Chapter 1525: Stopping The Original Nightmare Curse 1
-----
However, the description of the Privilege that Maria was using did say something about how the more the user's body is divided, the more pressure it puts on the original Soul and the more Mana is consumed.
Nonetheless, if the Soul is strong enough and Mana is boundless enough, this pressure and Mana requirements can be completely ignored. Because of this, by spending more of her already immense quantities of Mana, Maria had no problems creating a super strong Ego to come beat the Original Nightmare Curse's ass in here.
Also, Soul Egos and Body Egos can't be of the same Divinities or Skills and must always be different when combined into {Perfect Divine Egos}. And that's exactly what Maria was doing right now, unleashing a powerful {Perfect Divine Ego} combining a potent Soul Ego and a Body Ego.
But which one?
RUMBLE!
The dark night skies suddenly trembled as black clouds appeared everywhere. Thunder crackled and continued to spread through the stormy skies.
Maria floated above the bubble as it exploded, her family and friends floating in midair as they pointed their weapons at him.
Her eyes glowed bright gold, her body a combination of thunderous clouds, golden and black lightning, and…
"Shyaaaaaggh!"
Monstrous insects made of deadly poison capable of even consuming souls. Maria was composed of a swarm of spectral flies and other aberrant insects, using the power of her [Divine Thunder Spirit Body] as her Soul Ego and her [Poisonous Calamity Swarm Body] as her Body Ego.
This deadly combination fused their abilities together. Her body suddenly divided into a massive swarm of giant, spectral insects made of black, purple, and golden lightning, swarming the Original Nightmare Curse.
BBBZZZZZTTTT!
"AAAGGH! WHAT IS THIS?! YOU THINK THIS CAN STOP ME?!"
He was furious as he was bitten from every angle, his body trembling in annoyance. The soul-consuming poison was slow, however, and it would take some time for it to begin taking effect. But Maria didn't stop there as she continued spreading her swarm body everywhere.
He swung his giant tentacles and created countless claws, trying to destroy the bugs but quickly discovering they were tougher than he imagined, needing several blows to even die.
This was because Maria's Calamity Swarm Body granted every insect coming from her soul to inherit a large quantity of her stats. Initially 10%, with an additional 1% with each Skill Level, making it 18% at the current level of 8.
But that wasn't all. With the combination of her Divine Thunder Spirit Body and her Poisonous Calamity Swarm Body, Maria spread thousands of thunderous insects, combining their electric power and…
"{Soul Ego and Body Ego Combination Art}: {Abyssal Calamity Thunder Swarm Formation}!"
FLAAASH!
Each insect interconnected into a gigantic formation, releasing powerful soul-piercing thunderbolts toward the Original Nightmare Curse's second half.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"NNGAAAARRGH?!"
His giant eye widened in disbelief as he gritted his sharp teeth, realizing that even now Maria was coming for him. He grew more and more frustrated, his frustration and resentment empowering him as the embodiment of all these things.
"DAMN YOUUUUUU!"
His power exploded, destroying hundreds of insects at a time, pushing back against Maria's relentless attacks. His power began to spread and create thousands of Nightmare Demons as well, copying Maria and turning them into giant bugs releasing nightmare thunder, clashing against her own swarm.
"Damn copycat, this guy! I knew he was going to pull some shit like this!" Maria complained angrily. "Anyway- Ah!"
As she was going to help everyone get to him and attack him from every angle, her eyes widened. The barrier she had left behind was suddenly reinforced by a mysterious force.
Although that would have made her happy, that wasn't the case as there were several cracks and holes. The bastard had infiltrated her barrier and was now spreading his power.
She noticed four powerful Soul Fragments he left inside the barrier, which were rapidly growing stronger as Avatars of him.
"That bastard's aiming to devour everyone on the island! He infiltrated the barrier!" she said angrily. "Damn it! We won't be able to attack him head on. Some of you have to go down and assist everyone else!"
"Wait, what?!" Emily asked in disbelief.
"It can't be! After we've come so far he's still aiming for the people…?" Alma panicked.
"Maria, let us go down then!" Sofia said. "We'll help everyone else!"
"Yeah, leave this to us! You guys are the heavier hitters, you take care of the big guy!" Martina nodded. She was humble, knowing that Maria and her family that came from another world still far outpowered them.
"I'll accompany them," Arthur said.
"Me too!" Nyx nodded.
"Huh? If Nyx is going then I go as well!" Celes said, raising his little hand.
"Alright then," Maria nodded, sighing. "You seven can go then! The rest of us, we fight as one!"
"OOOHHH!"
As they roared, Maria generated a new bubble, putting everyone inside. Nia looked at her son and smiled. She felt the impulse to go with him and protect him, but Nyx was going on her own. She knew that despite being still so young, Celes had grown exceptionally strong and could take care of himself.
She also knew of his amazing healing spells, barrier spells, and even buffing spells, and that's without including his devastating water magic and his new Dream Weapon boosting everything even further.
He was needed down there, and she and her strength should remain up here, fighting alongside everyone else for the future of this world.
"Celes…!" She called, running to his side.
"Mom?" Celes looked back at her.
"You make your mother proud." Nia hugged Celes, kissing his forehead and wishing him good luck.
"Good luck! I know you can do it. Help everyone else, heal the wounded, protect them, do as your heart tells you to. I know that it will be the right thing," Nia said, caressing her child's face.
"Mama… yes!" Celes nodded. "I know… I'll do my best!"
-----