Campione 14

by The Eighth Godslayer

  In other words, this was an army of almost a hundred mini-pterosaurs!

  The mini-pterosaurs kept flying towards Godou's group on the castle walls.

  Swarming from all directions, all three hundred and sixty degrees, they approached. The [Boar]'s mission was to intercept them.

  ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAR! ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAR! ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAR! ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAR!

  The black divine beast kept emitting cries with shockwaves, striking down wave after wave of the mini-pterosaurs as though it were a workflow.

  Even so, due to the great numbers, there were naturally those that slipped through.

  However, the mini-pterosaurs that escaped the shockwaves still aimed for Godou as their target. Hence, Erica and Ena were able to attack with impunity, piercing them with the magic sword and slaying them with the divine sword. Had there been any remnants of the Roman army lingering in the stronghold, the beasts might have produced turmoil amongst them. However, the soldiers all seemed to have retreated already.

  Very quickly, the army of mini-pterosaurs was essentially all wiped out.

  Seeing this, Uldin made his pterosaur descend to roughly twenty meters away from the castle walls where Godou's group was standing.

  "How amazing, comrade. Of course, I already had great confidence in your capability... But to be honest, I never expected I'd be pushed to this degree."

  As the pterosaur landed, its "wings" disappeared.

  The wings on its left and right transformed back into the short front limbs. From what Godou had observed so far, these front limbs had no use apart from the ability to grab things.

  With that, the pterosaur basically transformed into a Deinonychus.

  "I want you as my proxy more and more. Let's make a promise. I will conquer this castle next. If you're still alive by that point—You will surrender and serve under my military command."

  Uldin smiled joyfully from astride the back of the Deinonychus.

  In a reversal of positions from earlier, Godou was now staring down from the castle walls at the smiling Uldin. Serving the important role as a 'fortress,' the [Boar] was waiting quietly behind him.

  The black divine beast's brawny and giant body trembled, moaning "uuuu..." quietly.

  Its eyes were bloodshot. The suppressed fighting spirit was apparently reaching a limit.

  "But unfortunately, I'm not confident that I can defeat you with your life intact. So perhaps, my offer is akin to a delusional dream. Let me state beforehand, don't hate me if you get killed, okay?"

  "As usual, you're still saying whatever you want on your own..."

  Godou made a wry expression in response to Uldin's words.

  Despite the man's declaration of absolute certainty in victory, Godou still found him quite likable. Despite him being a barbarian in the ancient world, Godou still felt a sense of intellectuality.

  This was definitely some sort of charisma. However, precisely because of that—

  "You're the one who should agree to my promise. If I win, stop asking me about this!"

  "Sure, so the wager's on now."

  How could I possibly let you have victory? Godou yelled in such a manner. Uldin responded similarly.

  Then the Hunnic godslayer began to chant new spell words.

  "O mother, creator of all life and existence."

  The battlefield was strewn with piles of the mini-pterosaurs' remains.

  Massive bodies moved amidst all this. Those were the two pterosaurs brought by Uldin. Witnessing the two divine beasts flying over their master's head, Godou nodded.

  These two pterosaurs had not been defeated. They had only taken a brief break to gather their energy!

  "Now I once again grant sharp teeth to these dragons, conferring merciless poison!"

  The two pterosaurs' bodies overlapped and merged together.

  Two into one. The two pterosaurs combined into a single body to become a "giant dragon" and proceeded to enlarge further.

  The outstretched wings were exceptionally wide. The wingspan probably measured forty meters or so.

  Judging purely from the head and body, it was roughly the [Boar]'s size.

  Apart from the long neck like a plesiosaur's and the tail of a scorpion's, the rest of the body was the same as before.

  Growing on the head were seven horns that gave off an aura of solemnity like a crown.

  "In order to take out this giant thing, I guess I have to go this far."

  Extraordinary magical power was coursing through Uldin's body.

  It was flowing towards the giant dragon with its wings outstretched above him. Receiving the master's power, the giant dragon transformed into an even more ferocious state. Its outer skin changed into dragon scales of bright red.

  With the giant red dragon's appearance, the massive black boar cried out loudly.

  ROOOOOAAAAAAR!

  Due to the shockwaves carried by the roar, not only the air but also the castle and the ground began to shake. Was the [Boar]'s suppression reaching a limit—?

  Godou motioned to his companions with his eyes. Erica and Ena nodded lightly in response.

  They both understood it was time for victory to be decided.

  "The one unblunted and unapproachable, oath-breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice!"

  "O dragon! Clad in a crown of fire and fear, turn into a god!"

  In the next instant, Godou and Uldin both yelled out spell words.

  Then the giant red dragon spread its vast wings and flew above the stronghold, widening its jaws that were lined with rows of vicious teeth and breathing out fierce flames. In response, the giant black boar roared back as usual.

  ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

  In the instant the shockwaves, mixed amidst the roaring, neutralized the giant dragon's flames, the [Boar] leaped.

  Like a rocket fired from a launchpad, the [Boar] pounced on the giant red dragon in the air. Burying its tusks into the giant dragon's chest, the ferocious and charging [Boar] then crashed into the ground together with the flying beast.

  Entangled together, the two beasts did not separate after falling to the ground.

  The situation was as though two human martial artists were grappling with pinning techniques.

  The [Boar] was on top with the red dragon pinned underneath. However, the giant dragon reached out with its long neck and bit the [Boar]'s stout head. Blood gushed out from the wound.

  Next, the giant dragon's hind legs were still equipped with those "terrible claws" of the Deinonychus.

  The two hooked claws buried themselves respectively in the left and right sides of the [Boar]'s body, tearing into it. Although the [Boar] was superior in its ability to charge, a fight on the ground seemed to be favoring the giant dragon.

  Just as the battle was about to be decided, Erica sprang into action.

  "O red emblem formed from a cross... Turn into a wedge and pierce the enemy!"

  Enveloped entirely in red light, the sacred exterminator flew at full speed.

  Using the shield on her left hand to guard her body, she charged in a straight line towards the giant red dragon's flank.

  Striking the enemy with her body along with the lion's magic sword, it was as though a giant's right straight punch had landed on the massive dragon—This was quite similar to the charging attack that Erica's uncle had performed back in the present.

  Strong as the red dragon was, its massive head still shook from the blow and released the [Boar]'s head from its jaws.

  Were it an ordinary divine beast, this attack would have simply defeated it. Nevertheless, as expected of the "hidden move" that Udin had poured his power into, the giant dragon remained alive.

  Erica continued to fly and separated herself from the giant dragon's side.

  Due to exhausting the exterminator's power in the attack just now, the light enveloping her had weakened and she was about to land. However, she had already distanced herself a sufficient amount.

  "Go! Now is the time for a full-powe
red attack to defeat the enemy!"

  Godou instantly ordered the [Boar] who had time for respite thanks to Erica.

  The black beast inhaled deeply to fill its mouth with air.

  Then it roared at full blast—

  ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO​AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

  These were the shockwaves the giant boar released by pouring its full power into them.

  The destructive power caused the giant dragon's body to shake intensely, broken in various places all over by the shockwaves. Using a human body as an analogy, it would be a tragic state like having all the bones crushed and all the internal organs ruptured.

  Oh well, the price paid by the [Boar] was quite substantial too.

  The shockwaves also caused considerable damage to the [Boar]'s own body.

  In the manner of mutual defeat, the two giant beasts desperately endured their pain, but finally succumbed—Both of them disappeared from the ground as a pair.

  Immediately afterwards, a giant shadow appeared right before the eyes of Godou's group.

  It was the Deinonychus, the divine beast carrying Uldin as its rider.

  Despite having lost its wings, it was still able to jump onto the castle walls with great agility.

  Using those "terrible claws" to nimbly cling to the edge of the walls, the divine beast maintained its balance.

  "Your Majesty, danger!"

  Rushing in front of Godou, Ena slashed the divine sword's blade towards the divine beast's throat.

  In response, the Deinonychus opened its mouth to reveal the dense rows of sharp teeth growing inside. This supernatural creature merely resembled a dinosaur but was no reptile. Godou expected it to spew out flames or lightning—But he guessed wrongly.

  The Deinonychus puffed out gray smoke.

  This was merely smoke that obscured one's view. However, it caught Godou and Ena completely by surprise.

  Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Deinonychus swung its flexible tail with a "whoosh" like a whip.

  "Waaaaah!"

  Struck by the attack, Ena was blown far and away.

  She was sent flying outside the castle walls like a golf ball that had been struck by the stroke of a club. Then the Deinynochus nimbly leapt down to pursue the Hime-Miko for a follow-up attack.

  Naturally, Godou followed, intending to rescue Ena—

  Whoosh! At the sound of slicing wind, Godou evaded the attack on instinct.

  He jumped towards the outside of the walls, landing on the ground from the five-meter height of the castle walls. Guarding his head with his arms, he buffered the impact and rolled on the ground.

  Thanks to a Campione's sturdy body, all he suffered were minor scratches.

  Despite the stinging pain all over his body and the unsightly maneuver, Godou had no time to care about that. This was because three arrows had passed through the spot Godou had just occupied.

  On ground level once more, Godou endured the pain and stood up instantly.

  He looked up at the castle walls where the other godslayer was standing.

  "Well dodged, comrade. I've long wanted to enjoy the fun of this kind of one-on-one duel. Man, I am so late to the party."

  Readying his bow, Uldin nocked an arrow and aimed at Godou on the ground.

  Involuntarily, Godou had jumped down to the ground in the scene that had just transpired. Now, the two Campiones' positions were once again reversed from earlier.

  Part 4

  The stronghold's surroundings were littered with the corpses of the mini-pterosaurs.

  Remains were rolling everywhere. Since almost a hundred pterosaurs were wiped out by the [Boar]'s shockwave attacks, this was only to be expected.

  Erica struggled with her exhausted body and made her way towards the stronghold unsteadily.

  The sacred privilege of extermination was fully depleted. Erica felt exhausted all over and her head was aching.

  Indeed, it was difficult to replicate her uncle's sustainability when using a Paladino-level mystic ritual beyond what her body could withstand.

  However, the boy she loved absolutely was currently still engaged in the fight against Uldin.

  Very likely, the battle was fast approaching the end phase. She had to hurry over and help him—!

  Erica mustered all her strength to rush towards the stronghold. Just as she was doing so, she saw one of her companions fall through the air, tracing out a parabolic trajectory.

  It was Seishuuin Ena, wielding Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

  However, the Hime-Miko of the Sword was truly amazing. Just as she was about to strike the ground, she swiftly turned herself.

  Splendidly landing on her feet, her motions were akin to a cat's.

  However, she seemed to have suffered heavy injuries already. After landing, she had difficulty standing properly. Crouching down, she held the side of her abdomen with her free left hand while she wielded Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi in her right.

  "Ena-san, are you injured!?"

  "I-It's fine. Just minor wounds. Ena will take care of that beast immediately!"

  Ena twisted her face as though in pain, answering Erica as she remained in her crouching posture.

  She did not look fine at all. However, she was right about there being a beast—This time, a Deinonychus descended from the air. It had apparently jumped down in pursuit of Ena.

  Landing on the ground, the Deinonychus swiftly discovered the weakened Ena.

  Stretching out its head, back and tail in a straight line, it ran and approached, opening its grotesque jaws in an attempt to bite the Hime-Miko!

  "Grampsy, if you can hear me—Lend your power to Ena!"

  Just as she was about to be torn apart by the Deinonychus' teeth, Ena cried out.

  Immediately, the divine power of Susanoo erupted from her body. Using the power of the storm god who ruled over the wind and the atmosphere, she created a small tornado to suppress the Deinonychus' movements.

  She had probably remained crouching in order to bait the enemy to attack.

  "Yaaaaaah!"

  Taking this opportunity to stand up, she launched Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi as one would throw a lance.

  Responding well to this manner of usage which was impossible for ordinary swords, the divine sword's sharp blade pierced the Deinonychus' throat.

  Dealt a fatal blow by the attack, the divine beast's giant body fell over sideways.

  Erica was dumbfounded. The Deinonychus had been fighting like a beast just now. This was completely different from the hit-and-run tactics it used in Uldin's presence.

  "S-Since Uldin-san is currently busy fighting His Majesty, E-Ena thought it probably might work."

  Panting heavily, Ena picked up Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

  She was still showing a face full of suffering as she pressed her hand against the side of her abdomen. Even so, Ena still cast her gaze towards the stronghold in worry.

  The two warriors were facing off, one above and one below the castle walls—Uldin and Kusanagi Godou.

  "In any case, I'll cast healing magic on you first."

  "Th-Thanks. Erica-san, you're really thoughtful..."

  This type of healing magic was not immediately effective. It took a certain length of time before the effects would appear.

  Even so, Erica still applied the spell. Ena gave Erica a gaze of gratitude and the two girls nodded at each other.

  They had to return to Godou's side as quickly as possible—Without even discussing, the pair had already reached the same decision.

  Erica lent her shoulder for Ena to lean on as she walked while gritting her teeth.

  At this moment, an unbelievable phenomenon happened.

  However, this was also foreseen beforehand, because they had already heard about this type of power.

  "This really is..."

  "In other words, Uldin finally used his trump card..."

  Seeing the various corpses stand up, Ena an
d Erica whispered softly to each other.

  Turning back time slightly—

  Erica and Ena were not present. The [Boar] had already disappeared.

  Godou was finally all alone. Conversely, Uldin was also alone. The Hunnic godslayer readied his small bow and took down from his belt the quiver of arrows he had taken from the dragon saddle.

  Uldin was standing atop the castle walls while Godou was below. Due to this positioning, close-quarter combat was not possible.

  "Like I said, the battle isn't decided yet..."

  Godou muttered. He still had another incarnation available. Namely, the [Goat].

  This sacred beast, capable of using lightning, was unlocked whenever the populace suffered from atrocities and became his allies. Uldin was Augusta Raurica's enemy and there were twenty thousand citizens living in the vicinity of this stronghold.

  Godou was perfectly capable of drawing on this power from the populace using psychic sensing.

  Unlike arrows, there was no issue of "running out of ammunition." Perhaps the battle had actually swung in his favor now—

  Just as Godou was about to invoke the [Goat], he suddenly felt dizzy.

  "The... heck...?"

  His feet tangled together. Godou was filled with nausea and even his entire body felt cold.

  He was quite shocked by this first experience.

  "Did it finally take effect? Only befitting of my kin to display such resilience."

  Uldin smiled wryly as he gazed down at Godou from atop the castle walls.

  "Ordinary poisons have no effect on us, but this substance, prepared from the distant orient and delivered here—specially made to cause even a godslayer to faint—has finally exerted its effects."

  Poison!? Impossible, Godou thought. Although there was that time when Liliana drugged him in the past, but a Campione's ridiculously tough body possessed considerable resistance to poisons.

  When the heck did he eat anything like that?

  Godou had been carefully paying attention to his food during his stay in Uldin's castle and did not notice eating anything poisoned...

  Could it be—Godou realized something and was suddenly shocked.

  Uldin smiled with delight and took out an arrow from his quiver.

  Just as imagined, there was a viscous, transparent liquid dripping down from the arrowhead.