After receiving the report, Erica had said:
"We are going to battle Melqart now, please lend us a car and driver."
"No problem, it will be ready right away."
After hearing Zamparini's polite reply, Godou and Erica headed to the entrance of the mansion. The old man, both Sicilian mafia boss and magic association commander-in-chief, made his reappearance driving the white BMW.
"Hoho, excuse me for saying so, but I'm quite confident in my skills."
Godou listened to Zamparini's boast with an annoyed expression as he sat in the rear seat.
As a side note, there was a black attache case on the passenger seat next to the driver.
"...Can I look at what's inside?"
With an ominous premonition, Godou opened the case to confirm.
Inside was a sleek black submachine gun. The Thompson M1921, commonly known as the "Tommy Gun." Even for someone unfamiliar with firearms, Godou recognized it as one of the world's earliest submachine guns, and one that had been favored by assassins in the movie "The Godfather."
Furthermore, it was fully ready to fire, with a drum magazine attached to the gunbarrel...
"Uncle Zamparini is active as a mage in various militant factions across Europe and America. While I use swords to manipulate 'iron,' Uncle uses guns and ammunition to manipulate 'flames,' you see."
"So... So that's why I had that kind of feeling."
Godou nodded at Erica's explanation.
The trip from Palermo to the Soluntum ruins required roughly thirty minutes.
Soluntum was a town constructed in the fourth century BCE by the Phoenicians in the mountains along the shore. It fell into decline after coming under Greek and Roman rule, and was eventually destroyed by Islamic Arabs. In modern times, the site was being run as the Soluntum Archaeological Park and Museum.
Thanks to Zamparini's preparations, the park and the museum were immediately shut down as part of emergency measures.
But under such weather conditions of roaring wind and torrential rain along with lightning descending from dark clouds, it was unlikely there would be any visitors to the museum anyway.
Nevertheless, Godou was gratified to know that park staff were helping with evacuating visitors.
"Godou, I will leave for a moment to remain on standby somewhere else. Leave the role of support to me."
Getting off the BMW, Erica yelled out over the roars of the wind.
"Okay! I am relying on you!"
Before Zamparini could get a word in, Godou swiftly gave his permission.
Godou recalled Erica mentioning the night before that "Fighting together in one place will pose certain difficulties..." Although it could be unnecessary worry, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Hold onto this, it might come in handy."
Godou held out his hand to receive the object Erica gave to him.
The object was a lion-shaped ornament that felt quite heavy despite being palm-sized. After putting it away carefully, Godou entered the archaeological park together with Old Man Zamparini.
Umbrellas were pointless in such weather since they would be instantly blown away.
Whether Godou, Zamparini, or Erica who had just taken off, all of them were wearing raincoats. But to little effect, for Godou found his lower torso almost completely drenched.
Feeling that the hood obscured his vision too much, Godou simply took it off instead.
The strong wind, heavy rain, loud thunder and various noises made it impossible to speak to each other. Without saying a word, Godou and Zamparini made their way towards the interior of the park silently.
Then Godou felt his entire body filling with power.
It had happened before back when he heard Melqart's "voice" on the ship. This was power surging forth for the sake of battle. In order to fight a god, this power was produced instinctively by a god-slayer. The five senses of the body as well as a sixth sense, down to his fingertips and every capillary, all were filled with heat and power.
After that, Godou finally arrived at the deepest part of the ruins.
This was a little hill on the seaside, with two columns erected like deer or goat horns. Other than these upright columns, there were no other structures.
However, this lack of structures was not due to the ravages of time.
Even eons ago in the distant past, only two columns existed here.
As taught by Erica previously, Godou knew these two columns were the symbols of the Phoenician sky god Melqart. Then Godou felt it -- his presence!
Melqart was located directly above the two columns!
Manifesting tangibly as violent winds, fierce rain, and scorching lightning and thunder in the air, the sky god Melqart was making his appearance in the form of the storm.
'Huhahaha! We finally meet again, young god-slayer!'
"On the contrary, I am not only a civilized person but also a pacifist. Even if my opponent is a prestigious god, I have no wish to accept a dangerous fight."
'What god-slayer is this, to make such a weak statement? No matter, whether a brat like you agrees to fight or not, there is no problem. To me, it is entirely irrelevant. But are you sure? There are only six days left, eh?'
"Six days? What do you mean?"
"Kuku... In order to better smash this land, I will first drench it with a storm, then sink the city at dusk on the sixth day.'
"What!?"
'At dusk on the sixth day, I shall sink the city that sits upon this land that once belonged to me. That is what I am talking about. And on the first day... Today will be this place."
An unbelievable conversation was taking place amidst the rumble of thunder from the sky, and its subject was rather shocking.
This place -- these ruins of Soluntum? Discovering this fact, Godou shuddered.
'Here to the west lies another city, it shall be visited on the second day. The third day shall be that island -- the one where I encountered Verethragna. The fourth day and henceforth... Well, I'll simply decide then. Over the next six days, I will cast divine punishment upon these humans and this land first.'
In other words, Palermo was next on the second day?
The third day likely meant the sinking of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia. Melqart's declaration filled Godou with terror and rage.
"Stop joking around! How could I let you act so recklessly!?"
'Should you have any objections, use force to deter the divine king! Come, it is now time for battle. Show me what an immature god-slayer can do!'
Crash! In the instant the two columns were smashed by the violent wind, the sky rumbled.
Melqart completely ignored Zamparini who was next to Godou, leaving him alone -- or rather, he never registered the old man in his sight.
To a god like Melqart, humans were akin to stones on the roadside. It could not be helped.
...At the same time as the columns were being smashed by the storm, Godou discovered that Zamparini who had been by his side was blown away. Even someone with more powerful magic than Erica and greater experience was blown into the air like a scrap of paper.
"Oooooooooooooooh!?"
All he heard was the old man's screams.
Unable to oppose a god. In the face of a god's authority, all he could do was scream. Hence, it was only natural that he did not register in Melqart's eyes.
But as for Godou--
He reached out just as the stormy wind suddenly arrived.
There happened to be a tree branch waving before him, the branch of an olive tree, so Godou caught it, and using it as a lifesaving rope, he managed to stay on the ground.
This relied on reflexes to a great extent, probably.
As well as primal thoughts of "How could I die here?!" And most importantly, luck -- the good fortune to have something to grab onto just as he reached out with his hand. Due to this inexplicable luck, Godou survived.
Now only Godou was left. There were no signs of Zamparini.
If it had to be said,
this was probably the difference between a Campione and an ordinary person. That was what Godou concluded after such a scene. Once again, the sky rumbled.
'Come, come! That was just a little test, continue to amuse me!'
Lightning shot from the sky, this time aiming towards Godou.
In that very instant, Godou's instincts told him he "will be struck."
But this was lightning, of course it could not be evaded. Unless he could find a lightning rod, but nothing like that could be found, it was hopeless. Was he going to die? No, how could he die now!?
Godou dispelled doubts of death by willing himself to renounce death.
At this moment, Godou awakened the power of the ferocious bird of prey that flew faster and higher than anything else -- the [Raptor].
Godou's body, senses and thought processes instantly accelerated, causing the surrounding world to decelerate in turn. The leaves and wooden debris blowing in the wind, the waves caused by the storm as well as the flashing lightning, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion from Godou's perspective.
He could see everything and evade them all.
Firm in this belief, Godou released the branch that he had been clinging to for dear life.
The violent wind swept Godou high up into the air, but he evaded the lightning strike as a result. He rose up in the air, but after a certain point, he began to fall rapidly towards the ground.
Originally, Godou should have smashed hard into the ground and died, but he landed softly.
His body felt lightened as if it had become weightless. Godou was now as light and nimble as the wind, and could move just as fast.
'Ho! Kukuku, very well! You have entered the realm of god-like lightning speed. Then I shall test you, brat, in a battle of speed!'
Thunder and lightning descended continually from the sky.
But using the [Raptor]'s eyes, Godou discerned all and desperately evaded using the [Raptor]'s speed. Looks like this incarnation has the ability to move at the speed of lightning, marveled Godou as he focused on evasion.
He should take this opportunity to find a weapon. Was there none in sight?
Godou searched his mind as he continued running as hard as he could. Didn't that image of a sword of light appear back when Erica asked him earlier, what kind of incarnation was it...?
'If lightning alone cannot hit, then it is time for my weapons to make an entrance. Chaser and Driver, come forth! O Yagrush! O Ayamur! Go and strike down the god-slayer!"
Flying in the sky were the magic clubs, Yagrush and Ayamur!
Godou trembled, for these were the weapons Melqart had used in the battle against the warlord Verethragna. The first club Yagrush appeared out of empty space while the second club Ayamur manifested out of the thunderclouds.
The former was a symbol of the wind while the latter was a symbol of lightning.
Like a swallow riding upon a cyclone, Yagrush flew with nimble agility. On the other hand, Ayamur flew in straight lines like lightning. Furthermore, both clubs possessed speed that rivaled the [Raptor].
Even so, Godou continued to run.
Sometimes jumping to the side, sometimes running straight forward, sometimes retreating backwards, sometimes lying prone on the ground. There were even times when Godou rolled across the ground in an unsightly manner, crawling on all four limbs like a wild beast.
All covered in dirt and mud, Godou continued to run, seeking the weapon of light--
He figured it out. Could it be that thing? Was it that weapon!?
However, immediately.
The time had come for his magic to be released, and suddenly, he felt intense pain in his heart.
His legs stopped and his body became sluggish. By the time he knew it, Godou was completely immobilized.
Tracing a U-shaped trajectory, Yagrush came flying!
Struck directly, Godou flew high into the air. Aiming at Godou in a straight line, Ayamur struck Godou for a second direct blow.
Godou flew across the sky like a baseball in a homerun.
Without an unnaturally sturdy body like his, an ordinary human would probably be smashed apart to leave no trace behind if struck by such destructive power.
Godou felt intense pain all over his body.
As befitted weapons of the gods. The man-eating tigers summoned by a mage were nothing in comparison. Godou could feel his muscles tearing, skeleton shattering, flesh scorching and bones dissolving.
Compared to the level of a mage, a Campione's body seemed immortal.
But faced with the equal or superior levels of [Heretic Gods], it was nothing special. Godou learned this painful lesson through the suffering of his body.
Nevertheless -- he still did not die instantly. This body was truly beyond common logic. Furthermore.
"What can I do now... Eh, this can't be happening?"
Flying through the air, Godou seemed to be hearing a female voice by his ear. Probably not Erica, for it was a voice of an even younger girl.
Then the image of a ram covered with golden fleece appeared in Godou's mind.
"I entrust everything in your hands..."
Godou made a request to the golden ram through instinct rather than rational decision making. With that, he lost consciousness and all respiratory functions ceased. Of course, Melqart's Yagrush and Ayamur were still flying around, which meant things were not likely to end well.
The magic clubs spun around to strike at Godou once more. However at this time, the gift from Erica in Godou's possession -- the lion-shaped ornament began to give off light. Suddenly, Godou's body moved as if being sucked by a magnet.
With a whoosh, Godou's body flew at great speed towards the sea.
Thus he flew towards the fierce winds and raging waves of the sea. Due to the storm summoned by Melqart, Godou was swept by the waves and he sank into the sea.
Chapter 3 – Sword, Erica, Melqart
Part 1
"Hey Godoh, dying like this is completely unacceptable!"
"...Huh?"
Upon hearing these sudden words of mockery, Godou answered in a sluggish voice.
He opened his eyes to find a cute little girl. Her face was slender and dignified. Though "beautiful," her sense of "cuteness" was far more overwhelming in comparison. Judging by appearance, she seemed to be fourteen years old or so. Perhaps enhanced by the twintailed hairstyle, she gave off a rather young impression.
Puzzled by the girl's strange words, Godou surveyed his surroundings.
...This completely empty space contained nothing else. The entire place was grayish white. Even the ends of the horizon were gray. An incredible world of gray.
The girl before his eyes was wearing a white and flimsy dress. Which country did it come from?
"This is the [Boundary of Life and Immortality]. Perhaps it might be easier to understand if I used expressions like 'almost at the afterlife' or 'pretty much at the Sanzu River'[9] to describe this place?"
The beautiful girl explained in an exceptionally casual tone of voice.
"By the way, I am Pandora. But not a [Heretic God], mind you. I stand as a true and proper goddess, impossible for humans to encounter unless I descend to this realm. With the express intent of meeting my son, I came here from the Domain of Immortality."
"...Son? Who is that?"
"Of course I'm referring to you, Godoh. You are my son. You may call me mama, maman, mommy or whatever you wish, okay?"
"...So, Pandora-san, there's something I wish to ask."
"Wah, of all the choices you went with this! ~You're the worst~"
Pandora enunciated her words as if deliberately trying to act displeased.
"It's not very nice to look down on the bonds between mother and child, you know~"
"But my real mother is authentic Japanese. And not younger than me, either."
"Fine, stepmother then. The prospects of gaining a child-faced loli stepmother with no blood relations, that's known as 'moe' on earth, right? Isn't that really lucky?"
<
br /> "I think even if you narrow the range to earth, it would only apply to a very small subset of people..."
Godou decided to change the subject.
"You said something like 'dying' just now. Did I really die?"
"Yes, you were promptly killed by Melqart-sama. But never fear, for Godoh's body is currently resurrecting on earth. Just before you died, you did well to understand the hint I sent."
The goddess who called herself Pandora smiled proudly.
"Since this is your first real battle, I did you a great service, allowing you to resurrect in one piece. For me and my husband, our children all tend to be rather impulsive and short-lived. Most of them end up dying on a battlefield somewhere. So, Godoh, you'd better be more careful."
"You and your husband's children... I get it now!"
Godou remembered. What Erica had mentioned before.
"Campiones are the illegitimate children of Epimetheus and Pandora, right?"
"Correct. Pandora in particular, is the stepmother who acts as the one who supports you god-slayers. Although I'm rather casual and completely irresponsible, I do offer hints on occasion."
As Pandora smiled, she emanated a certain alluring aura incommensurate with her child-like appearance.
Indeed this was a "womanly" existence. Godou understood that great wisdom lay beneath her mesmerizing cuteness.
Even though she did not act very proper in behavior, she was still a goddess.
"Well, even though you'll forget about seeing me as soon as you return to earth, remnants of my teachings will survive somewhere in your subconscious, so don't worry."
"I will forget?"
"Yes. When traveling between this realm and the world on earth, all sorts of things can happen."
"What... Anyway, if possible, could you tell me something? I'm currently in trouble with a god, so how should I fight? I seem to recall some kind of weapon of light."
Given this rare chance, Godou decided to ask this question.
Pandora made a slightly mischievous expression and smiled with great pride as she explained:
"It would be meaningless if I told you the answer -- or rather, it wouldn't be fun anymore -- ah, that's not right, it won't help Godoh at all. You have to try harder by yourself."
"In that case... I get it."
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