Campione 07
Page 2
"Very true, try not to harm them and simply make them lose the ability to fight."
As Erica complained, Liliana spoke gloomily. On the other hand, the other main combatant Lu Yinghua looked very relaxed.
"I won't feel sorrow even if I kill them, but there'd still be a shred of guilt. How about letting me prepare us a car to escape?"
"Prepare? Did you guys come here by car?"
The young master of the Lu family smiled at Godou maliciously.
"Of course not, but right now in the nearby parking lot over there, aren't there many cars with owners who had been turned into monkeys? We can have our free pick. Luckily the Lu family has many subordinates with talents in this area, and I picked up a bit of skill from them. Opening locks and driving are not a problem."
Was this guy really a member of upper class society? The one who cleared this doubt was Erica.
"Perhaps you all have misconceptions about this guy, so let me clarify. It is rumored that the ancestors of the Lu family have roots in triads, or in other words, you can call them the likes of gangsters and robbers directly."
"Really, Erica-neesan, please use something a little more classy like 'heroic outlaws', OK?"
Lu Yinghua quietly laughed to himself.
"Probably like the Three Heroes and the Five Gallants[15] or the Outlaws of the Marsh[16], those who call themselves heroes or martial artists often had roots as outlaws. Tracing back the exploits of the ancestors, they did take part in activities like "thievery", but the Lu family prides itself for never having a member who turned out to be an evil villain."
"Pretty much along the lines of thieves, bandits, pirates, mounted robbers, highwaymen..."
Regarding this triad member who proudly admitted to his roots, Liliana whispered with an impressed tone:
"Though the current situation is dire, if given a choice we should not deliberately break the law... Erica, I will use flight magic once more. Help me stall for time."
"Got it. Please find us a safe hiding place."
As Erica nodded, Liliana closed her eyes. When using flight magic in unfamiliar lands, it was necessary to use vision spells to confirm the destination.
"Embers cast into the black metal cauldron. May the essence of the red wheel appear above my hand!"
Erica chanted the spell words, and fire surrounded Godou and his group.
The one-meter tall flames blocked the gaze and murderous intent of the monkeys like a wall. This was a move intended to restrain and defend against the monkey army.
A few particularly vigorous monkeys tried to make a leap, but the fire wall's height instantly doubled. Burnt by the red tongues of fire, the monkeys noisily retreated to their group.
"Oh... You realized that my servants are actually your fellow humans? How clever! Then I must prepare even more interesting tricks to handle you guys —"
Hikari's voice once again... No, it was the voice of the Great Sage. He seemed a lot craftier than the average monkey, but did not sound like he was going to attack. Perhaps it was true he couldn't fight personally after all?
As Godou was sent into deep thought, Yuri suddenly tried to survey the surroundings.
"Yuri, did your spirit vision see something?"
"Yes, that is correct, Erica-san! Something very dangerous is approaching, a threat that requires high alert, it should be here immediately — everyone, look up!"
Godou turned his gaze upwards and had a great shock.
A monkey was descending from the pitch black darkness of the sky, its fur having a copper color with a shade of orange, with the body size far exceeding normal monkeys. Crash! A massive noise reverberated and the ground shook as it landed.
Descending upon the main visiting path, this monkey was taller than normal cedar trees.
Roughly twelve, thirteen meters in height, it had a strongly-built physique, long arms and short legs, and a stout and giant body resembling something in between a gorilla or an ape.
Erica's wall of flames was likely useless against this guy.
"This is not like the monkeys we met just now — it's a divine beast! A divine monkey beast that serves the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, with strength that probably rivals dragons, and unimaginably powerful!"
Warned by Erica, Godou looked at Liliana.
The silver-haired knight had closed her eyes, but the flight magic was not yet ready.
Yet another giant monkey fell from the sky. Even for Erica and the rest, divine beasts were challenging opponents. For two enemies like that to appear, it looked like they had entered a most desperate crisis.
Part 3
As the stony ground shook beneath their feet, the two monkeys approached Godou's group.
Lu Yinghua watched them and said:
"Looks like a deadly battle is unavoidable. Kusanagi-sama, I will attack first to attract their attention. Please use this opportunity to escape."
"Wait a minute, I can't let someone I met the first time today do me a favor like that!"
"That's not how it goes. If Kusanagi-san came back in Master's stead, then you are currently her representative. If I don't display my utmost loyalty to you, then I will be punished sooner or later most severely. Think of it as self-preservation."
Godou suddenly began to pity the youth who spoke such words. On further thought, since that woman was his master, he must have led a hard life all these years.
But after seeing Lu Yinghua's detestable smiling face, he immediately changed his mind.
"Besides, as the disciple of Luo Cuilian, I'm not used to fighting with burdens to take care of. So let me fight my battle alone — Nee-san, is this acceptable? I believe none of you here are arrogant enough to think you can keep up with my speed?"
Hearing his audacious words, both female knights nodded reluctantly.
To have the courage and capability to make such boasts to the two genius great knight prodigies, truly, it was a case of 'like master, like disciple.' Godou felt that somehow the master-disciple pair suited each other very well.
Having made clear his intentions, the youth leaped towards the petrified forest, his motions like a bird gliding on its wings. This served the role of an attractive beacon for these monkeys.
The members of the monkey army, whose heights ranged from half a meter up to a full meter, began to pounce after the youth. As wild beasts, these monkeys surpassed normal humans by far in athletic ability despite their small size, and also had sharp claws and fangs.
However, Lu Yinghua was even faster and more agile than the monkeys.
Moving conspicuously through the cedar branches, he nimbly evaded the monkey army's attack. He even used his skill of Tanzhishentong[17] to flick his index and middle fingers to attack the monkeys' foreheads or abdomens. Monkeys that suffered his attacks either fainted or collapsed painfully, struggling as they vomited.
One of the two giant monkeys began to move after Lu Yinghua, its attention captured by his conspicuous movements.
It made a beeline for the youth, forcing its way and pushing down cedar trees. The little monkeys scattered away like spiders in its wake.
Finally, the giant ape reached out with its very long arm, intent on capturing its prey.
Lu Yinghua lightly jumped to a branch on the neighboring tree. While holding the giant ape's attention, he moved between branches like a squirrel and immediately disappeared into the depths of the forest.
The giant ape casually brushed aside the trees (which were now equivalent to stone pillars) as it gave chase.
Its massive body, over ten meters tall, ran like the violent winds of a storm, gradually destroying the petrified cedar forest in its wake with destructive power equivalent to a typhoon. Furthermore, another one of these giant apes still remained near Godou's group.
"Light from the East, show me your mysterious power!"
Princess Alice suddenly chanted spell words and aimed her palm at the remaining giant ape.
An intense flash of light shot forth from her palm, burning th
e giant ape's eyes.
ROOOOOAAAAR! The giant ape's howls echoed in the surroundings.
"A-Alice-san! What was that move just now?"
"The sacred miko's blessing of light to drive off enemies. In a fight against divine beasts, it's only effective as a distraction, but used as a farewell greeting, it is more than enough."
The one who called herself a princess carried herself with elegance and calm.
The massive monkey nearby was waving its arms and legs attacking randomly, screaming strenuously. Princess Alice's courage sure was outstanding.
"Just like what that child said just now, we'd better get going. Kusanagi-sama, even though you are a devil king Campione, you need rest in your current state."
Godou nodded in agreement. Right now, his body was covered with wounds.
Even without the side effects of the [Raptor], the injuries caused by Luo Hao's attacks were enough to immobilize him.
"I really would have wanted to watch the outcome of this commotion... But I regret to say, Cinderella's curfew has arrived."
The blonde beauty smiled.
"Since too much magical power has been exhausted, this body will run out of energy soon. I have to return my consciousness to my true body to rest. The next time I can visit you all... Would most likely be a few days later."
In other words, she had flown over here from her home in London using something like ectoplasm or a psychic projection.
Enduring his stiff body, Godou nodded firmly to her.
"I understand. I will handle everything here properly. Please take your rest, I am really grateful to you for today."
"Not at all, the honor is all mine. I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to find out what kind of person you are."
Alice deliberately winked humorously.
"Ah, by the way, I would like to make a request to Erica and the rest. Please keep our meeting a secret. Likewise, I will keep all manners of Kusanagi-sama's secrets."
Hearing this request that sounded like a joke, Erica gracefully bowed. Having found her destination, Liliana also opened her eyes and respectfully bowed to Princess Alice.
Like paying respects to a noble lady, was Princess Alice's true identity some kind of upper class noblewoman? Just as Godou puzzled, the princess suddenly vanished.
"So just now, that was spirit body separation!?"
"Now that it's mentioned, Uncle did tell me once, the Princess was a sage who couldn't be judged on the surface, and had all sorts of trump cards hidden up her sleeves..."
Liliana spoke what she noticed, while Erica exclaimed with great emotion.
In total, the current members of the group were the blue and red great knights, Mariya Yuri and Kusanagi Godou.
"Uh, isn't this our usual group?"
Godou couldn't help commenting about the three girls before him.
ROOAAR! Its sight apparently recovered, the giant ape charged straight at them.
"Lily!"
"I know, come closer Mariya Yuri! We are about to take off!"
"Yes, right."
Urged by Erica, Liliana instructed Yuri who did as she was told and came closer. The blue light covered them once again. This was the second time they used flight magic that day.
Flying once again, the entire petrified holy sanctum was beneath them in an instant.
Seeing the target had escaped, the giant ape and the small monkeys nearby roared. The other giant ape that had been crashing through the forest in pursuit of Lu Yinghua, also began to roar as well.
For an instant, Godou saw Mariya Hikari whose body had been taken by the Great Sage.
"Namo ratnatrayaya, namah arya, avalokitesvaraya, bodhisattvaya, mahasattvaya, mahakarunikaya."[18]
It sounded like some sort of Buddhist prayer. That's right, it was Hikari — the Great Sage's voice.
What effect do these spell words have? Godou felt an ominous feeling in the depths of his heart.
The injured Campione continued flying, riding upon the blue light.
Sun Wukong was the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, unparalleled in his ability to fly. Under normal conditions, he would have intercepted and struck them down — but at this moment all the Great Sage could do was gnash his teeth in anguish, chanting spell words at the same time.
Although he had recovered overwhelming divine power, the body was not listening to him.
In possessing the body of the miko with powers of disaster purification, one never expected to fall into such a trap...
But having obtained this rare ability it should not be wasted, thought the Great Sage as he focused single-mindedly on chanting the spell words. With the current level of divine power, that particular spell — the grand technique that posed great difficulty even for a warlord of [Steel] like himself, should be usable.
In order to make the Great Sage Equaling Heaven complete once more, it would be better to finish the current task rather than seek out battle for now.
Part 4
Amakasu Touma's talents were concentrated in the combination of ninjutsu and wizardry techniques of onmyoudou[19] and shugendou.[20]
He was not a spellcaster with a high pedigree like Mariya Yuri or Seishuuin Ena.
Though his family had deep roots in wizardry, their past was enshrouded in dark activities such as espionage or worse, and were descendants of evil wizards. Compared to staying together with everyone like an RPG party, his skills and preferences were more suited to acting alone.
The art of concealment — a wizardry technique for camouflaging oneself and becoming one with the environment.
Highly skilled in this technique, Amakasu Touma hid himself as he observed the battle at Toushouguu, the disappearance of Lu Yinghua into the forest, the departure of Princess Alice, and the flying escape of Godou and the girls.
Subsequently, roughly a hundred monkeys or more started to take action, advancing towards the west of Toushouguu.
The group of monkeys moved along a national route called Romantic Road. They were making their way towards the Nikkou mountain range where Nantaisan was at the forefront. The giant apes that had attacked Godou's group also travelled in the same direction.
Bending their knees deeply and jumping with great force, they leaped through the air like shooting stars.
As befitting the name of divine beasts, they were amazingly nimble despite their ten-meter-tall frames.
"Kusanagi-san and his group were fleeing north... So these monkeys are not chasing after them. Are they intending on migrating to some place to establish a base of operations?"
Amakasu muttered to himself.
All the shopkeepers, tourists and shrine personnel around Toushouguu seemed to have turned into monkeys, and now the only human left was Amakasu.
"Namo ratnatrayaya, namah arya, avalokitesvaraya, bodhisattvaya, mahasattvaya, mahakarunikaya."
The words of the dharani[21] could be heard, carried by the wind.
Dharani was a name for Buddhist wizardry and incantations. The underlings had left, but their king the Great Sage still remained in this place chanting the dharani.
What was his purpose? Leaving Toushouguu, Amakasu walked towards the streets of Nikkou city.
Nikkou Toushouguu was very close to the station, and around twenty minutes away by foot. Amakasu surveyed his surroundings there.
Then he jumped from rooftop to rooftop. This was the physical skill that Templar Knights like Erica called [Leap], Chinese martial artists called [Qinggong], while users like Amakasu called it [Monkey Flight]. Though he wasn't on the level of Lu Yinghua or Seishuuin Ena, his steps were still superhumanly agile.
"No other obvious changes... Perhaps the Great Sage's power of domination does not extend that far after all? Or he hasn't shown his true skills yet..."
There were roughly six thousand inhabitants living in the quaint city of Nikkou.
Due to the people and cars out and about, the calm and peaceful streets looked a little bustling. There were no incidents of people suddenly transforming
into monkeys, or pitiful scenes of people screaming their heads off. It was just the scene of a normal Saturday night on the first day of a three-day long weekend.
Leaving the station, Amakasu made his way back towards Toushouguu.
He ran like the wind along the river bank of the Daiyagawa until he saw the vermilion bridge.
The famous Shinkyou was a wooden arch bridge built over the Daiyagawa. Lacquered with bright vermilion, it was very eye-catching at night.
Apparently, the only people turned into monkeys were the ones around Toushouguu.
Having confirmed the situation, Amakasu stood on the edge of the Shinkyou and took out his cellphone.
'—That's all. This is the general situation in the surrounding area.'
"Understood. So the monkey divine monarch used Hikari to recover the divinity of Sun Wukong and then created subordinates. This is not a good situation at all... So why didn't you turn into a monkey as well, Amakasu?"
On the back seat of a very unassuming car without distinguishable features that was racing along the highway, Sayanomiya Kaoru was listening to the report of her trusted subordinate.
'Hmm, not only me but Erica-san, Yuri-san and Liliana-san as well, none of us were changed into monkeys. Most likely those with a certain level of magical power resisted the monkey transformation.'
"So, what happened to those involved with the Committee at Nikkou?"
'I didn't see them. If they were fine, they should have taken action already, so it would not be wrong to assume they have been turned into monkeys.'
"If we send reinforcements, they will need to be Hime-Miko or agents on your level, right?"
'Yes. Gather all the master-level instructors near the Imperial Capital[22], and organize an emergency gathering of related personnel from the Kantou region[23], then contact the higher-ups of the spell department to call in the wizards. Also, we need to inform Tochigi Prefecture's police department and government bureaus like the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism... And then after that...'
"Yes, it looks like a dangerous crisis, so using a trump card directly is also a plan."
Kaoru's gaze turned to the premier Hime-Miko beside her.