Chapter 323 Drifting Road of the Divine Tree ④

Part 1

　What the hell is this……!?

　For a moment, I, Astor Filon, one of the Magi belonging to 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》, forgot that I was on a battlefield and was stunned.

　Even though she was ordered to do so by her Leader, a human Magi attacked a Spirit, which I have never seen even in my home forest, without hesitation and that is completely beyond the understanding of someone from 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》.

　A Spirit is nature itself. A low-ranked Spirit can be used, but if it is of the same rank as the spirit that appeared this time, resisting is tantamount to confronting the fury of Mother Nature.
　Moreover, this time the opponent had completely lost its mind. A Spirit that has lost its mind is a mass of power that can swallow everything. There is no way that Lucia Roje, who is one of the best Magi in the Empire and uses spirits herself, does not understand the danger of such a thing.

　The fact that I was being teased had already been blown out of my mind. No matter how skilled a Magi she may be, she is still a human after all, and there is no way she can compete with a Spirit of the highest rank who has lost its mind.

　Like me, one of my comrades who has been stunned by the situation, comes to her senses and rushes over to 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》.

“Make her stop, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》! It is not as if you don’t understand the rank of that Spirit!?” (Starlight Member)

　Lucia Roje is a Magi worthy of respect. Hunters are responsible for their own actions, but I and my friends are not so cold-hearted as to remain silent when we see someone we know about to commit suicide.

　《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 with his face as plain as ever, was not even a bit perturbed by being suddenly grabbed.
　He just says with a nihilistic smile.

“Pfff………… Do you think it will stop after it got this far?” (Cry)

　The spell becomes power, the power becomes a vortex. The Advanced Magic released by Lucia Roje――Hailstorm collides with the shining Spirit, and the aftermath of its power turns into a storm that blows the area around.

　In its wake, there is only one person who stood unperturbed.

　Astor and the others immediately activate Defensive Magic to resist it, and even 《Immuable Permeance (Fudo Fuhen)》 moved his body to endure it, but he is just smiling as if nothing has happened.

　I have no idea what in the world that man is trying to do.
　The only thing I know is that 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 has used some kind of power and interfered with the Drifting Road of the Divine Tree spell to bring about this situation.

“Yo-Yo-Yo-Yowainingen! Y-You’re sure there’s a way to solve this, right, desu!?” (Kruz)

　Apart from our Leader Lapis, Kruz, the only Member of 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》 who has ever been involved with that man, speaks for us.
　Even though she is not directly attacked, her hair is a mess and blood has drained from her face. That is a normal reaction.

　《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 opens his eyes wide in response to Kruz who is barking at him.

“…… Eh?” (Cry)

　Wait a minute, what eh, what do you mean by eh! Don’t tell me you really attract a Spirit like this one just for your silly 『Infinite Trials』!?

　A Spirit of such a high rank that even everyone from 《Starlight (Hoshi no Seirai)》, who have been in contact with Spirits since their birth and can be considered experts on Spirit, cannot hold a candle against it?

　I had heard that Infinite Trials are messed up and I and the others had experienced it several times, but I didn’t expect it to go this far.
　When this is over――Swinging my fist is against Spirit People’s custom as we should be graceful at all times, but well, let’s forget about it for a moment. I will definitely punch him in the face.

　The Hailstorm, which should have lasted for some time, has already completely disappeared. The Magic power that constituted the phenomenon clashed with the Magic power that the Spirit has and disappeared.

　However, even after receiving the Advanced Magic head-on, nothing had changed in the Spirit’s condition. The Spirit’s strength seemed to have been reduced somewhat, but that was all.

　The Spirit flickers and then the earth rumbles.

　An invisible force is affecting the earth. To be correct, it is a power infinitely close to a god.

　In the first place, Spirits are not something that can be defeated so easily, even if the opponents are of a lower rank.
　What in the world can humans do in the face of such a powerful being that even Astor and her friends, who have been living with Spirits since childhood, have rarely come into contact with?

　The crimson eyeballs shining on its head glare at 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 which stands alone and dignifiedly.

　In contrast, on the other hand, what 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 did is simple. He looks up at the eyeballs and mutters a single word.

“Everyone.” (Cry)

　It is what one might call an extraordinary sight.

　As far as Astor can see, they didn’t have a strategy meeting. However, in response to 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 whispering voice, they all started to move almost simultaneously.

　With a roar, Anthem charges towards the Spirit. Lucia casts a spell to shield him, Sytry throws something, and Liz runs at a blinding speed.

“This is foolish………… You must have noticed it with that attack earlier!? It is too reckless to challenge it with a straight attack!” (Astor)

　Spirits are by no means invincible, but the existence in front of them is of a different caliber. It is not the kind of opponent that can be confronted unprepared.

　Slashes from a great sword, which is as tall as his huge body, and countless water spears are fired in rapid succession. The Spirit shines faintly in response to the continuous attacks.

　Anthem’s blow is repelled without sound and his movement stops for a moment. The Magic power wrapped around its body is so strong that it has turned into a barrier.

　Anthem and Lucia don’t care and repeat the attack a second and a third time, but the barrier is only *mishimishi* distorted and could not be penetrated.
　No, it seems that if they keep repeating this, it would not be impossible to break through the barrier, but there is no way that the Spirit would just wait for them to attack.

　The radiance emitted by the Spirit becomes remarkably stronger. It intends to cast some kind of Magic.
　It wouldn’t be strange if the surrounding area is scorched to ashes if a Spirit of this caliber unleashes its technique.

“Hh………… This is why, human beings!” (Astor)

　Even if they are specialized in endurance thanks to being enhanced by Mana Material, it is not something that a human can withstand.
　In the first place, the very idea of doing something against the Spirit, who is nature itself, is too arrogant.

　I deploy Defensive Magic. My companions are also making their moves at the same time as me.
　This deployment speed is made possible only by Spirit People who use Magic on a daily basis. The combined Magic of multiple practitioners allows a precise barrier to be deployed in an instant.

　It is a miraculous combo that is made possible due to our regular adventures together.

　That said, even if it takes multiple people to create that barrier, the barrier that Astor and her companions made will not prevent the attack of a Spirit of this caliber.

　Astor has not been a Hunter for a long time for nothing. She is confident in her ability to assess the situation.
　The barrier that Astor and her companions have put up this time is not meant to prevent the attack. It is meant to deflect it.

　At the same time as the barrier is deployed, the power that has gathered in the Spirit explodes and is unleashed. The ray of light, which contained an enormous amount of energy, collided with Astor’s barrier that had been deployed in front of Anthem, greatly deviating the attack, and swallowed 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 which was standing absentmindedly a few meters away from it.

“Hh!?” (Astor)