"Is that guy some kind of deepwater creature..."
"It would not be surprising if he rivals a tardigrade's ability to survive."
As a side note, the tardigrade was a microorganism roughly a millimeter in body length. It was the kind of resilient existence that could enter a state of suspended animation, allowing it to survive extreme environments such as high temperatures, low temperatures and vacuums.[21]
"Godou, if you really have that intention, I could help you obtain that thing to ride. Yes, there's the spell I mentioned yesterday. At my current level, even moving that size of metal is no problem at all."
"I-Idiot. It was just a thought. Don't treat it seriously."
The suggestion was tentatively rejected by Godou.
Very likely, this idea was proposed with roughly 52% seriousness -- although that was what Erica suspected, she did not voice it out. This was a knight's compassion.
--In any case, the night of the duel finally arrived.
Erica Blandelli did not participate. Like the battle against Melqart, she waited on standby in case of changes in the situation. She kept a fair distance away from the two Devil Kings.
Also, regarding Erica's participation:
"Since this is clearly meant to be a one on one duel, wouldn't this be unfair?"
"No problem. When Godou summoned the [Boar], didn't Melqart call forth his servants? Having divine beasts or familiars to assist in fights is actually fundamental to the battles of your ilk."
Despite Godou's objections, she replied nonchalantly.
And now, under Erica's careful watch, Godou had sealed the "magic sword" by using his own body as bait.
Though heavily injured, he was now able to use the [Camel] to face off against the Campione of Swords.
"Now, let's start concluding things officially."
As Doni muttered, the runes of [Steel] spread all around him.
On the other hand, Godou seemed to be frowning from the pain of the sword injury.
However, the bleeding had already stopped. Apparently, his healing powers were even stronger than usual. This was probably one of the abilities of the [Camel], in addition to conferring beast-like combat ability and exceptional kicking power. His body also seemed lighter and more agile.
Using speed that no track athlete could hope to match, Godou suddenly broke into a run.
Nevertheless, Salvatore Doni pursued with a knight's [Leap] magic. This was the physical technique known as qinggong to Chinese martial artists whose use conferred exceptional running and jumping ability.
Wherever Doni ran, deep footprints were left behind conspicuously on the ground.
It was reminiscent of the tracks left behind by the treads of heavy machinery. Just as Doni described, his weight must have multiplied to a frightening degree.
However, Doni continued to run with his usual speed and posture.
"Sir Salvatore's [Man of Steel]... Turns out to be even more ridiculous than imagined."
Murmuring to herself, Erica also began to run.
She too, was capable of [Leap] magic so there was no worry she would be left behind. In mere minutes, Godou raced down the mountain path that had taken him thirty minutes to climb yesterday. Doni took slightly longer followed by Erica who had been hiding.
Godou's destination was the pier on the lakeside.
This was where many private yachts were moored. Lake Garda, as Italy's largest lake, was a place that allowed the enjoyment of marine leisure activities.
Godou ran there with the blond Campione in pursuit.
His target was very likely -- Erica observed the direction he was running towards.
She could tell immediately. Before her eyes were the ships used for touring Lake Garda. Since it was night time, all these ships were moored in preparation for setting sail the next day.
"I was really so surprised to hear you describing yourself as a pacifist and someone with common sense. Clearly whenever you come across something advantageous in battle, you almost never hesitate to make use of it."
Surprisingly, he went beyond a simple lack of scruples. Erica murmured to herself.
"Probably, you'd use anything unscrupulously so long as it wasn't overtly cowardly or villainous. And with great momentary decisiveness!"
Erica could imagine what Godou was about to do.
Born sharp and intelligent, and having spent brief but intense days with the youth, she naturally figured out what he almost suggested.
She saw Godou jump with great agility, leaping onto the deck of the tour ship.
Chasing after him, Doni also jumped onto the ship. The instant he landed, the ship rocked violently, presumably due to the blond handsome man's excessive weight.
Prepared for the situation, Erica chanted spell words as she came before the ship.
"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken... Because he was wroth!"[22]
Choosing a ship as the stage for the duel and having the [Boar] destroy it. That was the plan suggested earlier in the morning.
However, even if they did that, Salvatore Doni would probably survive miraculously. Regardless, the [Boar] was temporarily unusable for now. In that case, Godou's goal should not be that.
Most likely, he intended to take advantage of his enemy's "invulnerability"...!
Starting from the ruins of the monastery, a long distance run took place for six minutes or so.
Switching locations to the deck of a tour ship, the final round of the battle began. A diagonal straight sword cut across his upper torso, Godou faced off against Doni.
"Finally the foot race has ended... This can't be your hobby. I was beginning to think you were trying to use some kind of long range weapon."
Bearing a sword and the runes of [Steel], Doni smiled fearlessly. Compared to before, his current expression displayed less foolishness and more acuity. Godou knew that he looked more like a proper lady-killer when his face was like that.
His beautiful voice whispering softly, expressed complete manliness despite the sweetness in tone.
"If I could still use the silver arm, I'd simply slice the ground to pieces to bury you."
"Gee thanks, I'm really relieved that you can't do something so lacking in common sense."
Retorting with sarcasm, Godou was currently using the [Camel] incarnation.
The straight slashing wound was not too painful but only felt a little hot. This was probably the [Camel]'s effect.
"Fufufu. Ignoring your own issues, that's really quite a flaw of yours."
Doni "swiftly" approached as he remarked rudely.
At the same time, he sliced with his sword like a flame haze. Even without Nuadha's authority, Salvatore Doni was still a person who could use the magic sword on some level.
The [Camel]'s combat sense managed to see through that magical swordsmanship.
As Godou dodged by the slimmest of margins, Doni watched with a nonchalant expression.
"This time, you're using an ability that enables you to engage me in close-quarter combat. Your authority appears to allow you to switch between warlord Verethragna's ten incarnations."
"You are right."
"I knew it. Given that the ten incarnations have the quality of switching, it feels like there should be all sorts of usage conditions. Once you master your authority, things will be really interesting."
Doni dangled his sword vertically by his side, resuming his usual stance.
"However, all that would be meaningless if you were to fall here!"
As soon as he finished his merciless declaration, he slashed. A horizontal slash!
Godou focused his vision to watch Doni's sword clearly.
Comparing Erica's sword swings with Doni's, Godou finally understood that the latter's trajectories were far more compact.
Using shorter, smaller trajec
tories, he was able to swing his sword much faster!
Furthermore, his swings carried greater impact, delivering intense power with his sword!
All these factors combined to produce those "flame haze"-like sword strikes that were difficult to evade. Very likely, Doni was capable of slicing at maximum force even when limited to short distances of 30cm. Truly, his was a magic sword transcending common logic.
"And that's why this guy is a master!"
Expressing admiration and annoyance simultaneously, Godou did not retreat from this attack.
A sure-kill horizontal slice to the torso. Impossible to evade. There were no avenues for retreat backwards or to the side. This was what the [Camel]'s instincts sensed. The only way to survive was -- forward!
Godou's body moved on its own. Stepping ahead of where Doni's swing was heading, he jumped lightly, sending a sudden knee towards the face of the Campione who possessed the weight and hardness of steel.
Doni blocked Godou's knee with his left palm.
The impact felt like kicking an iron plate, but Godou's kneecap did not fracture. After all, the [Camel]'s kicks had the power to shatter concrete and break iron plates.
Although Doni's left palm was completely unharmed, that did not matter.
Thanks to running forward, as long as Godou avoided the sword's blade, as long as it was only Doni's right arm that struck him, his body could still endure.
"Eh."
Grunting, Doni stepped on Godou's instep.
It felt like a heavy block of iron had been dropped on it. While Godou was distracted by the pain from his left foot...
Doni used his unarmed left hand to push Godou's chest. This seemed like a light shove, but was actually a terrifying palm strike.
With a great thud, Godou felt like the core of his body was struck by a crushing impact, sending him toppling backwards. The sensation was like being rolled over by a fully accelerated dump truck.
To think the [Man of Steel]'s weight could be used to attack in this manner!
Furthermore, while performing these actions, Doni turned the sword in his right hand at the same time. He was aiming for a straight thrust for piercing Godou's throat.
In order to evade, Godou arched himself and leaned backwards.
As Doni's sword missed, Godou aimed a kick at his right fist which held the sword. However, the sturdy and heavy arm did not even budge from the impact.
"Still not giving up, Godou? But how much further can you endure?"
Doni swung his sword at Godou's horizontal posture, slicing at his abdomen.
This attack caused Godou to roll on the ground to evade. Though his posture was most unbecoming, there was no other choice given the circumstances. In order to survive, Godou took desperate measures.
His enemy was an expert in close-quarter combat, and a super heavyweight as well.
Furthermore, Godou's left foot was now injured by the stomping, rendering his agility useless. Standing up, Godou found the night breeze blowing across his face rather chilly.
"No, there's no need to endure any further. I'm so relieved."
Cornered to this extent, indeed there was no point in seeking victory through close-quarter combat.
However, Godou began to smile. He could feel his lips twisting grotesquely. Because he knew the opportunity for counterattacking had finally arrived, his fighting spirit was roused intensely.
"Something I possess, but you don't, has given me a final chance. If this doesn't work, then I have no hope of winning -- so I will give it a try!"
"Hoho. What naive words."
Godou conversed with Doni as he thanked Erica in his heart.
Even though he did not have the leisure to confer with her, his "partner" had already read his intentions perfectly.
While the two god-slayers were fighting on the deck, the ship had started moving at some point in time.
Using the "magic for making metal move" that she mentioned yesterday and this morning, Erica made the ship set sail.
The night breeze blowing across the lake was extremely cold.
Having left the shore, the ferry had sailed quite far into the lake.
The water in this area should be deep enough. Since Lake Garda was Italy's deepest lake, it should be more than sufficient. Godou spoke up:
"Just as you described, my abilities have many strict usage conditions. Amongst them all, this one is also quite troublesome to fulfill. But with you as the target, this posed no problem from the start."
Earlier, Godou had confirmed three incarnations available for use. Now was the time to unleash the third one.
"By troublesome, you mean?"
"It is only permitted to be used against a great sinner who has caused hardship and suffering to the people... You, how much trouble have you brought on others? Since my most powerful move was available from the very start, I decided to trick you by using it last."
"I just go a little far with my pranks sometimes. If you label me as a great sinner, wouldn't you deserve the same title based on what happened tonight?"
"I don't want to hear that from you!"
This was a frivolous exchange, lacking in solemnity that befitted a duel between Devil Kings.
However, the preparations were all complete. From the tour ship's deck, Godou glanced into the distance and saw specks of starlight in the eastern sky.
"For victory, hasten forth before me... O Immortal Sun, I beseech thee to grant radiance to the stallion!"
As Godou yelled out the spell words, the eastern sky was illuminated by the rosy colors of sunrise.
This untimely light of dawn pierced the veil of night. Furthermore, the eastern sun fragmented to form a descending spear of flame at this instant.
This was the arrival of Verethragna's third incarnation, the [White Stallion].
"Guh -- !"
Even Salvatore Doni was unable to evade the downpour of flames.
Engulfed by white light, he was scorched by the flames of judgment.
If he opened fire at full blast like the time at Sicily, even Godou himself would get caught up in the flames. Godou desperately used his thoughts to focus the flames and heat as much as possible. His prayers answered, the white conflagration formed a pillar of fire centered on Doni with a radius of a few meters.
Although a massive hole was bored through the ship, it still managed to continue sailing.
At this very moment, Doni could be heard yelling.
"You really dared to do it. But don't think you can get past my invulnerability!"
Standing in the middle of the white pillar of fire, Doni smiled courageously. In this extreme predicament, the "warrior amongst warriors" was literally on fire, displaying greater ferocity the hotter his temperature.
"Even if the body is crushed and scattered, the sword never dies! The broken blade shall be melted down in the furnace, forged once more to be reborn as a new sword. This level of flames cannot destroy me!"
These were spell words for invoking the [Man of Steel] for maximum protection.
The runes surrounding Doni increased to several hundred, glowing with red light. Standing in the center of the fire, the blond Campione unbelievably survived.
His clothes were burning away in the super high temperature flames while his sword gradually melted into a viscous paste.
That muscular body, as tight as a whip, was scorched red in color -- or rather, it became red-hot like metal heated to high temperature. Nevertheless, he remained completely unharmed!
At the same time, the [White Stallion]'s flames began to burn the ship's body, melting it.
"Friend, I will endure this scorching right before your eyes! After that, let's have an unrestrained final round!"
"Seriously, by this stage, this is the final round!"
Godou forced his heavily wounded body to move, intending to jump into the lake.
He knew the ship's body was reaching its limits. Rather than getting burnt alive, he would rather take his chances by taking a nigh
t swim with his injured body.
Doni extended a scorched red-hot hand towards Godou.
"Come on man, don't say something so heartless. Our battle is only starting now!"
"Like I said, it's impossible! Unless you can float in water with that mass of yours!"
"Eh?"
The ship finally melted and sank, sending both Devil Kings into Lake Garda.
However, their fates stood in stark contrast.
Kusanagi Godou barely managed to tread water and stay afloat.
On the other hand, his body of [Steel] strengthened to the max, Salvatore Doni sank to the bottom like an anchor made of steel.
In addition, the [White Stallion]'s rays of the sun continued firing from the eastern sky, as if trying to incinerate Doni even as he sank. Not this again, thought Godou to himself.
Lakewater boiled and evaporated from the high temperature.
Steaming up everywhere, the lakewater became scalding like boiling water.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah..."
Salvatore Doni's voice and figure disappeared into the depths of the lake.
Nevertheless, the [White Stallion] descending from the eastern sky continued, attempting to burn its sunken target to the very end. The blue lakewater continued to heat up, but Doni survived nonetheless.
After one or two minutes, Erica arrived to the rescue on a rowing boat.
Saved from the water, Godou could still watch the laser beam persist for quite a while longer.
As soon as the light and flames finally vanished, Godou spoke up quietly on the boat.
"...I was thinking just maybe, did that guy die?"
"...Then rather than 'just maybe,' you should be saying 'sure enough.' However."
Erica displayed a complicated expression that included worry and admiration.
"I don't believe for one second that Sir Salvatore would die as easily as that. I keep getting the feeling he would exclaim 'I almost thought I was a goner!" and suddenly surface from the water any time."
Godou completely agreed on this point.
Epilogue
Taking a rowing boat, Erica rescued Godou from the lake.
However, he fainted soon after they reached the shore. Having been cut by Doni's sword and suffering further injuries, he was on the verge of death.
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