Twang! As the bowstring sounded, the iron ball flew out. The target was Kusanagi Godou, naturally. Furthermore, the iron ball released crackling blue-white lightning as it flew!
Just as Godou and Ena readied their stances to receive the incoming attack—
"Eli Eli lama sabachthani? Oh Lord, why hast thou forsaken me!?"
Godou and Ena both heard familiar spell words.
"O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent—"[12]
These were the Golgotha spell words, the trump card of the girl known as the [Diavolo Rosso].
Just as expected, Erica leaped from the shadows amidst the trees, wrapped in her usual red and black cape, carrying the lion's magic sword, Cuore di Leone.
"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel!"[13]
The magic sword was currently infused with the spell words of resentment and despair.
An ordinary human would probably die instantly upon close contact with the sword. Using Cuore di Leone which had been imbued with this power, Erica struck down the electrified iron ball head on.
Lightning scattered noisily as the two halves of the iron ball rolled about on the ground.
The latecomer turned her head back to reveal a cheerful smile, her face as glamorous as always.
"I seem to have kept you two waiting, Godou and Ena-san."
"You don't seem very flustered, on the other hand."
Godou calmly replied to the "partner" who had finally arrived.
Although this battle was playing out completely differently from past conflicts, Godou found himself surprisingly calm and composed—
Simply the fact of Erica's arrival gave him such a feeling.
"Because I have appointments with other people sometimes. It's hard to be in both places at once. But no matter, it's not like one could bring a million reinforcements."
Erica asserted fearlessly, reminiscent of a lioness.
"Just as you already know, I, Erica Blandelli alone, am more valuable than a million reinforcements. Godou, I shall prove my worth and compensate my tardy arrival at the same time!"
Even though she was already late, Erica easily took the spotlight as the protagonist in the scene.
This manner of entering the stage made full use of Erica's natural talents.
In response to Erica's appearance, the warrior god transformed from Athena back to his original form.
This was True Lord Erlang the Illustrious Sage's reappearance as the tall and handsome young man as well as the three-eyed warrior.
(Kusanagi Godou's direct vassals have gathered. In that case, I have no choice but to show my true appearance once more.)
"Gathered?"
"Yes. I cannot possibly let Erica steal ahead and take all the credit!"
Answering in a stern tone, this was Liliana's voice which Godou had not heard for the last few hours.
Wielding the bow of Jonathan in her hand, she walked to Godou's side.
Godou went "I see" and nodded. The girls must have rushed over from Tokyo to Chichibu after receiving the letter Godou and Ena had sent several hours earlier.
After arriving near this mountain, they used magic to search for Godou's location, then flew here using Liliana's flight magic—
If that was how things transpired, it would only be natural for another girl to be present. Just as expected, Yuri also came running, dressed in her miko outfit.
"Godou-san, I have important news regarding True Lord Erlang..."
Yuri reported as soon as she arrived by Godou's side.
"About the noble one... The real identity of the True Lord!"
Godou was shocked by her words. He immediately swept his gaze towards the rest of his companions. Erica, Liliana and Ena all nodded in response, implying they will hold the god off for a while.
"Yaaaaaaaaaah!"
Ena rushed headlong with Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, charging at True Lord Erlang. She unleashed a blazing slash.
The True Lord swiftly evaded the attack. Aiming at this opportunity, Erica used Cuore di Leone to make a thrusting attack. Thrice in a row.
Although True Lord Erlang evaded the three thrusts successively, he was thrown off balance slightly.
Erica instantly leaped to the right, creating an opening for Liliana to fire her arrows.
The arrows of blue-white light shot by the bow of Jonathan were also infused with the spell words of David!
(Fufufufu. These maidens are quite a handful to handle!)
With extreme alacrity, True Lord Erlang swung his right hand, striking down the arrow of light with a karate chop.
Indeed, these were literally divine skills that only a warrior god could possess.
Next, Ena used Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi again to perform an overhead cut. It was a jumping slash that used the entire body's strength.
True Lord Erlang caught the divine sword with both hands in a display of the secret arts of unarmed counters against bladed weaponry.
Ena, Erica and Liliana carried out their own attacks in continuous succession.
Meanwhile, True Lord Erlang exhibited all sorts of divine skills, evading, deflecting and blocking the trio's attacks completely.
However, Erica and the girls were not so pressed as to be driven back, due to the fact that the True Lord only engaged in defense. Thus, the girls succeeded in buying time for Godou.
During this time, Godou listened to what Yuri had to say.
"You saw what kind of god he is?"
"Yes. The True Lord Erlang manifesting here is not a [Heretic God]. Instead, he could be said to be... A [True God]."
Hearing Yuri's oracle, Godou was rendered dumbfounded. A true god? Did that refer to a particular god?
"Godou-san, you already know that the Netherworld is the place known as the Boundary of Life and Immortality. The Domain of Life refers to the mortal world here. The Domain of Immortality is the world where gods originally reside."
Yuri explained the structure of the world in a quick tone of voice.
"[Heretic Gods] do not exist in the Domain of Immortality. When gods arrive in the mortal world by some chance occurrence, they are twisted and become [Heretic Gods] who deviate from their original existence. The god manifesting here is the True Lord Erlang who only exists in the Domain of Immortality... So this should be an clone."
"You said clone? A clone of the actual Erlang?"
"Yes. It feels like the True Lord is transmitting his divine power from the Domain of Immortality, thereby taking action with this clone. That is the feeling I am getting."
"Come to think of it, that guy did mention something about a 'crude body.'"
Godou did not think Yuri's speculation was off. He nodded.
I see. So that was why he made a perfect display of how a evil-slaying warrior god of benevolence should act.
"In that case, then the [White Stallion] definitely could not target him."
The unfortunate gut feeling he was having was now confirmed. Godou sighed. To be honest, he was banking his hope on the [White Stallion] a little.
Godou had wondered if the handsome god would expose his nature as a [Heretic God] sooner or later.
In that case, the battle against him became even simpler.
"So Godou-san's 'nemesis' that I sensed last time, really turns out to be..."
"Looks like it's this guy. And indeed he's tough to handle, most truly."
"Umm, Godou-san? Despite saying that, your face looks rather calm."
"Hmm, yeah. It's basically thanks to you, Mariya, I am now able to steel my resolve."
Godou smiled wryly in response to the incredulous Hime-Miko's query.
"Or rather, you've helped me muster my determination to test out a drastic measure I wanted to avoid as much as possible. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have wanted to do this."
"But even if I tried, I cannot stop you, right?"
This time it was Yuri's turn to sigh while Godou scratched his head
.
"Since it has come to this, I can only say this to you: Please take care...!"
"Yeah. I will try my best to return alive. So that's that!"
Yuri's words were analogous to a virtuous wife bidding farewell to a terrible husband who was setting off for a reckless duel.
Feeling gratitude for the gentleness in Yuri's gaze, Godou rushed towards the god and the rest of his companions.
This was in front of the hut where he and Ena had stayed, the riverside where he had passed by when hiking earlier in the night.
The trio of Erica, Ena and Liliana currently had True Lord Erlang surrounded.
Ultimately, they were able to persevere till now only because the enemy did nothing but defend.
While evading the girls' magic sword, divine sword and arrows of light, the True Lord finally attacked.
First he shouted "Hah!" to immobilize Liliana. Then he poked Ena in the back with his middle finger, sending the Hime-Miko of the Sword collapsing on her knees.
Finally, he swung his arm like a whip and struck Erica with the back of his hand.
Although the blonde beauty already used Cuore di Leone to block, she still could not withstand the impact and was sent flying faraway.
Godou's arrival coincided with where she was flying, so he immediately caught her.
"Are you okay, Erica?"
"Yes, I guess. What about you, are you ready?"
Held in his arms, Erica did not have any injuries. Indeed, the enemy was truly a warrior god of benevolence. True Lord Erlang's earlier oath applied to people apart from Ena and he intended to adhere to it to the very end.
"Yes. I will decide the match next so there's something I need your help for."
True Lord Erlang displayed a light smile as he stared straight at Godou.
His companions could no longer pin him down so Godou explained concisely.
"What I'm about to do will be quite risky so I'm relying on you. If it succeeds, my life will be saved, so do your best."
"What completely vague orders. But you can thank me, Erica Blandelli, right now."
The smile surfacing on Erica's face displayed a lioness' ferocity and a queen's glory.
"I will show you that I am the woman who will surely meet your expectations!"
"Yeah, I'm relying on you."
Ending the brief planning session, Godou sprinted towards True Lord Erlang.
Now it was time to decide the match one on one. True Lord Erlang smiled at the arrival of the final phase.
(Fufu. You have already discovered my true nature.)
"This is only your clone. Your real self must be hidden somewhere, right?"
(Hiding myself is truly regrettable. A true god has no way of traveling to the mortal world. Or rather, the instant one leaves, one becomes heretical...)
True Lord Erlang's clone murmured in the same sort of incredible whispers he used previously.
This voice was likely transmitted all the way from the Domain of Immortality.
(Having taken an interest in you who has involved yourself with an old acquaintance of mine, I was thinking of testing you a little. Coincidentally, those miko happened to be randomly messing with my talisman.)
"Give me a break. If that's the case, could you not involve anyone apart from me!?"
Saying that, Godou turned his attention to the sky.
There were still a few dozen [Swords] hovering high above.
"Go!"
A brief spell word caused all the [Swords] to begin moving all at once.
They were aimed at True Lord Erlang, naturally. One after another, the spheres of light struck their target. However, it was still ineffective because the True Lord had taken on Athena's appearance again.
While withstanding the attacks of the [Sword]'s spell words, True Lord Erlang smiled using Athena's face.
(Kusanagi Godou. You cannot defeat me in this manner...)
"Of course I know that. So... please, Seishuuin!"
Godou made his request to the kneeling Hime-Miko. Ena instantly understood his intentions.
"Yes. Ama no Murakumo, return to His Majesty!"
The jet-black divine sword disappeared from Ena and manifested in Godou's hand instead.
The self-styled "partner" of the god-slayer, the god in the form of a sword. Godou gripped the Japanese sword's hilt tightly as he glared at Athena/True Lord Erlang.
Finally free of the [Sword]'s wave of attacks, the benevolent warrior god drew his peddle bow and fired!
The iron ball was shot. Judging from its trajectory, it was aimed at Kusanagi Godou's forehead. The iron ball sliced through wind as it traveled but Godou evaded calmly.
Just as the iron ball was about to strike Godou on the forehead, he used the [Raptor] incarnation.
This was the incarnation that could only be used in response to a high speed attack. While using this incarnation of divine speed, Godou obtained a light and agile body as well as overwhelming acceleration while everything else slowed down—
The iron ball slicing through the wind slowed down all at once, allowing Godou to dodge with ease.
However, the use of this incarnation caused severe heart pain to Godou afterwards and also immobilized his body not long after that.
(Fufu. Do you really believe you can defeat me in the limited time you have remaining?)
Seeing a time limit in Godou's course of action, True Lord Erlang smiled.
At the same time, he transformed from Athena back to the original handsome young man. He must have concluded that there was no need to transform once Godou no longer had the [Sword].
Just as he pointed out, there was little time remaining.
Hence, Godou had to decide the match in one fell swoop.
Wielding Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi arbitrarily, Godou pointed the blade at True Lord Erlang and made a straight thrust. Using the [Raptor]'s divine speed, he attacked in a straight line!
(Hmph, no matter what kind of divine speed, fast as lightning, I can still see through it!)
Boldly asserting, True Lord Erlang swung his right fist in response.
A martial arts move capable of countering divine speed. This was a secret art that both Salvatore Doni and Her Eminence Luo Hao had exhibited in the past. Nevertheless, because of Erlang's "crude body" as Godou expected—
True Lord Erlang's fist failed to strike down Godou. Instead, it resulted in mutual injuries.
Godou pierced the flank of True Lord Erlang's abdomen using Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
True Lord Erlang's hook punch landed on Godou's left ribs.
"Guha!"
Suffering the horrifying attack, Godou felt intense pain.
It felt like being struck by lightning. Although the punch landed in the region of his ribs, the terrifying impact coursed through his entire body. But at least he survived.
On the other hand, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi was embedded deeply in True Lord Erlang's flank. Although the divine sword was buried to the hilt, there was not a single drop of bleeding.
(Hmm... This is getting challenging.)
True Lord Erlang's calm and composed whispers could be heard. As expected, this was not his true body.
Godou grinned savagely in response. Now he could put "that plan" into action...
Forcing his aching body to move, Godou kicked the ground and jumped.
(Hmm—!?)
Taking the skewered True Lord Erlang along with him, Godou took a leap.
The [Raptor] incarnation granted more than simply mobility of divine speed. Jumping ability and lightness of the body were also greatly augmented. Owing to this ability, Godou jumped into the river with divine speed.
The surface water current was quite rapid, with uneven rocks protruding. Since this was quite far up the mountain near the river's source, the water was not very deep, only reaching up to roughly knee or waist level at most.
Landing on a rock in the middle of the river, Godou jumped again.
Following the river, Godou aimed f
or some place higher, farther away.
(What are you planning, Kusanagi Godou!?)
Thanks to the giant leaps granted by the [Raptor], Godou obtained an overhead view of the headwater's flow. About thirty meters away from the hut where Godou and Ena had rested, there was a fast flowing waterfall.
Although the river was quite narrow at that point and lacked the magnificence of a great waterfall, the height of the fall was quite substantial. Probably a fall of forty or fifty meters roughly.
This was the type of waterfall that fishes could hardly swim through. Godou nodded for it was exactly as Ena described.
'There is a rapid current slightly downstream from here leading to a waterfall. The current is so fast that even fish find it difficult to swim in, which is why fish are rare in this area.'
Making his jumps as high and far as he could, Godou finally reached the air above the waterfall—
At last, Godou used his trump card, the one he really wanted to avoid using.
"For victory, hasten forth before me..."
As the leap reached its peak, Godou chanted spell words as freefall began.
From the air, Godou could hear the rumbling of the waterfall beneath.
"O immortal sun, I beseech thee to grant radiance to the stallion. O stallion that moveth godlike with wondrous grace, bringest forth the halo of thy master—!"
Only targeting great sinners who had brought suffering to the people, this was the [White Stallion] incarnation.
And this time, the target was—Kusanagi Godou himself.
(Fuhahahaha! You wish to defeat me even at the cost of sacrificing yourself?)
Despite the time being night, the rays of dawn appeared in the eastern sky.
Bathed in the rosy glow together with Godou, True Lord Erlang, currently skewered by Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, was unbelievably laughing with delight.
(T-To think you had the self-awareness of the great sinner you are!)
"S-Screw that! That's why I didn't want to use this method!"
(But then again, this means mutually assured destruction together with me?)
True Lord Erlang spoke as he motioned towards the faraway bottom of the waterfall they were freefalling towards.
He's not planning to resist? That's quite honest of him. In this very instant, a chain carrying an anchor came flying from the ground and wrapped itself multiple times around Godou's right foot.
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