Campione! - Volume 17 - Chapter 6.3

Part 3 

After Rama defeated the demon king Ravana...  

Kubera, the god of riches and treasure, praised Rama for his accomplishments and bestowed him with a certain gift.  

This was Pushpaka Vimana. A giant ship of the heavens, capable of flying according to the owner's will, the hero Rama's royal barge.  

Despite being the same class of vehicle as the sky chariot, it was much greater in size and luxury.  

That being said, the sense of comfort when traveling was equal to that of the small chariot. In this regard, one could tell that it was an object of supreme quality.  

"I would feel most apologetic if the kingdom on the ground were to get caught up in our battle."  

A sudden voice. Rama had caught up, driving his chariot.  

"However, this vimana is my ship. I am free to do with it as I please. Also, this should be qualified as the venue for our battle."  

"So you're saying you want to go nuts without reservation...?"  

Looking down at the giant ship below Godou muttered.  

The place they were at earlier was apparently a corner near the circle's outskirts. The buildings around that area had already been destroyed by the lightning of salvation, turned into a wasteland.  

Using this type of attack in urban areas would surely cause horrific disasters.  

Even deep in the mountains, tragic trails of destruction would be left on nature and the land.  

These were all situations to avoid for the kind and gentle Rama. After all, he had chosen a relatively low-power arrow back when he first awakened fully from the great ritual of the covenant.  

Precisely because he possessed an excessively powerful arsenal, Rama hoped to use this ship as the battlefield.  

"The same goes for both sides. Victory is undecided yet."  

Godou's lips twisted, displaying a savage grin.  

Since the battlefield was not on the ground, this suited him perfectly too. Right now, he was less than twenty meters away from the man who must be defeated.  

All he needed to do next was strive forward as hard as he could. Godou issued orders to attack.  

"Go!"  

Verethragna's five holy swords were waiting ready on the left and right of his chariot. Three on the right and two on the left, flanking the chariot like a pair of wings.  

Right now, one of the swords from the right wing went for Rama's chariot, flying like a javelin.  

Hence, the aristocrat of salvation immediately extracted an arrow from his quiver and threw it without using his steel bow.  

"O arrow of Shiva!"  

The arrow thrown by Rama clashed violently with Verethragna's holy sword in the air.  

The holy sword was the weapon for slicing through the hero Rama's divine power. Even if it were an arrow capable of turning the entire Tokyo area into scorched earth, so long as it was launched by Rama, surely it could be dispelled.  

However—  

"O Shiva, great incarnation of darkness, god of destruction. I beseech you to bestow protection upon Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodha, the one who extols your virtues!"  

The aristocrat's lips composed a prayer of spell words.  

Immediately, the arrow conferred by Shiva was infused with divine power not of Rama's.  

The supreme god forming the Hindu trinity along with Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva was the three-eyed god of destruction. Mahākāla, Maheśvara and others were the names given when he was imported into Buddhism.  

Rama's divine power could be sliced apart using Verethragna's holy sword.  

But it would not work on Shiva's power. This was the countermeasure that a number of gods, with Athena first and foremost, had used several times in the past to block the spell words of the sword.  

Rama had rapidly blocked the holy sword. But even so, Godou still yelled:  

"I am the strongest, holding all victory in my hands. Man and devil, all enemies, all who harbor enmity will be vanquished!"  

Despite having lost three of them already, the eight holy swords were created specifically to surpass the spell words of the sword after all.  

How could they be countered by such a petty trick—Absolutely forbidden! Godou poured magic power and Verethragna's spell words into the sword that was clashing violently with Shiva's arrow while focusing his thoughts on breaking through the obstacle.  

This intent succeeded.  

Crushing Shiva's arrow, Verethragna's holy sword flew straight at Rama!  

"Hmm—!"  

Standing on the flying chariot, Rama frowned.  

Just as the holy sword was about to stab into his chest, a metallic "clang!" was heard.  

Hanuman, the white monkey god, had intervened as fast as the wind, using a fist of steel to shatter Verethragna's holy sword.  

Hanuman was the wind god Vayu's son. Riding a gale, he had flown here swiftly.  

"It's you!"  

"Certainly. Protecting His Highness is my responsibility."  

Showing a face of intellect despite being a monkey, Hanuman declared boldly to Godou's chagrin.  

"I won't be allowed to succeed so easily, huh..."  

Godou muttered quietly from the charioteer's platform.  

He was separated by roughly twenty meters from Rama and Hanuman.  

Hanuman was staying close to his master, staring sharply in Godou's direction. Even if Godou were to attack with the four remaining holy swords of Verethragna, Hanuman would probably smash them all immediately.  

How could he make a move faster than white monkey god with unparalleled ferocity...?  

Hooh. Hooh. Hooh. He inhaled deeply. Swiftly generalizing his ideas, he looked to the side.  

Standing together on the charioteer's platform with Godou, Luo Cuilian had her arms crossed in a conceited manner that did not quite match her pubescent appearance, staring obliquely at the Devil King-exterminating master and servant.  

"Nee-san. About what I mentioned earlier, can I rely on you to do it now?"  

"Hohoho. If you say so."  

This tacit understanding was only probably possible only as sworn siblings.  

The instant Godou issued thoughts to attack, the first to move was one of the holy swords on the chariot's left wing, shaking its blade with a "clang!" The sharp Hanuman turned his eyes slightly, diverting some of his attention to the holy sword. At the same time, the sworn sister dashed out.  

"O north wind, sweeping across the vast lands, flying over countless miles!"  Chanting spell words, she invoked Daoist arts. Surrounded by yellow light, Luo Cuilian's tiny body flew in a straight line. Towards Hanuman's body that was covered with white fur.  

"What!?"  

Tackling the white monkey god, the sworn sister flew away towards the far side of the sky.  

Even with a young girl's body, she could still draw out monstrous strength, peerless in the entire world, using the Divine Might of Vajrapani. Even Hanuman was unable to struggle free and could only watch helplessly while he was taken away from his master.  

Godou made a stance to use his holy swords to attack the hero who had lost his bodyguard.  

However, the opponent was no pushover either—  

"Catching Hanuman by surprise huh. You siblings have made a splendid showing."  

Offering praise, Rama extended the [Arrowhead's Discus] forward in his right hand.  

He had apparently received it from his loyal retainer without anyone noticing. Godou gulped.  

"In that case, I have no choice but to borrow everyone's power. —Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Perseus and Lancelot du Lac. Now is precisely when I have need of your assistance."  

The hero Rama was driving a flying chariot.  

The three heroes suddenly manifested in front of him. The gallant female knight, the white-robed handsome man with carefree and flippant airs, as well as the monkey king dressed in leather armor—  

The three heroes were already riding their respective flying mounts.  

To think that the [Arrowhead's Discus], whose power was sealed earlier, had already recovered. Facing the disappointed Godou, Rama called out to the three heroes of steel.  

"Now that you have all gathered in response to my summons, I hope you could serve as my bodyguards in the absence of the Wind King—my right hand man, Hanuman. What are your thoughts?"  

"Oh man, that ain't a good plan."  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven shook his head at the dignified aristocrat's request.  

"We are all heroes who were born as swords. Swords are not shield. Our talents lie in offense. What don't you let us attack this Kusanagi Godou brat in your place, Savior?"  

"—All this chatter conveys nothing more than your desire to take the spotlight, doesn't it?"  

Perseus remarked sardonically next to the objecting monkey king.  

Then he glanced at Rama, the leader of what could be called an alliance of heroes.  

"However, attacking in splendor is what a warrior does. Perhaps that would not be wrong. Although it is absolutely not my intention to accommodate His Highness the Monkey, I do hope to switch to offense myself as well."  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Perseus were living true to their reputations. Godou could not help but feel surprised.  

As absolute protagonists in their own respective myths, they were extremely driven to showing off themselves. They did not have the slightest desire or disposition to obey orders like Hanuman.  

Rama smiled wryly in exasperation at the two heroes' suggestions.  

"Understood. Now that I have fought the opening round, the three of you will take to the field. The formidable foe, Kusanagi Godou, must be defeated. However—one of you needs to stay as my bodyguard. Would that be agreeable?"  

Generously yielding to the two heroes' willful demands, he pulled at the reins. In addition to benevolence, virtue and generosity, Godou could catch a glimpse of Rama's leadership as a king.  

The Great Sage Equaling Heaven and Perseus nodded in agreement, meanwhile glancing sideways at each other.  

"Legend tells of a great accomplishment where you served a certain exalted monk as a long-term bodyguard, so how about you take on this job again?"  

"Oh? Then what would be the proper job for the great hero who's suited to rescuing beautiful maidens?"  

"The two of you are like squabbling children."  

Surprisingly, it was Lancelot du Lac who interrupted at this time.  

"Surely the heroes of the world would be astounded to learn of this. No helping it. 

This knight, Lancelot du Lac, shares an long history with the 'King of the End.' One shall take on the guardian knight's role."  

" "Hoh." "  

"Unlike the likes of you, this Lancelot is a knight bearing the virtue of humility."  

"Heh, now that's really generous of you."  

"However, seeing as you're doing me a favor by accepting this utterly uninteresting of a role, I shall not pursue the matter any further. Allow me to enjoy this battle with gratitude."  

After the Great Sage muttered, Perseus asserted boldly.  

Perhaps Lancelot agreed to take on this task because she was the deity of knights who could put their lives on the line as bodyguards of noblewomen. In any case, with Lancelot's compromise, the enemy faction finished preparing their simple formation.   

The two heroes began to advance towards Godou who was riding his chariot.  

"Hey, are you guys trying to avenge old grudges!?"  

"I never expected a rematch with you in this manner, Kusanagi Godou!"  

"Damn it! I'd better escape first, full speed ahead!"  

But then, where exactly should he escape to?  

Godou felt very lost while ordering the chariot to fly again. Moving in some unidentified direction, the chariot flew as fast as it could.  

Living up to its name as Rama's ride, the chariot instantly reached top speed.  

However, the enemy mounts were also gradually increasing their speed. The top speeds probably did not differ very much. Furthermore, as the master archer, Perseus instantly shot an arrow from his steed.  

Naturally, he did not stop at one. Instead, it was in rapid fire—the ancient Roman hero kept nocking arrows to the bow, swiftly and precisely, drawing the bowstring and firing the arrows at Godou's back.  

Furthermore, Rama also picked up his quiver with its inexhaustible supply of arrows.  

"Evade!"  

Responding to Godou's thoughts, the chariot zigzagged.  

Thanks to that, he was able to dodge the large number of arrows chasing from behind. But due to the extra movements he made, his pursuers were gradually closing in on him. At this rate, they were ultimately going to catch up. Just at this moment...  

(Godou-san...)  

He heard a very familiar girl's voice.  

Godou felt very surprised by what she told him. The opportunity for counterattacking had arrived. However, he must make matters proceed smoothly. At the end of the day, the three resurrected heroes were merely extras in the show. Was there some way he could obtain victory while consuming as little energy as possible?  

Godou looked at his right arm—where the jet-black sword resided.  

Although he had no idea whether it was going to work or not, it was definitely a dead end if he did not even try. Nodding, he pictured a new destination in his mind.  

"Fly quickly! Rush over to that place!"  

The sky chariot responded immediately. While maintaining top speed, the chariot rapidly changed direction with very fluid motions. Tracing out a U-shape in the air, it changed course all at once.  

However, Godou's destination was neither land nor sea. The place he wanted to go was Pushpaka Vimana, the giant flying ship that he had rushed out of earlier.