Allen's group had arrived at the Shrine of the God of Swords when it was already dark.
It was a vast arid place with no vegetation, and Thousand-mile Eyes let him see various circular coliseums dotted around.
(Somehow I feel a lot of pressure from them. Is it really safe to disembark?)
As they went out to the Sky Ship stairs, they noticed an Angel standing there, staring at them intently. Allen felt intimidated by that, wondering if he really could step forward.
The Angel looked like someone out of Greek mythology, wearing white robes with a sword fastened to his belt. He also had a muscular body with bulging muscles, which stood out even more with the way he held his arms crossed.
'So you're the ones who want to refine your swordsmanship with the God of Swords?'
The Angel was the first one to break the silence.
(That sounds like something a musclehead would say. Oh? These stats…is he a First Angel?)
[Name] Querubin
[Age] 80672
[Species] Angel
[Strength] 58000
[Mana] 47000
[Spiritual Power] 66000
[Attack] 60000
[Endurance] 53000
[Agility] 65000
[Intelligence] 43000
[Luck] 50000
[Attack Element] None
[Endurance Element] None
Allen checked his stats. He was the oldest and strongest person he examined like that.
"Yes, that's us. It's an honor to be received by the First Angel himself. I apologize for our late arrival, as we visited the Village of Primordial Beasts before traveling here."
Allen bowed deeply and thanked him. Merus had told him that depending on the type of God, the Angels serving them would be different too.
[Angels serving the different Gods]
-God of Creation Elmea: 2 First Angels (Referred to as First Angel and Second Angel), many Archangels and Angels
-Higher Gods: 1 First Angel, a few Archangels, dozens of Angels
-Gods: 1 Archangel, a few Angels.
Just like the Beast God, the God of Swords had also been informed about Allen.
The Angel with the highest rank had been waiting there for their arrival.
Allen apologized for the delay and bowed together with the rest of the group.
There were no Angels in the Spirit Paradise or Paradise of Primordial Beasts though.
Querubin examined Allen from the tip of his hair down to his toes.
'Hmph…at least you seem to know your manners.'
The First Angel had been ready to give them some pointers before they met the God of Swords, but now he felt that was not necessary.
"So that's where the God of Swords is."
Kurena tried to climb down the stairs to firm ground.
'Wait. You're about to enter the God of Swords Shrine. You must be prepared for it.'
"Huh?"
Kurena could not understand what he was saying.
'Only those willing to sharpen their skills with the God of Swords' Divine Techniques should enter. Don't expect this to be a lenient place like the surface, no one can leave without the God of Swords permission once they enter.'
He warned Allen's group with a raspy voice, which stopped Kiel, Allen, and a few others.
But Kurena stepped onto the Shrine's ground with no hesitation.
"Kurena wants power!"
'No hesitation, huh. I can tell you swing your sword with honesty. What's your name?'
"I'm Kurena. The Dragoon Emperor Kurena!"
'Graarrr!!'
As Kurena gave her name, Haku also hopped onto the Shrine's grounds.
'I see, so it was you who opened the Gate of Judgement. You shall train here, and become a Divine Knight.'
(What's a Divine Knight?)
Allen noticed that was a new word.
"I also want to get stronger. Nice to meet you."
Doberg also stepped out of the Sky Ship.
"Well, I guess I'm going too then."
"Wait, are you sure Helmios?"
Rosetta looked worried seeing Helmios jump off the Sky Ship too. She did not step off though.
(Rosetta also fights with a dagger, so I wish she'd also train here though.)
Allen felt like Rosetta would get really strong if she could fight better on top of stealing enemy items.
"It'll be fine."
Helmios took Rosetta's hand and pulled her away from the stairs onto the ground.
'...'
(Oh, he didn't say anything. I guess I knew it was safe after Haku also got off though.)
The First Angel watched silently, so Allen understood that there was no issue if someone was brought to the Shrine against their will.
"Excuse me, First Angel. There's some other people who would like to train with them, even if they don't fight with swords. Can they also get off?"
'Hmm, I doubt they'll gain much, but they can do as they wish.'
Hearing that, the rear guard of Helmios' party also disembarked.
"Alright, good luck everyone. I'm looking forward to your improvements, Kurena."
"Okay!"
After Kurena's energetic response, the rest of the group went back into the Sky Ship.
The First Angel led Kurena away. Once he was looking away, Allen left a Bird A and Wraith A summon there, like in the other Shrine. That way they could stay in contact.
"It's getting dark, so I'll leave the Sky Ship in auto-pilot while we rest."
Everyone went to sleep then.
The next day, before sunrise, they had arrived at the God of Music's Shrine.
They landed there, and found two Angels waiting for them. One was male, the other female.
"So this is Sopra's Shrine. It looks just like how I imagined it to be."
There were flowers everywhere, with butterflies and other animals with transparents wings flying around. There were also birds singing around.
(This actually feels like a proper paradise, compared to the God of Swords' Shrine.)
Allen felt like he was actually in heaven now. When they got out of the Sky Ships, one of the Angels spoke to them.
'Welcome. We'll guide you to the God of Music and God of Dance.'
The female Angel spoke with a melodic voice.
(She's probably an Archangel with those stats.)
Allen checked her stats and determined she was an Archangel.
"Oh, we'll get to meet the God of Dance as well then?"
'Of course.'
Those two Gods lived together in this Temple, and the Archangels served them.
"That's nice. I'll get to practice my dances here as well then."
Lepe sounded happy. Together with Rosalina they went up to the two Angels.
'Oh, no no no, you can't walk like that. Try to be more rhythmical, like this.'
"Like…this?"
The female Angel told Lepe to move more lightly and match her tempo.
'Good, good. Now let's go, just try to match us.'
The Archangels walked on, hopping, sometimes humming, or even twirling.
"I think I got it."
Lepe followed them, matching their rhythm.
'Yes, very good Lepe. Good! Good! Now try to move more lightly. And Rosalina, try smiling more!'
"Right! Like this?"
'Yes. That's a wonderful smile!!'
Rosalina and Lepe followed the two Angels as they danced into the Shrine.
"They look like they're having fun…"
(Rosalina should also be stronger the next time we see her now.)
Everyone watched a bit startled, but Merle's remark woke them up.
Later that day they arrived at the Shrine of the God of Earth Gaia.
"That looks like a big pile of rocks."
Allen looked at Gaia's Shrine through the window in the control room.
The other Temples and Shrines had been large disks, with buildings and sometimes nature on the top side. The God of Earth's Shrine was just a bunch of rocks with sharp corners.
'Thank you very much for coming.'
An Archangel working for Gaia received them next to the landing pad.
"I apologize for the wait. May we enter the God of Earth Gaia's Shrine?"
Allen once again spoke for everyone in the Sky Ship.
'Feel free to do so. Earth is accepting of everyone, you don't have to speak so stiffly.'
The Shrine looked rather harsh, but just like Freya had told them, Gaia was a lenient God.
"Alright. Merle, Admiral Galara, contact me if anything happens."
"Got it!"
Merle and Galara's party disembarked.
Merle could always summon Digragni, so they would likely be safe either way.
The rest of the group returned to the control room, where Piyon told them the Spirit Paradise was a long distance away, and it would take a day to get there, so they spent another night in the Sky Ship.
The next morning, Allen woke up to a large continent illuminated by the morning sun.
(Oh wow, the Spirit Stones were just barely enough.)
During those three days of traveling Allen had spent almost all the Spirit Stones he had.
But the dragonkin would likely gather a lot more as they fought ghosts with better equipment.
This continent was filled with nature, but not in a wild way like the Paradise of Primordial Beasts.
Allen checked with Thousand-mile Eyes, and saw there were forests, lakes and mountains.
He could feel a lot of life in there. There were also a lot of spirits everywhere.
"So this is the Spirit Paradise."
'Yes, this is it. It's been a while since I came here with my physical body. Hahah.'
'I never expected I would return here as a Spirit God.'
Sophie was filled with emotion, while Rosen and Fabre replied to her.
(I think they said they left the divine realm as primitive spirits?)
Rosen had told them that all spirits were born in the Spirit Paradise. He and Fabre were born there, and then went to the human realm as primitive spirits where they grew up.
After many millenia, they were back as Spirit Gods.
(So there has to be another path down to the human realm other than the Gate of Judgement.)
There seemed to be a different path for spirits to move between the divine realm and the human realm.
"Ah, there's no one to receive us here."
Luck looked outside once they landed. Some spirits moved around in the distance, but none came to them. This was a first after all the Shrines they visited.
"Maybe they didn't contact the Spirit Paradise?"
"They told all the other places though, so it would be weird. Maybe we landed at the wrong spot?"
Allen refuted Cecile's question. He felt like Piyon could have made a mistake, landing the Sky Ship in the wrong location.
'We just aren't welcome here. Hahah.'
Rosen gave a dry laugh.
"Rosen…"
Sophie sounded extremely concerned for Rosen, who was resting against her chest.
'Fabre. Go and meet the Great Spirit God, and if I have to be punished harshly, then take care of the elves for me.'
'Ah…Okay.'
Fabre did not give a very certain response.
(Wait wait wait, first Fabre had the Gate of Judgement fiasco, and now Rosen too?)
Rosen's actions resembled Fabre's in the Gate of Judgement.
"I don't really like the idea of getting scolded. Why don't we just catch a few spirits and leave?"
Allen still wanted Sophie and Luck to form more pacts with spirits.
'That wouldn't be a good idea. There's other things we should get here anyway.'
'I concur.'
Sophie wanted to form pacts with great spirits, and Luck with spirits.
"Well, I guess we'll have to go see the Great Spirit God then."
Everyone nodded. Allen's group headed to meet the Great Spirit God even though no one came to welcome them.
