Vol 15 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4 - War G.o.d 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 G.o.dou, Salvatore Doni
and Madame Aisha, all three of them.
”And now, somewhere around here should be where the radical pet.i.tioner
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. G.o.ds 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. G.o.ds possessing
traveling authorities. Examples included Greek mythology's Hermes,
j.a.pan's three-legged crow Yatagarasu and the G.o.d Sarutahiko, etc.^ *
”There actually exist cases when people were swept into the past as a
result of mischief by these kinds of G.o.ds. 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
bas.e.m.e.nt of the temple was a long corridor, wide and s.p.a.cious, 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 s.p.a.ce.
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 pa.s.sages of ancient script
recorded on them. These characters were written densely from end to end,
leaving almost no s.p.a.ce 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 fl.u.s.ter.
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 acc.u.mulated 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 G.o.dslayer 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 G.o.ds, 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 G.o.dou-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 G.o.d. Neither is he a G.o.dslayer. 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.”
A metal door could be seen ahead.
Smith opened it. Instead of a pa.s.sage, behind the door was a room.
Inside this room, stone tablets were scattered all over the floor instead of
floating in midair. Due to the great number of tablets that were haphazardly
distributed, finding a place to stand was not easy.
In the center of the room, an old man with white hair and beard was facing
a tripod-style easel.
However, placed on the easel was not canvas but one of the stone tablets.
The old man was dressed in an ancient Roman toga with a bronze pen in
his hand.
”New Year's Eve on this year... The Suebi and the Vandals will a.s.sist Alani
cavalry to pa.s.s through the outskirts of Mogontiac.u.m... The Burgundian
king and his peoples have already crossed over to the Rhine's left bank
and started interfering in Gaul's affairs... Soon after, the Goths will also
arrive...”
The old man muttered softly while staring at the stone tablet.
”But three barbaric kings have already gathered in that place — In any
case, this again requires corrections, corrections, corrections followed by
nonstop corrections! Alas! This work is lamentable beyond compare!”
The old man finally broke down and roared with great intensity of emotion.
He even turned his wrath towards John Pluto Smith who had entered the
room without consent.
”Listen well, king. This old man is utterly annoyed with this work. The
history that we humans have compiled to this date is being rewritten
again.”
Despite seeing Yuri and Liliana following Smith into the room, the old man
did not seem to care.
He simply glanced at them before turning his gaze back to the stone tablet.
Smith shrugged ostentatiously and spoke in a joking tone of voice:
”As much as you say that, you are still the guardian of time, eliminating
traces of history's corrections and keeping records. Sometimes, you even
head off to the past so as to intervene in history.”
Head off to the past. These words greatly surprised Liliana and Yuri.
”Why don't you drop the personal emotions and dedicate your efforts to
work? This is called the duty of labor.”
”Indeed, so it is! But historical correction happens to be a rare event. Not to
mention, there has not even been three incidents in the past millennia
requiring this old man to personally visit the past. Someone being sent to
the past by some trick of destiny and changing history is meant to be an
exceedingly rare event!”
The old man's shoulders shook from rage as he muttered on.
”But that woman continually changes history on mere whim. She truly does
not consider at all how great an effect her actions would make on the
future! Not even once did she consider! Moreover, to think that three
G.o.dslayers have traveled to the past this time!”
”In that case, you can fly over to that era and personally put a stop to their
actions.”
”You should know very well already. This old man's power is not enough to
obstruct the barbaric likes of G.o.dslayers!”
”So you are asking me to kill three Campiones all at once?”
”Indeed! Aisha of Alexandria, Salvatore Doni of Siena and Kusanagi
G.o.dou of the j.a.pan nation. You must hurry before they cause even more
distortions in the pa.s.sage of history!”
These were violent words directed towards three G.o.dslayers of the present
generation, naming them explicitly. Liliana was particularly displeased by
the request to kill Kusanagi G.o.dou. Nevertheless, her curiosity was greatly
piqued as a result.
Who exactly was this old man? The instant this question went through her
mind, a number of images surfaced.
— An immortal but not a G.o.d. A person who had been liberated from the
limitations of lifespan.
— A great historian in the past, a sage highly adept in the occult. Currently,
he was the [Monument's administrator overseeing the carving of the
Akas.h.i.+c records, the compiler of what proper history was supposed to be.
So, what was meant by proper history?
”When the actions of someone traveling from the future to the past causes
giant distortions in history, proper history results by applying the smallest
possible correction...”
□liana's lips whispered on their own. Speaking of which, Kusanagi G.o.dou
had told her before.
At the G.o.d Susanoo's hut in the Netherworld, he had encountered beings
who were not G.o.ds but had spirit powers exceeding ordinary humans. He
remembered there seemed to be a black-clad monk there. This old man in
a toga was probably someone belonging to the same category.
Also, Liliana noticed something as well.
She was told that outstanding users of spirit vision were able to instantly
obtain spirit visions in the Astral Plane to answer their questions. So this
explained it. As the storehouse for these [Memories of the Void], this place
offered spirit visions far more easily than any other location. That was why
even she was able to do it!
Liliana looked to the Hime-Miko beside her. Yuri nodded in response.
”Here in this place, carving time onto tablets...”
Accompanied by these spell words said by Yuri, one of the stone tablets
scattered on the floor hovered into the air.
Among the large amount of Ancient Latin carved on it, Liliana discovered a
certain pa.s.sage.
'John Pluto Smith, accompanied by the duo of Mariya Yuri and Liliana
Kranjcar, paid a visit to Plutarch's Residence.'
This was a record of ”what had happened” at this place, summoned by
Yuri from somewhere using spirit vision. On the other hand, John Pluto
Smith spoke up:
”But Venerable One, how on earth am I going to kill the three you
requested? Are you suggesting that a time corridor be opened to send me
to their era?”
Hearing the masked G.o.dslayer laugh maliciously, the old man went ”hmph”
and frowned.
”This old man is not stupid enough to send a fourth troublemaker to an era
where three of them are present already. King, you too, are an illegitimate
son of Epimetheus. Undoubtedly, you will disrupt the flow of time when you
roam the past, causing history to be rewritten.”
”Wise judgment indeed, Venerable One.”
Faced with such rude accusations, the masked Devil King simply smiled
and shook his head.
”Regarding matters of disrupting the peace of the world, I am proudly
confident that my ability is no less than any of my peers. But the mission is
a tall order. Killing them should be impossible like this.”
”Use what is at your hip — Just fire the arrows of Artemis.”
”Uh-huh.”
”Using the authority of arrows that you possess, you can shoot through a
time corridor to strike targets, right?”
Liliana gasped. The old man spoke the truth — She knew through spirit
vision.
From the G.o.ddess of the hunt, Artemis, Smith had usurped the authority of
the magic projectile.
Due to having only six shots per lunar cycle, it was severely restricted in
terms of firing rate. Conversely, the powers residing in the magic
projectiles were strong and greatly varied. In a situation of super long
distance sniping, it could even be used to snipe an enemy in Europe, all
the way from North America.
With this old man's guidance, it was possible to fire a magic bullet from the
Astral Plane into an era in the past —
However, Smith shrugged in an exaggerated manner.
”Do you really think it will succeed...? I can't guarantee a kill, neither do I
have that sort of confidence. You should know how hardy and resilient
Campiones are as a race, right? I don't mind taking a gamble, but surely
they will be able to dodge metal bullets falling from the sky, no matter
what? Alternatively, the bullet will graze past them in a stroke of luck.”
”Hmm.”
”Or rather, once they learn of the existence of an unknown sniper, wouldn't
they cause new commotions as a result of heightened wariness?
Ultimately, causing great chaos one cannot predict... I am rather reluctant
to imagine. Presumably, history will be altered once or twice again?”
The old man groaned, probably unable to refute.
In reaction, John Pluto Smith spoke in a calm voice.
”Rather than doing that, I've got an idea. For example, how about sending
these two miko over to the era where the three Devil Kings are visiting?
They are Kusanagi G.o.dou's close aides.”
He waved his hand rapidly in a motion to recommend Yuri and Liliana.
As usual, Smith's actions were as exaggerated and magnificent as a
theater performer's.
”Among the three problematic characters, that man behaves the most
seriously. Well, left to his own devices, on the other hand, he's actually not
that different from the other two. However, given the presence of
supporters to guide his path, he can contribute towards cleaning up the
situation — That is what one can hope.”
”Indeed that is possible, but ultimately, I still say no!”
Liliana and Yuri's eyes flashed.
It turned out that John Pluto Smith had brought the two of them here with
the intention of sending them to the past. However, the toga-clad old man
refused vehemently.
”That man is talented as a magnificent villain, capable of turning times of
prosperity and peace into chaos, then taking advantage of chaotic times to
seize the throne. Sending supporters over to a man like that would be
utterly frightening!”
”...Now that you mention it, that does sound quite true...”
”...N-No, Liliana-san. Although it is quite true that for G.o.dou-san as a
person, the word 'chaos' does suit him rather well...”
Knowing Kusanagi G.o.dou's character better than anyone else, Liliana
could not help but murmur. Yuri's reprimands did not carry any anger,
presumably for the same reason.
But since this old man possessed the power to open the door to the past,
his help was necessary after all.
Just as Liliana exchanged nods with Yuri and was about to speak up to
persuade the old man...
”Hmm...?”
The bronze pen left the old man's hand automatically and floated into the
air. Then it moved on its own and began to write on the stone tablet that
was placed on the easel.
”The great hero's arrival... To think it has been hastened fifty-two years
ahead of time?”
Taking one glance at the content written out by the automatic pen, the old
man was greatly stunned.
”Alas, O child of heaven, O sacred child of heaven descending upon the
earth. That must not happen... A change that must not appear. Otherwise,
historical correction henceforth will be quite difficult... No, if the situation
could be cleaned up at this stage, perhaps — ”
Then there was a long silence. Minutes later...
The old man finally looked up and rested his gaze on Liliana and Yuri for
the first time.
”Girls who may serve to guide the king. Now that things have come to this,
is there no other choice...?”
Did a critical emergency arise? The old man shrugged his shoulders while
he spoke.
”But let me state first for the record. This old man can open a time corridor
to send the two of you there. However, that is as far as my help extends.”
”...After arriving in the past, we have no one to depend on but ourselves?”
Speaking up a step before the masked Devil King, Liliana asked her
question.
Smith had already gone out of his way to bring them here. However,
considering the fact that only the two of them were going to proceed from
this point onwards, she must depend on her own wits to ponder the
necessary preparations. One could not keep relying on others forever. This
concerned a knight's honor.
”Indeed. Manifested in the land where you will be sent to is the heavenly
child of destiny... The hero who exterminates Devil Kings. In your era, he is
known as the 'King of the End'.”
”—the 'King of the End'!”
Throughout the battles against the Witch Queen Guinevere and the war
G.o.d Lancelot, this t.i.tle had been heard many times.
The old man in the toga nodded at the speechless Liliana.
”To this date, that heavenly child has descended a number of times on
earth and engaged the G.o.dslayers in battle. He also manifested in the land
of Gaul during what your calendar would date as 458 CE. Back then, this
heavenly child fought repeatedly all over Europe, even going as far as to
cross over to Britain. After a long series of battles, he finally exterminated
all the Devil Kings of that time period.”
”But now, a monumental change has occurred in history. The 'King of the
End' has descended fifty-two years too early, hence becoming a trigger
producing historical change — Quite difficult to correct. If Her Highness
Aisha and His Highness Kusanagi could make him lie dormant
temporarily...”
”This message needs to be pa.s.sed along to Kusanagi G.o.dou, right?”
”Yes. However, the one who awakened the heavenly child is the G.o.ddess
Artio was entrusted with the grudges and curses of the innocent populace.
This will likely be a difficult mission.”
The old man bowed his head wearily while he spoke.
”A journey to the past itself is already accompanied by hards.h.i.+p. Rare are
the people who can come back after making the trip. Besides, this journey
carries with it a difficult mission. Refuse now while you still can.”
”No — I have already made a promise with G.o.dou-san.”
The one answering a step ahead of Liliana was Yuri, of course.
” — I promised I would find him before his return. I will accept this mission
no matter what!”
Part 2
Kusanagi G.o.dou was currently located in an empty s.p.a.ce where darkness
stretched infinitely.
Except for one light source. A white dot of light was s.h.i.+ning like the
brightest star, far in the distance, overhead.
G.o.dou hugged his shoulders and began to wonder.
”I think I was in a similar place recently...”
Even when suddenly trapped in this kind of s.p.a.ce, he was still able to
remain calm.
As much it was not what he actively desired, this probably resulted from
the experience he had acc.u.mulated as a Campione. Then there was his
peer, the man not far away, currently looking around, this way and that.
”Hey Doni. We were just fighting the 'King of the End'... Right?”
”...of the End... Oh, you mean that sword G.o.d who suddenly popped up just
now? Yeah, we were definitely trying to block that attack at the time. 'King
of the End'... I think I've heard of this name.”
Next to G.o.dou, the blonde and handsome Salvatore Doni nodded.
In contrast to the desperate crisis earlier, G.o.dou and Doni were completely
unharmed, without even a single burn.
”I remember it's the G.o.d that Alec and that Greenwich princess were
looking for, supposedly crazy strong. This is perfect. Once I meet him
again somewhere, I'll just have a quick duel with him.”
”As for me, I'd prefer to never meet him again, if possible...”
Unexpectedly informed of things, Doni had also heard of the 'King of End'
rumors.
While expressing his contrary opinion, G.o.dou also started to look for the
third of his kindred. Since he was safe and sound, surely, she too — Indeed,
she was here.
Madame Aisha was lying down a slight distance away.
”Are you okay, Aisha-san!?”
”Y-Yeah, well enough...”
G.o.dou rushed over to call to her. The Madame made a gesture as though
replying.
However, her consciousness still seemed quite confused. She turned her
gaze to survey her surroundings.
”Surviving is more important than anything else...”
Staring at Madame Aisha who still could not speak with ease, G.o.dou
suddenly realized.
”This place is very similar to the 'corridor' that I pa.s.sed through to reach
the ancient world...”
”Ah, I see now. Now that you mention it, I find it familiar too.”
Doni also nodded and agreed. If that were true, then the woman lying
collapsed before them was their savior. G.o.dou thanked her from the
bottom of his heart.
”Aisha-san saved us, right? Thank you.”
”N-Not at all. I simply combined my fortune's blessing with the corrective
force maintaining ancient Gaul's history, thereby opening a fairy's
corridor... That was how the three of us were saved.”
”Come to think of it, your fairy's corridors tend to open automatically on
their own.”
”Uh... It is still ancient Gaul if we go out that exit over there. I intend to
return after a while, but let's rest for now.”
Madame Aisha pointed overhead while speaking.
A spot of white light was s.h.i.+ning like a star at the place she indicated.
Pondering something, G.o.dou was reminded of what Ena said about the
corridors simply being invisible.
If that description was correct — G.o.dou tried asking:
”Does the exit leading to our twenty-first century still exist in this place?
One that will take us back to our original time if we pa.s.s through...?”
”Hey hey, G.o.dou. The battle is just about to start. Retreat is not an option.”
”Like I'm gonna return on my own, leaving Erica and Seishuuin behind. I
just want to confirm a possibility that just occurred to me.”
”Kusanagi-san, that's very sharp of you. Honestly speaking, it does exist
indeed. However — ”
Under the two men's gaze, Madame Aisha clasped her hands together
before her chest as though in prayer.
Then countless dots of light suddenly appeared in the surroundings. This
scene was very similar to the innumerable stars scattered throughout the
universe.
”Because every light here is a corridor exit, reaching the time period of
your desire is quite difficult...”
”l-ls there any way to distinguish which exit connects to where?”
”High-ranking fairies from the Netherworld, used to time traveling, or
guardian G.o.ds of travel are probably able to do it. But unfortunately, it's
impossible by our efforts, Kusanagi-san and mine...”
”Looks like a shortcut is out of the question. I understand.”
This was simply a whim of the moment. After G.o.dou spoke cheerfully
without any discouragement at all, the stars scattered througout the dark
s.p.a.ce disappeared overhead one after another.
On the other hand, careless words slipped out of the other man's mouth as
his eyes flashed brightly.
”Hmm. In that case, choosing a random exit might be quite fun. Journeys
to unknown destinations are just so exciting, aren't they?”
”Shut up with the nonsense, the guy who just said that the battle is about
to start.”
Giving Salvatore Doni a stern warning, G.o.dou frowned.
This man could not be allowed to disrupt the past world any further. But
currently, their first priority should be handling 'King of the End' Artos. At
any rate, he was the Devil King-slaying war G.o.d and could very well indeed
be the man who fought persistently until all Campiones were exterminated.
More important than anything else, there was that unforgettable warning...
G.o.dou sighed.
”Hey Salvatore Doni. I have an absolutely reluctant suggestion to make.”
”What is it, my dear friend?”
”Temporarily putting aside my objections to your annoying statements, how
about teaming up with me? Until the battle against that 'King of the End'
Artos is over.”
”Ehe.”
Doni made one of those impressed smiles he rarely made, completely
devoid of frivolity.
”Rather than rare, to be exact, this would be the very first time. I can't
believe you're asking me to cooperate with you!”
”Please use a description with a little more tension in it, like a united front
or an alliance, okay? Athena mentioned once before, that in a battle
against the 'King of the End,' I will die for sure. All seven Campiones will be
killed by that guy.”
”Athena's warning, huh...”
”Besides, the other side still has that Artio G.o.ddess, abeit injured. Plus the
unknown wind G.o.d. Even if the two of us cooperate, it's still two against
three.”
”Hoho, the odds are truly stacked against us.”
”If you don't want to fight this battle where victory is uncertain, I'm not
gonna force you.”
”Are you kidding me? Fighting alongside my friend to confront a reckless
battle, this is awesome stuff for furthering friends.h.i.+p. You and I, we're
friends, right?”
”We're friends, right?”
”...I guess.”
”Then it's fine, the alliance is established!”
In contrast to Doni who was suddenly smiling, G.o.dou's face was covered
by a bitter expression. But with this, the first of his preparations was
complete. On the other hand, Madame Aisha spoke up in a fl.u.s.ter:
”E-Excuse me, Kusanagi-san. Then what should I be doing!?”
”Of course, it would be helpful if you could a.s.sist to make it three on three,
Aisha-san... But is your condition okay? We're about to fight G.o.ds again.”
It was readily apparent that Madame Aisha was greatly exhausted by the
emergency evacuation just now.
Furthermore, she had openly declared a number of times that she was not
suited to battle. That said, she apparently still held several secret
techniques in reserve, such as 'reversing the healing authority' or the like,
though it was still unclear whether they were usable in these
circ.u.mstances —
As expected, the Madame bowed her head apologetically.
”I-I'm very sorry. Because the healing authority cannot be used on myself...
I don't think I can recover immediately...”
”Don't worry about that. Remember, you just saved our lives.”
G.o.dou placed his hand on the Madame's shoulder and nodded at her.
”Just let Doni and me do our best. All you need to do is extend a helping
hand if an opportunity arises for you to help.”
”V-Very well.”
G.o.dou looked up to see the overhead light, s.h.i.+ning brightly high above. Its
position was slightly lower than earlier.
This was the exit that would lead G.o.dou and the other two back to the
ancient world. The exit was currently at a slightly lower height than before.
G.o.dou decided he had to finish the second of his preparations before the
exit descended completely.
Just as he started to focus his concentration...
”Hey G.o.dou. Of course, I respect Athena's warning that you brought up.”
Salvatore Doni suddenly spoke up.
”But what do you think personally... No, what do you feel?”
G.o.dou did not answer, for he was causing his entire body's magical power
to burst out. There was no time left. The light overhead had already
dropped to roughly the height of a small building. They were about to
return to the hill where the mysterious hero had descended.
The second round was finally about to begin.
Part 3
”Those lights are the same as the ones fired off by Sir Lancelot's lance...”
”Probably the Divine Sword of Salvation...”
Murmuring away softly were Erica Blandelli and Seishuuin Ena.
The two of them were gazing in the direction where the three Campiones
were facing earlier.
This was the hill where the pale-haired hero had descended, summoned
by the G.o.ddess Artio's ritual. Earlier, during the instant when the divine
sword's heavy blade was pointed at the heavens, a sphere of light had
manifested in the sky like a sun, firing off an attack that pierced the
ground —
Swallowed by this light, the G.o.dslayers had all vanished.
”Although they're not people who die so easily... But what if — ”
”Ama no Murak.u.mo's presence can't be felt either... But it shouldn't have
disappeared from this land.”
The hole piercing the ground measured roughly sixty meters in diameter.
Even the [Boar] was defeated in one hit.
Even Erica was unable to stop herself from imagining gruesome outcomes.
Without her usual cheerfulness, Ena spoke in dark tones.
But in the next instant, they discovered signs that things were ”not as they
seem.” They stopped raising worries. Only now was the battle between
G.o.ds and G.o.dslayers about to start officially.
Currently a black sphere had suddenly manifested high above the hill
where the hero had descended.
This was the dark star for summoning a storm of gravity — Kusanagi
G.o.dou's newest weapon.
”Dawn's secret archives huh...”
This ”black blade” was obtained through the guidance of the G.o.ddesses
Athena and Circe.
G.o.dou's preparations for using his new power had begun back when he
was still inside the ”fairy's corridor.”
”Lend me the G.o.ddess' wisdom!”
This was the most powerful attack in Kusanagi G.o.dou's a.r.s.enal.