Absolutely forbidden. Not by anyone but Kusanagi Godou himself!
"Let's go, Ama no Murakumo..."
Although Godou had no intention of exchanging blows of the sword, he still summoned his partner the jet-black divine sword to his right hand.
Seeing this, Doni muttered "Ehe."
"I never would have expected you to draw a sword. How considerate."
"This is for the sake of victory. However, I don't plan on fencing with you. After all, I definitely won't win that way."
"Yes yes. Now that's my Godou, capable of saying such things. Ahhh, come to think of it, that storm-making thing from earlier is a bit troublesome. Then it doesn't feel like winning a sword fight."
"Don't make me laugh. Before I can start the storm, you will have chopped me to death already."
On the other hand, for the same reason, Godou did not worry about Doni's fourth authority.
This authority, usurped from Dionysus, the god of wine and ritual madness, was capable of causing magic and divine powers to go berserk. Quite a fair amount of time was needed to activate this authority.
Thinking here, Godou smiled wryly.
With both sides knowing each other's hand completely, such an opponent was truly challenging—How interesting!
"Hohoho, you're simply adorable, summoning your sword despite knowing that."
"Shut up. At least stop saying such nonsense!"
"Hey hey, that's not what you said when we were establishing our alliance."
"That agreement was scrapped a long time ago."
In contrast to the fruitless verbal sparring, the ultimate stage was approaching.
A powerful vortex was already starting to swirl in Godou and Doni's surroundings.
This was the warning sign precipitating the activation of the "black blade," the secret technique entrusted to Godou by Athena. Salvatore Doni was a sword master in every sense of the word while Godou was nowhere near anything like that. In that case, Godou must seek out victory in a manner suited to himself... That was the idea conveyed by Godou's actions.
"There exists nothing I cannot cut! Of course, you are no exception!"
"Bring it on if you think you can!"
Doni took a step and performed a diagonal slash from below.
At the same time, Godou swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, using these two hands that used to swing a baseball bat on a daily basis, gripping the divine sword in the same manner as a bat.
Godou's target was the supreme mystic sword—the Divine Sword of Salvation—that Doni was swinging.
Using the abilities of Verethragna's incarnation, the [Warrior], Godou understood Doni's swordsmanship. This was a diagonal slash aiming to cut from the left hip to the right shoulder, unleashed from the sword dangling from his right hand.
In response, Godou swung his divine sword to intercept using the principles of batting against a slightly low ball aimed towards the outer corner.
Using his inborn dynamic vision, a Campione's concentration, the [Warrior]'s powers of observation, along with a former batter's swing...
The multiplied effect of all these factors allowed Godou to succeed on his first try. He succeeded in stopping Salvatore Doni's slash in midswing.
—Clang!
The Divine Sword of Salvation and Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi clashed intensely, producing a heavy metallic sound.
However, Doni's right arm glowed with silver light at this time. He was using the authority of the magic sword, the [Ripping Arm of Silver]. Whether the frivolous Campione was swinging a bat or a blunt sword, this turned the weapon into a blade where no existence in this world could not be cut...!
Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's blade measured three feet and three and a half inches. In other words, the length of a bamboo pole exceeding one meter.
Doni's magic sword was clashing violently with this blade, twenty centimeters or so from the tip. Then Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was sliced through at this position.
Then Doni's magic sword continued without stopping the slash's momentum, cutting Godou's body in half—That was originally supposed to happen.
"What!?"
However, Doni ended up being the one surprised.
Despite combining multiple superb sword techniques, his attack did not advance any further. The Divine Sword of Salvation was stuck to Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, like iron drawn to a magnet. This was due to the supergravity residing in the "black blade."
Causing a gravitational storm and producing the power to suck in all existence required a lot of time for preparation.
However, the level needed to attract a single sword was a completely different matter. However, just when Godou's plan was taking effect, Doni also chanted spell words.
"O priestesses of Bacchus, be drunk with the wine of gods!"
This was the authority for making magical power and divine abilities lose control.
In a split second, Doni did the same thing as Godou. Even though invoking the full effect required a lot of time, it was also possible to activate quickly to achieve partial effects—
The produced effect caused the suction of supergravity to release for an instant, thus allowing the Divine Sword of Salvation to separate from Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
Swinging the divine sword, Doni stabbed at Godou's throat directly.
A thrust of assured death. Godou instantly moved right, narrowly evading the attack. However, the sword ended up stabbing deeply into his left shoulder. Both the shoulder and his left arm lost all feeling.
A very deep wound. A great volume of blood splashed out.
"Yahhhhhh!"
In exchange for the injury, Godou invoked the [Camel]. Then he executed a spinning kick aimed high!
A flash of the right foot. This high kick ended up striking Doni in the temple splendidly. However, the sensation on Godou's instep felt like kicking steel—Doni had turned into a body of steel at the last second.
Seeing as that was the case, Godou sent magical power to the tip of his foot.
An explosion was produced at the contact point between Doni's temple and the foot. Due to the impact, Doni's head and body began to sway.
This was the move Godou had learnt earlier during the battle against the "King of the End."
The explosion's shock should have permeated the steel body's interior. His brain apparently shaken by the impact, Doni fell over despite having no injuries. The impact had caused a concussion.
In that very instant, Godou and Doni's gazes met.
The two of them confirmed each other as formidable opponents again. Godou made a sour look while Doni smiled fearlessly with delight—then collapsed. This was their second duel.
Upon reflection over the battle afterwards, in actual fact, the two of them had merely executed two attacks each.
But despite merely two exchanges, the density of content was immense!
Godou exhaled deeply, relieved that he was safe and sound. Furthermore, he was finally victorious over his fated rival. Godou could not help but raise his right fist and Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi up high to express his delight.
Part 4
Kusanagi Godou had defeated Salvatore Doni.
At the same time, high up in the sky, the armored archdemon had also pierced the "serpent of lightning" with its longsword. The lightning aggregate was thus completely annihilated. That minion or avatar of Madame Aisha had won.
"At least it's dealt with, just barely..."
Collapsing from exhaustion, Madame Aisha bent over and sat down hard on the ground.
Hovering in midair, the archdemon's form gradually turned hazy and disappeared.
"I'm so hungry I can't stand it, I won't be able to move for now..."
"You finally won, Godou!"
"King Salvatore doesn't look like he's still possessed."
On one side, Madame Aisha was collapsed on the ground in exhaustion on her own.
On the other side, Godou's surroundings were exceptionally lively. Erica and Ena had run over with smiles writt
en all over their faces. Yuri and Liliana were also smiling slightly further away.
Godou nodded to his companions. Then Erica spoke with deliberate mischief:
"By the way, although this victory is indeed worth celebrating, I still feel that you should control your joyful emotions a little. Tentatively speaking, you are still the self-styled pacifist after all."
"'Tentatively' and 'self-styled' are unnecessary!"
Godou was still holding in his right hand the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi that he had been raising towards the sky. The divine sword's blade was severed twenty centimeters from the tip. Taken together with the stab wound that Doni had inflicted on Godou's left shoulder, these could probably be called wounds of honor.
However, the battle was not over yet.
"The Divine Sword of Salvation!?"
Liliana suddenly cried out while looking at Doni who was lying on the side.
While the Campione was sleeping with a face like a baby's, the Divine Sword of Salvation had disappeared from his hand. At some unknown point in time, it had stabbed itself upright in the ground, ten-odd meters ahead.
Also, the divine sword was surrounded by a mass of black mist.
"The goddess Artio... No, it's Artio's divine spirit!"
Yuri revealed the answer, presumably seeing with the power of spirit vision.
Immediately, Godou and his group's surroundings started to glow. This plain that had become a battlefield—the vicinity—suddenly released golden light.
"This is... the essence of the earth?"
Surveying the glowing ground, Liliana murmured in trepidation.
Furthermore, the black mist surrounding the Divine Sword of Salvation scattered.
'Allow me to thank you, godslayer of the sword. Using the time you bought, I gradually gathered the essence of the earth...'
As expected, it was the goddess Artio's voice.
'Hoho. This land shall wither for a hundred years, turning into a useless wasteland... This too, cannot be helped. This essence and my soul shall serve as substitutes for the blood of resurrection...'
Godou was shocked. Speaking of which, what allowed the Divine Sword of Salvation and the "King of the End" to awaken was the goddess Artio's life force, right?
'Slothful hero, descend upon here once more—'
Saying that, the mist, which was the goddess's spirit, dissipated. Completely annihilated this time.
Also, the golden glow released by the ground began to contract. However, Godou felt bone-chilling terror. This was because the surrounding scenery changed as the light dissipated.
Simply stated, this had become a land of death.
The vegetation on this wide open plain had withered in an instant.
Surveying the ground, it was white all around. Parched, bare soil was exposed. With the soil virtually drained of water, white sand scattered and blew in the wind.
In the past, trees had offered shade to travelers, scattered sparsely across the landscape.
These were all withered now. All branches and leaves, all fruits were completely dead. Trunks, branches and leaves were dried and withered as though all nutrients had been sucked away.
Also, the wind blowing across this land was exceptionally cold.
Probably an effect of Madame Aisha using her winter authority. The chilly wind felt as cold as midwinter. As a result, the wasteland image was further reinforced.
"I-It feels like something terrible has happened..."
Perhaps out of self-reprimand, Madame Aisha was huddling. However, there was no time to be concerned about her. Godou instantly yelled out:
"Everyone, hurry and leave this place! Take Aisha-san and idiot Doni together and get as far away as possible!"
His companions could probably predict what was about to happen here.
Having the greatest arm strength, Erica carried Doni's slender but muscular body on her shoulder while Ena urged Madame Aisha to escape as quickly as possible.
Yuri and Liliana also nodded lightly before leaving, giving Godou concise encouragement.
Next, Godou turned his sharp gaze towards the place ten-odd meters ahead.
Standing upright by the Divine Sword of Salvation was an aristocrat.
The ferocity on his handsome face was as clear to see as rust on iron. There was a gloomy shadow of weariness on his face. Even so, the man's prim and proper facial features exuded a sense of coolness...
Naturally, this was the "King of the End." Nevertheless, there was no color.
What should have been pale-white hair, a pale and handsome face, the clothes on his body, everything was covered by a thin layer of gray color. The only exception was the divine sword stabbed upright by his side.
In one neat motion, the gray aristocrat drew his favorite blade, shining with platinum luster.
"Never did I expect a reunion so soon... We meet again, Kusanagi Godou."
"Yeah. But you still don't look like you're in a peak condition."
Holding the divine sword, the hero's standing posture remained awe-inspiring and sacred as usual.
However, using his eyes of a Campione's, Godou could tell that his opponent was in an unstable state no matter how he looked. It felt that the "King of the End" would simply vanish from a light kick.
"This cannot be helped either... Is probably what ought to be said."
The gray hero admitted with a magnanimous voice.
"Using the last of her life, my fake mother gathered up the earth's essence to offer to me. However, this level of essence is far from enough. I estimate that I can only remain on the surface for the duration of a single sword swing. Nevertheless—"
Candidly admitting his disadvantage, the "King of the End" continued indifferently:
"I believe that this duration is more than enough to exterminate the three of you, godslayers. Because right now, I am about to use the covenant's great ritual..."
"What did you say!?"
"My surrogate mother has already ratified the covenant of Devil King extermination. When a deity, whose name is linked to the covenant, dies under a Devil King's tyranny, I am obliged to unleash the strike of vengeance. As the executor of the ancient covenant..."
After finishing these murmurs, the "King of the End" raised the divine sword high up towards the sky.
Gazing at Godou with eyes showing the color of weariness like rust, he spoke at the same time:
"Kusanagi Godou. For the extermination of you and the two godslayers who departed, I shall proceed to swing my sword once. If you are able to withstand it, this battle is your victory."
The divine sword's blade, raised up high towards the heavens—
High above, a platinum ball of light appeared with a diameter of a hundred something meters. This sphere of light, resembling a mini-sun, was crackling with white lightning.
"However, that is impossible. This will be my victory."
The light of salvation, which Godou had confronted head on a number of times already, activated.
Nevertheless, the "King of the End"'s entire body was filled with astounding magical power.
This was magical power equal to that residing in the monkey king's body when the Great Sage Equaling Heaven merged with his two subordinate gods. If this level of magical power were unleashed in a strike of salvation, even the "black blade" would be unable to resist!
The instant he was certain of this, Godou spoke softly:
"Are you still able to fight, Ama no Murakumo...!?"
'Affirmative!'
Despite its front tip sliced off, the partner answered with full force of vigor.
Godou himself was severely injured as well, stabbed in the left shoulder by Doni's sword—But even so, he still acted decisively, running towards the "King of the End" while holding Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi one-handed.
Even in a mutual clash, there was no chance for victory. After all, the opponent was the divine sword wielder!
Godou instantly made his decision and started running. The "King of
the End" gazed calmly at Godou. Having fought godslayers many times in the past, he probably predicted this type of action.
"Doing this as expected huh."
Just as he nodded, numerous flashes of lightning started to descend from the sphere of light in the sky.
It was like a sudden rainstorm, except with raindrops of lightning. In just a matter of a few dozen seconds, hundreds, thousands of lightning strikes were pouring down on this desolate land of death.
In order to evade all this lightning to approach the "King of the End," there was no other way apart from using the [Raptor]!
Invoking Verethragna's seventh incarnation, Godou entered the realm of divine speed.
Consequently, he was able to witness the tragic fate of the devastated surroundings as clearly as watching in slow motion. The lightning of salvation kept falling nonstop while exploding waves of heat and shock tore through the ground. Furthermore, this devastation was spreading out several kilometers in all directions, resulting in a situation akin to bombardment.
Godou weaved left and right to evade the rain of lightning while racing towards the "King of the End."
Thanks to the [Camel] he had been using until just now, conferring great resilience against pain, the left shoulder did not hurt so obviously. But having switched to the [Raptor] now, every step he took brought intense pain to his body. His left arm was hanging without any feeling due to the sword wound.
Even so, Godou still gritted his teeth, intending to unleash a strike at the "King of the End."
At this moment, someone appeared between Godou and the hero.
Completely wrapped in white cloth, a war god whose face was hidden behind a red mask, wielding a thick and heavy blade. More importantly, this war god was also a user of divine speed just like Godou.
While evading the rain of lightning strikes, he or she raced over with divine speed.
Who would have expected two against one in this situation!? Just as Godou gritted his teeth...
'King—'
Held in his right hand, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi whispered softly.
Godou prepared his resolve. He intended to brush past the masked war god blocking his way, fully unleashing divine speed until arriving at the "King of the End."
Intruding into this path ahead, the masked war god also used divine speed again.
Campione 15 Page 26