NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 716: To the Spirit Garden…
The next stop in Allen and his comrade's visit was Spirit Garden.
(I did have a hunch, and the quest really ended on a mysterious note. We may be coming back in the near future for sure.)
Typically, the Magic Ship reformed by Commander Lalapa was a vital source of transportation to traverse through the vast Divine Realm. However, it was such a magic stone guzzler that Allen kept the transfer point of Magic God's location recorded.
For their next destination, he opted to consume one summon slot, and invoked 'Nest' skill of Bird A.
Like transitioning from one frame to another in the video, a huge mountain suddenly appeared before Allen and the team's eyes.
This was the sacred mountain that enshrined Great Spirit God in it, situated at the epicentre of Spirit Garden.
The garden, abundant with nature and home to a giant lake, also featured a towering mountain with a hollow interior where the Great Spirit God resided. However, the top half of the mountain had been scrapped off---something that happened at the hand of Allen and his team during the trial.
(Mm, what a vibrant spectacle, a total opposite of Forest of Primordial Beasts. Oh well, let's check out god seed Pecktan.)
Their main task here was to retrieve the Pecktan, Grass S-rank. I really hope we can avoid other gods to not trigger their quests, Allen inwardly wished. Their time was finite, and their imminent task was to help Cecil in levelling up, so they couldn't afford to side track into side-quests.
Meanwhile, unlike a worried Allen, Luck's eyes were gleaming at the prospect of reunion with Fabre.
"It's meaningless to probe around without a direction. How about we just visit the Great Spirit God for greetings?"
Formar quipped, pointing out at a giant door. The place was guarded by two Spirit Kings.
One, a fox-shaped Fire Spirit King named Konzu, and the other, a raccoon-shaped Earth Spirit King named Ponzu, were watching over the sacred mountain of the Great Spirit God.
"Uh, I think I shall wait here for you all to return."
They would require an ample amount of time if they're to chat with the Great Spirit God. Allen showed his reservation.
"Stop with that blabbering, you're coming with us!"
"Geh! It hurts, and you're supposed to be level one!!"
Cecil's iron claw found its way to the head of Allen who was reluctant to follow. An unbearable pain coursed through Allen's body, bypassing all his resistance.
He quietly turned to look in the direction of the entrance, and saw the two Spirit Kings staring at their direction motionlessly.
(Ugh, is it me, or they're, like, totally looking at us? No, they're definitely glaring daggers at us. Sheesh, it's not like we did anything to deserve this.)
With what they'd done, their team had immediately whisked away from Spirit Garden as soon as they're done with trial, and needless to say, it wasn't an entirely unexpected reception. Though Allen tried to feign ignorance.
"Allen-sama."
Sophia raised her voice from behind Allen. He was still trying to look for a way to escape, however Sophia's voice blocked even that room, locking him in a rock and hard spot. With a sigh of reluctancy, Allen tightened his expression, and walked toward the entrance.
«State your reason for visit-pon.»
"The First Angel Lupto had informed me that god seed has sprouted, we're here to meet the Great Spirit God. We apologise for the unappointed visit, but it would be kind of you to let us enter the sacred mountain."
Allen feigned the details as if he had been here under command of Lupto.
«...You've been granted the audience with Great Spirit God, Divine Easley -con. But beware that Divine One can read people's hearts, so you're advised to be transparent with your words-con.»
(Huh? Was I just being dissed?)
It appeared Allen had just no self-awareness of his action, so he just continued to stare at the back of Spirit Kings. The two Spirit Kings split to left and right, and pushed open the giant door.
"Stairs, huh? I noticed that even before we came to the gate."
Allen recalled that the previous time, there had been a cave leading into the mountain, but now there were stairs carved into the mountain's slope, stretching all the way to the summit.
«...Speaking of it, some troublesome person came, and destroyed the large hollow inside-pon. That's why the Great Spirit God resides at the top now."
"Goodness! It's really rude. Ahem, then we'll be on our way!!"
In the fear that he might accidentally slip things out, Allen concluded the talk, and quickly began climbing.
"*Huff-Huff.*"
At around the altitude where Spirit Kings were no longer visible, Cecil was left with heavy breathing.
"Ugh, it really isn't easy to climb with Level 1 status. Each moment counts, so let's take the wings."
Allen looked back, noticing that the Spirit Kings were completely hidden by the mountain's contours, and suggested.
"Hey, wouldn't that be a bit rude?"
However Formar raised a voice of objection. He believed it would be disrespectful to ignore the stairs.
"Believe in me. No one would find out as long as we keep flying only inches about stairs. Cecil, hop on their back. Kuwataro, fly us all."
«Understood.»
"Don't ignore me!!"
Cecil raised a voice of objection, however Allen ignored that, and picked her on his shoulder.
Then Allen had the 30 meter Kuwataro turned into a little chick size with skill «Fledgeling» as it perched on Allen's shoulder, and then, with «Levitation Wings», made everyone float up toward the summit.
The sound of wind rushing filled the air, accompanied by the distant rumble of something breaking.
"The «Drops of Life» are flowing at an incredible rate."
Cecil gave up on struggling, and turned to another topic she just noticed, as if to take her mind away from the fact that she wasn't climbing the stairs himself.
The sparkling water, known as «Drops of Life», were formed out of the life force or soul of the divine realm and human realm, and would circulate throughout the world. It was a cycle of life. The human's soul would cycle to the Divine Realm after their passing, and then, after receiving the blessing, they would return back to the human realm.
In the divine realm, the «Drops of Life» gathered at the foot of the Great Spirit God's mountain, where they formed a «Spring of Life.» From there, the drops fall and spill into the human realm.
The fallen drops make their way toward the World Tree, where they nourish it, allowing it to bear fruit, which in turn nurtures spirits. The World Tree itself also provides blessings to the entire human realm.
From the memory of Spirit King Erinze, and with the age-old war between the Elves and Dark Elves, there appeared to be two «Spring of Life» in the Divine Realm, and similarly two World Tree in the human realm.
However, unlike Elf's World Tree, Dark Elves's World Tree didn't bloom to its full splendour, and was only half as big as Elf's World Tree.
As they climbed, the «Drops of Life» flowed endlessly from both sides of the staircase, dropping from the summit. Cecil had been worried that the half-destroyed mountain, originating from their action, would affect the flow of the "Drops of Life."
(Wow, it's flowing with incredible force. With this, the water level in the Spring of Life should be well maintained.)
Allen also felt a sense of relief seeing the volume of «Drops of Life», nearly double of what it had been when they last visited.
Since there were two «Springs of Life», and that Dark Elves needed to be given the blessing as well, the lack of «Drops of Life» was a legitimate concern. However the current level suggests «Drops of Life» were more than sufficient to sustain two springs.
The group quickly reached the summit and, in an attempt to make it look like they'd worked hard to climb, they landed at an earlier checkpoint.
"It's... really shaved clean like floor stones."
Sophia remarked, staring down at the cleanly shaved summit.
"It must be the work of earth spirits."
The stone-paved ground covered the top of the mountain. The floor, like a massive, solid slab of stone stretched for several kilometers. This could only be the work of earth spirits. However there were some gaps in the groundwork, and the water could be seen gushing out of it.
"The amount of water at the peak is even more in abundance. Albeit, an accidental touch with droplets can melt your flesh, so be careful, Formar."
"Oi, why did you single out me only?!"
Perhaps it was something to do with the mystical properties of Drops of Life that lied beyond a life, human race were warned against getting in touch with them, or it could cause irreversible damage to their body.
Elves and Dark Elves however had the resistance against it as they're the protector of World Tree, and were the overseer to make sure the circulation of life force remained unhindered.
Formar had once taken a dive into the Spring to obtain «Mirror of Truth», which resulted in the destruction of his corporeal body, leaving him only in soul state. Albeit, he also learned the elves's history, got to meet Spirit King Erize, and even had a deal with Great Spirit God Easley who then granted him Extra Mode, Divine Technique and Sacred Artifact.
(I guess that's what they say, 'opportunity in danger?' ---Anyway, time to deal with those quiet, scary gazes for now.)
"Heya, Fabre! Long time no see!!"
In the center of the stone floor at the summit, a large, throne-like altar had been set up. Seated on the grandiose platform was none other than Easley, the high-ranking god who protected the Spirit Paradise. He was also the ruler of the spirits of both the human and divine realms, and manager the World Tree. He lay on his side, his head facing toward them.
As they had seen before in the great hollow, the altar was raised with three steps---small, medium, and large---and Easley was laid upon it in his elderly, silver-coated antelope-esque form. He appeared as much as ten metres tall in current state, but it was beyond doubt the same form would be as massive as 100m if he stood fully upright.
On either side of the impressive altar were comfy looking small cushions. Spirit God Rosen and Fabre were perched atop on them, both also facing their direction.
«You really haven't changed much huh, Luck. Atleast, pay your greeting to Divine Easley first.»
Rozen, in her jet-black weasel form, looked at Luck with warm eyes.
"I-I am not a child, of course I know that! I was about to!!"
But seemingly not liking that attitude, Luck retorted back and followed the rest to arrive in front of Easley and slowly bowed his head.
As a high dark-elf, who grew slowly, he appeared to be like a 8 year old kid in contrast to the actual age being 17. Moreover, his upbeat tone akin to kids didn't help much, and would often make him appear as an elementary schooler.
Amidst the group, Sophia had also wanted to quickly greet Rozen, but she suppressed that bubbling curiosity somehow and let their leader, Allen, take the lead.
"It's been a while, Great Spirit God. I have been informed that the divine seed has blossomed, and at behest of First Angel Lupto, we have appeared in front of your presence."
Just as he had spoken to Spirit Kings earlier, Allen hurled all the responsibility on the shoulder of Lupto, and politely made his greeting.
«You really know how to play with your words. Lupto had informed me you will be visiting soon... Must I say, you've done quite a bold work, and I suppose it's my responsibility to calm the situation down, isn't it?"
Great Spirit God spoke from atop the altar, an iciness wrapped beneath the gentle exterior of his tone.
"Err, what may you mean?"
Even for Allen, it was unexpected that the tiny seed Spirit Beast God had coughed out when they felled him would turn out to be the candidate for crucial Grass-S summon beast. To him, he only had taken it as the usual Drop Item.
Allen suppressed his inner feelings as he felt the complaint hidden behind veils of Great Spirit God's words, and acted oblivious so that he could get the new summoned beast.
«Please listen to this sound.»
*Splaaaasssh*
It was the sound of a huge volume of water akin to a giant waterfall crashing on the basin, as if he was standing next to Niagra Fall.
"What may this mean? Excuse me, but I am a mere insignificant person who is barely aware of the world's mysteries..."
However he couldn't accurately tell what was the meaning of it, and truthfully replied.
«Oh? I see, so that's how it is. You really do not have any ounce of recollection huh, despite the thunderous feat you have pulled...»
"I apologise for my ignorance. So, what may this be about?"
«Tis the changes happening in the laws of the world. And the trigger is the defeat of Nestirad that you have achieved.»
Spirit God explained, his voice growing more solemn.