"I will explain that to you later. Listen to me carefully? When you go over to Verethragna, if you feel it is the end, don't hesitate, just use this power as quickly as possible."
Hearing Erica's advice, Godou suddenly stared with eyes wide open.
Wasn't this the move that Lucretia warned 'never to use it.'
"If I do that I will definitely die. Didn't Lucretia-san warn us?"
"If this continues, we're all going to die. But if you try that, perhaps it will become a giant reversal. You know the rules for promotion in chess, right?"
Godou tilted his head in puzzlement, not knowing what Erica was considering.
It was something like a rule that allowed pawn pieces reaching the far rank on the opposite side to be exchanged for a queen or a knight. In terms of Japanese chess[31], there was a similar concept where pieces can promote in the three rows of the opponent's territory.
"Unfortunately, not everything can go smoothly... Your chance of dying is very high, but if successful, the reward is very substantial. Compared to plain sacrifice, there is value in attempting this."
She was showing a most gentle smile.
Like the tiny flower bud of the Australian Red Cedar, a smile like a noble princess. This girl could actually smile like that, how unexpected, Godou felt like he couldn't tear his gaze away.
"Kusanagi Godou, you are a very foolish person, but it is precisely this foolishness that has led you on a path to here. That is the truth. So why don't you join the ranks of the most foolish, as well as the greatest people in the world. I'm not going to ask you to gather your courage, rather, please stick with your foolishness to the very end—understood?"
"Yes, I almost get it... But being called an idiot or foolish by you all along, somehow feels complicated."
"Ah, I was praising you. A most affectionate nickname of 'idiot' —can't you even feel that? What a slow person."
"I completely cannot feel that. I've never heard of 'idiot' carrying such deep meanings."
Faced with Godou's surrendering, Erica laughed.
"Actually I just realized something, 'Epimetheus' illegitimate children,' another name for Campiones which I explained before. But this description has a strange hidden meaning."
"Epimetheus. Another deity from Greek mythology? That's the feeling I get from the name."
"Yes, you are correct. If we have a chance to meet again, I will definitely explain it to you. So don't hesitate and go for it, Godou, take the path which even the courageous and clever people cannot pass through. The only ones capable of walking upon it are the great fools, I believe you have that disposition."
"...I don't really understand, but I get the message. Thanks for taking care of me. Thank you."
Godou expressed his gratitude for the profound meaning in her words.
Actually, there was an additional reason for approaching Verethragna's side.
If he abandoned this strong yet beautiful girl covered with thorns like a rose, and ran away by himself, Kusanagi Godou will never forgive himself for the rest of his life.
Instead, he preferred to have a showdown against a god.
To leave a girl in need, nowhere felt as good as giving up his body to protect the girl.
Though he had made his decision in his heart, however—
He could not possibly speak out such thoughts. If he said it out, the prideful Erica Blandelli would definitely fight to the last moment even if it meant breaking her own legs.
"Right, wait a minute, Godou. Bend down and lean your ear close."
Was Erica going to give me a new suggestion?
Her elegant poise just now, had become a little bashful—was it something difficult to put into words?
And it has to be whispered?
Puzzled, Godou did as he was told. Slowly moving towards Erica who could not stand up from the pain in her legs, he brought his ear to her lips.
Under such conditions, she still seemed to be hesitating.
"What is it, don't you have something to say?"
"Yes, well... I already said what I wanted to just now..."
"Then why do I have to make this pose?"
"Right, just shut up! I just want to give you a wonderful present!"
The unexpected attack came just at that instant.
After a period of hesitation, as if suddenly making her decision, she pressed her lips, the color of cherry blossoms, near Godou's cheek, and kissed him.
Smooch...
The soft and light sensation was being transmitted.
Godou's mind suddenly went blank.
A very small, light touch, but the shock was exceedingly great! What was this girl doing!
"Y-You, why did you do that? What was that about!?"
"S-Shut up! To be surprised by something like this! It's just... Right, it's just a lucky charm! It's really rushed, but I believe it is the most useful!"
Embarrassed, Erica's cheeks were bright red.
"The only males I've ever kissed till now, were my uncle and father! So it will definitely be very effective! Show me some gratitude!"
Godou's cheek—no, his entire face felt hot.
His own face was probably all red as well, it couldn't be helped. The day finally came when a beautiful girl would kiss him like this, he never dreamed it was possible.
It was already impossible to look at Erica's face properly.
She frantically turned her body, and Godou rushed forth towards the god who was once his friend.
Nuraghe sa Bastia. At the firmly sealed entrance created by Melqart.
Sliced into halves, Chaser and Driver lied broken embedded in the ground, while Prometheus' blue flames had already died out at some point.
Verethragna breathed heavily, his golden swords no longer in his hands.
He was now in a condition where his body was covered with wounds.
In this state, it was his final direct confrontation with Godou who was wielding the [Secret Tome of Prometheus].
"Boy, I must say thou hast done well. But as thou seest, I have defeated King Melqart's weapons, thy flames have been vanquished, and the only thing that concerns me is Prometheus' mystic stone. Makest haste, givest that to me."
"No way, unless you agree to leave this island. This is the last trump card of us humans, I cannot casually give it up for my own sake."
Godou resolutely resisted the hand extended by Verethragna.
Godou's insistence made the youth sigh audibly.
"A hopeless fellow. To think I, the warlord, would be forced to use divine power against a mere human brat as an opponent, what a waste of time!"
Muttering, Verethragna slowly approached.
His footsteps were heavy, as if extremely fatigued.
Thus his subsequent actions occurred just as Godou predicted. The god in the youth's form suddenly kicked at the ground.
Without divine power, what moves would he make? He could only depend on his body. In the instant Godou realized that, the impact came.
Hit by Verethragna's spinning kick, Godou was sent flying.
Still, it had missed his head. Evading the direct attack was thanks to his well-trained dynamic vision. He also held on to the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] with all his strength, so he didn't let go.
"At this point, aren't you going to use your true capabilities against someone like me? You are still making light of competition."
"This is not a competition, only punishment for a foolish human who doth not know his place."
It was right, even if it were a competition of martial arts or sports, Godou had no chances of winning.
However, even though he was at a disadvantage, Godou could not let himself be looked down upon.
"Erica told me already, what kind of god was Verethragna—the god who transformed all the time, and could obtain victory no matter the battlefield, right? Originally a god of the warrior ranks of the royal clan, and with rising popularity became worshiped and venerated, finally becoming the protector god of the people
and justice, right?"
"Correct, that is my origin!"
This time it was a forward kick that attacked Godou.
Though it did not strike a fatal spot, Verethragna's attack was very vicious.
Feeling an impact that felt like a car crash, Godou was sent flying again, and fell on the ground, his consciousness slipping for a moment.
"Obviously such a great god, but playing around with a brat like me, isn't that kind of strange? When I met you at the pier, it wasn't like that eh? More similar to the sun, worthy of admiration—just as you described. That's right, like a hero!"
"Sayest no more, these are things that happened while I had forgotten my nature as a [Heretic God]. Originally in the myths, I was the son of the sun, the hero guarding the light."
This time it was a palm strike, and then a punch, followed by a karate chop.
Fast attacks that made evasion and defense useless, Godou was being pummeled like a sandbag, getting tossed around like a ball.
His body ached all over, feeling like scorching heat, and there were severe bruises everywhere, perhaps even broken bones.
His consciousness was getting fuzzy, and more importantly, his whole body hurt.
"However, it is all past and gone. Nostalgia will never bring back the past."
Verethragna left those words.
But Godou didn't agree, even considering the current situation, his right hand continued clutching the [Secret Tome of Prometheus]. This was the result of the grip and determination of the fourth hitter.
"Why did you give this stone tablet back to me? The second time we met, why did you let me keep it? Wouldn't it have been better to destroy it back then?"
The scene at Dorgali during that time. Didn't the youth say that in the end?
When the time comes, he must use this for the world.
That was probably a farewell of a lifetime.
In other words, the guy already knew back then, if the incarnations split from Verethragna, those divine beasts were defeated, he would turn back into [Heretic Verethragna] in the future.
—Which is why Godou owed him a favor.
The youth at Cagliari had gotten Godou and the young men at the pier involved together, and played happily.
The youth at Dorgali had used the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] to defeat the [Goat], but didn't expect to have to fight the [Raptor] so soon.
He defeated the divine beasts which had been born from his incarnations, and took back his power as a god.
At the same time retrieving his identity as the [Heretic God], the divine name of Verethragna that should have been sealed, as well as the characteristics of resisting the myths and holding contempt for humans.
In response to Godou's wish, he defeated his split incarnations.
Therefore, that youth no longer existed.
The youth he encountered at Cagliari, then met again at Dorgali, existed no more, and now, before Godou's eyes was only the youth god named Verethragna.
Knowing this would happen, Godou would not have gone to fight when they met for the second time.
And now he understood very well, it was due to Kusanagi Godou's willfulness that he had no choice but to return to the unwanted original form, and very cautiously, saved for Godou the trump card that could cause him pain.
If this wasn't a favor, what else could it be?
Hence Godou had no choice but to attempt to stop Verethragna at all costs, he definitely needs to be stopped!
"Just as thou described, that truly was my mistake. Hohoho, why would I do such a thing... I cannot remember."
"Really? You really can't recall?"
His body covered with wounds, Godou was sprawled on the ground as he questioned the god.
Now he finally understood. What that guy actually hoped for Kusanagi Godou to do and expected from him. The handsome face of the youth god looking down upon humans from above, now bore a little resemblance to that guy before.
"...Hmm. I really cannot recall it, boy, pray forgivest me."
"Who will forgive you? What a forgetful god, I will complain about you on behalf of mankind."
His gaze met with the youth's.
The human youth glared at the quiet eyes of the [Heretic God] who had lost himself.
The attacks had stopped, Godou forced his battered body, and finally stood up.
—Hmph.
Sighing slightly, Verethragna smiled peacefully.
"Hoho, thou art not a bad fellow. If fate had not brought thee to encounter gods, perhaps thou wouldst be living a peaceful life. How unfortunate for thee, boy."
"Yeah that's right. All the fellows I met on this island are weirdos. However, I don't find myself unfortunate."
"Ha, though our opinions differ, even from thy perspective, is that not a bit too contrived?"
Verethragna and Kusanagi Godou.
Just like the time they met the first day at the harbor of Cagliari, the two were chatting.
Only four days has passed, but who could have expected in such short time, the situation between the two of them would undergo such drastic change.
"Though weird, everyone was very interesting. The proud and spoilt genius, whose true nature turned out to be a very gentle witch; and then there's the lazy old lady who insisted in looking like a youngster."
"Oh?"
"There's more. The amnesiac and overconfident god, this guy is currently causing trouble for others, but still I don't really hate him."
"Thy life is already held in a god's hands, yet thou darest make such jokes. How disrespectful!"
"If you want me to respect you, then act a little more like a god. Isn't that simple?"
It was no longer a staring contest.
The god and the human's eyes only stared at each other for about ten-odd seconds.
The first to avert his gaze was Verethragna.
"At this point it is impossible. I have returned to my heretic self. In my current state, only meeting with defeat and obtaining new life will I return to the true path of the gods. So, how much time dost thou think it will take?"
Showing a smile like the rosy clouds of dawn, the youth extended his hand.
In it were tiny sparks, like the early signs of lightning.
The direction this hand extended towards, was the youth he once acted together with.
"All you need is defeat? Then, let me give that to you."
Godou's trembling hand raised the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] and aimed it at the warlord.
Responding to the will of the wielder, the stone tablet gradually heated up.
"Stop, boy, a human using a god's power will exceed thy limits, art thou planning to use the divine power of my [White Stallion]? If so, thou shalt die in the end. Obediently handest it over. I shall save thy life if thou compliest."
"Too annoying, to be ordered by a god who brings so much trouble to mankind, how could I do as I'm told!"
"Foolish! If thou attackest me in these conditions, at best thou wilt achieve mutual defeat. Thou art aware?"
"Maybe not—Erica, that fellow who is smarter than me said, this could very well end with a perfect outcome—so I will take a gamble, even though I have no idea about the logic, if there is a chance for success, I will risk everything on this gamble!"
"At the end of thy short human lifespan, to think thou wouldst make such a foolish gamble. Thou art truly a troublesome brat!"
"...My name is Kusanagi Godou. Remember it well."
"What?"
"We've already done all sorts of things together, come on, you should have remembered my name. Just like Erica, you overlooked it? What a rude guy."
The two youths gazed at each other once again.
Looking down from above, the youth god smiled.
The spurned human youth expressed regret for his reluctance to accept things. In the next instant, from the hand appeared lightning, while white flames appeared from the stone tablet.
Mutual defeat. The attacks unleashed by the two youths, achieved
exactly mutual defeat.
Part 5
'Hmph, hahahahahahaha. How useless of you, Verethragna. To think the god of victory would meet defeat at the hands of a frail and weak human child.'
"Quiet, King Melqart. Thou art the useless one, to think thou wouldst be used by such a fellow."
—This was the dialogue heard by Godou's hazy consciousness.
His limbs harshly complained to him in pain, while his brain and entire body felt scorching hot.
The backlash from the [Secret Tome of Prometheus] mentioned by Lucretia, the damage received from Verethragna, as well as the final lightning attack, these were probably the full set of causes for the current pain.
Having received so much damage, he hasn't died. How strange.
'Hmph, without the precondition of aligned interests, I would not have agreed to this fellow's proposal. Of course, don't you forget, this fellow and I are about to awaken. For his act of rudeness and not knowing his place, in a moment I will make him suffer well.'
"Awaken?"
'Did you forget, warlord, the curse left behind by the damnable brother and sister-in-law of Prometheus, Epimetheus and Pandora? The dark birth ritual that gives rise to the child of the fool and the witch, the secret rite that only succeeds when a god is used as a sacrifice! Watch, your divine power is already flowing into this fellow's body and mind!'
"Oh, hohoho, I see. So her goal was this, that witch. A girl that truly cannot be underestimated!"
'What a strange fellow. Laughing after a defeat? Has your brain gone rotten?'
"Thou embarrassest thyself, divine king. 'Tis only one defeat. If this level of setback cannot be accepted, I can only say it is a matter of magnanimity. As my first and last defeat, it feeleth like a good experience! Certainly, there will be no second defeat!"
"Hoho, Verethragna-sama really, truly hates failure."
"Oh, you are—I see. Thou noticed the birth of a new child."
'Pandora, the woman who bestowed everything upon them! You have appeared in person!'
"Ah, divine king-sama, it's been a while. As long as gods and humans are present, I will appear. For I am the witch who brought forth all disasters and a shred of hope, there is nothing to be surprised, right? ...This child is my new son. Hoho, is it painful? Do bear it, this pain is the price for taking you to the highest summit, accept it well!"
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