Vol 7 Chapter 7 (1/2)
Chapter 7 - G.o.ds and G.o.dslayers, the Climactic
Final Battle for Victory
Part 1
G.o.dou was badly beaten up while the Great Sage Equaling Heaven
literally had his belly cut open as suggested.
Had either of them succ.u.mbed to their heavy injuries, it would not have
been surprising, but they dulled the pain through pure willpower alone.
Completely ignoring the state of their bodies and maintaining the
heightened state of excitement, only G.o.ds and Campiones could be this
reckless.
Watching this scene unfold was Hikari who had just been rescued. She
could no longer hear the thoughts of the person who had been speaking to
her.
Due to taking on a portion of the [Swordj's burden, Yuri also reached her
limit and had fallen unconscious somewhere. The second sun in the sky
also vanished, having lost the [Sword] it depended on.
”Hikari... Is your body okay?”
”Yes! Thanks to Onii-sama and everyone else, I am completely fine!”
”I see... Then hurry and leave this place and find a place to hide.”
G.o.dou gently reminded the girl who was embracing him.
”Why? I want to help Onii-sama! I also want to a.s.sist you like all the other
Onee-sama!”
”No, there's nothing you can help here. Besides...”
G.o.dou coldly released Hikari despite her earnest pleas, for the battle was
just about to enter a climax.
”I entrust everyone in your care, Hikari. Erica, Liliana, Seishuuin and your
sister far away have all used up their strength. Go immediately to help and
take care of them.”
”If I do that... I will be helping Onii-sama?”
”Yes, please. You are the only one I can rely on now.”
It was now like being in the ninth inning with a one point lead. In order to
guard this lead, G.o.dou began to rouse the feelings of outfielders —
nostalgic memories from his days as a catcher were even recalled.
Treating the girl in his arms as a companion and entrusting her with
important tasks, G.o.dou stroked Hikari's head softly.
As a result, the twelve-year-old apprentice Hime-Miko gazed at G.o.dou with
blus.h.i.+ng cheeks.
”Yes... I will do as Onii-sama says, but you must come back alive. If you
don't keep your promise, I won't listen to Onii-sama's orders again. Will you
promise me this?”
”I know, in order to make you listen to me from now on, I will definitely
return.”
As if praising an obedient child, G.o.dou stroked little Hikari's head.
Completely unexpectedly, Hikari drew her young face close and kissed
G.o.dou.
”I heard from Ena-neesama and the others, that this is the only way to cast
a spell on Onii-sama... This is a spell for treating fatigue, at least let me
help you a little like this...”
Hikari left G.o.dou reluctantly and ran over to the collapsed Erica.
There was a certain adult maturity to her... Hikari bore a rather feminine
expression. Though G.o.dou had been treating her like a little child, she
should be trustworthy from the way she acted just now. Thanks to the
spell, the pain had lessened greatly.
”Ha! Kusanagi brat! It's unbelievable that you still have the energy to flirt
with girls at a time like this.”
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven laughed with a sneer.
”Looks like we can still have another round. Nice nice!”
”You and I are both heavily injured, are you sure it's proper for you to be
mocking others?”
”Because I still hold a trump card, it doesn't matter... Watch, this is the
thing I prepared just in case.”
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in the Great Sage's right hand. It was
the body of Divine Ancestor Asherah! However, it was very small since her
body had shrunk so much it was like a ginseng root. Despite being in such
a state, the witch still seemed to be alive, for one could hear her breathing
weakly.
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven took a bite out of this tiny witch.
Aaaaaaaaaah! With the sound of soul-screeching screams, the Great
Sage Equaling Heaven nonchalantly moved his lower jaw, chewed with his
teeth and swallowed her, re-enacting a scene from the Journey to the West
when he ate a ginseng fruit...
In the next moment, from within the body of the Great Sage Equaling
Heaven — out flowed a terrifying amount of divine power!
”Huhahahahahaha! After eating the snake deity, I have recovered my
energy! The peerless Old Sun has returned once again!”
”T-That was the reason you took away that witch!?”
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven restored his Ruyi Staff with divine power
again, and swung it as quickly as lightning. G.o.dou hastily rolled along the
ground as the divine staff of precious iron attacked with great alacrity.
Having lost the [Sword], G.o.dou now needed to battle using other
incarnations. However, the [Camel] could not handle attacks from the air
while the [White Stallion] had already been used. Was there no other
weapon remaining!?
As G.o.dou evaded the Great Sage's attacks, he heard a mocking voice.
...Finally asking me for help? What a troublesome man.
An ice-cold feeling was dwelling in his right arm as the sword he had lent
out just now returned to him. Now was the time to use the new weapon
that had been waiting patiently to make an entrance.
As the Ruyi Staff came cras.h.i.+ng down, G.o.dou jumped sideways with
motions like a wild beast to evade.
”Hmm, c.r.a.p, did I hit too hard?”
Missing its target, the steel staff was embedded into the ground. As the
Great Sage pulled his weapon out, G.o.dou adjusted his breathing.
”d.a.m.n it... I clearly had no intention of using such a dangerous object as
you!”
Though he complained out loud, the corners of G.o.dou's lips were upturned
as if smiling.
Since he needed to continue fighting whether he had a weapon or not,
something was better than nothing.
Seizing that one-in-a-thousand chance of victory in a hopeless situation, if
one couldn't even do that, one was not fit to be a Campione — rather, not
fit to be a man!
”Hoho, you look like you too have a trump card up your sleeve. Then let us
fight to our hearts' content, Rakshasa King!”
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven jumped onto his golden cloud and flew
into the sky.
Accelerating again and again, the Great Sage intended to re-enter the
realm of G.o.d speed. The new weapon in G.o.dou's hand could not defend
against that kind of speed but he was resolved to fight to the very end and
obtain victory. No matter what kind of crisis he faced, if he himself didn't
believe in his own victory, then of course victory would never grace him
with its presence!
Just as G.o.dou planned to concentrate all his power in this despairing
battle —
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
Resembling a heavenly flying dragon, it was a flash of brilliant blue-white
light, one of the magic bullets shot by the warrior with the black cape!
The dragon of light chased after the Great Sage Equaling Heaven who had
took on the form of a golden meteor. But just as it caught up, the prey
vanished. Was it because he had entered the realm of G.o.d speed?
However, John Pluto Smith's bullet also disappeared. Both sides had
reached G.o.d speed!
'd.a.m.n, if that's the case, hah — !”
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven who should have disappeared, suddenly
multiplied rapidly in the air, filling the sky with over a hundred divine
monkeys. This was a cloning technique! However, these clones began to
explode one after another and were soon dispersed into mist, most likely
struck down in midair by the divine speeding bullet. Beneath the glow of
the morning sky, it was as spectacular as a fireworks celebration.
The Five Elements form a cycle of restraint, Metal counters Wood!'
As his clones disappeared, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven chanted a
mantra.
Lightning was released from within the body of the divine monkey and
collided with the approaching blue-white magic bullet.
The magic bullet was finally destroyed, but the Great Sage's golden cloud
also returned to normal speed, most likely because he was unable to use
other spells while maintaining that kind of G.o.dly speed.
”Making me waste unnecessary breath, so another unrelated G.o.dslayer is
joining in?”
”Unrelated? No, not at all. I came here expressly to bury you. Since John
Pluto Smith is entering this battle, prepare yourself to be dragged into the
depths of the underworld.”
The latecomer was obviously the masked Campione.
The fallen girls could no longer be seen, apparently taken away by Hikari.
She must have used healing spells since she should not have the strength
to move everyone so quickly by herself.
Anyway, the only ones gathered in this place were now G.o.ds and
Campiones. Only these two existences and no other!
”Hmph, what an audacious man... You have met my bros before, right? Let
us display the solidarity of us sworn brothers, and defeat all the
G.o.dslayers! From the ocean of the north, come, my virtuous little brother,
Zhu Ganglie! From the territories of the west, come, my virtuous little
brother, Vaisravana!”
The entrance of John Pluto Smith caused the Great Sage Equaling
Heaven's divine power to rise explosively.
The two little figurines were thrown into the air.
”Vanquis.h.i.+ng devils, ripping evil spirits apart, star of the sword G.o.d which
slaughters Rakshasa! Bestow upon me the sharp sword to vanquish my
mortal enemies!”
As the two figurines expanded in one motion, their appearance also began
to change.
The first to appear was the giant with a pig's head. Clad in black clothes
with armor of the same color, he made his entrance as a giant G.o.d,
standing 15m tall with three heads and six arms still!
Next to manifest was the demonic deity with black skin and red spiky hair,
standing on pillars of water that spewed forth like geysers, forming a
dragon of water!
”Hohohoho, I hope this time I can play a little while longer, Big Bro.”
”Appearing here in response to Big Bro's summon, I am ready to fulfill your
every command.”
Manifesting behind the slowly flying Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Zhu
Ganglie and Vaisravana shouted.
Before the three deities, G.o.dou spoke to his masked ally:
”I am grateful for your help, but we are still outnumbered, the disadvantage
of two against three remains.”
”I don't need you to teach me this kind of infantile mental math.”
Smith fluttered the cape on his shoulders in response to his junior's
reminder.
”On the other hand, there is also the saying 'two heads are better than
one'... I think the current situation is rather fitting. Anyway, the main point
is, I want a chance for me to show off. If you insist on keeping such a
delicious situation all to yourself, that would make you a very stingy man,
so lowly that I don't even need to mock you.”
Hearing him casually spout such roundabout words, G.o.dou could not help
but smile wryly. In such a situation, who could have expected him to make
such comments when he was ent.i.tled to additional concessions.
Watching the performance of the man before him who loved to role-play,
G.o.dou somehow felt a strange sense of intimacy with him.
”What you seem to be trying to say, is that John Pluto Smith considers
Kusanagi G.o.dou a friend, and a man who won't pose a hindrance to you
— is that right?”
”Oh my oh my, you really think you can trust a mysterious man like me?
Don't regret it!”
Smith and G.o.dou joked with each other as they stood side by side, looking
up at the G.o.ds in the sky.
This argumentative conversation felt unexpectedly delightful. Never
yielding verbally, this quirk of his seems to fit quite well with me.
Confirming that they turned out to be surprisingly compatible, G.o.dou
smiled.
”You are really quite the busybody. My luck has always been great and I
have never regretted any of my choices in companions. I don't expect this
to ever change. Right, one more thing...”
G.o.dou recalled Sayanomiya Kaoru's phone call.
Lu Yinghua had apparently heard the sound of some kind of commotion. If
that's the case, of course it can only be that.
”You know the idea that two are better than one... While three people are
better than two... Right?”
Change finally came to the petrified grounds of Toushouguu.
The first to be sent flying were the wors.h.i.+p and main halls at the core of the
shrine. As if dynamite had been set off, the wors.h.i.+p hall and the main hall
collapsed as stone fragments scattered and flew with the sound of
explosions.
Next were the Gates of Youmeimon, followed by the divine stable, the
five-story paG.o.da and the first torii.
Explosions occurred one after another. Originally, restoring the entire area
petrified by the Great Sage Equaling Heaven was already a monumental
task. Even so, seeing the important cultural heritage site destroyed so
utterly, Sayanomiya Kaoru could not help exclaiming ”oh my, I give up.” On
the other hand, Amakasu Touma closed his eyes in deep thought as if
saying ”that's going a bit overboard.”
The only one who could watch calmly was Lu Yinghua. Seeing the first torii
— namely, the main entrance to Nikkou Toushouguu being demolished, he
took into his hands the package he had been keeping on the side all this
time.
Then he immediately rushed into the smoke and dust cloud created by the
shattered and pulverized stone.
”Master, please get changed. I have brought you a change of clothes
here.”
”Well done, you have become more attentive. You have earned yourself a
little praise.”
”Master's praise is too kind, your disciple expresses utmost grat.i.tude.”
Towards the figure of the beautiful maiden who appeared from within the
white smoke, Lu Yinghua reverently handed over the package.
” — A fish lives in the northern ocean, its name is the Kun! The Kun is so
large, no one knows how many thousands of miles long it is. Transforming
into a bird, its name is the Peng! The Peng's back is so vast, no one knows
how many thousands of miles wide it is. Flying furiously, its wings are like
clouds filling up the sky!”^
As soon as the mantra was chanted, the ground suddenly became dark,
but not because the sunlight was blotted out by clouds.
A giant sacred bird — the golden-winged Peng came flying by. In the
instant that this bird flew above their heads, the transcendent beauty's
figure vanished.
”With this, all the actors have gathered. It won't be very appropriate if we
don't go and watch the finale.”
”But these special front row seats offer no guarantees for personal safety.”
Sayanomiya Kaoru joked around with her subordinate as she nodded in
agreement.
Part 2
The giant sacred bird flew over the plains of Senjougahara.
Estimated in proportion to its wingspan, the ma.s.sive body must have been
several hundred meters in size. Stunned, G.o.dou looked up to watch the
majestic entry of the sacred bird. This fellow must be carrying the final
partic.i.p.ant. But still, even if she wanted to travel here, was it really
necessary to use such a conspicuous mode of transportation?
The beautiful heavenly maiden suddenly descended from the back of the
giant bird, wearing an outfit in the style of a mandarin gown that hugged
and accentuated the wondrous curves of her figure.
With mesmerizing l.u.s.trous eyes and pristine white teeth, her beauty could
only be described as otherworldly.
Drifting through the air and landing upon the ground like a feather, this
person was no other but Luo Cuilian.
”Thank you for your patience, Great Sage! As well as my little brother.”
Hearing her words, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven questioned:
”Oh? Little brother?”
”Correct. Kusanagi G.o.dou here is the sworn little brother of me, Luo
Cuilian. A relations.h.i.+p akin to you and your fellow brothers.”
”Haha! But are you able to become as large as us?”
”In that case, we will defeat you all at once, burying your oath of sworn
fraternity at the same time...”
The sworn brothers of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven proceeded to
issue arrogant instigating remarks.
Zhu Ganglie's eyes, full of l.u.s.tful desire, stared intently at Luo Hao;
standing on the dragon's head, Vaisravana looked gloomy as ever despite
his rhetoric; Luo Hao smiled in return with casual composure.
”Hohoho, it's not a bad idea to decide right here which side's sworn
siblings are stronger. Wouldn't you agree? Little brother.”
”Umm, actually it's not just us two, there's also another partic.i.p.ant...”
From G.o.dou's point of view, he was just stating a fact.
But his sworn elder sister, as well as senior along the path of domination,
severely glared at him in response.
”Do you intend to spoil the first chance for us siblings to fight in
cooperation by inserting this man of suspicious origins!? Foolis.h.!.+ This is a
profane insult to me, your elder sister!”
Calling him a man of suspicious origins was quite an unpleasant manner of
address.
The one wearing a mask and black cape, dressed up like a theatrical actor
and the man in question, whispered softly:
(Oh... Elder sister eh? Having met for mere days and she's already taken
such a liking to you... You are truly outstanding in the ways of stealing
maiden hearts.)
(Stop saying weird stuff about her taking a liking to me, please shut up for
a bit!)
Hearing John Pluto Smith's reply, G.o.dou hastily retorted in defense.
”Anyway, that's how it is. A rare situation with three G.o.ds appearing at the
same time. If we are down by one person on our side, wouldn't it be
shameful?”
”Shameful?”
Luo Cuilian reacted. As expected, her extreme pride meant that she was
fiercely sensitive to such insinuations.
If she were to say something like 'victory against superior numbers is an
honor in the martial realm' then there would be no room for objection.
However, such an argument would be more of a bluff than the result of
some twisted logic. Even exalted as Luo Cuilian, her hubris should not be
extreme enough to insist on dignity over practicality... At least, that was
what G.o.dou hoped.
”If we don't prepare an army with the same formation as our opponents, it
seems like there will be a problem with respect.”
”I see, that makes a bit of sense. Very well, I will accept your advice and
we shall face them with equal numbers. As befitting for great generals and
marshals, it is only right for us to lead armies into battle in the spirit of
proper martial way... Still, little brother, something about your behavior
displeases me.”
Luo Hao grumbled as she stared at G.o.dou. What was she trying to say?
”D-Displeased? I don't think I did anything wrong...”
”Of course you are wrong. I am the martial pinnacle, the elder sister whom
you should be offering the utmost respect. And how do you address
someone of exalted stature like myself? I believe I have already taught you
the most appropriate form of address.”
G.o.dou could not help but sigh. Does that word really have to be said right
now!?
”O, O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o... Nee-san...”
”You should be calling me 'Onee-sama.' I never expected a little brother
with such poor memory. Fine, since it is the proposal of my sworn little
brother, I will accept it.”
Having spoken, Luo Cuilian turned to the other Campione.
”From my deductions, you must be the American [Kind]? My family name
is Luo, with given name Cuilian and style name Hao. I give you
permission to join the ranks of my army in this battle and fight alongside
me, Luo Hao.”
”What a unique greeting... I, John Pluto Smith, will offer the entirety of my
humble services.”
Faced with the loftily delivered invitation, the king dressed in black
responded effortlessly.
Compared to the two-hundred-year-old demonic cult leader, the
age-unspecified young man seemed far more mature. Breathing a sigh of
relief, G.o.dou and his two 'fellow kin' stood shoulder-to-shoulder, facing off
against the three divine spirits.
The giant three-headed-six-armed Zhu Ganglie.
As well as Vaisravana standing on the raised head of his mount, the
dragon of water.
Finally there was the leader of these two G.o.ds, the Great Sage Equaling
Heaven, Sun Wukong. Once again he stood upon the golden cloud and
ascended, flying high up into the skies. The three versus three decisive
battle was about to begin.
”Hohoho, let me pick my opponent first! I choose the transcendent beauty,
the G.o.dslayer who reminds me of the Moon G.o.ddess! It is most fitting for
her to be the opponent of the Marshal Canopy, the great Zhu Ganglie!”
”...Come to think of it, you are the stellar deity that guards the northern
sky.”
The Ruler of the Martial Realm frowned at the evil gaze of l.u.s.t being cast
upon her.
”When it comes to the companions of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven,
one of the most notable is the evil-exorcising deity, the Marshal Canopy
Zhu Wuneng. From a wild boar to a domestic pig, you are a deity widely
known in folklore. In spite of all that, it is most deplorable for you to be
reduced to such a shallow and lowly subordinate G.o.d.”
In j.a.pan, boars were called ”inos.h.i.+s.h.i.+” while domestic pigs used the kanji
”buta” for distinction.
When G.o.dou received knowledge about the Great Sage Equaling Heaven,
information was also gained about his subordinate G.o.ds.
The Marshal Canopy Zhu Wunenq was once a military G.o.d serving the
north pole's Great Emperor Ziwei. At the height of his wors.h.i.+p, most
likely during the time from the Sui to the Song Dynasties, the
three-headed-six-armed appearance in full armament was one of the
favorite images depicted by artists.
Frequently appearing in novels and plays, in the end he was linked to Zhu
Bajie in the Journey to the West.
For such a popular deity to be reduced to a l.u.s.tful pervert like this...
Flames erupted from Luo Cuilian's shoulders as if her anger had been lit
on fire, manifesting a golden Benevolent King.^
A solidly built figure that did not lose in any way to the giant Zhu Ganglie,
displaying his impressive musculature half-nude!
”A force is exerted! Great force vanquishes small evil!”
”Hmm woaaah!? What is this monstrous strength?”
Zhu Ganglie was being thrown by the Benevolent King. Exactly in the
manner of a shot put, the l.u.s.tful giant G.o.d was propelled through the air
into the distance.
Cras.h.!.+ As the landing impact resounded, Luo Cuilian ran with her
subordinate Benevolent King towards the fallen giant deity. With great
speed unexpected from his ma.s.sive body, Zhu Ganglie got back up and
summoned the weapons for his six arms.
The first pair of hands held a sword and a halberd; the second pair, an axe
and a club; the third, a bow and arrows.
With black clothing and black armor, the G.o.d with a pig's head clashed with
the Benevolent King led by Luo Cuilian and the two giants began to fight.
”O Dragon, annihilate these people — Om vaisravanaye svaha!”
The water suddenly exploded.
As Vaisravana stood on the water dragon, a portion of its dissociated body
splashed on the ground. G.o.dou and John Pluto Smith jumped backwards
to evade the attack. The water formed powerful currents which were
tearing apart the ground of the Senjougahara plains!
Like a blade of water, the liquid sliced through rock and flouris.h.i.+ng forests
as if they were made of paper. G.o.dou and Smith beside him marveled as
they muttered to themselves.
”A demonic deity with Buddhist roots... From his appearance, I originally
expected an attack of pure power but he turned out to have such skillful
moves.”
Vaisravana had an appearance like a demon with a particularly frightful
face and ferocious-looking body.
Smith's instincts should have been correct, but it was Vaisravana's gloomy
and intellectual aspects that avoided giving others an overly violent
impression.
”Since ancient times. Vaisravana was the one who inducted countless
Shramana ascetics.^ * However, his earlier incarnation killed people and
was a sinful deity that had broken precepts against murder...”
Vaisravana began to laugh to himself as he stood on the dragon's head.
”As the Curtain Lifting General at the Palace of the Great Emperor of the
Waters in the celestial realm, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas were
once under my command. What I've shown is simply a minor portion of my
old powers...”
”Ah, I recall the Daoist pantheon having categories of Water and Thunder
Departments, right?”
The Water Department was in charge of the naval forces in the Daoist
celestial realm. Though he did not cheat like G.o.dou through instruction
magic, Smith was apparently knowledgeable of myths and legends of
foreign countries.
”In that case, let me show off some of my skills... The ruler of the
underworld commands, offer to me the black wings that penetrate the
heavens! O Sky, thou existest only for me to display the breadth of my
magnanimity!”
Smith softly chanted spell words, causing the ground to rumble and shake.
It was quite an intense earthquake. Cracks and crevices appeared on the
ground as it trembled violently, while Smith began to transform over the
shaking land. The black-clad eccentric turned into a ma.s.sive black
demonic bird.
”Now, properly savor my transformation mystic arts! Will you be able to
keep up with me!?”
”What pretentious words! Looks like I am being underestimated!”
Chasing after the rapidly ascending black demonic bird, Vaisravana drove
the water dragon flying through the air.
Flying towards the heavens, the black-winged devil king and the
mysterious sacred dragon formed from water continued to make their
ascent.
However, the ground continued to shake intensely. Most likely, the culprit
was the American Campione.
G.o.dou had once heard from Erica that Smith had an authority requiring the
offering of [Sacrifices]. This earthquake was most probably one of those
sacrifices. The tremors were not too severe, but this continuing series of
earthquakes must each have been around 3 or 4 on the Richter scale.
It looked like the earthquakes were going to persist for some time. What a
troublesome fellow that Smith guy was!
His irresponsibility of leaving messes behind made G.o.dou a bit stunned as
he faced off against the Great Sage Equaling Heaven on the shaking
ground.
”Hmm hmm hmph, let us start as well. Are you ready? Kusanagi brat!”
”Fine, come at me with everything you've got, I'm not letting you get out of
here in one piece!”
Facing the Great Sage Equaling Heaven who jumped down from the
golden cloud, G.o.dou displayed calm composure.
It was a bluff of course, for G.o.dou was completely unprepared. Even
though he had that sword, he did not have a usable incarnation able to
counter the divine monkey's lightning-fast G.o.dly speed. Nevertheless,
G.o.dou's fighting spirit was strong as ever, and he intended to s.n.a.t.c.h
victory in his hands even if it meant biting the enemy by the throat.
Wait a minute... Was there really no incarnation that could be used?
There was a strange sense of certainty that he still had an available
weapon. This was a very faint feeling of confidence.
Voices telling him to fight could be heard. Voices calling for the defeat of
the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. Right, so that is the case now.
Having figured things out, G.o.dou turned his attention to the voices coming
from the depths of his body.
Only now did he truly master the ninth incarnation of Verethragna, the
[Goat].
This priestly ability converted the thoughts and feelings of the surrounding
people into magical power and controlled lightning. During the battle
against Marquis Voban, he had once turned the will of the Dead Servants
into his power source. But simply gathering willpower was insufficient to
use the incarnation freely.
Thanks to being connected to Yuri's psychic sensing, G.o.dou finally
understood the true method of using the [Goat].
A king rules by leading the will of the people, thereby raising his own
prestige and authority.
G.o.dou extended the tendrils of psychic sensing, traversing the plains of
Senjougahara and the area of Okunikkou as well as the Nikkou city streets,
mobilizing the hearts and minds of over ten thousand victims.
No mistake about it, this was the consciousness of all the ordinary people
who had been forcefully transformed by the Great Sage Equaling Heaven
and were now in deep sleep.
These unconscious people originally led peaceful lives but were suddenly
turned into monkeys one day, thus entering a nightmare. The sole culprit
responsible for these heinous crimes was the [Heretic G.o.d] the Great Sage
Equaling Heaven. Even though you people were fortunate enough to be
rescued, the Great Sage still stands.
The G.o.d who changed you all into monkeys, do you not hold him in
contempt?
The G.o.d who treated you all as toys, do you not hold anger at him?
Do you not want me to defeat the Great Sage Equaling Heaven!?
G.o.dou used psychic sensing power, entering people's dreams to rouse
them, gathering the willpower of the people together, telling them the
ident.i.ty of the true culprit of the incident, fanning the flames of their anger.
Lend me your power and believe in me. As long as you lend your power to
me, I will definitely help you vanquish that contemptible foe!
He could sense the anger of the unconscious people directed towards the
Great Sage Equaling Heaven, forming a swirling vortex of fury in the realm
of dreams.
This was exactly what [Goat] needed as a foundation. G.o.dou's left hand
was finally able to fire off lightning attacks.
”By the art of spell words I vanquish adherents of injustice and evil! This is
the heavenly mandate of victory!”
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven dodged the flash of lightning with great
agility.
However, the Great Sage cannot be allowed to do as he pleased any
further. Having obtained new power, G.o.dou stared acutely with great
intensity at his formidable foe.
Part 3
Using the vast wetlands as the stage, the close-quarter battle resembling a
special effects movie was reaching a climax.
Towering at a height often-odd metres, there was the three-headed and
six-armed Zhu Ganglie.
Then there was the golden Benevolent King as his opponent, a half naked
giant with only crude fabric covering his lower torso. The demonic cult
leader summoned a spear using Daoist arts and pointed it at Zhu Ganglie.
Known as the ”King of Weapons” in China, the Qiang^ or Chinese spear
was Luo Cuilian's favorite weapon.
As the two clashed in battle, it was so intense that one would not wish to
blink lest a moment is missed.
Each of Zhu Ganglie's six arms held a different weapon.
Sword, halberd, axe, club, bow and arrows. All the weapons were used
simultaneously in combination with incredible footwork. He moved
everywhere within the vicinity of the Benevolent King as he continued his
attacks. Whenever he distanced himself, he attacked with arrows and the
halberd, switching to the sword, axe and club at close range. (As a side
note, the halberd refers to a weapon with a shaft like a spear and a
sickle-like blade combined together, allowing the spear end to be used for
thrusts and the blade for slicing attacks.)
Zhu Ganglie moved so quickly that afterimages were left behind. With such
horrifying speed, the five weapons rained attacks down upon the
Benevolent King without pause, making the three heads and six arms look
like there were thirty heads and sixty arms, or even sixty heads and a
hundred and twenty arms.
However, the one who took on this intense barrage of attacks was the
demonic cult leader, whose martial arts were simply divine.
Unlike Zhu Ganglie who was circling around in arcs as he attacked, the