I had a feeling that would be the case.

I may have beheaded her, but if a Great Spirit were a being that can be defeated with just that, theres no way it would be able to defeat a Demon Lord that has come out from the dungeon.

Thats because the endurance of a Demon Lord -or HP if we are to put it in game terms- is on a whole other level after all.

There may be Demon Lords that dont fit that, but they dont have such paper resistance that would allow a gold rank explorer like me to kill them in one hit.

That said, the strength of darkness is to hit the weak point in one surprise strike.

In a way, you could say that you can defeat a human with one accurate strike no matter how high their level isit is that kind of attack.

Thats why, I did have a feeling this would happen, but I thought I could defeat it with this and thought I had defeated it.

[Fear]! (Hikaru)

A wave that instills fear spreads.

O-Ooooh?! I feel goosebumps-ja?! Disgusting!

If Dispel works (technically doesnt), I thought that this Chaotic Ability would work too. It seems like that was the case.

It is a means to immobilize humans and monsters, but it seems like it doesnt have that much effect here. She pretty much just faltered for a bit, but creating that opening is enough.

I took out a Barrier Stone and broke it.

It is going to be penetrated in an instant, but what I need right now is time.

If I cant defeat it, I have no choice but to buy time.

I opened the Status Board, bought 2 more Barrier Stones, changed 3 Points to 90 Crystals, and bought 9 High Spirit Energy Potions for 10 Crystals each.

I still have leeway in Spirit Energy, but Chaotic Abilities consume an unbelievable amount of Spirit Energy compared to Spirit Abilities.

On top of that, I bought Stamina Potions with the little remaining Crystals I had and drank them right there.

It is because I felt the exhaustion from being exposed to a tense situation for a long period of time.

(If I knew this would happen, I would have investigated Great Spirits more) (Hikaru)

Great Spirits should die too.

I have heard about them fighting Demon Lords, and also about how Demon Lords can win.

In that case, I think theres no doubt they are weak against Chaosin other words, the Chaos Element.

It seems like the Great Spirit (Small) doesnt plan on killing me at once, but I am sure she will easily incapacitate me if I get caught.

(Whichever the case, I have no choice but to do this with the cards I have in hand right now.) (Hikaru)

I confirm the Spirit Abilities I can use through the Status Board.

-

[Dark Spirit Ability]

Tier 3 Ability

View of Darkness [Dark Sense] Proficiency 91

Falsehood of Darkness [Shadow Morph] Proficiency 0

Transformation of Darkness [Phantom Warrior] Proficiency 77

Casket of Darkness [Dark Coffin] Proficiency 21

Call of Darkness [Summon: Dark Knight] Proficiency 27

Tier 4 Ability

Deposition of Darkness [Shadow Storage] Proficiency 5

Tier 5 Ability

Revelation of Darkness [Darkness Fog] Proficiency 6

Special Technique

Return of Darkness [Create: Undead] Proficiency 16

-

[Chaotic Ability]

Terror of Chaos [Fear] Proficiency 2

Shatter of Chaos [Dispel] Proficiency 2

-

It is unknown how to get new Chaotic Abilities.

I currently have Fear and Dispel. They showed up after all of my Spirit Abilities reached Tier 3 (aside from Create Undead).

Is it related to me being a Loved One or not? I dont know. It might even be something thats normally used within the Spirit Ability Users in this world. I dont have the information.

Whichever the case, Abilities work in a Proficiency system.

By using Spirit Abilities, new abilities appeared. It is most likely the same for this one too.

(I should continue using Chaotic Abilities as much as my Points allow to buy time.) (Hikaru)

No matter how you see it, the Great Spirit (Small) isnt fighting seriously here.

It should be easy for her to knock me out if she wanted to. Thats how much of a power difference there should be.

It is to the point where I am wondering why she is holding back this much. Judging from the Great Water Spirit, she felt like she didnt break her calm demeanor, but if thats just her personality, that would be the end of it though

Brought it out again! Whats this-ja? Is this also a Chaotic Ability? There should not be an ability this one doesnt know though

The Great Spirit (Small) was already clear of the Fear a long time ago, and she said this as she stretched her hand to the barrier.

I dont know how that works, but the barrier is being slowly broken. Even so, it still proves to be a little difficult.

It is painful to bring out something worth 1 Point when it gets broken this fast, but it still can be used for an emergency escape. If it were erased in an instant, the barrier would be completely ineffective against a Great Spirit, but thats not the case which is the fortune within the misfortune.

Buying 1 minute in battle can become a lifeline.

It is currently 3 am.

I would like to defeat it at night if possible.

Dark Spirit Abilities show their real potential in dark places, and it consumes less from me. The Spirit Energy consumption is pretty different when you use Dark Spirit Abilities in bright places and when in dark places.

The Great Spirit groaned with a nununu? while breaking the barrier slowly but surely.

[Darkness Fog]. (Hikaru)

I would just be caught if I were to stay in an already broken barrier.

I spread darkness again and jumped backwards.

(I should try it out.) (Hikaru)

[Shadow Morph]. (Hikaru)

I chant the Ability I learned recently, and my perspective changed into that of when I am lying face up.

It is as if I myself have become a shadow.

At the place where I was originally standing, theres my shadow standing there.

The Great Spirit hasnt noticed this state of mine.

She doesnt know where I am since the moment I used Darkness Fog, so thats a given though.

Muh, cant see anything. Dark Spirit Abilities are a hassle. Lets see

The Great Spirit raised her hand, Spirit Energy swirled, and a water gun of around 50 centimeters was sprayed.

I could tell from the sound and distance traveled that it has far more fearsome power than the hoses used to suppress riots that I saw a long time ago on TV.

Theres no doubt it would turn out terrible if I were to get hit by that.

She is shooting 5 of those at the same time and shooting them blindly in the darkness.

Of course, my shadow was directly hit by this, but I am unharmed since I have become a shadow in the ground.

Umu? Dont feel like it hit-ja?

It took me time to increase the Proficiency because the scenarios where I could use Shadow Morph were too limited, but it is the higher tier version of Shade Shift.

The effect is to switch my real body and shadow.

I am currently the shadow on the ground.

Theres only the moonlight, and it is currently pitch dark due to Darkness Fog, so a shadow is a contradiction here, but it is basically a substitution jutsu.

I had a dummy take my place and I myself hid in the ground. Or more like, this is completely a ninjutsu. I feel like Jeanne would be happy about that.

Moreover, I can still move in my shadow state.

Moving as a shadow is a bit of a new experience, but I can unexpectedly move normally. The speed is merely as if walking fast, but it might have quite the use for emergency escapes.

I entered the plantations in a way that the Great Spirit wont notice me, and took a long detour to move to the outside of the city.

If it were against a human, I could have crossed the fields and run away, but against a Great Spirit, bad footing will definitely be a disadvantage.

I returned to the highway, undid the switch, and ran at full speed.

Just like with the Demon Lord, I can tell the presence of the Great Spirit because of its massive Spirit Energy.

I have created a bit of distance. The summoning ability of a Great Spirit is on a different level, but the distance it can be away from the summoner shouldnt be infiniteI think.

Also, the time it can stay summoned should be limitedI hope.

In the case these 2 are infinite, I would have no other choice but to defeat her.

A night with only the moonlight.

For someone like me who has Night Vision, theres practically no difference from daylight.

The highway is wide, and theres no difficulties in running here even if there are wagon tracks. With the increase in Tier and the Physical Strength Up, I can bring out quite the speed, but even with that, it is probably negligible for the Great Spirit.

Thats impressive. It has been centuries since I have seen an Ability User like you. This one loves humans who work hard to train themselves. Hence, this is regrettable.

The Great Spirit that was several hundreds of meters away was now in front of me as if she had warped.

I dont know how she can pull a stunt like this.

There might be a Water Spirit Ability like that.

I dont know how warping and water are related, but I have to acknowledge thats just how it is.

[Darkness Fog]!

[Phantom Warrior]!

[Summon: Dark Knight]!

[Fear]!

I use several abilities at once in one breath.

The Great Spirit was distracted by the warrior that appeared from the darkness.

The Great Spirits movements were dulled for sure because of Fear. Or more like, it would be better for me to assume that, in the case I fight her, I would lose in 10 or so seconds if she were to manage a single clean hit.

I wont allow that clean hit. I will always go for a one-sided attack, and if thats not possible, I retreat.

Those are my only options.

In the instant where the Great Spirit began attacking the Dark Knight and the Phantom Warrior, I used Shadow Morph to move to the back of the Great Spirit, undo the ability, and beheaded her.

Her head rolled again.

I cant kill her like this, but I can buy quite a lot of time with that.

Dark Knight, slice this one in fine pieces! (Hikaru)

It should be a bit effective to damage her body.

I used that opportunity to drink a Spirit Energy Potion, and take out a Lizardman Chaotic Spirit Stone from the Shadow Storage.

The more moves I have the better.

[Create: Undead]! (Hikaru)

This ability takes a bit of time and requires concentration.

It cant be used in mid battle, but it is possible now that I have bought time.

The Chaotic Spirit Stone with stars scattered shone, and visibly began to take shape.

It creates the form of its past life.

The Great Spirit must have given up on picking up its head. It dealt with the attacks of the Dark Knight while headless by using her hands, and grew a new head.

The severed head slowly disappeared.

(Hm? That just now) (Hikaru)

Hohohoho! 8th Ability! I have certainly seen it-ja! So you were one who has mastered the secrets of darkness!

She severed the head of the Dark Knight with a knife hand and laughed.

It is true that Create Undead is the 8th Ability, but

Whats this about the secrets of darkness? I learned it like normal though. (Hikaru)

Normally? Thats weird. The 8th Ability is a secret Spirit Ability. It cant be learned normally. In the past, there would be at least 1 every 10 years who would be able to touch upon this secret because they would devote their lives to Spirit Abilities, butthey are rarely seen now -especially of darkness. There shouldnt be any since several centuries even in the nation of everlasting darkness.

The Great Spirit laughed happily as she stabbed the chest of the Undead Lizardman with a knife hand.

The reinforcements I call with Abilities literally can only serve to buy time.

It would be another story if I could call a Great Dark Spirit again, but now that the barrier has been broken through, that would be impossible.

You really know a lot. (Hikaru)

Muh hoho. Despite appearances, this one is still a Great Spirit after all.

How do you learn those secretsnormally? (Hikaru)

As I said, theres no normal. In order to be able to use all Spirit Abilities, you must become empty. We only answer to pure children and those who wish and worship dearly-ja. Well, you are a Loved One, so you might be a special case.

I was on the verge of dying at that time in the forest.

No, it wouldnt be an exaggeration to say I was pretty much dead.

If I hadnt been able to use Create Undead at that time, theres no doubt I would have been devoured by wolves.

Does that meanit was good that I was single-mindedly wishing I didnt want to die?

I feel like that wouldnt be so difficultno, being on the verge of death isnt something that happens often

[Dispel]! (Hikaru)

Gih! Attacking all of a sudden is underhanded! But I wont get erased so easily-ja!

It just has to work a bit! (Hikaru)

The Great Water Spirits movements seem to lack grace.

She is probably not the warrior type. She is just a Water God, has power, infinite Spirit Energy, and can use Spirit Abilities as she pleases, but it seems like that doesnt equate to special battle skills.

[Fear]! (Hikaru)

This Chaotic Ability can practically force your enemy to be immobilized, so in that sense, it is pretty strong.

I didnt let this small opening escape and beheaded the Great Spirit from the front again.

The head fell and I took distance.

I summoned a Dark Knight and one more Undead Lizardman.

I kept the Chaotic Spirit Stones as much as possible without selling them, so it should be okay to use them in a drawn battle.

The Great Spirit was repelling the attacks of the Dark Knight and Lizardman with her hands, but because of this, the Great Spirit couldnt put its head back and had to grow a new head.

The 2 get defeated immediately when she has her head, but

(So it really is like that. When it regenerates its head, its Spirit Energy goes down a bit.) (Hikaru)

It is not on the level of just a bit.

I can tell clearly here maybe because of its originally massive amount. She is most likely using 3-5% of her Spirit Energy to regenerate her head.

In the first place, she wouldnt have gone out of her way to pick up her head and put it back on if there werent any downsides to just growing it back.

This is the first chance for victory I see since encountering the Great Spirit.

l