In response to the spell words, the white star released a flash of bright light that resembled a laser beam.
Godou gritted his teeth. He had not wanted to use this incarnation due to its time restrictions. Nevertheless, for the sake of the overall situation, there was no choice now!
Verethragna's seventh incarnation, the [Raptor]. This meant abandoning his current great strength, but Godou obtained god speed movement and perception in return.
Godou embraced Athena as he dodged sideways, managing to evade the flash of light.
"That sort of speed had been seen yesterday already. Hohoho, do you really think this Knight would have no skill to counter it?"
Lancelot was completely unfazed.
Godou was certain. Even if Lancelot did not bother to scrutinize Kusanagi Godou's every move, he could still discern them as if he was watching from the sky, far above.
Even if Godou completely unleashed god speed, it felt like his moves will be seen through completely—
Godou was filled with unease. How... No, there was no mistake. That guy must be able to use the mind's eye. The divine skill that Luo Cuilian and Salvatore Doni had mastered after undergoing harsh and grim trials!
If Godou moved recklessly, he would be sliced apart in an instant.
However, if he stayed still he would still be shredded like a carrot.
Cold sweat flowed down his back. What should he do? He cannot despair at a time like this. Think!
"...Believe in this goddess, runnest. Even Lancelot's great sword, thou canst surely evade it."
Athena whispered softly.
Was it a divine oracle, or the devil's temptation? Fu. Godou drew in a deep breath. There was no need to doubt. By this point, they were already in the same boat.
In the instant the white star began firing blades of light again, Godou jumped backwards.
Seen through. Seen through. This certain belief filled his mind.
Godou's every movement after entering god speed had been completely captured by Lancelot. No matter how he moved, how he dodged, he will be sliced all the same—!
However, the white light missed its mark. Piercing emptiness, it tunneled through the sand.
"Oh, this. Summoning darkness for this purpose, how thoughtful."
Lancelot grumbled.
Godou's instincts were correct. The [Raptor]'s god speed was roughly on the same level as the shining sword of light. In a pure race of speed, either could win depending on circumstances. However, Lancelot's mind's eye should allow him to slice Godou apart despite his god-like speed.
"Be reassured. Let this goddess' darkness disrupt Lancelot's vision for now. But a knight of that caliber should be able to adjust soon enough..."
Hearing Athena's whispers, Godou understood.
Darkness was essentially something that robbed creatures of their sight apart from a portion of nocturnal animals.
Letting night descend and disrupting others' vision was also part of Athena's authority. In that case, even the clarity of the war god's vision could be disrupted. This was why Godou was able to dodge the white sword.
Did she summon the darkness of night in anticipation of a crisis like this?
"Well then, quantity shall be used instead to obtain victory... It is going to be messy, but please understand."
But Lancelot immediately responded in that manner.
The star up high began to fire off light again, but this time the white light was shaped into balls of lightning instead of beams of light.
Two meters in diameter or so. Flying at lightning speed. Four of these balls of lightning had appeared.
Flying towards Kusanagi Godou and Athena from four different directions.
"Come on, could he attack with any less composure!?"
The divine knight probably loved getting into action quickly and decisively.
Godou grumbled to himself as he watched out for the balls of lightning attacking from four directions, namely, straight up, from the left and right, and the last one diagonally above.
He would only be unscathed if he dodged them all at once. Judging thus, Godou made a great jump backwards.
Roughly a distance of ten meters or so. The [Raptor] conferred lightness of body like a bird. The balls of lightning descended upon Godou and Athena's last position.
But they immediately changed directions to pursue the prey that had retreated, chasing them down with lightning speed.
Godou unleashed god speed to the max, and sped across the beach. If he stopped for a single moment he would have been struck by any of the balls of lightning.
From the eyes of an ordinary person, the current scene must have seemed quite horrifying yet fantastical.
Something unidentified was running around with the speed of lightning. Some object, whose silhouette could not even be seen, was endlessly flying everywhere, shuttling between light and electricity that scattered like sparks—
However, there were no observers of this battle. The only ones aware of this strange situation were the participants.
Particularly maddening for Godou was the fact that Lancelot did not recklessly squander the divine sword. He did not use the life force absorbed from Athena to engage in wasteful rapid fire, but was using the balls of lightning efficiently instead. Had he been recklessly performing wasteful attacks, Godou would have found an opening!
Godou desperately escaped from the balls of lightning that encircled him like a net.
If Athena had not disrupted Lancelot's vision, Godou would have been sliced apart many times over already.
"Pressured so much... Impossible to counterattack."
Godou grumbled softly as he ran.
Once Lancelot's eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he would slice Godou into two with one strike. Hence it was imperative to mount an offense before that. But then how should he attack?
Even though his arms were as hard as iron, they did not seem like they could crush that white armor.
All things considered, the prototype was Lancelot's own sturdiness. At best, Godou's arms would just be on the same level of hardness.
"Asking wouldn't hurt. If you absorbed my [Raptor], would it help right now?"
'No good. Or rather, it cannot be done. Absorbing your active authority will be exceptionally painful. It will become unusable for several days.'
The question directed at Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi obtained an expected answer.
Godou did not give up. He knew that if it could help, this meddlesome sword would have acted on its own accord already.
"This goddess has a plan, Kusanagi Godou."
A voice that sounded like it came from far away. When moving at god speed, that was how Godou perceived other people's voices.
Obviously, these were Athena's whispers.
Godou was surprised by her sudden call to him. The content of her proposal was even more shocking. Shouldn't there be limits to recklessness? However, Godou understood the instant he finished listening.
Ah, I see. This deity truly lived up to the name of the great goddess of war—
Godou thought to himself. As a result, he replied almost instantly.
"...Ah, okay then."
Godou embraced Athena with his right arm as he ran back and forth all over the place.
Causing not only himself but also everything he carried to lose their weight, this was the [Raptor]'s unique skill.
The goddess entrusted her entire weight over and leaned her head against Godou's face. He could not see her current expression, but he was certain.
Athena must be smiling with satisfaction right now.
Godou silently moved his hand to touch her slender back and began to caress gently. Then he penetrated deeply.
"Guuh—!"
Athena began to make brief moans. Beads of sweat appeared from the pain.
Ignoring these signs, Godou spread open his palm embedded inside the goddess' body.
There was no bleeding. Neither was there an open wound on the goddess' beautiful back.
Godou's hand had been invited into Athena's body by her own will.
Right arm. Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. The mortal enemy's hand which contained tabooed steel.
"The sword which claimeth the power of heretical outsider foes for its own use... One shall infuse the life force and energy of this great mother earth goddess into this fellow. Combined with one's secret arts, the blade of heaven and earth's creation shall be forged...! Goest forth and claim thy victory, god-slayer!"
Athena endured the pain as she whispered in a hazy voice.
The divinity of steel that was in conflict with the mother earth goddesses. It must have been exceptionally painful for such an existence to enter her body.
"Thou mentioned earlier. Of seeking a way to save this goddess in the Netherworld. Hohoho, to be honest, that is the one and only path of survival. Abandoning one's heretical traits, becoming a hermit in the Boundary of Life and Immortality. In that case, one's connection to the earth will be severed, and the link to the Holy Grail shall also vanish..."
Bearing this torment, Athena resolutely bore a smile.
"Or perchance, one wondereth of choosing another path... Nevertheless, since things have developed to this state, this goddess no longer hath a choice after all. Rather than have Athena abandon the ways of Athena, one prefereth to seek an end worthy of this goddess."
Godou halted his footsteps, shutting down god speed and withdrew his arm.
Setting Athena down on the beach, all preparations for intercepting the enemy were complete.
"Kusanagi Godou. Wield thy sword in this goddess' stead..."
"Yes. Please be patient for a moment, for after this shall be our conclusion."
Godou raised his right arm under Athena's gaze.
Manifesting in his hand was the divine blade Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Its blade was jet-black as usual, but this time, it was incinerating with dark black flames.
These were rare otherworldly flames that did not give off any scorching heat.
They were ice-cold instead. Gusts of exceptionally chilling air were being blown out from the dark black flames. One would likely suffer instant cold burns on contact.
At this very moment, the four balls of lightning controlled by Lancelot arrived.
Godou did not even swing Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Wrapped in dark black flames, the black metal automatically absorbed the balls of lightning. Just like that, they disappeared.
"Hmm... The Divine Sword of Salvation has been countered, yes?"
Standing directly beneath the white star, Lancelot seemed to be in doubt.
"Not exactly countered. But your small demonstration of power was neutralized, more or less. Right now, this sword is imitating the same principles at work behind yours."
Godou explained softly.
Time was running out. The battle must be ended as quickly as possible.
Part 5
"That whatever sword or lance of yours... It's quite powerful, right?"
"Hmm. In the legends of this Knight's master, this steel was called Caliburnus, Escalibor, Excalibur and other names. The precious apocalyptic blade that could slice through heaven, earth, and the planets."
Lancelot replied quietly to Godou's question.
He was less than twenty meters away from the white knight. Using the [Raptor], that distance could be crossed in an instant.
"Really? This sword of mine doesn't have that kind of ability though. Athena said it could create heaven and earth? Well, not as amazing as yours, at any rate."
"Indeed. This Knight's steel body feels bone-chilling fear."
Godou made conversation as he searched for an opportunity to charge. Gripping Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's hilt tightly, he was holding it completely like he was swinging a baseball bat.
But this was good enough. His intent was not in displaying swordsmanship. He will swing it in the most skillful and familiar manner he knew. That was the most important point.
In response, Lancelot also pointed the tip of his platinum divine lance towards Godou's abdomen.
A stance for mid level attack. White light flashed as it descended from the brilliant star above. Receiving the light, the lance's blade now shone with radiance as bright as the sun.
The opponent was thinking the same thing? Godou's lips separated into a savage grin.
Lancelot also knew the battle had entered the phase when tactics were pointless and there was no longer time to think ahead and anticipate the enemy's moves. On Godou's side, he did not have much time left. Lancelot, on the other hand, was covered with injuries. Precisely because of that, both reached the same conclusion.
"Ama no Murakumo, hurry and send that guy flying!"
"O Divine Sword of Salvation, displayest thy splendorous might to the god-slayer!"
As the two cried out simultaneously, sword and lance attacked at the same time.
Godou turned Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's blade forward as he advanced with divine speed. Lancelot captured Godou's movements using the mind's eye and intended to strike him with the divine lance's blade.
Along the way, Godou switched off god speed to decelerate, planning on speeding up when the knight was caught unaware.
But before that could happen, Lancelot released lightning from the divine lance to hinder Godou.
Dodging the lightning, Godou accelerated once more. Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was only centimeters away from the knight's white armor when in the final instant, Lancelot used the divine lance's platinum blade to block the black metal that burned with dark black flames—
In the end, black and white sacred steel clashed violently.
The Divine Sword of Salvation. The blade of extermination which could slice apart all of creation.
In contrast, having received Athena's life force and secret arts, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's jet-black blade sucked everything into it. Like a super massive black hole, it sought to devour all of creation.
Taking as nourishment everything it had absorbed, autonomously converting it into new life. Like aged stars exploding into supernovae, their remains were turned into materials for new celestial objects.
Even though this was happening on a tiny scale, it imitated the life cycle of stars.
Consequently, this black metal was capable of heaven and earth's creation—
Flashes of white light and lightning flew around in a frenzy, not only illuminating the beach and the territory of the Bousou Sea with platinum-colored brightness, but also creating aurora in the sky.
Then Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi sucked in everything to produce a spherical space of pure darkness.
Like the white star produced by the Divine Sword of Salvation, the black hole-esque object hovered high in the sky.
The sacred white star and the sacred dark space collided violently together, exploding, entangling, firing destructive light and gravitational pulses, finally disappearing. Mutual annihilation.
At that moment, a horrifying shockwave hurtled towards the beach.
Altering the landscape — not only that, the power was enough to erase the landscape without trace.
Lancelot was spectacularly blown away.
Godou ran with god speed, desperately trying to evade the shockwave, but in the end he was still caught in the blast.
Although not to the same extent as the white knight, Godou was basically sent flying. Even so, along the way he still managed to pick up Athena as she lay on the ground, protecting her with his body the moment they were sent flying.
Thanks to this, one of Kisarazu's beaches was destroyed.
A wasteland was created, providing no clue to the landscape's former appearance, clouded with flying dust and debris.
Even so, Lancelot still stood up by supporting himself with the divine lance to seek his enemies. Kusanagi Godou also set down Athena once more, walking as he used Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi as a crutch.
Godou's body was covered with wounds no less serious than the enemy's.
His right arm was probably br
oken near the elbow. His chest was hurting beneath his arm. How many ribs were broken? Internal organs were injured and he was spitting blood. He also felt extremely nauseous. His heart was in intense pain, which likely meant the [Raptor]'s time limit was fast approaching. Scratches, bruises, internal and external bleeding were innumerable.
...Well, this was like being caught up in a terrorist's bomb. It was a miracle to be alive.
Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was also snapped into two. Too reckless.
He could no longer hear the divine sword's meddlesome voice. Apparently it was no longer functional for the time being. Unbelievably, Godou felt no compulsion to flee.
Godou dragged his feet as he approached Lancelot.
The opponent was also taking up his lance shakily, displaying the will to fight. This guy was unexpectedly similar in temperament.
"—Sir Lancelot. Your ward Guinevere has already escaped the battlefield. What course of action shall your divine self take?"
Just as the battle was about to resume, Erica's voice was heard.
Godou turned to find the long-absent Erica Blandelli approaching nearby, together with Ena who was being supported by Liliana and Yuri.
...Calming his mind, Godou recalled his goal.
Now was the time when Athena should come first. If he forced the fight to continue in his current state, there would not be enough time no matter what.
"Oh? This Knight's beloved child... Concentrating only on battle, did one forget about her?"
Lancelot also seemed to have calmed down.
Warning himself with a series of mutters, the war god languidly turned his white helmet towards the sea. It almost seemed as if he wanted to describe Kusanagi Godou as his favorite person.
"Young god-slayer, we shall part for now as there are other matters to attend to... Yes, though this Knight is logically unqualified to say this, Athena shall be left to you. Please give the great goddess a worthy and spectacular farewell."
"I don't need you to tell me. We will settle our score the next time we meet."
This was the first time Godou ever promised a second battle to a deity.
Acknowledging "Hmm" to this statement, Lancelot's form gradually rarefied. The earlier mist suddenly reappeared, brought forth by the wind.
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