Campione 11

by The Second Tale

  When weapons were infused with the Golgotha spell words, even gods could be harmed--

  Before the battle against Verethragna, Erica had mentioned once.

  Then surely this was it. Just as Godou imagined, Erica raised the magic sword Cuore di Leone towards the sky. With its slender and beautiful silver blade like a work of art, the sword absorbed the Golgotha spell words.

  Furthermore, Erica's chanting of spell words did not end there.

  "For the sake of maintaining order in Rome, the Senate decreed the suspension of imperium! Senatus consultum ultimum, hereby decreed!"[16]

  She proceeded to deploy the strongest defensive magic.

  Infused with the Golgotha spell words, Cuore di Leone changed from a magic sword into the form of a chain. Coiling around like a great serpent, it traced out a spiral trail around Godou and Erica.

  Transformed into a spiraling magical chain, it stood upright like an impenetrable iron fortress.

  This should protect them from the giant swarm of locusts!

  Arranged in a spiral, the chain was shrouded in blue-white lightning. Accompanied by noisy explosions of sparks, the biting locusts were all repelled.

  "I will endure for now but it can't be sustained for long. Godou, please defeat Melqart before my barrier breaks!"

  "Uh yeah."

  Given their desperately unfavorable conditions, to think Erica would even talk about reversal.

  Nevertheless, Godou nodded at her words. There were no viable options other than that.

  "So, how long can you endure for...?"

  "As much as I'd like to say forever, considering they are servants summoned directly by a god, at the current numbers -- two minutes should be the limit? Even though it works as a trump card against those of Bianchi's caliber, the current situation is on a completely different level."

  Erica's tone of voice was very calm.

  However, she was probably pretending. With mere minutes remaining, moreover with her life entrusted to someone else, it should be impossible to maintain composure.

  As Godou silently stared at her, Erica displayed a fearless smile.

  But just as he suspected, she lacked a little of her usual glamor and it felt a little forced.

  "I am not the type to plan out my life to the last detail. Nevertheless, having my life cut short at this young age would truly be unexpected. My future, Erica Blandelli's, may I entrust it to you?"

  This beautiful girl had already become Godou's closest relation, more important than anyone else apart from family.

  Godou forced himself to rouse his spirits. In that case, he had no choice but to act. The fate of this city of Palermo, and even Erica's life, all depended on him.

  Hence, he could not give up. Stop wavering over this or that, just rush forward powered by spirit!

  "Yeah, I will stay by your side even to the grave. Leave everything to me."

  "Wow, how rare it is to actually hear reliable words from you. Then I shall believe in you -- Ah, just to be safe, I must clarify beforehand!"

  Erica suddenly cried out as if she had realized certain meanings.

  "When I talked about entrusting my future to you, I didn't mean anything special, okay? Definitely nowhere analogous to 'for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death us do part' or anything like that! Are you clear on that!?"

  "Uh yeah. Of course. That notion couldn't possibly have occurred to me, right?"

  As the two conversed, the mist-like swarm of locusts gathered, trying to attack them.

  Blocking them was the spiral barrier of the chain which gave off electrical shock and heat.

  Meanwhile, located on the main road were Melqart who had landed and the captured [Boar]. Nonchalantly, the divine king sent swift and fierce kicks into the back of the giant beast that lay sprawling on the ground.

  Uwooooooooooooooh! The [Boar]'s grievous roars resounded all around.

  'Hoo... Isn't this a fitting end, divine beast! Prepare to die!'

  Melqart declared as he landed vicious punches and kicks on the [Boar].

  The black divine beast curled its legs as it lay on the ground. It did this to protect its soft underbelly and endured Melqart's attacks with its back.

  Then the divine king summoned his two clubs that had been flying in the air. Brandishing Yagrush in his left hand and Ayamur in his right, he started a new round of ever fiercer attacks on the [Boar]'s back.

  His entire body bulging with muscles, the half-naked man tormented the struggling beast--

  Such savagery was evocative of a Stone Age hunting scenario.

  Melqart did not even throw Godou a single glance. He could not be that careless and complacent, right? But in any case, currently trapped by this swarm of locusts, Godou was facing a desperate crisis on his own end of things.

  Under such conditions, how could Melqart be defeated!?

  Godou desperately searched his mind. However, it seemed like a fruitless waste of time.

  "Only thirty seconds left until the limit. You'd better be prepared, Godou!"

  Erica finally announced that time was running out.

  The spiral chain protected them from the massive swarm of locusts that were like a cloud. However, cracks were starting to appear all over the chain, and its imminent shattering was plain to see.

  Godou at this time, decided to embrace his fate with open arms -- he had done everything he could possibly do.

  Taking a deep breath, he relaxed his shoulders. There was nothing to be anxious about. Pondering in these most final of final moments, he shifted his gaze.

  Quietly, he looked up at the sky. Previously, his view of the sky above had been obscured by the spiral chain and the swarm of locusts.

  The sun that he had not seen for days, was clearly shining with such brilliant radiance... The sun?

  Come to think of it--

  Warlord Verethragna was the heavenly child of the sun. A fact that he had forgotten completely. It was precisely by stealing his flames using the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] that Godou was able to make his final attack to defeat the god.

  "If that's the case, that must naturally be amongst the ten incarnations, right?"

  He understood the instant he noticed the fact. The sacred beast that carried the sun's radiance.

  Furthermore, there was no issue with usage conditions. Godou nodded.

  "As befitted a god of justice... The only permitted targets of the [White Stallion] are great sinners who have brought suffering to the people."

  "Eh? What's going on?"

  "I'll explain to you later. But before that..."

  Sustaining the spiral chain, Erica questioned with a murmur.

  Keeping the answer for later, Godou turned his attention to the battle between the two giant bodies.

  He transmitted his intentions to the [Boar] which was being kicked and pounded fiercely by Melqart like a punching bag.

  --Beaten up like this, can you hold on further?

  If you can do that, I will surely vanquish your enemy.

  In that very instant, Godou understood.

  The [Boar]'s eyes seemed to be saying "Don't underestimate me" as they flashed brilliantly. Even though the black divine beast was lying on the ground on its last breath, it still bit Melqart in the ankle.

  'Hahahaha! How terribly feeble, where has your spirit from just now gone off to!?'

  Even though he was bitten, Melqart laughed as if it completely did not hurt.

  Furthermore, he used his free leg to kick the [Boar]'s face. The black divine beast could no longer endure and fell backwards, releasing the ankle it had been biting.

  'Praiseworthy are you, wild beast! You have done well, facing Melqart in battle. Kukuku, long it has been since I last hunted, it is truly exhilarating to exert myself and toil with sweat!'

  Melqart threw down Yagrush and Ayamur.

  Using his strong arms to wrap around the [Boar]'s torso, he lifted it high like a wooden bucket -- pouring forth all his
strength. Purely with arm strength, he crushed his enemy's spine. This would be called a bear hug in wrestling.

  RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! The [Boar] screamed loudly and tragically.

  This was the moment Godou had been waiting for, when Melqart was exerting his entire body's strength to send the divine beast to its grave. Seizing this opportunity to attack, he would prevent Melqart from evading as before!

  "For victory, hasten forth before me... O Immortal Sun, I beseech thee to grant radiance to the stallion. O Stallion that moveth godlike with wondrous grace, bringest forth the halo of thy master--"

  Words that came forth from his mouth like mutterings at first.

  In the end, they were recited sonorously as if they concealed a sun within them.

  Under Godou's gaze as he chanted, the [Boar] lost its form and dissipated like mist. In order to switch incarnations to the [White Stallion], it could no longer be sustained.

  The white stallion, which acted as the sun's transport, was Verethragna's third incarnation.

  East of Godou and Erica's location -- on the horizon across the sea, appeared golden brilliance.

  A second sun.

  During times of dawn, the sun rising in the east would illuminate the land with a rosy color. Now, the same glorious and dazzling radiance was shining at Palermo from across the Mediterranean.

  Then the second sun released a "white spear of light."

  Stellar atmospheres would occasionally erupt with explosions known as flares. The incarnation of the [White Stallion] was the ultimate technique which shot out white flames from the eastern sky equivalent to solar flares.

  Naturally, the target was Melqart whose great storm had tormented the populace.

  'Nugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!'

  Flying from the eastern sky, the brilliant spear of solar flare streaked across the heavens. Shrouded in apocalyptic white conflagration, this time it was the sky god's turn to emit cries of pain.

  In a fully ready state, Melqart might have been able to defend against these flames.

  But just as expected, he could hardly accomplish that in his bear hug posture.

  Sparks fell down upon Godou as he nodded.

  Melqart was visible amidst the scorching white flames of conflagration. Godou issued the command "Come!"

  "Erica, release the chains. Jump into the sea!"

  "--Yes, acknowledged!"

  His "partner" immediately responded to his sudden orders.

  The descending sparks were all dying embers, but Melqart's locusts were instantly incinerated on contact and vaporized.

  Watching this unfold, Erica released the spiral chain.

  At the same time, she and Godou ran at full speed towards the sea. A portion of the locusts attempted to pursue, but were blocked by sparks and combusted.

  Immediately after the pair had leaped into the Bay of Palermo--

  The [White Stallion]'s apocalyptic conflagration that was incinerating Melqart like a furnace, spread all the way to the yacht harbor where Godou and Erica had been staying just now. In an instant, the great swarm of locusts was completely vaporized, tens of thousands at a time.

  Part 7

  It took so long before the fire completely subsided -- Godou had been secretly worrying.

  As befitted something produced from an authority. These phenomena, ridiculous beyond belief, vanished after a mere ten-odd minutes. Furthermore, no leftover heat remained where the incineration had taken place.

  Godou floated back to near the yacht harbor.

  The gentle touch of the mild breeze caressing his face was like the Mediterranean spring. Compared to the hot winds blowing forth from scene of the blazing furnace, it was like the difference between heaven and hell.

  Godou nodded in agreement as Erica signaled to him with her eyes as she floated beside him.

  Having made their decision, they returned to the shore.

  "What should I say, this is quite terrifying..."

  "Let me make this clear beforehand, this was virtually all of your own doing."

  Erica offered her commentary as Godou exclaimed.

  This was the main road that extended across the shore of the Mediterranean. Rather fitting for this Sicilian ancient capital on the seaside, it used to be a peaceful street where people had always lived in happiness amidst the clear blue sky and ocean.

  However--

  There were numerous cases of steel-frame or stone-built structures, as well as road asphalt, with signs of scorching from the solar flare. Those still retained their basic forms. Nevertheless, their outlines were uneven like glass which had melted and re-solidified.

  Naturally, flammable objects such as trees on the roads were completely wiped out.

  The tourist attraction of Porta Felice which acted as the entrance to Corso Vittorio Emanuele and had just been damaged by the [Boar], had now completely collapsed.

  "Even if someone said that a fragment of the sun had descended upon here a hundred years ago, it would still be possible someone might believe that..."

  After witnessing the results of using his divine power, Godou clutched his head in his arms.

  What on earth have I done? Feelings of shame and regret overwhelmed him like raging waves of the ocean. The only fortunate thing was that Melqart and the massive swarm of locusts had been destroyed--

  Just at that instant, Godou's entire body suddenly experienced intense heat and shock, and then he was blown away.

  Damaged as if he had just been struck by a tank round. No good, I can't stand anymore, nor can I lift a finger. Slowly, his consciousness began to fade.

  Don't die at least, I'll have to rely on the [Ram]...

  It had only been mere days since he became a Campione, but thanks to experiencing real combat many times, Godou had already familiarized himself with the use of his authority.

  "Could this be Your Highness -- King Melqart!?"

  What had just struck Godou suddenly was the flying club Ayamur.

  Earlier on, the club had been sized in proportion for giant Melqart to wield, but now it had shrunk to dimensions for a normal human's use--

  Erica looked in shock at the direction from where the club had come flying.

  A ball of thunder was hovering over Via Cala which was half-melted by the white solar flare. Noisily giving off weak blue-white sparks, it was a sphere of plasma.

  Erica realized. Just now, the [White Stallion] had not defeated Melqart completely!

  Apparently he had lost his material body, but his ectoplasm still survived--

  'True... Indeed it is I. To think I would be defeated by the brat this time!'

  The thunder replied with Melqart's voice and solemnity.

  'Hmph, I don't know if my anger could be quelled by eliminating the war god of the cheap little tricks. To think he would show such a foolish opening. Whatever, even considering that failing, he has done rather well...'

  "Does Your Highness intend to kill Kusanagi Godou?"

  Erica questioned the majestic god. Once again, she summoned the steel of the lion, Cuore di Leone, in the form of the magic sword. If that was what the divine king of storms intended, she would have no choice but to pit her life against him...

  'Indeed that is precisely my wish. Regrettably, that attack just now has depleted my remaining strength. For now, I cannot do anything apart from hovering like this in the air!'

  Had the thunder possessed a material body, it probably would have snorted with its nose.

  The atmosphere was thick with anger and frustration.

  'The sort of misbegotten fate which would bring us together for a future rematch once my body is restored, does not exist between this brat and me. Well, this time is my loss -- no, it is a draw!'

  Changing his sentence midway clearly displayed the god's competitive and defiant personality.

  This was Melqart's verdict.

  Erica relaxed her shoulders and felt relieved.

  Even though he had lost his material body, he was still a god. Whether
fighting or running away from him, it would be rather difficult for Godou and Erica who had no strength left to spare. A ceasefire would be the best thing for now.

  'So, I shall be gone. It is uncertain if fate shall cross our paths or when I shall encounter that brat again in the future -- it will happen when it happens. I will take care of the future properly!'

  As the wind began to blow, the talking thunder flew off.

  Left behind were Erica Blandelli and the young unconscious god-slayer. A situation extremely similar to the one a few days ago.

  Godou was sleeping in order to revive, with no one to protect him apart from her.

  Noticing this coincidence, Erica lifted and supported the sleeping youth's head.

  "...Well fought, Godou. This is now my reward bestowed to you. I will never do this ever again, especially when you are conscious. So please, rest properly for now."

  As if trying not to disturb the youth's slumber, Erica spoke softly with gentle tones as she served as his lap pillow.

  Chapter 4 - Deep Yet Brief Slumber

  Part 1

  With the beginning of the new school term, two weeks had already passed.

  "How peaceful..."

  Godou yawned casually.

  He was currently on the roof of Jounan Private Academy's high school division. Even though it was the lunch break and there were many other students, the roof was still far from crowded.

  Plus the fact of today's fine weather, with the sunlight and gentle breeze streaming over the roof, made for a rather pleasant experience.

  "With all that behind me, the utter chaos that occurred during spring break almost seems unreal..."

  Perhaps because he had been an athlete since childhood, Godou was a rather proactive person who got things done.

  But currently he was idling around uncharacteristically. Resting against the roof fence, he casually sucked coffee-flavored milk from a drink carton. Ever since returning from Italy, he had been stuck in this sort of state.

  Perhaps a result of his intense experiences in foreign lands, he found himself unable to adjust to the pace of his new life...

  That's right. New life. Having passed April, Kusanagi Godou was now a first year high school student.