Campione 15

by Son of the Goddess

  Still with her eyes closed, Artio murmured.

  She was apparently watching the state of the world illustrated beneath her eyelids, thereby counting the number of Campiones. What kind of ability did she rely on to obtain such clairvoyance?

  "In that case, given my injured state, exterminating all six would be quite a challenging task. Even if my son were to be summoned, it would probably fail to make a difference in the situation..."

  Summoning her son. Did she mean summoning a subordinate god?

  After ruling out the idea of a summon, Artio haughtily gazed down at the godslayer trio.

  "Be that as it may, I am not completely bereft of options. If the one who stands as my son's proxy—the Devil King-exterminating hero—manifested to confront you godslayers... Hoho, the victorious side should prove difficult to predict, yes?"

  In other words, whom the goddess wanted to summon was not her true son!?

  As Godou watched in surprise, Artio smiled gracefully, standing on the hill.

  "O great king who commands equestrian tribes and dragons. O king, adept user of black magic and the dark arts. O wandering king who begrudges mankind. In addition, O king who indulges in merrymaking with but a lone sword. O young king, bringer of storms and calamity. O queen of turmoil, coming from the mysterious cave..."

  Artio's eyes suddenly opened as she raised both arms up high towards the heavens.

  Sparks flew between her hands. White lightning. This was the same light that had struck the earth a few hours earlier just as the solar eclipse started.

  "With the six of you gathered upon the earth, this is clearly this era's end. One could verily call it the end times."

  Beneath the dark sky, Artio's chanting could be heard sonorously.

  She looked very much like a queen of justice, lamenting the degeneracy of the earth in her speech, a sight filled with awe-inspiring beauty. White lightning continued to increase in brightness between her hands without pause.

  Godou also noticed something else.

  A sword was hanging at Artio's waist. A sheathed longsword.

  "For the sake of severing this darkness of the end times, to exterminate the godslaying Devil Kings, I pray for this sword's rebirth. Ahhh, most exalted sword of swords, the blade of blades. You are the blade that annihilates Devil Kings. You are the white light of salvation. You are the one born to slaughter each and every one of the Rakshasa!"

  Artio finally put down her hands.

  Above her head, shining white lightning continued to hover in the air.

  Raising her right arm, Artio suddenly drew the longsword from her waist. The sword's blade measured about 100cm in actual length. The double-edged blade was thick and heavy, structured like a woodcutter's chopper.

  However, it was utterly decrepit and covered with rust.

  "!? It's that sword!?"

  Godou had seen this sword once before.

  The decrepit divine sword that Alexandre Gascoigne had prepared on the floating island in Tokyo Bay. The remains of the sword worn by the "King of the End."

  The enemy, Lancelot, had used these remains as the materials for the lance to engage Godou in a deadly battle!

  "The one unblunted and unapproachable, oath-breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice!"

  Godou called out the spell words. If the goddess were allowed to finish her chant, they would be in for a bad situation.

  Heeding the warnings from his instinct, Godou summoned the [Boar], sending out thoughts to pulverize the hill where the goddess stood, accompanied by the intent of interrupting the strange ritual. However, wind started to blow at the same time.

  First came a whirlwind which soon intensified to become a violent storm.

  The storm blew in the surroundings of Artio's hill, tracing out a circular shape, becoming a tornado.

  Intending to break through this violent tornado to charge at the hill, the [Boar] jumped as hard as it could.

  ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

  However, the instant the [Boar]'s tusks pierced into the tornado, acute noises were heard while sparks exploded.

  Then the twenty-meter-long giant boar was sent flying by the tornado.

  Nevertheless, the quadrupedal [Boar] had a very low center of gravity and its massive body was quite agile. Even when blown away, it still regained balance nonchalantly and charged the tornado again—Crash!

  Acute noises were heard again as the tusks struck the tornado. This sounded like steel clashing into each other.

  Then the [Boar] was sent flying again. Again, it regained balance...

  The proud boar's charges were thwarted twice. Godou's black avatar made low growls and glared viciously at the tornado barrier on the goddess's hill.

  "...A smell of iron in the air?"

  Godou noticed a distinct smell of rust filling the atmosphere.

  The smell had drifted over from the tornado ahead. In his right arm, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi went 'Hmm?' quietly.

  'Beware, king. That divine wind was not summoned by an authority. Rather, it is undoubtedly a wind god—moreover, a hybrid god related to the lineages of [Steel].'

  Since they were currently in a battle, the sword had become talkative again for once. Godou listened closely. As a wind god but also a war god of steel at the same time, a hybrid without discernible coherence, what kind of origins would this god have?

  "Heh. Not only us, but the other side also wants to gather enough numbers huh."

  "I-Indeed, including the 'son' mentioned by Artio-san, they will also have three gathered on their side, becoming three against three!"

  Doni muttered with great apparent interest while Aisha cried out with a face full of worry.

  The [Boar] lowered its posture to prepare an all-out charge, readying its stance and gathering power. Also, Godou stared at the hill that was protected by the war god of wind and steel.

  The goddess Artio had stabbed the longsword into the ground.

  White sparks erupted from the lightning above her head as it was sucked into the sword.

  "As a goddess of earth, I ratify the ancient covenant for the sake of vanquishing the terrifying Devil Kings. To you, I entrust part of my life as well as the protection conferred upon my son Artos."

  Next, the goddess's arm split open automatically, spurting out a great volume of fresh blood.

  The blood fell on the longsword's blade, stabbed into the ground, and was instantly absorbed.

  "Sacred king manifesting at this era's end, I beseech you to arrive now!"

  Accompanied by the final spell words, a slender youth appeared at the same time.

  With his back to Godou and the rest, the youth faced his summoner the goddess. Then he slowly looked back to gaze down upon the three Campiones from his position atop the hill.

  The youth's hair was deathly white.

  His long bangs was obscuring his face.

  Nevertheless, one could see his high nasal bridge, well-proportioned mouth and sharp chin. Undoubtedly, it was a handsome face. He was wearing a simple blue tunic with pants of the same color and something like a white cape on top.

  The [Boar] intended to go all-out and charge at the hill where the youth and the goddess stood.

  However, Godou transmitted thoughts of "observe the situation a little first" to it. The black divine beast made low growls in the depths of its throat and stopped reluctantly, responding to his orders.

  "You have come, 'King of the End.' The heavenly child of destiny——Ah."

  Artio called out from behind the youth. But while she was speaking, a rumble of thunder prevented his name from being heard.

  "......"

  "Are you trying to conceal your name? Oh what a finicky man as rumored."

  "......"

  "Very well. In that case, I shall address you as Artos. This is the sacred name supposed to be granted unto my son. Given your prestige, it is rather fitting."

  Artio kept speaking to the silent and expressionless youth.

 
; Was it due to the incredible powers of the gods? They seemed to be capable of interacting. What a strange conversation indeed.

  "O Artos, I have but one wish. Exterminate all godslayers in the present era!"

  "......"

  Hearing the summoner's request, the 'King of the End' reached out.

  What he grabbed was the longsword that had just been stabbed into the ground—Its hilt. Then he pulled it out.

  In this very instant, the sun in the sky recovered its brightness once more.

  Unbelievably, the total solar eclipse was terminated instantaneously. Dazzling radiance scattered upon the sword.

  The blade measured roughly 100cm, its construction as thick and heavy as a woodcutter's chopper. Right now, the sword was completely free of rust, shining with platinum luster.

  This was precisely the Divine Sword of Salvation. The blade of Devil King extermination had finally revived!

  The pale-haired hero turned the divine sword up, raising its blade towards the heavens. Next, a platinum-colored sphere of light manifested high up in the air. The dazzling brightness was as though a second sun had appeared.

  Having personally experienced the terrifying effects of this divine sword, Godou knew that certain death awaited them if countermeasures were not enacted instantly.

  At the same time, the two Campiones beside him had already started taking action.

  "You don't need to endure anymore, go on a full offensive as you please! You too, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, prepare to use Athena's sword!"

  ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

  'Affirmative!'

  "O silver arm, upon my oath, turn into the invincible blade!"

  "When time is not ripe yet for good to result, even the benevolent shall encounter misfortune, when time is ripe for good to result, fortune shall come to pass... Until the goddess bringing calamity to the people is defeated, please grant protection—!"

  Godou ordered the [Boar] to charge at full power while instructing his partner the divine sword to prepare to attack.

  Doni's right arm turned silver and poured magical power into the longsword in his hand.

  Madame Aisha also chanted spell words to pray for protection. Rather than combat, she probably intended to withdraw from the fray.

  Then in the following instant, the white sun descended from high above.

  Whether Godou, Doni or Madame Aisha, they all invoked the authorities and magical power they possessed, intending to repel the Divine Sword of Salvation's attack. However—

  Not long after the Divine Sword of Salvation caused the platinum-colored sun to descend...

  A large hole, dozens of meters wide in diameter, was opened up where the three Campiones had been standing until just now. This hole was dug deep into the ground, to a depth that would not be ludicrous to call the bottom of the earth.

  The [Boar] had charged full speed at the hill with all its strength. Its gigantic body had also disappeared as well.

  This was the result of the Divine Sword of Salvation piercing the earth.

  Furthermore, not a single Campione remained on the ground here. Swallowed by the platinum light of the divine sword, the trio had vanished into thin air.

  Chapter 4 - War God Artos and the Divine Sword of Salvation

  Part 1

  It was said that Devil King John Pluto Smith had received a request.

  One that hoped he could exterminate Kusanagi Godou, Salvatore Doni and Madame Aisha, all three of them.

  "And now, somewhere around here should be where the radical petitioner lives."

  This was inside the ancient Greek temple where Liliana and Yuri had finally arrived through Princess Alice's guidance. However, their guide, the princess, was no longer present anymore.

  Ordered by Smith to wait outside, she reluctantly agreed.

  After entering the temple, a staircase leading downwards immediately entered into view.

  "Authorities capable of time traveling are not limited to Madame Aisha alone. Gods or fairies possessing 'traveling' authorities can accomplish the same. They are able to traverse time and visit alternate realms as though walking on the ground."

  Smith explained while descending the steps.

  Following behind him together with Yuri, Liliana nodded. Gods possessing traveling authorities. Examples included Greek mythology's Hermes, Japan's three-legged crow Yatagarasu and the god Sarutahiko, etc.[2]

  "There actually exist cases when people were swept into the past as a result of mischief by these kinds of gods. However, they absolutely do not cause history altering incidents."

  "So... I see."

  Yuri chimed in, having awakened from her hypnotized state just earlier.

  "The flow of time carries a cruel and merciless power. Even the modification of history through personal coincidence or miracles, resulting in 'something that should not be,' is absolutely forbidden..."

  Smith nodded at the Hime-Miko who was seemingly whispering these words due to spirit vision.

  "Precisely. But merciless the flow of time may be, incorrigible changes do happen apparently in extremely rare cases. When such situations arise, it's time for the 'watcher' to enter the stage."

  "So, supposing a situation came up where 'history correction' could not occur..."

  Unable to quell her curiosity, Liliana tried asking:

  "What will happen as a result?"

  "Because this sort of thing is unprecedented, I'm not too sure either. Perhaps it might produce a parallel world as suggested in works of science fiction. The era we live in might be altered dramatically, resulting in a tragedy no different from the world's destruction. At any rate, I really have no desire to experiment."

  Just as Smith finished, they finally reached the end of the staircase. The basement of the temple was a long corridor, wide and spacious, measuring almost eight meters in width.

  "A labyrinth...?"

  Liliana felt strange. The endpoint of the underground corridor was completely out of sight.

  Not only did this path stretch endlessly, there were quite a few branches. It was as convoluted and complicated as a maze. Also, for some unknown reason, large numbers of stone tablets were hovering in the air. It was essentially a zero gravity space.

  Countless stone tablets floated gently in the corridor, drifting all around.

  "Could this be the monument of memories—?"

  Yuri looked worriedly at the stone tablets.

  Floating in midair, the stone tablets were not all rectangular in shape but also included square ones. The tablets nearby were roughly forty to fifty centimeters in size. Every stone tablet had long passages of ancient script recorded on them. These characters were written densely from end to end, leaving almost no space remaining.

  From Liliana's first impressions, the language was Ancient Latin.

  "Then let's continue."

  Smith resumed walking, causing Liliana and Yuri to follow in a fluster.

  Hovering in front of the masked Campione was an orange flame.

  Like a fairy guiding them along the right path, this flame flew around slowly while Smith followed it.

  Floating in the air, the stone tablets drifted lightly, evading people automatically.

  John Pluto Smith's iron-studded boots would regularly knock on the floor with every step he took. Following this sound, Liliana advanced while feeling perplexed.

  Inside her mind, many different images were surfacing—

  The great river of time, never ceasing in its flow. History. Human life. Hungry people. Well-fed people. Those who were deceived, robbed, or murdered. People engaged in prayer, rescue or love. Doers of good. Doers of evil. Mediocre people. Ambition and hope, dreams and setbacks. Valuable lives, worthless deaths.

  ...These were probably accumulated memories about humans.

  Yuri frequently turned her gaze back and forth from left to right, looking rather hesitant.

  "Mariya Yuri, you too—"

  "Y-Yes. I can see many things as well." />
  These images really were revelations obtained via spirit vision. And the signal source was—Using a witch's intuition, Liliana stared intently.

  She stared at these numerous tablets of stone, floating in the underground corridor.

  "Smith-sama, what exactly are these...?"

  "For witches like you, what happens is you are reading the memories of the void floating in the Astral Plane, thereby receiving spirit vision revelations."

  The masked godslayer replied as Liliana finally asked her question.

  "The stone tablets collected in this residence... are precisely records of that information."

  "!?"

  "The world of the living, the world of the immortal gods, the boundary of life and immortality—What you call the [Memories of the Void] are the records taken of what transpires in these three realms, both in the past and in the future. Since you are here in this place for safekeeping them, the stimulation of your spirit senses is only logical."

  "As expected, that is what is going on..."

  Compared to Liliana's speechlessness, Yuri made a look of slight comprehension.

  "Spirit vision users can interpret it as seeing into the future. More precisely, it is an ability that involves using your spirit senses to read 'what has already happened,' then subconsciously predicting 'what will happen in the future'—That was what the man in charge of this place said."

  "This person is the watcher of time, the master of Plutarch's Residence, right?"

  "He wants Godou-san and the others to be eliminated..."

  "He must be in quite a difficult position. In actual fact, his standpoint is worthy of sympathy."

  In response to Liliana and Yuri's comments, the masked hero shook his head wryly.

  "By human standards, he is one who has transcended. Liberated from the limitations of lifespan, possessing power that dwarfs typical magi. But even so, he is not a god. Neither is he a godslayer. At any rate, he is nowhere as out of bounds as my peer or I."

  John Pluto Smith spoke in truly sly manner while walking along the corridor.

  "For the past century and a half, a certain female existence has been giving him great trouble all this time. As both a Campione and a time traveler, she is also a superhuman who can effortlessly alter history that must not be changed easily... Oh well, once you meet him, you'll understand."