Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter 3.2

Part 2 

"Nee-san!"  

"We meet again, little brother."  

This reunion was taking place two months after their previous gathering in December last year.  

On this evening, Luo Cuilian was dressed in Han Chinese clothing with an extremely long hem, showcasing style akin to a wandering celestial maiden under the moon. However, there were more pressing matters at hand than getting mesmerized by her beauty.  

Godou brought up the biggest question.  

"Why did you come here, Nee-san?"  

"Roughly half a month prior at Mount Lu, I saw the augury of the 'white halo piercing the sun' in a vision."  

"A white halo—Come again?"  

Although Luo Cuilian was not a deity, her majesty was comparable to that of the gods.  

Arriving by Godou's side, she cast her haughty gaze in sequence, at Pallas Athena, the "King of the End" and the Divine Sword Mandala that was drawn in the sky.  

That gaze undoubtedly belonged to the eyes of an emperor, looking down at his subjects from atop his throne. A gaze of unparalleled supremacy.  

"I have no reason to intervene if the only thing at stake were the rise and fall of humanity. However, monumental events concerning the gods, the four seas, heaven and earth would be a separate matter. Suspecting the vision of the 'white halo piercing the sun' to be an augury of such happenings, I thus departed on a journey to discern the truth."  

"By journey, do you mean coming to Japan from China?"  

"No. Turning into a giant bird to soar through the skies, turning into a dragon to swim across the seas, I toured various places to observe their conditions. During my journey, sensing that the East China Sea was filled with unusual divine energies, I tried to trace its source, thus arriving at this land."  

This description was very much in the demonic cult leader's style, exhibiting her total mastery of Daoist arts, a wanderer of fantastical realms far removed from the mundane world.  

Godou smiled wryly. At least she probably hasn't gone to urban areas—the speculation of her direct disciple looked like it was not necessarily correct.  

"Then Nee-san, about these guys here—"  

"Say no more. One can get a gist by questioning spirits and apparitions local to this mountain. The great hero of Devil King extermination—I have heard of his rumors several times in the past, however."  

Luo Cuilian finally turned to gaze squarely at the "King of the End."  

"I never expected this day when I would confront him together with my little brother by my side."  

"...I see. Your position is akin to the elder sister of Kusanagi Godou?"  

Taking the beautiful Devil King's gaze head on, the pale-haired hero murmured quietly. In response, Luo Cuilian proudly puffed out her magnificent chest and declared sonorously:  

"No mere elder sister. One should be addressed as the supreme Onee-sama at the very least."  

"Indeed you are correct. Even though this is our first meeting, I can easily understand that substantial powers are under your command. If it pleases you, may I inquire your name and title?"  

"In that case, please engrave into your heart the name of Luo Cuilian, Leader of the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains."  

"Understood. Your Eminence Luo Hao. But regrettably, my name—"  

"Do not feel obliged to introduce yourself. The true name of the king manifesting at era's end has been known as a famous mystery for the past millennium. It would be an excessive breach of tact if one were to insist on inquiring your name."  

"Much appreciated. Allow me to thank you for your understanding."  

Godou secretly felt impressed. To think that he was able to get along with Luo Cuilian, a difficult task even for fellow humans, and to even converse so naturally as well.  

The "King of the End" was unexpectedly adept in social skills.  

Meanwhile, the conversation between the two otherworldly figures continued.  

"Seeing as you are a figure of such caliber, Your Eminence Luo Hao, I am afraid you probably know this already—I am the warrior tasked with the destiny of exterminating Devil Kings. I have no choice but to defeat you and that Kusanagi Godou over there."  

"Of course, it couldn't be clearer. I shall accept."  

"That being the case, may I ask for a time?"  

"Truly a foolish question. I am not so cowardly that I would choose any hour apart from the one at hand."  

In response to Luo Cuilian's utterly haughty gaze cast down from above, the great hero politely bowed his head. "Much appreciated."  

Then the two of them began to enter combat stances. The demonic cult leader presented her palms in an open-handed stance, looking as though she was about to exhibit her prided palm techniques any instant.  

The "King of the End" did not reach for the divine sword in front of him.  

Still with his iconic sword stabbed in the ground, he issued a declaration of war in a stern and dignified voice:  

"Kusanagi Godou, it is my hope that you will join your elder sister so as to have a rematch with me. Given how I am now, I should be able to satisfy you more than during the battle in the past."  

"I don't care about the past. I wasn't unsatisfied at all!"  

Grumbling against the other side's unnecessary concerns, Godou looked back at the Divine Ancestor.  

During the unusual conversation between the hero and the demonic cult leader, she had kept silent with good reason.  

Her life was on the very verge of ending. Panting painfully, Pallas Athena could only barely manage to stay conscious.  

If she were to fight in this state, the lightning of salvation would quickly strike her down—  

(King, summon her to this place. Interesting things ought to be possible if her power was present.)  

Residing in his right arm, the partner offered a suggestion.  

Godou nodded immediately and summoned Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, meanwhile saying to Pallas Athena:  

"Athena—Enter my sword here! This is the weapon you've conferred power to in the past!"  

There was nothing wrong with this description. Godou deliberately called her by her former name.  

Hence, the Divine Ancestor instantly recovered light in her eyes. Then releasing her young girl's form, she turned into a silver snake, measuring 50cm in length, and swiftly entered the divine sword.  

Held in Godou's right hand, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi had a jet-black blade.  

This was the steel sword that the ancient Japanese god Susanoo had found in the Eight-Forked Serpent's tail, a weapon whose origin was intimately tied to snakes. 

In addition, several months earlier, the goddess Athena had also imparted the 

[Storm Bringer Technique] directly into Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi—  Precisely due to the effects of these prior causes, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was able to absorb the Divine Ancestor, who had taken the form of a silver snake, into itself.  

Godou nodded. Deciding to leave the rest to his partner, he returned Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi back to his right arm again for now.  

"Nee-san, that guy's greatest weapon is lightning. We have to guard against that first."  

"Know your place as the younger brother, Godou. It is a hundred years too early for you to worry about me!"  

"That's true, I guess. Then I take it back. Allow me to rely on you, Nee-san!"  

The Divine Sword Mandala overhead was beginning to speed up.  

Rising upwards rapidly and steadily, it ascended to roughly the same height as the sparse clouds floating in the night sky. Also, the Divine Sword Mandala also expanded in area at the same time.  

The square-shaped magic circle grew in size until it was six or seven kilometers in length.  

Then the Divine Sword Mandala finally started to release lightning from the formation in the sky.  

Countless flashes of lightning rained down from the sky like a heavy downpour. This was not just limited to the area around Godou and Luo Cuilian. The lightning also fell equally on the surrounding mountain range.  

Godou instantly invoked the [Raptor].  

Verethragna's seventh incarnation conferred divine speed. Despite its time limit and many inconveniences such as loss of mobility after use, this ability was the most effective means to evade the lightning.  

Using divine speed, Godou raced across the land where massive holes were being gouged out by the platinum-colored lightning falling like a heavy rainstorm. While dodging the descending lightning left and right, he ran towards the "King of the End." In order to survive this crisis, the main culprit must be defeated first—  

This was the same tactic as what Godou used in ancient Gaul last time.  

Using the same divine speed as back then, Godou closed in on the "King of the End." Right when he arrived at a couple dozen meters away the same figure appeared as last time.  

The masked war god, whose body was completely wrapped in strips of white cloth, also a user of divine speed, the Wind King!  

(He came just as expected huh!?)  

Godou yelled. However, no ordinary human would be able to hear him.  

People in the normal world were unable to hear sounds produced by entities moving at divine speed. In spite of that, Godou heard a voice responding to him.  

(Watch your elder sister's divine might carefully, O little brother.)  

Luo Cuilian's beautiful voice—unbelievably—it was coming from Godou's shadow on the ground. Seeing that Godou was about to dash with divine speed, she had invoked her Daoist arts instantly, thereby hitching a ride on Godou's shadow—It was probably some kind of trick along those lines. Furthermore, she was capable of discerning phenomena moving at divine speed as though it were the most natural thing in the world, even going as far as to carry a conversation casually. Godou smiled wryly.  

It was totally absurd. Indeed, it was a hundred years too early for him to be worrying about Nee-san.  

Wielding a single-edged longsword, the Wind King slashed at Godou!  

(Fist of the Tiger-Quelling Luohan!)  

Accompanied by Luo Cuilian's spell words, a fist flew out from under Godou.  

A straight punch performed by a muscular arm of bronze. Compared to the 180cm tall Godou, it was a thick arm at least double his size. Shooting out from the ground, the arm included the fist up to the elbow and struck the war god of wind with an uppercut.  

This was the mighty arm created by the sworn elder sister's authority, Divine 

Might of Vajrapani. Furthermore, the martial arts involved, counterattacking the Wind King who was obstructing them while moving at divine speed, were of unparalleled mastery. This was the level of unarmed combat belonging to grandmasters of martial arts, surpassing even a certain Salvatore Doni.  

The war god's body was blown away like ignited fireworks, flying towards the stars in the night sky.  

Or perhaps he was going to fly out of the universe? That was the astounding speed with which the Wind King ascended through the air. A superlative feat that only Luo Cuilian's divine might was capable of achieving.  

But even so, the war god of steel had not suffered a fatal wound.  

While flying high in the air, the Wind King tossed something down towards the ground. It was the divine artifact made from a gold-iron alloy—the [Arrowhead's Discus].  

(My, how long it has been, godslayer of my homeland!)  

The Discus suddenly took on the form of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, descending upon Godou's with divine speed.  

He even used the momentum of the fall to swing the Ruyi Jingu Staff. Godou jumped to the right and barely dodged the attack.  

(Isn't this the Great Sage Equaling Heaven? Why is he present when he was supposed to have died?)  

(It's apparently a power to summon heroes. That medallion causes slain gods to revive. Apart from the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, two other gods whom I know have also revived!)  

Godou reported briefly in response to Her Eminence's surprise.  

During this time, the lightning did not stop, continuing to fall like a heavy rainstorm.  

Evasion. Evasion. Evasion. Evasion. Evasion. Evasion.  

While Godou was using divine speed to jump and dash, just as he evaded the sixth bolt of lightning, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven attacked again.  

He suddenly appeared on Godou's left, swinging the Ruyi Staff horizontally from the side. What blocked him was a giant arm of bronze extending out from Godou's shadow underfoot.  

(How impetuous you are, Great Sage!)  

(Sorry Nee-san, thanks for saving me!)  

(Hahahaha. You guys are still so hard to kill!)  

The Great Sage, laughing heartily with delight, versus Godou who had barely escaped a crisis. Neither side paused at all. After all, the lightning of salvation kept descending nonstop. Even when running at divine speed, stopping for an instant would mean getting devoured by lightning.  

Nevertheless, Godou dashed while biding his time, trying to approach the "King of the End."  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven was probably trying to harass and occupy Godou, preventing him from getting near.  

(Why isn't it all three of you this time!? What happened to Lancelot and Perseus!?)  

(Nonsense. My presence alone is enough already!)  

(Most likely, by concentrating the divine power for summoning a hero, it would further reinforce the divinity's strength.)  

Luo Cuilian's voice came from the shadow underfoot.  

(Reviving dead gods on the mortal plane is a monumental miracle overturning the laws of heaven, earth and the underworld. It is difficult to believe that the revived will be as strong as when they were still alive. Presumably, by using the divine artifact seen earlier as a power source, the Great Sage's strength could be restored to its former heights!)  

(Exactly. Since the clairvoyant Daoist priestess is here, I have to be cautious!)  

While muttering, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven also dodged lightning and continued to harass Godou nonstop.  

Trying to find an opening, he swung the Ruyi Staff over. Meanwhile, he was also warily watching Godou's feet, staying on guard for Luo Cuilian who was lurking in Godou's shadow. The surprise attack earlier was probably not going to work again.  

Godou frowned and looked at the "King of the End."  

While running at full speed, Godou tried his best to stay within thirty or forty meters of that man.  

Luckily, the sworn elder sister had sent the Wind King flying to the stratosphere, if Godou could seize this opportunity to successfully reach the—  

However, the hero using the divine sword whispered dangerous spell words.  

"I offer my prayers to the noble king of lightning, the warrior who has mastered the use of all weapons. I implore you to awaken in my hand at this very moment... the supreme bow of might that you bestowed upon me in the past."  The lightning tormenting Godou and the rest suddenly ceased.  

Floating high in the air, the Divine Sword Mandala stopped its indiscriminate attacks towards the ground.  

But instead—RUMBLE! RUMBLE! Two bolts of lightning descended, accompanied by two giant roars of thunder.  

Unbelievably, these two flashes of lightning were targeting the "King of the End."  

However, the pale-haired aristocrat easily absorbed the scorching heat and impact.  

Then immediately, a massive bow of steel manifested in his left hand. 

Furthermore, a quiver holding dozens of arrows also appeared by his feet.  

The energy of the lightning had most likely converted into that large bow and quiver!  

"In my current state of full power, achieved through the great ritual of the covenant—"  

The pale-haired aristocrat was speaking in a cheerful voice.  

Even to the ears of Godou who was under the effects of divine speed, this voice still sounded unbelievably pleasant. A bright voice that permeated the ears and hearts of the listeners. Or perhaps this might be part of his authority.  

"—I can unseal the most powerful weaponry, the bow and its quiver. Kusanagi Godou and Your Eminence Luo Hao. You are about to face this bow and these arrows."  

Speaking in a very modest tone of voice, the "King of the End" readied the massive bow of steel.  

Godou trembled. Speaking of which, hadn't he heard this before? The "King of the End" was an endlessly wandering hero with deep ties to the bow and arrows.  

Furthermore, as though to corroborate Godou's memory, the earth began to shake.  

Simply holding up the bow caused an earthquake. Roughly three or four on the Richter scale. At this moment, the "King of the End" closed his eyes unexpectedly.  

In order to pierce Godou and Luo Hao who were dashing at divine speed, he was using the mind's eye!  

"Legend tells of a great hero who shot down nine suns during antiquity at a kingdom in the orient. The arrows he fired had vanished along with the falling suns, but a master craftsman of the celestial realm was able to create an arrow for replicating the feat."  

The Devil King exterminating hero held up the steel bow in his left hand. Then using his right hand, he took out a jet-black arrow from the quiver by his foot.  

Seeing this, the Great Sage instantly made a retracting motion with his head once and performed a somersault. Then he vanished just like that. He had probably retreated to avoid getting caught in the attack.  

Hovering in the air, the Divine Sword Mandala stopped firing lightning randomly.  

It was like a soldier settling into silence to avoid obstructing the great general who was about to shoot an arrow.  

"This is merely a counterfeit arrow, insufficient to shoot down the sun. However, it can still bring about incomparable firepower when released towards the ground... Let us first begin with this level of power."  

The "King of the End" finally nocked the jet-black arrow on the bowstring.  

At this instant, Godou felt a chill down his back and started to run as fast as he could. With his back towards the hero and the jet-black arrow, he pulled back his distance as fast as he could using divine speed.  

This was a Campione's usual intuition. At this rate—He was definitely going to die beyond a doubt.  

Besides, even as fellow users of divine speed, didn't the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, capable of flying through the air, flee for his life as well?  

(Nee-san, can you help me out as well!?)  

(You leave me no choice but to spoil you. In that case, go up!)  

Godou had been running all over the mountain ridge just now.  

Using divine speed—the same speed as lightning—in almost one breath, he rushed over to the sloping surface of the peak with its sparse greenery, coming to a barren pinnacle where there was only solid rock.  

(Jump, Godou!)  

Hearing the command from underfoot, Godou jumped as hard as he could.  

While using the [Raptor] incarnation, he was able to make light and agile movements as though wings had grown out of his feet. Using this leap, Godou jumped into the sky higher than the mountaintop.  

The Minamibousou mountains were generally not very high, standing roughly three or four hundred meters above sea level.  

This peak was the same. But compared to the land below, this was quite a sufficient height already. Having leapt into the night sky, Godou's excellent night vision allowed him to see the settlements scattered among the low-altitude mountains as well as artificial lighting appearing in the darkness of the night.  

Furthermore, the sworn sister's resident shadow was still adhering firmly to Godou's feet.  

Turning his head back to look behind him while feeling impressed—Godou witnessed the jet-black arrow flying towards him in the air.  

Clearly. the arrow was even faster than the lightning of salvation.  

No matter how hard Godou ran to escape, it was surely going to pierce him. Just as Godou was about to be shot as an aerial target, the sworn sister's aid arrived in the nick of time.  

(O north wind, sweeping across the vast lands, flying over countless miles!)  

Spell words of flight.  

Immediately, emerging from the shadow, Luo Cuilian caught Godou in her arms while in midair.  

Then enveloped in golden light, the two of them soared upwards rapidly. This variant of Daoist arts seemed to belong to the same system as the flight magic used by Liliana.  

In addition, the jet-black arrow pursuing them—suddenly exploded.  

Platinum light erupted under their gaze, producing a large-scale explosion affecting an area several kilometers in diameter. The mountain range of Minamibousou was spectacularly and tragically blown apart.