The Reiryoku on Shido's left gauntlet grew denser, the golden patterns on his angel rippling gently with each pulse of power. Three dark golden sigils materialized, orbiting around his forearm, each crackling with dark violet lightning and emitting a deep hum that vibrated through the air.
Shadows coiled upward like serpents, forming a triple-layered dark halo above Shido's head. Behind him, his divine ring spiraled at incredible speed, constantly absorbing the energy of the world around him and converting it into Reiryoku.
With its continuous absorption, it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say that Shido could remain in his Spirit form indefinitely. The divine ring sustained him with a near-infinite supply of Reiryoku, allowing him to wield this power without restraint.
A deep hum resonated, vibrating through the air as the sky above Shido and the Zy'tl Q'ae darkened. Thick, swirling clouds began to gather, casting the entire northern part of the Great Forest of Tob in darkness. It was as if a demon god was about to descend, ready to unleash its fury upon the world.
Adventurers working on quests within the forest felt a primal fear grip their hearts. Without a second thought, they abandoned their missions and fled, scrambling to escape the oppressive darkness swallowing the forest.
Even from the distant villages, from E-Rantel, and as far as the capital, people could see the unnatural storm brewing above the Great Forest of Tob. They could only watch, anxious and trembling, as the heavens themselves seemed to split open above the forest, heralding the arrival of something terrifying.
...
Meanwhile, on the southern part of the Great Forest of Tob, a woman stood quietly, her lustrous jet-black hair flowing behind her. Two horns protruded crookedly from her temples, a stark contrast to the pure white dress that draped elegantly over her figure. Silky gloves covered her slender hands, while a golden spiderweb necklace lay across her shoulders and chest, shimmering faintly.
At her waist, a pair of black angel wings rested, folded neatly like a dark mantle against her back.
Her golden irises were fixed on the northern part of the forest as a deep frown appeared on her flawless face.
"...A very strong being is fighting."
She said solemnly.
The beautiful woman was, of course, Albedo, the Overseer of the Floor Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. She stood quietly in front of the tomb, her golden eyes staring deeply at the dark skies swirling above the northern forest.
"The pressure it's releasing… it might be comparable to my sister…" Albedo mumbled to herself, a rare unease flickering across her face.
But she quickly shook her head. She refused to believe that another being on the same level as her sister could casually appear so close to the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Shalltear was one thing, but she was more concerned about Aura. The location of the battle was near the area where she had instructed Aura to build the warehouse, and she understood all too well that the impending battle might involve them.
She turned back toward the tomb and activated the Mirror of Remote Viewing, attempting to see what was happening on the other side.
However, the glass rippled, then darkened, the view blocked by a powerful barrier that prevented her from peeking into the battlefield.
This made Albedo's frown deepen.
Albedo wanted to go personally, but as the Overseer, she was responsible for managing the entire Nazarick and could not leave her post so easily. Demiurge was away on another assignment, leaving her with few options.
After a moment of consideration, Albedo decided to dispatch Cocytus along with several members of the Pleiades to investigate the situation.
"Can you still not contact your sister?" Albedo asked, turning to her right.
Standing there was a feminine-looking dark elf who could easily be mistaken for a young girl.
"N-No, I still can't contact her…" Mare replied timidly, clutching his staff tighter.
Under Albedo's orders, Mare had been attempting to contact Aura, but no matter how hard he tried, there was no response from his sister. His golden-green heterochromatic eyes shimmered with worry, and he looked as if he might tear up at any moment.
After all, he was deeply worried about his sister too.
"Haa… Don't worry. I've sent Cocytus and the Pleiades to check on their situation." Albedo sighed softly as she noticed Mare's eyes shimmering with tears, on the verge of crying.
Even though she was usually cold and strict, except when it came to Ainz, she still tried to reassure Mare.
"You know the strength of your sister, don't you? So there's no need to worry too much. And Shalltear is with her as well, so I'm sure the two of them will be alright."
"Mn!" Mare nodded firmly, thinking the same. Feeling reassured, he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Albedo turned her golden gaze back toward the distant forest, where the dark skies still churned.
"This being… it might become a threat to Nazarick. I need to gather more information about this entity," she murmured to herself, her eyes narrowing as she watched the distant storm where the battle was unfolding.
...
The three sigils above Shido's head began to move, slowly aligning into a single line. The moment they did, the pressure around him thickened, weighing heavily on the air.
From the dark sky above, lightning began to rain down continuously upon the forest, striking and scorching everything it touched, filling the air with the scent of burning wood and earth.
Below, the Zy'tl Q'ae, the evil tree, trembled as it felt an immense, suffocating danger emanating from the human floating above it. In that moment, it felt as if the human before it had transformed into something entirely different.
And it was right.
Shido, now in his Spirit Form, exuded an aura and bearing completely unlike the human the tree had fought moments before, his presence alone enough to warp the air with pressure.
The evil tree knew it couldn't escape, so it decided to risk everything in one final, desperate assault. Six massive branches lashed out, swinging heavily in a furious barrage. But it was futile. A barrier blocked every strike, not even a single crack forming under the onslaught.