Chapter 52: Summoning the Sea God!

"Finally... we've arrived at the 86th floor of Shibuya Dungeon." Sёarᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"…It's so bright."

After trudging through a dark cave for so long, I started thinking the whole dungeon would be caves all the way to the bottom. But suddenly, we stepped out onto a beach that looks like the perfect spot for extroverts to hang out. I don't remember getting this far before, so it feels like we've really pushed past the previous highest reached floor.

A blue ocean, white sandy beach… the bright, beaming sun (or rather, glowing magic stones), and a place that just screams that no introvert would ever come near it. I'm definitely not an extrovert, so this bright summer beach-like place is not my vibe at all.

"Hmm... doesn't it look like a popular tourist spot?"

"Yes, it does. I've seen the term 'crystal-clear emerald sea' before, but this is my first time actually seeing it."

: Is this paradise?

: Did we just die and go to heaven?

: Hell looped around and became heaven?

: Even if it looped around, that's still the afterlife.

: No doubt.

: Let's go swimming!

: Let's make this a tourist spot for Japan!

: (It's the 86th floor of a dungeon…)

: Yeah, we knew that.

Even with this stunning view that could rival any domestic vacation spot, it's still the 86th floor of Shibuya Dungeon. Proof of that lies in the massive creature approaching from beyond the horizon.

"What's that?"

"Isn't that a slime?"

"But... we're at the ocean."

: It's gotta be the ocean.

: The ocean is the enemy now?

: What the…?

: I don't get it.

Yeah, I don't get it either. Why do I have to look out at this beautiful ocean only to see what is essentially a sea monster the size of a small building? It's like a slime, but as big as a sea giant, and it's heading straight for us.

: Summon a sea monster of your own!

: Do it!

: Sea monster showdown!

: Go for it!

: The viewers are hyped, lol.

: Show us EX power!

"Haa…"

"Can't you just take it out in one shot?"

"Are you really going for it?"

"Watch me!"

Kamishiro-san is reckless but not overconfident. If she's charging in, it means she believes she can do it. So, I'll focus on doing what I can. After all, even I have never seen a monster of that size before.

"Kijin."

'Yes, I already know what you need, Master.'

"Then, take control."

'Leave it to me.'

The Shikigami I summon are mostly based on traditional folklore or stories that I imagine, creating them from scratch. They exist through my interpretation, and when summoned, they come to life as new beings. In essence, if I imagine it in great detail, I could even create a character from a video game.

It's an extremely versatile magic, but it comes with some limitations. I can't create something greater than myself, and the Shikigami will only act in ways I can imagine them acting. However, that only applies to regular Shikigami.

"Purify and cleanse, protect under divine will, bless with abundant fortune."

Reciting a brief prayer isn't really necessary, but as someone who believes in the existence of gods, it feels wrong not to. The regular Shikigami are bound by my imagination, but the Twelve Heavenly Generals are different. They are divine vessels I create through Shikigami techniques, allowing the spirits of gods to descend into them.

So, when Kijin refers to me as her 'master,' it's because the entity within her decides to do so, not because of my will. That's why the Twelve Heavenly Generals aren't truly my Shikigami. It's more like a summoning technique that brings down divine spirits.

In short, what I'm trying to say is… Shikigami techniques can be pushed to summon pretty insane things if you know what you're doing.

"Owatatsumi-no-Kami."

I imagined the grand embodiment of the sea itself. A being that sometimes heals life with the nurturing sea and sometimes mercilessly sweeps everything away, a mixture of love and fear. And then, I summon something into it, much like the Twelve Heavenly Generals.

This is the first time I've ever summoned a real god. I feel a significant amount of my magical energy being drained, but with Kijin's help controlling the flow, I manage to keep it from spiraling out of control.

"Take that!"

: Wait, Kamishiro's magic looks like a pea shooter now.

: Pea shooter (piercing attack).

: A pea shooter doesn't cut through a 30-meter tidal wave, guys.

: Let's not nitpick.

: Is it even working?

: I can't tell.

: No idea what's happening.

Kamishiro-san's compressed magic is powerful, but the opponent is too big to know if it's having any effect. Like normal slimes, this one probably has a core somewhere, and hitting anything else won't matter much.

Well, if we can't see the core, we'll just keep hitting it until we find it.

"Ugh!"

: Uh, what?

: What's Tsuu-kun doing?

: Wait… did he just summon a sea god?

: I heard him mutter Owatatsumi earlier…

: Did he summon a god?

: Is this real?

: Huh?

'Master, this won't hold for long!'

"I know… it's my first time."

'Does that really matter!?'

Of course it does. I remember the first time I summoned one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals—Kijin, to be specific—and I only managed to maintain it for a few seconds before all my magical energy was drained. The same applies here. Summoning Owatatsumi-no-Kami will take a lot of practice before I can control it properly.

"This is a primordial god… It's tougher than the first time with the Heavenly Generals, so brace yourself."

'Understood! For you, Master, I will endure until the end!'

: …

: You just summoned something way worse than the sea monster.

: I'm speechless.

: The chat just went dead silent, lol.

: First, a 30-meter sea monster shows up, and the EX attacks aren't doing anything, but then the other EX summons a literal sea god bigger than the monster?

: I don't even… what?

: Is this the deep levels of the dungeon?

This is the first time I've ever gone this far too! Continue the journey on m|vl-em,py-r

The summoned Owatatsumi-no-Kami isn't resisting my control, thankfully. Maybe it's because of the prayer? It seems willing to follow my will until the enemy is defeated. That said, being a god of the sea, it's better to request than command.

"This ends now!"

You don't need to speak commands aloud to control a Shikigami. As long as I focus on the target in my mind and wish for it, the sea god will move.

The slime, sensing our presence, begins to swell up, preparing to launch a massive water attack. But with a simple gesture of its left hand, Owatatsumi-no-Kami makes the creature swell and then explode.

: Wait, it's over?

: Did… did it just end?

: Oh god.

: Gods are terrifying.

: EX explorers can summon gods?

: Does this mean they can destroy the world?

: Yep, probably.

: Humanity's fate is in their hands.

That's harsh. Owatatsumi-no-Kami just moved one hand, and I lost a significant amount of magical energy to make that happen. I'm no superhuman. And anyway, I'm not going any further!

We're heading back now!

Stream's over!