Apparently, he had noticed and quietly observed the scene just now.
"In fact, right now a massive unknown life form is traveling north towards the Pacific along Honshu Island."
"...Huh?"
Godou suddenly heard an unexpected report.
"Due to Yuri-san's information, we checked it out just in case. The coast guard is apparently in turmoil over the situation that resembles a giant monster movie... After our staff went to investigate, 'does not seem to be a divine beast' was the report."
"......"
"It will arrive offshore of Choushi very soon. As expected, the destination really was this place."
"P-Please do not say 'as expected' during times like these."
Despite harboring the same suspicions himself, Godou still voiced his objections.
Then he felt his back shake violently as power for combat surged through his body, filling his heart with fighting spirit. As a Campione's mortal enemy, a [Heretic God] has appeared!
Godou surveyed the surroundings and discovered it.
When clearly the winter night sky had been cloudless all along, dark clouds had appeared before they knew it. The pitch black clouds rumbled, announcing the coming of thunder.
Then in the sea—an alarming sight had appeared!
A silhouette of a "woman."
A woman's shadow, graceful and seemingly clothed. Hair of considerable length. Standing so tall that her head rose above the clouds, it was quite a gigantic silhouette.
'I have found you, my new lord hero..."
A woman's whispers came from the sky.
Although it was a beautiful and lovely voice, Godou remained vigilant. What was the enemy's goal!?
'Ufufufu, please do not be so tense. Tonight is the night that commemorates our first encounter.'
Once again, whispers were heard from the sky, carrying laughter.
The voice gave a noble impression as if belonging to a princess who nurtured flowers and butterflies in a palace. The beautiful voice alone was already worthy of a goddess' elegance.
"What purpose brings you here specifically, great goddess? Let me make myself clear first, I have no intention of fighting you."
Godou refused on the outset.
The majority of gods and god-slayers were hostile to one another. As a pacifist, Godou had no wish of playing a willing part in their desires to make situations deteriorate.
On the other hand, the goddess resembling a princess spoke with full composure.
'My, you really do not act like a god-slayer. Fufu, it is because I am convinced that I shall undoubtedly find a famous hero. For truly the ways of fate are mysterious!"
"...I can't believe you said 'find'?"
'Ah yes, these islands have pleased me for some time now, for all sorts of conflicts have arose in a span of mere months. The heroic presence is raging and running amok.'
These islands. She was probably referring to the islands of Japan.
As for all sorts of conflicts—was she referring to the series of battles against Athena, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Lancelot? Realizing one of the reasons why this goddess had come, Godou calmed down slightly.
Come to think of it, given her current explanation, could she be a goddess who has traveled to Japan from overseas...?
'I sent the "divine spirit of the bow" over for a little test. As expected, I finally found a hero it approved. This is most pleasing.'
The princess-like goddess declared and pleaded further.
'Lord Hero, please accept my feelings. We have a great deal to talk about, but let us save that for another time!'
Instantly, the goddess' silhouette disappeared without warning.
In addition, the steel bow fallen on the beach vanished as well. But the clouds in the sky remained.
Godou's combat state persisted, standing as evidence that the goddess was still nearby.
"Amakasu, please leave us here and ask the others to conduct an emergency evacuation. A [Heretic God] and divine beasts will soon descend upon this place!"
The one who issued direct orders was naturally Erica.
She apparently understood what the goddess meant by "feelings." Godou felt the same way. It was hard to imagine other possibilities given the situation.
Amakasu went "I pray for victorious fortune to smile upon you all" and immediately took off.
Very quickly, Godou and his companions were the only ones remaining in the vicinity of Kimigahama beach.
This was now a wide open battlefield where one did not have to worry about innocent victims. Having obtained ideal conditions, Godou turned his gaze towards his comrades.
Erica, Yuri, Liliana and Ena. Everyone immediately understood.
The five would find an "enemy" appearing out of the Pacific Ocean soon. As expected of Kimigahama beach where swimming was prohibited, the waves were truly ferocious.
"Something really is approaching land, resembling a coral reef...?"
"Ena thinks it's an extra large turtle shell with the limbs retracted?"
Liliana and Ena gazed at the horizon and commented with their excellent vision.
It looked like the enemy's appearance could not be confirmed. Given Godou's eyes, he could not even determine the location.
"In any case, it's surely a divine beast."
Ena asserted. She had already drawn her partner, Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
Liliana was caped in her black and blue striped bandiera. Erica was also armed with the magic sword Cuore di Leone and clad in her red and black cape.
However, as the one with the sharpest spiritual senses here, Yuri issued a warning.
"Everyone, up there! Please look at the sky!"
Godou was shocked to turn his gaze towards the sky.
A crescent moon's light was shining from the dark clouds which had appeared together with the goddess earlier.
The gliding shadow of a gigantic bird then blocked the light. With a wingspan of fifteen meters or so, its size and appearance resembled a Steller's sea eagle.[15]
A sacred giant bird serving a goddess—a divine beast in the form of a divine eagle had appeared.
SQAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!
The divine eagle's cries resounded through the night sky.
At the same time, the unknown life form from the ocean was also arriving at Kimigahama beach rather quickly. Godou was finally able to discern its shape with the naked eye.
Indeed, it did resemble a coral reef or a turtle's shell.
But instead, it was actually a "great serpent in a coil." Spinning like a top as it glided on the ocean surface, it rushed forth.
"I don't think a snake can actually do that kind of thing..."
"Only befitting of a minion serving divinity..."
The two Hime-Miko murmured. In contrast to Ena's grumbles, Yuri's sincere admiration was quite in line with her high-born lady's style.
Uncoiling itself, the great serpent would soon make a landing.
HIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS!
The fifty-meter sea serpent roared.
Spinning like a top as it glided over the sea, it rushed at the beach on Cape Inubou, looking as though it was just about to bite the seashore.
The divine eagle in the sky and the great sea serpent in the ocean—
As well as the [Heretic God] located somewhere else. In a rather unfitting manner to conclude the year-end, an intense battle commenced.
Part 3
A single divine beast was already challenging enough to handle, but not only did two appear, one was even flying freely in the sky. This left no opening for a direct frontal assault. Godou immediately called out:
"I'll deal with the one in the sea. You girls try your best to restrain the flying one!"
Erica, Ena and Liliana nodded respectively in acknowledgement and scattered.
Motioning to Yuri with his eyes to ask her to retreat, Godou quietly chanted spell words.
"So says Lord Mithra. The sinful shall be met with justice."
&nb
sp; Enveloped in flames, a black shadow suddenly manifested before his eyes.
"The one unblunted and unapproachable! Oath-breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice!"
Responding to Godou's chanting of spell words, the flames and shadows transformed into a twenty-meter long divine beast.
Verethragna's fifth incarnation, the [Boar], had manifested. This time, the targets for destruction were the sea serpent and the divine eagle. Might as well use a monster's strength to crush monsters.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!
The air rumbled from the familiar roar. With pitch black fur covering a monstrous and gigantic body, the boar kicked the ground with its short, stout legs, glaring towards the sea as it reared up vigorously on its hind legs.
Its gaze was directed towards the great sea serpent rushing at the Cape Inubou shore.
Instantly, the sea serpent shot out forcefully from the sea like an arrow, its jaws and fangs clashing violently with the [Boar]'s snout.
HIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!
The sea serpent howled in pain. In a frontal clash with the [Boar]'s snout, the sea serpent was the only side receiving damage.
Verethragna's pitch black sacred beast remained virtually motionless. Taking a human fight as an analogy, this was like one person taking hits while the one throwing the punches reeled back in pain.
Then the [Boar] dug its long, sharp tusks into the sea serpent's body, ripping its scales apart.
The sea serpent twisted its long and winding body to slither on the beach, trying to escape from the pitch black slaughterer. However, the [Boar] used its front legs to step violently on the snake's slender body, pinning it down.
This motion was unexpectedly agile in spite of the [Boar]'s brawny appearance. Then the [Boar] thrust its tusks forward again.
HIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!
The sea serpent howled again, writhing and shaking its massive body violently. Indeed, a fundamental difference existed between a Campione's authority and the likes of a divine beast.
Since the serpent side seemed to be well-handled, Godou turned his gaze towards his friends and the divine eagle. The divine eagle was currently circling the Kimigahama sky slowly.
The supernatural bird of prey gazed at the ground down below as it flew.
Immediately, Godou felt a terrifying chill down his spine. Intense killing intent was directed towards him presently. Using its keen avian eyes, the divine eagle had targeted the Campione below as its prey.
"Tsk, possessing night vision even though it's a diurnal bird."
Just as Godou made a verbal jab at the enemy's unnatural ability, the divine eagle swooped down rapidly.
Of course, it was heading straight for Kusanagi Godou. However, Godou did not try to evade. Since it was too late anyway, he will depend on support—!
"People, listen to David's song of mourning! How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"[16]
Just as he had hoped, the incantation of a trump card could be heard.
"O bow of Jonathan, the warrior's weapon fast as an eagle and strong as a lion. Descend into my hand now!"
Having scattered previously, Liliana now summoned the bow of Jonathan to fire an arrow of blue light, capable of piercing even gods. It was a projectile that once struck the hero Perseus right on target. Using this weapon, Liliana sniped at the divine eagle that was swooping rapidly down on Godou.
The arrow of blue light flew straight towards the swiftly descending bird of prey.
Combined with Liliana's archery, the bow of Jonathan delivered a fatal arrow to the divine eagle's neck with perfect accuracy and speed like the wind—That was what was supposed to happen.
Instead, just before the arrow struck, the divine eagle quickly ascended, evading the deadly arrow at the very last moment.
This was probably deserving of praise. The divine eagle was exceptionally skilled in flying. Watching the bird trace out a U-shaped trail in the sky through its rapid ascent, Godou clicked his tongue.
From a Campione's perspective, divine beasts originating as the servants of the gods were indeed weak foes.
But for Liliana and the girls, divine beasts were formidable enemies requiring going all-out to secure a narrow victory. Ordinary methods were not going to work, naturally. And this time, the enemy possessed the ability to fly freely in the sky.
Such an opponent could not be expected to fall so easily to an attack of this level. Seeing things unfold as expected, Ena cried out.
"O divine wind, go forth and exorcise, blow forth and rage!"
These were spell words chanted to manipulate wind. Furthermore, even a god's power had been added on top.
Haya Susanoo no Mikoto was the "grampsy" who protected Ena. Calling upon this storm god's divine spirit, the Hime-Miko of the Sword used an imitation of a wind god's power.
First she struck the flying divine eagle horizontally with a swift gust of sudden wind from the side.
As expected of a bird of prey that glided upon the wind, this was not enough. Ena proceeded to create a vortex of wind in the air to swallow up the divine eagle.
Devoured by the swirling vortex, the divine bird of prey, which resembled a Steller's Sea Eagle, kept twisting its gigantic body. However.
SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!
The divine eagle cawed sharply. From its body, immense magical power was released and spread out as tempestuous wind, neutralizing Ena's vortex. This divine eagle also possessed sacred powers ruling over the wind.
SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!
It cawed again. The tempest increased in strength from the divine eagle's power, causing the sky to rage turbulently.
As though a typhoon was landing on the shore, the sea also became turbulent all of a sudden. Was the girl who stood as Susanoo's cherished Hime-Miko no match for the divine eagle in a contest of wind—?
Even so, Ena still put forth all her strength, intending to control the wind and the atmosphere.
However, just as she was about to reach her limit, it went without saying that the one who took action was naturally the blonde knight of red.
"Eli Eli lama sabachthani? Oh Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Chanting the "Golgotha spell words" that expressed despair towards God through a Psalm, Erica invoked one of her trump cards.
"I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."[17]
Cuore di Leone was entrusted with power capable of tearing a god apart.
Its form was that of a slender longsword. Wielded in Erica's hand, this sword transformed into a javelin for throwing. The owner had applied transformation magic upon it. The javelin's shaft was roughly one meter long.
Erica swiftly took this javelin and handed it over to the person beside her.
The one who received the javelin was Liliana, wielding the blue bow of Jonathan.
Using Cuore di Leone in its javelin form as an arrow, she placed it upon the glowing blue bowstring using her right hand and fired at the divine eagle.
A shooting attack performed using the bow of Jonathan together with the Golgotha spell words added on top—
The arrow streaked across the night sky like a comet, finally striking the divine eagle's broad left wing.
SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!
The divine eagle cried out with excruciating pain.
With one wing shot and injured, the divine eagle went "Gah" as its balance was disrupted greatly. However, it managed to barely pull through. Once again it gave off an acute caw.
SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!
As if controlling the wind, a sudden updraft rose from below to support the divine eagle's massive body.
The supernatural bird of prey began to increase its speed patiently. Even Erica and Liliana's combination skill was unable to disable its wings.
"Once it escapes high up into the air, it'll be difficult for us to launch an effective follow up attack..."
Erica furrowed her brow. Even someone like her would
probably find it difficult to maintain her elegance at this time.
After all, it was a battle against a divine beast. Due to the enemy's advantage of wings, even the numerical superiority of three against one was not enough to guarantee victory. Godou turned his gaze sharply towards the great sea serpent.
Currently, the sea serpent was battling the [Boar] on the shore.
Verethragna's fifth incarnation was ramming with its tusks, occasionally slamming with its body, trampling fiercely with its four stout legs, ravaging its opponent violently.
Godou decided he had better hurry and finish up so that he could assist Erica and the girls. Was that possible!?
—However, Godou's fighting spirit suddenly ran into a snag.
The goddess' silhouette appeared over the Pacific again. She could be seen making what appeared to be hand waving motions. Next, sparks flew down from the sky, landing on the sea serpent's body.
Immediately, the great sea serpent glowed with white brilliance and suddenly coiled up its body.
Crash! Moving like a whip, the serpentine body sent the [Boar] flying far away with a fierce whipping attack.
Apparently, the serpent had powered up from the energy conferred by the goddess. Furthermore, it followed up with an unexpected attack. The sea serpent suddenly extended its body.
Numerous scales covered the snake's body. Until just now, its body length was roughly fifty meters or so, but suddenly it stretched like rubber, lengthening several fold.
The sea serpent's body became even more supple and increased in elasticity.
Moreover, the great snake was indeed like a rope made of rubber, using its extraordinarily long body to entangle the [Boar]'s gigantic body.
Literally, the boar's head, stout torso, limbs, everything was restrained.
And this serpentine rubbery mass was even capable of releasing electric shocks.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!
This time, it was the [Boar]'s turn to howl in pain. Desperately, it shook its body, trying to peel off the sea serpent ensnaring it. But it was useless. It did not even succeed in loosening the serpent's grip.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAR!!
The [Boar] howled again. This time it was a cry of anger.
But the sea serpent's rubbery body remained tightly coiled around it. In response, the serpent released an electric shock again. The [Boar] rolled about painfully, looking completely helpless.
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