Poof
As Allen thought that, two shining keys appeared in front of him.
"Two keys?"
'Yes, one is the Gate of Judgement's key. You'll keep that one as party leader. The other one is for Isiris' temple.'
(Ohh! These are the first keys I've gotten so far.)
Allen was impressed that there were keys like that used in this world too.
But he was dealing with gates to progress now, so it made sense to use keys.
The Gate of Judgement would close again soon, and then he would need the key.
The temples of Gods also needed keys to be opened.
"Allen…"
Cecile was grateful that Allen was talking with Desperado for her sake.
'Take that and head to Isiris' temple. As for the numbers you can take with you, it'll be your party-'
"Ohhh!!! Thank you very much. I agree that these numbers are a bit too high. 1000 people would be enough."
'...1000…I think that's still too numerous.'
"Huh? In that case how many would you say…"
'Well, I think 100 is more than enough.'
"O-only so few? In that case can I bring any other people who join my party later?"
He also made sure to ask about Helmios' and Galara's party.
'Hmm, well, that should be okay.'
(All of our parties together are around 40 people.)
Helmios' party was named Sacred, and Galara's Stinger. Sacred had 10 members, Stinger 15.
Desperado was relieved that he had managed to bring down the number to 100.
"I really appreciate your generosity."
'Kurena and Haku truly put a show of courage to get this far.'
Desperado also congratulated the dragon and rider.
"Mhm! We all worked hard!!"
'Gyau!!'
Kurena and Haku seemed happy.
'Farewell then, heroes.'
Now that the matter had been dealt with, Desperado quickly returned to the divine realm.
"Well, it seems we won't be able to go together, but there's no way around that."
Allen felt disappointed, just when he had unlocked a new area.
"Allen, I'm glad that you did that for me, but please don't overdo it in the divine realm. I really don't want to receive divine punishment."
Cecile really did not want to make enemies amongst the Gods.
"Well, that's it then. Let's go to the divine realm."
'Alright! I really want to go to the Spirit Paradise!!'
Mouton was also excited about it.
Poof
(What is it this time?)
The large bird with four eyes and wings they encountered in the gates appeared in front of them.
