As Godou pointed at the school entrance, Yuri sighed.
"I understand, it really is trespassing, how unlawful..."
"Umm, please don't scold me for now. Even I don't feel comfortable about this. Erica, please."
"Yeah yeah. Though you speak of reflection, but your true actions completely betray them—that is one of Godou's worst points. Well in this case, we have no other choice but to count on you."
Erica made an evil smile and also got off the car.
Bending forward, she grabbed one side of the skirt of her uniform.
And then she tore it and did the same for the other side, creating torn slits on both sides of the skirt. Of course, it was done to facilitate movement.
"The lion of steel, shield of the [Diavolo Rosso], may my spell words respond to my will!"
Disregarding the rain, Erica used the magic of summoning.
The magical sword of the lion, Cuore di Leone, appeared in her right hand.
Preparing her battle stance, Erica swung her beloved sword in a V-shape. The primary school's entrance was cut open by the slashing attack.
"Ah, this is something beyond my abilities to handle, so I will provide support from a distance. Sorry I can't be of much help. I wish you all luck in your struggle."
Amakasu said.
At this desperate time, he was still sitting casually at the driver's seat.
"Hmph. Unfamiliar with battle, really—but I don't think you are incompetent."
"Yes, Erica-san. If I had to fight you, I would lose utterly in thirty seconds."
"Is that so? From my estimates, you could last about three hundred seconds. Since it's rare to find an opportunity, would you like to try it now?"
To the smile appearing on Erica's face like a poisonous flower, Amakasu acted dumb and made a fawning smile.
After the parting pleasantries, the three of them slipped into the school under the cover of night.
It was after 8pm in the evening. Perhaps there might be staff on overtime. Godou prayed for them not to exit the building if that was the case.
Godou aimed for the playground which should prove to be advantageous.
To [Wolves] who possessed a keen sense of smell, hiding was probably useless so it would be better to choose a location with a clear view of the opponents.
They waited at the playground for about five minutes.
Finally, the pack of giant wolves appeared. Unexpected for their massive bodies, the wolves jumped over the school fence with ease and entered the playground.
The slowly approaching [Wolves] numbered roughly thirty or forty at least.
"I will take care of them. After all, you shouldn't use the [White Stallion] or the [Raptor] in such a place. Save the forms of Verethragna for the Marquis."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Godou nodded generously to Erica's proposal.
Of the ten forms usurped from Verethragna, most of them gave no advantage in handling grouped enemies.
The [White Stallion] which summoned solar fire from the sky was one of the few exceptions, but it was too powerful to be used rashly.
On the other hand, the [Raptor] was comparatively more normal, but there were repercussions after its use.
"—Come, savior of the gentiles. Promised lord born from the virgin!"
Erica spoke softly to the silver sword and chanted the spell words.
Cuore di Leone floated into the air as if led by an invisible thread.
"By the holy name, O God of countless armies. God be praised! Hallowed be thy name!"
One sword, two swords, three swords. Cuore di Leone was multiplying into similarly shaped swords which appeared in the air in front of Erica.
In ten seconds, the magic silver sword had multiplied to thirteen.
"Then it is time to decide the victor, Cuore di Leone!"
This spell word became the trigger signal.
The thirteen swords became thirteen arrows and flew at the speed of lightning.
Aiming between the eyes of the incoming [Wolves], they stabbed forwards.
The gray wolves cried wretchedly.
Yet blood did not seep out from their wounds. Instead, a blue black liquid flowed from their foreheads. The giant wolves' corpses melted into the darkness and vanished.
Like those death knights, they appeared to be abnormal creatures.
Eliminating thirteen of the pack in one motion, Cuore di Leone flew and returned to Erica's hand.
At some unknown instant, it had returned to the one original sword.
"My hunting hounds seem to be ineffective against the [Diavolo Rosso], a pity."
A familiar voice echoed.
The embodiment of tyranny disguised by airs of intellectuality, the old Devil King spoke softly.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, brats. Are you prepared to be beaten down by me?"
Thunder crashed. Violent winds screamed. Raindrops crashed repeatedly into the ground. Voban's voice carried over, completely unaffected by those noises.
Arrogant as ever, the Devil King casually strolled to the center of the playground.
Part 3
"I love stormy nights. Wind, rain and lightning, these all make me feel mighty. You are probably the same, brat. Even though you are immature, I am sure you and I are one of a kind."
Wearing a jet black coat over his suit, Voban spoke joyfully as the rain splattered against him.
Godou immediately frowned in anger.
In fact, from a very long time ago he did have a strange habit of having a good mood when there was a typhoon. Be that as it may, Godou did not feel like answering.
"So what? Are you just saying you like stormy nights?"
"No, I felt like it so I summoned it, and so it became like that. I believe it also suits your tastes. You don't mind, right?"
Dejanstahl Voban had the ability to call forth storms.
Simply witnessing a part of that power troubled Godou.
"Don't decide so casually, on what basis do you judge that?"
"After all, someone will not fight a deity unless they are disposed to going with the flow and rising to the occasion. People who become Campiones all have pretty much the same tendencies."
Erica and Yuri listened on the side and simultaneously said "ah ah, I see" while showing an understanding expression. As both of them looked at him at the same time, Godou felt greatly uncomfortable for some reason.
"You really are a ridiculous old gramps. Then shall we start the first round?"
"If you fall now, there is no first or second. Struggle well and amuse me."
Voban waved his hand.
Immediately, ten [Wolves] appeared out of the darkness like foaming bubbles.
"Increasing the numbers so easily could get troublesome. But an opponent who relies on numbers is so unrefined. It's most displeasing."
"In terms of numbers, they have already won—stand back Mariya."
Godou spoke as he nodded to his companion's comments.
This was the beginning of a messy battle.
Erica threw Cuore di Leone into the air towards the distance.
"O Lion of steel, accept thy mission, transform into seven tachi[12], guard the imprisoned king, sing Blondel, and respond with the lion-hearted king."
The silver magic sword became seven fragments and scattered on the ground. And then, the fragments expanded and transformed into steel lions.
Seven lion sculptures were infused with life by magic.
Their fluid motions completely unrestrained by the normal properties of steel, the lions surrounded Godou and Yuri.
The steel lions blocked the approaching pack of [Wolves]. Erica created guards in response to Voban's ever increasing hunting hounds.
The wolves cried out!!
The [Wolf] pack all jumped.
In a rare moment, Erica was not using her usual Cuore di Leone but instead had summoned a very heavy looking sword. She faced the attack without any signs of fear.
Glamorously
swinging her sword in a free flowing manner.
Erica repeatedly sliced through the onslaught of the wolf pack. Just as Voban said, hounds as big as horses were no match for her.
With one or two attacks from her sword, every wolf was either sliced into sections or pierced right through.
But even for Erica, the lone efforts of a single person had limits.
With absolute advantage in numbers, the [Wolves] only needed to keep up the attacks. Besides, the other wolves did not have an enemy as troublesome as Erica.
The [Wolves] targeting Yuri and Godou.
The lions born from Cuore di Leone faced off against those wolves.
Vanquishing the wolves with their bodies, fangs and claws of steel, the lions' battle power far exceeded the [Wolves].
Overwhelming victory.
However, the only problem was the numbers.
In order to handle the [Wolves] which got past their defense line, Godou had to activate Verethragna's authority at last.
Imagining the strength of the [Bull], Godou spoke the spell words.
"As the one who holds all victory in my hands, I am the strongest. Man and devil—all enemies, all who harbor enmity will be vanquished. Hence I shall smash through all enemies in my way!"
When fighting an inhumanly strong opponent, Verethragna's second form, the [Bull], granted overwhelming strength. Voban's summoned wolf pack completely satisfied this condition.
Speeding forward like an arrow, Godou aimed at an attacking wolf's snout and sent it flying with a powerful kick.
Godou avoided messy unarmed combat to prevent unnecessary injuries. If he got bitten, those jaws might crush his bones.
He sent them flying into the distance with as little contact as possible.
Godou's forward kick punted the [Wolves] high into the air like a football, all the things attacking himself and Yuri could be seen clearly.
However, the powers of the [Bull] form were definitely unsuitable for a disorganized fight against multiple opponents.
"These things just keep on coming, there really is no end in sight...! Mariya, can I ask you something?"
Sending the sixth [Wolf] on a tour to the sky, Godou asked.
Though the guarding lions kept going without pause, the wolf pack also continued to increase. If this went on, they would run out of options soon.
"W-What is it, Kusanagi-san?"
"Last time, that move I used against Athena, do you think it would work against that old gramps?"
The old Devil King, who was continually summoning [Wolves] from a distance, simply watched the battle silently.
Godou tried to show a smile of confidence and preparedness.
From the start, the pace of battle had been fully controlled by Voban. Unless Godou found a way to regain initiative and counterattack there would be no chance of victory.
"...Probably not. I doubt those flames can defeat the Marquis. I cannot give a reason, but that is what I feel."
The miko, who possessed spirit vision, spoke with a very disquieted expression.
However, this opinion only made Godou more determined—if that was the case, why not try it?
"Got it. In that case, perhaps it's just as well."
"Eh? Kusanagi-san, what are you planning on doing?"
"Mariya, please do not leave my side for any reason."
Letting this continue would be meaningless, so Godou decided to bring about a conclusion to the battle.
"For victory, hasten forth before me! O immortal sun, please grant radiance to the stallion. O stallion that moves godlike with wondrous grace, bring forth the halo of thy master!"
The incantation to summon from the sky the white stallion which represented the sun, the third form of Verethragna.
Godou shouted sonorously.
Voban's face showed tension for the first time.
Finally sensing the coming of danger, he watched as the stormy night turned into a morning sky tinted by the color of dawn.
"The sun—the flames of heaven?"
Almost like the first light of dawn, the sun was rising out of the eastern sky.
—The power of judgement which could only be used against great sinners who brought great suffering to the populace. As expected of a three-hundred-year-old great Devil King, it looked like he had committed more than the minimum number of atrocities required to fulfill the conditions required.
White flames descended from the sky.
High temperature flames hot enough to vaporize steel with ease were approaching the ground.
At that instant, the [Wolves] that were causing so much trouble for Godou and Erica all vanished.
"Eh?"
Godou was struck by surprise.
Voban's figure transformed. From a human into an upright wolf with silver fur—a werewolf and it was completely the stance of a wolf.
Voban's body which had taken the form of a silver wolf, expanded in size instantly.
Roughly thirty meters in length, the massive body stopped expanding at an impossible size.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!
Massive roars reverberated in the stormy atmosphere.
The gigantic silver wolf leaped at the huge white flames which held the concentrated energy of the sun, bared its fangs and bit the flames with its massive jaws.
"...What the, that, there should be limits to such unreasonable power."
The unbelievable sight gave Godou a great shock.
Swallowed.
Just like that, the giant wolf completely swallowed the intense fires of the sun.
"To absorb... no, devour the flames of the [White Stallion], what kind of monster is this?"
Erica who had returned to Godou's side also exclaimed with surprise.
Having lost their opponents, the steel lions recombined to form Cuore di Leone once more, and returned to the form of her beloved sword.
"What... was that about?"
Yuri murmured with a shocked expression. Perhaps the sight before them was too hard to believe.
"Swallowing the fire that even Athena had difficulty resisting, should there not be a limit to such lack of reason!"
"To render useless the attack which defeated the deity of darkness as well as the earth, the goddess Athena of the highest level, what kind of god did that [Wolf] usurp his authority from!?"
Standing beside the speechless girl, Godou renewed his spirits. His goal of changing the flow of battle had been accomplished. That was enough.
'—Hahahahahahaha! Is this it? This is one of the abilities used to battle Salvatore, and defeated Athena! Very satisfying! This really makes me feel satisfied!'
—Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!
Massive roars of a wolf sounded simultaneously with Voban's voice. It was truly an incredible phenomenon.
'I feel I must properly reward such a rare banquet. If I don't do this carefully, I might crush you along with the miko—come, listen to my bidding, my servants!'
Entities possessing dark demonic characteristics flowed out once again.
This time, they were not [Wolves] but death knights previously met in the library—dead people were appearing out of the darkness carrying the same aura.
In their hands were swords, spears, axes and other classical weapons.
Many of them were wearing armor decorated with engraved crests from knight organizations.
There were about forty of them. From their anachronistic attire, they seemed to be summoned from five or six centuries ago.
'My followers who have already died, you were all carefully selected warriors. Now, go hunt like dogs!'
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!
The Devil King's laughter sounded at the same time as the fierce roars.
In addition, the death knight army began to step forward, wielding their weapons, and attacked with determination.
The word 'slow' would be the wrong description for these zombies.
Bearing dead faces and engaging in close quarter combat, they displayed grea
t intelligence and strength, just like a fierce and experienced army of knights.
"Godou, be careful everyone. I fear that they may very well be Great Knights when alive—warriors of the same rank as me. To be honest, I have no confidence in protecting you all this time."
Erica's gaze which had switched to the death knights, was completely different from when she was facing fodder.
There was not a hint of playful attitude, and she was rather alert.
"The girl at the library—was she your friend, Erica? How did she describe it, what were those colleagues of hers really? Aren't they just zombies??"
"Kusanagi-san, becoming a [Dead Servant] is the tragic fate suffered by those who were killed by the Marquis' hand."
The one who answered Godou's question was Yuri.
"The ability to make loyal obedient servants out of those that died directly by his hand. This was the authority that the Marquis usurped from the Egyptian god Osiris. Those people seem to fully recall their skills from when they were alive, and will be tougher enemies than the wolves."
"We may very well turn out like them in the end, so watch out!"
At the unimaginably tragic fate of these death knights, Godou frowned.
"To have performed so many acts of evil, that damn old man really pisses me off."
Godou looked up to the stern face of the old Devil King who had taken the form of a giant wolf.
After turning into that form, strong wind and rain from the storm was nothing to him. Completely arrogant, it was also a very detestable form.
—And then, the death knights swarmed in.
Erica swung her sword and engaged one of them. One, two, three, four. Their strikes clashed intensely. Even a layman could tell that those skills displayed were extremely powerful.
Of course, the death knights also approached Godou and Yuri.
(Are we going to lose now?)
Godou silently talked to himself. He was too naive. He did not prepare enough to fight such a difficult enemy as the Marquis Voban.
If one did not acquire knowledge of the opponent's abilities, personality and goals, defeat was certain.
This was the inevitable outcome. Since his loss was due to his insufficient power and his taking things too lightly, there was no room for regret. Be that as it may—
"Kusanagi-san..."
"Don't worry, Mariya, just watch as I penetrate the barricade for you. Follow me closely."
Campione 02 Page 13
