Campione 07

by Great Sage Equaling Heaven

  In this deep, deep darkness, strange demonic monkeys were roaming everywhere. It was a comedic yet terrifying scene to behold.

  Kaoru continued scouting from above.

  From a cursory glance, the city streets nearby all seemed to have fallen under the control of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. Proceeding to observe from above, there was the region along the Toubu Nikkou Line whose railway ran along the Daiyagawa river, containing parks with golf courses and bountiful green fields, the cedar forest planted by Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainer Matsudaira Nobutsuna which extended all the way to the old city streets of Nikkou, and finally the train stations of Kami-Imaichi and Shimo-Imaichi —

  "...Looks like the area under the effects of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven consists of the surroundings of JR and Nikkou's Toubu Line. The vicinity of Imaichi does not have any strange happenings for now, though it may just be a matter of time."

  Kaoru ended the spell and reported her observations to the other two people.

  Currently, the personnel who had entered Nikkou numbered around thirty or so, consisting of History Compilation Committee members, related organizations and some sent by the local police. The reason why so few had been gathered was likely because they were afraid the current situation would arise.

  Conversely, none of these specially selected agents were transformed into monkeys. Like Kaoru's trusted subordinate Amakasu Touma, they took effective action as their own independent judgment dictated.

  However, even concentrating these people's powers together, it was still futile in the face of a god.

  "Things should be fine before dawn but there will be a problem if resolution is delayed further. By the way, countering these transformations will probably take a lot of labor."

  "Really, then we should start our preparations?"

  The one and only trump card was, of course, Kusanagi Godou — the Devil King Campione.

  Kaoru possessed the virtues of always using the best person for the job and never spending unnecessary effort. As she briefly responded to her subordinate's suggestion, Lu Yinghua seemed to be listening intently to some kind of noise.

  "Mr. Lu, did you hear something?"

  "...I knew it would happen sooner or later, but she finally succeeded. Can you two not hear it? The sound of stones shattering... Crushed, broken, pulverized by brute force."

  The two History Compilation Committee members looked at each other after hearing Lu Yinghua's low whispers. Neither of them could hear the sound but it was likely that the demonic cult leader's direct disciple possessed sharp senses that rivaled Seishuuin Ena.

  All in all, the incident was most likely heading towards climax.

  Part 2

  As dawn drew near, Godou was woken up by Sayanomiya Kaoru's phone call.

  'Just as I mentioned, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven has finally become a threat to the human world. There is also an interesting occurrence mentioned by Mr. Lu that I would like to tell you as well.'

  Despite the obvious urgency of the situation, she gave her report in a very calm voice.

  'Then let's leave it at that, since we have to begin operations on our side. Let's talk again later.'

  "Ah... Sayanomiya-san, you don't have any other questions for me?"

  Godou inquired because he expected to be asked questions along the lines of 'Can the Great Sage really be defeated?' or 'What should we do?'

  'It's fine if you just call me Kaoru. It's me who entrusted you with great responsibilities, Godou-san, so there is no point in being impatient at this juncture. I think you already realize the urgency of the situation, so undue haste would be meaningless.'

  Kaoru did not mind a familiar manner of addressing her.

  During times of crisis, it was not an easy thing to entrust everything to someone reliable and then sit back and wait for the result. Sayanomiya Kaoru had a much bolder personality than what the delicate beauty of her appearance might suggest.

  'Right, by the way, I expect Godou-san will one day ask me what sort of conspiracy I am harboring. How I look forward to that. Anyway, that's it for now, let's hope we will meet again, safe and sound.'

  Leaving behind these cryptic words, she hung up the phone.

  It was finally time for a decisive battle. Godou surveyed the surroundings. His female companions had all awakened, and they were now in a hotel lobby.

  A few hours ago, they had escaped from the divine beasts and reached a hotel near the Dragon Head Falls.

  The staff and guests all seemed to have turned into monkeys and left, so there were no others present. As soon as they set up a magical barrier as a precaution, they decided to rest and recuperate their energy in preparation for the upcoming decisive battle.

  After having some food and a bath, they moved some beds into the lobby.

  In order to avoid a surprise attack, the entire group slept together. In the end they were only able to catch a few hours of sleep, but it was not too bad.

  Godou sat on the sofa in the lobby facing everyone else, and Erica immediately took a seat by his side.

  Getting close like leaning her body against him... No, they were pressed completely tight together, as if she was entrusting all her weight to Godou.

  In a rare moment, Erica gazed at Godou with a charming expression lacking in domineering attitude.

  Unlike her usual teasing caresses, there was only the desire to confirm each other's touch as they pressed their bodies together. In a certain sense, this behavior was even more affectionate than usual.

  And then Godou's gaze met with Yuri's.

  The prim, proper and beautiful Hime-Miko averted her eyes shyly for an instant, but immediately smiled with calm composure as if she had not witnessed Erica's intoxicated expression beside him, and then began to gaze resolutely at the one she admired.

  It was a kind of beauty different from her usual self. Like the blooming of a flower bud, she had awakened as a woman...

  Ena also gave off a different impression than before, acting rather awkwardly in front of Godou with a sense of restlessness, so shy that she had trouble facing his direct gaze. It was indescribably adorable, and entirely different from the usually cheerful and outspoken Ena.

  Habitually paying no thought to her gender in the past, she finally became aware of her identity as a woman, causing her to be at a loss.

  As for Liliana, her attitude became rather strange.

  The righteous awe and solemnity of the female knight was the same, but her facial expressions and motions were more gentle than usual. The innocent charm and sense of flowing tenderness were especially conspicuous. Her gaze towards Godou was filled with a gentle expression that one would only show towards their beloved, and she looked like she was sharing some sort of secret with an accomplice. What was up with her? Why was she acting like this?

  This must be the kind of feeling Erica mentioned some time ago, the atmosphere surrounding a bodyguard who was also a lover!

  Liliana suddenly spoke.

  "By the way, Kusanagi Godou, about the earlier incident..."

  As if responding to the pleasurable times of the tongue tasting earlier, she was speaking with an intoxicated tone of voice:

  "About the ritual earlier, I am very sorry that I unwittingly lost control in the excitement. N-Next time I will surely stay calm and composed to receive your love. As your premier knight, I will definitely do it."

  Hearing her sudden unexpected promise, Godou began to shrink back and retreat.

  After the ritual ended, Godou's mental state of absolute calm disappeared. How could that sort of thing have happened... Great unease overflowed from within since this time was different. In the past, that kind of behavior was always obviously forced!

  "I-I have something to tell everyone first. I feel like I wasn't myself at the time, it must have been the result of Verethragna's authority making me act out of control..."

  "You really weren't your usual self, but I don't think it was out of control."

  Erica spoke wi
th ice-cream melting sweetness, and brought her lips close to Godou's ear as if having pillow talk.

  "What are you talking about, I completely didn't get the feeling that your personality changed at all, yes... Rather, it'd be best if the regular Godou acted as maturely as that in a few years' time."

  "Well said... I have renewed my understanding about what kind of person Godou-san truly is."

  Yuri was in deep thought.

  Completely ignoring the indecent behavior of the blonde beauty, her eyes gazing at Godou seemed to be hiding some secret that was supporting her resolute will.

  "Godou-san treats us... No, not only us but all females with unnatural wariness. Yesterday was the most natural act he had ever done without reservation after making his decision."

  "Ah — I sort of get it now, there are still many things about boys that Ena needs to get used to."

  It was hard to believe that the premier Hime-Miko was now speaking so shyly when she should have been the most outspoken. There was a certain sexiness to her tone of voice, adding an extra touch of femininity compared to usual.

  "If His Majesty begins to accustom himself to girls, that should basically be the way he acts. Hohoho, how I look forward to it."

  "He is already like a monster, it is hard to imagine that he still has room to grow..."

  Liliana sighed deeply in awe.

  "Truly befitting of the man who is my lord. Such impressive magnanimity."

  "To have taken possession of us with such forcefulness, please take responsibility and spoil us with your love until the very end... However, I expect him to maintain the usual ambiguous relationship..."

  "That's right, Ena is now in His Majesty's care until the day she dies. If he doesn't take this responsibility, he is not worthy to be king."

  "Can we stop mentioning these things during a crisis situation like this? Of course, I too, hope that Godou-san can treat me like that..."

  Erica murmured blissfully while Ena expressed agreement and Yuri made her opinion known after chastising the others.

  Was this what was called being backed into a corner? Or perhaps the crossroads of a lifetime?

  Godou was greatly stunned, but he still managed to bring the topic back to their most pressing problem.

  "I-I think right now everyone should set aside the discussion of things like the ritual and the protection, okay? We must make proper battle plans to take Hikari back from the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. Today will be the crucial moment..."

  "Oh my, but I don't really think that's necessary."

  The one objecting was Erica, who separated herself from Godou and recovered her usual demeanor.

  "Godou has already obtained the [Sword] for slaying the Great Sage while the rest of us have received [Protection]. Furthermore, we have tactics to prevent the manifestation of the two subordinate gods. Under all these conditions, there is only one thing left to do."

  "Correct. A simple and direct duel, that's all."

  With Erica and Ena in agreement, consensus was established between the wise and the wild factions of the group.

  As the two glanced at each other, a graceful smile was met with a fearless one. It seemed like there was some kind of covert competition going on.

  Anyway, the opinion of the two girls was correct.

  It had already come to this, so there was no reason to be led astray by unnecessary thoughts.

  Godou made a sign to Liliana with his eyes.

  The knight who was also a witch nodded immediately. After getting along for these several months, they were finally able to achieve silent understanding.

  It was the darkest night just before dawn.

  The Great Sage Equaling Heaven reclined horizontally on the golden cloud suspended in midair. He was not off guard, but was sensing his divine power exerting its influence in the surroundings with Nantaisan at the center, molding them after the Water Curtain Cave at the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit to become his kingdom. Humans lost their intelligence, turned into monkeys and recovered their feral nature.

  "Wouldn't it be fun to use these fellows to invade and conquer the human's territory... Oh, it came at last?"

  Feeling like he was being watched, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven pushed himself and got up. This was a spell used by human Daoist priestesses. Someone is sending their vision flying here to peek at me, the great Sun Wukong. Something like that, I can simply blow away with a breath through my nose...

  But of course, he was not going to do something like that.

  This was clearly a godslayer's doing.

  The Great Sage laughed with his monkey face and changed his outfit using divine power, putting on leather armor similar to that worn by theatrical actors.

  Rather than heavy steel armor, it consisted of just a light breastplate, gauntlets and leg guards. A battle outfit suited to the monkey king whose speed and agility were unmatched. Of course, he did not forget to take his Ruyi Staff either.

  Riding on his cloud and flying around, he surveyed his territory.

  Nantaisan, Lake Chuuzenji, Senjougahara with its vast plains of wetlands, as well as the little lake of Yunoko to the north.

  Traversing the Iroha-saku Route, he flew to the skies of his new territory, the city streets of Nikkou.

  With Toushouguu, Futarasan Shrine and Rinnouji turned into a stone prison, overall the streets gave a feeling of a small yet complete and functioning kingdom. The Great Sage flew to the airspace above the Daiyagawa.

  Monkeys casually roamed the streets under the cover of darkness.

  Whether transformed during their sleep or just before dawn, they were all humans who had become the monkey king's underlings.

  Looking down upon his people, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven showed off a U-turn.

  That particular place looked like a very appropriate battlefield for going all out. Having decided that, the Great Sage drove his cloud in that direction and got there immediately.

  "Excellent, excellent. This place is nice, haha!"

  Yelling and calling out in excitement, the Great Sage jumped down from his cloud. The battlefield chosen was the plains of Senjougahara, the plateau covered by the brilliant colors of green and red leaves, full of the natural feeling of highlands and abundant in rivers, streams, walking paths, etc.

  Then a beam of light came from the south. It was flight magic, bringing the brat, Kusanagi, and his female companions as they descended before the Great Sage's eyes.

  This fellow intended to come right from the very beginning, just as expected. The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, nodded his head.

  Part 3

  "Hohoho... Just by yourself, Kusanagi brat? If you want to call forth your godslayer companions, I can wait for you."

  The Great Sage Equaling Heaven did not bother counting the girls. Even if humans entered his sight, he would most likely ignore them. Godou immediately retorted:

  "For an opponent like you, I alone am enough... Besides, if another Campione joins in, you're going to summon your brothers for help, right?"

  "What, so you have already noticed... Looks like your battle instincts are very sharp."

  Having twice witnessed the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong's terrifying power that exceeded every single god that Godou had ever met to this point, it was clear that the divine monkey possessed overwhelming strength. However, he currently did not give off that kind of feeling.

  Still, the fact remained that Godou was facing a war god with vast and varied powers.

  In terms of raw combat ability, he must have surpassed both Athena and Perseus, but if one counted his other powers, the abilities witnessed at Toushouguu and Lake Chuuzenji seemed rather out of the ordinary.

  "When we Campiones encounter gods, we feel great power stir and overflow from within. I expect it's the same with you, in a battle between gods and Campiones, when faced with numerical disadvantage, unlimited power will flow forth for the sake of defeating the enemies."

  "That's right, vanquishing you go
dslaying devil kings to return peace to the world is the heavenly mandate of gods."

  The Great Sage Equaling Heaven nodded cautiously at Godou's correct guess.

  "As long as the conditions are met, I can obtain the power I need to destroy you all from the heaven, the earth, as well as the stars. However, not all gods share this ability, for only a minority of sword gods with substantial might and clout possesses such an authority... Anyway, this kind of task for Old Sun here is just a piece of cake."

  "What returning peace to the world, stop running your mouth, you make no sense! You're the one causing a commotion right now!"

  "Compared to the status of a devil king, this kind of game is nothing, right? Even sacrificing fifty or a hundred thousand people, or wiping out an island country or two like this one, does not affect the grand scheme of things on earth."

  Godou sneered and ignored the unreasonable retort.

  "Then don't go taking Hikari as a hostage and turning the people of this land into monkeys for a game! I've heard that it is possible that the people who transformed into monkeys might not be able to return to human form!?"

  "Those are just the moans and groans of humans suffering their karmic consequences. The world continues to turn regardless... Besides, whenever the number of godslayers increase, chaos is brought forth on earth, and imbalance is created between the living and the underworld. Humans should obey the gods and natural law. Forgetting their place and resisting our divinity is just..."

  The Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, finally started to quietly emit murderous intent, and entered a stance with the Ruyi Staff.

  "Hence, wiping you all off the face of the earth is our mission of justice. Come, Kusanagi brat! Stop with the nagging and let us fight!"

  "Fine! I will show you my — no, mankind's willpower!"

  "Ha! Apart from your will, you are totally a monster with a body beyond mortals, stop kidding yourself!"

  As the morning glow covered a corner of the plains of Senjougahara, the decisive battle was finally about to begin.

  Keeping their distance, the girls were currently watching this battle.

  Erica Blandelli, Liliana Kranjcar, Mariya Yuri and Seishuuin Ena.