I had a feeling like that.

Even though I cut off its head, if the Great Spirit could have been defeated that easily, it wouldn't stand a chance against the Demon King who emerged from the labyrinth.

The Demon King has incomparably high durability—what you'd call HP in the game.

Sure, maybe there are Demon Kings that aren't like that, but for a mere gold-rank adventurer like me, a single hit shouldn't be enough to kill a paper-thin opponent.

Still, attacks exploiting darkness are meant to strike vital points in one blow.

In a way, even a human who's leveled up significantly can be killed if the attack lands just right—this is the nature of such an attack.

So, despite only having a hunch, I believed I could defeat it, and I believed I had.

"Fear!"

A wave of terror spread outward.

"O-oh my god!? I'm getting goosebumps!? This is disgusting!"

I thought if dispel works (technically it doesn't), then my magic should work too, but it seems mine does have some effect after all.

It's supposed to paralyze humans and monsters for a while, but it doesn't seem to have that strong an effect—just a slight flinch—but that's enough of a gap to exploit.

I pulled out the barrier stone and shattered it.

It'll break apart immediately, but right now I just need time.

If I can't defeat them, I have no choice but to buy time.

I opened my status board, exchanged two new barrier stones, converted 3 points into 90 crystals, and traded 9 advanced spirit potion units worth 10 crystals each.

There was still some spiritual energy left, but magic consumed far more spiritual energy than dark spirit magic ever could.

I exchanged the remaining crystals that were just hanging around for a stamina potion and drank it on the spot.

I could feel the exhaustion from being under prolonged tension.

(If I'd known this would happen, I should've studied the Great Spirit more carefully...)

Even the Great Spirit must have a death.

I'd heard stories of it fighting the Demon King, and also that the Demon King had won on occasion.

That means, in short, that it's undoubtedly weak against the "Devil" attribute—chaos.

The Lesser Great Spirit seems not to want to kill me right away, but if I'm captured, I'll be rendered powerless easily.

(Anyway, I'll have to make do with the cards I currently have.)

Checking the list of available spirit arts from the status board.

─────────────

【 Dark Spirit Art 】

Third Rank Technique

Dark Sense 【Dark Sense】 Mastery Level 91

Shadow Void 【Shadow Morph】 Mastery Level 0

Shadow Form 【Phantom Warrior】 Mastery Level 77

Shadow Coffin 【Dark Coffin】 Mastery Level 21

Shadow Call 【Summon Dark Knight】 Mastery Level 27

Fourth Rank Technique

Shadow Storage 【Shadow Storage】 Mastery Level 5

Fifth Rank Technique

Shadow Manifest 【Darkness Fog】 Mastery Level 6

Special Technique

Shadow Return 【Create Undead】 Mastery Level 16

【 Magic 】

・Fear

・Dispel

————————————

It's unclear how new spells can be increased.

The two existing spells, Fear and Dispel, emerged only after all other spirits techniques (excluding Create Undead) reached the third rank.

Whether this is related to me being "the beloved one" or not, I can't tell. Maybe these spells are simply common abilities among spirit mages in this world. After all, there's no information available.

Regardless, spells follow a proficiency system.

Since spirit techniques have generated new spells through use, the same should apply here.

(Use magic continuously as long as points allow, buying time.)

The Lesser Great Spirit is clearly not putting in any real effort.

If he really put his mind to it, knocking me out would be easy enough. There's surely that much difference in power.

Yet it's strange how he's hesitating slightly—making me wonder why. Originally, the Water Great Spirit exuded an air of effortless ease, and if I were to say that's just his nature, that would be that.

"Again, he's releasing it! What in the world is this? Is it magic, perhaps? There's no way I could be unfamiliar with such a technique..."

The Great Spirit (small) spoke, having long since recovered from the shock inflicted by Fear.

For reasons unclear, his hand plunged through the barrier as if sinking into mud, though he still seemed to be struggling a little.

It's a pity to spend just one point on something that'll be broken through immediately, but it might still be usable for emergency evasion. If it vanished in an instant, it would mean the barrier was completely ineffective against the Great Spirit, but fortunately that wasn't the case.

One minute earned during combat could easily become a lifeline.

The time is 3 a.m.

If we're going to take it down, it should be done during the night.

Shadow Spirit Arts truly shine in the dark, and they also drain less of my own energy. There's a significant difference in spirit power consumption between using Shadow Spirit Arts in bright areas versus in the shadows.

The Great Spirit grunted, "Nngh... nngh...," steadily breaking through the barrier.

"Darkness Fog"

— even if I'm already inside the shattered barrier, I'll only be caught.

I repositioned myself in the shadows while leaping backward.

(Let me try this out.)

"Shadow Morph"

As I recited the newly learned technique, my perspective shifted as if I were lying on my back. I became nothing but a shadow.

At the spot beneath my feet, where I had just been standing, my "shadow" now stood.

The Great Spirit hadn't noticed my change.

After all, once I used Darkness Fog, it was impossible for them to track where I'd gone.

"Mmm, can't see a thing. Shadow Spirit Arts are troublesome. Which way...?"

The Great Spirit raised a hand forward, and spiritual energy swirled, launching a water cannon with a diameter of fifty centimeters.

It's clear from its sound and range that this is even more dangerous than the water cannons used to quell riots on television.

There's no doubt it would cause serious harm if struck directly.

And it's simultaneously firing five of them. The Great Spirit darts recklessly through the darkness.

Naturally, my "shadow" is hit directly, but since I'm the shadow on the ground (・), I remain unharmed.

"Hmm...? No resistance at all?"

Shadowmorph is a higher-level technique superior to Shade Shift, but its use is so limited that it takes a long time to master.

Its effect is to swap the position between one's "body" and "shadow."

Right now, I'm the shadow on the ground.

Though it seems contradictory—there's only moonlight, and the area is pitch black due to Darkness Fog—this is essentially the "Insect's Empty Shell" technique.

Setting up a dummy to stand while I hide on the ground—wait, this is basically a ninja technique. Jeanne would probably be thrilled.

Additionally, Shadow Melt allows movement while remaining in shadow form.

Moving while in shadow is a bit of an odd experience, but surprisingly, it feels quite natural. The speed is only a light jog, but as an emergency escape technique, it might be surprisingly effective.

I slipped into the field without being detected by the Great Spirit and circled around to move outside the city.

Dodging through the fields might work against a human opponent, but against the Great Spirit, the poor terrain would definitely put me at a disadvantage.

I returned to the main road, dispelled the Kōsen, and ran at full speed.

Just like during the time with the Demon King, the Great Spirit can sense my location through the aura of its massive spiritual energy.

Perhaps I could have created some distance—though the summoning magic wielded by the Great Spirit is beyond standard, the range at which it can separate from its summoner is not infinite… I think.

Also, the summoning time itself is surely limited…

If both of these were infinite, there’d be no choice left but to defeat it.

A night lit only by moonlight.

To me, who possesses night vision, it’s hardly different from daytime.

The road is wide, with wagon tracks but no obstacles—no trouble traveling. Thanks to the benefits of ascending rank and increased stamina, I can move quite fast, yet even so, against the Great Spirit, it’s negligible.

"Remarkable. I haven’t seen a mage of your caliber in centuries. I do admire those who strive hard through discipline. That’s why I regret it."

The Great Spirit, who had been hundreds of meters away just a moment ago, appeared right before my eyes as if having warped in.

I have no idea how such a feat is possible.

Perhaps there is such a technique within the water spirit magic.

I don't understand the connection between water and teleportation, but I must acknowledge that such a thing exists.

"Darkness Fog!"

"Phantom Warrior!"

"Summon Dark Knight!"

"Fear!"

I unleashed multiple spells in one breath.

The Great Spirit was distracted by the warrior emerging from the darkness.

Fear slowed the Great Spirit down for sure. Rather, facing this opponent directly, I should assume that if they fully prepare their strength, I'd lose within seconds.

I won't prepare thoroughly. Either keep pressing the attack relentlessly, or restart if it fails.

That's the only option.

At the exact moment the Great Spirit began attacking the Dark Knight and Phantom Warrior, I used Shadow Morph to circle behind it, dispelled the technique, and severed its head with my sword.

Another head rolling away.

It won't be enough to kill it, but it will buy me some time.

"Dark Knight! Tear it apart!"

Damaging its body should have some effect.

In that moment, I drank a spirit potion, then retrieved the Chaos Spirit Stone from the Lizardman, pulling it out of Shadow Storage.

The more moves I can make, the better.

"Create Undead!"

This spell takes a bit of time and requires full concentration.

Not usable during critical combat, but now that we’ve gained time, it’s possible.

The chaotic spirit stone, scattered like stars, glowed and quickly took form.

It shaped itself into a familiar likeness.

The great spirit, apparently giving up on reattaching a severed head, deflected the Dark Knight’s attacks with its hands, then sprouted a new head with a pop.

The severed head drifted away, dissolving into the air.

(Huh? That was—)

"Hoho, hoho! The Eighth Technique! I truly saw it! You’re a master of the dark arts, aren’t you!"

The great spirit laughed maniacally while slicing off the Dark Knight’s head with a hand blade.

The Create Undead spell is indeed the Eighth Technique—

"What’s this ‘dark art’ nonsense? I just learned it normally, that’s all."

"Ordinarily? That's strange. The Eighth Art is the secret essence of Spirit Magic. It can't be learned 'ordinarily.' In the past, there were those who dedicated their lives to Spirit Magic, so once in a generation, someone would appear who could touch its true essence—but now, such people are nowhere to be seen. As for 'Darkness'... even in the Land of Eternal Night, it hasn't appeared for centuries."

The Great Spirit laughs cheerfully, driving a knife-hand strike into the chest of the lizardman undead.

The reinforcements I can summon with magic are, quite literally, nothing more than a time-wasting delay.

Only if I could summon the Great Spirit of Darkness would things be different—but now that the barrier has been shattered, that's impossible.

"You know a lot, don't you?"

"Mm, heh. Even if I'm just a Great Spirit like this, I am still..."

"How exactly can one learn that secret? 'Ordinarily'..."

"Then, I'll say there's no such thing as 'ordinary.' To master all spirit magic, one must become empty. We respond only to those who have become pure and unblemished, praying with sincerity. Well, perhaps you're special since you're the 'beloved one,' after all."

At that time, in that forest, I was on the verge of death.

No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I was nearly dead.

If I hadn't been able to use Create Undead back then, I would have surely been torn apart and killed by the wolves.

I was so determined not to die—maybe that's what saved me?

Though, it doesn't seem quite that complicated, does it...?

No, nearly dying isn't something that happens all that often, is it...?

"Dispelling!"

"Gh—Surprise attacks are dishonorable! But I am no mere thing to be erased!"

"Even a little effect would be enough!"

Saying that, the water great spirit's movements still lack finesse.

Probably because it's simply not a "warrior"—it's a "god of water," possessing power, endless spiritual energy, and the ability to freely wield magic, but apparently lacking any special combat techniques.

"Fear!"

This spell is quite powerful, as it nearly forces the opponent to halt their actions.

Seizing the slightest opening, I cut off the great spirit's head straight on.

The head tumbled down, and I quickly stepped back.

I summoned the Dark Knight, then called forth the Rezardman Undead once more.

Since I'm saving the Chaos Spirit Stone for later, even if this turns into a prolonged battle, I'll be fine.

The great spirit, capable of severing the attacks of Dark Knight and Lizardman with its hands, cannot reattach its head once it's severed, so it grows a new one in response.

While having a head, it would be quickly defeated by both opponents, but—

(Still, it seems so. This thing, regenerating its head causes a slight drop in spiritual power.)

It's not just a little. Perhaps because its original power is immense, the drop is clearly noticeable—probably around 3 to 5 percent, as if consuming spiritual energy to regenerate the head.

After all, if there were no such disadvantage, there'd be no need to go through the trouble of picking up the severed head and reattaching it in the first place.

That was the first real opportunity the great spirit had seen when facing off against it.