'O light of dawn, offer up to me the shield of gold!'
However, the goddess chanted spell words as if operating under pre-established harmony.[19]
As her facade, the vortex of light spread itself out like a canopy to block the [White Stallion].
In the past, Marquis Voban had used the sun god Apollo's authority to devour these flames. This time, they were absorbed by the goddess' glittering radiance!
"An existence capable of devouring light must necessarily harbor light within as well, I see..."
Godou recalled Yuri's oracle from the past.
Just as he thought, this Fire Goddess was also a sun deity. Godou turned his gaze towards the Hime-Miko beside him. However, Yuri shook her head with a sad expression.
She was still unable to discern the goddess' true identity.
This meant they could not rely on the [Sword]. Without that weapon, fighting an enemy in command of a myriad of divine powers would be quite challenging...
"Your Majesty. Let's take Erica-san's advice and make a run for it as soon as we find an opportunity."
Godou nodded in agreement with Ena's suggestion.
Having finished shooting flames, the sun in the eastern sky disappeared. In its place, the divine eagle attacked from the sky while the cyclops on the ground raised his fist to pummel Godou!
Ena instantly sprang into action. Performing a horizontal sweep with her partner of steel, she called out.
"Night descends with pitch-black darkness at Makimuku's... Rising sounds of the river herald a raging storm."[20]
A storm's spell words. With Susanoo's spiritual presence residing in the Hime-Miko's body, divine possession was invoked.
Instantly transformed into a heaven-sent child of the winds, Ena raised Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi up high and swung, releasing a slicing vacuum from the jet-black blade. Her target was naturally the incoming divine eagle in flight.
Exhibiting its superb flying skills, the divine eagle evaded the vacuum blade by ascending with breathtaking speed.
However, Ena swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi in response. The vacuum blade instantly changed its trajectory to pursue the escaped divine eagle.
Ena was employing a flying projectile for the purpose of severing the enemy's wings.
Meanwhile, the cyclops' fist descended like an iron hammer—
Godou blocked with both arms. Naturally, he was using the incarnation of the [Bull]. Since his opponent was the one-eyed giant, he might as well use the incarnation of peerless might.
"Daaaaah!"
Godou grabbed the cyclops' fist and swung hard.
Employing the same principle as used in the track and field event of hammer throwing, 180cm tall Godou was able to launch the 15m cyclops into the air.
It was truly ridiculous to the extreme.
With a shocked expression, the one-eyed giant fell among the trees in the forest. Naturally, this could not have inflicted a critical injury. Nevertheless, it bought time for Godou to summon his next source of battle power.
"The one unblunted and unapproachable! Oath-breaking sinners be purged by the iron hammer of justice!"
After an interval of mere days, he summoned the [Boar] again.
Within the blink of an eye, the pitch black flames manifesting in midair transformed into a beast and descended on the ground.
This time, there were two targets—the cyclops and the divine eagle. Although this was supposed to be a troublesome task, the [Boar] seemed delighted instead and cried out with joy.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo......
This was the new power Godou had learned about not too long ago. The preparation prior to releasing super shockwaves.
This groaning was about to turn into the most powerful artillery. Immediately...
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
Like last time, the [Boar] suddenly released a shockwave from its mouth.
The shockwave blew away the stately body of the divine eagle.
Godou had learned his lesson from last time. The flying king of birds was a troublesome enemy capable of taking a "firebird" form. By focusing on defeating it first, he could then handle the enemies on the ground.
Thus he ordered the [Boar] to roar heartily and release a great shockwave.
Even the divine eagle was unable to evade. Blown away by a direct hit, it crumbled into dust and disappeared.
Nevertheless, the cyclops stood up once again during this time.
The one-eyed giant raised its arm towards the sky. Next, dark clouds gathered densely in the sky and released lightning. The zigzagging lighting struck the [Boar]'s gigantic body.
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!
The [Boar] howled in pain. However, Ena had already started running while this was happening.
Running swiftly like a wolf, she swiftly took care of the cyclops, landing a slice on his right shin. A full powered cut performed with Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi. Even the one-eyed giant was unable to endure such an attack and fell backwards.
Ena sliced again. This time, she aimed at the left shin.
The [Boar] charged mercilessly at the unbalanced enemy whose legs were both injured by slicing wounds.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
Ramming at full power with its head, the [Boar] stabbed its two tusks, sharp as swords, into the enemy's belly. Then withdrawing its tusks, it slammed with its body again.
The cyclops was sent flying like a rag.
Lying on the ground, the giant was on his last breath. Landing a decisive blow at this moment was probably no challenge at all.
However, Godou suddenly realized with surprise. Compared to the battle at Kimigahama, the divine eagle and giant were rather fragile. Last time, the Fire Goddess had clearly injected power into her minions to power them up.
Why did she not do so this time?
'Indeed you are ferocious and brave... Now that is the hero worthy of my attentions, Kusanagi-sama!'
Hovering in the sky, the vortex of light murmured.
The princess goddess' voice seemed to be filled with absolute confidence and calm. Godou began to tremble without reason. His Campione instincts had sensed danger and was warning him!
'In that case, I shall not be stingy. Come, you girls, demons of the wind! Hum for the terrifying Devil King the song held in reserve, one he cannot hear!'
A song of spell words. Godou instantly raised his magical power.
If the enemy was using magic, he should raise his magical power as high as he could to deflect it. This was a technique commonly seen in battles between gods and god-slayers.
In one breath, Godou heightened in his body the magical power belonging to a Campione.
Everything was all set—That was what one would normally expect. Nevertheless, Godou had a strange feeling, as if some "foreign body" had entered his body...?
'Fufufu. Faced against a god-slayer accustomed to battle, quite a lot of spells cannot take much of an effect. Hence I used the blowing wind to carry a spell in an attempt to send it into your body's interior. Rather successfully, apparently.'
Did the goddess achieve a similar effect as what normally required oral intake!?
Godou was greatly shocked. Had he known about this, he surely would have tried to resist. But now it was too late. Much too late.
What kind of spell had been cast on his body—?
Trembling, Godou saw a change occurring before his eyes. A great many geometric patterns appeared in the sky, tracing out a glowing magic circle. Then the goddess chanted:
'Come. Before a beautiful goddess, sharp swords are unnecessary, are they not? Violent spears and arrows for shooting prey are likewise useless. Shed your armor, throw down your shield, come to my side!'
Instantly, the [Boar] disappeared from Godou's sight. In its stead, a stylized [Boar] emblem manifested in the magic circle in the sky.
"...Stolen, huh?"
Godou muttered in shock as he gradually understood.
The spell just now had stolen Verethragna's incarnation. He attempted to transmit commands to the [Boar] but there was no response. He could no longer feel the divine beast's existence at all!
'O great and valiant hero, hurry over to my side!'
The goddess proceeded to chant further.
Godou could sense something else being taken from within his body. Immediately, the magic circle in the sky displayed emblems of a horse and a bull. The [White Stallion] and the [Bull] were also taken.
"Godou-san! If this continues, all the incarnations will be stolen!"
Yuri suddenly yelled out beside him, her face full of worry.
"Please try your hardest to resist the goddess' spell! Hurry!"
This urgent command was completely unlike the gentle Yamato Nadeshiko.
Nevertheless, this was due to the current desperate situation. Godou raised his magical power again.
Silently, he recited Verethagna's scripture in his mind with great force. I am the strongest, holding all victory in my hands. Man and devil, all enemies, all who harbor enmity will be vanquished!
Singlemindedly focused on defeating the foreign object in his body, he concentrated his thoughts on breaking the goddess' spell.
However, during this time—
More emblems continued to appear in the magic circle.
The patterns swirled like a tornado. Next were the goat, the ram, the raptor—Defeat was imminent if this continued!
"Damn it. Is everything going to be stolen!?"
Yelling from the bottom of his lungs, Godou summoned all his magical power to drive out the invisible enemy.
Then Godou finally sensed the disappearance of the rampant magic within his body.
"Of the ten incarnations... Only three remain, huh."
Seven emblems were glowing in the magic circle in the sky.
Left within Godou's body were the three incarnations of the [Camel], the [Youth] and the [Warrior]. All the rest had been stolen.
"She possesses the power to capture heroes and enslave them. Being a glorious hero god, Verethragna has been ensnared by her powerful qualities as a femme fatale..."
"What a troublesome ability to handle..."
Hearing Yuri's oracle, Ena muttered in shock.
Her reaction was perfectly reasonable. Faced with a completely unforeseen attack, even Godou was completely stunned.
'Fufufufu. Kusanagi-sama, you should give up. Be my captive—this implies becoming a goddess' lover, you know? Let us get along in harmony to enjoy eternal love? Cultivating romance between a goddess and a god-slayer should prove to be most amusing!'
Godou's only remaining weapons were Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi and three incarnations.
But in the current situation, both the [Youth] and the [Warrior] could not be used. Godou was also highly doubtful of the [Camel]'s usefulness in dealing with a goddess who used magic.
Godou felt himself being cornered into desperation.
'Come, Kusanagi-sama. Please come to my side.'
Up until this point, the goddess had taken the form of a swirling vortex of light.
This glittering brilliance changed in form to take on human appearance. A woman's silhouette as slender as a juniper. Then her height expanded to roughly five meters.
Reaching out with her slender arms, she intended to capture him.
Damn it! I can't just do nothing to resist!? A savage grin appeared on Godou's face involuntarily. Just as he prepared to struggle to the bitter end—
"I won't let you have His Majesty! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
With a vigorous yell, the Hime-Miko of the Sword swung Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi in a slash.
Infused with Susanoo's divine presence, the divine sword severed the goddess' arm at the elbow!
'Kyaaaaaaaaaah!'
The goddess screamed, causing Godou to jump in surprise.
The goddess' silhouette form dissipated and reformed as the vortex of light. Rising up into the gray sky covered by dense thunderclouds, it seemed like she was fleeing from Ena and Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
To think the sword slash just now could display such might against a [Heretic God]—
As Godou was overcome with surprise, the vortex of light entered the cluster of thunderclouds.
Next, the dark clouds covering the sky kept releasing lightning and started to attack their location.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Every time lightning struck the ground, rumbling thunder was produced with great impact.
While avoiding this place, the goddess seemed to be firing off lightning strikes nonstop. Thunder rumbled continuously without pause.
The lightning had yet to strike the trio of Godou, Yuri and Ena. However, it was going to happen sooner or later.
If they continued to stay here, they would probably be burnt to a crisp by lightning in a matter of minutes. Just at this moment—
"Your Majesty... The thing mentioned earlier is already prepared. Ena is ready any time you want."
The Hime-Miko of the Sword murmured softly.
The thing mentioned earlier, could it be that!? Godou looked at the stream and turned his gaze back at Ena. She responded with a fearless smile. They were really going to do that!?
Godou could barely contain his surprise but he nodded deeply at the same time.
Indeed, that was the only way to seek an escape route. He instantly made his decision. Since Ena said it could be done, he would trust in and leave things to her. However—
Kusanagi Godou had one more companion. What about her?
"...Mariya. I have a very ridiculous idea. I am very sorry for asking you to accompany me in my recklessness, but could you please accompany me?"
Godou called out as he watched the stream.
Yuri went "Eh?" with surprise and followed Godou's gaze. Then she turned to look at her childhood friend Ena's expression, only to see her gazing at the flowing stream. Apparently garnering an understanding of what everything meant, Yuri's expression stiffened.
But then her expression change immediately. With a dignified expression worthy of her "Hime" title, Yuri nodded as she leaned close to Godou and spoke:
"I am coming too. Godou-san, please take me along!"
"Yuri, accompanied by the two of us, His Majesty must be sent to a safe place. Naturally, we will stay together till the very end. Are you ready?"
Ena also came to Godou's side. Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi had already disappeard from her hand, returning to within Godou's body.
Yuri nodded with a resolute expression in response to her childhood friend's inquiry.
"Great. As soon as Ena uses the spell, we'll all ride on it. Then just keep casting all the protective, disaster warding and anti-drowning spells you can think of and we'll be fine!"
As the Hime-Miko yelled, thunder rumbled overhead.
Using this as an impromptu signal, the trio of Godou, Yuri and Ena all jumped into the stream—
Chapter 5 - Black Blade, Hitherto Unawakened
Part 1
Directed by the goddess, lightning descended from the thunderclouds.
Godou, Yuri and Ena had jumped into the stream together. They did not mind immersing themselves up to their knees. After all, they were going to get completely wet later.
"Take this, Yuri. For tying everyone together!"
Ena tossed a ball of red thread to her fellow Hime-Miko.
It looked like the type of thread used for sewing. Yuri apparently knew how to use it already. Simply replying "Very well!", she caught the ball of thread.
Next, Ena took out a small wooden toy.
Simply stated, it was a mini-sized "raft." Ten-odd wooden rods had been cut down to the same dimensions and bound together with string.
Placing this "raft" on her forehead, Ena chanted spell words.
"The one who effects wondrous change shall enact a miracle."
Then with a cry of "Ei!" she tossed the "raft" into the stream.
The palm-sized "raft" expa
nded in size as it fell into the water, transforming unbelievably into a real raft. Godou realized at this time.
This was the Japanese version of the magic Erica used to transform her beloved sword.
"Because Ena already performed a secret 'rite' on this thing, it should be quite reliable. It is much sturdier than normal rafts built from wood!"
The make-shift raft created using wizardry was a square roughly three meters long. Explaining, its maker was the first person to sit down on it. Godou and Yuri immediately followed.
The make-shift raft started to move along with the stream.
Whitewater rafting by inexperienced amateurs. A terrifying challenge was about to begin.
—Woooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Godou and the girls screamed as they clung onto the raft.
The one-eyed giant—the cyclops. After being blown away by the [Boar], this monster had stumbled and crawled his way to the stream, reaching out with his massive arm.
Nevertheless, the giant on his last breath exhausted all his strength at this time and collapsed into dust.
But just as the trio breathed a sigh of relief, the goddess' voice was heard from the sky.
'Are you going to flee as well, Kusanagi-sama!? Indeed, speaking of the various god-slayers of the current generation, they are all great indomitable heroes who flee with such alacrity as though they had wings!'
Her words were filled with sarcastic laughter. Furthermore...
'Nevertheless, I will never give up on you, Kusanagi-sama! Fufu, I shall prepare a new assassin to replace the slain minions. Flee as much as you like. So long as I live, the day of your sucessful escape from this island shall never arrive!'
She was issuing a warning. However, the goddess did not seem like she intended to pursue personally.
Was she taking precautions because she was cut by Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi?
In any case, getting far away from the goddess as quickly as possible was a good thing.
By the time Godou turned his attention back to his surroundings, the sound of thunder was already quite distant. Thanks to riding the flow of the stream, they had now left behind the Fire Goddess hidden in the thunderclouds.
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