Campione! - Volume 17 - The Hero's Name

by Taketsuki Jou

  The spell words of smiting were suddenly chanted. Then clad in red and blue light respectively, the two Great Knights charged at full might, wielding a giant blade each—They sliced through the two heroes in their path.

  Erica Blandelli had slashed the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong, in the side of his abdomen.

  Liliana Kranjcar had embedded her blade into the chest of the hero Perseus, also known as Mithras.

  The two girls were wielding giant trenchant blades as tall as Godou's height—Golden blades, Verethragna's holy swords.

  Sitting in the center of the plaza, which served as the battle field, was a lone building reminiscent of a monastery—

  The two knights had been hiding in the building's shadows. While the two heroes were fixated on Godou, they had charged out in that instant, picking up the holy swords on the ground to use as weapons. Indeed, these were the two holy swords that the two heroes had previously deflected using their own weapons, striking them to the ground.

  "W-What?"

  "How could that kind of blade harm us...?"

  However, the two sliced heroes were overcome with disbelief. As heroes of steel with resilient bodies, they could not possibly die from one or two cuts, even if they were slashes executed by Paladins empowered by the spell words of divine slaughter. Even if the weapons used were the holy swords of Verethragna, the same applied, because they were weapons that had been strengthened in particular to defeat the hero named Rama, thus posing no threat to them—At least, that was what they believed to be the case.

  But the two heroes suddenly showed looks of great alarm.

  Rather than glaring at Erica and Liliana who had performed the slashes, their target was Godou.

  They had realized. They had figured out the identity of the swords that had sliced through them, as well as the trap that Kusanagi Godou had set to make maximum use of them.

  "Sorry, guys."

  Godou muttered quietly.

  "That's the same trick Verethragna used before. Switching the target for the sword's spell words in the middle of battle. Just now, I've already converted them into swords for slicing Perseus and Great Sage Equaling Heaven Sun Wukong."

  "Gah—! It was this kind of trap after all!?"

  "Lord Monkey, we will only end up annihilated at this rate. Let us seek refuge and return to the Arrowhead's Discus for now!"

  The holy swords were far more damaging than the spell words in the past.

  Furthermore, the two heroes were resurrected through the power of the Arrowhead's Discus. Now that the three heroes were manifesting at the same time, their individual powers were inferior compared to before. Naturally, this included their life force as well.

  The attacks just now had inflicted critical injuries.

  In fact, a large volume of divine power was already leaking out from their wounds.

  Realizing their lives were in danger, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Perseus suddenly vanished. This was for returning to the medallion held by Rama, to heal their wounds for now—

  "I'm saved. If it weren't for your help, Mariya, I wouldn't have been able to repel those two guys so quickly. You really saved my life."

  (Not at all. This is precisely why I chose to stay on this side.)

  Whispers were reaching Godou's ear.

  It was the voice of Mariya Yuri, the Hime-Miko who had stayed behind in the Netherworld alone. The defeat of Perseus and the Great Sage Equaling Heaven had been accomplished under her direction.

  Using the spirit power of psychic sensing, Yuri had been paying attention to the situation in the mundane world the whole time.

  Furthermore, as soon as she saw the three heroes manifest through the Arrowhead's Discus, she had departed to summon knowledge about Perseus, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Lancelot.

  Just by being in the Netherworld, she was able to control the power of spirit vision freely. This was precisely the benefit enjoyed.

  Then using psychic sensing to connect to Godou's mind, she was able to transmit the knowledge obtained through spirit vision—

  A simple mechanism once explained clearly in this manner. The only remaining issue of concern was that Godou was still facing two opponents on his own. A most unfavorable situation. However, Yuri had also informed him that his companions had boarded Pushpaka Vimana using Liliana's flight magic.

  "Eh, hold on a sec."

  Godou suddenly felt intrigued.

  "Isn't it quite troublesome trying to cast magic on Campiones? But I'm hearing your voice so easily this time, Mariya?"

  Oral intake was necessary when human magi needed to cast magic on a Campione—

  Godou recalled this rule. Yuri replied in a strangely quiet voice.

  (Oh... Regarding that... Not too long ago, we were in the Netherworld, engaged in that—that ritual, were we not?)

  Rather than a ritual, it would be better to describe that scene as mutual contact of intimacy.

  Godou could not help but go red in the face and answer "Y-Yeah." Due to the connection through psychic sensing, Godou was certain that Yuri was also huddling in embarrassment back on the Netherworld side.

  (Back then... Perhaps due to the many instances of intimate contact with you, Godou-san, or rather, receiving love and affection, i-in any case, due to that ritual, a connection was established between me and you, Godou-san.)

  "I-I see now!"

  It looked like Yuri had already started considering back then whether to stay in the Netherworld. It was also possible that her spirit vision powers as a Hime-Miko had told her she ought to do that. Or perhaps it was a feeling of "somehow, this must be done."

  (G-Godou-san. You must keep this a secret from Erica-san and Liliana-san, please.)

  "Of course!"

  His comrades happened to be walking this way. Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar, victorious in accomplishing their task. They were also accompanied by Seishuuin Ena who had changed from her miko outfit back to her school uniform for ease of movement.

  "Good work, everyone. I'm always relying on your efforts."

  "No helping it. We do this voluntarily."

  "This is also part of our responsibilities, so please do not mind."

  Answering nonchalantly despite having just undertaken a major accomplishment, Erica was living up to her usual style. On the other hand, Liliana adhered strictly to her knightly duties, maintaining a calm attitude throughout.

  Standing like walls on Godou's left and right respectively were the red and blue knights. Truly reliable.

  "I'm really sorry for giving you boring work, Seishuuin."

  "Can't be helped. After all, Ena is the only one who can do this."

  The Hime-Miko of the Sword replied cheerfully to Godou's apology.

  The two of them looked up into the sky. Manifesting overhead was the black star—The mystic technique, the [Storm Bringer], was successfully raising its power towards critical point. Currently, output was roughly 65%.

  The rate of increase was clearly faster than before.

  This was due to Ena delivering magic power for support as the partner of Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, which was in charge of the mystic technique.

  (A-Also.)

  Still contributing inconspicuously, the Hime-Miko suddenly lowered her voice.

  (After all, having engaged with Your Majesty in the Netherworld... in such pleasure, it'd be punishably unfair if Ena didn't let Erica-san and Liliana-san have a chance to take credit—)

  Ena whispered softly in a moment of shyness.

  She was probably afraid of letting the two knights know. Still unused to matters of relationships between the genders, she had made slight progress.

  Finding Ena adorable the way she was acting now, Godou felt his heart begin to pound. He must change the subject before someone noticed.

  "S-Say, I wonder how are things going on Nee-san's side?"

  The sworn elder sister, Luo Cuilian, was facing the formidable Hanuman, a war god even more challenging than the two h
eroes—

  Part 3

  Luo Cuilian was performing palm strikes using her pubescent body.

  Recognized as the supreme treasure of Chinese martial arts, the Twelve Divine Palm Strikes of the Flying Phoenix was a set of ultimate techniques consisting of twelve moves: Fengchudengmen, Fengyanchuanlian, Fengzhuataoxin, Feifengzhuiluo, Danfengchaoyang, Jinfengliangchi, Qunfenglianhuan, Xiongfengqianjin, Fengyitianxiang, Fenglongyinyang, Fenghuangshuangfei, Dafengwutian.

  This set of ultimate techniques were originally taught as the Five Immortal Palm Strikes of the Flying Phoenix.

  Adding seven additional strikes of her own invention, Luo Cuilian created the Twelve Divine Palm Strikes.

  Nevertheless, she had not been able to bring out these palm techniques readily the whole time.

  Hanuman was using unarmed techniques from ancient India.

  This was a rather peculiar type of martial arts. The wind god’s son was using his agile body of a monkey’s to jump with speed and lightness, unleashing flying kicks from the air incessantly. Or suddenly leaping behind Luo Cuilian, he would attack with punches from blind spots.

  In addition, he was extremely fast.

  No sooner had one concluded he was suddenly about to unleash four or five punches consecutively, it would turn out to be a barrage of strikes as closely spaced as rosary beads. Using a forward kick to contain the opponent first, followed by a mid-level kick intended to halt rather than defeat the enemy, he finally aimed a spinning kick at her head for a critical blow.

  Meanwhile, he kept launching straight punches, swinging his arms sideways as follow up attacks even when the punches were dodged.

  When these types of attacks failed to work, he would suddenly jump up to attack the opponent's jaw with knee strikes.

  Truly monkey-like in style, an extremely peculiar and swift set of martial arts.

  Luo Cuilian succeeded in defending against the vast majority of attacks.

  Making superb use of her prided movement skills, she dodged using the minimum necessary motions. Or using mysterious footwork, she would instantly pull away to distances out of reach from Hanuman's limbs.

  In this manner, she would block, deflect and push away unavoidable attacks using her right or left palm.

  However—

  There were also punches and kicks that got past her defenses.

  Initially, they were only on the level of brushing past Luo Cuilian's beautiful face. But including his arms and legs, Hanuman's entire body was as hard as steel. A glancing blow against the face would be like a cut from a blade.

  Furthermore, Luo Cuilian's movements were gradually slowing down as expected.

  Punches and kicks that initially brushed past her—They were starting to land solid hits.

  Luo Cuilian's pubescent body was showing bruises all over her body and limbs—the exposed parts being the upper arms, the thighs, calves, etc, whereas places like the abdomen were covered up by her mandarin gown.

  Even so, she was still able to barely defend the critical vulnerability of the head.

  Her face, young and beautiful, was unscathed. However, she could hardly conceal signs of fatigue while her breathing was beginning to grow irregular. Large beads of sweat dripped. An expression appeared on her face, one that did not suit the beautiful demonic cult leader, the peerless beauty who wandered fantastical realms.

  Were her loyal believers to witness her now, they would probably suffer an intense shock.

  Nevertheless...

  Hanuman scowled.

  Despite being a monkey, he was staring at Luo Cuilian with obvious displeasure.

  "I see now... To think you were harboring such intentions."

  "Hohoho. Looks like my plan is finally discovered. You have truly impressive eyes of wisdom."

  A sweet smile appeared on Luo Cuilian's young and beautiful face.

  "If possible, I would have hoped for slightly more... But such a demand would seem to be a little excessive. I suppose my wish shall not be granted."

  "I was feeling suspicious already."

  Hanuman sighed

  "It was unbelievable that one of the lowly godslayers did not take a desperate gamble to make a dramatic comeback. Instead, choosing to fight me in a rather indifferent manner—In other words, you planned this ahead of time."

  "Yes. I secretly rejoiced as soon as I learned that unarmed combat is your specialty."

  Luo Cuilian's breathing suddenly became smooth and unimpeded. Her breathing and circulation returned to normal, she straightened her back and faced the monkey god squarely.

  "In fact, I was also fighting King Rama with the same purpose. However, trying to find openings in his swinging blade was very difficult and the lightning of salvation was also a hindrance... So challenging to strike him with my palms, I certainly spared no effort."

  Facing the white monkey god,she swiftly pushed her right hand forward.

  Then the qi stored in Luo Cuilian's energy center beneath the navel—the magic power absorbed from Hanuman's body using her palms as media—erupted violently.

  The energy center beneath the navel was precisely the human body's storage of qi, i.e. magic power.

  What transported qi from this place to the rest of the body was the meridian network as it was known in oriental medicine. Qi and meridians were analogous to "blood and blood vessels."

  After several days, Luo Cuilian's body was finally filled with massive magic power as befitted her Campione title. As a result, all the bruises covering her body became perfectly healed.

  In addition, her torso and limbs lengthened. Her face also matured.

  In terms of appearance, Luo Cuilian had been a pubescent girl roughly twelve-years-old for the past few days.

  But now, she was back to being a young woman at her prime, roughly eighteen or nineteen years of age as before, an appearance that no one could disapprove even if she were to call herself "Kusanagi Godou's sworn elder sister"!

  As the transcendent beauty instead of the adorable child, Luo Cuilian smiled delightfully.

  "Fufufufufu, the Soul-Stealing Palm of Astral Absorption is capable of drawing qi out from a target's body through palm contact—An evil faction's martial arts technique. Were it not for an opportunity like this, I would never have had a chance to use it again."

  The human body contained what were known as the Twelve Principal Meridians as well as the supporting Extraordinary Vessels.

  By emptying the Eight Extraordinary Vessels of the qi flowing within them, one could absorb qi from external sources—in order words, steal qi from other people.

  Qi—or equivalently, magic power—was something gradually cultivated through daily training.

  The key principle of this martial arts technique was absorbing this precious energy from others to claim as one's own. Instead of using Hanuman as a target, absorbing the same amount of qi from ordinary humans such as martial artists or magi would result in the deaths of hundreds from depletion of life force. That was how much qi was involved.

  On the other hand, precisely because her target was a god, he had failed to notice immediately.

  "To think you have mastered this evil art... Truly, one must not judge by appearances alone."

  "Since I am the one known as the Ruler of the Martial Realm, it is only natural for me to be well-versed in both the techniques of the light, passed down by the orthodox sects, as well as the techniques of the shadow taught by the unorthodox. Furthermore..."

  Puffing out her voluptuous chest, Luo Cuilian spoke:

  "Besides, how could one lay claim to the martial pinnacle without mastering the essence of both the orthodox and the unorthodox sides of the martial realm? I, Luo Hao, achieved my present position not by reputation alone but through power and ability as well!"

  The pubescent girl's body, lacking in undulating curves, was a thing of the past. The earlier mandarin gown was bursting at the seams everywhere, about to break apart.

  This was the result of recovering her maidenly body
. However, the damaged mandarin gown instantly transformed into elegant Han clothing, apparently a replacement garment conjured using Daoist arts.

  Exuding a haughty aura as befitted the Ruler of the Martial Realm, this was the instant of Her Eminence Luo Hao's complete revival.

  (Regarding Her Eminence—Please do not worry.)

  Godou was puzzled by Yuri's whispered words of assurance.

  But soon, he understood. The Hime-Miko in the Netherworld had called upon spirit vision about Luo Cuilian to confirm that she was safe and sound. This news was also transmitted to Godou through the connection of psychic sensing.

  "Let alone safe and sound, she even managed to absorb the enemy's power."

  This absurd feat was truly impressive, nothing less expected from Luo Cuilian.

  Godou felt surprised while relieved at the same time. Even so, by staying in the Netherworld, Yuri was truly serving as an all-seeing clairvoyant. This made him feel worried instead.

  "Although it's very amazing that your powers have reached this level, Mariya, I'm a bit worried. I'm expecting a backlash in the near future."

  (You have... a point. I agree too. After all, the Netherworld is not a domain suited for human residence—To become overly accustomed to this side would mean losing one's body as a human.)

  Yuri's whispers carried calm and quiet conviction.

  She probably sensed danger through the power of spirit vision. As expected, he must settle things as quickly as possible and tell Yuri to return.

  Just as Godou made his decision, Liliana pointed at the eastern sky.

  "Kusanagi Godou, look at that."

  Outstanding in eyesight and spirit vision, the silver-haired knight had noticed the enemy's arrival earlier than anyone else.

  A minute or two later, Godou also noticed.

  A tiny black dot was approaching from the eastern sky. This black dot was gradually getting bigger. He could now see that it was a female knight mounted on a white horse.

  The war god of the lance and Amazonian queen, Lancelot du Lac had arrived.

  Godou signaled to his companions with his eyes.

  Erica, Liliana and Ena. The trio understood his message and instantly dispersed.