Luo Cuilian was evading lightning in this manner while fighting in melee range.
Just as she had declared earlier, she refrained from using palm techniques. Using the superb movements of qingggong, she closed in on the "King of the End," attacking fiercely with kicks and punches.
Faced with the demonic cult leader's unarmed arts, the King of the End swung the divine blade—countering with swordsmanship.
"Just as I thought."
A smile of delight surfaced on the corners of Luo Cuilian's lips.
Her guess proved to be correct. When she was in melee range of the "King of the End," the lightning of salvation did not attack. To prevent attacking its own master no matter what, the Divine Sword Mandala avoided raining lightning down next to him.
This allowed her to concentrate on unarmed combat, providing Luo Cuilian with an extra edge to her arts.
"How about you take your earlier words back? I wouldn't mind if you summoned that bizarre-looking wind god or the Great Sage Equaling Heaven to repel me!"
Luo Cuilian suddenly charged the enemy head on, swinging her fist in close range.
A swift punch. However, it also carried force from the Divine Might of Vajrapani. In addition, there was also the momentum from kicking the ground to initiate the charge.
A magical punch sufficient to smash the enemy's entire body with just a glancing blow.
However, the "King of the End" simply used his right hand to catch Luo Cuilian's fist with ease. The Divine Might of Vajrapani sending the aristocrat's palm flying—That did not happen.
Instead, the lightning released from his left hand was scorching Luo Cuilian's young and tiny body!
This was part of his indestructibility, witnessed in the previous battle. Repelling the enemy instantly when struck by a heavy blow, enduring the attack without suffering any harm.
"Rather, Your Highness Luo Cuilian should be the one to stop overexerting this body. At the very least, you should bring out all of your martial arts..."
"Hohoho. Worry not. I am unharmed even by this."
Luo Cuilian had taken on the lightning attack at extremely close range.
But just as she declared, she was unscathed. Her lovely face did not show the slightest burn. Instantaneously, she had manifested a Benevolent King's avatar upon herself as a guardian angel, thereby protecting herself.
Hmph—The Devil King and the hero both smiled valorously at the same time.
Using martial arts and authorities at the same time to break out of predicaments. This was the instant when they expressed approval of each other's methods, offering praise. Then the battle continued.
The mystic techniques of unarmed combat as performed by the pubescent body. The mystic techniques as performed using the holy blade and sacred lightning.
Rather than a duel vying for supremacy, it was a spectacular performance more akin to sword dancing.
"As expected of Master... I can't believe she's maintaining stalemate in such an ingenious manner."
Meanwhile, Lu Yinghua muttered while watching the battle.
The descended lightning of salvation had mercilessly obliterated various parts of the racing circuit through electrical heat and shock. No part of the course's surface or the grandstand remained recognizable.
Everyone had left the extremely dangerous racing circuit, escaping to the mountains behind.
Erica and Liliana were with Lu Yinghua as well. The trio was watching the battle's progression from high ground, waiting for the moment to assist Her Eminence any time.
"I remember Her Eminence mentioned this earlier: 'On the level of stalling for time, I shall have a little fun in the meantime.'"
Liliana murmured.
There was a reason why the ultimate duel between Devil King and hero resembled sword dancing. Both sides were deliberately holding back from full force, imposing limits on their own power. Both of them had retained composure.
Also, the one who created this situation was precisely Her Eminence Luo Hao.
With feelings stirring deeply within her, Erica commented quietly.
"This might come across as somewhat offensive, but I am truly surprised. Upholding the conviction to defeat the enemy fair and square no matter what, against any kind of opponent, and to actualize such beliefs... That was my original impression of Her Eminence Luo Hao."
"That's only the surface on the matter of appearances versus reality. Don't forget that. Purely in terms of combat strength, most gods are far stronger than the various godslaying Devil Kings. In spite of that, Luo Cuilian has remained victorious the whole time so far."
At this moment, Lu Yinghua was not making a face like a disciple trying to brag about his own master.
Instead, it was an expression filled with admiration for the extraordinary qualities of the person who had raised him.
"As the saying goes, 'all's fair in love and war,' right? On the matter of war, Master is quite outstanding too. After all, she is someone who will resort to every sort of guile and trickery to seize victory, trampling those who rely on the power known as 'strength in numbers.' Her mind switches to war mode when engaged in contests of martial arts."
"...I see."
Liliana nodded. This was the strategy of "catching the enemy unprepared through deceit or obfuscation."
This might be denounced as underhanded in martial arts contests, but if the arena was changed to a battlefield with troops under one's command, such behavior would be extolled as virtues or wisdom befitting a king or a general.
"You'll understand just by playing a game of mahjong with Master."
" "Mahjong!?" "
"Surprising, isn't it? But Master knows how to play the game. After all, there is no lack of opportunities to learn weird stuff for someone living in that kind of outlaw community with Daoists and martial artists. But Master's playing style is absolutely nasty..."
In front of the dumbfounded knights, Lu Yinghua sighed.
"Because she possesses abnormal gambling luck, sharp instincts and extraordinary guts to begin with, playing normally is already like cheating. Plus using her nimble fingers to swap mahjong tiles secretly, even using Daoist arts on occasion, she simply cheats to her heart's content."
"Hold on there. You're saying that Her Eminence Luo Hao cheats?"
"It is quite unbelievable after all."
"Oh lord. When Master approached the mahjong table for the first time, all the other players were scoundrels conspiring together. But Master ended up seeing through all their tricks, learning the techniques and making them her own, easily achieving overwhelming victory."
" "......" "
"Then Master must have thought to herself: 'I get it now, mahjong is a game where you win by collecting the needed tiles from all four players in as little time as possible.' Master always goes for the hand with four hidden triples as a minimum, but if you're careless, she might even complete the Heavenly Gates hand with extreme speed."
"Listening to you, I just noticed how the same principle applies in this battle."
Next to the surprised Liliana, Erica reexamined the situation at hand.
The Devil King exterminator was unleashing numerous attacks. Her Eminence Luo Hao was skillfully evading, defending against and avoiding these attacks with perfection, using mysterious martial arts accompanied with Daoist arts at the same time.
Apart from her, no one in the entire world could accomplish such absurd feats.
Impossible to emulate. It even felt as though no one in the future could ever reach her level.
But if this were a strict test of martial arts ability, she would be disqualified for cheating. After all, there was no system for using Daoist arts and a Campione's authorities together...
Enough with the small talk, this battle akin to sword dancing had persisted for over an hour by now.
Signs of fatigue were gradually surfacing on Luo Cuilian's young face. Glistening sweat dripped from her forehead while her lips tensed in a smile of delight.
&nbs
p; Then at this moment, the "King of the End" suddenly withdrew the divine blade. Returning the Divine Sword of Salvation to its sheath on his back, he smiled politely. He intended to show mercy to Luo Cuilian in her imperfect state of health—No.
He turned his gaze towards the racing circuit's grandstand which had been tragically destroyed by lightning.
"You have arrived, Kusanagi Godou."
Standing before his gaze was the youngest and seventh Campione.
As his attendant, Seishuuin Ena was also following him. While the sworn sister, Luo Cuilian, was stalling for time, Kusanagi Godou had finally returned to the present world.
Part 4
The return from the Netherworld was quite sudden. After learning that name in the Netherworld beach, it only took a minute or two to teleport to the ruins of the destroyed racing circuit.
Godou was looking down at the course from what used to be the grandstand. The de-aged sworn sister and the "King of the End" holding the Divine Sword of Salvation were there. Currently, they were looking in his direction, having interrupted their battle.
Godou whispered to Ena, who was next to him, dressed in her miko outfit.
"Seishuuin, get away from me. The others should be nearby."
"Yes, understood. Ena will go look for them."
To remain on standby with Erica and Liliana, so as to support Godou at an opportune moment.
Ena was assigned the usual role of responsibility. However, the current opponent was powerful to an unprecedented extent and greatly troublesome. Perhaps Ena's burden might be too heavy.
After all, as the wielder of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, the Hime-Miko of the Sword held the highest combat strength among her companions. She seemed to have realized it herself as well. Nodding firmly, she left Godou with quick footsteps.
Finally, it was time to duel this man—the "King of the End."
Jumping down to the course from the grandstand, Godou walked over to the central area.
"Nee-san, you became smaller."
"You returned too late. Now that I have bought time for you in this manner, as the younger brother, you must compensate your elder sister with commensurate piety."
"Leave it to me. I came back to be that prince's opponent."
Luo Cuilian's young and beautiful face smiled tenderly in response to Godou's declaration after he arrived by her side.
This haughty attitude did not resemble a child's at all. Even with her height and limbs diminished in size, her identity as the Ruler of the Martial Realm was not shaken the slightest.
The intelligent sworn sister immediately noticed why Godou had deliberately avoided addressing the enemy as the "King of the End."
"Very well, I can understand how the younger brother wishes to fight before the sister. As the elder sister, I shall concede the greatest formidable foe to you."
The sworn sister's smile changed in nature.
The earlier arrogant smile had turned into a smile of tender sweetness emanating from the heart.
She was probably feeling happy for Godou's accomplishments and for having acquired the trump card to counter the "King of the End." What Luo Cuilian normally exhibited was sublime, ice-cold beauty. Only on the battlefield, when locked in an intense struggle against powerful enemies would she show a smile that would put any flower to shame.
Hence, the "King of the End" stared at Godou.
"I have waited long for you, Kusanagi Godou. Apart from Her Highness Luo Hao, I hoped to meet you again too."
Shouldering the destiny of godslayer extermination, the hero smiled with gentleness.
His cheerful attitude was like meeting a friend again after several years of separation. To him who had repeatedly experienced the equivalent of eternal wandering and conflict, perhaps the Campiones were the ones he felt closest to.
Unable to resent him no matter what, Godou spoke up:
"On the other hand, I don't want to meet you. Since meeting you means fighting, you'll be forced to do what you hate the most."
"Hoh."
"Sorry, but I've no chance of winning unless I do this. So I'll be blunt from the start."
Just as the Devil King exterminating hero was feeling puzzled...
The wind howled. Ever since the "King of the End" awakened, strong winds had persisted in attacking the Kantou region. However, the raging gale formed a vortex above the racing circuit, turning into a mini-tornado.
Then the tornado took on the Wind King's form.
The war god of wind and steel, whose identity was concealed behind a mask and strips of cloth wrapped around his entire body.
Godou nodded. The dearest retainer to the "King of the End" may be the younger brother who shared the same blood. However, the most powerful subordinate was undoubtedly this wind god.
Noticing the master's danger, he had rushed here first.
A medallion suddenly appeared in the Wind King's hand. The divine artifact made of a gold-iron alloy—The [Arrowhead's Discus]. It looked like he wanted to summon the three heroes.
Staring closely at the "King of the End," Godou spoke in a low voice.
"—You are the hero who frequently leads subordinates. As noble royalty, as a general, one who leads soldiers to fight foreign Devil Kings."
Speech formed spell words, turning into power, turning into blades.
Godou's quiet voice transformed into spheres of splendorous golden light—The sword's spell words. These spheres of light flew towards the medallion in the Wind King's hand. There, dozens of them gathered.
Those "swords" adhered tightly to the surface of the [Arrowhead's Discus].
The medallion instantly turned gray in color. Originally the color of a gold alloy's, it suddenly changed colors.
The sword's spell words had temporarily sealed away the power to summon heroes—The authority of the "King of the End."
While the pale-haired aristocrat was feeling surprised, the Wind King prepared his stance.
But Godou was not worried. The spheres of light kept manifesting as usual, filling the surroundings with golden radiance.
"Needless to say, you are the hero who vanquishes Devil Kings."
Floating in the air, the swords of spell words kept increasing in number.
"Apart from that, you carry the characteristics of 'a war god of steel' and 'the wandering aristocrat who uses a bow.' Your tale was even taken into a story in Buddhist scripture, spreading its deep influence in folklore all over Asia."
Every time Godou spoke softly, dozens of spheres of light were produced, roughly fist-sized.
Instantly, there were hundreds, thousands of them. The number of golden spheres of light was enough to fill up the entire racing circuit.
Every sphere of light was a blade for slicing the "King of the End."
Looking from above, this scene would probably look like the birth of a spiraling galaxy on the ground. Furthermore, these clusters of stars were gradually expanding without impediment. But this was not enough. To further explain the origins of the Devil King exterminator, Godou continued to compose spell words.
"Perhaps there is no other hero who has produced such a deep influence on the myths and folklore in foreign lands. Here in Japan, the one most deeply influenced by you—was Momotarou. 'Once upon a time, at a certain place' is the typical opening to legends and stories, every Japanese person knows that. Even I know that."
"Spell words of wisdom. The weapon to tear me asunder!?"
The "King of the End" charged at Godou with speed and agility.
At the same time, the Divine Sword of Salvation was swung down from an upper stance with lightning speed. A bifurcating slice. Even with a Campione's super reflexes and Godou's dynamic vision, it was difficult to see through.
Nevertheless, in his current state, Godou was able to deflect the "King of the End" simply with a swift swing of his right hand.
In response to this gesture, a hundred swords of spell words floating nearby flew at the hero of the divine blade, knocking him away
like a barrage of punches.
"Guh—!"
The light from spell words were rushing fiercely at the "King of the End" like machine gunfire.
The hero of the divine blade instantly held the Divine Sword of Salvation in a mid-level stance. Pointing the sword tip at Godou's face, for the very first time, he was using something other than an upper stance.
The upper stance only allowed the swinging of the sword's blade. A stance exclusively for offense.
When held in a mid-level stance, the sword could be swung as a shield. In other words, a stance offering defense as an option. In response, the Divine Sword Mandala rained down lightning again.
Thousands, tens of thousands of lightning strikes fell from the sky like a heavy rainstorm.
However, this racing circuit was currently occupied by the sword's spell words. Like clusters of stars forming a galaxy, the spheres of golden light were everywhere.
If one were to count these spheres of light exactly, the total would probably reach hundreds of thousands.
This enormous number of light spheres easily absorbed the rain of lightning. Lightning too powerful to absorb completely was deflected, altering their trajectories.
Not a single bolt of lightning managed to reach Godou and Luo Cuilian on the ground.
However, the Wind King charged at this time.
This was a dash on all fours with a lowered posture like a beast's, occasionally touching the ground with his hands. The warrior of wind and steel instantly entered the realm of divine speed.
Naturally, his target was Godou. But even then, Godou did not stop chanting spell words.
"Born from a peach, Momotarou crossed the ocean to set off for the ogre island of Onigashima. Like you, he is a 'traveling hero.' The vanquishing of ogres on Onigashima is a modified quest of Devil King extermination."
Naturally, the one who stepped in front of Godou instantly was the sworn sister.
With a flutter of her mandarin gown's hem, she used her right hand to strike the space in front of her. What she attacked was the wind god whose divine speed was impossible to capture with the naked eye.
"Also, the followers aiding Momotarou—the dog, the monkey and the pheasant—originated from your trait as a frequent leader of subordinates!"
Campione! - Volume 17 - The Hero's Name Page 18