Campione 06

by Flying Phoenix of Divine Mountain

  Everything was back to business as usual. Having complained, Jack snorted in protest. If the guy acted any differently, he would not be the masked friend he knew from before!

  "Don't get too full of yourself, John Pluto Smith! I am not finished here! Do not underestimate me, the descendant of the immortal snake!"

  Asherah roared loudly! Her lovely features were stained red with blood, and she was howling with a face as hideous as a demon.

  Her bloodstained body flew into the sky and began to expand and transform, turning into the massive serpent witnessed a week ago.

  "Of course I haven't forgotten, but I've already seen through your little trick, it is no longer a threat."

  John Pluto Smith fluttered his cape just like last time.

  "Leave the ship first. I'd like to have good drink tonight, so let us drink together till dawn, to celebrate the success of driving this witch out of Los Angeles!"

  The unsociable and secretive man.

  The man who refused normal friendship and never revealed his identity.

  Jack was shocked by the proposal that went counter to Smith's usual behavior. And so the showdown, between the masked hero and the witch who turned into a snake, entered its finishing stage.

  Part 4

  The luxurious passenger ship was entangled by the giant silvery-white snake.

  Compared to the three-hundred-meter long, sixty-meter tall ship weighing over fifteen thousand tons, the massive snake no longer seemed that big, but the solemn atmosphere was still present.

  This time, the beautiful body of the snake was covered with wounds and stained red by massive amounts of blood.

  The night sky was obscured by thunder clouds. As lightning descended upon the surface, the target of the thunder god's hammer was the ship rather than the massive silver-white serpent.

  Thunderous roars and crashes, flashes and flames.

  Struck by lightning, the luxurious passenger ship turned into an unusual bonfire.

  Amidst the flames, stood a giant.

  His appearance was rather extraordinary, however. Standing tall at fifteen meters or so, possessing a well-proportioned body, with pitch black skin as dark as night, and horizontal striped facial markings of black and yellow.

  Also, the right foot alone appeared to be obsidian instead of flesh.

  Reflecting the seductive moonlight, it was made of shining rock.

  Covering the giant body was brightly colored fabric in red, orange and black, with avian feathers giving a strange turkey-like appearance. The wooden cylinder hanging on his back carried a couple of spears.

  It was a strange appearance bearing great similarity to a shaman of some primitive religion.

  [Archmage]. John Pluto Smith's strongest transformation.

  The strange-looking giant and the silvery-white serpent fought each other, completely destroying the pier and what remained of the ship. Very clearly, the giant held the advantage. As predicted, the outcome had already been decided from the moment the magic bullet was shot.

  Sparks surrounded the entire body of the black mage, giving off powerful lightning strikes.

  Striking the silver scales, the burning hot lightning scorched the flesh beneath, causing Asherah's giant serpentine body to squirm and writhe violently.

  《Excellent, your demise is imminent, if you're still planning on blowing yourself up, now is the time.》

  From the mouth of the mage came John Pluto Smith's voice.

  《However, Asherah, I suspect you no longer have the strength for that? The suicide explosion last time had consumed all of the essence of dragon pulse that took you multiple years to accumulate. You have lost.》

  "Damn it, you dare obstruct the second coming of the great earth mother, devil king! You god-slayer!"

  The silvery-white serpent spoke in vengeful tones with Asherah's voice, but John Pluto Smith's response was both calm and cold.

  《Correct. I am the devil king, as well as the god-slayer... That is why I show you no mercy.》

  Carrying the will of obliteration, the hero and the devil king declared.

  《In order to destroy you, let me tell you about my greatness -- as the omnipotent one, all citizens exist for my use. The people are my slaves, I am the wind of the night, I rule the earth and the sky, I am the most noble mage!》

  These were spell words.

  Spell words of annihilation that destroyed oneself along with the enemy, it was a secret art of transformation that ensured mutual destruction.

  The body of the shaman suddenly dispersed into mist. Gathered around the mist were electrical sparks which gave off the sound of thunder.

  《I am the axe of the night that calls forth termination! The god of creation and destruction!》

  The electrified mist transformed into black flames. This was John Pluto Smith's ultimate incarnation, the [Flames of Annihilation].

  The black flames surrounded the silver-white serpent, consuming it in one fell swoop.

  "Oooaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

  《Burn to the very end along with my body, Asherah!》

  As the black flames of disaster scorched and consumed the exotic snake, the sky over Long Beach was illuminated with a strange color. This scene was testament to the demise of the [King of Flies] and the defeat of the divine ancestor Asherah.

  Following the orders of his friend, Jack swiftly left the ship.

  Whenever John Pluto Smith started fighting, it was best to keep one's distance.

  Various [Sacrifices] were needed in order for him to use magic. If one weren't careful, one could easily end up as tragic as those offerings.

  Take the [Archmage] for example, it required a man-made massive structure as [Sacrifice].

  Whenever John Pluto Smith took on that form, he had no choice but to destroy a piece of the Los Angeles city that he protected.

  There were also other [Sacrifices] that inconvenienced people's lives, even ones that were as bloody as live sacrifices. The people of Los Angeles endured these sacrifices for the sake of supporting the black hero's fight.

  Like taxes paid to maintain a [King]'s protection, as subjects of his virtues and abilities, the citizens had to fulfill their duty through taxation.

  From the pier, Jack watched the progress of the battle from beginning to end, but he was not the only audience.

  At some point in time, almost a hundred people had gathered.

  The nearby residents, people who came here by car, they did not look like they were just here for a show. Some were piously watching the fight while others were praying with their hands together, their eyes tightly closed.

  Most likely, they came to witness the return of Los Angeles' protector.

  Finally reaching a conclusion, the people let out sighs of relief. At this time, a voice was heard.

  "Jack, are you okay?"

  Jack turned back to find a twenty-something-year-old Caucasian woman. He had seen her somewhere before -- actually, this was a very familiar face.

  "Allison? Why are you here?"

  "All because you made that kind of phone call! What the heck, it sounded like a message of last words!"

  Allison angrily embraced him.

  Jack accepted her embrace without thought, hugging his most beloved woman as tightly as he could.

  "Another dangerous emergency again, I was so worried! I kept checking the news on the radio and the internet... Once I heard from the radio broadcast, that person -- our king had returned after a week, I rushed here immediately."

  There existed in this city a public radio station that broadcasted John Pluto Smith's appearances live. On the internet, others did the same in the same spirit.

  Though the masked protector was deemed an unofficial hero, there were people who thought of him as a tyrant disrupting peaceful city life, and even took up self-defense measures.

  Usually, they would be the ones providing evacuation information to nearby residents.

  However, their efforts this time achieved the resu
lt of publicizing the return of the protector, causing people to gather in this place.

  Furthermore, they had unwittingly helped two lovers reunite, as Jack and Allison immersed themselves in deep embrace, affirming each other's existences.

  At this time, certain particular footsteps were heard once more, that clacking sound of metal-tipped boots striking the ground.

  Jack looked up and Allison followed suit.

  Out from the depths of the darkness, John Pluto Smith was walking towards him. The people welcomed him with eyes of trust and fearful respect, but no one dared to speak to him.

  The people automatically opened a path for him, gazing at this strange man from afar.

  He was the hero protecting the people, but that was not all.

  The [King] feared and admired by the people, he was the dark monarch lording over this city devoid of angels.

  "Looks like you escaped safely. Very good. If you didn't even have that level of ability, you wouldn't be qualified to be my assistant."

  "Smith, could you not saddle me with the role of Dr. Watson?[8] I have no intention of quitting my current job... But still, I don't look forward to even stranger errands in the future."

  Jack answered the king's greeting with agitation.

  Perhaps due to vanquishing his mortal enemy, John Pluto was smiling with joy.

  "If you prefer, the role of Dick Grayson[9] is not bad either! As for your current workplace, I will help you make arrangements. It can be resolved straight away -- oh by the way, about that proposal I made on the ship, a little celebration... That..."

  In a very rare instant, the usually sharp-tongued John Pluto was suddenly at a loss for words.

  Observing the direction of his friend's visor, Jack found him staring at the lady beside him.

  "Smith, let me make introductions. She is Allison, someone most precious to me."

  Exchanging glances with his former fiancée, they smiled at each other.

  "Oh, I've heard the name before, it was your original partner... You did mention it once, but you broke up half a year ago, I did have the impression you said that..."

  Jack felt it must be his lucky night, for him to be able to witness such a rare scene.

  For some unknown reason, John Pluto Smith was becoming extremely flustered. Seeing his friend lose composure for the first time, Jack couldn't help but laugh wryly.

  "Wow it's amazing you remembered that. You're right, but in the end we got back together again... Yes, about that celebration, if possible... Could we let Allison join us--"

  "No, no! Please carefully reconsider your suggestion."

  John Pluto replied frantically.

  "Such behavior is inconsistent with my style after all. Someone like me shouldn't have made such a pointless suggestion in a fit of overexcitement before a battle. Please forget it."

  "Oh, I don't really mind... But clearly you are the one who invited me first, so that's truly willful of you."

  "Yes, I am a willful and capricious person, so please forgive the rudeness of going back upon my words. My apologies."

  Finally back to normal, the masked friend apologized to Jack proudly.

  Jack laughed wryly. This guy wouldn't be John Pluto Smith otherwise. He was a man who kept his distance and maintained secrecy even towards his closest friend.

  "It is about time for me to depart. Goodbye, Jack!"

  As the masked friend finished his words, the lights in the surroundings all went out.

  All lighting systems in the Long Beach area lost their function.

  Street lights went out and so did the headlights of cars. All the way until dawn, no light could be generated. Even if one took out a flashlight, it was useless.

  And then John Pluto Smith transformed.

  Using the surrounding light as a [Sacrifice], he turned himself into the [Jaguar]. In the past, this transformation once plunged the entire Hollywood in a state of darkness.

  Jack and the crowd could still make out a form in the pitch black darkness.

  The hero in the shape of a [Jaguar] -- with a pair of eyes flashing brightly like emeralds in the darkness.

  Ooooooohhhh! The fearsome beast's roar tore through the dark night as John Pluto Smith's incarnation disappeared like the rushing wind.

  "So, goodbye, John Pluto Smith."

  Watching his friend depart, Jack muttered to himself, but it was not a permanent farewell.

  When this chaotic city finds itself in a new crisis, the [King] with the black mask will surely return. And then, when his friends truly have need of his powers, he will definitely come back--

  Part 5

  It was afternoon on the day after John Pluto Smith had defeated divine ancestor Asherah.

  Joe West was visiting a house located in a quiet corner of Los Feliz. This house was way too large for two people, just a master and a butler, but no one complained. At least the butler, who knew his master's true identity, did not complain.

  "Hi Dennis, how's our queen feeling?"

  "Most unfortunately, the worst of the worst, Professor West."

  Inquiring the old butler who came to greet at the door, it was an unfavorable answer.

  And then he was taken to the living room. West silently thanked God that it was not the bedroom. At least it wouldn't end up requiring him to drink overnight on the bed until dawn... The worst case scenario.

  "It's a beautiful day today, my queen. No, Annie. By the way, for you to be drinking alone in depression, that is far too disrespectful to alcohol culture."

  "Shut up, am I not allowed to drink now!"

  The casual greeting resulted in a standard response of an alcoholic.

  Annie Charlton sank herself deeply in the sofa couch.

  The round table on the side was full of empty bottles and used glasses. The reason why the empty bottles were not scattered all over the ground, was only due to the diligent efforts of the flawless old butler.

  "...May I ask the reason of your displeasure?"

  "Oooh, to think Jack already had a woman~~ That bastard, he clearly said he was single!"

  Due to being drunk, Annie answered with moist eyes. The usual cool beauty with her stiff facial expression and tone of voice had completely vanished. Alcohol truly changes people sometimes.

  "Even if he has a significant other, it doesn't matter, right?"

  "No, what about me, I had my eyes on him a year ago already!"

  Though their relationship was between a professor and his assistant, they were already old friends.

  This was why Joe West knew the true side of Annie Charlton.

  Rational, calm and reserved, the 'capable woman' who was both intellectual and took action with initiative. She possessed the airs of a serious and rigid honors student.

  But under certain conditions, her entire attitude and behavior became like a completely different person's.

  For example, when she drowned her sorrows in alcohol, or when she wore certain clothing, an outsider's perspective would definitely diagnose her as too repressed in her usual life.

  Anyway, West decided to comfort her first.

  "This sounds exceedingly commonplace, but with so many men in this world, why don't you just find a new love?"

  "Let me say, the men that catch my eye, all of them are rare breeds! Take Jack, clearly so handsome and stylish, yet he does not pride himself on his looks. Even though he is a hot-blooded male, he doesn't give off the impression as overly passionate. Though a little rash sometimes, he has good wits, isn't this a rare and excellent breed!"

  Annie finally began to sob and cry loudly.

  "Even so, I secretly worked hard to shrink the distance between us. Like discreetly helping him in his work, playing appropriate jokes to lighten his seriousness, and deepen his impression of me. I struggled to find reasons to see him at least once a week! Finally, he recently started to confide in me to discuss his private troubles, how did things turn out like this in the end!"

  "Annie, may I... You did all that under
the identity of John Pluto Smith, right?"

  West tried to remind the heartbroken(?) drunk.

  Annie Charlton, twenty-seven years old this year.

  Defeating the Aztec demonic god Tezcatlipoca in her teens through a convoluted series of events, she became the god-slaying warrior, with the alias John Pluto Smith.

  "Despite what you said, Annie is just a mere acquaintance to Jack, right?"

  "I have no other choice~~ Dressing up every single night to carry out heroic acts, it's already been ten years -- Occupied all this time, with absolutely no time to get along with guys, I have completely no idea how to approach a man."

  West couldn't help but sigh. He had dragged his broken leg all this way specifically to celebrate with her, but there was no mood for that now.

  On that night, during the instant when Asherah self-destructed in the sea.

  Annie had transformed herself into the [Flames of Annihilation], and deliberately lost her physical form.

  Due to the success of that move, she did not suffer fatal wounds, but the heavy injuries caused her to fall into a coma, floating away along ocean currents. Luckily she was saved by a patrolling speed boat. It took a week for her to recover, after which she hurried back to Los Angeles...

  This was a minor interlude in the life of the warrior who possessed extraordinary vitality.

  The old friend and butler watched from the side as Annie Charlton drank to escape reality.

  Afterwards, she said that the reason why she did not usurp a new authority from the defeat of Asherah, was likely because the snake deity was transformed from a divine ancestor, and not a true [Heretic God]... So it was natural not to receive an authority.

  Discovering the error in this conclusion, was something that happened much later.

  Chapter 2 - Restless Demonesses

  Part 1

  The Batanes Islands were located in the northernmost part of the Philippines.

  Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, they were actually closer to Taiwan than the main territory of the Philippines. The Batanes were a group of islands where the majority of income was brought by the export of agriculture and fishing.

  In this cluster of islands, the northernmost island of Yami was uninhabited.