Campione 11

by The Second Tale

  "I-Is that so?"

  "Besides, there also exists the case of the frog prince kissing the princess. So there is nothing strange here anyway. So like I said, I am totally fine."

  She really seemed quite shocked, but her defiant attitude was definitely intact.

  Godou was slightly reassured. If it would help this glamorous girl recover her spirits, he did not mind being labelled an earthworm, a frog or anything like that. That was what Godou thought in earnest.

  No matter what it took, he was willing to compensate Erica for going so far. Godou spoke up:

  "Hey Erica. I'm a pacifist and I hate conflict and violent behavior. Furthermore, the fact that there are no absolutes in the outcomes of battles, that is also one of my beliefs."

  "You seem to be talking to yourself."

  Finding Erica had recovered slightly, Godou continued.

  "I'm going to confront Melqart next. I definitely will not lose to him."

  "...Really, definitely?"

  "Ah yes. I can swear on it."

  "Fine. Very well. In that case I will forgive you completely. Godou, promise me you will fight for my sake. Furthermore, you must save this island from Melqart's threat!"

  "Of course. Leave it all to me!"

  After that, they did not bring up the topic of [Instruction] again.

  Erica lifted her face with vigor and swept her hand through the brilliant blonde hair that adorned her head like a crown. Godou was also determined to forget the previous scene and go back to normal.

  Only the battle lay before them. Erica summoned magi from [Panormus] and ordered them to prepare the car. Their destination was the sea, the Bay of Palermo where Melqart was hidden high above in the sky.

  Gazing through the window of the car, Godou witnessed the city's storm-battered state which could not be seen through television.

  Due to the severe weather, there were few pedestrians about.

  Overwhelming drainage systems, rainwater flooded the streets with volumes on the level of a small river. Nevertheless, thanks to the height and water resistance offered by the 4WD vehicle, they managed to reach the main road along the shore. This was Via Cala facing the Bay of Palermo.

  Godou and Erica got off the vehicle before the spacious yacht harbor that was once a trading port.

  "While handing matters over to [Panormus] to handle yesterday, apparently all the people in the buildings and facilities along the shore have been evacuated. There's basically no one in the area, so it's fine even if you ignore the issue of casualties."

  "If anyone stayed near such a turbulent sea, they could be engulfed by giant waves at any time."

  The Bay of Palermo had been an excellent harbor since pre-era times, for it was an extremely calm inner bay. But currently, this stretch of sea was as turbulent as outer waters during storms.

  Pelted by the rainwater of the raging storm, Godou's and Erica's clothes were instantly drenched.

  It was currently two in the afternoon. If they failed to defeat Melqart before dusk, the city of Palermo would be sunk into the sea--

  With a glance from Godou, Erica immediately took off. Her assigned role was to provide support as the situation demanded while keeping a certain distance.

  In a battle against a god, it would be too dangerous to fight in a formation like in an RPG.

  That was what Godou learnt from Zamparini's example. Like Erica had done last time, it was best to have his comrades stay back in reserve so that they can react according to changes in the situation.

  "Are you there, Melqart!? Please respond to my challenge now!"

  Godou yelled out to sea as he endured the rain splattering upon him. Immediately, lightning flashed.

  'Oh! The god-slayer of the orient! How resilient of you to survive!'

  "Yeah. So what!?"

  Godou shouted loudly in response to the god's voice accompanied by the rumbles of roaring thunder.

  'Kukuku... As Melqart who vanquished his own elder brother the dragon king Yam[10], I seem to have gone a little senile. Could it be possible that I actually failed to discern my enemy's strength in reserve! Though there are many gods carrying the attribute of immortality, you seem to possess the same authority, brat!'

  The raging storm suddenly stopped.

  A fissure opened up between the thick and heavy thunderclouds, allowing sunshine to reach the ground.

  A [Heretic God] was present within the beam of light. His appearance was identical to the Phoenician divine king Godou had faced in the ruins on the island of Sardinia.

  The strongly built man was covered with bulging musculature and overflowing with an air of wild roughness. His tousled hair always left a strong impression on others. His attire consisted of a tattered mantle of grubby cloth, leather breastplate and sandals. Nevertheless, in contrast to his coarse attire, his entire body emanated a [King]'s terrifying splendor.

  And he was very huge. Melqart's height stood at 15m or so.

  'Brat, the authority you managed to usurp from Verethragna certainly proves to be rather versatile. However, I would advise you not to entrust your hopes to clever little powers. Against the unrelenting hunter of dragons, Melqart the embodiment of lightning, the warlord of the changing forms is nothing but a minor character!'

  "So what. Even if you are indeed the ancient [King] of the gods."

  Godou looked up at the giant descending along with the sun's rays.

  "You are definitely not invincible, nor are you an existence who knows nothing of defeat. But that guy -- Verethragna, claimed to be the strongest, most victorious, and never defeated. Well, even though it sounds a bit strange to say it myself, still, the odds don't seem that stacked against me."

  'Oh? You sound like you know everything about me, eh...'

  Giant Melqart landed on the main road by the shore, laughing delightfully.

  'Nevertheless, the battlefield is not decided by fighting words but arrows and blades as well as fists. I shall do well to teach this lesson to your body thoroughly!'

  "Nay. Words can become power and turn into swords. Have you forgotten, Melqart?!"

  Words continuously surfaced in Godou's mind.

  He already understood. These were spell words. The scripture for controlling the war god's authority.

  The incantations for summoning and raising the power dormant in Kusanagi Godou's body.

  "Your power was once sliced apart by that guy's words, right? If you really believe that I failed to inherit that power, isn't it too early for jumping to conclusions!? --I am the strongest!"

  Hearing Godou's spell words, Melqart went "Hmm" and entered a stance.

  "Brat, you've usurped his blade -- the brilliant golden sword!?"

  "Yes! Behold the words of this incantation, both eloquent and powerful. I am the sword of wisdom, that which tears foes apart. I am the strongest, for I am the one holding all victory in my hands. I shall smash through all enemies in my way!"

  Turning into Verethragna's final incarnation, Godou unleashed the golden sword.

  Flashing light gradually flooded the surroundings.

  "Melqart is a god born in the ancient Middle East. Baal is his true name. He was originally the [Sky] -- the god worshiped by primitive nomadic tribes who tended to sheep and lived upon them. In ancient times, people viewed this god as the infinite unbounded sky itself!"

  Several tiny spheres of light manifested in response to these words.

  At first there were only ten or so, but very soon their numbers multiplied. Each and every one of them was brilliantly golden in color.

  This was the [Sword] indeed. The god-severing golden blade.

  "Central Asian nomadic tribes -- such as the Mongolians, also deified the [Sky] in a similar manner. However, Baal, and equivalently, Melqart belongs to the Middle East... A god born in the land of the orient. He is not simply a god of the sky, for he has one greatest attribute. Namely, the god of the [Rainy Season]!"

  The ultimate identity of the god before him. The surrounding brig
htness increased as he continued to chant -- before he knew it there were over a thousand flashing spheres of light hovering all around Godou.

  Bright as the countless stars that fill the night sky, it was like a sparkling galaxy.

  "In the land of the Middle East where the dry and the rainy seasons are distinct and separate, 'storms' only arrive during the rainy season. Accompanied by the raging wind of cyclones and land sinking from the pouring rain, lightning descends from the sky. Nevertheless, because storms bring rainwater -- without the benefits brought by this water, plants and animals, and even humans would certainly fail to survive. Though your 'storms' cause the death of many, it is also the nourishment of life!"

  'Hmph -- true words. I am the storm of the rainy season. The god who embodies both blessing and destruction from the sky!'

  Melqart yelled.

  'Now I shall test the results of your sword forged from words of wisdom. O Wind, O Rain, O Thunder!'

  These too, were spell words.

  Like the ones used by Godou, they were words carrying power.

  'By Melqart's true name of Baal Hadad, I summon! O Storm, listen to the calls of the cloud rider, make haste and come!"

  Melqart's muscular body dissociated to become violent wind. Furthermore, hundreds of flashes of lightning were fired in all directions.

  "You are the sky god of storms worshiped by the nomadic tribes. These people soon started to engage agricultural settlers who worshiped gods of the land and the sea, eventually subjugating them with overwhelming military might!"

  'Kukuku... The weak should bow down to the strong. This is the truth of the world!'

  "The gods of the land and the sea worshiped by farmers who lived in villages and towns, were indeed symbolized by the sacred beast, the [Dragon]. Hence, Baal, and equivalently Melqart, is the hunter of dragons!"

  Emulating Verethragna, Godou spoke profound words. All this was for the sake of making the sword sharper and more effective.

  "Becoming the enemy of settled peoples, you took on the appearance of a savage giant who vanquished dragons. Thereafter, the coarse savage began ruling as [King], as tyrannical as the storms. This is Baal, or in other words, Melqart's true nature!"

  Godou yelled out the origins of the sky god before him and began manipulating the [Sword].

  A portion of the golden light flew around its user, dancing haphazardly. The raging wind which should have blown Godou away was sliced apart, disappearing instantly.

  The lightning and thunder that should have burnt Godou to a crisp, were also annihilated a hair's breadth away from him, leaving only the distinctive odors of ions.

  "I am the strongest bearer of victory. Obstructions, be dismissed from my path!"

  This time, Godou chanted Verethragna's scripture in order to attack.

  Several dozen golden lights flew towards Melqart, aiming to slice apart the god's main body.

  'Tsk!'

  Fifteen-meter-tall Melqart took a flying leap. Despite his massive body, he was truly worthy of his title as the king of storms. As the wielder of agile wind and keen thunder, he dodged the spheres of light most splendidly.

  Melqart proceeded to hover in the sky, shouting majestically.

  'Very well, god-slayer! I too shall call upon my weapons to engage you who has drawn your sword. O Yagrush, O Ayamur, the cloud rider Baal summons you two!'

  Responding to his commands, the magic club Yagrush flew out of empty space. Following in succession, the one flying out from the thunderclouds was naturally Ayamur.

  These were the sacred weapons of Baal that had sent Godou to his grave the day before.

  "Damn it... As expected, I can't win that easily!"

  Godou smacked his lips. Melqart knew very well. When an enemy performs a threatening attack, one would be forced to concentrate on defense. If the god of storms fell for that, Godou would calmly attack with the [Sword] and slice through the enemy along with the defensive barrier. Hence, he did the opposite.

  Not only did he eschew defense, Melqart went for offense instead. This in turn made Godou aware of his own need to defend.

  'Yagrush the Chaser, Ayamur the Driver! Charging swiftly, flying swiftly, sweep everything away!'

  "Evildoers shall never triumph over me! Tremble before the greatness of my strength!"

  In order to control their respective loyal weapons, god and god-slayer chanted spell words simultaneously.

  Part 5

  Under Erica Blandelli's careful gaze, the battle was gradually approaching a climax.

  'By my renown as the lion-hunting and dragon-slaying hero, I hereby command, fly across the sky!'

  Melqart chanted spell words and brandished his weapons. Namely, violent wind and lightning.

  With hurricane force, powerful gusts of wind rampaged and swept across Palermo's shore. Whether made of stone or steel-reinforced concrete, buildings creaked noisily under the strain. Cars parked on the roadside were blown tumbling while boats and ships moored at the pier were washed into the sea.

  Furthermore, lightning continually shot out from the dark clouds, incinerating the land.

  The next target of the raging wind and lightning, was naturally Kusanagi Godou. Like a massive tidal wave crashing down upon him, the wind and thunder rushed towards the youth who commanded thousands of star-like lights.

  However, these spheres of light surrounding Godou did not lose to the raging wind and lightning.

  Sparkling gems of light -- the [Sword] born from Verethragna's spell words flew around nimbly, tracing out radiant trails in the air.

  Sliced by the brilliant spheres, the storm was instantly neutralized, returning to calm serenity.

  The thunder was eviscerated in the same manner, and the temperature and impact of the lightning was rendered equally harmless.

  The [Sword] successfully sealed away Melqart's authority. On further thought, these light spheres numbered over a thousand. Properly arranged into a defensive formation, they should be almost impenetrable.

  When a swordsman held perfect defensive capabilities, it was standard procedure to patiently search for openings in the attacking side. Waiting for the attacker's momentum to subside, and for attacks to wear out. But in the current situation, the presence of Yagrush and Ayamur did not allow Godou to do that.

  The first club, Yagrush, was enveloped in gales.

  Flying up, down, left, right, freely across the four cardinal directions, it attacked from all sides and angles like raging wind, trying to snipe Godou from a spot where the sword formation of light could not defend.

  The second club, Ayamur, was shrouded in lightning.

  Rapidly descending towards Godou in a straight line, it gave off intense heat like burning charcoal. Though its attack trajectory was simple and direct, it travelled extremely quickly, with lightning speed no matter how you looked at it.

  "By these words of truth, I bestow protection upon myself. Know that I cannot be vanquished!"

  Feeling slightly anxious, Godou composed spell words once again, desperately trying to endure.

  Using several dozen spheres of the [Sword], Godou sealed off the path of Yagrush and its accompanying gales descending from behind, intending to overwhelm and slice it to pieces. However, the wind and the club soon penetrated the blades of light and returned to the sky.

  Immediately after that, Ayamur came flying like lightning, prompting Godou to attempt to eliminate it with a counterattack.

  However, it too failed to be sliced. Instead, Ayamur was deflected by the [Sword] and sent flying back like a tennis ball which had been struck by a racquet.

  "Guh--!"

  Yagrush and Ayamur's offensive powers transcended ordinary wind and thunder.

  Godou endured it all. The weapon he controlled was not a real sword but a magical blade constructed from spell words.

  "...Perhaps a Campione's authority manifests in a form that is most natural for the possessor to control."

  Erica murmured to herself. The Eastern European De
vil King, Marquis Voban, started out completely unversed in martial arts and magic, just like Godou. Nevertheless, he fought like a ferocious beast by summoning packs of demonic wolves using his [Legion of Hungry Wolves] authority, even turning himself into a wolf.

  That took place in the first half of the nineteenth century.

  At the time, there existed mercenary teams of magi who relied on flame magic and the latest firearms and weaponry to obtain great firepower. They were active as soldiers in the special forces of various powerful nations. And the one who exterminated them all, was Marquis Voban during his days as a youth.

  In addition, a mysterious war god had descended somewhere in Europe during that time.

  In order to slaughter the god's sacred forces, the Marquis had gathered his own demonic army under his command.

  Nicknamed the "King of Wisdom," the elderly Campione repeatedly engaged in intense and bloody battles against his peers. It was a legend established in a matter of years by a vagabond youth.

  Currently, Erica could very well be witnessing the opening scene of a similar story.

  As the protagonist of the current story, Godou was desperately defending against Melqart's attacks. However, signs of anxiety could be seen from the side of his face. It was perfectly clear from his expression.

  As much as she wished to deny it, perhaps certain bonds were solidifying between the two of them for some reason.

  Precisely because of this, right?

  Without any other choice, she had undertaken the ritual of [Instruction] together with him. In response to Godou's demands, Erica had immersed herself in the required behavior. Simply recalling the event was enough to make her cheeks hot.

  "It was a mistake that happened in the heat of the moment due to those circumstances. Regardless, as the one who became the seventh Campione, he is not a man suitable for Erica Blandelli..."

  As Erica grumbled to herself, she focused her attention on the battle once more.

  With many dangerously close encounters, Godou continued to defend against Melqart's wind and thunder as well as the attacks conducted by Yagrush and Ayamur. However, Erica was certain.