Campione 15

by Son of the Goddess

  These beasts were all bears, each measuring four or five meters in body length. Furthermore, there were close to a hundred and fifty of them.

  Naturally, the giant bear army also noticed the approaching Frankish warriors.

  A hundred and fifty giant bears all growled or made threats with their vicious visages.

  In any case, the two thousand Frankish warriors drew their weapons in turn, yelling loudly for intimidation. Both sides displayed belligerent attitudes.

  The hundred and fifty giant bears were separated from the Frankish warriors by several hundred meters.

  However, the two factions were on the verge of battle. The slightest provocation would instantly trigger a combat state.

  At this time, Aisha was currently at the forefront of the Frankish army.

  "E-Excuse me... Everyone, could you calm down slightly?"

  Riding on horseback, she looked back, tilting her head slightly as she pleaded.

  Despite speaking at a volume that should not be able to reach all two thousand troops no matter what, the Frankish warriors in the back suddenly quieted down, displaying a polite state of standby.

  Seeing the warriors so obedient, Aisha could not help but smile.

  Despite some excessive violence and love for battle, these people were actually kind souls at heart.

  "Hohohoho. Messrs Bear, you need to quiet down too♪"

  Aisha made her "request" of the giant beasts several hundred meters ahead.

  Although the giant bears remained ferocious, they all cast curious stares at Aisha.

  "I knew it, true feelings can always be transmitted...!"

  Despite being the minions of a violent deity, each and every one of them was a Mr Bear of the forest, fluffy and clumsy.

  It is possible to get along with these children as friends, thought Aisha as she nodded. Naturally, this was also due to the assistance of the "charm authority."

  Spurring her horse forward alone, Aisha approached the group of giant bears.

  This was all done on whim. Aisha made a gesture with her hand to stop the Frankish warriors who wanted to follow her. Next, a young man walked out front from between the giant bears...

  Dressed in refreshingly white attire, carrying a thick and heavy divine sword on his back.

  He was someone bearing the same face as Salvatore Doni.

  Emotional cries of "Great chieftain!" were heard from the Franks.

  "Everyone, please quiet down! Doni-san's body has been stolen by the goddess! I will retrieve it, so please don't worry!"

  She pleaded to the warriors wavering behind her.

  Consequently, they went silent immediately. Feeling the Frankish warriors' trust in her, Aisha felt great warmth in her heart. At this moment, Doni spoke up:

  "We have met before, third of the godslayers. To think you are able to tame my minions."

  Sure enough, it was the goddess Artio's voice.

  "What truly bizarre behavior. Do you intend to use this skill to make my minions attack me instead, thereby obtaining victory?"

  "No."

  Although their inborn ferocity had been weakened, the giant bears were still glaring angrily at the two thousand Frankish warriors.

  The situation was now a face off between them and Doni-Artio's faction. Aisha called out.

  In order to eliminate the resentment carried by the goddess, now was the time to put her secret strategy in action.

  "I came here to make friends with you!"

  "Hoh."

  "I know that we have many unfortunate misunderstandings. But I still feel that provided we are able to put aside those differences and converse, we should be able to understand each other's thoughts and feelings."

  "Hmm."

  "I know it's very difficult. I am human while you are a deity. We differ completely in birth and upbringing. But even so, that should not constitute sufficient reason to prevent our hearts from connecting. After all, aren't love and benevolence things that both humans and gods possess alike!?"

  "I see now. I understand completely."

  "Yes, Artio-san!"

  "Namely, you not only wish to cross blades against me in battle but also hope for mutual understanding. In a battle between heroes, pitting their utmost against each other, developing a sense of respect for one's foe is definitely inevitable. Not simply engaging in deathmatches motivated by hatred towards the enemy but also seeking friendship on the battlefield..."

  "Yup."

  "Very well. I am also a goddess carrying the name of the [Bear]. You have definitely conveyed your mettle to me. Then let us clash our blades to our hearts' content with fervor and intensity that inhabitants of the land shall sing of till the end of time!"

  "Oh no, not that kind of interaction carried out with fist against fist!"

  Aisha frantically tried to deny.

  However, smiling with Doni's visage, Artio drew out the Divine Sword of Salvation while at the same time, a ferocious desire for conflict surged from all over the body!

  "O woman godslayer, make your move!"

  "Please listen to what others are saying!"

  Held by Doni-Artio, the Divine Sword of Salvation released radiance.

  This was the platinum light that was just as dazzling as the sphere of light that had appeared in the air previously.

  But this time, only the blade shone with light, unlike the previous time when it had gone out of control. Probably due to having grown used to using the divine sword, controlling its power was now possible. Whether this was good or bad was still indeterminate.

  In this instant, Aisha suddenly started to chant:

  "Excuse me... O beautiful maiden, I beseech you to open the terrifying doors of esoterism..."

  Spell words. For the sake of enacting an authority's reversal.

  These murmurs originated partially without conscious thought. Had she not done so, she would have died. Warned by her survival instincts, Aisha's lips moved on their own. Swiftly, she also leapt down from horseback.

  "Hurry and leave this place!"

  As soon as she spoke, the petite horse galloped away. Perhaps thanks to the "charm authority" as well, Aisha's message was instantly conveyed.

  Then Aisha turned her back towards Doni-Artio and began to run herself.

  "O sword of salvation, let lightning be released!"

  "Eeeeeeek!"

  As the goddess's voice came from Doni's mouth, the divine sword in his right hand gave off lightning. Suffering the shocking impact of light and heat, Aisha was blown far away.

  Like a log, she rolled along the ground.

  "E-Ehhhh."

  But completely unharmed, this was by the corrective force's grace.

  To a certain extent, the "fairy's corridor" authority was also capable of manipulating history's corrective force.

  For example, Aisha's presence in the current era could only be maintained if she did not suffer excessive injury. Both this time and the last, when she had been shot by Hunnic godslayer Uldin's arrows, were instances of the corrective force's protection.

  Rolling on the ground, Aisha pondered while her gaze wandered.

  (I-I knew it, this level cannot produce much threat...)

  Artio was not [Steel], but just a mother goddess of the earth.

  She intended to use the Divine Sword of Salvation to fight in the place of the body she had lost. However, this was not a power she was supposed to control in the first place. Hence, it was impossible for her to control it freely. Rather, letting the sword go berserk like last time would pose a greater threat.

  However, Doni-Artio intended to conserve the divine sword's power and only controlled it casually. Hence, the reduction in power had the opposite effect instead. Weakening in power was no problem as long as the enemy could be slain.

  "Were Doni-san and Kusanagi-san present, they would surely seize this opening to counterattack..."

  After murmuring, Aisha's body suddenly shook.

  Finally stopped rolling, she instantly stood
up and yelled:

  "A-Artio-san! It's very dangerous, hurry and escape now!"

  "What?"

  The north wind began to blow, cold as frost, chilling wind mixed with snowflakes.

  "Ice and snow—the power of a winter goddess!?"

  Surprised, Doni-Artio's body was being frozen by the rampaging north wind. The cold wind rumbled and kept increasing in momentum.

  This divine north wind brought the cold air of winter to Germania's wide open plain. Furthermore, the sky turned dark and bleak as white and tiny snowflakes began to fall.

  "Oh no... I used it again..."

  Aisha's shoulders suddenly slumped dejectedly.

  As the goddess of spring, Persephone was a kindhearted young girl. Forcefully abducted by the god of the underworld, Hades, she became his wife and was taken to the realm of the dead.

  But when winter arrived, she suddenly transformed into the cruel queen of the underworld, bringing freezing air to the world.

  Furthermore, whenever the power of healing was reversed, "winter's authority" frequently executed Aisha's impromptu strategies mercilessly without hesitation.

  It was as though Aisha's own temperament and principles were reversed as well.

  "An attack going as far as to advise me to flee... If I do not take it on, my name as the goddess shall be tarnished!"

  "Th-That's not what I mean!"

  Currently, Doni-Artio held up the divine sword amidst the ice-cold north wind, mobilizing the magical power in a Campione's body to resist this authority.

  However, the ground beneath the sword-wielding Campione suddenly collapsed.

  Like a great earthquake—a crevasse appeared on the ground, dozens of meters long.

  "Guh..."

  The divine sword's user fell into the depths of the earth.

  The underworld ruled by Queen Persephone existed deep underground. Consequently, the queen's authority not only included extreme cold but also the ability to drag enemies underground.

  "This means that this area will become a world of midwinter for now..."

  Powerful blasts of cold air flowed out from the crevasse where Doni-Artio was swallowed.

  Although Aisha did not feel any discomfort herself, an ordinary human would freeze to their very bones if they spent long durations in this area. In the worst case, they would freeze to death here.

  But this time, what flowed out from the fissure in the ground was not just cold air.

  'O woman godslayer, superbly done indeed.'

  Hearing the goddess's voice coming from underground, Aisha shuddered.

  'Even for gods, escaping from the underworld's prison is no easy task. The majority of gods would have no choice but to welcome death. Nevertheless, I am also a queen ruling the earth...'

  Artio's voice carried neither anger nor hatred but tender affection instead.

  'Please be patient and wait for now. I shall terminate this one-way journey and return to the surface once more. Before that, please allow my minions to serve as opponents to quell your boredom!'

  "Oooh, sure enough!"

  The secret technique of dragging enemies underground was immensely powerful.

  Depending on circumstances, its power could deliver a one-hit kill. However, the majority of mother earth goddesses like Artio held identities as underworld goddesses as well, hence it was impossible to deal her an effective blow. Also, this technique was also ineffective against divinities whose legends included "dying at one point but miraculously revived."

  Furthermore, after Artio spoke—

  Holding their positions obediently until just now, the giant bears suddenly began to riot.

  Roughly a hundred and fifty giant bears were groaning viciously, making grim gazes and expressions at Aisha and the Franks while slowly moving in their direction.

  "Everyone calm down! Please!"

  Aisha clasped her hands together and prayed towards the giant bears.

  But there was no effect. Recovering their ferocity, the beasts did not halt, continuing to approach Aisha and the two thousand Franks several hundred meters away.

  The giant bears were the goddess's minions to begin with. Also, Aisha was meeting them for the first time today.

  Hence, even the charm authority was unable to wield influence beyond "requests."

  "Heeeeeee!"

  'Hohohoho. Do not be mistaken, this is not all there is for the return gift!'

  The goddess laughed heartily while starting a pursuit.

  In the next instant, platinum radiance shone underneath Aisha's feet. No, not just underfoot but also the ground of her entire surroundings was glowing with light. This was the lightning of salvation released from deep underground.

  Unlike the power of the neutralized lightning earlier, this was on a completely different level.

  This time, the goddess did not bother with precise control, probably performing the attack without caring if it went berserk or not.

  Engulfed by the exploding flash of light underfoot, Aisha's body vanished.

  Part 4

  The bear army led by the goddess Artio. The two thousand warriors of the Franks.

  These two armies finally encountered each other. But rather than developing suddenly into a battle, they faced off, separated by a distance of several hundred meters. The two faction's leaders met at the midpoint to hold negotiations.

  Madame Aisha's authority had dragged Doni-Artio into the bottom of the earth.

  "Although I sort of guessed a little already, it really turns out to be a difficult-to-control power after all..."

  Godou muttered. Mixed among the Franks, he had observed the meeting just now.

  Just as a precaution, he had stood near the front row. The two girls who had brought Godou there, Yuri and Liliana, were also rendered speechless by the sudden developments of the situation.

  "A-As much as she did not intent to fight, her authorities would automatically unleash themselves."

  "Within Madame Aisha's authorities, perhaps all of them inevitably include aspects that cannot be consciously controlled by her own will..."

  "Despite lacking any intent to fight, attacks are suddenly launched."

  In a certain sense, her usual behavior and existence itself became feints and diversions during battle. Witnessing what was so scary about Madame Aisha, Godou frowned.

  "Doni was right, it's definitely very sly..."

  However, the battle did not end there.

  Coming from underground, the goddess Artio's voice roused the bear army to go violent. Struck by the lightning coming from underground, Madame Aisha vanished from sight.

  "Aisha-san!?"

  Godou doubted his eyes. Impossible, how could that person be...

  Furthermore, the hundred and fifty giant bears started to advance.

  The giant bears had massive bodies, roughly four or five meters in length, and would look as big as a house if they stood up on their hind legs. In addition, all of the giant bears had gone violent, baring their fangs in a display of fighting spirit.

  This army boasted of massive bodies while rushing towards the Franks.

  GROWWWWWWWWLLL—!

  GROWWWWWWWWWWWWLLL—!

  GROWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLL—!

  The giant bears' incessant howling shook the air and the ground.

  Faced with the giant bears that were arriving like a tidal wave, the Franks were clearly wavering due to having witnessed Madame Aisha's disappearance.

  Every one of them shouting "Great chieftain!", they started to cry and scream.

  However, someone among them yelled out:

  "You guys! Aren't you going to avenge the great chieftain!?"

  This yell's effect was quite pronounced. The men instantly changed their demeanor.

  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!

  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!

  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!

  The human faction also began to shout and charge.

  Naturally, they were charging towards the tidal wave comp
osed of a hundred and fifty giant bears. Wielding swords, spears, axes, bows, arrows and other weapons respectively, their bodies and minds were all fired up with determination and desire for vengeance.

  On this wide open Germanian plain, the two armies engaged in an intense conflict—

  The chaotic battle began.

  Naturally, the giant bears were overwhelming in power if one were to compare one giant bear with a single Frankish warrior.

  However, the giant bears numbered a hundred and fifty. On the other hand, the humans were two thousand strong. Simply by calculation, ten people could challenge each bear with extra to spare.

  A giant bear swung its stout front limb. A Frankish warrior fell.

  The giant bears were biting with their vicious jaws and teeth. Screams and bleeding Frankish casualties began to appear on the battlefield.

  This type of tragic scene could be found all over the battlefield.

  Nevertheless, there were many powerful individuals among the Franks who were able to halt the giant bears' violent offensive using shields and agile movements. In addition, many more were able to stab their weapons into the giant bears' bodies that presented massive openings in their bestial, savage attacks.

  As a result, this vast plain in Germania became littered with the corpses of beasts and humans.

  "The fighting only started five minutes ago and there are already so many casualties!"

  "I-If only Madame Aisha with her healing authority were still here at least..."

  "Oh well, given who she is, I don't think she'd die so easily..."

  Remarking respectively, every member of Godou's trio was currently far away from the battlefield.

  They had stayed where they were when the Frankish warriors charged for the attack. This decision was made in order to avoid getting swept up into the violent chaos of the battlefield.

  At this moment, Liliana took the bow off her back and wielded it in her left hand.

  This was a composite bow used by equestrian tribes. Instead of wood, it was made from animal bones and tendons, a bow that could fire arrows from quite a long range despite its small size. Using her right hand to draw an arrow from the quiver at her waist, she placed it on the bowstring.

  Swiftly, she fired, sniping a giant bear dozens of meters ahead.

  The giant bear happened to be fighting savagely with Frankish warriors. With perfect aim, Liliana's arrow pierced the giant bear's right eye. Immediately, she shot a second arrow, this time sending it into the giant bear's left eye.