The boss of the ghost swarm, Nestiad, was heading towards Allen's group, so Allen prepared to counterattack.
(I guess I can try it out for as long as Royal Aura continues to last.)
Makris' Awakened Skill [Royal Aura] had a one day cooldown, so Allen wanted to use the time before it ran out to test their strength. If it seemed like they could defeat Nestiad, they would retreat and come back once Kurena and Haku had Leveled Up, making the best use of the Experience they would get.
THUMP
THUMP
Using Kuwatoro's [Thousand-mile Eyes], Allen could quickly see the ghost heading their way.
There was still a considerable distance between them, but the trees kept shaking and the palpitations grew louder.
(He's coming here really fast. He does look like the area's boss.)
"Merus, come here."
He called Merus, who was growing Heaven's Blessings in the S Rank Dungeon.
'...So it's really come to this.'
Apparently Merus had anticipated that situation.
"Is there some sort of reason as to why he can't be defeated?"
Allen wanted to measure Nestiad's strength before confronting him.
'Elmea just told me to never fight him. Apparently he's killed many angels already.'
Everyone in the divine realm had been told to stay away from Nestiad.
"You're many times stronger than you were as the First Angel. Is that still not enough?"
Merus had once been the strongest angel, but as a summon Allen could add various buffs on top of that.
'I don't know… No angel tried to fight him while I was alive.'
Merus had lived for 100000 years as an angel, and in that time no angel dared fight Nestiad.
"Hmhmm."
"What should we do, Master Allen?"
Allen was still debating on the fight when Sophie asked him, her voice sounding worried.
'Digragni, can you hear me?'
Allen used Kuwatoro to talk to Digragni, who was in the air with Tam-Tam.
'Hm? What is it?'
'Can you get Merle into Extra mode?'
'I can't. I don't have enough Divine Power or Faith. I didn't say I'll get her to Extra Mode either though.'
(I feel like he just gave me a really good hint.)
Allen looked at the Spirit King, and then frowned.
'I feel like you aren't strong enough against Demigod Rank ghosts yet. I'll keep hunting ghosts and make you become a God.'
Allen knew Digragni's strength, so he knew that Digragni alone would struggle when fighting Demigod Rank ghosts. So Allen promised to make Digragni a God, so they could keep moving through the divine realm.
'I'll get Merle into Extra mode then!'
"Ohh, yayyy!!"
They quickly reached an agreement. Merle had also been listening to the conversation, and by the end she was raising her fist into the air in a triumphant pose.
(That settles it then.)
Making his allies stronger was one of the main reasons why Allen came to the divine realm.
Allen switched his viewpoint from Kuwatoro back to the surface of the clouds.
"I also need to get stronger. But we aren't desperate yet. Let's just see how strong Nestiad really is. Sophie, use [Spirit King's Blessing] on us."
Allen decided they would try, but not push themselves too much. If it was possible to defeat Nestiad they would, but there was no reason to risk their lives.
"Understood. Spiring God Rosen, grant us the strength to fight."
'...Just don't push yourselves too hard, hahah.'
(We defeated the Demigod Rank ghost without the help of [Spirit King's Blessing], huh.)
Sophie activated her Extra Skill and Rosen granted them his buff.
The particles of light rained on them as their stats all increased by 30%, Merus' included.
"Rosalina, Kiel, you two also use your buffs."
"Sure thing. Everyone, make sure to fight well!"
Rosalina had become a Singer King, and she used her buffs on all the parties.
Kiel also used his magic that increased Endurance, which was similar to Vesta, the Holy Knight King. The golems could not be buffed, so they simply got ready to fight in mid-air.
(We'll win like this!)
Allen checked Merus' stats after all those buffs.
-Merus' stats after all the buffs
[Strength] 134963
[Mana] 117117
[Attack] 134186
[Endurance] 138097
[Agility] 106470
[Intelligence] 134186
[Luck] 101400
Merus was overwhelmingly strong after all the buffs, so their formation had him in the front.
By now, Nestiad had gotten close enough that everyone could see him.
THUMP
THUMP
"I see, palpitations from a really big heart."
Everyone could see Nestiad now. He was a humanoid ghost enveloped in blue flames, though his limbs were of irregular sizes. He had no real eyes, just blue flames, but Allen knew he was looking at them.
He was similar to a troll or ogre, being 10 meters tall. His chest also carried an oversized heart, which was the source of the palpitations.
Allen felt like he had seen a similar enemy as a boss in a game where a virus turned people into zombies.
(Hmm, I can't Appraise him at all. Why does everyone know his name then?)
Allen tried to use Kuwatoro's [Appraiser Eyes], but it brought no results.
[Name] ?
[Age] ?
[Species] ?
[Strength] ?
[Mana] ?
[Spiritual Power] ?
[Attack] ?
[Endurance] ?
[Agility] ?
[Intelligence] ?
[Luck] ?
[Attack Element] ?
[Endurance Element] ?
He could not be Appraised, everything just came out as question marks.
But somehow everyone still knew to call him Nestiad.
(Maybe I don't meet the requirement, or I need something better than S Rank. Oh, he's coming.)
'...I'll take it back, everything you took!!'
He sped up a lot more, charging at Allen. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion for Allen, he felt sure he would die. His friends could not respond to Nestiad in time.
In that slow motion world, everyone turned to look at Allen, Nestiad's target.
'Allen!!'
Merus instantly moved between Nestiad and Allen, blocking the punch.
'Out of the way!!'
'Ghah?!'
Merus stood no chance against Nestiad's fist and was struck against the clouds.
"Wha-?! Merus!!"
Allen was shocked by that, while Nestiad kept burying Merus deeper by stomping on him.
Merus kept trying to resist, but he was too weak. Nestiad's steps sending shockwaves around.
"Merus is going to get killed! Everyone help!! Flame Lance!!"
Finally someone reacted, as Cecile shouted loudly and activated her magic.
Everyone else followed suit. Even Dogora charged in, using all his Mana in an attack now that his cooldowns were nonexistent thanks to the Spirit King's Blessing.
"Body and Soul!!"
Clink!!
There was a metallic sound that seemed impossible to come from the blue flames.
Nestiad did not seem to even notice the hit though, as he completely ignored Dogora.
He only glared at the backline, which was getting ready to use magic.
'You took it from me!!'
Nestiad seemed to get even more enraged as he kicked Merus at the backline.
"Kiel, heal!!"
"Yeah, I've been doing that already. All Heal!!"
But Merus did not reach the group where everyone was.
Poof
Merus had taken too much damage and his Strength fell to 0, so he vanished in particles of light. Nestiad then charged at the backline where Sophie was.
'Oh no, we have to run! Graaaawrrrr!!'
Rosen shouted to retreat, while regaining his true form of a bear so he could protect Sophie.
He gathered divine power to make the surrounding trees move and block Nestiad's path.
'Do you think that's going to change anything?!!'
Nestirad was surrounded by trees, but he just used his asymmetrical fists to open a path.
'Ghah?!'
He quickly got out of the trees and attacked the Spirit God, creating a streak of light particles.
"Spirit God!!"
Sophie shouted loudly, but Nestiad's attacks would not land anymore.
'Hm? Where did they go?'
Nestiad had lost sight of his enemy. Allen had used the Bird A summon's Awakened Skill [Homing Instinct] to transport everyone including the dwarves and their golems to the [Nest] next to the Gate of Judgement.
"Spirit God Rosen, are you alright?"
'I'm…I'm okay. I'm a bit tired though, so I'll rest a little. Hahah.'
Rosen's bear body let out many particles of light as he shrank into a squirrel again.
He had used so much power he needed rest now, and quickly fell asleep on Sophie's chest.
(And Merus died. I wonder if I can bring him back.)
Allen quickly looked at his Grimoire and tried to revive Merus.
'You spent 49 A Rank Magic Stones. You created an Angel A summon.'
(We haven't struggled this much since Lycaoron.)
'He's far stronger than I thought, that's stronger than a God Rank ghost. Why did you attempt to fight him…'
Merus appeared and regretted attempting to fight Nestiad. As long as the summoner remained alive, the summons could be brought back as many times as he wanted.
(I guess this means I could bring Makris and Kuwatoro back too, as long as I have Sacred Beads. Though I also need to have them unsealed to Create them again.)
Many Sacred Bead Points were needed for S Rank summons, so it was hard to verify.
He needed more Sacred Beasts to summon if he wanted to try Creating Makris and Kuwatoro again.
"Do you mean Nestiad might be a Higher God Rank ghost?"
Allen was curious as to what Merus meant with that.
'He probably is as strong as a Higher God. Elmea suggested that before, but I wasn't convinced until now…'
Merus had never been able to attempt fighting Nestiad before, so he had always been curious as to how strong he was.
(So there are enemies that are so strong. I expected no less from the divine realm.)
That also explained why the divine realm seemed so unconcerned with the Demon King's existence. They already had to deal with powerful enemies like Nestiad, so the Demon King was not particularly special to them.
"That makes things tricky. We can't defeat him the way we are now."
'Pretty much. You should just give up now.'
"For now, yeah."
Even Merus was warning him now. But that only motivated Allen to get even stronger.
Hearing that, Formar's eyes changed and he lunged forward.
"What?! You still want to fight that thing?!!"
"Yeah, once we can win…"
He still had to think of a way to defeat Nestiad.
(Though it'll be pretty hard. I wasn't expecting to find a ghost we can't defeat so quickly here. The divine realm's field bosses really are something else.)
Strong enemies in the world map were usually called field bosses in his past life.
"That's not what I meant! You almost got Lady Sophie killed there!!"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. Sorry.'
Formar could not stand Allen's attitude anymore. He was usually collected and never said much, but seeing the elven princess, who he was guarding, be put in so much danger had pushed him over the edge. He was also angered that the Spirit God had gotten hurt because of Allen.
At least Allen was willing to apologize for making them worry though.
"That's enough, Formar! Master Allen is just doing everything he can to defeat the Demon King!"
But Formar's actions angered Sophie instead.
"I'm really sorry…"
Formar was shocked to hear Sophie like that and quickly stopped talking.
And so Allen's adventure in the ghost swarm ended after they ran away from Nestiad.
