Campione 09

by Return of the Goddess

  The problem was the haughty goddess. Turning his gaze to her, Godou was shocked. Athena's face was filled with surprise.

  "...Dost thou know? In battles past — what that group of people did to vex that man so...?"

  "—? What and what?"

  Godou frowned at the cryptic question.

  "Anyway, I want to drive this guy out quickly. That's why I want to fight together with you. Is that unacceptable?"

  "No... One thinketh over it, this could very well be a good opportunity."

  The look of surprise vanished in an instant as Athena resumed a dauntless expression immediately.

  Godou began to wonder if he was imagining things.

  "One hast instructed thee how to fight. Dost not become a burden!"

  "Gonna say the same thing to you. I have more strength to spare than someone who's half a patient!"

  Together, Athena and Godou stared at the war god.

  They had once fought each other with all their strength, and had also traveled together. However, fighting side by side was a first experience. Godou was now relieved.

  Athena's extreme haughtiness had made him worry whether she would accept the battle of two against one.

  What could be the reason for her to accept fighting in cooperation?

  Was it due to Lancelot being a formidable challenge, so she chose efficiency over honor? Or was there some other reason?

  No matter what, an unprecedented deadly battle was now beginning.

  Part 2

  "Kusanagi Godou, that fellow's divine sword poseth no threat for now!"

  Athena was the first to summon her favorite weapon, the grim reaper's scythe.

  However, she did not change her height unlike previous battles, retaining her pubescent form. Perhaps she was trying to control her depletion of energy.

  "A weapon that consumeth the earth's essence for nourishment. As long as the Holy Grail in one's body remaineth inactive, that blade cannot be swung."

  "Oh? You've seen through it. How befitting of the goddess of wisdom."

  Seen through by Athena, Lancelot offered praise from atop his mount. Furthermore.

  "In that case, there is no need to be swinging around Master's relic."

  He tossed the lance into the air, sending the horrific weapon to the opposite end of the clouds.

  A barbed lance then materialized in Lancelot's hand.

  "Hmm. This is more familiar after all. So, Athena, receive this Knight's lance!"

  "Ha! One doth not believe this goddess shall lose to you in the arts of war!"

  And thus the war god and the goddess began engaging in close quarter combat.

  The mounted knight's white steed began to run, not at full speed, but on the level of a leisurely trot.

  It was running towards the scythe-wielding goddess Athena. Mounted on his horse, Lancelot thrust his lance forward.

  Once, twice, thrice. Godou was just able to see it clearly. However, from that point onwards his eyes could no longer keep up with the actions of the battling duo.

  Like torrential rain that riddled the ground with holes, the raging barrage of thrusts aimed at the pubescent goddess.

  Athena evaded the attacks with the tiniest of movements as she swung her grim reaper's scythe.

  Was she trying to overcome the enemy's mounted advantage— She was swinging the scythe towards the white horse's front legs, chest and neck. Furthermore, she even attacked Lancelot's legs on the stirrups as well as the lance-wielding arm.

  However, Athena's scythe was blocked on all occasions.

  First of all, Lancelot's steed was exceptionally agile, jumping back immediately whenever the blade approached. Or stepping lightly back or to the side, skillfully changing defensive positions to let its master's lance block Athena's scythe with ease. The rider and horse truly acted as one.

  Furthermore, Lancelot's armor was especially sturdy.

  The white armor of iron essentially covered his entire body. Every attack from Athena's jet-black scythe towards his arms and legs, gauntlets and greaves, or breastplate were deflected.

  "Make use of me, jump here!"

  Godou yelled out as he ran forward.

  In front of the white knight and divine horse. Even further ahead than Athena and her swinging scythe.

  "Ohoh. How brave of you to charge before a knight without even drawing your sword!"

  Lancelot was distracted for an instant.

  Without failing to take advantage of this excellent opportunity, Athena sprang into action. Leaping lightly into the air, she stepped onto Godou's shoulder, using it as a platform for a second jump.

  Leaping higher than Lancelot on his horse, Athena raised the scythe up high.

  "Death bestowed by the underworld deity, infused into this blade!"

  A full powered attack carrying spell words smashed into the white knight's chest.

  It was not deflected this time. The jet-black blade penetrated lightly into the white breastplate. Near the area where the blade was embedded, corrosion began to spread.

  "Ooh—!"

  Lancelot's upper torso shook violently.

  This single action made the scythe fall off from the breastplate while Athena's body was also sent flying as if she were crafted out of paper.

  In a direct frontal confrontation, the knight god did not seem to approach the goddess of war. Seeing Athena land like a cat, Godou readied his stance.

  The war god's next target was obviously himself!

  "It is customarily in war for mounted warriors to bypass infantry. Though this is slightly unorthodox, exceptions will be made for the god-slayer!"

  Yelling out, Lancelot patted the side of the white horse's neck.

  With a loud neigh, the white divine horse stood up on its hind legs.

  Now freed, its front legs swung at Godou's head.

  A fierce horse's horseshoes were weapons rivaling iron hammers. Thus the two iron hooves descended.

  Furthermore, it was no ordinary horse despite its ordinary-looking build, but a divine beast. Even a Campione's unreasonably sturdy body would be easily crushed by this exceptional kicking power—!

  Godou immediately raised his arms to defend like a boxer.

  Before the hooves of the divine horse, Godou could not expect too much from this paper-thin defense. However.

  Clang! The strange noise of metal clashing was heard.

  Godou's arms were currently as hard as steel. At the same time, he possessed unyielding strength that allowed him to hold his ground against the full force of a divine horse's trampling.

  "Iron arms bearing peerless strength! Is that your authority!?"

  Lancelot made a thrust with his lance.

  It was too fast to see clearly. However, it probably aimed for Kusanagi Godou's head. Using a Campione's instincts for victory, Godou guarded his face with his right arm.

  Clang! The same strange sound was heard again. It was the sound of his palm blocking the lance.

  "Couldn't you have told me beforehand properly..."

  'My assisting you? It's only expected!'

  As Godou grumbled, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi replied through thoughts.

  When facing an enemy's overwhelming strength, Verethragna's second incarnation, the [Bull], provided monstrous might.

  Furthermore, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi had the ability to absorb the authorities of gods and Campiones, lending power to Godou.

  What had been absorbed here was the sturdiness of the white armor.

  Consequently, Godou's arms had obtained the hardness of steel, together with the [Bull]'s monstrous strength infused.

  Godou furiously swung his left arm, striking at the white horse's chest.

  An improvised left hook. Except that this iron fist could probably demolish a four or five-story commercial-residential building.

  Perhaps aware of the punch's power, Lancelot's divine horse jumped back a great distance.

  "So that is how it is... Kusanagi Godou. Thou hast probably procured
a rather useful tool — of steel's kind."

  Athena remarked, having been thrown back into the distance just now.

  Instead of approaching where Godou and the war god were positioned, she knelt down where she had landed, striking the sand with her hand.

  "Marry! In that case, one hath no choice but to exhibit a mother earth goddess' power!"

  Immediately, an earthquake occurred.

  Violent tremors. The beach battlefield was intensely shaking.

  Godou's sense of balance was overcome and he had to fall back on his hands and knees. Had this earthquake occurred in towns and cities, many homes would likely have collapsed.

  Rumble rumble rumble rumble — the quake was on a scale where one could vaguely hear the actual ground sounding out.

  On the other hand, Lancelot remained upright despite the conditions.

  Splendidly controlling his steed without losing to the cataclysmic event. No, not only that, his divine horse had leaped into the air and started flying.

  "...Right, he arrived here by flying just now."

  Continuing to lie prone on the ground, Godou muttered.

  Lancelot and the divine horse's rapid ascent was like a rocket's takeoff, speeding up towards the clouds. In that case, the earthquake became meaningless.

  However, just as Godou wondered, Athena stood up all of a sudden.

  "Hohohoho... Knight of the Lake. Thou mayst perchance be a peerless knight upon the earth. However, how dost thou fare in the sky!?"

  As the shaking of the ground subsided, Athena smiled fearlessly as wings sprouted from her back.

  Brown wings, covered with countless spotted patterns, rather than pure white feathers like an angel's. I see. Godou understood as he stood up.

  Athena's forms were not limited to the snake. Those were wings of an owl.

  The sacred bird that flew freely in the night sky. The symbol of wisdom. Moreover, the messenger of death from the underworld. The form of the goddess' favorite bird of prey!

  "O Night. 'Tis the time ruled by the queen of the underworld. Respondest to one's invitation and lowerest the curtains of the sky!"

  Athena commanded the sky as she pointed with her index finger.

  The brightness vanished in an instant. The morning sun was occluded, turning day into night.

  If this cataclysmic event had only occurred on this beach, it would probably be easier to cover up the truth— Godou could not help but try praying to something other than gods.

  "Oh. Is this the darkness invoked by the queen of the sky, the earth and the underworld!? In that case, this Knight shall summon lightning as comrades-in-arms, it is only natural to return the favor!"

  Lancelot's voice came from above. At that moment, white light flashed repeatedly, tearing through the night sky.

  It was produced by the thunderclouds summoned when white knight first appeared. Even though battles between gods and Campiones were very far-fetched, internal strife between gods were equally ridiculous or even more so—

  Godou expressed utter surprise at the series of cataclysmic events. It was really too ridiculous.

  Unaware of such thoughts in Godou, Athena spread her owl wings and took off. Gliding smoothly as if skating on ice, she crossed the night sky.

  "One's feathered wings may be regarded as the avian ruler of the sky, war god!"

  "If that is the case, then savor this Knight's lightning, goddess!"

  As lightning repeatedly flashed and exploded across the night sky, the stage was set for the gods' intense confrontation to transition to an aerial battle.

  Lancelot and his divine horse simply flew in straight lines.

  Charging at the goddess like an arrow, targeting her with straight thrusts from the lance. Both the knight and his beloved steed were enveloped in flashing lightning and cracking thunder.

  Banking gracefully, Athena avoided the charging attack.

  That smooth flowing trajectory was like the movements of a seabird engaged in a hunt. As if targeting shoals of fish beneath the sea, diving silently to strike with its beak—

  "As expected. The sky is not thy domain. Thou art full of openings!"

  Athena circled around to Lancelot's back as she dodged the attack.

  Held in her slender and beautiful hands were a silver bow and arrows.

  The sight of Athena firing the arrow was reminiscent of another Greek goddess, Artemis the huntress.

  "Hahaha. Perhaps you are right. Who knows if this Knight was born clumsy, but flying was never learned properly. However, this is not enough to strike this Knight down!"

  True to his words, Lancelot and his divine horse evaded in a V-shape and managed to escape the arrow shot from behind.

  The abrupt and forceful change of trajectory stood in stark contrast against Athena's graceful turns.

  His flying speed also slowed down. Targeting this, Athena drew the bow once again. The second arrow struck Lancelot's white helmet, but was deflected with a loud clang.

  Discovering the goddess' intentions, Godou nodded.

  A battle on land favored the knight. But in the air they were equals.

  Firing arrows with her silver bow, Athena was an owl gliding across the night sky, gracefully flying in silence.

  In contrast, Lancelot's strengths did not lie in flying.

  He probably could not fly in anything but straight lines (basically tracing out parabolas).

  Consequently, he could only change directions using V-shaped maneuvers. Even though his top speed could catch up to Athena, he was forced to slow down when making turns, and was thus unable to maintain any advantage.

  That said, his exceptionally sturdy armor meant that he was not at a disadvantage either—

  "But then again, if they continue buzzing over my head and flying around, I can't help at all."

  Godou grumbled as he looked up at the aerial battle.

  His arms of iron bearing monstrous strength could not reach that height... No, could he figure out a way? Then the problem became finding a suitable projectile. Just as Godou began to search the beach...

  "War god Lancelot... This goddess is aware that one's weapons have been unable to destroy thy steel. Nevertheless, this arrow is different. It looketh like an arrow but arrow it is not. 'Tis the temptation of death, released for the sake of the underworld's queen. Namely, 'tis death itself."

  Athena flew casually to evade Lancelot's charge as she circled around the white knight's head as she called out.

  The goddess' right hand placed the arrow onto the silver longbow.

  The arrow's fletchings were made of owl feathers. The arrowhead was carved out of obsidian. All were products of Stone Age.

  "Heroes of steel are indeed immortal on the battlefield. However, what of pestilence? Or perhaps, faced with termination from old age!?"

  Athena's fingers released the arrow. The obsidian arrowhead flew at Lancelot below!

  Just at that moment, the white knight and the divine horse disappeared.

  Godou saw the black arrow trace across the sky fruitlessly, falling onto the beach. Furthermore, the surroundings were suddenly covered by exceptionally dense mist.

  "W-What is this?"

  'Lancelot must have used the protection of immortality.'

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi responded to Godou's surprise.

  'That fellow seems to have melded into the mist to seek refuge. Mist can neither be pierced nor severed. Even curses cannot take effect. Well, it can still be dispersed by storm winds.'

  "If that guy is hidden in the mist then that means he can ambush Athena and me?"

  'Impossible. Pure-blooded [Steel] will not do anything underhanded of that sort. The level of nocturnal or morning assaults is the limit. If not glorious to the very end, our kind's battles are always intense as lightning. When that fellow switches to offense once more, the mist shall surely disperse.'

  A similar kindred spirit after all? It almost sounded as the sword was talking about itself.

  In that case, c
onversely, there will be some respite before the knight returned from the mist. A certain notion surfaced in Godou's mind. He had to find that thing now. Where on earth was it?

  In thick mist with visibility less than 5m, he could only rely on a Campione's instincts.

  A god's movements — searching for divine power, Godou began to concentrate.

  A huge mass of power was swirling high in the air. That must be Athena.

  At the same time, somewhere in the air precipitated a weak power. Perhaps it was Lancelot in his mist form. I see. Once he could be sensed in this manner, there were no more concerns of a surprise attack.

  Further more, there was one more presence.

  Even closer than the gods in sky, there was something else that had fallen to the ground.

  It was fine as long as it had not sunk into the sea. Godou began walking in the mist, seeking the presence of divine power. Luckily, his search bore fruit in a matter of minutes.

  "—So cold!?"

  Picking it up from the beach, Godou was shocked. This was even colder than dry ice.

  "In that case, this is actually a very dangerous object..."

  Godou broke out in cold sweat.

  Were he not bearing arms of iron, he might have suffered already?

  The effects were probably not as simple as cold burns. Definitely would have suffered more severe injuries... Just as Godou shuddered, the mist dispersed in an instant.

  'It's coming, King! That fellow has entered the thunderclouds. The next strike intends to annihilate that mother earth goddess — no, all of us!'

  Godou knew without needing the divine sword's warning.

  The sky was filled with dark clouds as before. However, not a single flash of lightning could be seen.

  He must be storing power. Godou realized.

  Instincts of a Campione, or perhaps experience gained from various hellish trials, allowed him to understand immediately.

  Godou sought out the position of Athena who should still be in the sky.

  Found her. Slowly flapping her owl wings, she was hovering in the night sky.

  However, the young and beautiful face was tense with deathly determination, and her glare was as sharp as a ferocious bird of prey. She already knew it was a decisive moment.

  Godou hurried and ran over in Athena's direction.

  Part 3