Campione 05

by Miko of the Sword

  "Erica, is it possible? Can you defeat Seishuuin?"

  "Of course! In my current state, I will not lose to that woman again!"

  This promise heralded the beginning of the second round.

  Despite clumsy footsteps, Ena charged forward with exceptional speed. Holding the divine sword with both hands, she slashed diagonally from the top right to the bottom left.

  Erica used the oval shield to block.

  The jet-black divine sword clashed intensely with the shield. Sparks flew from where they made contact, releasing intense divine power. They were evenly matched.

  However, on Erica's side, she still had a lance in her other hand.

  She thrust with all her might, but before the point reached its destination, Ena's body had jumped backwards like a locust.

  Hence, Erica kicked at the ground.

  Faced with Ena's retreat, she charged forward like a stallion.

  A surge of continuous attacks like the onslaught of wrathful waves. Ena rolled along the ground, evading the dozens of attacks from the lance tip. In the process of rolling, she still managed to use her sword to slash at the calves of the pursuing Erica.

  With outstanding reflexes, Erica evaded using small steps to the side.

  Stopping Erica's wave of attacks, Ena quickly got up.

  "How amazing, for her to fight evenly with Ena-san who is being controlled by Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, it's the very image of a fierce demonic god."

  Amakasu sounded very impressed.

  Yuri and Liliana, who had regained consciousness, were also watching the battle with surprise.

  "Kusanagi Godou... Is that the effect of the final [Youth] incarnation? What a terrifying power. Anyway, for Erica to have stolen first place, I really must complain."

  Under Yuri's care, Liliana seemed a bit regretful.

  The process of bestowing protection must definitely be kept secret. Godou swore to himself as he nodded lightly.

  Then a surprising turn of events occurred, for Ena started laughing.

  "Ha! Ha, hahahahaha! Too great, Erica-san, I am truly impressed, I never thought that you can be just as strong as me, who has absorbed divine power."

  The cheerful soprano voice that had been absent for so long.

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi has allowed Ena to speak, unlike the earlier clear cold tones.

  This was the original voice of the lovely swordsman who casually enjoyed all the chaos being wrought. Godou wondered if it was because the state of divine possession had been released, but immediately knew he was wrong.

  This was because the battle spirit infused in her, from Susanoo and Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, had become even more heightened.

  "Excellent, then let's have a true duel once again, starting now!"

  Yelling out, Ena's jet-black divine blade flashed brightly.

  With noisy scattering sparks, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi gave off blue-white lightning. Bearing the divine power of the conquering steel god and heavenly child of storms and king of Susa—Susanoo, its power was increasing.

  Ena brandished the sword as easily as if it were her own limb, holding it tightly with both hands straight in front of her chest.

  Up until now, she had been in a state completely dominated by divine power and spirit, without a shred of emotion.

  However, through the joy and thrill of battle, Ena finally retrieved her emotions.

  Then she entered a state of resonance with Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi!

  "Last time I defeated you with this move, so what will happen this time? Ama no Murakumo! Seize it!"

  Ena pointed the blade at Erica, and it gave off a terrifying pulse that attacked the female knight.

  Very clearly, it was an attack that absorbed magical power.

  "Useless, your move won't work a second time!"

  Erica grabbed the lower hem of her red and black coat and waved.

  This blocked the pulse from the divine sword. The piece of fabric seemed to possess magical defensive ability almost equal to a Campione's.

  Ena smirked unfazed, lifting the divine sword upwards.

  As Erica defended her body with the shield, she aimed the lance at Ena. It was the stance of a frontal charge.

  —A direct conclusion to the duel.

  As Ena declared, both sides prepared for the end.

  The two charged forward at the same time and collided violently.

  As the divine sword swung down, the lance was thrust forward!

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi struck Erica on the shoulder, but the blade's point of contact was the part near the hilt.

  Cuore di Leone pierced into Ena's body, but it was just a glancing blow to the left abdomen.

  Neither blow was decisive.

  Erica's charge was too rapid and thus did not get cut by Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's sharpest part; with motions like a wild beast, Ena had narrowly evaded Erica's fatal attack at the last second.

  However, this exchange had not ended.

  It was true that the attack of the lance was evaded.

  However, with the shield raised high, Erica charged with her entire body. This was the real frontal charge!

  Ena's delicate body was blown away as if struck by a car collision.

  "Hmm—!?"

  "This is a knight's style... A frontal charge to break through the enemy's ranks. Do you feel it?"

  To the fallen Ena, with irregular breathing, Erica declared victory.

  However, the winning side also sank to her knees immediately.

  Her bandiera and Cuore di Leone had returned to normal, and it looked like she too was at her limits.

  "Yes, felt it... I surrender."

  Ena tried to use Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi as a crutch for support... but finally gave up.

  Holding the divine blade, she was lying on the road. Though her body was immobile, her face showed a satisfied expression.

  It resembled those youth movies during the Shouwa period, with the requisite performance at the end of a riverside duel. Godou shrugged his shoulders but suddenly noticed.

  The storm, which appeared with Ena, had not subsided. In fact, it seemed to be getting stronger?

  As the violent wind howled, massive raindrops bombarded Godou and the surface of the road.

  "—Mariya!"

  "Godou-san, it has not ended yet! Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi intends to continue fighting!"

  In the instant he asked Yuri, he got the answer.

  Godou rushed towards the divine sword, planning to snap it in half—but was a step too late.

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi began to expand in size.

  The roughly one-meter blade expanded nonstop and started to change its form.

  ...Very long. By visual estimates, it was roughly twenty meters or so.

  The jet-black blade became a body, forming arms and legs. Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi had transformed into a giant.

  A sword originally the weight of a woodcutter's tool, its blade now pointed up towards the heavens to form a vertical body.

  Connected to two sides of its body were two blades—the arms, and around the approximate position of the elbows there were even joints for the arms to bend.

  Then there were the legs, made of solid steel, thicker and heavier than even the body and the arms.

  Compared to the length of the body, the legs were rather short, giving a somewhat unpleasant look. Overall, it gave off an extremely sharp feeling.

  The giant of blades. Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi has transformed into a giant of blades who could slice through everything with a simple swing. Ena's body was stuck inside a location corresponding to the shoulder.

  "Your Majesty..."

  From within Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, a quiet voice was heard.

  "Seishuuin, are you ok? Can you escape from there!?"

  "No—looks like not... I have no strength. Can Ena make a request?"

  It was Ena's normal voice, this time she really seems to be released from divine possession.

>   "If you are asking to be saved, just wait a little, I am already thinking about how to save you."

  "No, I don't want to bring you any more trouble..."

  Ena responded to Godou in a philosophical tone.

  As they conversed, the sword giant—Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi started moving on its short stubby legs, its direction of advance was towards Godou!

  "Ama no Murakumo is still in high spirits for a battle with Your Majesty. Since that's the case, could Your Majesty please defeat it quickly with your power? It should be a simple task, right? Please do not mind Ena..."

  "What do you mean, don't mind you!?"

  "After all, everything is my fault... My own willfulness. But in the end, I did get to fight a very interesting and meaningful battle, so Ena has no regrets. Please do not mind and quickly defeat it. Farewell."

  Towards the end, Ena's voice could no longer be heard.

  In its place, was the approaching Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Though it had transformed into a giant of blades, its legs were very short and did not have any joints, so it was sliding along as if kneeling.

  Godou looked around at everyone present.

  Erica had already used up all her strength in the intense battle just now. The [Youth] protection has disappeared, and all her magic and stamina were consumed. Even so, she was still struggling to stand up to protect Godou.

  Liliana, who had been knocked out earlier by Ena's attack, was trying to use her shaking body to summon Il Maestro and likewise planned to battle.

  On the other hand, Yuri was watching with worried eyes the divine blade that had devoured Ena.

  Then there was Amakasu calmly muttering things like "Ara ara, how troublesome." Though he spoke like that, it was clear that he did not have the power to defeat the berserk Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

  The first thing to do was to leave this place and keep everyone at a safe distance.

  Deciding that, Godou began to run.

  Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi's legs were short and its mobility was terrible. No matter how gigantic it was, running away from it should be a simple task—but just as this thought entered Godou's mind...

  Just as he was running past, the sword monster suddenly caught up with unexpected speed.

  Due to an ominous feeling, Godou watched his back as he continued running. Thanks to that, he confirmed his suspicions as Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi sliced down with its right arm blade.

  A sound of swish. This was a sound that could split apart air and even rain water.

  If the blade had aimed forward another few tens of centimeters, Godou's body would have been sliced cleanly in half.

  Such a sharp sword and its range of attack was so wide!

  "No way, Your Majesty... Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi has no plans for mercy, so please destroy it quickly... Hurry, or else it will catch up to you!"

  It was Ena's voice again, and it seemed like she has not lost consciousness. But there was no leisure to listen to her.

  Godou stopped looking back.

  Running full speed ahead, he definitely will not be caught.

  Racing along Chidorigafuchi, the Imperial Palace could be seen opposite. Decorating along the palace moat were the conspicuous trees, the very well-known cherry blossoms.

  Since he had increased the distance between them, Godou finally stopped running.

  The blade monster transformed from Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was chasing along at a clumsy pace. To be honest, it was very slow and it would be easy to just keep running away, but that would only defer the problem without solving it.

  "Kusanagi-san, only one solution remains. Didn't Ena say it already?"

  Suddenly a man's voice came from beside him.

  Turning to the source, Godou caught a fright. Amakasu was standing there without any signs of being out of breath.

  "W-When did you follow along?"

  "I've been chasing from behind all along. I can run pretty fast you know. Anyway, that thing there is more important, if we let that gigantic divine sword rampage, who knows how the situation will develop..."

  Amakasu made a very reasonable complaint.

  But Godou pointed out the detail he had ignored.

  "Is it ok to let Seishuuin get caught in between? She is currently bound tightly to the sword!?"

  "My opinion is that it can't be helped. As she said so herself, it is all her fault. In this kind of situation, even my boss, Sayanomiya Kaoru, will approve as the one responsible for the History Compilation Committee. Because there is no other way."

  No other way... Was it really true? No, Godou did not agree.

  He had not done what he should. Nothing had been attempted. In such a situation, concluding "no other way" would be too hasty!

  "If so, I will say only this. No matter what, I will save Seishuuin first, then handle the monster later. How's that?"

  "Oh, there's such a convenient plan? How are you going to do it?"

  "There's no plan yet! I'll just think it up as I go along! This is dangerous. You retreat first!"

  Hearing Godou's answer, Amakasu showed an expression of surprise.

  But there was no time to tend to Amakasu as Godou focused his attention on the approaching Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

  Once again, it swung down its right arm blade. The massive blade approached Godou's head. So fast! Despite its immense body size, its sword strikes were extraordinarily skilled.

  However, it was precisely the reason this could be used. The incarnation that was unlocked when facing a high-speed attack.

  Godou used the [Raptor].

  Other than himself, everything in the world slowed down, and only Godou accelerated.

  Calmly dodging the giant block of steel that was about to slice his head off, he then rushed onto the body of the blade using the massive increase in agility and jumping ability.

  Easily running along the surface of the blade that was acting as an arm, he reached the shoulder location where Ena was buried.

  The imprisoned Hime-Miko showed a relaxed expression that seemed to say, "My life has no regrets—"

  What a worrying fellow, and yet she is acting so casual... A little shocked, Godou grabbed Ena's shoulder.

  Pulling hard, though she seemed to be stuck tight, her body budged slightly.

  Very good, now pull once again with full strength. Excellent, she is finally released.

  Even at this moment, Ena still carried that spaced out expression. That was only natural considering Godou was still in a state of acceleration. Carrying the uniformed miko in his arms, Godou jumped off from the back of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.

  He originally wanted to attack it from behind.

  Regrettably, the [Raptor] authority did not have the destructive power to defeat this thing, so Godou gave up the notion.

  Looking ahead, he found Yuri running towards him.

  Panting heavily, she stopped to catch her breath. To Godou in his accelerated state, Yuri looked completely motionless.

  Erica and Liliana also came in pursuit.

  Due to their injuries, even Yuri arrived faster than them. Godou set down Ena before them. Next, how should he take care of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi?

  Though he had thought of a way, would it work as planned? Godou prepared to use the next incarnation.

  The accelerated state ended and returned to normal.

  "Mmm... no good after all. M-My chest—!"

  Godou pressed his hand against his heart as he sank to his knees and collapsed forward.

  Using the [Raptor] incarnation resulted in after effects of heart pain and a temporary state of immobility. His wishful thinking had been too naive.

  "...G-Godou-san, why are you here!? Even Ena-san!?"

  "Eh? I was clearly caught by Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi? Why are Ena and Your Majesty here?"

  The voices of the Hime-Miko pair were heard.

  However, Godou had no time to pay attention to them. Simply enduring the pain was consuming all his strength.

>   Before he realized it, the Hime-Miko pair had held him in their arms and placed him in a sitting position.

  "You used the [Raptor] incarnation, right? Which is how you rescued Ena-san..."

  "Yes, that's right. I can destroy that sword if my condition improves slightly, but right now, it's impossible. You two should run away..."

  Godou suggested as he nodded to the highly observant Yuri.

  The pain in his heart was unbearable, but at the very least, he must make sure these two are saved—

  Having lost him from its sights, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was turning left and right, searching for signs of Godou. In this situation, as long as they did not take him along, they should be able to escape successfully.

  However, Ena spoke quietly beside him.

  "No, Ena will not escape. Because for things to come to this, Ena is responsible, and Ama no Murakumo is Ena's partner... I will slow him down, you guys escape first."

  "Idiot! Even if you risk your life, you won't be able to stall for long!"

  Though it was true, the Hime-Miko of the Sword was not deterred.

  Damn it, I put in so much effort to save you—as Godou gnashed his teeth, Yuri spoke decisively:

  "Godou-san, you just need the ability to move temporarily, right?"

  Yuri asked with a stern expression.

  That unrelenting beauty, made Godou and Ena withdraw their words of protest.

  "Yes, yes, as long as I can concentrate for a while..."

  Concentrating his spirit and power. Unless he did that, he would not be able to control that particular incarnation well. However, the pain in his chest was making him powerless. Yet he was so close to victory!

  As Godou gnashed his teeth...

  Yuri's face suddenly drew near. No, not only her face, even her lips were approaching.

  Brief contact? Lips to lips?

  By the time Godou realized what was going on, he was already being kissed by Yuri!

  Magical power flowed along with her sweet breath, and the pain in his chest was relieved. Why?

  "Yes, if you don't apply spells from within the body, it will not work on the Devil Kings. So that's what it meant!"

  "Yes, that is correct. Just now I poured restoration magic in through the mouth..."