"Perhaps Pallas Athena might have the same intentions."
"But did you know she declared she'll defeat the 'King of the End'?"
Godou scratched his head. However, Erica proposed a further hypothesis:
"Hmm. Then using this as a pretext to approach the 'King of the End,' she will launch a surprise attack—"
"...I see."
As the reincarnation of Athena, the goddess of war, she definitely might take this course of action.
Then another acquaintance's face surfaced in Godou's mind.
That of the aristocrat he had met in Gaul a thousand five hundred years ago. His taste for conflict was definitely not prolific and he did not enjoy unnecessary fighting. In the end, would he accept Pallas Athena's challenge?
The Devil King vanquishing hero versus the godslaying Devil King.
That hero and Godou were rivals destined for an inevitable duel.
Godou noticed that he held an unexpectedly favorable impression of the 'King of the End.' However, the important thing now was to track down Pallas Athena first.
Part 4
Although it crashed towards the ground like a shooting star, of course, the floating island was not actually a meteor.
What caused this descent was the authority belonging to Pallas Athena, having retrieved her divinity as a great mother goddess of the earth. Using the power to attract all creation to the earth—the manipulation of gravity—she pulled the "King of the End" together with the entire floating island to the Bousou Peninsula.
It was a place deep in the mountains of Minamibousou.
The floating island collided with a mountain ridge that was only covered sparsely by trees.
There was no impact or explosion like a real meteor crash. Holding tender affection for the land, the goddess' authority protected the mountains.
However, this protection did not extend to the floating island.
The floating island was shattered from the impact of the fall with fragments of rock, soil and sand scattering everywhere.
However, the "King of the End" did not meet the same fate as the floating island's. At two or three hundred meters above the ground, he took a light leap from a corner of the island, jumping into the air.
The "King of the End" had neither wings nor authorities of flight.
Nevertheless, he had acquired many techniques for surviving arduous predicaments.
"Those of you floating in various places of heaven and earth, please lend me your power."
Chanting spell words, he prayed for the protection of spirits.
At the same time, he did not forget to trace out a holy seal in the air using the index and middle fingers of his right hand. Hence, the spirits residing in the mountains, rivers and vegetation of this land all lent him their power.
Compared to heretic gods, they were all random spirits with meager powers.
Neither did they possess character or intellect sufficient to be called personalities.
But by gathering hundreds, thousands of their thoughts and spiritual powers, it could still serve as a driving force for enacting miracles accordingly. The protection of spirits gave support to the "King of the End" in the air, slowing down the rate of his descent.
This allowed him to land from hundreds of meters in the air without a single scratch.
"I offer my gratitude. Thanks to you all, my life was spared."
Landing on both feet, the "King of the End" offered thanks with sincerity.
Then he examined his surroundings. This was a mountain ridge covered sparsely with trees. Hence, visibility was wide and open. He could also sense the snake monster's approaching figure accompanied by murderous intent.
"Are you the one who brought about my return? And your name is?"
"Pallas Athena is one's name. How touching. To think one couldeth meet the hero whom generations of Divine Ancestors and Witch Queens had spent a millennium searching in vain..."
"Looks like you have released the seal of dragons and snakes..."
Having split into two bodies earlier, Pallas Athena was merged back into one again.
Her form was the giant goddess Medusa. With a magic bird's black wings sprouting out of her back, she had flown at low altitude along the mountain ridge to arrive here.
"In order to kill thee—the king manifesting at era's end, there is no other way. One's former power and authority is needed."
"To kill me... Is that so?"
Listening to Pallas Athena who made no effort to conceal her murderous intent, the "King of the End" nodded.
He did not ask for the reason. He simply lowered his gaze for an instant.
He understood better than anyone, precisely because of his position as the one who subjugated Divine Ancestors to do his bidding.
It would not be strange to harbor such thoughts if the proud spirit dating from her time as a goddess were to remain fairly intact after becoming a Divine Ancestor, carrying a personality with an extremely vigorous will to fight.
The aristocrat looked up and stared gallantly into the eyes of Pallas Athena.
"I understand that you regard me as your mortal enemy. Do you wish for a duel with me?"
"Naturally."
"Then I cannot refuse."
He answered immediately, confronting his culpability with a serious attitude.
Slowly, he drew the divine sword from his back—No, the "King of the End" did not do that. Instead, he took down the Divine Sword of Salvation in its scabbard and raised it towards the sky.
"Spirits of the local land. May I entrust this to your safekeeping for now?"
His request brought forth an answer. The divine sword in its scabbard floated into the sky, stopping after rising dozens of meters above the ground.
Seeing the "King of the End" let go of his weapon, Pallas Athena glared at him in anger.
"Thou shalt duel with one yet relinquish the divine sword?"
"Indeed. So long as I hold the divine sword, this definitely cannot be considered a fair duel."
The hero's eyes displayed neither pride nor pity.
Residing within them were pure feelings, only wishing to respond with sincerity to the opponent challenging him with her soul and dignity on the line.
"Pallas Athena, with your strong sense of pride, you appear to be a Divine Ancestor born from the Holy Grail—the divine artifact created by the goddess Gwenhwyfar."
The Devil King exterminating hero stared candidly into the goddess' eyes.
Gwenhwyfar was the great mother earth goddess who had served the "King of the End" together with the war god Lancelot, later reincarnating into Divine Ancestor Guinevere.
"Seeing as that is the case, I can still defeat you even without the Divine Sword of Salvation."
"...Hoh."
With wrath akin to raging flames, Pallas Athena stared at her enemy's handsome face.
But after hearing the hero's explanation, she smiled faintly. She approved of the nobility in his words.
Perhaps through the spiritual senses of a goddess of wisdom, she understood that he was likely speaking the truth.
"A duel with one's life and honor on the line must not be tainted the slightest. I am forsaking the divine sword's use out of respect with absolutely no intent to belittle your powers."
"One hath already understood thy thoughts. Nevertheless, is this meet?"
Smiling, Pallas Athena looked down at the "King of the End" with her mysterious gaze.
The eyes of the giant goddess in Medusa form flashed red. The evil eyes of petrification. Under this gaze. the "King of the End" was completely turned into stone below the waist together with his left hand.
"The hero of salvation deriveth power from the earth's essence, yet thou hast not absorbed any essence at all. Thou intendest to oppose one with such a body?"
"I have resolved myself already. I hope to decide our match here, will that be agreeable?"
Even with half his body turned into stone, the "King of the End" still spoke resolu
tely.
Just now, Kusanagi Godou had raised his magic power in an emergency to resist Pallas Athena's evil eyes. Failing even to do that, it seemed like the pale-haired aristocrat had yet to recover his condition.
In addition, he had even personally sealed away his trump card, the Divine Sword of Salvation—
Even so, the "King of the End" still confronted Pallas Athena squarely.
Pallas Athena did not hold back either. Blue-white flames spewed out from between Medusa's lips, flowing towards the hero who had half his body turned into stone.
"Guh—Ahhhhhhhh!"
Having taken the form of a serpentine dragon's, Pallas Athena was producing flames with firepower equaling a dragon's blazing breath.
Scorched by the conflagration, the "King of the End" screamed in pain. However, ten white orbs of light suddenly appeared in his surroundings and desperately tried to reduce the flames' temperature. Like the power protecting him from freefall, this was protection from the spirits.
During this strange battle to the death, Pallas Athena laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, the "King of the End" made a slightly wry smile while enduring the mighty flames. Rather than both sides giving up on the fight, this was a sign that they were reaching some kind of understanding—Just at this moment...
(....Ah... My revered brother—)
A weak voice was heard all of a sudden.
A flickering shadow suddenly appeared next to the divine sword floating in the air dozens of meters up, then started to swirl and contract, calling the "King of the End" at the same time.
(My revered brother, you are the savior king manifesting at era's end. The king of kings. The great hero with the most noble of destinies. A tiger among men. Your glorious accomplishments have infinite splendor. The supreme hero. Bestowed upon you are the greatest blessings from the myriad gods!)
Lavished with these extraordinarily flowery words of praise, the "King of the End" was stunned.
Looking up from the blue flames, he stared straight at the Divine Sword of Salvation floating in the air above. At the same time, the shadow in midair that had called him "revered brother" was also gradually changing in form.
The lower body remained as a shadow spinning like a vortex while only the upper body turned into a pale-haired aristocrat—
His face was identical to that of the "King of the End." However, unlike his elder brother's pale complexion, his brown skin looked like it had been tanned under the sun.
The dark-skinned divine aristocrat, melded with the shadows, emitted a lengthy howl.
(Mere goddess of the earth, how dare you continue to insult my noble brother. Allow me to assist my brother in an act of impertinence!)
"Stop! Upon my position as elder brother, I forbid you to act. Do not interfere!"
However, the "King of the End," burning in blue flames, was not heeded.
Hovering in the air, the "younger brother" reached for the Divine Sword of Salvation with his right hand. Just as he was about to grip the hilt, Pallas Athena stopped him.
While discharging blazing flames from her mouth, she emitted red light from her eyes.
Taking on this gaze, the "younger brother" was devoured by flames just like the "King of the End."
"A mere subordinate god, thou darest to disrupt one's enjoyment of battle? Insufferable foolishness!"
(Guahhhhhhhhhh!?)
Scorched by the blue divine punishment, the younger brother screamed.
Pallas Athena glanced at his pained demeanor and murmured with a bored face:
"Hmph, one expected the Wind King, but nay, 'twas thee. Thou art a minor character unworthy of mention. As the goddess of wisdom, one knoweth with but a single glance."
Pallas Athena had used a power corresponding to spirit vision of miko in the human realm.
"Thou art the subordinate god who hath always stood behind the hero of salvation, guarding him—In other words, his alter ego. Although thy loyalty towards thy duties is commendable... Thou art too boorish. Know thy place."
The conflagration of wrath instantly burned the "younger brother" to ash.
Not even bones remained near the divine sword floating in midair. Only burnt ash was scattered all around. However—This ash remained active.
"How now?" Pallas Athena frowned.
(Kukuku... A mere mother earth goddess, thinking you know everything...)
Deep laughter from the "younger brother" could be heard from the ash resulting from the wrathful conflagration.
(I was born from the shadow of my revered brother—the strongest of steel. Even if only a tiny part, I do possess the trait of indestructible resilience. Watch carefully!)
While roaring loudly, the ash took on the form of a human arm.
Then gripping the divine sword's hilt, it drew the sword out from its scabbard in one go. An instant after that, platinum-colored light thoroughly illuminated the whole surroundings.
"What is that light?"
Seeing this platinum-colored light appear, Godou was taken by surprise.
He was flying through the air while enveloped by blue light. In order to chase after Pallas Athena, he had asked Liliana to cast flight magic on him. Drastic events were taking place while he was still in mid-flight.
A pillar of light was suddenly erected from deep within the mountains on a ridge, releasing platinum-colored radiance.
This pillar of of light reached the storm clouds above. Although it was nighttime, the surrounding mountains and forest were still illuminated for a period of time.
After merely ten seconds, the pillar of light vanished.
"Kusanagi Godou, our destination is near the pillar of light."
"Then let's land nearby. I'll head over on my own while you meet up with Erica and the others to await the next move. I'm counting on you."
Godou gave orders to the silver-haired female knight who was flying with him.
Perhaps Pallas Athena was currently locked in a duel with the "King of the End." Refusing to let his companions face unnecessary risk, that was why Godou flew to the destination with Liliana alone.
After roughly three minutes, they finally landed at one end of the mountain ridge.
Liliana nodded to convey her thoughts to Godou, speaking with a knight's solemn face.
"May fortune favor you, also—"
As though about to whisper, she lowered her voice.
Godou approached her to listen more clearly. Then Liliana nonchalantly drew near Godou and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"!?"
"Th-This is a prayer for your good fortune. Should you return safe and sound... L-Let us continue in the usual manner."
"The usual manner!?"
"A-Are those passionate sessions between lips and tongues not the usual between you and us?"
Unable to offer a rebuttal, Godou was rendered dumbstruck.
Liliana gazed at Godou with eyes of tender affection for a moment before using flight magic again. Enveloped in blue light, she flew away.
Alone by himself again, Godou refreshed his mood and ran down the slope.
This mountain ridge was only sparsely covered by trees. Due to the excellent visibility, Godou instantly found his destination.
After running for two minutes, Godou arrived at his target.
Transformed into Medusa and enlarged in size, Pallas Athena was lying on the ground.
Stabbed in the ground next to her was the Divine Sword of Salvation. The last time Godou saw its splendorous form was during his trip to ancient times, but now it was radiant with sacred magnificence.
Pallas Athena was bleeding severely.
There were cuts on various parts of her Gorgon body—hundreds of locations.
Every wound was dark red with nonstop bleeding. The ground beneath her was dyed by an ominous shade of red.
The "King of the End" was standing on the side in solitude.
Looking down at the fallen Pallas Athena sorrowfully, he shook his head with beleaguered thoughts.
However, the goddess remained motionless, collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely. What on earth had happened?
While Godou was feeling surprised, the "King of the End" turned his head back.
He looked at Godou in surprise but soon regained composure.
"If memory serves me correctly—I have met you before. Yes. No less than fifteen hundred years or so ago. I have never seen you again in the battles since, which I found rather unusual."
The "King of the End" remembered Kusanagi Godou clearly.
Feeling a strangely emotional response to this fact, the Devil King exterminating hero finally looked squarely into Godou's eyes.
This was the moment when god and Devil King faced off again after a separation in time and space over fifteen hundred years.
Chapter 3 - Awakening
Part 1
"Back then, there were two other godslayers apart from you. In the end, the battle finished before I could meet them..."
Feeling perplexed, the "King of the End" muttered.
Then immediately, he nodded as though going "I see now."
"The three of you had traveled through time. Through a deity of travel or a fairy of some land, you traversed to the distant past from this era—"
"That's roughly what happened. I'm glad you understand, since it saves me the effort of unnecessary explanations."
Godou answered while thinking to himself.
An unbelievable conversation resumed seamlessly from fifteen hundred years ago. However, the incident actually felt like it was mere months ago from his perspective.
Still, casually chatting like this was not the answer going forward.
Godou looked at Pallas Athena, collapsed on the ground. That giant body of the Gorgon Medusa had already shrunk in size, transforming back to a pubescent girl.
Despite having released the seal using her life as the price, it was now impossible for her to sustain a serpentine dragon's body.
Pallas Athena had turned back into her girl form. The countless bleeding lacerations carved all over the Gorgon's body were gone, but conversely—A large hole had opened up in her chest.
The hole's location was precisely that of the heart. Unquestionably, a fatal wound.
Campione! - Volume 17 - The Hero's Name Page 6
