AN-

I have created a forum on this story where you can discuss and give ideas on Heretic Deities. I have already made a list of the gods he will defeat, but one of the slots is still open. It's the slot of a random god, meaning it can be anyone you want it to be. The only condition is that it's a relatively unknown god and not someone like Odin or Zeus. If you can provide a background story which tells of how many gods they are made of would be great.

Also in the you can discuss the various deities I have used. I will also post omakes which didn't make it into the story, but were too great to throw away. There is also a Poll on my profile now about who should be in Godou's harem. I'm having a rough time deciding so your help will be appreciated. Leave your suggestion of deities in the Forum and vote on the Poll and I'll see if I can fit them into the story.

Although I have to say, trying to write the thought process of a deranged deity of steel was harder than I thought. I never want to write another [Steel] again. Yikes!

Also, I know I will be getting a huge amount of flames about the way I ended the chapter, but I will make up for it in the next. So until then my friends!

ROTE

A Campione- A Godslayer- is a supreme ruler.

Since he can kill a celestial being, he can therefore call on the sacrosanct, divine powers wielded by the gods.

A Campione- A Godslayer- is a lord.

Since the power to kill a deity is in his hands, he therefore looms over all the mortals on earth.

A Campione- A Godslayer- is a devil-king.

Since of all mortals who live in the worlds, none can assume a power to match his!

ROTE

January 5, 2013

Japan…

Right now, Godou was not feeling like a king or ruler. He felt silly, stupid even. If anyone had seen him, he was sure he would have been mortified and gone to hide in his room in shame. That was how much he hated what he was doing.

He was practicing swordsmanship.

Most people wouldn't think practicing with a sword would be so shameful and Godou would normally agree with them. The only thing he didn't like about sword practice was the fact that he had no idea of what he was doing. He held the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in his hands and practiced a downward slash. It looked fine to him, the sound of it slicing through the air giving him reassurance that it was a good strike.

Then he remembered that he had no experience with a blade whatsoever and it could have been the worst strike in all of humanity's recorded history for all he knew. That brought back the sense of silliness to its titanic proportions.

He had returned to japan two days ago and had thought over his situation quite carefully. Gods would come after him; history had proved that to be inevitable. All Campiones who had been recorded had fought a second god within months of the first one. That meant he had a few weeks at most to prepare for the clash of divine forces. If Godou used Heavens Crashdown or The Chariot in a city as large and well-populated as Tokyo, then the death toll would be immense beyond measure. His only chance to defeat a deity without sacrificing an area the size Ikebukuro would be to channel his authorities into smaller attacks. He had done something similar when he had fought Sòl, but back then he had simply used all of its diminished power to attack without regard to his surroundings and the mansion. The blast had been magnificent, but he needed an attack which was more focused and controlled.

That was why he was practicing kendo in the backyard. If he simply swung his sword with all his might then the energy of the solar goddess would obliterate everything that wasn't divine in its origins. The same problem occurred to most baseball players when they first started; they swing as hard as they can and hope they hit the ball. As they gain experience they start hitting the ball with more accuracy. Later on they can predict where the ball is heading and can adjust their swing appropriately. He assumed the same thing would happen with swinging a sword. If nothing else he had grown accustomed to holding the blade in his hands. At first he gotten blisters from holding it for hours on end, but his advanced healing had made it possible to resume within the hour.

He had decided to call the sword Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, after the sword used by Izanagi to kill his son, a fire god. He thought it fit, as it would be used by a Campione who slew a god of the sun, the ultimate fire. Though it had no resemblance to the blade from legends, he thought it was a good name for a sword of a Campione, a godslayer's sword.

Though the story of its creation did disturb him a little, it was the consequences he had a problem with. He had originally tried to keep his existence a secret as the information of a Campione would incite the various organizations and Campione to contact and fight him respectively. Now though, all of Scandinavia knew there was a new King and he was sure the entire world had figured it out by this point. He had to learn how to use an illusion spell in order to board the plane to japan, but he was sure dozens of mages and witches had discovered the fact that a mage of titanic powers had left the Silverström mansion, the mansion a Heretic Deity had attacked weeks earlier, and boarded a plane to japan. Which meant people already knew a Japanese person had become a King.

So he had decided to create a fake identity, the King-persona so to speak. It had been surprisingly simple and a little disappointing. He had first crafted an illusion using the witchcraft and mundane clothes to create a disguise. He had also worn a scarf which covered the face from being he was still the height of a normal teenager people would think it was strtange to see him all alone, but he had used simple Hypnotize magic to make anyone not capable of using magic see him as an adult. Of course anyone capable of using magic would know he was a Campione and wouldn't try to stop him in case he wanted to buy something only adults could. He had decided to call this persona "Yamato Takahashi" after one of the most common names in japan (Takahashi) and the ancient name for japan (Yamato). It was such a strong disguise that he doubted even Hime-miko with a strong sense of spirit vision would be able to see through the magically-infused mask. Though he needed to brush up on his fashion senseas he looked very suspicious in that get-up.

That brought him to his use of authorities. When he had crafted his alter-ego Takahashi, he had noticed just how powerful magic could be. What if he could utilize it in other areas?

That had been his next plan and depending on the success of his battle with the deity coming for him, he might be able to set it in motion relatively quickly. He had already made his body-double set up an account in the national bank of Japan, under his new name of Yamato Takahashi. Thanks to Rosa, he had been able to purchase an entire building close to his house in case he needed to get there in a hurry and opened it up as his new headquarters. . The only downside was the condition of the building. It hadn't been renovated in decades and required some serious renovation before he could start working in it.

He might have overused the magic to establish his new persona, but it was for a good goal. He would have a a place where he could hide the existence of magic from Shizuka and he would have a base for the magic-related bussiness at the same time. His plan would later evolve, but he did not have the energy or the time to invest further in the project.

He did know that the History Compilation Committee would start watching him now. They, along with every magical organization around the globe, would have wanted to know the nationality of the new Campione. He could imagine the fear they felt when he boarded a plane to japan and created an account under a Japanese name.

He expected to have his shop approached by a few of their agents within a few weeks. His operation "Establish identity and base of operations" had taken two days and had been rushed, but he doubted the HCC would take any action which wasn't planned for with meticulous care. They would most likely send a mage of extreme competence, but could be replaced by dozens others at a moment's notice.

He went back to practicing his swordsmanship. He could afford to wait for them, but his skill with a sword could only be raised with experience and practice.

ROTE

While Godou was training, the History Compilation was in panic. Every mage, witch and Hime-miko was terrified of the Campione who had been born just weeks ago. Sayanomiya Kaoru, the chief of the Tokyo branch, sat in her office with Amakusa Touma and was trying to formulate a plan to deal with this new scenario. A folder filled with pictures and documents was on the table and contained Amakusa's report on the godslayer.

"So, exactly what do we know about Yamato Takahashi?" The young crossdressing woman asked her older subordinate. Amakusa sighed as he gave his report.

"Close to nothing and what we do know is likely to be false as well. We can only speculate, but our agents tell us that that a little more than three weeks ago, a Heretic Deity attacked the manor of the Silverström family. After a battle which destroyed an entire wing, it disappeared. After the local mages investigated, they found a presence similar in strength to a deity, but it originated from a human with Asian features. Their experience with the Black Prince made them keep their distance, but they were able to discern that the human was youthful in appearance though no exact age could be stated. The newly-born Campione stayed within the mansion and mostly read texts in the library and practiced with a sword. The agents we managed to smuggle into the mansion discovered that the books he was reading were about the basics of magic and daoist arts. On the second of January, he boarded a plane heading for japan and for the first time we were able to take a picture of the man." At this point Amakusa slid a photograph across the table to his superior.

Kaoru picked it up and took a look at it. The picture had been taken at an airport and the photographer had taken it from his pocket, if the low angle was any indication. It showed a young man dressed in a black trenchcoat. It had been unbuttoned to reveal a black shirt and a red tie. A red scarf had been wrapped around his neck and mouth, an ordinary precaution during the winter months when disease was common. He wore a black fedora on his head which, combined with his scarf, concealed his face enough to give him a ninja- or mafia-like appearance. He wore black dress pants and a leather belt, even his shoes were of high class, seemingly made of some reptile's skin. While she had to admit it was an attractive look which would make girls her age swoon at the dark and mysterious stranger (even she felt a semblance of attraction to the younger man), it did not give them any indication of identity.

"When he arrived he set out to rent a car from a nearby car-rental agency and drive it to the Bank of Japan. He had obviously used magic in order to convince the owner as no sane man would rent a car to a boy that young. At that point he opened an account under the name of Yamato Takahashi and used funds aquired from the Silverström family to buy the ownership of an apartment building. We assume he will use as his base of operations. His exact purpose for the building aside from the obvious is unknown and why he wanted it to be in that particular district is likewise unknown." He opened the file and gave his boss several papers, showing the results from his investigation in the government's sources.

"We have searched all databases in the country, but no Yamato Takahashi had been in Sweden or Europe at the time. We think that the name is falsified and his real name is unknown. Nobody has seen him leave his new home to visit any relatives so we have no idea on where to start with our investigation. He didn't even exist a month ago and the only thing we can say about him is that so far the only thing we can say for sure is that he is Asian and is as secretive as John Pluto Smith." That was the end of his report. More was written in the folder on the table, but it was more about the possible authorities the Campione possessed and the addresses of his properties. Nothing important, but it was required nonetheless.

Kaoru felt a headache growing. She had taken the post less than three months ago and had proved to be capable at handling the workload, but this was a crisis of unimaginable proportions. Of course the HCC had a back-up plan in case of a Japanese Campione being born, but the odds were so small that it hadn't been improved in the last two-hundred years. Nobody had bothered to change it since it was of minimal concern. The current, or former, King who ruled over Japan had been Lu Hao and it had worked splendidly so far. The woman hadn't bothered to come over to the island nation and in her eyes it was still called Wakoku. She was not the true ruler of Japan, but her country was the closest one to it and therefore she was automatically given sovereignty over japan, but now a new King had been born and she had lost he right to rule over japan. How would she react? Would she fly across the ocean to conquer the land back or would she leave it alone? The actions of a godslayer were impossible to prepare for as they are illogical existences by simply existing.

"First of all, we must make an attempt to contact him. What are his intentions by returning to japan and what will he do now that he has some kind of Headquarters? These are things we must know, but we can't demand he tells us his plans. So in order words, a friendly relationship must be established first. According to the photo, he would be around my age. As a King of such a young age he will probably have more sexual desires than the likes of Voban and Lu Hao and in his new position he could demand anything he wants without repercussions. Therefore the easiest way to limit his destructive actions is to make his lover a member of the Committee. She would be our bridge between King Yamato and the HCC. The problem is still the lack of information. Whoever our agent is, she can't approach someone she knows nothing about and if she fails the risk that she dies is quite daunting. Especially if he has had time to use his authorities and get drunk from power." Kaoru summarized the situation and action. It was a variety of the back-up plan, but instead of a harem of Yamato Nadeshikos they would try to send a single woman.

"Once we have a good relationship with King Yamato, we try to find out his goals and authorities. Doing so will help us plan for future clashes with Heretic Gods and Campiones. His history must be known as well, it will help us calculate his movements and actions." Kaoru stopped as she saw the look Amakusa was sending her. "What?"

Amakusa gave her a sad smile. "Exactly who do you think the Committee will send to be the lover of the King?" he asked her. Kaoru blinked, and then recoiled as she understood what he meant.

Was she going to be sent as the sacrificial lamb to slaughter? True, she was competent enough to broker such a deal and her social skills were good enough to make even straight girls join the dark side, but she had no wish to try her luck on a GODSLAYER! Forgetting the fact that most of her taste veered towards the fairer gender, she was not sure if she would be capable to make a Campione, a being who defied reason, fall for her even if she was used to flirting with men. As it were, Kaoru had spent most of her time playing games or making the girls in her school call her Onee-Sama and her only experience with men her own age was minimal at best and most of the time they thought she was an androgynous boy.

The other alternatives were Seishuuin Ena, Mariya Yuri and maybe Renjou Fuyuhime as a last resort. The two former were younger, barely fourteen and had no experience with boys, while the latter was her age, but incapable of using magic. No matter how she looked at it she was the first alternative when it came to be offered as the toy of the Devil-King. Ena might be chosen due to her extraordinary personality, but her age and lack of contact was still an issue. Fuyuhime was incapable of using magic and sending her to the campione would be an insult to the king, as if saying they didn't respect him enough to send a competent messenger. On the other hand, Kaoru was a gifted hime-miko and a known lesbian and there was plenty of animosity towards her for that little fact. `The heir to the most prestigious family was a person with little chance to carry on the bloodline?! What an outrage!´ was the most used excuse to get her kicked out of the Committee, but the real reason people didn't like her was the leeway she was given in terms of partners. Gifted Hime-miko were expected to marry magically gifted males and had little choice in who to fall in love with. For a Hime-miko as gifted as Kaoru to be free to indulge in her pleasure was a privilege many envied. Getting her sent to the devil-king as a possible toy was their small revenge.

Of course there might be a chance that the king wouldn't care of such things, but without any information they couldn't take such a risk. Campione were people who defied the belief of men, but even they were kept to a certain level of humanity. While it was impossible to predict the behavior of a devil-king, they had to bet on the option which had the highest chance of success. If a male became a Campione then the one to approach them would be female and vice-versa. The plan was that a Campione would grow attached to the agent and the chances were higher if the agent was of the opposite sex. With Campiones as Lu Hao, Voban, Salvatore Doni and JPS that kind of plan was useless, but this was Japan's first Campione ever so the HCC would pull out all the stops.

She felt sick as felt the burden of her position come down on her. She held her stomach when the fear made it curl and coil and she was afraid she would regurgitate the contents of it. Her breaths became forced and she had to hold back a sob. To think, just a few months ago her greatest worry was if she would have the time to play the new game she had just bought after her date. Now she was most likely to be served on a silver platter to the King of Japan.

She forced her stomach to calm down and looked at her subordinate. He had noticed her panic, but had made no indication to reassure her that it would be fine. He was a trained professional and while they had been on conversational terms since she had taken her place as the Tokyo branch-chief, he knew that her position was fragile at best now. Trying to tell her it was going to be `Okay´ would only make it seem like he was going to help her from this situation. It would give her false hope and make her count on him to save her and although Amakusa was a loyal ninja, he was no knight in shining armour. She was on her own and they both knew it. Amakasu was not going to risk his neck for her.

"I'll wait until the elders of the Four Families have made their decision before I make any effort to contact the King. It will take the elders about two days to come to a solution which gives me time to write a will or… something. Call me when they have reached an agreement." She was about to stand up and leave when a knock on the door made her look up. Before she had time to say `Come in´ the door swung open and a messenger walked in. He wore the traditional clothes of a Shinto priest with an emblem on over his heart, signifying the symbols of the Four Families. He didn't even bother addressing Amakasu, but instead looked straight into Kaoru's eyes. She felt a shiver run down her spine.

"According to the decision of the Elders of the Four Families of Sayanomiya, Seishuuin, Renjou and Kuhoutsuka you, Sayanomiya Kaoru, are to answer the summons of the four elders and meet them at the Elder's chamber immediately. You may bring the file you have on the new King of Japan. The messenger who brings this message will escort you to the chamber." He said in a monotone voice which betrayed no emotion, though she could see the spark of smug satisfaction in his eyes. He obviously knew that Kaoru was a lesbian and that little fact had rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, especially people from branch families who had no chance to reach more prestigious positions and were more or less forced to marry people they didn't knew. Kaoru being sent off to be turned into a living toy of a man of unknown character must be the greatest revenge and opportunity the branch families have seen in decades. This messenger must have heard at least part of the discussion and knew what would happen to her and if his reaction was any indication, then it was not good.

After a moment of collecting photographs and files, she picked up the folder which read "Yamato Takahashi" and left with the messenger. She made sure to walk in front of him so he could not turn back and see her eyes starting to tear up and her lips quivering.

After ten minutes and passing through several security checkpoints, they arrived at the chamber. The messenger tried to enter as well, but Kaoru made sure to close the doors behind her, a small revenge for the pleasure he took in her misery. His look of frustration and anger at the insult was enough to bring a small smile on her face before her situation once again forced her to school her features.

The Elder's chamber was a large, circular hall with a chair in the middle of it. It resembled the coliseum of Rome in design actually; the arena where the gladiators would sit was where the summoned would sit or stand depending on whether it was a trial or a summons. The seats of the chamber were elevated as well, but instead of there being hundreds of seats for spectators, there were instead four ornamental platforms covered with pillows where the elders would sit. The whole chamber was underground in order to be harder to find and made from the rock it had been cut out of. So besides from looking like a darker version of the coliseum it also resembled the batcave in terms of darkness and dampness. She could hear a small *drip, drip* every few seconds.

The chamber was also very rich in history as it was first made by Kaoru's own ancestor during the seventeen-hundreds as a way to hold secret meetings and store contraband. Eventually when the Sayanomiya family founded the HCC the chamber was no longer used for its original purpose, but for the court and council of the Committee. Thousands of mages and Hime-miko had been judged here and now, sitting in the chair which the defendant would be chained to, Kaoru could feel the remnants of their despairing spirits.

"Sayanomiya Kaoru, are you aware of why we have summoned you here?" A deep baritone voice asked. It was the elder of the Kuhoutsuka family, Kuhoutsuka Genzo. Out of all the elders, he was the lowest in rank. The Sayanomiya was the highest in pedigree with Seishuuin being second and Renjou third. Kuhoutsuka had come in decades after the Renjou and had even then been a relatively young family. That was why the Kuhoutsuka family took every chance to further their own ambitions. She guessed he was the one to push hardest for Kaoru being the lover of King Yamato. Out of all the families, the Kuhoutsuka family would benefit the most from her losing her life.

In the world of magic, having a competent heir to continue the bloodline was an important factor to a family's appearance. The Renjou family took a hard blow when Fuyuhime was discovered to be incapable of using magic. They were still above the Kuhoutsuka, but nowhere near as much as they should be or will be until they have produced a capable heir. If Kaoru were to lose her life or position as a branch-head, the Sayanomiya family would lose appearance and influence, both in affairs of magic and mundane. The influence lost would most likely quickly be absorbed into Genzo's sphere and he would be able to assert himself more in the Committee.

"No, Kuhoutsuka-Sama. I was only told to bring the file on our new King and appear before you as quickly as possible. May I ask why you saw it prudent to summon me in these times of stress?" Her voice was respectful, but aloof. It was a tone she had mastered in school in order to impress the ladies and appear as a more masculine figure. It worked in formal events such as these because it did not give away her fears and she managed to slip on a mask to protect her true feelings.

It was the Head of the Seishuuin family who responded. Ran Seishuuin was a strong lady, one who did not tolerate nonsense. At the same time she was kind and generous, as she demonstrated when she adopted the illegitimate son of her late husband. Out of all the elders beside her own grandmother, Ran was the one she liked the most.

"We wanted you to tell us what you thought of the young King. From what we gathered he would be somewhere around your age and he appears to live quite close to the area owned by the Sayanomiya. What do you make of him?" the matriarch of the Seishuuin clan asked the heir of the Sayanomiya clan.

It wasn't a very subtle maneuver, but it wasn't mean to be. The head of Seishuuin had made it quite obvious what the intentions of the Elders were and it had been her way of trying to warn the young woman. While the effort was most likely futile as there was really only a single option available to the HCC at this point, it still gave Kaoru reassurance that she was not alone in this mess. She gave the elders her honest opinion of the mysterious man.

"While he is of unknown character and origins, I can say that he seems to be quite clever for someone who has not been active in the world of magic for more than a month. He has already established a base of operations within two days of his return. He also seems to use a blade for combat similar to Italy's King of Swords, but clearly not with the same amount of skill. On the other hand, he is apparently a genius with magic as he was capable of manipulating a plane filled with people into believing he was an adult with a branch of Hypnotize we are uncertain even a mage could shrug off. So though he is less skilled with a blade, he makes up for it with magic. Other than that I can't say much about his personality other than he values his privacy and has a good sense of fashion." There wasn't really that much to say, he was a complete unknown.

The elders looked around at each other, though Kaoru could only see the one in front of her and the two to her sides (Sayanomiya, Seishuuin and Renjou) because the fourth (Kuhoutsuka) was positioned on the platform behind her. It was yet another example of the fourth family having less power than the rest of the families.

Genzo, obviously irritated at being not the one in control of the conversation, took the pause to speak up.

"So this is a wonderful opportunity to find out more about our young lord. Since you are a Hime-miko close to his age as well as a talented Hime-miko in general, isn't it obvious that you be the one most suitable to make first contact with this Yamato Takahashi?" The words he was using were meant to be used as compliments, but the tone and meaning he was using them as meant nothing less than insults.

Kaoru was one of the most talented Hime-mikos to be born in the current age as she was not only gifted with powerful spiritual capabilities, but she was still physically fit enough to be a powerful martial artist. In fact the only witches and Hime-mikos capable of matching her in spirit vision and mystical arts were the ones who suffered almost crippling side effects like Mariya Yuri or Princess Alice. It was not an understatement to say she was a contender of the title of "Premier Hime-miko". For Genzo to undermine her talents as a talented Hime-miko in general would be to say the ocean is wet.

The second thing he was insulting about was not her, but the King. To say `young lord´ and `this Yamato Takahashi´ was a very insulting way to speak of a man who was by all means his king and ruler. The very fact of being a Campione meant that the man deserved their outmost respect, regardless of whether Kaoru was loathing the fact that she was going be handed over to him like a present. Genzo was deliberately undermining the King's authority while at the same time telling Kaoru to sacrifice herself to appease the godslayer. That was just adding insult to injury! She felt she couldn't take it anymore.

"Genzo, I hope you didn't mean to imply that Yamato-Sama was an undignified and unworthy character just now. If you did, then for the good of the country there will be consequences for your words." Said the person in front of her.

It was her grandfather and current head of the Sayanomiya clan. He was a man who resembled the picture of an emperor to a T. He had long white hair which he used a golden needle to keep in a bun and a white thin beard he stroked ever so often. He was dressed in the pure white garbs of a Shinto priest, but gave off the feeling like he was from royal blood. A powerful figure who had ruled the majority of his lifetime and who had seen the atrocities committed during both World War 1 and 2 on both sides. He had seen the crimes against humanity the Japanese had committed in Nanking and had been one of the strongest drives to punishing the perpetrators. He had been one of the first on the scene after the bombings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The Sayanomiya family had been one of the largest organizations at the time and spent a fortune helping the wounded, but Sayanomiya Daichi had personally carried the victims to safety and medical aid. He had personally dug families out of the rubble and healed them with recovery magic. As a result, the strain of helping so many people and using so much magic had left their marks. He had been the first one in the family to have red hair, but it had gone white prematurely and his body was spontaneously wrecked with the pain of crippled nerves and organs. The only reason he had survived so long was because of his immense talent at magic, something Kaoru had inherited along the crimson hair and good looks.

Genzo sensed the anger behind the voice and immediately backed down. "Of course not, Sayanomiya-san! I simply meant we knew almost nothing about him and we needed to make contact with him in order to make a proper profile of him. How could I possibly imply anything unsavory about Yamato Takahashi-sama?! Why, the very thought is preposterous!" The old geezer was really laying it on thick there, though it was understandable. Kaoru had been on the end of one of Daichi's famous lectures and she learned to never lift her skirt in public ever again… wait, was that the reason she always wore boys outfits?

Dear god, her entire sexual standing had been the result of a five-minute lecture…

Back to the elders, Daichi took control of the meeting.

"Kaoru, as we have no solid information about Yamato-sama, it is vital we make contact with him before any of the unaffiliated organizations or sorcerers are able to establish a contract or ally themselves with him. It is unfortunate that I must ask this of you, but your task is to find the King, establish a relationship with him and report back what you can find out. It doesn't matter what you become to him, whether you are seen as a friend or a lover, we leave it to your discretion." It was the last part that gave Kaoru hope.

While Genzo had been hoping she would try to become his lover, an action that if found out would most likely end in her torture and/or death. A friend is less personal and distant which would make the revelation of her working for the Committee less of a betrayal. He might still be angry, but the odds of him killing her on the spot were relatively low compared to her earlier assumption.

Genzo, on the other hand, looked like he had swallowed a lemon. Her death would have aided his powerplay immensely, but now his plans would have to be adjusted accordingly. The chances that the Sayanomiya clan would still have a competent heir just went up by several notches. The risk of sending an heir to a Campione was and the Campione killing the heir was large and most families did not like to gamble. It was why all the families in the Committee did not volunteer their daughters when given the chance. By changing the condition from "Lover" to "Friend", the risk was lowered. This was most likely a scheme Daichi had come up with on the spot to outmaneuver Genzo without letting the Kuhoutsuka gain more influence. A splendid plan, if Kaoru could say it herself.

"Of course, Grandfather. I swear I won't disappoint you." she answered him. The day was looking good.

"Good, but remember to exercise caution. He is an illogical being so using logic of mortal men is doomed to fail from the very beginning. Also…" the last part was quiet for some reason so Kaoru had to use Enhancement on her hearing to pick up what he said.

"…If you do find yourself in a favorable position then I just want to say that I want some Great-grandchildren soon. A boy would be great."

Kaoru was not ashamed to admit she blushed at the implications of that particular statement.

ROTE

At the top of Mt Fuji stood a dark and evil figure. It was a man, but a wretched man he was to his core. He wore armour over his body and though it would make him strike a powerful figure if worn properly, each piece of metal and leather made him seem all the more deranged. He wore the Kusazuri and Suneate of a Japanese samurai, but the chest was covered in plate armour of western knights. The sleeves were made of pelts usually worn by the northern Vikings and the sandals were clearly of Greek design. On his back was a sword of unknown origin. It was the length and shape of a katana, but the hilt and pommel showed they were meant for the swords of barbarians of the north. The scabbard however was made completely of metal and was jeweled over the entire length of it. Despite the obvious mixture of cultures being displayed over his body, it was his helmet which was the crownwork of his kaleidoscope of armour.

It was the average helmet of a European knight, an armet made of steel with golden details engraved. The difference between the traditional version and this hybridized one were the Japanese Kabuto crest sitting in the front and the Greek helmet-plume on the back.

In most cases, seeing such a ridiculous outfit would make people laugh, however even if people saw him then they wouldn't laugh, even if their lives depended on it. Anyone who saw him would be terrified by the insane bloodlust and rage permeating the air.

Somewhere, in this Far Eastern land was his prey. He remembered this place; he had spent centuries here, as several figures of legends.

Legends of steel and blood…

Oh, the bloodshed that ensued as he roamed the battlefields, as the soldiers used his steel to massacre one another. Oh, the agony his steel and curses brought to the cowardly kings and emperors who sought to dominate him and make him their slave.

The soldiers cursed his name, but at the same time adored him for his work. The Crippled One. The Cursed One. The Brilliant One who brought simple iron to steel of perfection.

No man could claim to fame as he could. No human could curse his madness into the weapons he forged as he did. No deity could claim to know the sweet songs the metals he forged sang as he drank the blood of his enemies and used it to harden the blades.

No, a fool could wield a blade. A demented one could cut with a blade. A whoreson could hammer a hot piece of iron or bronze and turn it into a sharp metal edge.

He was not a fool. He was not demented. He was not a whoreson like the kings of old or the emperors of wounded prides.

He was the true deity of [Steel]. Heroes had used his swords, his spears, his iron and blood. They used them in grand tales of valor and death. They slew serpents and men. They slaughtered armies and cities. From the mightiest of kings to the most wretched of orphans, his blades knew no distinction.

Though he had no favorites, he praised the swords he forged which dare to bare their fangs against the rulers and lords. The False Elite, the Disgusting Hypocrites, the Lying Filth! Royalty and Nobility had many names, but he knew their real titles.

In his face they sang praises, but behind his back they spread rumors of hate. The same man who worshipped his creations and sang of his skill, tried to ban his steel, his blood, his very soul! History had twisted his myths, from the warrior he was to the simple sword smith. But he knew the truth, he knew who he was. Oh, the rage and hatred which was forged in his very core when he heard of the treachery. To think, a mere man would try to erase his very existence by replacing him in the world. The audacity, the shame!

No, he was the greatest of [Steel]! He knew every sword of creation, every spear of battle, every axe of execution, every scythe of reaping. From the first time the metal is lifted from the earth as a part of Mother Earth to the point the rust and decay breaks it in battle and swing. He felt the joy the blades sang as they were born from the wombs of their mothers and the exhilaration of their first kill. It did not matter what the whore Guinevere said or what the Savage Lancelot thought. The King Who Manifests at the World's End was not the strongest or the greatest of [Steel]. It was Him!

No deity of [Steel] could fight without his swords as their partners. No deity of Mother Earth could claim to be a more suitable parent for their child. He was the father of all [Steel]. He was the King of all [Steel]!

Yet, this… Bastard child of Epimetheus, this Vermin borne from the womb of the Slut Pandora, had slain a deity and held a blade of his blessed forge?! He thought to wield the edge of his prized children?! Arrogance, Arrogance, ARROGANCE OF THE MURDEROUS FILTH!

He could tolerate the trickster of the Mediterranean Sea. He could tolerate the bitch of the Yellow River. But for a Vermin less than a year old to dare take his arms to use in combat? His ego was larger than any he had ever encountered.

It was made worse by the fact that he had killed two of his most beloved children to forge the illegitimate son he held. Two beautiful children, his son and daughter had been twisted into an abomination worthy of the Labyrinth. How could a person do such a thing?

So he had traveled after the monster. He had traveled to his old lands of ice and wind, a place where steel lived short lives. The whoreson had fled, taking his deformed edge with him. So he pursued…

The lands of Kladenets had been left without rest. The fiend must be scared….

The lands of Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar had not even been touched. It was true; the vile menace was running from him…

The lands of Trishula had not been disturbed for the enemy was on the run in fear of his vengeance…

The lands of Keris Mpu Gandring were empty, he must be getting close.

The lands of Ruyi Jingu Bang had been left in a hurry for he was chased by the greatest of [Steel]!

And now he had found the godslayer! He had been hiding in the lands of Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and was practicing his twisted techniques. Was it not enough that he had murdered his family and took their bodies away?

He decided, then and there, that the punishment for this insult, this blasphemy, this abomination would be a slow and crippling death.

Just like his had been in the cold of winter.

"Muramasa-Sama?" A gentle voice brought him back from his thoughts. He turned to the source of the deceptively regal tone.

She stood a few meters away from him, clad in a crimson and olive green kimono. Her hair was a pitch black and in a Hime cut. Her eyes were red and the pupils were narrow slits, like eyes of a snake. Her skin was pale, but not sickly like a corpse. She appeared like she had not seen sunlight in decades. She could only be described as petite, for there was no denying her beauty as her appearance was more mature and enticing than any woman her height and proportions had any right to be. She appeared to be a princess of ancient japan with her jewelry of gold and richly decorated clothes, but she was not human. He could sense divine energy from her, more than any human he had ever encountered possessed which meant she was not human at all. That meant two other things; Divine beast or Divine ancestor. And since she wasn't a rampaging animal destroying the landscape, she must be a divine ancestor.

"That is indeed my name, witch. State your title before my patience runs thin. I am not in the greatest of moods." He replied. The Divine ancestor smiled and bowed to him. At least she knew her station.

"My apologies, Muramasa-Sama, I did not mean to offend you. I am Kushina, the lady of this land and the Divine ancestor who governs the magic of Japan. I hope I am not bothering you, M'lord." The woman with the youthful appearance of early teens said with a respectful tone. Her voice carried the light and rich tone of silk flowing across one's skin and had he not been a god of [Steel], he would have fallen prey to her melody.

"You bother me by not telling me your purpose in approaching me. I am not like the mindless humans who are glad to be in your presence. Your voice carries no tune which I have not heard before and your beauty, while a sight for sore eyes, does not entice me more than the sloppy seconds of a rusty blade should." He spared no expense in his insults. There wasn't any sanity in him left to know the difference between them and compliments.

The divine ancestor showed no outward response other than a slight pause. She then continues the conversation.

"I came here with a proposition for you, deity of [Steel]. You seek the godslayer in this land, do you not? For any god to let a godslayer go is to let the murderer of their kind live and prosper. I know you feel the thirst of vengeance against him, even though I do not know your reason for it. My offer is that I will aid you in your quest for revenge, but in exchange, I ask you to aid me in my own. There is a deity I wish to kill, but my powers are abysmal compared to his. If I were to strike him alone, then I will surely perish and let him prowl without realizing the consequences of his actions." She spoke in a steady voice, despite the anger she was letting out in the forms of magical energy.

Muramasa sensed her anger and felt a sense of camaraderie. They had both been denied things they desired, but with this cooperation they could regain some of their pride.

"How could you possibly aid me, witch? You are but a shadow of your former self and if what you say is true then I would be battling not only a godslayer, but a god as well. It sounds like you would gain more than I would. You must have something else to bring to the table." He had seen through her deceptions. A witch, even one at the level of Divine ancestor, could never trick a god.

The woman only smiled. "Worry not, M'lord. My intentions are pure and I will aid you in your battle against the godslayer and the god. Though I cannot engage them directly without losing my life in the process, I can gather information about them and their powers, as well as their position and defenses. Do not worry, I can contribute to you goals." She said, letting her voice regain its euphoric tone.

"You know my name, but I have never met you before. You call yourself Kushina, but I have not heard of a Divine ancestor by that name. In fact, last time I traveled to this Far Eastern land there was a different ruler here and it was a god of [Steel], yet you say you govern this place. Tell me who you really are and what your goal is and we have an agreement." He was pleased by the look of shock on her face as he spoke. She recovered quickly enough, but at least he had managed to break her façade.

"Tell you my… is that all, M'lord? You wish to know what my goal is?" she asked. Hah, the ever-present song her voice carried had disappeared. Though her voice was beautiful in itself, it seemed the melodic tone it brought with it was magical in nature. That meant her shock must have been deeper than what she had liked to admit.

"Yes, that is all. I am not a complex man, nor am I a man vain enough to wish for trinkets or knowledge. All I need is the reason you would rage against the one you wish to kill. The only reason I want your identity is because I can't trust your words otherwise. So your real name and purpose enough for me to use you as my subordinate." He stated with a superior tone. Despite his insanity, he was apparently still a deity worthy of [Steel]. His arrogance knew no bounds.

Though for the witch who had been negotiating with him was visibly put off by his sense of superiority. Her eyes narrowed at the word `subordinate´ which he had used without regard of the animosity Divine ancestors and Mother Earth goddess held towards deities of [Steel].

"Be that as it may, my name is something I wish to keep a secret. The god in question has put a spell on it so he knows if a divine being uses it. Therefore please refer to me as Kushina as it is the only name I possess which is not under control by him." She clenched her delicate fists in order to contain the anger which was threatening to burst out.

The male deity shrugged, his armor clinked as he moved. "Very well, but what of your goal? Surely you can tell me which god you wish to slay and what he did to you? A name he might control, but a purpose is different. Speak, Witch, or our deal is off and I shall slay you now!"

"You are correct in your assumption, but do you not wish to find out more of your quarry? I shall tell you the name of my prey after I have informed you of the condition of yours." She told the deity as she waved her hand. Instantly a portal to the Netherworld appeared. It appeared as a swirling pool of darkness, something a human would avoid with all their might if they saw it, but the Heretic Deity didn't bat an eye at the use of dangerous magic. A Divine ancestor did not possess the capabilities to slay a deity after all.

"You are lucky I wish to know more of the godslayer of this land, or I would have sliced your head off for your insolence. Inform me of his name and I shall help you in your quest." He told the witch as he started walking for the portal.

The petite woman smiled as she knew she had won their little negotiation, despite his arrogance. "His name is Yamato Takahashi, M'lord."

And they were gone.

ROTE

January 10, 2013

He was currently in his apartment and reading instruction manuals on kendo stances. He could just use [Instruction], but there was a certain sense of achievement in reading it with his eyes. Though he spent most of his time practicing, he did feel a certain sense of boredom. The seven days since he had returned from Sweden had passed without too much incident. Aside from more practice he finally joined a club again.

(Flashback)

"You want to join the kendo club?" exclaimed Takagi.

It was in the middle of lunch break and Godou had approached Takagi, his classmate, about the possibility of him joining the kendo club.

"Yeah, I've lost the urge to play baseball since I got hurt, but recently I've thought kendo was kind of fun when I went to it." The fact that it had been a single lesson was left out of the conversation. "Since you are a member of the kendo club, do you think I could join soon? Like right after school to practice a little?"

Normally he wouldn't be so desperate for sword practice, but in the time he had spent training solo he had noticed the slow progress he made. Sparring with an opponent, even someone as inexperienced as Rosa, had taught him more than anything he had learnt alone. Martial arts in general gave more results when done in pairs since fighting was the reason martial arts were created. So practicing with other, more experienced practitioners would give him a much needed boost in skill.

His sword skill had still not advanced beyond amateur level, despite him using [Instruction] magic on the books on kendo, Iaido, Iaijutsu and Battoujutsu. It seemed that even if magic was used like an omnipotent tool, it still had its limitations and some things just needed to be gained with experience. Coincidentally, the school had a kendo club in danger of being closed and they needed at least another member in order to reach the five-member quota.

It didn't even take a second for Takagi to grip his wrist and drag him to the clubroom.

(Flashback)

His recently bought flat had also gotten renovated (Finally!) and the decrepit apartment was livable again. He had hired a professional agency to restore the sixteen-storey building to its former glory, but so far they had only managed to make his apartment on the top and his shop on the fifteenth floor inhabitable. Which meant he could sneak out at night and go over his plans in his apartment whenever he wanted to… that and it felt a little like his very own batcave. A batcave with a skylight…

All right, he had gone a little over the top with the design of the place, but who could blame him?

Now that he thought about it, was he becoming spoiled? He would normally never have indulged himself in architectural designs just for the sheer pleasure in having them, especially when he never had the time to admire the apartment. His sword practice took up so much of his time and learning magic takes up the rest, it was a miracle he had enough time to interact with his family.

Speaking of magic; he had finally learnt how to enhance his body! [Enhancement] magic was normally only used knights and similar mages since it was a requirement in battle, but it was a relatively difficult spell to learn. Each body part required specific calculations depending on the complexity and volume of the limbs. A leg for example was easy to enhance, but simply enhancing the thigh or lower leg was not possible. An enhanced leg would rip itself off from the body at the hip since the strength would be too much for the mundane hipbone. That's why people learnt to enhance the entire body, but due to the magic required, emphasized on the part they needed to use at the moment.

A good explanation would be; if a runner needed to run faster he would enhance his thighs and lower legs 100%, his feet 90%, his hips 70 %, his stomach 50 %, his torso 30%, his arms and shoulders 15% and with his neck and head enhanced 5-10%. While this enabled mages to fight on levels impossible by most humans, it was in the end an incomplete magic. Due to the difference in power the rest of the body which is not fully enhanced take damage. Tendons tear, muscles burn and bones crack, unless the whole body is enhanced fully then the body will break down after an hour or so. That is the unfortunate truth about [Enhancement]. It was also one of the reasons it was perfect magic for a Campione.

A Campione possesses thousands of times the magical power of mages and witches. Their bodies are also on a whole other level than human beings as well, ranging from their steel-like skeleton to their abnormal regeneration and superior strength. For a Campione to use [Enhancement] seems unnecessary, but for Godou it was too much of an opportunity to waste. Add the fact that his lessons in kendo would only make his fighting style even more efficient was almost too much for him to wait until he could use his authority in battle.

That little reminder made him lose his good mood. He had only been able to use Heavens Crashdown inside Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in practice until now and while the results looked promising, there was no way to test if he could use it effectively without destroying a building. Maybe he could try and find an old abandoned building or factory and see if he could try and control it?

Nah, with his luck he would destroy the building and the surrounding neighborhood. It would be safer to wait until he fought a Heretic Deity or something of that level.

As soon as the thought had come to him he realized how bizarre it sounded. When did fighting a GOD qualify as safe? Had he really lost so much of his personality, to think using an untested technique against a being who symbolized humanity's desire for power as safe? Something wasn't right about his current state of mind, but he just couldn't figure out what it was that had changed when he had become a Campione. He felt the same mentally, but he no longer feared the prospect of fighting divine beings.

Was this merely one of the side-effects of becoming a godslayer? Did all Campione feel that the gods humans worshipped were not gods any more than he was? When he met Sòl and fought her he had felt that she had been superior in every way imaginable. He had not met another deity after that, but ever since he did not feel the same way. He still thought she was a great warrior and skilled with a spear, but he also didn't feel that she was a queen compared to him.

Damn it! This uncertainty was pure torment. He wished there was a Heretic Deity around so he could just go craz…

Just as he thought of going out to find someone to test his authority on, he suddenly sensed a large amount of divine energy and a large steel sword shot through the window and almost impaled Godou where he stood. Only his reflexes from baseball and his Campione body saved him from having the four foot of sharpened steel cut his insides to small strips of flesh. The blade flew past him, only managing to nick his shirt, and embedded itself in the wall.

The sword was a large Flammenschwert with an elaborate hilt and pommel. The hilt was made of silver and gold, each vein of precious metal overlapping eachother until the handle looked more like a network of metal strings. The pommel was one large ruby encrusted in gold to keep it in place. The blade itself was wavy as a Flammenschwert should be. The only difference being it was larger than any sword he had seen, over two meters long and several inches wide. The guard was clearly not meant for decoration. It was made of four large hooks, each a foot in length and the tips were barbed in order to cause as much pain as possible.

This blade had not been meant to be wielded in close combat. It was meant to be thrown and hurt the target as much as possible, only killing it after it had lost too much blood. This was divine weapon, but most of all…

It was cursed.

It screamed for blood, the same way a crowd screamed for violence at a boxing match. The malice reeking form the dark blade set his body on fire and his entire body was immediately filled with magical energy. Despite having dodged the makeshift projectile and coming out unscathed, he still felt like he had been injured. Was the curse really that strong or was it something more?

Of course, the blade was an authority! The only thing which could affect a Campione, except for internal magic, was the authority of gods. In other words, a deity had found him and judging by the method of attack it was a deity of [Steel].

It might have been the adrenaline rush he received when he dodged the sword, it might have been the divine power welling up inside him or it might simply be the curse of the sword, but he thought it might be the opportunity to test his powers out.

"Godslayer who cowers in his castle! Hear me now and hear me well! I am the father of the bastard steel you have corrupted. For your crimes, I have deemed you craven and weak. The land you dwell in has sheltered you, but it shall now pay for its crimes and as punishment for harboring you and the filthy god of steel all this time it shall perish in a fit of madness. If you are not the spineless murderer as I say meet me at Fuji-no-Takane. You may at least die a warriors death yet." A thundering voice was heard… from the sword. The ruby on the pommel glowed with each word said, but stopped once the voice was finished.

It gave no indication as to who the deity was or why it was after him. He guessed it was simply because a Heretic God would always attack a Campione, but he didn't understand what he meant by the [Father of Steel]". He had never read about a deity who referred to himself as that. There were many who gave themselves silly titles like [Victorious] and [Almighty], but father of steel didn't really have that much prestige compared to them. It was most likely tied to its origins as an early steel deity who had been assimilated into European folklore, judging by the German design of the blade.

"Well, since he gave me such a nice gift it would be rude of me not to answer the call." He walked to his closet and opened it up.

When he had decided to disguise himself as Yamato Takahashi, he had decided to do it enough to make an impression. That is why his second persona had been so strong as well. Kusanagi Godou was a teenager who went to school and practiced kendo. Yamato Takahashi was a king who ruled Japan. As such he had to look the part of a monarch.

So after a few minutes of changing clothes he was finally ready. He had put on a pair of black cargo-pants and a black sleeveless shirt. Over his face was the red scarf he had worn on the airport, tied tightly around his mouth and nose, but letting his eyes free to see. The rest of the scarf he let flow freely behind his back. He was about to leave when he remembered it was nighttime in the middle of winter and he was going to Mt Fuji, a very tall mountain. After a moment of consideration, he grabbed a jacket and black cap to keep him warm.

He went into his room and picked up his sword. The Miao Dao he had called Totsuka-no-Tsurugi had been an excellent weapon for training, but now it was time for their first battle. When he touched the handle, he noticed that his hands were shaking. He held his hands in front of his face, seeing how his hands, now calloused from weeks of intense sword practice were indeed shaking like a leaf. A shiver ran down his spine and his stomach felt cold.

Was he afraid? Was he finally feeling the fear most humans would feel if faced with a god who wanted to kill them? He clenched his fists and unclenched them again, the shaking lessening somewhat. No, he was not afraid. He didn't feel fear at the thought of deities. He was afraid that he would be disappointed. What if the deity he faced would not meet him at the top? What if someone else fought him first? Had he felt fear when faced Sòl? No, he had not. He had been irritated and stressed, but not once had he been scared of the goddess.

With that in mind he climbed up on the roof and activated his authority.

"I bring the sun from the Eastern lands. Fire burns ever so hot as the flames are stars! Trample the rebels and hunt the prey, a bright light shall burn the skies!" he chanted and the divine magic he emitted increased tenfold. Before him a large fire grew until it took the shape of a chariot with two large stallions pulling the large metal vehicle. The stallions were cloaked in bright flames which emanated from their mane, tail and hooves and when they breathed they released large sparks. Their eyes themselves were like miniature furnaces as flames rose from their eye sockets.

They were the two divine steeds under Sòl's command, the stallions who pulled the chariot of the sun across the sky. Skinfaxi had been their prototype, but he had summoned these two because he wanted to save him as an ace in the hole. They had no name as Skinfaxi, Arvakr and Alsvidr were the horses Dagr and Sòl rode, but Godou did not ride on them. His mounts did not have names yet, not that he knew of anyway. he did know the twin horse had more power, but the lone stallion had speed. In case he needed more speed he would add the lone stallion to the chariot and get the full power. The stallion was also the only one he had experience with riding bareback one so if the chariot was destroyed it wouldn't do to have wasted his only weapon.

Now that he looked at them closer, they did seem like something you'd find in a horror story; burning eyes, clad in flames and larger than any horse he'd ever seen were pretty scary factors. However, despite somewhat fearsome figure they gave off, Godou felt the excitement rolling off them. They were delirious with joy, for their master had summoned them to battle for the very first time. They would get to carry him on the battlefield and trample everyone in their way for the sake of their master.

He had not expected the horses to have a mind of their own, but when he thought about it, Skinfaxi did seem to have a lot of personality for a mindless beast back in Sweden when they had fought against Sòl.. Speaking of Skinfaxi; now that he had activated [Chariot of The Scorched Heavens] he could sense the lone Stallion inside his head despite not having summoned him into the world. Perhaps it was because it was the first time he had activated the chariot fully, but the presence of the stallion who aided him in his battle against Sòl was comforting, like having a friend who backs you up in a fight.

"Are you ready to trample some divine butt?" he asked his ride. They were ecstatic in their reply; rearing and neighing their response. He grinned with them, their eagerness for battle being transmitted to his mind. He went to the chariot and got on it. The massive thing was made from some kind of dense metal and was decorated with silver, gold and kind of black fur on the places where you would hold on. There was also a coat made from a large beast's pelt and he recognized it as the cloak Sòl had worn when she had used this authority.

Feeling the softness of the fur, he swung it around his shoulders, knowing it would fit him perfectly. It settled around his shoulders, concealing his sword while keeping him warm at the same time. He smiled at the thought of the deity he had received the cloak from. Somehow he knew that the cloak hadn't been there for him to wear if she hadn't enjoyed their duel.

He grabbed the reins and flicked them and was surprised at the speed they took off. It was like time around them had stopped and they were the only ones capable of moving.

"So this is Godspeed, huh?" he said out loud. He had known they could use Godspeed and he also knew this was nowhere near the top speed either, but even a fraction of it was enough to amaze him. This was faster than any plane or car would ever go and he was flying across Tokyo like he was a tourist. Even if they stallions had been visible to ordinary people, they would never have been able to identify the shiny blur which raced across the night sky. It was then he realized just how lucky he was to have become a Campione.

"Well, our foe is waiting for us and I intend to find out why he felt he could call me a coward. What do you think?! Shall we go and greet him?" He yelled to the horses. They could only neigh as they sped off to Fuji-no-Takane, The Peak of Fuji, leaving a trail of flames in their wake.

As they climbed in altitude he could feel the lack of oxygen take effect. His body was still human so he was still susceptible to harsh changes in environment, but the climates would have to be at the level of vacuum for him to be damaged by it. As he was, he could climb Mount Everest without dying or be crippled. He still had to admit it was uncomfortable though, a note for future reference.

When he arrived at the peak, he didn't see anyone. The stalls were empty due to it being night and all the shops had been closed. He landed near the edge of the active volcano, knowing that the chariot was immune to natural heat and looked around. He did not disembark as he preferred having his strongest authority close to him in case the deity tried to ambush him. Though a deity such as Sòl would rather die than do something as dishonorable as an ambush, he had no idea what the enemy this time was like. He was especially wary since the enemy had tried to snipe him with a surprise attack using a cursed blade.

"You know, for someone who called me craven and cowardly, you sure do like hiding and skulking around in the shadows yourself!" he yelled out, hoping the taunt would hurt the pride all deities seemed to have in spades. It worked it seemed.

"How dare you accuse me of hiding? Like I was some filthy weakling who would use the shadows as my ally, Bah! It is you who are a coward! It was you who defiled the steel of my children!" The voice from before responded, but in a lower tone and without the magical interference from the sword obstructing it. It was no longer thundering, but merely deep and loud.

"I don't know about defiling, but weren't you the one who threw a giant sword at me? Think of the innocent people who could have been hurt! Annoying deities such as you should just come in person!" He yelled back. Although he was happy at the chance for a fight, he was put off by the tactics of the god. Attacks on his person he could deal with, but sniping was really annoying to deal with. It was the same with fastballs like the one which had injured his shoulder.

"Silence, whelp! Someone as ignorant and disrespectful as you has no right accusing me! Just take your judgment like the rest of your kind should!" The deity yelled back, though this time he seemed to have taken action.

Godou was saved once more by his reflexes. He had been listening for the source of the voice, but it had changed position every time it spoke. It was the last sentence which had become louder and clearer that alerted him of the attack.

From above came a black blur at high speeds and would have bifurcated him had he not brought Totsuka-no-Tsurugi up to block. In fact even though his body was that of a Campione and he had used [Enhancement] at full power, his knees almost buckled under the strain. Since he had been standing on the chariot at the time, the force was transferred onto wagon and two small craters were made under the metal wheels.

Using his enhanced strength he pushed the deity away, careful not to cut himself on the blade he held. When the god started being pushed back, he roared with all his might and tilted the blade so most of the opponents strength was aimed to the side and tried to kick the deity in the stomach. It saw the move and jumped back and landed twenty meters away, an impossible move for a human, but child's play for a god.

"You know, when you spoke to me before you called yourself the [Father of Steel], but so far you have shown no evidence of being a God of [Steel]. Who are you?" he asked the assailant. Now that he had taken a look at him he could see how strange his appearance was.

Armour from almost every culture was proudly displayed. Greek, Viking, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian and European knight-armour and those were just the ones on his front. He had no doubt there would be others on his back. Just as he thought there wouldn't be anything more bizarre about the god's appearance, two large wings extended from the back of the deity and folded themselves, like the wings of an angel would. Large and black, it was maybe more fitting to call them the wings of a fallen angel.

"You don't know what you're talking about boy!" the deity continued as Godou tried to remember the names of the angels he knew. "I am the only one who can understand the true beauty of [Steel]. The deities you know of are simply users, people who wield a sword simply because they can. You too wield the blade because you could, not because you deserve it." He said in a bitter voice.

Oh, was this a dethroned god perhaps? A deity who had been treated badly despite the element of [Steel] was not common; most gods who were hated were those of Mother Earth-category. Who could this be?

"Since we still haven't' introduced ourselves I guess I'll start. My name is Ku-Yamato Takahashi and I was recently reborn as a Campione. Since you are a deity of [Steel], I guess it's customary for introductions to be made." Hopefully he'll be able to at least get a name before the battle started. If he could get a name then it would help him discover his weaknesses.

The deity grimaced. "You, godslayer, may call me Muramasa. Now my blade will introduce itself; Juuchi Yosamu!

A dark wave exploded from the blade and traveled to Godou. In response, Godou drew Totsuka-no-Tsurugi and swung.

Three days later…

People were still in shock of the small eruption of Mt Fuji, but they were beginning to calm down. Experts had investigated the volcano and had found out that the pressure which had slowly been rising had dropped significantly. The talks of evacuation had been dropped and routine had returned to the city of Tokyo.

However they had no idea of what had really happened that night, in fact no human knew what had happened. Only three people knew.

A god of Steel.

A Divine Ancestor.

…And a Campione…


If you skipped the AN then i will just say this: There is a forum on my profile where you can discuss about the deities in the story as well as suggest some of your own. There is also a poll on my profile about who will be in Godou's harem. Check it out!