Campione 11

by The Second Tale

"I-I'm gonna beat up that guy. Can you assist me?"

  "Of course. This is the duty of your attendant -- or rather, your spouse!"

  It was pretty much like a dam on the verge of bursting.

  Erica acted with unusual ferocity. Sucking intensely on Godou's lips, it felt like she was trying to obtain Godou's entire being through a kiss.

  Keeping their lips in superposition, they pressed together even more tightly.

  Ten seconds, twenty seconds passed in this fashion. Still, Erica's lips remained in position. Only when out of breath did she finally release her lips, panting heavily for air.

  But very quickly she offered another kiss.

  As if putting forth her full strength, a kiss full of passion.

  Overwhelmed by this sweet pleasure, Godou felt his mind going numb.

  As a result, he too, gradually responded to the intensity of Erica's passion. When Erica sucked on Godou's lips, Godou sucked Erica's lips in turn, licking each other.

  Gripping the other's lips with his own, he savored that sense of softness, wetting it with saliva.

  The air echoed with the sound of wet kisses. In short time, the two of them were kissing each other's lips with ever increasing intensity. Before they knew it, even their teeth were colliding together.

  This time, the sound of teeth crashing could be heard.

  To be honest, it was kind of painful.

  Hence, their tongues started to tangle with each other. Sliding their tongues into each other's mouth, probing for the other tongue, they each tried to encircle the other person's tongue.

  The area around their mouths became all wet and sticky from saliva.

  "I-It's about time for me to start teaching you the most important knowledge. Sorry, I was lost in ecstasy."

  Erica whispered softly as if she had recovered her senses.

  "For someone like me to completely forget something crucial like that, my current state must be really strange. And kissing so much more intensely than last time... Godou, it's you who changed me."

  Grumbling with dazed eyes, Erica began to weave spell words together.

  "The god Sir Salvatore defeated was Nuadha, the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. This divine clan consisted of deities worshiped by Celts living in Ireland."

  Erica kissed Godou's lips as she continued to whisper.

  "People generally have the impression that the Celts were indigenous to the European continent, and later driven out by the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons."

  Taking a breath from time to time, Erica continued to engage in either kisses or low whispers.

  Sweetly pleasurable beyond compare, this was also a frantic and awkward exchange. Better yet, Godou could feel something connecting together in the depths of his heart.

  "But if events were traced all the way back, the Celts are the actual invaders. Migrating over vast distances, they traveled from India to Europe, eventually crossing from the continent to the British Isles. The Celts who arrived in Ireland battled the natives, undergoing countless victories and defeats, finally succeeding in making the island their territory."

  Before they knew it, kissing no longer offered sufficient satisfaction. Embracing Erica tightly, using his entire body to affirm her supple sensations, Godou immersed himself in these thoughts with rapture.

  "Bearing a silver arm and the sword of light, the god Nuadha was also the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His myths clearly depict the figure the ancient Celtic king who commanded his people in their conquest of Ireland. Understand all this and forge the knowledge into the god-slicing blade, Godou!"

  Like a gushing torrent, knowledge of the Celtic divine king Nuadha was transmitted through Erica's mouth and tongue.

  Godou could feel the [Sword]'s completion with conviction.

  Thus was born the golden blade for slicing apart a god he had never encountered before.

  Chapter 7 - King of Swords

  Part 1

  "It's been a while, my beloved Andrea! I was so worried about you!"

  "Stop spewing nonsense! You are the worst of trash and the greatest of idiots, Salvatore Doni!"

  On a warm spring night, in a bar lounge of a high class hotel in Milan.

  A heartwarming reunion between two young men who had been separated for a fortnight. Furthermore, Italian media had exploded yesterday with the headlines "Castello Sforzesco, Collapsed!" believed to be perpetrated by left-wing extremist criminal organizations.

  Obviously, this news was fabricated to conceal the truth.

  Even more obvious than that, one of the culprits was right here -- Salvatore Doni.

  "I never thought you would kidnap and imprison me for the sake of causing that kind of commotion..."

  Andrea Rivera thundered with anger.

  Popularly known as the "King's Butler," his duties included attending to and monitoring Doni who was out of touch with modern society.

  One to do things meticulously, Rivera had always dressed impeccably. But today, he was wearing neither a tie nor a jacket. This was way too early for Cool Biz though.[20]

  As things happened, only four hours had passed since he was rescued from mysterious kidnappers.

  Liberated from the Genoa station, Rivera immediately contacted all parties to get up to date and hurried over to his master in Milan. Still dressed in the clothes he was wearing as a prisoner, he had not spent any time on making himself presentable.

  The exchange just now were their first words to each other.

  "You're mistaken, Andrea. I had no idea you were even kidnapped. I was even wondering why I haven't seen you lately."

  "Undoubtedly only you could have been responsible!"

  Unshaven stubble on his face, Rivera angrily accused his master.

  They were able to maintain this manner of speaking between equals only because they were already friends before Doni became [King]. As a side note, no other customers were present in the bar lounge apart from the two of them.

  The only bartender at the counter waited silently on standby.

  Since the business running the hotel was affiliated with the [Copper Black Cross], this place was automatically reserved for Doni every time he casually strolled into Milan.

  Taking a seat at the counter, Rivera ordered a drink.

  "A straight whiskey please. Any brand will do."

  "When did you suddenly let yourself go? Be careful not to drink too much."

  "Because I have to clean up your messes, I'll be goddamned busy starting tomorrow! How could I not drink!"

  Maintaining his silence, the bartender swiftly prepared the drink.

  The amber-colored liquid filled the shot glass. Rivera spoke as he drank.

  "Getting a prestigious magic association involved, turning a famous Milan landmark into rubble, instigating trouble with the seventh Campione for no good reason. If news of all this gets out, who knows how many people in Europe will be shocked senseless. The spread of information must be contained at all costs..."

  "You're still the same old Andrea, always getting worked up over matters of mere appearance."

  "Damn you and your appearances! This is prudence and common sense! By the way, is it tomorrow? Or the day after?"

  Seeing Doni not ordering anything, Rivera questioned.

  The Campione of Swords was a man completely foreign to asceticism. Normally, he ate more than double a normal person's portion. However, he did not even drink a drop of water this night.

  "It's tomorrow. My courtship finally bore fruit."

  Doni waved Kusanagi Godou's "Duel Invitation" as he muttered.

  Whenever he was about to face an important battle, he always abstained from food and drink.

  Scientifically speaking, such abstinence was neither efficient nor meaningful.

  Nevertheless, the sensation of thirst and hunger was able to make his "sword" sharper than usual--

  (On the other hand, given the counterexample of times when he greedily stuffed himself with food and drink to store energy like a bear before h
ibernation, perhaps it was simply a matter of mood. Ultimately, he was a man who could not be explained through science.)

  In any case, the Campione of Swords had entered a state of battle.

  "Enduring this hardship will be worth it. This time my opponent is also filled with fighting spirit. He never admits it out loud, but I'm pretty sure I'm always on his mind."

  "Well, because your opponent is also a Campione."

  As the butler who served a member of this race for four years, Rivera exclaimed as he was struck by a wave of emotions.

  "After all, since it has already come to this! After you die, I will take care of the aftermath in accordance with your will. Any objections?"

  "Ah, that thing you forced me to write down a while ago. Sure, as you wish."

  As expected of my friend. Doni grinned craftily.

  As the Devil King's butler, Rivera was fully informed of what kind of person the current enemy, Kusanagi Godou, was. Completely unversed in martial arts and magic, a Japanese student with only limited battle experience. Based on logic, there did not exist a single element that would lead to Doni dying -- or even losing.

  Nevertheless, Rivera already planned ahead for the possibility.

  Despite their human appearances, Campiones were more akin to "beasts" in nature. Even if they knew nothing of swords and magic, or had zero experience in hunting or battle, they easily and naturally obtained power during combat.

  Probably because that was their nature, they were able to slay a god in the first place.

  Or perhaps through slaying a god, they obtained that sort of nature?

  Doni had no answer to this question. In any case, even if he and the rest of the god-slayers were all beasts, he was a mutant who dared to entrust his destiny to the sword. Other than fighting gods and god-slayers repeatedly, there was no other way to train sword skills that worked on them alike. Hence he must fight.

  Following this cheerful and simplistic line of thinking, Doni looked forward to the duel tomorrow.

  Salvatore Doni and Kusanagi Godou. Spending the night separately, they welcome the arrival of the next day.

  Doni arranged a ride with the [Copper Black Cross] and had them transport him to the shore of Lake Garda. This trip from Milan took less than two hours. Meanwhile, Kusanagi Godou was waiting at the building designated as their battle stage.

  On this late April weekend, the sun was setting in the west. The domination of darkness was arriving.

  This former monastery, abandoned villa, and example of Romanesque architecture was where the two Campiones met once again. They were currently located in a vast space on the second floor that had been used as a dance hall.

  "I've eagerly and impatiently waited for this moment, Godou. I'm currently so touched!"

  "I'm the opposite. In fact, I'm in a particularly foul mood right now."

  Doni exclaimed with joy as Godou scowled.

  A night breeze blew in through the window. The spring constellations should be visible from outside. Clearly it was such a pleasant night, but Doni took out his sword from his cylindrical case.

  "Why don't you find something to wield? This doesn't feel too right."

  "Give me a break. I'm not going to violate any weapons and firearms regulations."

  Towards Godou and his faithful adherence to the laws of his home country, Doni displayed a thoughtful expression as he muttered:

  "I see. Then it can't be helped. Even though it's slightly embarrassing... Oh well, just slightly. Because Campiones are equal, there's no need to mind such things."

  "You, there should be limits to how much of a useless human you can be!"

  Godou finally called this older opponent "you" in a derogatory manner.

  Italy and Japan. The two countries were too far apart in distance. Nevertheless, the two of them felt strongly about each other, recognizing each other as the kin who left the strongest impression--

  Perhaps their strange bonds of fate truly began at this very moment.

  "I will pay you back for that slice, as well as what you owe for the hardship Erica and her faction endured... Let's settle things here, Salvatore Doni!"

  "Hohoho. You look like you have some sort of plan. As you wish, Kusanagi Godou!"

  Doni responded sharply as he watched Godou throw a glance out the open window.

  Nevertheless, he did not try to figure what his enemy was thinking. Trying to think would prevent him from fighting. Emptiness of mind was Salvatore Doni's true skill, the basis for the sword of nothingness in thought.

  I shall entrust everything to my body, my arm and my sword.

  His thoughts were not applied towards how the sword was controlled. The body and the sword moved naturally in accordance to the heart.

  On the other hand, Kusanagi Godou did not have a skill to entrust destiny to an empty state of mind. Using his own power together with his comrade's in a flexible and adaptive manner, he faced battle head on.

  Kin and peers who contrasted with each other in various ways. A spectacular duel was about to begin.

  The rematch with Doni was imminent. The previous fight ended with Godou fleeing from the scene of battle. Using a baseball comparison, the current setup was like a rookie pitcher forced to face a formidable star batter in a direct confrontation with no way out.

  Recalling traumatic memories of the previous overwhelming defeat would be very unsettling--

  Like pitching a high inner corner fastball aimed at the batter's hands, Godou was going to emphasize he had progressed massively from before.

  'Hey Erica, am I allowed to use this ancient villa in this manner?'

  'Of course, I'm fine with it... Seriously, you are not only a hypocritical pacifist but also surprisingly unscrupulous.'

  After telling his partner the plan he came up with, that was the kind of comment he received.

  In any case, he had the owner's permission. Godou pitched a dangerous ball without hesitation.

  "Come forth! This time, I allow you to rampage as much as you want, so hurry here!"

  Godou summoned Verethragna's fifth incarnation, the [Boar].

  ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAR!!

  Familiar roars resounded all over the place. From beneath -- directly below the villa, or in other words, from the ground.

  This overly extravagant abandoned house is my gift to you. In return, wreak as much destruction as possible for me! Responding to Godou's thoughts, the black gigantic beast suddenly manifested.

  Like a missile being fired straight up from the ground, the [Boar] jumped vertically!

  It penetrated the villa's foundations, first and second floors as if they were made of paper. The black beast's head, snout and tusks only flashed before the two Devil Kings' eyes for an instant.

  Of course, the perpetrator Godou had foreseen this already.

  Traversing through the window, he leaped into the air without hesitation. Outside the house, directly below, he had already prepared a mattress that dated back to the building's days as a villa in use. Given a Campione's sturdy body, this level of safety precaution was more than sufficient.

  --In the instant he jumped out the window, Godou witnessed Doni striking downwards repeatedly with his sword.

  "Haha, what an unexpected move!"

  The King of Swords was happily laughing away, not even showing a single shred of fear in the face of this nonsensical preemptive strike. Calmly, he counterattacked with a slash. Needless to say, his right arm was shining with silver brilliance of course.

  In theory, the sword's blade should have hacked apart the head of the [Boar] that was jumping straight up.

  After all, in a contest of ridiculousness, this man deserved a gold medal--

  Godou was utterly amazed. After all, that magic sword was able to slice the entire Castello Sforzesco into rubble. Splitting the 20m-long divine beast cleanly into two would not be out of reason. However.

  ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!

  Creating sonic waves, the [Boar] produced roars acc
ompanied by ultrasound.

  "Waaaaaaaah!"

  Just as the sword was inches from striking the [Boar], the sonic waves blew Doni away forcefully. Immediately after that, the [Boar] cleanly penetrated the villa's second floor and roof, flying into the sky above Lake Garda.

  "I guess in terms of ridiculousness, the [Boar] does not lose to Doni..."

  Finally landing on the mattress, Godou muttered in wonder. Even though he had crouched out of habit and his foot struck his bottom, he did not suffer anything more serious than slight pain on his foot and bottom.

  The majestic gigantic beast kept rising through the moonlit sky like a rocket.

  Already familiar with the summoning, Godou realized with a surprise. What a convenient monster it was. Compared to the other incarnations, its ease of use was overwhelming.

  The beast that could only be summoned with the intent of destroying a massive object.

  In other words, this was the only incarnation that could be used freely according to Godou's will. The [White Stallion] provided the greatest firepower while the [Warrior] may be the most versatile, but if ease of use was factored into the equation, the [Boar] was truly the ultimate trump card.

  "Oh yeah...? Was my intuition mistaken?"

  Godou suddenly noticed. Perhaps, this was actually not a beast that was summoned to fulfill the wish of destroying something.

  Instead, destroying an object was simply the condition for summoning the beast. Once manifested, the [Boar] was only guided by its goal of destruction, merely responding to Godou's orders cursorily on whim.

  "...You think I wouldn't know?"

  Probably best to keep the latter possibility a secret. Godou secretly grumbled to himself.

  "No matter what, calling that guy out always causes widespread destruction. I have to be careful."

  Godou gave himself a self-reminder as he looked towards the villa. The [Boar] in the sky reached its maximum height and began to fall. Not only was it falling, but it was also crashing down rapidly.

  ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!!

  The ferocious roar displayed the beast's fighting spirit. Treating the villa as its target of destruction, the [Boar] crashed down from above like a flying body press. It intended to smash the villa to smithereens using its monstrous gigantic body. However, Godou saw it.